Dirty Version was a quick, enjoyable read with engaging writing and a plot that kept me turning the pages. The pacing worked well, and it was easy to read in just a few sittings. While I did enjoy the story, I found myself wishing for more depth and development in the main characters. I never quite felt like I fully knew them.
The tone of the book and the title led me to expect more on‑page spice, but the spice remains closed‑door throughout, which felt a little ironic given the title. Overall, this was a fun, entertaining read with solid writing, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for something light and fast‑paced.

At the heart of the story is Tash, an author whose feminist dystopian novel The Colony is being adapted for television.

What was meant to be an empowering, thought-driven piece is quickly being pulled in a different direction, with pressure from producers to add more “heat” and completely alter the ending.

Enter Caleb, a highly respected intimacy coordinator – Tash’s unlikely ally in a battle to preserve the integrity of her work.

What unfolds is a clever and compelling grumpy-sunshine workplace romance, with sharp dialogue, undeniable chemistry, and a genuinely fresh premise.

Tash’s protectiveness over her story feels real and raw, and the novel does a fantastic job of exploring issues around creative control, gender dynamics in Hollywood, and the tension between art and commerce.

The romance is more closed-door than the title suggests, but the emotional intimacy makes up for it.

Caleb is a refreshing love interest – empathetic, professional, and genuinely supportive of Tash’s voice.

This is a book that balances fun with depth – a well-paced, smartly written summer read that offers more than meets the eye.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Dirty Version offers a fresh and sexy twist on a Hollywood romance. Tash, a fiercely intelligent author, is adapting her feminist dystopian novel into a film, with the help of Caleb, an emotionally attuned intimacy coordinator. Their dynamic crackles with witty banter, slow-burn tension, and a feminist lens that refreshingly subverts traditional romance tropes.

While the premise and chemistry between the leads are strong, I found Tash’s worldview occasionally off-putting. Her convictions sometimes felt more rigid than nuanced, and her reactions could veer into the overly dramatic.

Still, Caleb’s character is a standout. He's warm, patient, and deeply respectful, which adds real heart to the story. The novel’s commentary on creative control, patriarchy, and artistic agency feels timely and smart. For readers looking for a modern, feminist workplace romance with sharp dialogue, behind-the-scenes insight, and a thoughtful edge, The Dirty Version is a bold and engaging debut.

I’m going to say this is a 3.75 read for me, I would be happier with a 7.5 out of 10 because there are a lot of things this book does right. It’s great to learn about writing a screenplay and to think about what happened when your artistic integrity is challenged in order to make a second season from a book which has a clearly defined ending. On the other hand, Tash, the main character, is quite annoying, and very wrapped up in her own ideas without hearing anyone else’s point of view, which meant that there are times I wanted to get in the book and give her a little shake! Still, the scene with her ex gave me some sympathy for her. Our hero, intimacy coordinator Caleb, is clearly a good guy, so a useful foil to Tash. Her friends are nice. I could have done with a bit more detail about her mum.
I think this book could have done without an intimacy coordinator- it feels a bit too choreographed and I didn’t get a massive sense that there was a lot of passion between them. This left it a little flat for me. But, overall I enjoyed this and would read more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

A writer and an intimacy co-ordinator work together to hone a script for an online streaming adaptation of a feminist novel. SIZZLE ENSUES. I absolutely loved the build and ultimate resolution of the tension, our lead characters are both sexy-smart and the dialogue is devoid of cringe. Loved it.

Raw, bold, and impossible to ignore 🔥. The Dirty Version pulls no punches, offering an unfiltered, gripping glimpse into complex worlds—whether of power, identity, or desire. Turner Gable Kahn’s writing is electric, full of energy and dark humour, weaving together social commentary and unforgettable characters. It’s gritty yet insightful, with layers that challenge and provoke thought. Fans of edgy, fearless fiction will devour this. Highly recommended for those who love their stories with grit, heart, and unflinching honesty.

Tash and Caleb clash at their first meeting, but she needs his help so will she let him in. A fab read.

I think the book needed a little more introspection from the main character. It's very plot heavy, which is great, but ultimately it means that self-reflection takes a millisecond.

Found it so-so. I liked the concept of the book but just found it very predictable, I didn't really care too much about any of the characters. I did, however, really like Caleb and would've loved to have had his POV and learn more about him. The FMC was quite annoying, I thought, and I just wanted her to grow up a bit!

DNF at 12%.

I really wanted to read this but getting through the first few chapters was a pain. I can't get over how the FMC would easily go into an angry tangent on the unfairness of the world, etc. Her emotions were valid but she could stand to give Caleb the benefit of the doubt and hear him out first.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Dirty Version is a really fun read with themes of identity, sexuality and feminism, simultaneously lighthearted and fun. It took a while to get going but is worth the wait.

An insightful look at the way the male gaze (aka the patriarchy) will do everything it can to dismiss female rage, particularly Hollywood and the way it handles women’s stories. But also, how anger can be both a healthy and unhealthy emotion, with women always penalised for expressing theirs. I loved that all of this was wrapped in a romance and the way love can be subconsciously political. Can you love or trust a man who is statistically women’s greatest threat to safety?

I found the style of writing at start felt a bit like over-describing, but once I got into the story, I was hooked. Tash was such an interesting character. I felt, understood and related to her rage. From the horrible violent date to her ex-fiance who left her after her feminist book with a shocking ending became successful. And yet, she also teetered many times over into self-sabotage with Gabe. I loved her relationship with her best friends, who shared her ire, but also gave her the kick when she needed to start trusting Gabe: ‘You cling to exaggerated principles because you like to be mad. Rage is your go-to, and you're letting your feelings about Men stop you from dealing fairly with one particular man - who legitimately sounds like he was trying.’

I also really loved Gabe and their back and forth, challenging each other as the collaborated. And speaking of the book, boy do I wish it existed.

A sharp and incisive romance tackling gender politics in a very satisfying way.

Thanks to Verve Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Reading the blurb after the title pulled me in and made me eager to read this book. Now, was it worth it?
We have Tash, an author whose first novel, a female-centric dystopian piece, has reached the level of fandom that it is being commissioned for adaptation as a TV series. Only the producer wants it to be 'sexed-ed up' more for the screen, as well as a significant change to the ending.
Tash battles with this idea, as it is so far from her ideals and the book's concept.
Threatened with the loss of any say, she teams up with an Intimacy Co-ordinator, Caleb, celebrated in his field for helping to create, well, hot scenes!
Here, we end up with a bit of a grumpy-sunshine workplace romance, as Tash battles with her more visceral feelings towards her work partner and her strong feelings about her book, which is going to be 'butchered' for the screen, losing all integrity.
An easy-to-read summer romance, but considering the title The Dirty Version, any action is very much closed-door!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Verve Books for an ARC.

Turner Gable Kahn's first book, The Dirty Version, is a hot romance that deftly weaves a gripping love story with astute observations on the world of entertainment and modern feminism. The setup is immediately intriguing: Tash, writer of a hit feminist novel, is assigned to "sex up" her novel for a Hollywood remake. This sets her on difficult partnership with Caleb, a charming intimacy coordinator.

The following is a delicious combination of banter and tension as Tash and Caleb work through their professional and personal chemistry. Kahn expertly tracks power dynamics, female sexuality, and artistic integrity in the competitive world of film. Beyond the hot romance, the novel provides a witty, layered examination of how women's stories get shaped and watered down for mass audiences. Readers will enjoy the imperfect but human protagonist and the timely discussion the book inspires. It's a new, engrossing read that threatens both to entertain and to make readers think.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about a book that can be both playful and unapologetically bold in its ideas. The writing is snappy and fun, but never shallow. Every moment between Tash and Caleb felt earned, every argument a mix of stubbornness, attraction, and mutual challenge that made the eventual slow-burn payoff so rewarding. I loved how smart the romance was without ever becoming cold or too clever. This book knows exactly what it’s doing and does it brilliantly. It’s messy, sexy, thoughtful and deeply satisfying. I loved every second.

I really liked the premise of this (hence requesting the ARC): author sells her one-and-only book, a feminist dystopian fantasy, to be made into a streaming series but balks at working with an intimacy co-ordinator to “sex it up”. However, the execution of the concept sadly fell flat for me. Part of it was the writing style: there were some strangely constructed sentences and odd word choices that pulled me out of the narrative far too frequently. The rest of it was Tash, who I could not get to grips with at all. She comes across as over-sensitive, intolerant, and far too enamoured of her own opinions, and although I appreciate she has a path to character growth, I was at 87% in the book and still thinking “for God’s sake get over yourself” which means any chance of true sympathy with her is long gone. Still, I liked Caleb, Janelle, and Rohan’s characterisation, and the insight into the industry seemed realistic.

A nice summer read. Easy to read, follows the main character's fight to ensure the Hollywood production of her novel stays true to the original.

Rating: 3.5⭐️
Following Tash through the turmoil of having her book turned into a tv show where the producer wants ‘the dirty version’ going against everything Tash wants her book to stand for. In steps Caleb, a male intimacy coordinator, to help spice things up but the two clash instantly in a ball of tension and witty banter.

This is the perfect summer read! The combination of slow-burn tension, humour, romance and deeper social issue, making it more than your typical steamy romance.
I swooned over Tash and Caleb, watching them grow together throughout the book and the chemistry between them was undeniable with moments that had me laughing out loud.

If you love Emily Henry or Beth O’Leary you’ll adore this one.

Thankyou Turner Gable Khan and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc

The dirty version
⭐️⭐️⭐️
- writer x intimacy coordinator
- workplace romance
- forced proximity
- grumpy x sunshine

Ok, so, I have mixed feelings about this one. In a general sense, it was kinda fun reading at the moment but I don't think I would be thinking about this book anymore, it didn't left a big stamp on me.

Things I liked:
- the main characters: I think that both, but especially Tash were flawed but there was an evolution and even if I didn't agreed with everything they did, I was still rooting for them
- I enjoy the balance between comedy, romance and actual deep social commentary on genre dynamics within Hollywood and female empowerment

Things I didn't liked:
- the miscommunication: I'm sorry but I just couldn't get past it. It's not a trope I usually enjoy
- the third person narration made it at times difficult for me to connect with the characters and their story

Also, a moment of appreciation for the fact that this book is called The dirty version while giving us exclusively closed door sex scenes between the couple, you gotta love the irony.

Overall, like I said before, not a bad book but that's it. Good to read while sit by a pool.

For me, a sadly disappointing novel after the exciting hype. The idea for the book is a good one: Tash has written a feminist first novel and should over the moon when there is interest from Hollywood. However the assigned producer wishes to sexify and change the premise of the feminist novel and totally alter the author’s aims and values. This idea is credible, and the ensuing battle over big screen success versus staying true to your dream and style. However I did not believe in the characters nor enjoy the writing style.