3.5 ⭐️I like the husband's mistress trope. Falling for someone you should want to rip the hair off. In this one, Blaum even adds some extra obstacles, and it was refreshing. What I liked most was the honesty between them from the beginning to the end. There is no useless miscommunication. There is still some push and pull dynamic happening, but it never lasts. I also really appreciate the age gap being addressed frontally, which is rare. I didn't particularly feel their chemistry to my core, because some exchanges felt a bit stiff. There is a time jump, and maybe I'd rather see them resolving all the issues with their respective families. The placement of flashbacks as an excuse for sex scenes in the last chapters was a bit strange to read, but I appreciate seeing them far away in the future. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for this E-Arc. All opinions are my own.

I give this book 3.5 stars and will round it up to 4. We start of with Claudia who is having a fantastic life at the moment. She is getting a job ion the field she studied/loves, she has a wonderful boyfriend and is generally killing it with her familial connections. Then she finds out her boyfriend is actually cheating with her on his wife. His wife, Claudia's new boss-eek!

I found this set up to be super refreshing and I enjoyed Cluadia's and Elizabeth's banter and relationship building but i DID also find it to be a little drawn out. There was a lot of internal turmoil on both parts about friendship and connection but sometimes it didn't feel like that/repetitive. Both characters were unique and I did enjoy reading their perspectives but again if a big chunk could have been cut-off from that section I think I would have enjoyed the book more. In this way the pacing sometimes was jarring.

Once we got to the endgame, things started to fall into place more and I very much fell back into step with the book. Although I will say it was a little jarring in the last few chapters with the time skip and flashbacks. Which again I enjoyed but still got a little jarred with the transition there.

Overall I enjoyed the book, I think it was a unique strangers to friends to lovers and would work as a light hearted beach read.

A Question of Sincerity is a captivating and refreshingly original romance that pulled me in from the very first page. I was completely immersed in Elizabeth and Claudia’s journey, and found it nearly impossible to step away. The witty, sharp dialogue kept me smiling throughout, especially their hilarious takes on insanity, fashion, excessive use of the word 'indeed,' and the superior choice of gelato flavors. The subtle foreshadowing throughout the story adds depth and richness to the narrative. While the plot had the potential to veer into darker, angst-filled territory, the author skillfully keeps the tone uplifting. It's a beautifully emotional and honest story, grounded in vulnerability but infused with a powerful sense of hope.
If you're in the mood for a slow burn that’s light on drama and heavy on charm—with plenty of moments that’ll make you laugh and swoon, I can’t recommend this one enough.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

wow well where to start with this one.....

claudia is happy with her life.... she has a great boyfriend and is about to start a new job at her favourite charity where she herself has volunteered

what she hadnt expected was to find out her perfect boyfriend was married.... she ended it right away as she had never wanted to be that person and rightfully or wrongly she had decided to tell his wife....

what she hadnt expected was the wife to be her boss....

what followed was quite a descriptive and at times long winded narrative but i was still glued as i have to admit it held my attention.... and above all else i was liking claudia as a character and i was drawn to elizabeth the other wronged person in this equation

have to admit that i will be keeping an eye out for more books from this author.... her spice when we got to it was hot

Hoo boy, where to begin here. . . This is one of those "kitchen sink" books for me, where instead of concentrating on a single throughline plot device, the author throws a whole pile of them at their story along with unimportant details and characters until it's one big convoluted mess. This is an age gap romance first and foremost, despite there also being aspects of an office romance with a boss/subordinate relationship, but the main differentiator is how the romance gets going: the main character, Claudia, realizes she's been dating/sleeping with a married man and upon texting his wife, finds out it's her new boss. Wackiness ensues. If that wasn't enough melodrama for what tonally is supposed to be a fluffy romance book, there is one more out-of-left-field "surprise" that I won't ruin, but suffice to say it didn't seem to be particularly necessary to the main plotline.

At no point did I find this romance nor the Claudia/Elizabeth connection, particularly believable. They connect via those initial text messages, which the author tells us are supposed to be quippy and exciting,g but they fail to come across as such. So much of this book is back and forth dialogue that conceptually may have been intended as more of a spark and connection than how it actually comes across, which is extremely repetitive and immature.

I feel like this book could (and should) have easily been 100 pages shorter in order to tell a tighter story. Both main characters have best friends, who serve no purpose in moving the story forward yet we have several scenes with both, Claudia spends the initial chapter at a daycare job that doesn't really have a relevance, Claudia's family is Lebanese and there are several scenes with them but this has no impact one way or the other on the story, but my biggest gripe is the sheer repetition of their conversation topics (Tom and his cheating, Claudia's sleeping with Tom, that "surprise", and whether they could be friends/lovers). Severe editing could have made a difference for the better.

Where does one begin with a unique story like this?
First things first, this is a revised version, added pages. I am not sure this book need those. Obviously I don’t know where these pages are, but the story felt dragged out. There’s a fair bit of repetition, it makes the story drag from time to time.

Without getting into the details of the story, this spoiling lots of it, I can say this is one of a kind and very conflicting for me. Age gap isn’t always my favourite, but I tend to like office romances, this one is rather difficult for me to like though.
The uniqueness of this book, I am just going to call it that, is what’s making it a challenging read for me. To me either a story is so unbelievable and out there it becomes good, or it seems very real and relatable to be good. This one is a combination of the both and it just doesn’t work for me.

On top of this I found the writing to be a tad bit confusing. While this book takes place in the US, is written in American English, it felt distinctly like British English posing as American English. One of the MCs hails from the UK, been in America for decades, “has a faint accent”, the other is American. The writing just felt like it struggled to be American and would rather be British (how understandable). I can’t really explain the hows and what’s of that, it’s just a feeling, a distinct notion to me.

3.75, pushing up to 4. I found A Question of Sincerity to be a bit of a mixed bag. And I think that’s about personal preferences. I found this book possibly about a hundred pages too long. For me, there was too much buildup and internal monologues about the friendship rather than showing the friendship. The two MCs managed to find endless ways of mis-assuming and then not communicating, all while we’re supposed to understand that they have this amazing connection and yet they are full of angst about having any friendship at all. The payoff, when we get there, is great, and pushes the story, along with its setup and the two strong MCs up towards being a solid four for me. But I found that too many pages around the middle of the book meandered and tested the level of my interest.

As I understand it, this is the second, revised edition of the story, and it has a longer page count. I don’t know where added those pages are, of course, but if they’re at the ending that too I found to be a mixed bag. The last chapters jump forward in time by about a year or so. Perhaps that’s because the author wanted to leave the characters in a very specific place but also wanted to add in a couple of strong flashback scenes. So I’m probably being very fussy, but the last chapters felt a little choppy to me in the way they are structured.

I wanted to like this book a lot. I knew going in it was going be different—set up on a rare premise. But it needs to be tighter IMHO. Having said what I do above, if you like your slow burn to be very slow with a lot of fairly light but very present angst along the way, then you’ll certainly enjoy this book. And the good parts are certainly good. When we finally get there, the chemistry is palpable, and, my criticisms notwithstanding, one thing the slow buildup does do well is show the eventual bond and closeness between the women.

This book tackles a couple of tricky subjects as revealed in the blurb, and Ms. Blaum is to be commended for that, and she does it as well as I would have hoped.

So, while I’ve got some strong opinions on this, the story is more than valid, enjoyable in many parts, and I do recommend it, in hopes of readers being forewarned about some of the structure will enable them to enjoy the story as much as I originally hoped to.

This story is imperfect, but I will remember it. And actually, that’s a big something.

Thank you to the author and the publisher, the amazing Ylva, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars

The book leaves me somewhat conflicted. Even after a few hours, I'm still a bit perplexed about the structure of this age gap love story. The content sounded totally interesting at first:

Claudia starts a new job and meets her new boss, Elizabeth. It doesn't take Claudia long to realize that the Tom she's been sleeping with for a few months is Elizabeth's husband. What should she do? She doesn't want to lose her new job or the opportunity to have Elizabeth as a friend. Elizabeth has no idea that her husband Tom is cheating on her. When she finds out, her world falls apart. Why should she keep Claudia in her company and her life?

After the first few pages, I was really excited about the story. The conflict sounded promising. And I also had the feeling that the sparks were starting to fly as the friendship slowly developed. But then new drama came along and I don't want to spoil, but somehow it totally threw me off. In my opinion, it didn't need this added conflict and it just felt like too much in places. Just the fact that Claudia had an affair with Tom would have been enough in terms of severity. I mean, Elizabeth had to deal with that alone, how realistic is it that she can just get through another huge drama and continue the relationship?

The slowly building connection between the two women was really beautiful. Above all, I liked the communication and openness. I missed the attraction at some points. The feeling that you can't stand it any longer until they finally kiss. The slow burn was very long and a little tough. The epilogue was also very sudden and took me by surprise.

Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book. I liked both women and I especially admired Elizabeth for how she coped with all this and got involved with Claudia despite so many obstacles. Such a strong woman, wow! Claudia was very brave for me and I liked her ruthless honesty and clumsiness. That's what made her so likeable.

A book that I can still recommend, even if the structure of the story was a bit bumpy.

Sabrina Blaum’s A Question of Sincerity is a refreshingly original and emotionally layered novel that explores the unexpected intersections of heartbreak, healing, and human connection. With a narrative rooted in raw vulnerability, Blaum delivers a story that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.

The two central characters are introduced from opposing emotional spectrums—one hardened by pain, the other caught in a haze of disbelief and hurt. Their lives, disrupted by the actions of a destructive partner, collide in a way that is both dramatic and transformative. Blaum masterfully unpacks the emotional fallout of betrayal while slowly guiding her characters toward a place of trust, empathy, and growth.

What makes this story stand out is its delicate balance of emotional realism and hope. The journey these characters take is filled with moments of tension, introspection, and ultimately, self-discovery. Blaum’s writing is sincere and resonant, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of relationships and the power of unexpected connection.

A Question of Sincerity is a poignant and compelling novel that speaks to the resilience of the human heart. It’s a must-read for those who appreciate character-driven stories that stay with you long after the final page.

The idea with the book was really good and I liked the story overall. However, it dragged a bit at time with so much talk and so little action. I just screamed kiss already. Then suddenly they finally hook up and that is about it, the story is moving a long way into the future and they have a daughter. No details on how that really happened and then the book moves to pure erotica in a very strange way. So overall a good read but with some adjustments it would have been so much better. More time in the book with them as a couple raising Alice would have been so great.

I am very sorry but I can not push myself to finish this book. I did not give this book any star ratings on my public reviews because of the fact that I did not finish it.

It is incredibly slow and the characters just aren't likeable. The sole character that brought me any enjoyment was Sammy, a minor side character. I actively hate Elizabeth and the way she speaks to and treats her husband before she even knows he's doing anything terrible, she is cold and disconnected and kind of mean. It feels like it's intentional to make you sympathize with the cheater, even though the narrative is clearly 'no matter what cheating is wrong'. So, the intentions felt to be battling with what was actually being said.

I wish that I could find something to push me through to the end of this book, because I love a redemption type romance. Two women who had been hurt by the same man, finding comfort in each other. Sadly, it's just not doing it for me.

Oh, those two. Neither of them would have imagined this journey when it all began.

First they were just boss and employee, and then, whoosh, they were anything but professional.
Now, I don't want to give too much away, but betrayal and disappointment go hand in hand here.

For Elizabeth, two things she hadn't expected, plus a woman who's the amazing new employee, her husband's affair, and a really interesting person who could potentially become her friend—all rolled into one.

For Claudia, it's no less shocking when she finds out that Tom has been cheating on her and using her, because the bastard is married. But when she finds out who his wife is, she can hardly believe her eyes and sees her perfect new job disappear instantly.

Besides, how could Tom be so stupid as to cheat on a woman like Elizabeth? She's beautiful and so much more... Things get complicated, and from the complicated, something truly beautiful emerges!
Honestly, the development was a bit slow, and there were some scenes that weren't really necessary for the story. The last few chapters were a bit confusing, as they served as an epilogue, but you didn't realize that until later. That's when things really heated up! These two are capable of hitting the ground running and should have done so much sooner. But that's just my opinion. Thanks for the ARC. I still enjoyed the story!

Things were hit and miss for me but I landed on the positive side of this book. Claudia Khoury (27) is a new attorney in Dallas and starting a new job for a charity organization. She is thrilled about and prepared for the work. Her personal life takes a hit when she realizes the man she has been dating for the last four months is married. She wants to warn his wife only to find out that she is her new boss Elizabeth (46) who started and runs the charity.

Things I liked:
Both characters are very likable, although Elizabeth is a bit prickly at first.
They are adults and talk to each other honestly, no miscommunications.
Romance progresses organically, focusing on being friends first.
I always enjoy a toaster oven romance.
Very readable. Even though it was longer (362 pages), I read it almost in one sitting.
Strong friend and family side characters that add to the story.

Things I was less fond of:
I thought the banter felt forced in the beginning. The first texting and random conversation topics were awkward. I enjoyed conversations more when they talked about things they were dealing with.
The 18 year gap is big. I enjoy age gaps but I prefer the half the age plus seven rule to stay out of the icky zone.
The chapter with a several month time jump could have been labeled to avoid confusion.

Overall I like the story and felt I got to know the characters well. And the original strange setup was handled far better than I could have expected. I like the newer cover for the book that is on my copy, although the women seem to be similar in age.

We know from the blurb one of the plot bombs. I was a bit tense wondering how it would explode. Good start!
I am enjoying the writing. There is plenty that is making me smile. One of the things I am enjoying about the writers style, is when she recaps to her friend about scenes we saw, she summarises her spin, friend says “give me the detail” and we don’t have to reread the whole thing being regurgitated. Some other writers take note!
43%. Oh my!!!
I’m not able to verbalise why but there is something compelling about this book. When I have to put it down, I can’t wait to get back to it.
Star rating, I was thinking this might nudge up to five, but the ending read a bit odd. A sudden jump in time, then in the new time some intimate scenes that just didn’t work for me, actually most of the intimate scenes just missed the mark. A 4 that was nearly 5 but towards the end nearly went to 3.

What happens when you discover your new boyfriend is the husband of your new boss?


After a rocky year, Claudia is finally back on track. Until she discovers she’s been dating the husband of Elizabeth, her boss, and being honest with her costs her her dream job. She’s not too mad about it, she just feels awful. Especially, because she feels she and Elizabeth could have been friends, maybe even more than friends, if only they hadn’t started with the very wrong foot.


Because there is no way they could make it work after all that happened with Elizabeth’s husband, right?


I was interested in the premise of this book and, in that regard, it didn’t disappoint. Sadly, I was so frustrated by how this book was written that I couldn’t appreciate anything else. The other books written by this author have great average ratings, which means this may be on me. If you have enjoyed this author’s work before, please ignore this review.


However, I need to be honest with you. I didn’t enjoy reading this. The only reason why I finished it was because it was an ARC and I hate dnfing ARCs. I was hoping I could find something to make me love this book but the only thing that improved was Elizabeth. I hated her at the beginning but, very slowly, she redeemed herself.


As I was saying, my main problem was the writing style. Instead of getting me into the story, I felt I was reading a book written by one of my friends back when we were teens aspiring to be authors. The dialogues sometimes often felt off, like the first time they talked to each other via text, when they thought they were strangers and started to talk about mundane things instead of getting to the point of why Claudia was messaging a complete stranger. The scenes felt disconnected at times. The opening scene, for example, felt abrupt and didn’t flow into the next one. It continued to be that way during the entire book. I think a lot of those scenes, as well as part of the inner monologues, could have been cut to improve the pacing.


Also, it was a bit confusing that the last chapters were an epilogue but weren’t marked that way, since there is a big time jump from one chapter to the other. It didn’t bother me much as it was explicit in the text once you read the first page, but I think it would have been better to indicate there is a time jump to the reader at the beginning of the chapter.


Overall, the writing style hindered my ability to enjoy this book. I’d still recommend this if you have tried this author before and enjoy her writing style, as well as age-gap and slow burn romances.


I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I picked this up expecting a fun, slightly chaotic queer romance, and I got that, but I wasn’t prepared for how emotionally invested I’d become in Claudia and Elizabeth’s journey.

Claudia’s honesty is refreshing and, honestly, kind of admirable. So when she realizes her rebound hookup is married to her new boss? The awkward tension is real and I felt every second of it. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, mostly out of curiosity about how the hell they were going to navigate that disaster. What followed was a slow unraveling of lives and expectations, and it felt so raw at times.

Elizabeth, especially, stood out to me. Her world is so neatly organized, until Claudia crashes into it like a beautiful, truth-telling hurricane. Watching her unravel and rebuild herself felt incredibly real, and I appreciated how the story gave both women the space to grow, separately and together.

It’s not a light and fluffy read: there’s heartbreak, guilt, and lots of questions without easy answers but that’s what made it feel honest. Like life.

I’m giving it 4 stars only because a couple of moments felt a little rushed emotionally, but I closed the book feeling satisfied, hopeful, and a little wrecked in the best way. Definitely recommend if you like messy, emotional, beautifully complicated queer love stories.

This was a sweet and endearing read that drives you through a winding emotional road on the way to our happily ever after ending. I enjoyed the slow friends-to-lovers plotline and dual perspectives that allowed us to see the emotions each character felt along the way. There were a couple of time or perspective jumps that pulled me out of the story, but this was overall an enjoyable read that I would recommend and add to my list of books to read again.

I really enjoyed "A Question Of Sincerity" by Sabrina Blaum. The story was written well and the progress felt very natural. This definitely counts as slow burn, it is late in the book that the relationship shifts, but that makes a lot of sense for Elizabeth and Claudia. Their issues felt real, no forced fight for the sake of needing drama. Heads of for the amazing conversations that are happening at different parts of the book. I feel like they are what some authors try to achieve but it falls flat or short.

The only thing that confused me was towards the end when we had a time jump and that was only clear after around 10 sentences, which made no sense to me at all (because of the way the chapter before ended). But that issue isn't too big and could also be easily fixed by adding a "x time later" on the top of the chapter.

Personally I am not the biggest fan of age gap romances (though I keep trying them to find good ones) or of the pregnancy trope, but they are executed well here! So if you're on the fence of reading the book because of either of those things, give it a try!

This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC. Thank you to Ylva Publishing, Sabrina Blaum and NetGalley for the e-ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, and the story was executed well. I love the build-up between Claudia and Elizabeth. I thought their relationship was developed nicely, and it did not feel too rushed or too slow for me. It felt like a natural progression from people who wouldn’t have a friendship to one of friendship, then love. I think it was also written well, and you really could get into the lives of our main characters. I also appreciated the fact that their was dual POVs in this book because I think multiple point of views really does help put us in the shoes of the two main characters in this relationship. I like exploring their thoughts and reasoning and truly understanding why they are the way they are and how they act.

I DEVOURED this book. This was the kind of slow burn where you want to shout “because you love her” at the characters. Claudia and Elizabeth were very likeable and relatable. Both characters had issues they were facing and we got to explore how they supported each other throughout the natural progression of their friendship.
I also loved the writing style and pacing. There were subtle clues throughout and no elements of the story felt forced. The drama felt human, which was refreshing to read. This was a fantastic book and I would highly recommend it!