Birthday Girl

“? ???? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?????????. ? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????, ??? ??? ????’? ?????. ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?? ????.”

I enjoy quite a few forbidden romance tropes, but nothing has me breathlessly turning the pages like a love story with a significant age gap between the characters. And while in real life a relationship of this nature might even give me pause, age disparity in fiction is like catnip for me. I seek it, I relish it, I get high on it, and when I come across a book so well-written that the love story eventually eclipses the forbidden quality of it, I become utterly spellbound. In this novel, we are hit with a scenario that is designed to makes us flinch, but once again, Penelope Douglas showcases her knack for creating compelling central characters and thus reversing all our expectations about them. She delivers a multilayered love story that strikes every emotional chord along the way, a story that is beautifully complicated, infinitely angsty, and completely impossible to put down.

"??’? ?????? ??? ???? ????. ????? ??????. ????? ????. ? ???? ? ???? ? ????? ???? ?? ???? ? ???????? ????."

Sitting next to a perfect stranger in a darkened movie theatre is not the way Jordan Hadley expected to spend her nineteenth birthday, but those few careless hours spent laughing, smiling, and forgetting her life beyond those four walls end up being exactly what she would have wished for. And when the credits begin to roll and the lights come up, a small part of her wishes she didn’t have a boyfriend waiting for her at home. That those hours spent in the company of a handsome stranger could have been the beginning of something new. Until his identity is suddenly revealed and instead of saying goodbye to him, she finds herself moving into his house the very next day.

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Forever the level-headed and responsible type, Pike Lawson has spent the past two decades of his life focusing all his energies on building a business and taking care of his son, all the while putting his personal life on indefinite hold. Now in his late thirties, all his visions of falling in love and building a family feel like a distant dream that would never be.

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So when his first crush in twenty years ends up being his son’s girlfriend, he fights the attraction with everything he’s got. But regardless of how many times he tells his heart that the girl of his dreams would forever remain off-limits to him, every single thing he learns about her makes him feel more and more like she is exactly where she belongs—living under his roof.

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While her relationship with her boyfriend deteriorates each day, we watch Jordan’s friendship with Pike only grow fonder as time goes by. In their friendship, she finds all that has always been missing from her relationship with Pike’s son—common interests, similar priorities in life, a sense of belonging—and soon, her only moments of happiness become those spent with the man she is not supposed to look at, let alone long for.

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By capturing perfectly the mounting attraction between Jordan and Pike and never allowing it to overshadow their growing emotional attachment, the author allows their love story to flourish as it unfolds. We feel them fall in love, we watch their struggle not to succumb to their desires, we feel feverish when they finally do, we hurt for them when the author breaks them wide open, and we love every single prickly, angst-infused second of it. Once all the taboo aspects of this romance begin to fade before our eyes, all we see are two friends slowly falling in love with one another, and the sheer beauty of it is blinding. I loved this book like crazy.

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This was one of the BEST romance, featuring the older man/younger woman theme I've ever come across. I loved everything about this forbidden romance from start to finish. The very idea...the taboo of falling for your son's girlfriend/your boyfriend's father. How does one tumbled into it such a situation. But God, was this story written well. There was nothing tawdry or vulgar about it. Just two people who connected as if they're each other missing pieces. Soul-mates, I would call it. All the sexual tension, the turbulent rollercoaster of emotions, the angst. I just love it. Especially the slow build up of Pike's and Jordan's relationship. It progressed naturally and didn't feel forced. It was just mesmerizing, tantalizing . Watching how it all slowly unfolds with all those heated glances, innocent touches, sexy innuendos. Yea...longest foreplay ever. Had my heart beating crazy waiting in anticipation.

The epilogues I thought were just so sweet. Made me sigh with envy, happiness, and just profound relief. So glad to see them settled in the future. Still going strong and happy in love. Made everything worthwhile. All the tears and fist banging against the wall. (Yes, I really wanted to punch Cole!). But Jordan was such a spitfire and a fighter. Despite her fragility at times. I love how she came into her own and didn't let life break her down. She and Pike definitely didn't have it easy but they overcame all the hurdles in the end. They deserved it after fighting the evitable and denying their heart for so long. And well over 50% of the book, might I add. It was a SLOW delicious burn but once they gave in....wow fireworks.

The only thing I didn't care for was Cole. What a selfish immature d**k. Sorry, even to the end, I still didn't care too much for him. He was just a jerk to his father. And he really did Jordan dirty, and was barely apologetic to her. I mean, Pike and Jordan fought their feelings and was respectful of him before anything really happened between them. Too bad he didn't show them the same courtesy. And how could he still be friends, with her ex who had previously assaulted her and loves to terrorize her daily. Baffling. I just couldn't understand it. Pike was way more protective and concerned over her well-being even just being the father of the boyfriend.

Hats off to the author, she killed it with this story. Especially with the heroine. What a remarkable, mature, strong young woman. I really connected with her character and sympathize with her situation. She deserves so much and I'm so glad that she found her self-worth and made Pike come to her in the end. Don't get me wrong, he was a great hero. So, gentle, kind-hearted, honorable. A gentleman through and through. But those same qualities also drove me mad. I wanted him to just give in and claim Jordan already!

And lastly, the title of the book. Love it. Simple but so significant. My heart honestly aches every time Jordan makes one of her wishes and blows out a candle. So glad all her dreams came true.

This was such a great read! The chemistry between our lead characters was undeniable. Douglas does a great job of handling this “taboo” subject with grace and tenderness. Being married to an older man myself, I recognized several topics that my husband and I had to also contend. This was my first Penelope Douglas read, but it definitely won’t be my last!

Penelope could write a grocery list and I would pay good money for it! Birthday Girl is a slow and sexual burn that I lost good sleep over, and I appreciate a good, slow, tense build up. No rushing here for Pike and Jordan. The 80s musical references to a nod to Sixteen Candles. 5/5 I would definitely recommend this book!

Over the years, be it friends-to-enemies-to-lovers-next-door-neighbors, (Bully), or a group of maniacs hellbent on revenge, (Corrupt) I've learned that Penelope Douglas does many things very well. One of the best of those things is her ability to make something taboo seem irresistibly satisfying. With Birthday Girl, she twists the older man/younger woman taboo and makes it compelling, sensual and a wonderful treat.

Pike is a man desperate to make his son realize how much he loves him, despite the lies his ex has told the young man. There's miscommunication and drama since Pike's son, Cole, is a little lost and a lot invested in his relationship with his best friend/turn lover, Jordan. (Even that he doesn't have much seriousness about).

Jordan is a survivor, a life-soldier that knows how to handle herself and knows, at the end of the day, she and her very tiny circle of loved ones are the only reliable factors in her life. Then comes Pike and the invitation for Cole and Jordan to live with him once they get evicted (something that is completely Cole's fault).

The ensuing plot is filled with sexual tension you can cut with a knife, more misunderstandings and a whole lot of lies and betrayals. At its core, Birthday Girl celebrates love in its rawest form, where unimportant demographics can't diminish a love that wholly real and undeniable.

The slow burn is criminally teasing but still makes the ultimate ending very, very satisfying. The sex is smoldering and the resolution to this complicated couple is something that will both make readers happy and eager to keep the story unfolding.

Birthday Girl is one of only a few five-star reads for me this year and a book I'd highly recommend.

Thanks, Pen, for another stellar story! <3

Penelope Douglas has done it again!! This book is so amazing! The writing is so good that you feel everything that the H and h are feeling. There are no words to describe how I feel after reading this. I finished this book a couple of days ago and I am still walking around in a daze and daydreaming. You will not regret reading this!!!

This book was super tame compared to Penelope’s usual style. I love age gap romances - and this one did not disappoint. I loved the connections in this book and somewhat ‘slow burn’ vibe. This story was extremely well written - characters created who were real and genuine and fluid. Read it y’all - you won’t be disappointed!

loved this book! love this author! Penelope did it again! Jorden was amazing and relatable and funny =] Pike was beautiful and love worthy. the story felt real and gave you the same feelings as the characters. you will love this book!

I honestly was a bit skeptical when I first purchased this book. I wasn’t sure I would be able to get into the story line but I was definitely wrong. Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. I loved the book. I loved the characters. Penelope Douglas did an amazing job yet again!

Age gap. Taboo trope: falling for your boyfriend’s dad. A heroine who is young, but knows what she wants out of life and is working her butt off to get there. A hero who is a bit stagnant, but is sparked to life by our heroine. A love story that you think will be illicit, and surface, but turns out to be so deep and emotional, that you’re left tearing up and smiling and turned on all at the same time.

Penelope Douglas took what can sometimes be considered a kitschy taboo trope, and made it an emotional love story that you won’t soon forget. I’m not sure I’ve read two characters who truly fit each other so perfectly. Pike and Jordan are both the calm and the lightning strike each other needs, and I gobbled up their story.

If you enjoy love stories that include a steamy taboo romance and emotional rollercoasters, then Birthday Girl is a one click read for you!

Loved this book! You get all the feelings from it. Such a nice love story. Highly recommend! Penelope Douglas writes her characters so completely relatable that you feel for everyone one of them. The book will just make you smile :)

Another favorite of Penelope Douglas's work of art! I fell in love with Jordan and Pike seamlessly :) I love all the different stories Penelope writes:) even when they differ, they always capture my attention and leave me wanting more! A must read :)