Experienced - by Kate Young (Paperback)

About the Book

"A fresh, sexy romantic comedy about a newly-out lesbian finding herself, finding her tribe, and finding her partner-in that order. Bette is in love for the first time in her life. When she turned thirty, she realized she likes women and fell for Mei. Finally, everything makes sense. Until, out of the blue, Mei suggests they take a break so that Bette can go and do all the exploring she missed out on in her twenties - for her to plunge into the queer dating scene and return to Mei clearer about her desires, her preferences, and her choice to be with Mei and Mei alone. So, reluctantly, Bette is set on a mission: date lots of hot women and have lots of hot casual sex, so she can come back to Mei and what she really wants. Put that way, maybe it doesn't sound so bad? Bette's dating odyssey takes her to unexpected places, some cringingly disastrous, some heady and thrilling. Between dates, she learns to lean on her community and shake off the awkwardness of coming into self-understanding in her thirties. Not least, it turns out that love is waiting where she doesn't even expect to find it"--

Book Synopsis

"A fizzing, lip-chewing, collar-bone biting, palm-sweating roller-coaster of a rom-com that is both the sexiest book you'll read all year and the most heartening." --Caroline O'Donoghue, New York Times bestselling author of The Rachel Incident

"A joyful, exhilarating romp of a romance!" --Ashley Herring Blake, bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn't Date

Bette is in love for the first time in her life. Finally, everything makes sense. Until it doesn't.

As Bette approached thirty, she realized something big: she's into women. And then she fell for Mei, who's entirely perfect. Until, out of the blue, Mei suggests they take a break. She wants Bette to have the opportunity she missed out on in her twenties: to explore the queer dating scene, and then return certain about their future, her desires, and herself.

Reluctantly, Bette sets out on a mission: date hot women and have hot casual sex, before returning to her loving girlfriend. Maybe, put that way, it doesn't sound so bad...

Often heady and thrilling, occasionally cringe, Bette's odyssey will take her to some unexpected places. But with her new friend, the gorgeous and self-assured Ruth, as her queer dating guide, Bette can't possibly fail. Right?

Review Quotes

Praise for Experienced

"A fizzing, lip-chewing, collar-bone biting, palm-sweating roller-coaster of a rom-com that is both the sexiest book you'll read all year and the most heartening. A big, kind, horny love-in that will embolden readers to get some more experience of their own."
--Caroline O'Donoghue, New York Times bestselling author of The Rachel Incident

"A joyful, exhilarating romp of a romance! Experienced reminds us all that sometimes, the best of life--and love--is found where you least expect it. A beautiful celebration of love and identity."
--Ashley Herring Blake, bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn't Date

"Clever, sexy and joyful, Experienced is filled with characters who quickly feel like old friends. A stunner of a debut novel--I loved it."
--Beth O'Leary, international bestselling author of The Wake-Up Call

"Experienced is fun, sexy and smart. Kate Young's take on dating, relationships and learning about your own queerness is wonderfully astute, her characters are warm and recognisable and importantly, deeply fanciable. I loved it."
--Laura Kay, author of Wild Things

"Simultaneously steamy, swoon-worthy, and sweet, Experienced is also very relatable in many ways...In addition to an ensemble of witty, lovable side characters and hilariously British banter, the novel definitely excels in drawing a laugh. A hilariously chaotic insight into modern dating culture, Experienced is an ode to the beauty of queer love stories."
--The Chicago Review of Books

"Young's debut is a joyful, queer romance that shows the reality of finding your space in a community and gaining enough experience to know what you want."
--Washington Post

"This is the sexy, slow-burn queer love story we've been waiting for....Delightful through and through...Experienced beings together a winning cast and a series of romcom-worthy setups for a love story as heartfelt as it is fun. It's a no-holds-barred celebration that shows following your heart, despite the risks, offers great reward."
--Booklist starred review

"Young's exuberant debut novel follows the bumbling erotic adventures of a newly out lesbian.... Hilarity, secondhand embarrassment, and some sensual love scenes follow."
--Publishers Weekly

"Extremely hot....Sexy, hilarious, and rife with romantic tension, Experienced is a ton of fun."
--Bustle

"A whole­hearted, fun exploration of dating and love in the 21st century....Young's charming British English pairs with a young mil­lennial's quirky, anxious interiority for a fun, surprisingly profound read. Romantics, if you're lonely or even if you're happily in love, this novel will be a treat."
--Bookpage

About the Author

Kate Young is a writer and cook, whose award-winning Little Library Cookbooks feature food inspired by beloved works of literature. After a sunny Australian childhood (spent indoors reading books) she moved to London, which suited her much better. She now lives in a converted mill in a Gloucestershire town. Experienced is her first novel.