From the very first chapter I was completely hooked! The author paints each scene so vividly that it felt like I was watching a movie unfold. The characters are not only relatable but also infused with humor, making them incredibly entertaining. I found myself racing through the pages, unable to put the book down!

While it is a romance novel, I appreciated how the story also dives into themes of personal growth, trust, and self-love. The slow burn was there and ultimately so rewarding. Raph had me swooning from the beginning! He was my favorite character. And the girls were too adorable, I wish I could give them a hug.

This was my first time reading a book from this author, and I can confidently say it won’t be my last! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming read that beautifully combines romance with meaningful life lessons.

Reverse age-gap romances aren't typically what I read but I've been seeing a lot of buzz around this book and thought I'd give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful this book was. If you enjoy grumpy x sunshine and a sweet but still steamy love story this book is for you.

I really liked both characters and thought they were believable. Rafe and Lana were a slow burn which only added to the angst and mutual pining. The tender moments between these two were so sweet, really melted the heart. I just loved how gone Rafe was for Lana. Lana does take a rather long time to give Rafe a chance. However I still found these two adorable and lovely to read about.

Pacing was a bit slow for my taste but otherwise I enjoyed the writing.

A great, romantic romance.

*Give & Take* by Claire Wilder truly took me by surprise in the best way possible. From the very first page, I was hooked by the rich, emotional depth of the story. This isn’t just a romance—it's a story about vulnerability, personal growth, and learning to embrace both giving and receiving love. Wilder’s writing feels so real and effortless, pulling you into the characters' lives and making you feel like you're right there with them, navigating the ups and downs of their journey.

What really struck me was how well Wilder developed the characters. They’re not perfect, but that’s exactly what makes them so relatable. I found myself rooting for them every step of the way, especially as they learned to trust, open up, and support one another. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, and watching their relationship evolve was a true joy. The way the story balances moments of humor with deeper emotional moments felt so natural and kept me turning pages long into the night.

What really made *Give & Take* special for me was how it made me reflect on my own relationships and what it means to give without expecting anything in return. It’s a beautiful reminder of the power of both generosity and self-acceptance. This book left me with a full heart and a reminder of how important human connection truly is. I couldn’t recommend it more—whether you’re a fan of contemporary romance or simply love a story with heart, *Give & Take* is a must-read. Additionally , could I ever say no to an age gap story….

Given how much I love an older woman/younger man (reverse age gap) story it shouldn't be a surprise that I adored Give & Take. But actually, I was initially a little apprehensive. I really like Claire Wilder so I knew the quality would be good, however, I prefer my books as child-free as possible and am not a fan of the nanny trope at all, hence my few reservations. I'm pleased to say Raph's sunny disposition just blew right through them.

I really enjoyed being transported from my grey wintery reality to a wonderful seaside small-town existence full of beach visits and sunshine where nothing terrible happens, who wouldn't?! Raphael was a delight, he's so perfect it is kind of unreal but I'm ok with that - I'm not necessarily looking for reality in my fiction! I thought he was so warm and thoughtful, so careful about not overstepping but always there. I liked Lana, her attempts to hold herself in check, especially when she's trying not to laugh at Raph and the girl's antics, felt so relatable and her decisions felt brave and grounded.

Give & Take was like a shot of much-needed dopamine and vitamin D to get me through the winter. It made me warm and fuzzy and happy!

Many thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and the author for the ARC, this is my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were funny and lovable and I really enjoyed reading their story. I would absolutely recommend!

Oh this book as just SO gosh darn good!! I could not put it down. Claire Wilder, you know how to write a darling book. I loved the main characters and their sweet story.

𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚 by 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 is book two in the 𝙍𝙚𝙙𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙫𝙚 series and is an age gap, grumpy sunshine romance where Raph is the sunshine and Lana is the older woman.

While he is finishing up his doctorate in English Lit Raph takes a summer job as a nanny for Lana’s two daughters. At first Lana thinks he’s little more than a flirt but there’s definitely more to him than meets the eye.

Lana is a single parent raising two lively daughters while trying to ignore the feelings developing between her and Raph. Lana knows Raph plans to leave at the end of summer so she’s trying to protect her girls as well as her own heart.

Raph is a swoon worthy book boyfriend who is charming, thoughtful and supports Lana without being overbearing. While he is instantly attracted to Lana he takes the time to find out who she is and what’s she’s really like.

I really enjoyed this reverse age gap love story of 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 and found the slow burn romance to be so satisfying. I also really enjoyed the pace and how the story unfolded and I found the characters likeable and relatable. I will definitely be reading more books in this series!

* Small town
* Age gap (she’s 14 years older)
* Grumpy sunshine (he’s the sunshine)
* He falls first
* Forced proximity

This was a GREAT story to listen to! AWESOME narration! Great main characters. The plot was easy to find. The story was engaging and easy to follow. Will be purchasing this book. Shout out to Netgalley and publishing for allowing me to listen and review this story.

4 STARS!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

What a great book!! It had me hooked from page one! I couldn’t put this down. I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. This was a first for me by this author but it will not be my last!!

Good age gap romance set in small-town British Columbia👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

Things I liked most about the novel:

--Two POVs of principal characters Raphael and Lana. I got just as much, maybe more, of Raphael's perspective on his attraction and emotions as I did from older, divorced mother of two Lana;

--The age gap and manny tropes;

--Raphael's openness and patience with Lana, and his energy and creative fun with Lanka's girls;

--Lana's daughters, Aurora (5) and Nova (8). Realistically portrayed, and the glue that holds the couple together until Raphael and particularly reluctant Lana actually start acknowledging their feelings to each other;

--Level and frequency of steam in the relationship. I liked that the steam and build up to it are definitely a factor, but in no way dominated the story;

--Secondary characters are present, developed just enough to ground the family and Raphael in the community. Seen, involved, but leave the bulk of the action with Lana, Raphael and the girls;

--The turn Lana's work life takes and her ex Mike's rehabilitation. And that Lana was happy and proud to be a restaurant server, chucked in her law career to do something that made her happier;

--Cute ending; and

--Canadian setting.

What I liked less:

--A bit long, especially the introspection and Lana's dilly dallying over whether they should get more involved.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Tropes:
Reverse Age Gap
He falls first
Small Town
Grumpy vs. Sunshine

When I saw a reverse age gap, I knew I had to check this book out. I love that Lana is the cougar Raphael is in to, and that he doesn't try to change who she is, or belittle her situation (a single mom to 2 energetic kids).

I also like the Raphael has his own thing going on, going to school and bettering himself. It's not like he latched on to a rich widow, he liked her for who she was, no matter her circumstances.

This book gives all the beach read vibes! Check it out!

A Heartfelt Journey Through Love and Time

Give & Take by Claire Wilder takes readers on an emotional journey exploring love, trust, and personal growth. The story follows Emma, in her forties, and Luke, in his twenties, as they navigate a relationship challenged by their age gap. Emma is uncertain about her life, while Luke questions his happiness.

Wilder crafts their relationship with a balance of vulnerability and strength, making it feel authentic. Emma’s self-worth struggles and Luke’s experience with societal judgment add depth to their connection. The slow-burning romance is filled with tender moments, leading to a satisfying emotional payoff. The age gap theme is handled with sensitivity, showing that love doesn’t follow societal rules. Give & Take is a refreshing reminder that love is worth taking risks for, no matter the difference in age.

Thank you BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the ARC!

Give and Take by Claire Wilder is an agreement gap romance that took me by surprise. I was hooked to the emotional depth of the story that was not just about romance but the story of vulnerability and personal growth.

The characters are developed in a way that they're not May Sue typer perfect which makes them so relatable.

The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, and watching their relationship evolve was a true joy.

Overall, i felt the story balances the moments of humor and deeper emotional moments naturally that had me hooked and unable to put the book down.

This is a sweet and sexy story about Lana, a 40 year old divorced Mom of 2 little girls and Rafael, a very hot, charming 26 year old man who spend the summer as her nanny. It’s about societal norms (aka “Cougar”) and finding the self love to get beyond that and be with who you want to be with. Rafael is in town for the summer trying to complete is PhD dissertation on Tolstoy’s writings. Lana is desperate for childcare and has a studio apartment over her garage. They meet, there is a LOT of sexual tension, but Lana is kinda backed into giving Rafe a trial week as the nanny by her little girls. Over the summer, lots happens, they both change each other and different life paths are considered.

I absolutely loved this story! When I realized it was the second in a series, I found the first book and read it. That book was good but not great so I was a little worried about this one.

I loved the dynamic between the main characters. I loved the age gap -- especially that the woman was older. That is so hard to find! I love finding stories about people who have been divorced with kids finding love.

The sweetness of their relationship was so adorable and then there was spice!

I'll definitely read more by this author!

This book was great! I have never read a book with an age gap like this one. But I enjoyed it quite a bit! The romance was very well flushed out!

This was my Second book by this authour and I must say it didn't disappoint!
I'm normally not a huge fan of reverse age gap romance but helloooo! I also apparently cannot resist Ralph's charm.
A lovely story, charachters with a lot of heart. I can't wait for the next book.

Thank you Netgalley, Author and Publisher for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts.

3.75 ⭐️ ARC review! - I love unconventional romances.

This book is a Reverse Age Gap book, meaning the FMC is older than the MMC... and I always eat these kinds of stories up like they are dipped in chocolate. I might be Raph age irl -and can therefore attest to just how odd I would find it to date someone about 15 years my senior- but I loved this story. Lana's character was a bit of a mess emotionally speaking, and I don't necessarily think she was a person to imitate when it comes to maintaining a healthy relationship, but I suppose that is the point of the story.

All relationships are unfair and unbalanced at most times. Navigating that takes some true strength of character. One which Lana did not have, all while Raph seemed to have some sadistic positivity-on-shrooms kind of kumbaya view of life, which seemed to border on manic behaviour at times. And as much as I wanted to believe his character could be possible and real -I am aware that this is a FICTION book and a romance to boot -still, I cannot suspend my disbelief quite this much. He is the 'manic pixie dream girl' version tailored to the suburban housewife, a fact that the book doesn't really try to hide, and even pokes fun at itself for it a couple of times. It was entertaining to see and heartbreaking to experience both characters breaking their own heart by trying not to damage the other's. It's a HFN ending, though, so there's nothing to worry about that.

It's a lovely Reverse Age Gap, and Reverse Nanny Romance I can definitely recommend it if those are something you like. The aspect of Raph being the nanny was, in my opinion, severely underdeveloped, but we get a good handful of scenes where he's basically falling in love with Lana's daughters, Nova and Aurora. This is a story where instalust and instalove take a very prominent role in the plot, so beware.

The ending, which I will not go into detail describing or say too much about, was both expected and unexpected in some ways. I enjoyed it, but thought it could've used a bit more info about how their lives are playing out.

🌶🌶🌶 / 5 - This is an open-door romance with discussions on safe s3x and k!nk. There are a few explicit scenes, all quite good imo.

*Thank you Net Galley for providing this eARC!

Give & Take by Claire Wilder is an absolute delight—a heartwarming and cozy romance that had me hooked from start to finish. Set in a charming small town, the story brings Lana and Raphael’s slow-burn romance to life with humor, real-life challenges, and genuine emotional depth. Lana is a relatable single mom balancing her dreams and raising two wonderful daughters, while Raphael is the perfect swoon-worthy hero: patient, thoughtful, and full of quiet strength. The book beautifully explores themes of personal growth and self-love, making the love story even more meaningful. This was my first Claire Wilder novel, and it definitely won’t be my last! A feel-good, memorable read I’ll be recommending to anyone who loves a heartfelt romance.

Tropes: Age Gap, Grumpy x Sunshine, Black Cat x Golden Retriever, Single Mom x “Manny,” He Falls First, Forced Proximity, Small Town