Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend
Ten Trends to Seduce Your Best Friend by Penny Reid
Published in 2022
Main Couple: Winifred (Winnie/Fred) & Byron
The Story: High school teacher and online content creator Winnie always has big, squidgy feelings around world famous author Byron, so when they accidentally get live streamed doing a romance TikTok challenge, she’s forced to continue pretending. As they spend time together, will she be able to give voice to the feelings he brings out in her?
The Sex: The reason I’m putting this book on the blog is because these two are both virgins when they get together. It’s uncommon to center a romance around two inexperienced adults outside of historical fiction. (And usually it’s only the woman who’s inexperienced.) For both Winnie and Byron it’s never happened because they haven’t found partners they’ve wanted to be intimate with. There’s no morality around it, but simply not being ready. Let’s celebrate that. There’s no timeline for when you have to be intimate with someone else. It is, however, important that you feel emotionally ready for sex. Winnie and Byron have to figure out how to communicate outside of the bedroom, and you better believe it has an effect on how they communicate inside the bedroom. Winnie doesn’t like the taste of Byron’s semen when she gives him a blow job for the first time. Instead of telling him that, she spirals and runs away. When he finally get’s her to talk about it, he’s so kind and understanding. What made me swoon about that as a reader, is that the feelings of anxiety Winnie has are so real, but the reaction of a loving partner means that it’s never as bad as you think. Especially, when you have the conversations outside of the moment of intimacy.
Favorite Lines:
Three lines about his thighs!!! All in Chapter 15
“acquaintance, I gave myself permission to simply admire how absolutely magnificent he was—from the thickness of his thighs”
“Then, bracing a hand on his truly magnificent thigh—do not stroke it, DO NOT—”
“That’s some good, high-quality thigh right there.”
“But if you’re not ready to tell me why you don’t want oral sex with me, then I’m not ready for intercourse with you.” Chapter 33 What a stand up moment! Bryon craves honest connection and won’t accept anything less from Winnie. Yay!!!!
Least Favorite Lines:
“So incredibly stunning.” Chapter 33 Who describes a penis like this?????
Final Thoughts:
For all that these two talk about how they haven’t had sex, there isn’t a discussion about the ace spectrum. Considering Byron mentions never being sexually attracted to someone other than Winnie, I feel like demi/grey might apply here. Using those terms brings them into the light. That language can be powerful and I feel like it was a missed opportunity. Byron gets diagnosed and seeks treatment for sensory processing, which was a big deal, but I want to celebrate that being shown in the story. These two go through a lot of self acceptance work for the baggage they carry. The side characters and banter amongst the cast makes this a fun and enjoyable read.
Spice Level: 2/5
Kinks Explored: None
Voices Heard: None
Did I like it? The awkward is adorable. I appreciated the intimate journey they went on together. This felt like something that happens often in today’s world, but people might feel ashamed about. I’m glad that people who haven’t found the person they’re ready to be intimate with, can look to this story and (hopefully) see themselves as accepted.