Mistakes Were Made

03 · Reader evidence

What the evidence says

What readers repeatedly liked

• Age Gap. Reader loved the book and highlights the age gap as a central, notable element, recommending it to fellow age gap fans; The 18-year age difference between the protagonists is integral to their dynamic and what makes the relationship work. Supported by 2 sources (source 42, source 11494).
• Explicit Heat. Spice scenes were praised as good; The reviewer calls the book piping hot and praises the liberal number of very hot sex scenes in covert locations; Multiple readers praise the spice/heat as a highlight, rating it highly and calling it better than most. Supported by 7 sources (source 38, source 39, source 41, source 10842, source 10845, source 10846, source 11492).
• Likable Lead. Reader loved the main characters and felt invested in them; Cassie is described as whip smart, ambitious, resilient, and confident; Erin is the reader’s favorite Wilsner character. Supported by 4 sources (source 38, source 10842, source 10845, source 11492).
• Emotional. Reader unexpectedly loved it and cried at the end; The ending speech made the reader cry; Reader cried at the ending. Supported by 4 sources (source 38, source 39, source 41, source 10842).
• Character Growth. Reader highlights how the characters grew and themes of self-care and growth; Characters demonstrated meaningful growth and self-care throughout the story; Both characters showed significant development, with Cassie learning she deserves love and can let people in, and Erin discovering herself after divorce and learning not everything has to be perfect. Supported by 3 sources (source 39, source 41, source 10842).
• Complex Characters. Cassie’s character had some depth according to the reviewer; Wilsner expertly develops both Cassie and Erin, shining light on their motivations and backstories; One protagonist has moments of insensitive behavior but is immediately contrite and makes amends, showing genuine concern for the other’s wellbeing. Supported by 3 sources (source 42, source 10843, source 10845).
• Explicit Comparison. Reader preferred this book over Something to Talk About, which they did not finish; Reader liked MWM a bit better than Cleat Cute but also rated Cleat Cute higher as a complete work due to not gelling with Cassie. Supported by 2 sources (source 10846, source 11492).
• Strong Plot. The reviewer calls it a well-crafted, thought-provoking contemporary romance that challenged her prejudices about age differences; Reader loved the unconventional choice of resolving the expected narrative climax off-page; Has great characters and good plot beyond just being a smut novel. Supported by 3 sources (source 38, source 10845, source 11492).
• Humorous. The reviewer describes the book as funny; The book was funny; Humor is spread throughout the book. Supported by 3 sources (source 41, source 42, source 10845).
• Easy Comfort Read. Multiple readers described it as a fun read; Reader described it as a feel-good book. Supported by 2 sources (source 38, source 39).
• Tender. The book is described as deeply empathetic and nuanced; The tenderness between the two women feels genuine throughout their relationship development. Supported by 2 sources (source 42, source 10845).

What readers repeatedly flagged

• Unlikable Lead. Reader could not connect with the younger lead character, finding her not the type of person they enjoy reading about; Readers did not connect with the characters, finding them mean to each other and giving them the ick; one rated 2/5 partly for this reason; Reader did not gel with Cassie as a character. Supported by 4 sources (source 39, source 10842, source 10846, source 11492).
• Power Imbalance. Multiple layered power gaps—age, class, wealth, profession, and guest-host dependency—make the dynamic deeply uncomfortable and neither character addresses them; Reader criticizes the book for being utterly oblivious to the power imbalance between the characters, contrasting it unfavorably with Wilsner’s other work; Reader found the book deeply problematic due to a real power imbalance between the characters. Supported by 2 sources (source 10843, source 11494).
• Weak Plot. The significant power dynamics between the leads are never dealt with or even reflected on by either character in the first third of the book; Character actions and maturity shifts felt manufactured for plot convenience rather than organic; Reader found the ending hard to believe, specifically that the daughter’s forgiveness was implausible. Supported by 3 sources (source 10843, source 10846, source 11494).
• Third Act Breakup. No huge third act breakup occurred; The book does not include a big breakup, creating waiting-for-the-shoe-to-drop tension instead. Supported by 2 sources (source 41, source 42).
• Toxic Dynamic. The situation felt creepy rather than romantic, with many conditions of a predatory situation present despite Erin’s intentions; Characters are described as mean to each other at times and every main character lies unnecessarily. Supported by 2 sources (source 10843, source 10846).

Where reader reactions differ

• Complex Characters. Cassie’s character had some depth according to the reviewer; Wilsner expertly develops both Cassie and Erin, shining light on their motivations and backstories; One protagonist has moments of insensitive behavior but is immediately contrite and makes amends, showing genuine concern for the other’s wellbeing. Supported by 3 sources (source 42, source 10843, source 10845).
• Explicit Comparison. Reader preferred this book over Something to Talk About, which they did not finish; Reader liked MWM a bit better than Cleat Cute but also rated Cleat Cute higher as a complete work due to not gelling with Cassie; Something to Talk About by the same author reads similarly but has noticeably slower pacing. Supported by 3 sources (source 39, source 10846, source 11492).

Individual observations

• Flat Characters. Characters’ mood shifts and maturity levels felt inauthentic and driven by plot convenience rather than genuine development; one reader called them wattpad-like.
• Cheating. Content warnings include a cheating partner in the past and divorced parents.
• Beginner Friendly. Reader’s first sapphic book and couldn’t get enough, suggesting accessibility to newcomers.
• Genre Fans. Reader explicitly recommends the book to anyone who loves age gap romance.
• Frequent Heat. Spicy scenes are plentiful throughout the book.
• Explicit Recommendation. Recommended for readers who enjoyed this book.
• Slow Paced. The second half was slow with not much happening.
• Strong Prose. The reviewer found the writing itself pretty good despite not finishing the book.
• Weak Prose. Contains cringe-worthy lines including awkward phrasing about anatomy.
• Strong Chemistry. The protagonists are perfectly matched and bring out the best in each other.

Reader sources

1. Reddit discussion
2. Reddit discussion
3. thebookdutchesses.com – Independent review
4. thelesbianreview.com – Independent review
5. Reddit discussion
6. dearauthor.com – Independent review
7. lesbrary.com – Independent review
8. Reddit discussion
9. Reddit discussion
10. Reddit discussion