After falling head over heels for Something To Talk About (seriously, I’ve reread it and still love it just as much), I went into Mistakes Were Made expecting another winner. Instead, I found myself questioning some of the choices and wondering where the charm had gone. 

 

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: the relationship between Erin and Cassie. The 17-year age gap (21/39) didn’t bother me—Something To Talk About had a 14-year gap that worked just fine. The issue here is the context. Erin isn’t just older; she’s Cassie’s best friend’s mom. That dynamic adds a layer of taboo that often feels more uncomfortable than romantic. 

 

Then there’s the balance between intimacy and emotional connection. While I enjoy a spicy scene, Mistakes Were Made leans so heavily on the physical that the emotional bond between Erin and Cassie takes a backseat. The rare quiet moments when their deeper connection shines through are sweet, but they’re buried under a pile of steamy scenes, making it harder to root for them as a couple. 

 

Erin’s behavior didn’t help either. Her tendency to belittle Cassie to create distance came off as cruel, especially when she knew better. The irony of Erin calling out Cassie’s “mommy issues” while clearly battling her own wasn’t lost on me. Meanwhile, Cassie’s occasional objectifying thoughts about Erin didn’t help either. 

 

As for the epilogue? A missed opportunity. Instead of showing their growth together, we get a time jump to their engagement four years later, which felt anticlimactic and added little to the story. 

 

Mistakes Were Made isn’t a bad book—it’s bold, passionate, and at times entertaining. But compared to Something To Talk About, it falls short. The charm, emotional depth, and well-rounded storytelling of Wilsner’s debut are missing here. If you’re in the mood for a messy, steamy romance, give it a try—but if you want a heartfelt love story, this one might leave you wanting more.