Jae Song

Wrong Number, Right Woman

Lucia Correa

4.5 Stars for another solid romance by Jae.

I really enjoyed this slow burn romance by Jae. It combines a number of lesfic tropes – butch/femme, friends to lovers, and a toaster oven romance. One more and she may have hit BINGO!*

Denny, is a 41 yr old supermarket cashier. Her sister Salem and her 11 year niece, Bella have lived with Denny since their parents disowned the then 17 yr old, pregnant Salem. I think Denny has become one of my favorites of Jae characters. Denny is not the typical butch you read in novels. She is shy, generous, kind, and describes herself as “sturdy”.

One evening, she receives a text from an unknown number. The texter is asking for first-date outfit advice and sends a couple of photos – this outfit or this one? Both Denny and Bella laugh – they clearly have the wrong number if they are asking Denny for fashion advice! Denny texts back outfit B with the yellow sneakers and that she texted the wrong number. Turned out Eliza’s (aka Sneaker Woman's) BFF accidentally gave Eliza her new phone number wrong. And so, begins an unusual start of a friendship. There are a few hurdles – Eliza has only dated men and she assumed that Denny was a man when they began texting.

I really loved following along with their friendship to more than just friends. We also get to know their friends and family. If you would like to read a low angst, slow burn romance this is the book for you. This is the Right Book, Right Author.

*BINGO - In 2019, Jae ran a Lesbian Book Bingo game on her website, with the squares filled with tropes.

KADY BURNS

The slowest of burns but the fire was hot

Jude Silberfeld

Not long ago, I got my own wrong number text, but it didn’t lead to anything romantic. Which is quite a relief since the message I received was about a wooden cross (if you're very curious and want to see the text and the picture, go read this review on my blog)… The text Denny gets is much nicer and promising: a stranger in first-date panic over what to wear. Denny answers, thinking the exchange will be a one-time thing, but the mystery woman on the other side keeps texting her. An unusual friendship begins, becoming more and more important to both women.

It’s no secret that Jae is one of the best at writing slow-burn romance, and I really enjoyed this one. Denny is adorable. She lives with her much younger sister and her niece and is the best kind of earnest and responsible. She’s awkward and self-conscious but she’s also smart and funny when she’s comfortable. Outgoing and gorgeous, Eliza is an artist, who works with Austen and Dee (from Under a Falling Star), creating bird toys. If Denny had met her in real life from the start, she would most certainly have been too shy to chat with her. Their text relationship allows both to decide how much to show and tell, which, in a way, makes it easier to show and tell more. Eliza learns to be vulnerable and open, Denny learns she doesn’t have to be strong all the time.

Another nice point is that both Denny and Eliza have regular lives with regular jobs: Denny works in a grocery store, Eliza in a pet store. Denny’s parents are out of the picture but she has the best family with her sister Salem and Salem’s eleven-year-old daughter Bella. Eliza also has a really nice family (this one with parents) and a great best friend, Heather, who has her own interesting relationship with Denny (I won’t say more, no spoiling).

My only (very small) complaint is that the story wouldn’t have suffered from being a bit tighter. It’s on the longer side of what we’re used to in lesfic – and I’m not complaining, I like longer books too – and I felt the pace slowed down a little at times. Not enough for me to get bored but enough to be noticed.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet romance, low on angst but high on chemistry and all-around loveliness, look no further.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

A single text message can change everything! Flirting has never been Denny's strong suit, but so what if she's too shy to ask women out? She's content with her simple life, working as a cashier and helping her sister raise her niece. But then she gets a wrong-number text message from a stranger named Eliza, asking her of all people for dating advice! Eliza is Denny's total opposite: witty, outgoing--and straight. Despite their differences, the accidental text sparks an unlikely friendship. Soon, Eliza--self-proclaimed queen of disastrous first dates--would rather banter back and forth with Denny than to keep trying her luck at online dating. When they meet in person, there's an instant connection. But what Eliza is feeling can't be attraction, right? It doesn't mean a thing that she's starting to wish the guys she dates would be more like Denny. Or does it? Can the wrong number lead to the right woman after all? Wrong Number, Right Woman is a light-hearted, slow-burn lesbian romance that embraces likable characters without all the drama.

Wrong Number, Right Woman

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