Experienced

Bette is closing in on 30 and has just realized she is into women. She is also in love for the first time, and it is wonderful. That is, until her girlfriend, Mei, suggests they take three months apart so that Bette can experience all the queer dating scene has to offer. Though Bette’s first forays into the dating world go sideways, she is assisted by her new friend Ruth, who agrees to help Bette navigate this unfamiliar landscape. Soon, Bette is meeting, going out, and hooking up with hot women, finding herself in sexy and sometimes cringeworthy situations. But with Ruth as her guide, surely Bette can’t fail, or can she? Young’s (The Little Library Cookbook) debut novel is a steamy, sweet book depicting one woman’s journey toward following her heart and choosing her own path. Narrator Annabel Baldwin skillfully captures Bette’s transformation from initially timid to all in, ready to explore the queer dating scene even when it leads to messy complications. With perfect timing and well-placed inflections, Baldwin will have listeners laughing out loud and suffering bouts of secondhand embarrassment.