In her latest Book, Karelia Stetz-Waters partnered up with her wife of 23 years, Fay Stetz-Waters, to write a romantic dual perspective story titled Second Night Stand. The two had wanted to work together for years, and I can say with confidence that doing so paid off. While all of Karelia Stetz-Waters’ books are great, this one in particular had so much life and dynamic character growth. If you’re looking for a steamy romance that feels simultaneously lived-in and larger-than-life, Second Night Stand is the book for you.
While I’m not the biggest fan of erotica, I’m a sucker for smutty romance that delves into the main character’s emotional trauma in addition to their ***** (censored for this PG-13 site). This book certainly did just that. Izzy Wells is a burlesque superstar who runs an amateur burlesque troupe. She’s confident and brash and goes by her stage name even to her friends, but that’s not really who she is underneath. Lillian Jackson is a picture perfect Black ballerina and has been her whole life, but she’s not really sure if that’s who she wants to be anymore.
When Izzy and Lillian meet, they hit it off instantly. After a night of remarkable sex, they go their separate ways as both are used to doing with their partners. However, weeks later they find themselves together once again, this time on the set of The Great American Talent Show, a competition somewhat similar to America’s Got Talent except only for dancers. Both Lillian and Izzy have so much on the line, but the focus here is how these foil personalities help to unlock a softer side in both of them.
It’s so cute to watch them open up and fall in love, and it adds a weight to the Sex Scenes that makes them feel earned. Also, unlike some of the other more popular wlw books (I will not name any names publicly but you can DM me), these sex scenes felt like they were written by lesbians who fuck. It was hot. There was a strap. There were different sex positions and cuddling and lesbian characters who weren’t written as soft innocent nubile creatures. Obviously, I loved it.
As always, I love a good tie-in, and this book delivered. If you read Behind the Scenes, Karelia Stetz-Waters’ 2023 release, you’re sure to be familiar with Rose Josten and Ash Stewart. They make a brief appearance in this book, to my delight! They’re there for the perfect amount of time—long enough that I realized they were the same characters, but not so long that you would need to read this book first or for it to become a true companion novel. These books simply take place in the same world, and that was taken advantage of while writing.
Overall, If you’re looking for a smutty sorta-slow burn romance between two Hot Successful dancers written by a hot successful couple, you’re going to love Second Night Stand when it comes out in May.
Find the Book: Goodreads | StoryGraph | Bookshop
