Your Dad Was Better

by Penny Fox

What do you do when you find your boyfriend in bed with your best friend? You get even.
I’m done being the good girl. The one who follows the rules, plays it safe, and never steps out of line. Where has it gotten me? Betrayed by my ex-boyfriend and my so-called best friend. But they’re about to see a side of me they never expected.

This time, I’m in control, and I’m living life on my terms. No more playing nice. I’m ready to take what I want and get even with those who wronged me. I've got the perfect plan to get back at date their dad.

Yeah, my cheating ex and backstabbing best friend are step-siblings, and they won’t see this coming. I’ll use my sweet, innocent charm to reel him in, and it’ll hit them where it hurts.

But here’s the catch—I didn’t expect to actually fall for him. And the bigger problem? He’s falling for me too. Suddenly, revenge doesn’t seem so simple anymore… and neither does keeping my heart intact.

Genres: Forbidden Romance

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2025

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Daddy Elliot, yes sir. What a mouth on him. Sera finds her boyfriend cheating on her and when he runs to his dad to fix his problems again. She decides maybe she should get some revenge. What she didn't expect was for Elliot to truly see her. He fought his attraction but the pull was too strong. They complimented each other so well. He wanted her to see herself the way he sees her and helped her gain confidence.
Their chemistry was off the page, the spicy scenes were so good.

[Janet Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Dad Was Better ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Penny Fox
Elliot and Seraphine
This book had quite the waterworks, so make sure you have some tissues around you when you read it as you may need them. Elliot is the owner and CEO of his own company and practically owns half of the city. He has a younger son named Harrison who was dating Seraphine until she caught him cheating with his stepsister. In a way to keep her quiet to not ruin the family business Elliot has Seraphine come to his house to do an in-home massage and to make sure that she’s not going to talk about Harrison to the press for revenge. The only thing Elliot was not expecting to develop a thing for her. Even though Elliot is Harrison‘s father can Seraphine allow her feelings to grow with Elliot or will her past keep her guarded and closed off from a possibility of a relationship.

[Shyanne Blankenship · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loathe when an author makes the characters forgive shitty people😒 but even worse when they forgive them and let them back in their life, gag

Also why throughout this whole book did Seraphine defend and show more grace to her cheating manipulative ex than the mmc. Absolutely bonkers

The sex wasn’t my cup of tea but I’m sure it’ll work for someone

Btw the dad had a fetish with knowing that his dick was bigger than his sons and that he fucked her better than his son

[Jenn M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forbidden Love, Age Gap Read at its Best!

Loved this book! So much that I couldn’t put it down. The storyline had me glued to my kindle and I think the heat between Elliot and Sera melted my panties! Penny Fox’s books are always a must read for me and this one is one of my favourites by her! Can wait to see what is coming next from this very talented author!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this book boyfriend cheated on girlfriend with stepsister then his ex gets with his dad
But it more about emotions and trust after being treated badly by her dad and ex
It’s a great storyline and kept me hooked until the end

[Rachel ⭐️🖤💋Dark & Dirty & A Lot Of Smutty Reviews💋🖤⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 1st book by Penny Fox

This had everything I love about age gap books. I devoured it in 24 hours. Couldn’t put it down! Can’t wait to look at more books by this author. This was perfection!

[Manuela Molteni · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💋

Oh, Penny Fox. You little minx. Just when I thought I’d reached my lifetime quota of “billionaire-dad-of-the-ex” storylines, you stroll in with Your Dad Was Better and proceed to wreck me in the most deliciously elegant way.

Let’s get the basics out of the way: yes, there’s an age gap. Yes, the love interest is the unfairly hot, disgustingly rich father of Seraphine’s absolutely forgettable (and frankly disposable) ex. And yes, there’s a stepsister tossed in just to stir the trope-pot a little more. And yet? Somehow this is Penny Fox at her least dark and possibly most emotionally addictive.

Elliot is... how do I put this gently? A walking, talking, tailored-suit-wrapped panty problem. He swims in the shark tank of ruthless business deals and comes out not only alive but still honest, still decent, and alarmingly swoon-worthy. A unicorn in boardroom form. If anyone out there knows a real-life Elliot, do be a darling and forward him my résumé. I mean number. Whatever.

And Seraphine? Sweet, traumatized, finding-her-worth Seraphine? Watching her rise from heartbreak and doubt to owning her strength is like sipping champagne that gets you tipsy and motivated. Her journey isn’t just about love—it’s about claiming her voice, her value, and one very fine silver fox. Girl, we applaud.

Let’s not forget the sass-bomb bestie, Gia. Loud, loyal, and utterly unfiltered, Gia is the kind of ride-or-die we all need—and the kind of scene-stealer who definitely deserves her own book. Spin-off, Penny. Do it. I dare you.

Bottom line: Your Dad Was Better is proof that tropes, when handled by a clever hand and a wicked pen, can still surprise, delight, and scorch your Kindle screen. Penny Fox, you’ve done it again—and my TBR and my ovaries will never recover.

[Jezebel Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had no business being that unhinged and delicious. Penny Fox took the phrase “keep it in the family” and said, “bet.” Sera walks in on her boyfriend Harrison cheating—with his stepsister, no less—and instead of spiraling, she ends up entangled with his billionaire father, Elliot. And when I say entangled, I mean handsy massage with lingering eye contact and soul-shattering tension kind of entangled.

Elliot is the kind of morally gray, possessive older man who makes you forget the son even existed. The moment he tries to “smooth things over” and ends up obsessed with the girl his son betrayed? I ascended. The power imbalance, the forbidden vibes, the slow unraveling of control—this book is a masterclass in “you shouldn’t, but you will.”

Microtropes? Oh, she delivered:

• 🖤 “Touch her and die” energy from Elliot the moment he realizes he wants her.
• 💆‍♀️ Accidental intimacy that turns into full-blown obsession.
• 💸 Billionaire guilt turned into possessive redemption arc.

Sera’s arc is equally feral—she’s not just a pawn in their drama. She’s the spark that sets the whole twisted dynamic ablaze. And the chemistry? Palpable. Like, I need a cold shower and a moral compass palpable.

If you love messy power plays, forbidden age gaps, and the kind of tension that makes you clutch your Kindle like it owes you money, Your Dad Was Better is your next obsession.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get the tissues ready—this book brought on the waterworks more than once! It’s an emotional, addictive read that grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go.

Elliot is a powerful CEO who practically owns half the city. He’s successful, wealthy, and used to being in control. But things take a complicated turn when his son, Harrison, cheats on his girlfriend, Seraphine—with his stepsister. The scandal threatens to blow up their carefully managed family image, so Elliot arranges for Seraphine to come to his home for an in-house massage session, under the guise of making sure she won’t go public and damage the business.

What Elliot doesn’t expect is to be drawn to Seraphine himself.

Despite the age gap and the very complicated connection to his son, Elliot finds himself developing genuine feelings for her. Seraphine, hurt and guarded from her past, especially after the betrayal by Harrison, doesn’t know if she can trust her heart again—especially not with someone so close to the pain she’s trying to move past.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but the emotional stakes are even higher. Can Seraphine let go of the past and give herself permission to fall for someone unexpected? And can Elliot truly be the kind of man she deserves, not just someone trying to keep a scandal under wraps?

This story is full of heart, healing, and second chances. A powerful, emotional rollercoaster that explores love in the most unexpected places.

[Jaime Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Dad Was Better is petty, messy, delicious chaos and I mean that in the absolute best way. Penny Fox took the “get even” trope and ran with it straight into a hilarious, steamy, unexpectedly sweet revenge romance that I devoured in one sitting.

Seraphine gets betrayed in the worst way possible. Her plan to go after the one man , Elliot Caldwell, her ex would never see coming had me hooked. She steps into this scheme thinking she’s in control, ready to play the innocent card and break a few hearts on purpose; only to meet a man who actually sees her. Their chemistry is fun and flirty in that “I did not think this through” kind of way, and watching her fall for someone she never planned on wanting was my favorite part.

Penny Fox balances humor, heartache, and heat so well here. The revenge is satisfying, the banter is sharp, and the emotional beats sneak up on you just when you think you’re only here for the drama. By the end, I was fully invested and cheering for her to choose happiness, not just payback.

As always, be mindful of trigger warnings, what works for me may not work for you.

Happy reading!

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Dad Was Better is a spice age gap story.

I wasn't a fan of Elliot at the beginning. He really thinks lowly of Seraphine, but she shows him that she isn't what he thinks. She is very sassy and gives as good as she gets.

Sera gets a punch in the gut and turns to her cheating ex, Harrison, as she had no one else in her life. His dad, Elliot is there at the time and as he is interested in Sera, he does what he can to make sure Sera and his son do not get back together. He wants her for himself so he makes it that he will get what he wants. I enjoyed his determination and thought he as very caring for Sera when she goes through some of her hardships.

This was a great read. I didn't find it overly about a revenge relationship, I felt there was a lot of fighting their feelings and trying to be respectful of Harrison. However, the spice is top notch and hot, hot, hot.

[Rhonda Boone · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG!! Foxy, Dirty Mouth Daddy Elliot..hmm Definitely YES!! I strongly advise to have tissues 🤧 for this book...Poor Seraphine catches her boyfriend cheating on her...won't reveal the person..IT will shock you!! Her dad is so horrible to her it's unbelievable and it just gets worse from this point. My heart was so breaking for Poor Seraphine, to feel betrayed, unloved, unacceptable to others...my heart💔 . Then Elliot attempts to make things better...and she begins to stand up for herself!! As the story progresses they start to have feelings and you can just read how their relationship builds...does Harrison likes it?? Well grab this book and read to see what happens to Seraphine, Elliot and just who was Harrison caught cheating with 🤔?

I received this as a free co I y and leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Nicole M · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is the most logical option after you catch your boyfriend cheating on you? Well, you sleep with his dad, of course 🤣.

Now, this story isn't quite as simple as that sounds, and I'm glad it wasn't your typical angry girl, revenge storyline. It took me a minute to warm up to Elliot. Maybe because his son sucks, maybe because he's very stoic and has all of his walls up, maybe there's just something in the DNA of that family, but once I came around... boy, did I come around 😉. The spice was top tier, and maybe, just maybe, older is the way to go.

I enjoyed Sera. Talk about someone having a rough go at life, but still having a relatively positive outlook. I loved her and Gia together and would love to see Gia's story 👀.

[Jessica Fahey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the title alone tells you all you need to know about this great book! A cheating ex and she looks out for revenge with his father! Seraphine gets her revenge and then tries to avoid Elliot. He convinces her to come work for him and they can no longer fight their desire for one another.

I enjoyed the characters in this book with the exception of Harrison. He was the cheating ex who wanted his cake and eat it too. He wasn’t willing to take no for an answer that Seraphine didn’t want him back.

This was a great read. I didn’t want to put the book down. I devoured it in one sitting. This is my first book from this author but will be reading others!

[Ambershay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few sentences of the books draws you in and makes you instantly invested wanting to know more.

Characters are all important and serve purpose in the story even the small characters such as the best friend. The main character Sera, goes on a journey of self reflection and self discovery. In that journey she has to make difficult decisions and is faced with the common situation of not being able to choose who you love.

I enjoyed how it was not a stereotypical read with the scenario at hand and within the sexual chemistry of the characters that was able to be played while also having a storyline.

Silver Fox seems to be the way to go.

[Allison Comis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good. I love everything Penny writes. This one is about Seraphine. She was dating Harrison and she walked in on him in their room doing something he shouldn’t. She packed what she could and left. She had no where to go except back to her father’s house. He was not nice to her he blamed her for losing his wife and her mother. It wasn’t her fault. Seraphine was a massage therapist and she was hired for a private massage. Turns out it was Harrison’s father Elliot. He offered for her to come work for him. He would give het a place to stay and a new car. She turned him down multiple times but she eventually gave in after something happened. Great book.

[Mafia Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

When she walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her and then runs to his dad to fix things. She was not expecting the hot older man to see her and make her feel all the things. Their tension is spicy from the beginning and when things finally snap, it is steamy. He makes her feel everything. He might be a little obsessed with her, but she comes into her own and brings it right back. Very steamy, melt your panties right off.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a relationship nightmare

First off her boyfriend cheated on her with his stepsister. So she left him and was forced to go home which was not a good situation either. Her Dad is not good to her. 

He ex boyfriends Dad takes a liking to her and spends a lot of time and energy trying to get her to like him. He is really good for her though. 

I really enjoyed all the complexities in the relationships. The sexual tension is palpable and when it breaks it's so good. 

[Paige Pangrazio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book! I couldn't put it down. I was hooked from start to finish. This book is definitely a page turner. I couldn't tell what was going to happen next. The relationship between Elliot and Seraphine is a beautiful one. I could feel their connection from the very beginning. I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Charlene Alana Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me some penny fox books, can't get enough of them. Everyone she writes I grab them up, eat them up like it's my last meal.

This book was fucking incredible and hot. I couldn't put it down. The characters are brilliant, storyline perfect. Writing style amazing. It's action packed and spicy and daddy Elliot will have you melting, Do I need to say more. ?
Highly recommended.

" What do you do when you find your boyfriend in bed with your best friend? You get even!"

[Jazmyne Janai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn’t out this book down!! And the title alone is just everything! I loved Sera and Elliot’s story! The first couple chapters had me hooked alone. Once he met her he was absolutely gone for her, and though she tried to hide it, she felt the same. His protective nature over her was also just perfect! And his mouth 🥵 yeah he got Sera out of her shy innocent shell. Loved them together

[Mia Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow! I just love penny fox!
this book was so good! took me a minute to get on the Elliot train but once I did, I did not want to get off!

and you know.... if my exes dad was hot, and had the hots for me, boy would I entertain that 🤣🤣

love it 🤣🩷

[Dusty Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dad or Son

We start with Seraphine heading to her awful father's because her bf Harrison was cheating on her. We end with Elliot, Harrison's dad railing Seraphine. There is quite the journey in between. A must read.

[Monica Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your dad was better

What a fun and steamy book. Watching him fall first was such a good time. I really liked how she got empowered and became a stronger person.