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It Had To Be You
When Georgia meets Milly, she knows she could be a game-changer. But then she meets her mother, and all hell breaks loose.
80 pages, ebook
First published November 22, 2016
4 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Clare Lydon
43 books1,581 followersClare Lydon is a London-based writer of contemporary lesbian romance. She's a No.1 best-seller on lesbian fiction charts around the globe with five full-length novels to her name, as well as writing the All I Want series, set to continue throughout 2016. If you love romantic comedies, prepare to fall head over heels in love.
If you like books shot through with witty dialogue, 3D characters and sharp observations of modern lesbian life, why not give Clare's books a try?
More at: www.clarelydon.co.uk
Get a copy of my free Christmas novella 'It Had To Be You' by signing up to my mailing list here:
www.clarelydon.co.uk/it-had-to-be-you
If you like books shot through with witty dialogue, 3D characters and sharp observations of modern lesbian life, why not give Clare's books a try?
More at: www.clarelydon.co.uk
Get a copy of my free Christmas novella 'It Had To Be You' by signing up to my mailing list here:
www.clarelydon.co.uk/it-had-to-be-you
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
September 9, 2020
**'Some writers often torture themselves trying to get the words right.They should sometimes lower their expectations and just complete the story..'
2.5stars!
Just could not take this huge age gap fictitious relationship plus having the mother thingie added, meh -- but it might be readable for other interested readers.
2.5stars!
Just could not take this huge age gap fictitious relationship plus having the mother thingie added, meh -- but it might be readable for other interested readers.
March 10, 2017
Fun escapist read. Loved the age gap with a twist storyline. A short story but full value if you like the rekindling of a woulda-coulda relationship. It was also nice to have some older leading ladies for a change. Good stuff.
Free on the author's website.
Free on the author's website.
May 26, 2021
Free novella sent to me by Clare Lydon after I read Before You Say I Do, which I quite liked.
This book had an interesting premise, 20 year old brings home her newish lover to meet her Mum and sister for Christmas, only to find her lover and Mum had been lovers 30 years ago with an unresolved finish. The beginning was interesting, but once the scene is revealed to the sisters, the entire exercise falls totally flat. The book never recovered.
Not recommended.
This book had an interesting premise, 20 year old brings home her newish lover to meet her Mum and sister for Christmas, only to find her lover and Mum had been lovers 30 years ago with an unresolved finish. The beginning was interesting, but once the scene is revealed to the sisters, the entire exercise falls totally flat. The book never recovered.
Not recommended.
February 9, 2017
Milly and Georgia are a couple (who had meet a month before the story. In a bar).
Jane is Milly's mother and, shockingly, the same age as Georgia (or should I have worded that the other way around, shockingly Georgia is the same age as Jane, her girlfriend's mother). Rachel is Jane's friend.
Milly has invited her girlfriend to her mother's Christmas gathering. Georgia is, naturally, unsettled by the idea but is, as she says in her own words, pussy-whipped by Milly. She figures, Georgia that is, that Milly's mother will see her as a cradle robber from hell (or however that was worded), since - as I've mentioned several times - Georgia is the same age as Jane (actually it was the part wherein Georgia was much older than Milly; it just happened that Georgia's age and Jane's age corresponded in the way it did).
Prior to the party Milly has 'laid the groundwork' so that her mother 'knows' that Milly is going with someone older than herself. Jane is under the impression, though, that this means Georgia would be around 35 (ten years older than Milly's 23 or 25 (note: mother Jane and Rachel had talked, they guessed Milly's girlfriend is/was ten years older, and so 35; when Georgia is on the way to Jane's house, Georgia thinks of Milly as being 23 - I am confused by this 23/25 age thingie). When, in reality, she's closer to 65 (heh, Jane is actually 54, and Georgia is also 54 as well; of note: Jane's friend Rachel mentions that Jane could go with a 35 year old, which horrify's Jane who responds with 'I'm 54 in case you'd forgotten', so obviously she's going to be super happy her 23 year old daughter is going with someone who is 54. heh).
Also present at this party will be 'Joanna and her partner' (boyfriend). Joanna is a daughter of Jane's.
Not present at the party will be Paul, Jane's dead husband, who died 3 years ago.
Story from more than one point of view, and includes Jane (the mother of Milly), and Georgia.
One issue rears it's head immediately, though it was one I didn't expect (though maybe I should have). Has something to do . . . well, I can't even say that much. 'With something'. hehe. Even a hint would be too spoiler-y. Though I'm not sure I can say much more about this story since this is kind of a 'game-changer' kind of thing. I mean, it's one thing if your daughter dates someone your own age. It's something else entirely if, well, again, I can't say.
Hmm. There's a shelf I wish to put this story on, but can't. Because - spoiler-y. Hmms.
A solid story - deeper and with more impact than I expected. Has some humor. Some angst/drama.
November 27 2016
Jane is Milly's mother and, shockingly, the same age as Georgia (or should I have worded that the other way around, shockingly Georgia is the same age as Jane, her girlfriend's mother). Rachel is Jane's friend.
Milly has invited her girlfriend to her mother's Christmas gathering. Georgia is, naturally, unsettled by the idea but is, as she says in her own words, pussy-whipped by Milly. She figures, Georgia that is, that Milly's mother will see her as a cradle robber from hell (or however that was worded), since - as I've mentioned several times - Georgia is the same age as Jane (actually it was the part wherein Georgia was much older than Milly; it just happened that Georgia's age and Jane's age corresponded in the way it did).
Prior to the party Milly has 'laid the groundwork' so that her mother 'knows' that Milly is going with someone older than herself. Jane is under the impression, though, that this means Georgia would be around 35 (ten years older than Milly's 23 or 25 (note: mother Jane and Rachel had talked, they guessed Milly's girlfriend is/was ten years older, and so 35; when Georgia is on the way to Jane's house, Georgia thinks of Milly as being 23 - I am confused by this 23/25 age thingie). When, in reality, she's closer to 65 (heh, Jane is actually 54, and Georgia is also 54 as well; of note: Jane's friend Rachel mentions that Jane could go with a 35 year old, which horrify's Jane who responds with 'I'm 54 in case you'd forgotten', so obviously she's going to be super happy her 23 year old daughter is going with someone who is 54. heh).
Also present at this party will be 'Joanna and her partner' (boyfriend). Joanna is a daughter of Jane's.
Not present at the party will be Paul, Jane's dead husband, who died 3 years ago.
Story from more than one point of view, and includes Jane (the mother of Milly), and Georgia.
One issue rears it's head immediately, though it was one I didn't expect (though maybe I should have). Has something to do . . . well, I can't even say that much. 'With something'. hehe. Even a hint would be too spoiler-y. Though I'm not sure I can say much more about this story since this is kind of a 'game-changer' kind of thing. I mean, it's one thing if your daughter dates someone your own age. It's something else entirely if, well, again, I can't say.
Hmm. There's a shelf I wish to put this story on, but can't. Because - spoiler-y. Hmms.
A solid story - deeper and with more impact than I expected. Has some humor. Some angst/drama.
November 27 2016
December 17, 2020
And on the pavement in front of number 49, a Shakespearan plot played out.
3.5 stars.This novella ended up being nothing like I expected it to be, and I still enjoyed it a great deal? It's an age-gap-with-a-twist, home for the holidays kind of story. The sort of thing I couldn't stop reading because I had to know what was coming next. Older women in f/f are always catnip to me. For what is a pretty short novella, the romance was really sweet, and I really liked the writing. And it also helped that, being a novella, it didn't attempt to pigeonhole itself into the usual story arc.
Def. worth the read.
November 19, 2017
Yay, was I surprised by this. Really good.
December 25, 2017
A nice surprise. Free from the author.
August 14, 2020
4 Stars - deliciously awkward way to reconnect with your one true love
December 20, 2017
A yearly Christmas re-read. Year 2.
Not really a Christmas story, though definitely a sweet gift from the author (free on her website).
Georgia is feeling apprehensive going with her much younger, 23 year old lover Millie to visit Millie’s widowed mother, Jane and sister Joanna on Christmas Day.
I can’t say much more about this novella, without spoiling. Except maybe it is about Love and the choices one makes.
Not really a Christmas story, though definitely a sweet gift from the author (free on her website).
Georgia is feeling apprehensive going with her much younger, 23 year old lover Millie to visit Millie’s widowed mother, Jane and sister Joanna on Christmas Day.
I can’t say much more about this novella, without spoiling. Except maybe it is about Love and the choices one makes.
January 4, 2018
I read the original short story and liked it. I was happy to see this novella it gave the story the closure I missed in the short story.
December 20, 2020
Skin crawlingly uncomfortable. Definitely not festive.
Georgia is 54 and dating the 23 year old Milly. Yeah the 31 year age gap was already making me clench my jaw and wince...
They turn up to Milly's mother's house for Christmas - only to find Jane - Milly's Mother - is an old girlfriend and love of Georgia's from their university days!
Weirdness ensues where Milly tries to come to terms with the fact that she and her mother have slept with the same woman, and her Mother also trying to come to terms with the fact that her old University girlfriend is fucking her 23 year old daughter.
Georgia doesn't seem to care or blink once at ANY of this. Infact goes straight after Jane, talking about how she never stopped thinking of her and wants to pursue a relationship. I'm like WHAT THE?
The fact that no one questions this morality here, really does my head in.
A few weeks later, Milly gives the green light for Georgia and Jane to date and it's supposedly happy endings.
I just felt icky all over about this one. Too Taboo for me. On a number of levels.
AGAIN I can't help but relate it to 'straight' romances, and that if a straight read tackled the same storyline with a 30 year difference having a relationship with a 23 year old and then the man hooking up with the girls Mum, it would be outrageous. Because it's lesbian it's OK somehow? Nah Mate.
Georgia is 54 and dating the 23 year old Milly. Yeah the 31 year age gap was already making me clench my jaw and wince...
They turn up to Milly's mother's house for Christmas - only to find Jane - Milly's Mother - is an old girlfriend and love of Georgia's from their university days!
Weirdness ensues where Milly tries to come to terms with the fact that she and her mother have slept with the same woman, and her Mother also trying to come to terms with the fact that her old University girlfriend is fucking her 23 year old daughter.
Georgia doesn't seem to care or blink once at ANY of this. Infact goes straight after Jane, talking about how she never stopped thinking of her and wants to pursue a relationship. I'm like WHAT THE?
The fact that no one questions this morality here, really does my head in.
A few weeks later, Milly gives the green light for Georgia and Jane to date and it's supposedly happy endings.
I just felt icky all over about this one. Too Taboo for me. On a number of levels.
AGAIN I can't help but relate it to 'straight' romances, and that if a straight read tackled the same storyline with a 30 year difference having a relationship with a 23 year old and then the man hooking up with the girls Mum, it would be outrageous. Because it's lesbian it's OK somehow? Nah Mate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2016
Not only is a great novella with a Christmas theme but it’s free on Clare Lydon Website.
This story is sweet, seductive and I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. It’s a great little book to finish you Christmas Holidays… Don’t miss out on this little gem.
Did I mention it was free?
This story is sweet, seductive and I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. It’s a great little book to finish you Christmas Holidays… Don’t miss out on this little gem.
Did I mention it was free?
December 10, 2019
Very short, slightly properstous story, but, wow, Clare writes so well difficult to nick-pick. And it was free! Thank you.
December 22, 2018
The story is too short for the subject. The writer could have expand on it way much more.
Thirty years is a long time to hold on love. People changes.
Apparently not in this novella. One of the main character goes from caring a lot to dumping so quick just because she meets a long lost lover. Like snapping fingers.
I'm still bemused by the ending.
Thirty years is a long time to hold on love. People changes.
Apparently not in this novella. One of the main character goes from caring a lot to dumping so quick just because she meets a long lost lover. Like snapping fingers.
I'm still bemused by the ending.
March 4, 2025
➥ 1 star ⋆˚࿔
this was so painful to read. i couldn’t get past milly and georgia’s age gap, and it got even weirder when georgia and jane’s history was revealed.
"Milly wasn’t like any other 23 year old she’d ever met: it was one of the reasons she’d been so attracted to her."
?????? this line made me feel sooo uncomfortable
but i think the worst thing about this story was how jane went from telling georgia that dating her 23-year-old daughter at 54 was absolutely insane to dating said insane woman again. wtf was that??
highlights & more (total) :
- 29 highlights
- 9 notes
this was so painful to read. i couldn’t get past milly and georgia’s age gap, and it got even weirder when georgia and jane’s history was revealed.
"Milly wasn’t like any other 23 year old she’d ever met: it was one of the reasons she’d been so attracted to her."
?????? this line made me feel sooo uncomfortable
but i think the worst thing about this story was how jane went from telling georgia that dating her 23-year-old daughter at 54 was absolutely insane to dating said insane woman again. wtf was that??
highlights & more (total) :
- 29 highlights
- 9 notes
December 30, 2017
Look it's nice that everything turned out well in the end, I suppose, but I'm a bit uncomfortable with the relationships, to be honest. If I'd known they would be like this I would've given it a miss, because this is not the kind of story I go for. I get that Milly added in some extra Drama, but I would've enjoyed it far more if she hadn't been involved with Georgia. Nothing wrong with the writing though, and maybe I'll enjoy this author's other books more.
December 21, 2016
Honestly, giving the premise, I was hoping for a little more melodrama! But it wraps up a little too quickly and neatly for me
November 12, 2017
I really enjoyed this read. It was quick and still had enough backstory and character development for me to enjoy it.
March 21, 2021
This is a beautiful love story. After thirty years two lovers reunite. Their first kiss is a masterpiece in writing.
⭐️5
⭐️5
December 13, 2020
This was a really fun, short sapphic Christmassy novella that I'd definitely recommend! This is my second novella by Clare Lydon now and I can't wait to dive into some of her longer novels! Full RTC.
Read for the 12 Days of Queermas Readathon
Read for the 12 Days of Queermas Readathon
April 16, 2020
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
September 21, 2020
3.25
Full of awkward melodrama, but an entertaining, albeit short, read nonetheless.
Full of awkward melodrama, but an entertaining, albeit short, read nonetheless.
December 14, 2017
What an interesting story. Although short, I felt a connection with the characters because the backstory was well presented. Milly is the daughter of Jane. Milly brings her girlfriend Georgia home to celebrate Christmas. When Jane and Georgia make eye contact, surprise, surprise, surprise. Really enjoyed the various character points of view.
December 6, 2024
Clare... I don't know what you put in these books or whether it's just the sapphic romances that I'm drawn to but I am OBSESSED and get so hooked into these stories. Even if they're only short!
I loved this little story. Age gaps and sapphic is always a straight up yes! but the little twist.... SHOCK.
I had a bit of a giggle at the end, not gonna lie with their cars but I love a happy ending just like the next person.
I loved this little story. Age gaps and sapphic is always a straight up yes! but the little twist.... SHOCK.
I had a bit of a giggle at the end, not gonna lie with their cars but I love a happy ending just like the next person.
December 9, 2021
Hahahah, this was fucking crazy, lord, have mercy.
November 3, 2025
DNF at 41% - really not for me
January 4, 2017
At 54, Georgia knows how she likes spending Xmas: alone, doing whatever she wants. But this year she finds herself with a new, twenty-something girlfriend who's determined to take Georgia home to meet the parents. Everyone is in for a surprise.
This is a charming, quick read with an unexpected twist. And available free from Clare Lydon's website, what more can you ask for.
This is a charming, quick read with an unexpected twist. And available free from Clare Lydon's website, what more can you ask for.
August 15, 2021
what a ... bizarre story. i just finished a different clare lydon book that i loved and find it hard to believe these were written by the same person.
the writing is about as subtle as a gun, and it honestly feels like it could have used another round of edits. there was loads of repetition that definitely wasn't stylistic; they just kept repeating the same talking points, like why so and so shouldn't be together, why this situation was awkward, what happened 30 years ago etc. all the dialogue strangely stilted, as though the characters themselves recognised which roles theyre meant to play in the story; things like "because we're unfinished" and "let's drive to the next part of our lives" that just feel absolutely unrealistic. none of the characters feel like real people, nor did i particularly care about any of them. i love a good romance about older wlws, but this was just a weird story overall.
the writing is about as subtle as a gun, and it honestly feels like it could have used another round of edits. there was loads of repetition that definitely wasn't stylistic; they just kept repeating the same talking points, like why so and so shouldn't be together, why this situation was awkward, what happened 30 years ago etc. all the dialogue strangely stilted, as though the characters themselves recognised which roles theyre meant to play in the story; things like "because we're unfinished" and "let's drive to the next part of our lives" that just feel absolutely unrealistic. none of the characters feel like real people, nor did i particularly care about any of them. i love a good romance about older wlws, but this was just a weird story overall.
did-not-finish
December 19, 2019DNF at 50%
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this. I didn’t look up the synopsis before reading this so I just assumed that it would be a cute and Christmassy f/f romance. But it wasn’t that. It’s an age gap romance between a 23 year old and a 54 year old. They’re both adults so they can do whatever they like but it’s not something I want to read about. Also wasn’t enjoying how dramatic it was. I just went in with the wrong expectations so I don’t think it would be fair of me to finish it only to rate it the maximum of two stars.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this. I didn’t look up the synopsis before reading this so I just assumed that it would be a cute and Christmassy f/f romance. But it wasn’t that. It’s an age gap romance between a 23 year old and a 54 year old. They’re both adults so they can do whatever they like but it’s not something I want to read about. Also wasn’t enjoying how dramatic it was. I just went in with the wrong expectations so I don’t think it would be fair of me to finish it only to rate it the maximum of two stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews