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Verdict: A funny, big-hearted fake-dating romance about a 36-year-old plus-size bisexual woman stepping into queer life for the first time — with standout representation and a great friend group, and a love interest a vocal share of readers found too condescending to root for.
Best for: Readers who want a later bisexual awakening, fat-positive representation, fake dating and only one bed, and a found family of queer friends.
Heat level: Open door (readers call it steamy; StoryGraph users flag graphic sexual content; no romance.io steam rating)
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.7/5 — a 3.86 Goodreads average across 985 ratings, 3.86 on StoryGraph from 524 reviews, and 4.4 stars across 173 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Fake dating, only one bed, bisexual awakening, first woman, plus-size heroine, found family, Los Angeles, series (Out in Hollywood #3, readable as a standalone).
On Her Terms is Amy Spalding’s 2025 contemporary lesbian romance from Kensington, the third Out in Hollywood book. Clementine, 36, has just ended a long relationship with a man who wanted the married-with-kids life she did not. She knows she is bisexual; now she wants to live it. Then Chloe Lee, a sharp, guarded dog groomer, proposes a fake relationship.
It holds a 3.86 average across 985 Goodreads ratings, with 66% of them four or five stars, 3.86 on StoryGraph from 524 reviews, and 4.4 stars across 173 Amazon ratings. It is on Kindle Unlimited.
What Is On Her Terms About?
Clem needs a date for her parents’ anniversary party; Chloe needs one for a run of events leading up to a friend’s wedding, so her coupled-up friends will leave her alone. In return, Chloe will show Clem the ropes of dating women.
The more time they spend together, the more real it feels to Clem. Chloe is happy as friends — and convinced Clem just wants someone, anyone, to date. Meanwhile Clem is learning that being single does not scare her, but losing Chloe does.
What Works in This Fake-Dating Romance
- Representation: Readers praise Clem as a bisexual, plus-size heroine written without her body or identity treated as a problem; one also highlights her ADHD.
- Humour: 70% of StoryGraph readers tagged it funny; several say they laughed out loud.
- A later-life awakening: Clem figuring out her queerness at 36 feels earned, readers say.
- Friends and family: The queer friend group — and returning couples from earlier books — is a highlight.
- Audio: Lori Prince’s narration is widely praised.
Book Synopsis
Newly single after walking away from a conventional life she never wanted, Clementine is ready to try new things — including in love. A fake relationship to get through some family events sounds like a terrible idea, but she says yes to Chloe Lee anyway.
As the parties and wedding events pile up, the attraction does too. Clem starts to believe it is real. Chloe insists they are only friends. Clem has to convince her otherwise — on her own terms.
My Review
Spalding is very funny, and Clem is one of her best heroines: anxious, candid, delighted by queer spaces she has only watched from outside. The book is as interested in her friendships, her difficult brother and her own sense of self as in the romance, and readers who like Spalding’s balance of career, friends and love call it well-rounded, and one calls it her favourite in the series.
Chloe is the sticking point. The most repeated criticism is that she is condescending — the “baby gay” teasing lands as mockery for many readers — and emotionally closed off for most of the book. Because everything is told from Clem’s side, several readers wished for Chloe’s point of view to understand her. Clem’s brother Greg is widely disliked, and some felt he was let off too lightly. A smaller group found the book slow or forgettable.
My honest note: If you want a bi awakening with a heroine who looks like real people, read it; if a prickly love interest will sour you, try For Her Consideration first.
| Element | In On Her Terms |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Clementine (36, bisexual, plus-size) & Chloe Lee (Korean-American lesbian, dog groomer) |
| Core tropes | Fake dating, only one bed, bisexual awakening, found family |
| Setting | Los Angeles |
| Heat level | Open door |
| Length | 320 pages; 10 h 37 min audiobook |
| Series | Out in Hollywood #3 — standalone, happy ending |
| Content notes | Sexual content, biphobia, outing, fatphobia and body shaming, alcohol, a difficult sibling |
How Spicy Is On Her Terms?
It is open door: readers call it steamy, and graphic sexual content is the most-flagged StoryGraph warning. Romance.io has no steam rating, and several readers describe the book overall as sweet, so expect a few hot scenes rather than a heat-driven story.
Content notes submitted on StoryGraph also include biphobia, outing, fatphobia and body shaming, alcohol, homophobia and a toxic friendship.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a funny, body-positive bisexual awakening. It is on our late bloomer and feel-good lesbian romance lists.
You may want to skip it if: you need both leads to be easy to like, or you want dual point of view.
In short: Warm, funny and representative, with a love interest who divides readers.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 25% five stars, 41% four, 25% three, 5% two and under 1% one. On StoryGraph, 80% tag it lighthearted and 70% funny, and 93% call the cast diverse. The Recorded Books audiobook is narrated by Lori Prince.
Prefer audio? Listen to On Her Terms on Libro.fm — the audiobook shop that supports independent bookstores.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The plus-size and bi representation first. Second, the humour. Third, the friend group. Fourth, the audiobook.
What readers argue about and complain about: Chloe, above everything. Second, Clem’s brother Greg. Third, the single point of view. Fourth, pacing.
The comparison worth making first: Start the series with For Her Consideration, or continue with In Her Spotlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to read the other Out in Hollywood books first?
No. On Her Terms is the third book and works as a standalone, though couples from For Her Consideration and At Her Service appear as side characters and some readers suggest reading in order.
Is On Her Terms a bisexual awakening romance?
Yes. Clementine, 36, has known she is attracted to women for a long time but has only dated men; this is her first relationship with a woman.
How spicy is On Her Terms?
Open door. Readers call it steamy, and StoryGraph users most often flag graphic sexual content, but the humour and the friendships lead.
Why do some readers dislike Chloe?
She repeatedly teases Clem as a “baby gay” and keeps her at arm’s length. Some readers found her condescending or unkind; others found her guardedness believable and her arc satisfying.
Is On Her Terms on Kindle Unlimited?
Yes, at the time of writing, or $9.49 to buy on Kindle. The audiobook, narrated by Lori Prince, runs 10 hours 37 minutes.
If You Loved On Her Terms, Read These Next
Try For Her Consideration, At Her Service or In Her Spotlight for the rest of Out in Hollywood. For more, browse our late bloomer and feel-good lists, or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
On Her Terms sets out to be a funny, affirming bisexual awakening, and Clem makes it one. What holds it back is a love interest many readers could not warm to. Worth it for the heroine alone. Check On Her Terms on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, On Her Terms ranks as a good romcom — a great heroine, a divisive love interest.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ 3.86 average across 985 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 66% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.86 on StoryGraph from 524 reviews
- ✓ 4.4 stars across 173 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★☆☆ 3.3/5
- ✓ Fake dating, only one bed
- ✓ Chloe condescending for many
- ✓ No chemistry for some
- ✓ Satisfying resolution for fans
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Clem beloved
- ✓ Plus-size and bi rep
- ✓ Greg widely disliked
- ✓ Great friend group
Writing ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Genuinely funny
- ✓ Single POV
- ✓ Slow for some
- ✓ Strong dialogue
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Tagged funny by 70%
- ✓ Relatable self-discovery
- ✓ Hopeful
- ✓ Forgettable for a few
Heat Level ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ Open door
- ✓ Called steamy
- ✓ Graphic per StoryGraph
- ✓ No romance.io rating
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Happy ending
- ✓ Resolution praised
- ✓ Series continues
- ✓ Greg let off lightly
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ On Kindle Unlimited
- ✓ Praised audiobook
- ✓ Reread by fans
- ✓ Series comfort
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