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Verdict: A warm, funny Melissa Brayden workplace romance: new San Diego reporter Skyler Ruiz finally works alongside her longtime TV crush, anchor Carolyn McNamara — until the network pits them against each other. Readers love the chemistry and Skyler’s quirky voice; a sizeable group felt the late conflict soured an otherwise lovely book.
Best for: Brayden fans and anyone who loves an age-gap workplace romance with a secret.
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.8/5 — a 4.13 Goodreads average across 868 ratings, 3.86 on StoryGraph from 128 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 450 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Age gap, celebrity crush, workplace, secret relationship, enemies to lovers (briefly), rivals.
Exclusive is Melissa Brayden’s 2022 contemporary lesbian romance from Bold Strokes Books. A new on-air reporter job in sunny San Diego is Skyler Ruiz’s big break — no more small-town softball games or vegetable-growing contests.
It holds a 4.13 average across 868 Goodreads ratings, with 76% of them four or five stars, 3.86 on StoryGraph from 128 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 450 Amazon ratings.
What Is Exclusive About?
Skyler will be working at the same station as her idol, anchorwoman Carolyn McNamara — who turns out to have little time for newbies and is downright unwelcoming.
When Carolyn finally drops her guard, a romance neither saw coming begins. Then the network pits them against each other, and Skyler starts to suspect love is fake news.
What Works in This Book
- Chemistry: Readers repeatedly call it off the charts.
- Skyler’s voice: Her witty, quirky, honest narration wins readers over.
- Newsroom setting: Readers enjoy the original TV-news premise.
- Brayden-verse cameos: Longtime fans enjoy revisiting old favourites.
Book Synopsis
A new reporter lands at her idol’s station — and her idol isn’t what she expected.
Then the network makes them rivals.
My Review
For most of its length this is Brayden at her most charming: banter, tension and a relationship that develops from crush to something real. The TV-news backdrop — on-air pressure and a network willing to pit its talent against each other — gives the romance real stakes, and Carrie’s guarded reserve makes her thaw satisfying. A couple of longtime fans call her one of the most consistent authors in the genre.
The recurring complaint is the dark moment around 80%: several readers say it lost them, and one was bored by repetitive “lovey-dovey” scenes before it. One felt the ending rushed, and another who expected a light read found it heavier than anticipated.
My honest note: Enjoy the build; brace for the turn.
| Element | In Exclusive |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Skyler Ruiz (reporter, 30) & Carolyn “Carrie” McNamara (TV anchor) |
| Core tropes | Age gap, workplace, secret relationship |
| Setting | A San Diego TV news station |
| Heat level | 🌶️🌶️ |
| Length | 242 pages (paperback) |
| Series | Standalone |
| Content notes | Abandonment issues (per readers) |
How Spicy Is Exclusive?
Moderate — steamy scenes without dominating the book.
No content warnings have been submitted on StoryGraph; readers mention abandonment issues.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you love Brayden’s banter and a workplace age gap. It is on our celebrity lesbian romance list.
You may want to skip it if: late-book conflicts ruin romances for you.
In short: Charming, then complicated.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 39% five stars, 37% four, 20% three, 2% two and under 1% one. On StoryGraph, 90% tagged it emotional and 90% lighthearted.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): Chemistry first. Second, Skyler. Third, the setting. Fourth, the HEA.
What readers argue about and complain about: The dark moment, above everything. Second, pacing. Third, single POV.
The comparison worth making first: Waiting in the Wings, Brayden’s debut.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Exclusive an age-gap romance?
Yes. Skyler is 30 and has idolised anchor Carolyn “Carrie” McNamara since she was a teenager.
Is there a third-act conflict?
Yes, and it divides readers: several loved the first 80% but say the dark moment lost them, while others found it painfully real.
How spicy is Exclusive?
Moderate — readers mention a healthy amount of steamy scenes.
Whose point of view is it?
Skyler’s, in first person. One reader thinks dual POV would have helped.
Is Exclusive on Kindle Unlimited?
Not when we checked; the Kindle edition was listed at $9.99. The audiobook is narrated by Melissa Sternenberg.
If You Loved Exclusive, Read These Next
Try Sparks Like Ours or Reality in Check. Browse our celebrity list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Exclusive sets out to be a funny, heartfelt newsroom romance, and for most of the book it is. What holds it back is a late conflict that divides readers. Recommended for Brayden fans. Check Exclusive on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Exclusive ranks as a good celebrity pick — witty, wobbly.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ 4.13 average across 868 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 76% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.86 on StoryGraph from 128 reviews
- ✓ 4.6 stars across 450 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Off-the-charts chemistry
- ✓ Age gap
- ✓ Secret
- ✓ Divisive dark moment
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Quirky Skyler
- ✓ Guarded Carrie
- ✓ Old favourites
- ✓ Frustrating at the end
Writing ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Witty
- ✓ First person
- ✓ Repetitive for one
- ✓ Consistent Brayden
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Tagged emotional by 90%
- ✓ Tears for one
- ✓ Abandonment
- ✓ Heartwarming
Heat Level ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ Steamy scenes
- ✓ Moderate
- ✓ On-page
- ✓ Adult
Ending ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5
- ✓ HEA
- ✓ Rushed for one
- ✓ Lost some readers
- ✓ Standalone
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ $9.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Audiobook
- ✓ 242 pages
- ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited
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