Review: Latte Darling by SJ Tilly
I am ALWAYS on the lookout for a solid silver fox read (50+ preferably) with a female lead that’s at least 30, which is why I was thrilled to come across Latte Darling by SJ Tilly.
Honestly, I was SO THRILLED that I abandoned the rest of the books I was reading and scarfed this bad boy down in less than 24 hours. And I simply cannot recommend it enough if you want a cute, easy read that features a small-town romance and a legitimate age gap.
If you’re considering giving Latte Darling a shot but aren’t quite convinced, this is the no-spoilers-will-be-found-here review. Shall we continue, darling?
- Age Gap (20+ yrs)
- Silver Fox MMC (50s)
- Curvy/Plus Size FMC
- Protective MMC
It’s comfortable.
On paper.
But I’m tired of doing everything by myself. Tired of being in charge of every decision in my life.
I want someone to lean on. Someone to spend time with. Sit with. Hug.
And I really don’t want to go to my best friend’s wedding alone.
So, I signed up for a dating app, and agreed to meet with the first guy that messaged me.
And now here I am, at the bar.
Only it’s not my date that just sat down in the chair across from me. It’s his dad.
And holy hell, he’s the definition of Silver Fox. If a Silver Fox can be thick as a house, have piercing blue eyes and tattoos from his neck down to his fingertips.
He’s giving me Big Bad Wolf vibes. Only instead of running, I’m blushing. And he looks like he might just want to eat me whole.
Summary of Latte Darling (in MY Words)
Latte Darling is a cute lil’ small-town romance about 31-year-old Maddie who runs a coffee shop and is looking for love, or at least a date to her BFFs upcoming wedding. Axel is the dad of Maddie’s first online date after being off the dating market for a LONG time.
They meet, they fall in love, it’s super cute.
I realize I promised no spoilers, but I’m pretty confident nothing I’ve said so far is one.
This is a cozy, cute, low-stakes romance that’s perfect if you’re looking for a palette cleanser after something heavy. It features lots of romance and some spice, but they aren’t having s*x every other scene. It’s NOT violent and the only real “kink” that exists (beyond the age gap, if you call that one) is that she occasionally calls him “daddy” in bed.
It’s a really cute, easy read that only took me an evening to devour.
To Read or Not To Read
I REALLY enjoyed Latte Darling. It’s not the best, most literary book I’ve ever read, but honestly… rarely am I looking for that. It had a few components that are EXACTLY what I’m looking for:
- Plus size FMC (seriously, this is a BIG deal for me)
- FMC in her 30s (most are in their 20s and I passed that a while back)
- Silver fox that’s ACTUALLY older (I’m sorry readers but 42 is NOT old)
This is a gorgeous, cozy read with a main character that I could relate too. If you’re looking for something light, charming and has a sexy, protective but NOT over-the-top MMC, this is the read for you.
I noticed a few small errors in the book, but nothing distracting. My BIGGEST issue was the dialogue tags, there were a few areas that I got tripped up a bit and needed to go back and re-read.
There IS spice but it’s not hot-and-heavy like I usually read—though I understand that spice amount varies by person and I’ve seen some reviewers say this is a high-spice book. However, if you’re like me and you primarily read spicy books this one’s a bit on the lighter end.
I enjoyed this book enough to give it 4/5 stars, so it comes highly recommended by yours truly.
Books Similar to Latte Darling
Need more books like Latte Darling? While I’ve got specific age gap and Silver Fox reading lists, these are some books I’d recommend:
Smoky Darling by SJ Tilly
Written by the same author, Smoky Darling is Elouise’s story (Maddie’s bestie). It is NOT an age-gap romance with a silver fox, instead, they’re reconnecting after years apart. If you enjoyed SJ Tilly’s writing and want to hang out in Darling Lake for a bit longer, this is the book I’d recommend picking up.
Highest Bidder by Sara Cate
Highest Bidder is a bit more of a steamy romance (which I also LOVED), but it features an age gap (12 years, I believe). It’s a bit more XXX-rated, taking place in a s*x club with money being exchanged. That said, this has a TON of great reviews and it absolutely worth the read if you’re looking for more spice in your reads.
Tempt by Melanie Harlow
Tempt features a plus size FMC, only Millie is a wedding planner instead of a coffee shop owner. She has a run-in with the father of one of her ex-boyfriends and they start a secret relationship. Readers say that the plot is filled with emotional depth, forbidden love, and personal growth. This IS on my TBR but I haven’t picked it up quite yet.
Final Thoughts: Latte Darling by SJ Tilly
I thoroughly enjoyed Latte Darling and absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a cute, small-town romance read with a plus size FMC and a silver fox MMC where there’s a considerable (20+ year) age gap. I loved this book and I think you will too!
