Bad at Love by Shannon O’Connor is a sapphic friend with benefits romance which is the third book of her Behind the Scenes series,
by Shannon O’Connor
Book cover
| Title | Bad at Love |
| Writer | Shannon O’Connor |
| Series | Behind the Scenes /3 |
| Publisher | Kindle Edition |
| Publication date | 1st June 2026 |
| MBR star rating /5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Genre | Romance, LGBT Sapphic Contemporary |
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I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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Synopsis: Bad at Love
Cari is a plus-size social media influencer whose personal life has become increasingly complicated.
Her closest friendship is strained, a casual relationship has come to an end, as the woman she has feelings for remains reluctant to commit.
After seeking advice from her online audience leads to unexpected consequences, Cari begins reassessing her life with the support of therapy and those around her.
Max is a photographer who has long avoided committed relationships. Despite years of an on-again, off-again connection with Cari, neither of them has found a way to move beyond old patterns.
When Cari reaches out for support, Max struggles to be there for her, forcing her to confront her own fears and shortcomings.
As both women work through the challenges of their past and the changes they want to make in the future, they must decide whether their relationship can become something more than the cycle they’ve always known.
A contemporary romance exploring relationships, personal growth, mental health, and the possibility of a second chance at love.
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Review: Bad at Love
Review
Bad at Love by Shannon O’Connor is a sapphic friend with benefits romance which is the third book of her Behind the Scenes series, though like most romance books that are a part of a series it can be read as a stand-alone novel.
Mental Health
While Bad at Love is your standard friends with Benefits, sapphic, romance novel a good majority of the novel, is about the mental health issues which the two main characters are dealing with, it being shown fully on the page.
While this is handled well, by the Writer Shannon O’Connor just be aware if character’s going through a mental health crisis, would have an adverse effect on you as a reader at the moment read another novel rather than this one.
Spice
While Shannon O’Connor has written a spicy sapphic romance the spice never feels like it takes over the whole novel.
Instead, the way that Shannon O’Connor writes the Spice between Cari and Max change through the development of both the characters and the relationship which adds to the trope of friends with benefits to lovers which is the main focus of Bad at Love rather than take away from it.
Third Act Break up
While one of the staples of the romance genre is the third act break up which usually occurs at around the 75% mark, in one aspect of the story Bad at Love does not have this particular event.
The reason for this is the whole novel is based around the third act break up which really allows Shannon O’Connor as the writer to examine this section of the romance genre, in a more realistic plot line than most romance novels all this makes Bad at Love an enjoyable read.
Who Should Read? Bad at Love
Bad at Love is the perfect romance novel for people who enjoy a sapphic, friends with benefits trope set in New York with characters that have strong story arc in the novel.
Conclusion
while the novel may not be on the lighter side of romance novels due to the mental health issues covered in the novel, it is still a novel well worth reading.
Meaning I would highly recommend Bad at Love by Shannon O’Connor.
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