Stella Lane is mathematically brilliant but due to her diagnosis of Asperger’s has difficulty navigating social situations. This means that at the age of 30 she is facing increasing pressure from her parents to settle down and provide grandkids but has no prospects for a mate- and she has had such bad experiences in the past that she finds the idea of sex distasteful. A cutting remark from a coworker leads Stella to believe that maybe the problem with sex is Stella herself. She decides that the rational way to deal with sex is by hiring an expert to coach her until she can successfully navigate sex and perhaps a relationship. She therefore hires an escort, Michael.
This twist on the hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold story is funny, sexy, and extremely empathetic to both protagonists. Stella very slowly is able to work through her issues, but it is very clear that the reason she is able to do so is because Michael is patient, interested in Stella as a person, and meets Stella where she is rather than pushing her in to situations that she is uncomfortable with. This holds true for both their sexual and non-sex interactions. The novel doesn’t try to one-size-fits all Aspergers and is a really nice portrayal of a romance with characters that are a bit different than the standard fare. The will they-won’t they was believable, because Stella has such trouble interpreting nuance in words and actions. This book was a treat in an otherwise gloomy week and I would recommend it as a beach read.