#Review: Experienced by Kate Young

Kate Young’s ‘Experienced’ is a witty, chaotic dance through the minefield of modern romance, with all the questionable life choices and emotional landmines one might expect when attempting to “find oneself” by dating recklessly. Meet Bette, a woman who, in a stroke of genius (or maybe just panic), decides that the best way to solidify her relationship with Mei is to pause it and dive into the casual dating world she missed out on.

Enter Ruth, Bette’s self-appointed guide in this misguided quest—a friend with the audacity to tell her when she’s being ridiculous and the nerve to encourage her anyway. With Ruth by her side, Bette’s misadventures range from laughably awkward encounters to surprisingly genuine moments, rendered with a sharp, sarcastic wit that makes this a page-turner.

But behind the humour lies the real story: Bette’s not just looking for hot women and a string of casual flings. She’s in search of something more elusive—clarity about who she is and what she wants, stripped of all the societal nonsense about “finding the one.” And therein lies the beauty of Young’s writing: it’s not about delivering a tidy, happily-ever-after but exploring the beautifully messy, occasionally stupid, always real journey of figuring out that maybe, just maybe, you don’t need a perfect plan to find love—or yourself.

In short, ‘Experienced’ is as romantic as it is irreverent, an insightful gem that proves you can laugh at life’s chaos and still find a bit of wisdom in the rubble.

Go read it!

Find the book here.