rep: biracial Indian Scottish gay mc with depression and anxiety, bi mc, Black trans side character, nonbinary side character, Indian Scottish side chrep: biracial Indian Scottish gay mc with depression and anxiety, bi mc, Black trans side character, nonbinary side character, Indian Scottish side characters TW: alcoholism, past drug use, past suicide, suicidal ideation
fellas is it gay to just want to keep another boy safe, and maybe cuddle...more
rep: gay mc, Jewish gay mc, Indian side character tw: extreme gore, violence, blood, murder, suicide, body horror, period typical homophobia, internalirep: gay mc, Jewish gay mc, Indian side character tw: extreme gore, violence, blood, murder, suicide, body horror, period typical homophobia, internalised homophobia, PTSD, panic attacks
an honest book about war, and simultaneously the most tender one you will ever read. all thanks to the bottomless love those boys feel for one another.
near the very end a character quotes a philosopher arguing that gay love is the purest form of love, and somehow the book itself feels like a homage to that statement, while also showing all the ugliness of human emotions.
rep: gay mcs, Indian American side character, aro side character, achillean side characters
Review also posted on Reads Rainbow.ARC provided by the purep: gay mcs, Indian American side character, aro side character, achillean side characters
Review also posted on Reads Rainbow.ARC provided by the publisher.
Everyone always has their own checklist that needs to be all filled out for a book to be considered a good romance. That’s why it is so difficult to be at all objective when rating romance novels: everyone will find something else romantic. And well written.
For me that list goes as follows: fleshed out, likeable characters; amazing chemistry between the leads; a lot of pining (no pain, no gain, my lads!!); ridiculous set-up but in a cool, ‘might actually happen, maybe’ way. Contract Season checks all of those, and more!
I really thought Nary’s debut novel would be my favourite romance forever, and then she went and outdid herself with this one! Every single thing about this book is tailored perfectly to my taste (and I dare say a lot of other people who grew up reading fan fiction.) (Yes, I keep bringing up fics every time I review a romance, but that’s only because I’m aware that good fan fiction is actually the pinnacle of romance to which all published romances should aspire.)
Contract Season takes the premise of fake dating and brings to life all its best features. It understood the assignment. If you need one book to explain to someone what the fake dating trope is all about, you should just use Contract Season. Because despite what some readers think, it’s not enough for the two people to pretend to date. Especially when they were strangers beforehand, which seems to be a common trope recently. There needs to be tension! It needs to be completely unbearable for the characters that they can touch the other in public, but not in private. It needs to be soulcrushing for them that they can kiss their ‘partner’ while on a date somewhere, but not do anything else when no one is looking.
In this particular case it’s even better: the sexual tension manages to remain unresolved, despite the fact that the couple does sleep with each other in the first chapter. That’s the magic of fake dating, though! Whatever propelled you to have sex for real at first clearly doesn’t count anymore, because now you’re just pretending to be into the other person for the public. It makes sense in their minds! And it’s a testament to how talented a writer Nary is that it does.
The thing is, Nary’s writing might seem simple at first glance, but it’s that simplicity that’s brilliant. Because it allows her to pierce you right through the heart with a single line you were absolutely not expecting. It’s extremely detail oriented and focused on the smallest changes in emotions. The (gay) devil truly is in the details.
Contract Season is undoubtedly one of the best romances of recent years, and it’s fascinating to think what Nary might gift us next. Whether you know a single thing about hockey or not, this has to be on your radar. You can thank me later....more
rep: gay mc with anxiety, bi mc, Black side character, Asian side character tw: internalised homophobia, implied past homophobic abuse, vomiting, panicrep: gay mc with anxiety, bi mc, Black side character, Asian side character tw: internalised homophobia, implied past homophobic abuse, vomiting, panic attacks, toxic parents, blood & violence (hockey)
shut up! this is my comfort food! a romance book has NEVER made me this feral!!! everything abt this is perfectly tailored to my taste
okay so what this books offers: - an amazing slowburn, and i mean an actual slowburn - the tension & pining is just *chef kisses* - super-well fleshed out main characters, which leads to great chemistry btwn them - great supporting characters as well, a true found family - very interesting family dynamics, and actually explored too - a lot of focus on mental health - an extremely oblivious mc (who only realises he's bi through the course of the book), who's also a bit of a himbo tbh...more
rep: Jewish hard of hearing gay mc, Venezuelan American bi li, sapphic side characters, Jewish side characters tw: internalised homophobia
ARC providrep: Jewish hard of hearing gay mc, Venezuelan American bi li, sapphic side characters, Jewish side characters tw: internalised homophobia
ARC provided by the publisher.
Sometimes, all you need in life is a gay sports romance. They just hit differently, and that’s a fact. Unwritten Rules delivers all the best parts of one.
So what makes a good romance? Compelling characters - check. Great chemistry between them - check. Some pining (because deep down we’re all here to hurt a bit) - also check. A believable plot is a great bonus, I would say.
Characters’ personalities are always something one person will enjoy and another won’t, but the thing we can all agree on is that both Zach and Eugenio feel like real people with real problems. And that’s what makes this such a good book. Personally, though, what I enjoyed the most is that there isn’t a single part of their characterisation that was introduced and then simply forgotten. Zach’s hard of hearing and that plays a role throughout the whole story, he’s Jewish and it’s visible in more than a random mention of him going to a synagogue (actually playing a giant role in his family, as well). And the same goes for Eugenio’s Venezulean roots.
Yes, it’s a second-chance romance, but frankly, first of all it’s a story of a gay guy finally and slowly coming to terms with his sexuality. This isn’t to say the romance is weak, since the literal opposite is true. Rather that the whole time, even in their honeymoon phase we get in flashbacks, Zach’s internalised homophobia is ever present. It’s in the tiny things, like rethinking texts he sends out of fear someone will hack his phone; in double checking no one is around before kissing Eugenio; in his desperate need to touch Eugenio in public and not being able to. In a way, his inability to be open about his desires allows the first part of the book to be full to the brim with pining. And isn’t that what we’re all here for?
Unwritten Rules is a captivating romance, with amazing characters who work hard to resolve their issues. And as a cherry on top, the writing is absolutely gorgeous. Not a book you want to miss out on!...more
rep: Indian American gay mc with depression, gay mc with generalised anxiety disorder, OCD & a panic disorder, Chinese American bi side character, lesrep: Indian American gay mc with depression, gay mc with generalised anxiety disorder, OCD & a panic disorder, Chinese American bi side character, lesbian side character, Black ace bi side character with anxiety, gay side character, Muslim pan side character, Black bi side character tw: panic attacks, biphobia, homophobia, vomitting
Review also on Reads Rainbow.ARC provided by the publisher.
You know when you’re hanging out with your best friend, having the time of your life, understanding each other completely & not a single worry enters your mind? That’s how reading this book feels.
It’s primarily a romance. You shouldn’t be expecting groundbreaking plot-twists or action scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Instead, what you get are two wonderful main characters just doing their best to live life, who also happen to fall in love. Now, here’s the kicker. Romances don’t actually work if the protagonists aren’t incredibly well fleshed out, if they aren’t basically real people put on paper. Luckily, though, this is definitely a romance.
There’s also something to be said about keeping the readers interested in the book without all those Big Events and with a simple story-line instead. Well, as simple as a dating reality show & all its backstage drama can provide.
The magic, I think, hides in the fact that the characters grow. They do feel like actual people; they have flaws, they make mistakes, they make bad choices. But they learn from all of that – and the narrative shows it. They learn by themselves or with a a help of a friend or, indeed, the person they love. It’s never portrayed to imply that it’s love that allows them to change for the better. The Charm Offensive is very clear that love doesn’t fix a person. It can only make them feel seen & understood. Which is an idea even more important in a book like this, where both the main characters struggle with mental illnesses.
The side characters form a beautiful found family, always there ready to support. All of them made even more beautiful by the fact that basically not a single one of them is cishet… We can have that sometimes in books, as a treat! Not only is it obviously believable, but it also gifts the reader this feeling of absolute comfort and a safe space. It’s a book for us and we can tell.
All in all, The Charm Offensive is charming in every way possible. A perfect read for a slightly chilly autumn day. Or really any day when you need some extra love in your life, with a side of fluff....more
rep: mostly poc cast, bi mc, gay mc, wlw, mlm & nonbinary side characters tw: past domestic abuse, past rape, mental torture, murder
3.5
If you’re a fan rep: mostly poc cast, bi mc, gay mc, wlw, mlm & nonbinary side characters tw: past domestic abuse, past rape, mental torture, murder
3.5
If you’re a fan of the fake dating and/or arranged marriage trope, this is definitely a book for you. If you’re not (why though?), you would still appreciate the court intrigues and cool space opera vibes. (Even if you don’t usually read sci-fi novels, like I don’t.)
A lot of books these days use the fake dating trope, but not all of them succeed, and it’s pretty obvious why. For this trope to work in a story, to have any emotional load at all, you need to have some miscommunication. Both of the characters who are supposed to fake a relationship need to be into each other, but without the other realising. The longer this lack of knowledge goes on, the better. The bigger the emotional punch.
Winter’s Orbit understands that perfectly. It gifts you pages and pages of gay pining, and we all know there is absolutely nothing better in the world. The characters are also an ideal combination for this kind of story, with one of them being an absolute himbo & the other a detached, austere figure. There are always reasons behind actions and not everything is what it seems to be, so don’t be fooled exactly. Dig deeper.
The novel deals very heavily with domestic abuse, so it’s probably not for every reader out there. The whole arc is treated with respect, though, and all the care and attention it deserves, and the characters aren’t turned into victims with no agency.
Despite that, it’s actually a fun book that keeps you on your toes. Mainly thanks to the writing; the style is simple, but focused on details, minute emotions, which allows you to fully experience everything along the characters. And makes you care about all the more. So really, it’s a little bit perfect....more
rep: achillean mc with anxiety, Filipino achillean mc, sapphic mc, Black lesbian mc, hijabi side character, Black side character, nonbinary side chararep: achillean mc with anxiety, Filipino achillean mc, sapphic mc, Black lesbian mc, hijabi side character, Black side character, nonbinary side character tw: magic requiring self-harm, gore, blood, drowning
i love thomas, my most dramatic son, and also his actual hungarian name (tamás) isn't hard to pronounce, it basically only differs in the last sound & the accent, thanks for coming to my ted talk...more
If you’ve already read Silver in the Wood, you pretty much know what to expect from the second book (and if you haven’t, please do so rep: gay mc & li
If you’ve already read Silver in the Wood, you pretty much know what to expect from the second book (and if you haven’t, please do so immediately before continuing). But what you need to know up front is: this part is even better.
There’s no need to say that the characters are well fleshed out because we’ve all been in love with them for months already. But somehow they all get to shine more and brighter in Drowned Country. The switch of pov to Henry Silver was an inspired choice. He’s the most dramatic gay person you will ever meet and he’s sulking. It’s a beautiful thing to behold.
I would say this book is less focused on the plot (although of course it’s still there and it’s really nice, and offers some twists!) and more on the characters. Which means it’s also more focused on the (gay) pining and the romance in general. Not everyone will be a fan of that, but personally I couldn’t have been offered a more perfect gift.
That attention to the slightest change in emotions, to details in interactions between characters, coupled with Henry constantly thinking about Tobias - all of that means Drowned Country reminders readers of fanfiction. And that’s the highest compliment I can give any piece of writing!
But still, Drowned Country isn’t all romance. It brings us different magical lands and creatures, all of them with the same sense of mystery and ancient-ness as in the first book. If dramatic gays in love, surrounded by millennia old forests are your thing, you're in luck. ...more
rep: bi mc with anxiety, Chinese American lesbian li, Black sapphic sc, Puerto Rican American trans sc, gay Jewish sc, Black gay sc, Black pan sc, Czerep: bi mc with anxiety, Chinese American lesbian li, Black sapphic sc, Puerto Rican American trans sc, gay Jewish sc, Black gay sc, Black pan sc, Czech sc tw: past homophobic violence, off page death
Review also on Reads Rainbow. ARC provided by the publisher.
I am once again crying about fictional lesbians. Actually Jane Su is the fictional lesbian, she's the book girlfriend, she's the blueprint. This is really all for her. I'm not in a group chat called “Dicks out for Jane Su” for nothing.
This of course is not to say that other parts of the book don’t work. In fact, they work perfectly well. If you’re not expecting exact science from this time-travel book, that is... It's not about science, it's about people coming together and loving each other with their whole hearts.
Yes, this is a romance. And it might actually be one of the best f/f romances to ever enter the mainstream. There are multiple reasons why I say that, but the most important one is the intensity of emotions and feelings between August and Jane. It's not usual for sapphic books to allow their characters to be, well frankly, more than a cute aesthetic. Unlike m/m romances, the ones starring sapphic characters tend to be more soft and delicate, and tend to focus on how sweet it is that those people love each other, and not so much on the fact that they’re horny.
One Last Stop doesn't have those hesitations, it explores all sides of the relationship between August and Jane. It uses the same kind of focus and detail to talk about August yearning after Jane, as it does to talk about August finding Jane hot and desirable. I mean, for the love of god, August literally keeps a journal of all the sex things she wants to try with Jane. Name one other mainstream sapphic book doing it like that.
But it's not just a romance. It's also a story about people loving each other in various different ways. It's a story about found family, which is frankly a quintessential kind of story for LGBT folks. This idea that we will always find each other, and we will always understand each other, and support each other. That is a very definition of the found family. And is portrayed in the most beautiful way in One Last Stop. It works so well because the characters are fleshed out to the extent that they truly do feel like real people.
And because literally the whole cast is LGBT, Casey provided for themself a great opportunity to talk about our community. It doesn’t come across as a history lesson, but at times that’s what it essentially is. And given how little we ourselves know about the LGBT people who came before us, it’s actually an excellent choice. It also helps that Jane is from the 70s’ and provides a whole other perspective on the community.
I initially said that One Last Stop is “a gay history lesson wrapped up in a found family wrapped up in a romcom wrapped up in, once again!, a love letter to the LGBT community” and I was right. It’s also a gift to sapphics everywhere....more
I feel like even if you’re not generally a fan of historical fiction, it’s different when the books tell gay stories and you’re gay yourself. There’s just something magical and healing about meeting in the text someone like you, who lived a century, two ago. Especially when they get to have a happy ending.
So with that in mind, let’s talk about The Pursuit Of… It takes place in the XVIII century, right during the American Revolution. (And yes, there is some recitation of the Declaration of Independence and yes, it’s more romantic than you would ever have imagined.) To make things more interesting, our main characters are a Black, freed American and a wealthy, white Brit. They meet on the battlefield, where they obviously try to kill each other.
The thing is, though, this isn’t actually an enemies to lovers story. Because they’re never actually enemies? Yes, they seem to be on the opposite sides, but only in name. And before you ask, no, it doesn’t take away anything from the slowburn quality of the romance. They still have to learn to see eye to eye, they still have to learn to outgrow their prejudices & what’s most important - Henry, the British officer, has to acknowledge his privileges and figure out how to use them for something good.
So it’s a story of two people growing up together, in a way; learning about themselves, about each other, about the world. The bulk of it takes place when they walk some 500 miles (and they would walk 500 more). You’d think that means it’s boring, that nothing happens. And you’d be mostly correct, nothing much does happen. It’s not boring at all, though, and that’s thanks to the characters. Henry and John are just so wonderfully well fleshed out! To top it off, Henry is probably the most ridiculous person I’ve read about this year and he makes the whole novella absolutely hilarious.
Yes, The Pursuit Of… is a novella, it’s barely 40.000 words long. And yet - because of how real the characters are - it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will heal your gay heart. It’s a love story and it’s an exceptionally wholesome one. It’s full to the brim with smart metaphors, with little moments that feel almost sacred and ring very true to a gay ear, with pure hope....more
rep: adopted gay mc, bi Jewish li, poc lesbian side character
you can just tell that goslee writes fics..... like, she gets it, you know??? she gets horep: adopted gay mc, bi Jewish li, poc lesbian side character
you can just tell that goslee writes fics..... like, she gets it, you know??? she gets how fake dating is supposed to work, how pining is supposed to work......
ugh this is just *kisses fingers like a chef*...more
rep: bi mc, gay li, Latina side character tw: outing (brief scene, no real bad outcome), biphobia, fetishising of mlm characters
very cute with lots orep: bi mc, gay li, Latina side character tw: outing (brief scene, no real bad outcome), biphobia, fetishising of mlm characters
very cute with lots of pining & the mc has a cool voice and it's impossible not to love him
some things tho: - rly weird how obsessed his ex-gf is with his love life and him being bi - rly weird how obsessed all the girls he's friends with are with him being bi, actually - not a fan of constantly using 'girl' as some kind of a cute little insult; i get this is abt a teen boy but i don't need this casual misogyny - his grandma outing him to the whole family & absolutely refusing to acknowledge he's bi and not gay was gross - could definitely use an actual apology from wallace for being a bully at 12; i know we needed a reason for them to be 'enemies' but come on, at least explore that later on...more
rep: gay Native American mc with a heart condition, bi li, side Black character, side Japanese character, side Native American character tw: sexual assrep: gay Native American mc with a heart condition, bi li, side Black character, side Japanese character, side Native American character tw: sexual assault, physical assault, blood, talk of past rape, abuse, internalized homophobia
a bit over the top at times but aren't all gays dramatic ??
edit: okay u know what, i changed my mind. it's not overdramatic. it's just that the mc is a traumatized gay boy. & it's actually written very convincingly.
yeah, howie starts out as such an ugly sexist pig thanks to only being on the verge of Figuring Out The Gay Stuff brep: gay mc & li, bi side character
yeah, howie starts out as such an ugly sexist pig thanks to only being on the verge of Figuring Out The Gay Stuff but he grows up so well!! and his shitty behavior gets called out!
and that means we get a really soft romance, a great mother-son relationship, amazing friendships (old and new ones) & an actually Good humour...more
my favourite thing tho?? apart from this being a love story btwn a lesbian of color & a bi girrep: bi mc, poc lesbian li
OOH HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH
my favourite thing tho?? apart from this being a love story btwn a lesbian of color & a bi girl ofc (they actually used! the b word!)!! and apart from this being such a btf tale of growing up & childhood nostalgia & finding urself... so my favourite thing is how they were both broken & yet didn't wait for the other to save her but rather: they each were the push the other needed to save herself...more
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