Gabriela

3.5 - I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was a low-stakes romance with a bi awakening after 30 and after a divorce so it was already doing something different than most romance books. The setting of an adult summer camp gives it the same lightweight and carefree vibe that I get from YA romances; however, this was written with an adult audience in mind, not because of it's spice, as there is not a lot of that, but rather because of its themes and the stages in life these adults find themselves in. I also appreciated the exploration of the relationship between siblings (I am a sucker for sister storylines)

Now, for the reasons this didn't get a higher rating... I didn't love the “vision” aspect of this story. I know it's fiction and it doesn't have to be realistic, but it did take me out of the story. My other issue is how quickly the main couple got together, especially considering that one of them didn't even know she was queer. I needed a few more chapters between the realization and the declaration of love. Once that happened, all the tension dissolved and it then focused on other subplots I would've rather explored towards the middle of the book.

That being said, I think it's a very fun sapphic read for the summertime if you want something to feel like a hug and not give you many strong emotions. Not a must-read, but a nice read.

I'm revising the rating. I had given it a 4.5, but I can't stop thinking about this book and I want to re-read it. This is a 5 star and I was just being stingy with it.

I adored this. I saw so much of myself in Jacob and Briana. Reading this truly felt like therapy. I spent the last few chapters sobbing, but I love it when a story hits me this hard. I still liked Part of Your World a bit more, but this was excellent. I will read everything Abby writes from now on.

4.5. This was so cute, funny, and endearing. This isn't going to necessarily hit the same for everyone, but I found Imogen's character so relatable. This is a book about a very enthusiastic LGBTQ+ ally coming to terms with the possibility that she might actually be queer. I love bi stories (in general), but I especially love ones that discuss the nuances of that experience even within queer groups of people. There are discussions of bi erasure, biphobia, other people wanting to gatekeep queerness, and a bunch other problematic issues. However, this is ultimately a story about acceptance, love, and the importance of having a community of people who love you and respect your journey. I laughed and screamed a lot as I was reading it (maybe it was hitting too close to home). I recommend it to anyone! A very sweet depiction of this identity struggle.

How can a book be so steamy and so boring at the same time? It's honestly impressive. It should've been half as long or the author shouldn't have made them get together so soon. If the characters get together before we're halfway through the book, you better give me a good ass plot to keep me entertained.

I liked these Stassie and Nate. They're nice. I like their relationship. The spicy scenes are good. But the plot of this book is so paper thin and felt so inconsequential that I honestly fell asleep a few times reading the latter part of the book. I'm also sick an tired of bad enemies to lovers plots.

It does have redeeming qualities. There are fun elements to the book. I didn't hate it, but the hype is unwarranted.

3.5. I'll start this review by saying that fantasy/romantasy isn't a genre I'm usually interested in. I am not the target audience for this book, so take this with a grain of salt.

I, undeniably, had a very fun time reading this book. I am into this plot and I'm starting Iron Flame tonight. HOWEVER, I had some issues (all of them named Violet Sorrengail) that keep this from getting to a higher rating:

-The reason they are enemies actually makes a lot of sense, but the way Violet is written undermines this constantly during the first quarter of the book. It's ok that she finds him attractive in spite of their rivalry, but some of the moments are completely ruined by her repeating over and over how hot he is. He's about to kill her and her brain is just like “wow isn't he so beautiful.” She is written like she is a 14 year old girl who has her first crush. The insta-love thing is immediately such a turn off. And of course now having finished it knowing that they were both like this makes me roll my eyes, but at least I only had to suffer through Violet's inner dialogue.

-Continuing with that thought, when she falls for him she becomes the most insufferable character. I like a bit of longing and descriptions of how much they want each other in book, but this author does such a disservice to Violet by writing her like her brain is pure horniness and nothing else. She thinks says and does the most stupid things at the most inopportune moments. I kept thinking that maybe what she needed was a good vibrator to not act like she was in heat all the time.

-In that scene where Xaden is very upset and is at the Parapet, tell me why this girl decides to make it about herself and try to DTR? It's a good thing he already loved her, because I would've shoved her. Time and place, Violence.

-Xaden repeatedly tells her she can't fall for him because she doesn't really know him. She says that she knows enough and ignores him. Then she's so surprised to learn that shocker he has hidden some things from her and now she says she can't trust him. It's not like he isn't to blame, but she fell for him and trusted him even when he was so clear that he wasn't opening up about everything. You can't be that outraged by something that he warned you about and you ignored.

Overall, fun plot. Good war scenes. Good plot twists. Accessible to non-fantasy readers. But it's very hard to be all in on the romance when the main character is so insufferable and seemingly immature (which is a shame because she is clearly brilliant and very powerful). The main character's dialogue (both internal and external) is the weakest point of this book.

Let me start by saying I fully agree with everything shared in this book and would agree with making this required reading for all humans who want to or already engage in sex.

However, this is the kind of book that continues to prove that not all good articles need to become books. For such a short book, it often felt repetitive. Maybe I felt this way because I didn't need convincing; someone with a more hesitant opinion might benefit from looking at the same argument from 3 different perspectives.

It's a good & quick read. It presents its points clearly and in an accessible way. The main takeaway is: men should take responsibility for their ejaculations and the prevention of unplanned pregnancies said ejaculations cause. Agreed.

Sometimes a book tugs at your heartstrings just the right way, which means you spend a good chunk of the book having either an existential crisis or feeling intense emotional pain (in the best way possible). This is a wonderful story about life, death, and regret. I cannot recommend this highly enough. One of my favorite reads this year!

4.5 - This book is so beautifully written, but unconventional in its execution of a love story. Both characters are neurodivergent (mood disorder and ASD), which makes the texture of their conversations, the exploration of their feelings and the trajectory of their unique relationship feel like a beautiful whirlwind you're lucky to be privy to.

This novel includes stage directions, changes in narrator, and frequent switches from first to third person. I have never read anything quite like this. Stunning story with insightful prose that often left me with my mouth wide open. I will be recommending this book to so many people!

Some standout quotes that are spoiler free are:

“There was wonder here, even if Regan no longer saw it. Even if she no longer felt it, he would feel it for both of them. He would translate it for her later. He would learn to draw it for her, he thought, or to write it, or graph it.”

“If I'm a lover of impossible problems then will you have loved me for my impossibilities, so tell me, Regan, what else matters but this, us?”

This was SO sweet, emotional, and inspiring. I really enjoyed getting to know Miles and Eric. This is a story about trans and queer joy, about reinventing yourself and trusting that radical acceptance of your true self will lead to joyfulness, even if the path is full of hurdles. I really appreciated that this story didn't shy away from some of the negative experiences trans kids have to go through both with friends, the institutions they navigate, and family dynamics, even as it was trying to keep itself a positive story. The use of music as a tool through which to reflect that journey of self discovery and introspection was really effective and moving. This book made me sad at times, but mostly it made me very very happy.

Happy Bisexual Awareness Week! This was a great read. Very informative, accessible, and relatable.

4.5. I'll update with my full review later.

This book is the opposite of a slow burn! It has a lot of spice, but I have to admit I wasn't immediately rooting for this couple. I wasn't fully on board with this situationship until halfway through the book. It was fun, funny, weird, but also so lovely.

No one does it like Julia! Great book & narration. Emotional, funny, sexy, and super meta. Glad I impulsively decided to read it.

3.5. It was a lot of fun to read this. It had the right amount of silly plot, charming characters, and heartwarming/sad moments. I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. This is ultimately a story about accepting some unchangeable facts of life and appreciating the moments we have while we have them. It made me cry, it made me laugh, and was a quick and easy read. What holds it back from a higher rating was that the overall plot and messages felt a bit predictable. It won't change your life, but I did like it. A good comfort read if your idea of comfort is a good cry (which it is for me!).

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. I've heard great things about it, but the whole ghost thing doesn't appeal to me. But what better romance to read during October, right?

Well, this book really took me by surprise. By the last few chapters I was screaming and reading while standing up because the ending was just so good! No spoilers here, but this is a very sweet and emotional love story with a very compelling female main character and a family that feels like they jump out of the page. It's cheesy, but honestly by the end of it I was all in.

Adorable book. So easy to read, full of lovable characters. It made me smile. I recommend this book if you're seeking a lighthearted story about trans joy, identity, and first loves.

I can't begin to express how much I loved this book. I felt every emotion possible. This will be the romance to beat for my future 2024 reads.

Tw for domestic violence (physical and emotional)

3.5. It was fun. But both of the books in this series are written with so many cliches that it's off putting. The characters are well developed and their chemistry works. I just wish the writing compelled me a bit more. It was still a good time!

Side note:the narrator of this audiobook had a very nasally voice that was quite distracting.

Wow. Certainly one of my favorite reads of this year. This a powerful story that explores the idea of bodily autonomy vs imposed control. It approaches this topic from a variety of angles and perspectives, including religion, motherhood, and illness. Elena is dealing with a severe case of Parkinson's while also coming to terms with her daughter's death. Her grief and denial takes her on a journey to understand her daughter and her role as a mother. An intense story that will grip you tight and challenge your own ideas about the themes presented here.

The potential was there, but it fell flat for me towards the end. The conflict wasn't compelling enough and I wasn't able to connect with these characters as much as I wanted to. It was headed for a 4-star review until the last 25% of the book.

I was deeply moved by this story and couldn't stop talking about it. I'll gather my thoughts and do a full review later.

4.5. This book takes its reader on a journey of reckoning with the violent past of the witch hunts and how it still shapes the persecution of women who dare to step out of line.

Chollet explores the expectation of women to marry, birth children, never to age, and to limit their knowledge and control of their bodies. Moreover, it discusses how society treats those who choose to follow a different path, how politics and religion continue to be forces to oppress and regulate women's lives and bodies.

I would say it provides an introduction to all of these topics, but it's by no means a comprehensive deep dive. However, I think this is a good thing, as it makes the text more accessible. It's intersectional as far as race and sexuality, but it's ultimately a Western exploration of these topics, with a heavy emphasis on European and American experiences.

I highly recommend it if you're at all interested in these topics.

“Turning the world upside down is no small undertaking. But there can be great joy -the joy of audacity, of insolence, of a vital affirmation, of defying faceless authority- in allowing our ideas and imaginations to follow the paths down which these witches' whisperings entice us.”

This was so different than the other two, but I had a great time listening to this. Or maybe a great time isn't the right word. This was darker, scarier, and more unhinged than the past two. This was a great finale to the series. Solid. I listened to all of them as audiobooks and I'm so glad I did. The podcast experience came to live through this format.

PS: The ending made me scream! iykyk

4.5 stars. I absolutely adored this story. These characters stole my heart. I will say the setting and plot of this story is as cheesy as it gets, but it's the best kind of escapism. It was so heartwarming, and sad, and vulnerable. I appreciated the discussions of mental health and how it approaches queerness. I cried, screamed, and laughed. I absolutely recommend this book!

4.5. I loved it. It was so good. I have to admit I struggled through the first part because of the immense amount of places, rooms, and things described, but I was so intrigued with the story and the way Piranesi saw the world. I know this book will not be for everyone, but I thought it was beautifully written, with an engaging plot, and characters that you couldn't help want to know better. Ultimately, I think this is a story about identity, about connecting with others, and connecting with your environment. How seeing the world through the lens of being grateful, kind, and curious will reveal the true beauty of our surroundings. Piranesi's empathy and passion for life was so compelling and pure.