Suz Duvall
I am in love with both Naomi and Finn. They are both such well rounded characters and I loved their individual journeys as well as their romantic journey. IMO romance books work best when we fall in love with the characters individually before they fall in love with each other and Deanna made me do that.
Well this book is my entire personality now and I'm in desperate need of the next book. All of the relationships in this book were so well done (blood family, found family, romantic, All. Of. Them). The ‘build as you go' world building is my personal fave and I loved the folklore of the world. Easy to follow, fun, engaging, and the best kind of dramatic.
NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP 💃🕺
I LOVED THIS BOOK! As a fat it is magical to see a fat MC that isn't filled with internalized fatphobia. While this was a fun and fluffy book on the surface it also had a pretty direct storyline of the racism and stereotypes that Black women face in everyday life. Seressia did a good job of banancing the fluff with the drama and i'm excited to read more from her
“So when are you coming home?”
Who gave Aaron the right to make me cry like this. Queer coming of age stories just hit different when you're a 30 yr old who's still figuring their shit out apparently.
tldr– I adore everything about this book and you (everyone) should read it and cry with me)
Sometimes it feels like the teens in YA books are polished up to the best versions of themselves but not here. Quique is a chaotic mess. He does messy, teen things. He's real and unfiltered and it was beautiful.
I'll never understand how people can say they can't find anything to relate to in books about people different to them because even though I'm white, it felt like I was looking in a mirror. So many parts of Quique are also parts of me. Growing up in a working, lower class family and dealing with the struggles and mindset that creates. Struggling to find yourself while also measuring yourself up against [literally] everyone you see.
But the most relatable was his struggle with his mental health and learning to recognize when you need to ask for help. It took me a lot longer to figure out than it did for him.
I love how friendships were portrayed and how platonic love with his friends was just as important as his want/need for romantic love and lust.
I was worried I wouldn't be able to fall in love with Saleem since he isn't present for a good amount of the book but I did. He showed up and stole my heart.
I do wish we had been able to have a little bit more time with saleem and be able to see them fall in love a bit more but that might just be because I love them so much
Don't be fooled by the title and cover, this isn't your usual fluffy holiday romance.
Reese's characters are always beautifully crafted and have so much depth and David and Naftali are no different. I found so much in each of them to relate to, from gender struggles to recognizing and supporting your neurodivergence. I was drawn in and found myself falling in love with both MCs which made it even more special to watch them learn and grow and fall in love with each other.
This book is funny and sweet but it's also emotional and challenging. I highly recommend
ARC review
Fun and quick holiday romance.
This was a combo of all of my favorite things. Rebel is grouchy and jealous. Vic is sunshine personified.... krakenified? They are rivals in their winter sports and they get snowed in together. throw in some mild hurt/comfort and sooo much sexual tension and this was perfection.
