Happy publish day! Re-sharing my review from April.
The Guncle Abroad by Steve Rowley is reminiscent of a road trip back home — you’re not sure if youHappy publish day! Re-sharing my review from April.
The Guncle Abroad by Steve Rowley is reminiscent of a road trip back home — you’re not sure if you should head back given everything happening but when you do you’re glad you did. Sorry for the metaphor; The Guncle Abroad is sweet and full of characters that you’ve learned to love and adore even if you don’t enjoy the *whole* experience.
At first, I wondered why a sequel was even necessary. Rowley ended the first one perfectly. However, the more I read the sequel, I’m glad we got more time to spend with Patrick, Maisie, Grant, and the rest of the gang. However, that’s where my most critical thoughts lie — some of the new characters aren’t as easy on the eyes as the cast from the first one nor are they written as three dimensional. I wish I could have loved Paulimina as much as the kids but I found her to be annoying. Maisie, given her age in this one, is also fairly rude and full of angst but we are now dealing with a 14 year old filled with hormones and fury so I’ll allow it!
They’re brought together as Greg, Patrick’s brother and father of Maisie and Grant, is set to marry Livia, an Italian heiress (or as Patrick likes to call her, a “marchese”) and hilarity and aforementioned angst ensues. Patrick is still able to add a new style of Guncle rules but they aren’t as hard hitting as the first go around (inspired by love languages, they just don’t tug at the heart strings or make you lol like the set in the first novel.)
Ultimately, I’m glad we get to spend more time with these characters — we’re seeing a loving family and LGBTQ+ characters that aren’t put through the wringer but are loved by their family. And, given the world we live in, that makes up for any misgivings I had about the book. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group and Putnam Books for the ARC....more
Adam Sass has done it again! A longtime follower of his work (and social media posts), Sass has created a lovely story of a second chance at love, staAdam Sass has done it again! A longtime follower of his work (and social media posts), Sass has created a lovely story of a second chance at love, starring two intersting and developed characters in Ben and Grant (along with a vineyard of colorful cast that rounds out this story). There are moments where you wish the characters would just come out and say what and how they feel, but this is YA after all! Otherwise, the story moves along with a brisk pace, touching and cute throughout.
This may be his best work yet, but I am bias — I’m a sucker for a story centered around Italian families! Sass continues to provide stories that young queer people can enjoy — that in itself makes this another must read from the author. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC....more
Publish day! Resharing my review from last week now that the book is available everywhere.
Cat Sebastian has another home run (pun intended) on her haPublish day! Resharing my review from last week now that the book is available everywhere.
Cat Sebastian has another home run (pun intended) on her hands with “You Should Be So Lucky,” the follow up to one of my favorite novels from 2023, “We Could Be So Good.” This slow burn, historical romance hits all the right notes with two main characters, Mark and Eddie, and the side characters (and of course, Lula) you’re rooting for. When grumpy reporter Mark falls in love with an up and coming baseball player, they both have to decide if the other is enough in a world where being out and proud is scary and dangerous.
From the very beginning, I was hooked — which is funny, because I’m not a baseball fan. Sebastian does a nice job writing about a baseball player and the sport that you needn’t have any prior experience or interest (really) to enjoy it.
Like “So Good,” “So Lucky” is set in a time period we rarely see in LGBTQ romance books — too many times, we are either dealing with modern stories or stuck in the 80s dealing with heavier themes. Hey, if Sebastian wants to move the next one (please let there be a next one) to the 70s, you’ll have plenty of readers happy.
If you’re a fan of lovable characters, a tender storyline set in a New York City bursting with motion, check this novel out. Don’t let the slow burn stop you from enjoying - the journey and destination are worth it. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, for the ARC....more
Providence by Craig Willse tells a story of Mark Lausson, an educator at Sawyer College who’s still struggling to pay his bills despite securing his dProvidence by Craig Willse tells a story of Mark Lausson, an educator at Sawyer College who’s still struggling to pay his bills despite securing his dream job. He soon meets Tyler, a mysterious student, who he falls heads over heels for almost as quickly as they meet.
It was exciting to see a psychological thriller with a LGBT lead but the story was just serviceable at best. There are a few issues throughout including the writing style (especially in the beginning), pacing, and the ending (I didn’t understand it 100%). The themes of desire and following an idea despite how wrong it is was interesting but I wish it was under better direction. I’m excited to read what comes next from Willse. Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the ARC. ...more
Happy publish day! Re-sharing my review from March.
Stuart Turton’s Last Murder at the End of the World is an addicting page turner that sinks its teeHappy publish day! Re-sharing my review from March.
Stuart Turton’s Last Murder at the End of the World is an addicting page turner that sinks its teeth in and doesn’t let go until you’ve hit the last page. I don’t remember the last time I read so much of a book in one sitting.
The story follows Emory, a villager on this idyllic island at the end of the world who’s faced with a task that if failed spells the doom for the rest of the 100+ residents. With so many characters, it’s easy to get anxious you’ll have to keep track but the author does a nice job differentiating and reminding you of the rest of the characters’ intentions - it was something I had struggled with in Turton’s “7 1/2 Deaths.”
Without spoiling any critical plot points, I have to note the story as a whole is done very well keeping you guessing until the very end… and that’s all I say about that! My only gripe with the book as a whole is that it takes a beat to get going and at points when the story is set in motion, there’s lots of backtracking between areas (almost like an old school video game like Metroid) as characters stumble onto new clues and reveals but must get back to point A and then get to point D (all while dealing with a looming deadline.) While I preferred this ending over Turton’s other novel I mentioned above I still was left scratching my head and thinking if it was plausible or if there were details kept in secret away from the reader on purpose or for far too long for the sake of adding 50 pages to the book.
I’m excited for folks to get their hands on this. Be sure to pick it up if you’re a fan of sci-fi, mysteries, and thrillers. Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC....more
*Resharing my review from Jan. 1 2024 ahead of the book’s release date*
The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore is a treat! I did not expect to*Resharing my review from Jan. 1 2024 ahead of the book’s release date*
The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore is a treat! I did not expect to enjoy it so much — I have read a handful of “similar” stories that start with a fake romance that leads to something more. Where Boyfriend Subscription is different, however, are the themes Salvatore does a nice job of covering and how quickly we get to the action (in more ways than one).
Salvatore introduces characters and does a wonderful job of revealing their background and motivations. I loved getting to know Teddy and Cole (and the great secondary characters like Kit and Mallory,) but I wish we got to get to know them more naturally and spend more time with them. It’s a minor gripe, but the story takes place over the course of three days and in that time, these characters share so much of themselves that you have to suspend disbelief (which I had a hard time doing). I’m a jaded romantic who scoffs at folks falling in love on reality shows like 90 Day Fiancé and Love is Blind in 5 minutes - maybe I’m the problem!
Overall, I think this is a great novel and one that I hope others read — not many are telling queer stories that touch on healthy queer relationships and sex work. Please pick it up when it’s available March 26, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and Afterglow Books/ Harlequin for an advance review copy....more
Matt Cain’s Becoming Ted is sweet and cozy, following titular character Ted as his life is shattered and he can’t afford to not put himself first. WhiMatt Cain’s Becoming Ted is sweet and cozy, following titular character Ted as his life is shattered and he can’t afford to not put himself first. Which is tough, because he’s always put others first including the cast of characters he calls his family, his ex and friends, and tender Oskar, a Polish ex-pat who struggled with his coming out fleeing his homeland.
While I enjoyed my time with Ted, it has its issues with its pacing which made it hard for me to ultimately connect to the characters and story. One particular plot line involving letters warning of deceit felt tacked on in an already stuffed book (adding to my earlier pacing issues).
However, Becoming Ted is a story people should read. The themes of self-discovery and acceptance are needed in today’s world more than ever. While some may find it corny, it’s a touching story that I know a majority of folks who stick through the story will enjoy. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC. ...more
Resharing my review from earlier this month for publication day.
The Fury by Alex Michaelides is full of twists and turns! You really don’t expect wheResharing my review from earlier this month for publication day.
The Fury by Alex Michaelides is full of twists and turns! You really don’t expect where the narrator, Elliot, one of several characters you meet, will take you over the 320-page mystery thriller. I’ve been a fan of Michaelides since his 2019 novel, The Silent Patient, rocked the literary world. I have to give props to the author — he tried something different here from The Silent Patient and The Maidens, but is it successful? That’s up to you to decide.
While it’s interesting, Michaelides’ third novel tries but comes up short of the height he reached with Silent Patient mainly because of the “twists” and writing style, putting the PoV squarely on Elliot. Unfortunately, the unreliable narrator style of writing didn’t work for me here. It’s unsuccessful not because of Elliot’s personality — he’s sly and conniving, which is fun — but because he doesn’t earn any trust from readers from the jump. He even says it himself in the opening chapters that he probably can’t be trusted. I wish we as readers got to make that decision on our own instead of Michaelides/Elliot doing it for us. You know that something will pop up confirming an earlier suspicion and voiding the last 50 pages. This happens multiple times. Lana, a character we spend the majority of our time with feels three-dimensional but I can’t say the same for the other handful of characters. She’s interesting but can’t make up for the others despite a great fourth and fifth act.
Despite all that being said, The Fury is very readable and a fun ride. Just expect multiple bumps and some turbulence — I blame the Grecian winds ...more
I love love loved my time with Geoffrey and Donovan. Their story was so sweet and lovely. I understand some of the critique from others about some of I love love loved my time with Geoffrey and Donovan. Their story was so sweet and lovely. I understand some of the critique from others about some of the romantic scenes but I didn’t mind them despite how vanilla or “sweet” they were. It would have been great if there was some villain / foe but I think too many of our LGBTQ books rely on tropes like that.
Thank you for the review copy NetGalley and Author Collective 20....more
Just a week away from publish date (and I already spotted it at Barnes last week) so resharing my review from July…
Where do I even begin? I’ve never rJust a week away from publish date (and I already spotted it at Barnes last week) so resharing my review from July…
Where do I even begin? I’ve never read a book like Stars in Your Eyes, but I’m so glad that I have. Kacen Callender has crafted a wonderful and important book that covers the beautiful sides of relationships while drawing a spotlight to deep and meaningful themes like trauma and mental health.
We follow Logan and Mattie through a sometimes tumultuous movie set (and beginnings of a staged relationship). Things quickly change when the two leads fall in love and the reader is introduced to the real sides of these “fake” lovers. I want to give a special shout out to the details of the minutia of making a movie (the sets, PR and press tour).
The book isn’t perfect (there’s a bit of exposition happening in the side chapters - which focus on a memoir, YouTubers, social media) but I think it’s a well crafted novel I’m looking forward to folks reading. Check it out if you like “haters to lovers” types of stories like Red, White and Royal Blue or Boyfriend Material. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Forever, for an advanced review copy....more
My lonely nights have just begun because my time with Cole and Dearie are over! Wow — what a blast it was to read. I’m always a little hesitant when bMy lonely nights have just begun because my time with Cole and Dearie are over! Wow — what a blast it was to read. I’m always a little hesitant when books are advertised as “POPULAR MOVIE/TV SHOW/BOOK” - in the case of Lonely nights, Scream meets Clueless - so color me surprise when Adam Sass totally nails it. Or not too surprised - Surrender Your Sons was great so I knew he’d do a fantastic job with his third novel.
I really enjoyed getting to know the two MCs, their story told through interweaving chapters, and the cast of characters they called friends/flops. I do wish we got to spend more time with some of them before they’re whisked away but it’s a small qualm I have. The other is the third act is too long which is a critique I’d give to even the best Scream film.
Does Adam Sass have a new series on his hand? I definitely would love to see what happens next. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC....more
Ryan Love’s Arthur & Teddy Are Coming Out is a special novel about titular characters Arthur and Teddy as they set off to live as their true selves. WRyan Love’s Arthur & Teddy Are Coming Out is a special novel about titular characters Arthur and Teddy as they set off to live as their true selves. While there’s a considerable age difference — grandfather Arthur is 79 and his grandson Teddy is 21 — both face similar obstacles and successes after coming out of the closet.
The book is full of characters that are multi-faceted and as lovable as the main characters. Madeline, Arthur’s wife, is so caring and a bright spot in his story. I also thought the themes and topics around mental health were handled well — know that the author is an advocate and has written about his personal experience with it in the past. Special shout out for a LGBTQ story from the perspective of an older member of the community — we don’t see that often enough!
Arthur and Teddy’s journeys to be themselves are interesting but they aren’t without faults; the latter interacts with a character whose storyline is full of tropes and isn’t as well developed. The book also overstays its welcome which is unfortunate because the beginning is so well done. Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the ARC....more
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