Two single dads find love in Learned Behaviors, a steamy m/m workplace romance. This feels like a good autumnal read and the cActual Rating: 3.5 stars
Two single dads find love in Learned Behaviors, a steamy m/m workplace romance. This feels like a good autumnal read and the characters have to overcome very real relationship challenges.
JaQuan is sending his daughter off to college and finally might feel free to date, though a big work project overseeing the design a line of home goods for a a prestigious brand is going to keep him busy. Matt is the pansexual, divorced father of adult children (with his youngest daughter in college with Jaq's daughter) and a definite workaholic. He's also the liason on the project JaQuan is involved with and there is definite chemistry.
But Matt's intense dedication to his job may be a challenge, not to mention the complication of something more than friendship brewing between their daughters. In general I enjoyed this, getting to see the characters work through challenges and come together. A few of the steamy scenes I was a bit more iffy on- particularly anything involving sex in the workplace I'm not a fan of, and some of the conversations around Jaq's mom and daughter were a little uncomfortable. That said, I think this has a lot going for it and it a nice option for this time of year. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Merged review:
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Two single dads find love in Learned Behaviors, a steamy m/m workplace romance. This feels like a good autumnal read and the characters have to overcome very real relationship challenges.
JaQuan is sending his daughter off to college and finally might feel free to date, though a big work project overseeing the design a line of home goods for a a prestigious brand is going to keep him busy. Matt is the pansexual, divorced father of adult children (with his youngest daughter in college with Jaq's daughter) and a definite workaholic. He's also the liason on the project JaQuan is involved with and there is definite chemistry.
But Matt's intense dedication to his job may be a challenge, not to mention the complication of something more than friendship brewing between their daughters. In general I enjoyed this, getting to see the characters work through challenges and come together. A few of the steamy scenes I was a bit more iffy on- particularly anything involving sex in the workplace I'm not a fan of, and some of the conversations around Jaq's mom and daughter were a little uncomfortable. That said, I think this has a lot going for it and it a nice option for this time of year. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own....more
This is a great introduction to queer artists and musicians involved in the Harlem Renaissance, and serves as a jumping off point for learning more abThis is a great introduction to queer artists and musicians involved in the Harlem Renaissance, and serves as a jumping off point for learning more about them. Written for teens, it feels like a personal invitation into something the author is passionate about. Johnson inserts relevant asides, juicy details, and places where he disagrees with things some authors said at the time. And yet, there is this honor and appreciation for what all of them added to Black and queer culture. It's entertaining, informative, and makes you want to go read more. I was familiar with some of the people in the book such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, but there are others I had never heard of and this work feels like an important part of keeping their history alive. And the portrait illustrations at the start of each biography are gorgeous! This is definitely worth checking out. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own....more
Damn! I was not expecting this as a release from Bramble! Curvy Girl Summer is a very sexy contemporary romance with a plus size h4.5 stars rounded up
Damn! I was not expecting this as a release from Bramble! Curvy Girl Summer is a very sexy contemporary romance with a plus size heroine that does an incredible job of tackling supposedly well-intentioned fatphobic comments from family members. And it is very clear Aaliyah is not hurting for interested men, just trying to find the right one. (also, this literally opens with an explicit sex scene, so you know what you're in for right away) I loved the slow-burn relationship in this book, and how well it balances humor with more serious themes.
Aaliyah is about to turn 30 and all she wants for her birthday is a serious boyfriend. When a blind date stands her up, she strikes up a conversation with the bartender Ahmad and he convinces her to try dating apps, with him keeping an eye out to make sure she's okay. So begins a string of dates that range from mediocre to terrible, all the while their friendship blossoms into something more. Here's the thing I'll say, and this is kind of a spoiler but I would have wanted to know going in. Ahmad wears a ring and tells customers he's happily married. Late in the book it comes out that he isn't, but Aaliyah thinks he is. Which makes for a couple of deeply uncomfortable scenes that feel like the start of cheating. I don't love how that was kept for so long, and that's the only thing that makes this less than a 5 star read. Because otherwise, I really loved their relationship, and the depth of the rest of the plot. I definitely recommend it, but you should go in knowing this is a plot device that is used. I need to read more from Danielle Allen! And the audio narration is excellent. The two voice actors are perfect for these characters.
I received an audio review copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own....more
This was not my favorite romance from Talia Hibbert, but she admits it's a lot angstier than what she typically writes. I'm also a harder sell on thisThis was not my favorite romance from Talia Hibbert, but she admits it's a lot angstier than what she typically writes. I'm also a harder sell on this premise- long-time friends successfully transitioning to a relationship after a one night stand when they first met. By the end of the book I was a bit more on board, but I'm a little iffy on someone having feelings for years and hiding them. I get that she has trauma she needs to deal with, but it's not my favorite. This is on the steamier side, and I might have liked that more if I was sold on the two of them earlier on. That said, I think your mileage on this as a reader will really vary. It's still a pretty good book, and there is the forced proximity of being temporary roommates. There's a new audiobook and I liked the narration. I received an audio review copy from NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
This was really fun! I love the author's TikTok skits and was curious to see how they worked into more of a full narrative. I think it was done prettyThis was really fun! I love the author's TikTok skits and was curious to see how they worked into more of a full narrative. I think it was done pretty well, though I don't know how this would read to people who weren't already familiar with her body of work. Admittedly it's a little less funny- I think the deadpan delivery in videos is hard to replicate in this format. But it's fun to see a fleshed out version of New Nigeria County, "Margin" and others.
For those unfamiliar with the source material, Clare Brown has made these smart and entertaining skits that flip the script on race and gender. In New Nigeria County, European Americans are the minority and often come from the "outer city". They have exotic hair that is oddly straight and yellow, with these exotic names that are very hard to get right. And while women are most often at the top of various industries, you occasionally get a "boy boss" who has bigger ambitions than being a house husband. You get the idea- it's smart and pretty hilarious. I highly recommend checking out her videos if you haven't seen them! I do think it was a good choice to make this project audio only. It follows a successful woman who calls the police on a new neighbor when she sees her teenage son walking around in cargo shorts- notorious gang attire related to the Live, Laugh, Love gang. But so begins a blow up involving the local high school, the PTA, and her job. Check it out! I love the full cast narration with the author playing the main character. I received an audio influencer copy via Libro.FM, all opinions are my own....more
I didn't realize quite how short this essay would be! It's interesting, especially as someone who is a fan of Butler's work, but it was originally wriI didn't realize quite how short this essay would be! It's interesting, especially as someone who is a fan of Butler's work, but it was originally written for Essence Magazine and is really just a few pages of text. That said, I do think this offers some insight into Butler's thinking about the future and how she went about writing books like Parable of the Sower. Essentially that the future will always be a surprise and our predictions are often more a reflection of our current state of mind or state of being. Worth a read if you're a fan of her work! ...more
I really loved some of the stories in the collection, others were just okay for me. However, I think the project of bringing toget3.5 stars rounded up
I really loved some of the stories in the collection, others were just okay for me. However, I think the project of bringing together authors of color writing speculative fiction is a great one. Here are a few standouts:
Darcie Little Badger wrote a story that is an interesting modern take on an indigenous monster.
Nghi Vo (is anyone surprise I loved her story?) tells a fantastic tale of unexpected revenge in the best possible way.
Tananarive Due wrote a creepy story about a girl living near a swamp with giant leech monsters.
Christopher Caldwell wrote a genre-bending story about a trans woman and her girlfriend trying to find a place to live and love safely, even in virtual reality.
Certainly a collection worth checking out because you might find a gem of a new author! I received an audio review copy of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
If you haven't tried this series yet and you are a fan of the fae, queer romance, and Shakespeare then you definitely should. Saint-Seducing Gold (stiIf you haven't tried this series yet and you are a fan of the fae, queer romance, and Shakespeare then you definitely should. Saint-Seducing Gold (still not sure why this is the title tbh?) continues to follow Joan, a bisexual young Black woman living in a magical version of Shakespearean London where the fae from Midsummer Nights Dream really exist and are trying to take over the human government. She is the daughter of a blacksmith and makes stage weapons for Shakespeare's productions, but is now getting caught up in far larger plots. Not to mention the fact that she is falling for a boy and a girl at the same time, while yet another boy is blackmailing her into a relationship. We got hints in book 1 that this might end up being polyamorous, and based on what happens here I think that is extremely likely. It's a fun, quick read and I will definitely pick up the concluding volume when it releases! The audio narration is great as well. I received an audio review copy of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own....more
OH MY GOD THIS WAS SO GOOD!!! Maybe the best romance I've read so far this year?! Clearly I need to try more from Natasha Bishop.
Janelle is headed toOH MY GOD THIS WAS SO GOOD!!! Maybe the best romance I've read so far this year?! Clearly I need to try more from Natasha Bishop.
Janelle is headed to her sister's destination wedding. She's the maid of honor and her sister is marrying her ex! And being a bit of a bridezilla. To take the edge off, she agrees to a one week fling with Rome, a very attractive groomsman. But their chemistry in the bedroom turns into much more than she bargained for...
Only for the Week is a contemporary Black romance with lots of external drama/conflict and a relationship that is internally so beautiful with the heroine being treated like a queen, and rightfully so. It's also one of those rare gems that is at once extremely sexy and deeply emotional/swoonworthy. I cannot say enough good things about it and will be pushing it on people! The audio narration is great too, though the male narrator has such a deep voice I sometimes had to slow it down a little from my normal high speed to catch everything he said. Loved this though! I received an audio influencer copy from Libro.FM, all opinions are my own.
A woman who got a second chance and now owns her own restaurant falls for the cop who once arrested her when they work together on4.5 stars rounded up
A woman who got a second chance and now owns her own restaurant falls for the cop who once arrested her when they work together on a community project in this charming contemporary romance.
Honestly I wasn't sure how this was going to go, but I ended up really liking it. Sheri and Deandre are both working to create positive change in their community while avoiding the pressure to come down hard with an aggressive police presence because of bored teenagers acting up. I loved how their romance developed too. This is great for people who like external conflict in a romance and a relatively low-drama couple. They are mature and communicate well, but Deandre is a widower with a teenager son who tries to sabotage the relationship. I loved how this handled that. There's a great cast of side characters that are fleshed out and humor scattered throughout. Definitely one to pick up! I generally love Synithia's books. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
Jane Austen retellings can be a hit or miss but I really enjoyed this one! A sexier, contemporary take on Sense & Sensibility cent4.5 stars rounded up
Jane Austen retellings can be a hit or miss but I really enjoyed this one! A sexier, contemporary take on Sense & Sensibility centering Black and Indigenous characters, it's fun but also clearly knows the source material well enough to make intentional changes.
Sisters Nora & Yanne (short for Maryanne) find out at their fathers funeral that their mother was his mistress and they are left with nothing but a run down cottage in Maine that's about to go into foreclosure. They decide to try refurbishing and running an inn to save their inheritance, but they find Ennis "Bear", a Native tour guide, squatting in the abandoned building with a tour. Yanne has sickle cell, which I think works well for the health issues in the original, and she is into things like tarot. Which is a fantastic update to the character. Nora is the practical one who feels like she needs to be a strong Black woman no matter what she's dealing with internally. Overall, I think the way this modernizes the characters and central conflicts is really smart. I would have liked to see a bit more of what was going on with Yanne's love life, but I also get that because Nora is the main character that's hard to do. A very solid update to a classic and this makes me excited to read Payne's take on Pride & Prejudice!...more
This is a really solid collection of short stories. Of course some are better than others, but overall it's a YA horror collection3.5 stars rounded up
This is a really solid collection of short stories. Of course some are better than others, but overall it's a YA horror collection where authors play with classic tropes in new ways, centering young Black women who do in fact survive. (as the title should clue you in) Some stories are funny, some are creepy, some are both but I had a good time reading these and none of them were really bad.
I'll share a couple of my favorites. Queeniums for Greenium by Brittney Morris had me cackling at the sendup of MLM culture, but make it horror. My other favorite is the final story in the collection- Foxhunt by Charlotte Nicole Davis features a queer Black girl and offers a take on the creepy game, but in high school. Those two really stood out and made excellent use of the short story framework. And it tracks, because I've loved other books from both authors. The audio narration is great and delivers the creepy vibes when needed fairly well. I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
This is such a brilliant concept, and the writing is excellent. James is a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from th4.5 stars rounded up
This is such a brilliant concept, and the writing is excellent. James is a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim. For those who haven't read the original, Jim is an enslaved Black man who is a key side character. Part of the issue people (understandably) have with the original novel is the way it plays into racist stereotypes and glosses over the horrific realities of slavery in lieu of an adventure & coming of age story.
James then offers a wildly different perspective and subverts those stereotypes in ways that are at once entertaining and sharply pointed. We see not only James' intelligence and humanity, but how those things exist in so many other enslaved people as well. If anything, it becomes the bigoted white characters who often show themselves to be less intelligent despite their puffed up airs. A major theme is the power of language and education, and the assumptions people make about intelligence based on how people speak. I think there's a good reason this book is getting so much attention and I would recommend it widely....more
I loved this author's debut novel, but unfortunately this one was a miss for me. Despite a strong start, it devolved into a lot of telling rather thanI loved this author's debut novel, but unfortunately this one was a miss for me. Despite a strong start, it devolved into a lot of telling rather than showing, character perspectives through the middle who I was not invested in, and a plot that was kind of all over the place. I'm sure this was fun to write, but I think it needed some serious tightening of plot and perspectives. I was bored through much of the second half of the book, which is not something I should be saying about a horror novel offering a different sort of take on vampires.
Devils Kill Devils follows a woman who has been protected throughout her life from death by a mysterious man than her mother believes is her guardian angel. But on her wedding night, he appears in their hotel room and brutally kills her husband. The reasons why are connected with a cult, a prophecy, and powerful monsters...
It's a great start to the story and the concept has potential, but it meanders off, includes things that bear little relevance to the central plot, and then goes kind of off the rails without laying the groundwork for it to land. I'm all for a bonkers plot, but you have get buy-in from the reader and I didn't feel I had that here. Your experience may differ and I would try future books from this author (sophomore slump is a real thing!) but sadly this one didn't hit for me. The audio narration is pretty well done though. I received an audio review copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
Do What Godmother Says is a dual-timeline mystery with gothic elements and a potentially unreliable narrator. I liked it quite a lot, though it felt uDo What Godmother Says is a dual-timeline mystery with gothic elements and a potentially unreliable narrator. I liked it quite a lot, though it felt unbalanced at times.
Shanice's life is falling apart and her mental health isn't great either. But when she finds a mysterious painting of a woman at her grandmother's house, it leads her down a dangerous path as she uncovers the story of Estelle Johnson- the Harlem Renaissance artist who created the painting. And Estelle's connection with Maud- a wealthy white woman with interest in the occult who took advantage of young Black artists.
I picked this up because I love a gothic novel and I was really interested in the story of the Harlem Renaissance artist. Unfortunately, we spend the bulk of the novel in the modern perspective and wish the past timeline had been a little more fleshed out and evenly integrated into the story. That said, while some of the reveals didn't surprise me, I had a good time and would read more from the author. She effectively weaves some gothic elements in and gives great atmosphere. I would recommend it! The audio narration is well done. I received an audio copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own....more
This was adorable!!! If you're looking for a cozy fantasy with baking magic and a lot of heart, you should absolutely pick up Just a Pinch of Magic. IThis was adorable!!! If you're looking for a cozy fantasy with baking magic and a lot of heart, you should absolutely pick up Just a Pinch of Magic. It follows two girls who feel like outsiders.
Wini's family runs a magical bakery that is struggling and she loves her baking magic, but when she was a baby her mom cursed their town and left her behind so everyone kind of hates her. She's determined to save her family's bakery but a spell goes very awry...
Kal has been desperate for more attention from her dad for a long time, and now they're moving to a new town to run a magical bookshop, but her mostly estranged grandfather is coming along and she's not sure how to feel. Kal is new to exploring her magic and befriends Wini as she tries to learn. Also their dads seem pretty into each other... But something wicked is approaching the town and the girls have until Halloween night to fix things!
Super cute with lovable characters, casually queer parents, and great mental health rep & fat rep! Wini is plus-size and that's handled really well. Kal has anxiety and manages with medication and therapy. I love them and I love how this approaches things. The town is charming and the story is perfectly paced. Really enjoyed this and look forward to more! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Merged review:
This was adorable!!! If you're looking for a cozy fantasy with baking magic and a lot of heart, you should absolutely pick up Just a Pinch of Magic. It follows two girls who feel like outsiders.
Wini's family runs a magical bakery that is struggling and she loves her baking magic, but when she was a baby her mom cursed their town and left her behind so everyone kind of hates her. She's determined to save her family's bakery but a spell goes very awry...
Kal has been desperate for more attention from her dad for a long time, and now they're moving to a new town to run a magical bookshop, but her mostly estranged grandfather is coming along and she's not sure how to feel. Kal is new to exploring her magic and befriends Wini as she tries to learn. Also their dads seem pretty into each other... But something wicked is approaching the town and the girls have until Halloween night to fix things!
Super cute with lovable characters, casually queer parents, and great mental health rep & fat rep! Wini is plus-size and that's handled really well. Kal has anxiety and manages with medication and therapy. I love them and I love how this approaches things. The town is charming and the story is perfectly paced. Really enjoyed this and look forward to more! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
Great for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue! Prince of the Palisades is a YA rom-com about an African prince stuck in a private Los Angeles high schoGreat for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue! Prince of the Palisades is a YA rom-com about an African prince stuck in a private Los Angeles high school until he can clean up his image. Along the way he falls for a boy and finds himself.
It's a very fun, very cute book! If you enjoy royal romances and want one that is queer and Black, you should absolutely check this out. It's sex-positive but not explicit, and prioritizes consent, safety, and waiting until everyone is comfortable. Prince Jadon has a strong character arc as he comes to terms with his identity as a royal, and decides what he wants that to mean and who he wants to be. I also like that him being openly gay is a non-issue. There are issues being faced and pressure from his family, but homophobia is not a part of that. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)
>
Books:
black-authors
(534)
Loading...
