I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but I love love LOVED it. Ohhhh my god, the horror, the adventure, the emotions, the romance…I am sI had no idea what to expect going into this book, but I love love LOVED it. Ohhhh my god, the horror, the adventure, the emotions, the romance…I am so glad I went on this journey. I fell in love with both MCs and even felt close to crying a few times! Rachel Lacey is a stellar writer and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future. ...more
4.25. This book is fantastic!! Love love love all the discussions of mental health, queerness, and the general melancholy associated with being an adu4.25. This book is fantastic!! Love love love all the discussions of mental health, queerness, and the general melancholy associated with being an adult. Plus, Julie and Elle are so sweet together! The reason I’m not giving a full 5 stars is that the pacing was a bit slow for my liking and I sometimes found it hard to stay invested. But overall, Anita Kelly has definitely delivered! ...more
Absolutely screaming at how much I LOVED this book! The drama! The angst! The joy! The gayyyyyyy! Cora being one of the hottest characters I’ve ever hAbsolutely screaming at how much I LOVED this book! The drama! The angst! The joy! The gayyyyyyy! Cora being one of the hottest characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about!! AHHHH! Review to come maybe
Oh and the audiobook narration my Nneka Okoye is incredible. Especially her Cora voice oh my godddddddddd...more
First of all, can I just say this is one of my favorite book covers to ever grace the planet? It’s just so unapologetically queer and THAT CAKE is whaFirst of all, can I just say this is one of my favorite book covers to ever grace the planet? It’s just so unapologetically queer and THAT CAKE is what dreams are made of! (I’m mildly disappointed that the cake and cake toppers aren’t mentioned in the book, but...it’s all good ...more
3.5 stars. I really liked this for the most part. Skye Quinlan’s writing style is an absolute joy, Harper and Margot are adorable together, and I love3.5 stars. I really liked this for the most part. Skye Quinlan’s writing style is an absolute joy, Harper and Margot are adorable together, and I loved the ace rep! I did have some questions about Harper’s dad and what his values really were, and Evelyn’s character just flat out confused me.
Now, the marching band aspect of the story…let’s just say it was nothing like my own marching band experience. If you’re a band geek expecting detailed descriptions of band camp, competitions, and, well, anything band-related that feels high-stakes…you won’t find that here. The marching band in this book was more of a pep band that just revolved around football, and the program didn’t seem to be taken very seriously. Skye Quinlan has stated that they were in marching band, though, so most likely their marching band experience was just different from a lot of people’s.
I will definitely be reading more of Skye Quinlan’s books in the future!
[PS: Selfishly, I hope Issa ends up playing the clarinet like she initially wanted to, because contrary to what Harper says, it’s actually an extremely cool instrument, and noooo I’m not biased at all! ...more
I LOVE this book!! This sapphic regency rom-com is tender, fun, and hilarious in equal measures, with two lovable leads and a delightful cast of side I LOVE this book!! This sapphic regency rom-com is tender, fun, and hilarious in equal measures, with two lovable leads and a delightful cast of side characters. Ridley’s writing is smooth-flowing and entertaining, and while this is my first book of hers, it most definitely won’t be my last! I love how this book centers successes of women and queer people in history: not just in the 19th century, but in centuries past as well!
Tommy Wynchester (26) is a charismatic, daring person who lives with her justice-seeking team of adopted siblings. Tommy’s role in missions is to don any disguise necessary — no age or gender is off-limits. Though Tommy excels at disguises, she desires to be seen and loved as just Tommy — a kindhearted, loyal person who’s “sometimes…more like a man, sometimes…more like a woman, but mostly [feels] like both [and] neither.” I love Tommy so much — while she exudes the necessary bravado when wearing disguises, underneath them is someone who’s so sweet and vulnerable it made my heart constrict! Her vulnerability is best shown while navigating her crush on Philippa York (23), whom she’s met with in various disguises. I love a good crush-to-lovers plot, and it’s executed so well here! Tommy is smitten with a capital S, and it’s just too adorable!
Philippa is the quintessential bluestocking, living for her weekly reading circles and loving books and knowledge more than she could love any man. I love how she’s super smart and super feminine at the same time! Unfortunately, Philippa’s parents are hellbent on finding her a high-ranking husband, and Philippa intends to go through with it because of her dad’s reputation and a higher ranking could benefit her library charity endeavors. Philippa has been labeled a wallflower, but when doing things she loves, she’s quite outgoing and adventurous. When Philippa’s dear friend’s uncle steals his niece’s accomplishments, Philippa knows the Wynchester family can help her seek justice. What she doesn’t know is that she’ll end up falling for Tommy Wynchester.
I love Tommy and Philippa so much together! They’re so adorable and even after a short while it’s clear they’re a great match. They’re both such weirdos: their ridiculous banter made me laugh out loud and they get into hilarious situations when working together! It’s clear what they admire in each other — Philippa, Tommy’s self-acceptance and free spirit; Tommy — Philippa’s cleverness. Their chemistry is also off-the-charts. The tender moments between them near the beginning, with hardly any touching, impressed me with how much chemistry and emotion they convey. And even as an ace person, I can say that their bedroom scenes are not boring whatsoever! I love how the relationship eschews stereotypes and I love how the two become such equals in every way.
The justice-seeking sub-plot is so much fun, and I love when people work together to ruin a gross man’s undeserved reputation. The stunts the characters pull are as impressive as they are funny. As Philippa makes integral discoveries to aid the Winchesters, she realizes how much she loves being a part of something rather than being sequestered away by her parents. I adored how much this book shows Philippa coming into her own, and how Tommy is quick to reassure her of her worth.
The Wynchester siblings are such a dynamic group, each using their talents to work together like a well-oiled machine. I’d love to read about each of them — I’ll go back and read Chloe’s story soon, and the end of the book seems to hint at who the next book will be about. Marjorie is a hard of hearing artist who often communicates using sign language, Graham is a research god who could also be a therapist, and Jacob trains a horde of wildly adorable animals (I’m obsessed with sweet kitty Tiglet and hungry bunny Lord Fluffinghop!). I’d be most excited to read about sword-wielding Elizabeth, though! Her thirst for violence and quippy one-liners are the best!
In short, I loved this book so much and can’t wait to read more about the Wild Wynchesters!
After loving the hell out of Written in the Stars and greatly enjoying Hang the Moon, I was so excited to read this. As Bellefleur is becoming one of After loving the hell out of Written in the Stars and greatly enjoying Hang the Moon, I was so excited to read this. As Bellefleur is becoming one of my favorite authors of all time, I have high expectations for her books, and I’m happy to say this didn’t disappoint! We know Margot Cooper (~29, pansexual) from the first two books as the adorably sarcastic member of the friend group, and I loved finally getting inside her head. Olivia Grant (~29, bisexual), Margot’s childhood best friend and first love, is a major sweetheart and the perfect salve to Margot’s prickliness. The two women are just perfect together and I loved watching them rekindle the flames that’ve been dormant for eleven years, all while navigating each other’s (and their own) flaws.
While Written in the Stars is my favorite of the series — Elle and Darcy PLUS fake dating is hard to beat imo — this was wonderful too. It’s been a few days since I’ve finished the book, and I think I’m loving it more as it has time to marinate in my mind. Margot and Olivia are the kind of vulnerable, big-hearted characters I’d die for. My heart ached for Margot as she navigated her confused jumble of feelings, and I related to lots of her thoughts and insecurities. Olivia has people-pleasing tendencies and would sacrifice everything for those she loves, and she’s just so sweet in every interaction with Margot that I melted into a puddle of goo.
God, the romance is so cute — how does Bellefleur do it every time? The little touches, looks, and interactions between the two are so perfect. While the second-chance plot involves past miscommunication, I didn’t mind because communicating feelings is terrifying when you’re a teenager, especially when there’s a third party involved. Bellefleur deftly highlights the weightiness of the relationship without resorting to flashbacks. And the sex in this book is seriously some of the best I’ve ever read! Hot damn, even my ace self was thoroughly impressed!
Bellefleur is truly one of the funniest writers out there; I can always trust her to give me a good hearty laugh. One scene involving Olivia’s mischievous cat Cat (yes, that is her name!) had me gasping for air, and there was even another LOL scene in the last few pages. But aside from the big ridiculous moments, the group of characters in this series is so sparkling and whimsical that half the time I was chuckling to myself. Brendon’s at it again with his amusing antics, and those who missed their Elle content in Hang the Moon will be happy to know she’s featured more heavily in this book.
As much as I adored this book, I do have a few critiques. Firstly, Margot’s actions during the conflict were a bit confusing. Without giving too much away, it seemed that Margot was expecting Olivia to abandon the wedding planning job she worked so hard to obtain. I know that Margot was dealing with abandonment issues, but her insinuation was still very weird. Secondly, I was expecting more content with the wedding plot line, and half the time it didn’t seem like Olivia was a wedding planner at all but had instead been absorbed into the friend group too fast. The ending felt rushed and I was left yearning for more content, but not in the best way. And while there's a very cute epilogue, I wish it’d been longer and had provided us with a weightier wrap-up to this spectacular series.
In short, despite my critiques, I loved this book so much! I’m so sad to say goodbye to this series, but I can’t wait to meet and fall in love with Bellefleur’s future characters!
content warnings: alcohol (recreational), death of a parent (past), infidelity (past), manipulation, toxic relationship (past), graphic sex
I received an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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sometime in 2021:
[more sapphic goodness from Alexandria Bellefleur?? excuse me while i ascend into heaven
Okay, I loved this book. I loved the raw emotions, the realistic depictions of life as an existential 20-something, and the overarching message that sOkay, I loved this book. I loved the raw emotions, the realistic depictions of life as an existential 20-something, and the overarching message that softness is a good thing. I loved the journal format and how intimately we got to know the our wonderful protagonist Kayden. While I questioned some of the plot points and occasionally struggled with the writing style (I know it’s a journal and therefore not meant to be *perfect,* so maybe this is just a me thing), I still wholeheartedly recommend this book. ...more
11/19/20 (initial thoughts): In my 22 years of beicontent warnings:(view spoiler)[ suicide, electric shock torture, rape, pedophilia (hide spoiler)]
11/19/20 (initial thoughts): In my 22 years of being alive, I have never once cried over a piece of fiction until today. Carolina de Robertis has accomplished the impossible...
12/21/20 (second read):
"It seemed, at times, that this was the only way the world would be remade as the heroes had dreamed: one woman holds another woman, and she in turn lifts the world."
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I initially wasn’t going to write this review. I was going to leave it at the two-line review above, because I thought that was all that needed to be said. But now, after having read this book a second time, I’m going to let it all out. So, why did Cantoras make me, a notorious non-crier, SOB like you’d never believe, days and even weeks after the first read? As it turns out, I’m kind of a detached reader. I feel things as I read, of course, but there’s this wall in me that prevents me from taking on the characters’ emotions as my own. I can shut a book and marvel at its brilliance, can place the book on my Favorites shelf, but I don’t really lose myself in the book’s world. I’m no stranger to touching books. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Lilac Girls, The Kite Runner, The Miseducation of Cameron Post…each of these books could have made me cry. So, what is it about Cantoras that finally cracked me? Why this book? Well, I finally have an answer, which can be found in the first chapter.
The first chapter, aptly titled “Escape,” introduces us to the five women, each incredibly distinct, who have taken up residence in my heart and will never leave.
Flaca (21): She’s the leader, the one who started it all, La Pilota. Her confident swagger can’t hide the heart that’s too big for her chest. She does everything she can to keep the family together. Romina (22): She’s at once the voice of reason, pessimism, and passion. I wanted to hug her, to shake her, to laugh with her. At times I loved her, at times I hated her, and at times I felt for her so much that my heart physically ached. Anita “La Venus” (27): She’s a free spirit trapped in a life she doesn’t want. Despite everything, she sparkles and makes me think of bright colors. She’s the oldest but has the youngest soul. She is “art” personified. Malena (25): The one who takes up the most space in my heart, who occupies the #1 spot on the list of Characters Gabriella Would Die For. She’s guarded and prickly, but she’s achingly perceptive and empathetic. She may be quiet, but as they say, still waters run deep. Paz (16): She’s the youngest, but she’s far from naïve. She’s a dreamer, a hustler, and everything in between. Her vulnerability twisted my heart, made me protective, made me want to fight the world for her.
Each of these women needs respite from the oppressiveness that is 1977 Montevideo, Uruguay. Due the unshakeable friendship of Flaca and Romina, this group of five queer women takes a journey to Cabo Polonio, a remote cape, where they are free to be themselves for a week. Aside from Flaca and Romina, no one really knows one another, but their common goal unites them instantly.
"They’d been forming a kind of family, woven from cast-offs, like a quilt made from strips of leftover fabric no one wanted. They wanted each other. They had to stay woven. They could not fray."
In Chapter One, their bond ignites like crackling flame. They’re finally able to be themselves, take off their masks; the five-way bond is titillating. Carolina de Robertis weaves a five-way lifeline, using words in the most exquisite way possible, bringing these characters to life for me. Somewhere in this chapter, while I didn’t realize it at the time, my detachment floated away, forever lost to the ocean near Cabo Polonio. These characters became my friends, my family, my heart. From then on, their triumphs and their heartbreaks became my own. I wanted to step through the pages, travel to another time and place, look each woman in the eye and say, “I will do everything in my power to make sure you stay happy like this, that the lights from your first visit to Cabo Polonio never fade.”
My idealized visions were impossible, of course, since this is a novel about the harsh realities of dictatorship, prejudice, and the ways we can hurt the ones we love. And oh god, the realities are harsh. Certain events felt like someone was twisting a knife through my heart; I had no idea that I would ever be able to experience pain like that from a piece of fiction. It was so painful that, during the first days post-read, parts of me regretted reading the book. But oh my god, a part of me knew I was done for before even finishing that first chapter. That I would go down with the proverbial ship (the ship being this whole book). And all that beauty, that beautifully healing ending, made it so, so worth it.
(4/23/21: I'm unhinged and I made a meme because sometimes I use humor as a coping mechanism.) [image]
My feelings for this book wouldn’t have been possible without Carolina de Robertis’ divine use of language. I have never read a book in which words are used so exquisitely. The opening paragraphs are omniscient; we’re on the outside, watching something incredible take flight. But soon we’re in close third person that moves seamlessly from character to character in a way that never feels like head-hopping. There are some very long sentences in this book – the kind that take up half a page – but they’re never overlong. They end exactly where they should, and each comma, each word, is so artfully placed that the sentences flow, reflect your own thoughts. And don’t even get me started on the metaphors and symbolism, which can be devoured and analyzed for hours. Seriously, it needs to be read to be believed.
This book made me feel so deeply, so wholly, that it can’t not be my favorite book of all time. Reading it has made me grow as a reader, as a thinker, as an empathizer, and as a human. This isn’t a book for everyone; it explores some very heavy topics. But if you’re up for it, if you’re in the mood to feel a queer literary story with every cell in your body, then Cantoras may be the perfect book for you.
Tl;dr (aka my reading experience summed up in Spongebob gifs (because sometimes this guy expresses emotions better than I do)):
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(Buddy read with Hsinju! I am beyond grateful that I read this book with an incredible reading buddy who loved Cantoras just as much as I did. Check out their amazing review here!)...more
Honey Girl is such a beautiful book. I know it’s been compared to Red, White, and Royal Blue, but I think that comparison does it a disservice. This iHoney Girl is such a beautiful book. I know it’s been compared to Red, White, and Royal Blue, but I think that comparison does it a disservice. This isn’t an expansive romp of a rom-com, and aside from the cast of queer characters, I don’t think it has anything in common with RWRB. Written in present tense from the third-person perspective of Grace Porter (28, Black, biracial, lesbian) it’s instead a quiet, reflective, and deeply introspective novel centering Grace’s self-acceptance journey. While I enjoyed the romance between Grace and Yuki, Yuki is just one of the many wonderful supporting characters in this book. This is Grace’s story, through and through.
Grace has just earned her PhD in astronomy, but now she’s faced with the overwhelming experience of contending with the systemic barriers the world throws her way. She’s also bone-tired from chasing perfection for years and dealing with her ex-military father’s unattainable expectations. Grace lives with two intensely lovable roommates, who I honestly wish we got to spend more time with: Ximena (Black, Dominican, sapphic?) and Agnes (mental illnesses, sapphic?). She also has a deeply-forged found family in Baba Vihaan, Raj, and Meera (Indian), her employer and his two children. When Grace and her roommates take a trip to Las Vegas and Grace drunkenly marries radio show host Yuki Yamamoto (Japanese American, lesbian?), Grace is presented with an opportunity to embrace her wild side by spending time with her lawfully wedded wife in New York City.
Grace and Yuki are very different on the outside: Grace is soft-spoken, visibly anxious, and perfectionistic, while Yuki is sharp-edged, blunt, and go-with-the-flow. However, their shared feelings of loneliness draw them together. It’s so heartwarming how Grace loves listening to Yuki weave existential loneliness-inspired stories on the radio, and Grace’s doubt about truly deserving her time with Yuki are so palpable and relatable. Yuki lives with a band of chaotic queer guys (Black, white, and trans + Native American), and Grace learning to accept them as her friends too — not just Yuki’s — made me so happy! While I liked the romance for the most part, I thought some of the things Yuki said were questionable (though I could be reading too much into it). (view spoiler)[At the end of the book, Yuki tells Grace that she shouldn’t run away again, and that the two of them should stay together even if they fight, etc. I feel like this line veers into the toxic attitude of "even if we're miserable, we'll still be together." It also seemed like Yuki was imposing expectations on Grace too soon. (hide spoiler)]
I love how this books shows how, while Grace has a wonderful support system whose size even ends up doubling, she’s still lonely, anxious, and depressed. This is so valid: you can be surrounded by people who love you with all their hearts and still feel stifled by your own personal demons. Grace’s guilt surrounding this, and about not being a good enough friend, is wonderfully portrayed. Rogers also shows us that even though Grace is a supremely qualified astronomer and has a mentor who vouches for her whenever possible, she still faces racism and queerphobia that make it harder to get her foot in the door. Finally, I loved how often therapy was discussed; several (!!) characters in this book go to therapy!
Unfortunately, I was expecting to click with this book more than I did. While it’s beautifully written and Grace is relatable and sympathetic, I found it dragging and repetitive in parts. The slower pace isn't a bad thing and I know it worked for a lot of people, but the pace made it so that I didn't exactly fly through the book. Also, some frequent repetitions include mentions of Grace’s blonde hair, how Grace was "favored by the sun," people using Grace’s full name, and random nicknames for Grace ending in "Girl."
Regardless of my minor complaints, reading this book was a wonderful experience. It’s been a deeply relatable and cathartic experience for many people, so I’d highly recommend checking it out! Looking forward to Rogers’ next book!
Between the pining, the gentleness, and the absurdly adorable doggo, I'm surprised this book didn't result in my demise via cute attack! Seriously, thBetween the pining, the gentleness, and the absurdly adorable doggo, I'm surprised this book didn't result in my demise via cute attack! Seriously, this is My Kind of Romance™, and I'm especially impressed at the effect it had on me despite its short length! I'm so, so glad I picked this up on a whim at a secondhand bookstore, and I can see myself becoming a hardcore Gail Carriger fan.
tw/cw: alcohol (recreational), mention of kidnapping, death of a loved one (past, off-page), internalized homophobia, sexual and physical assault (not committed by main characters), semi-graphic sex, sexual imagery, vampire feeding...more
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