Review of Just Like That

Just Like That by Cole McCade. 2020. Note: This review is part of the Blog Tour for Just Like That. It includes an excerpt at the end.  Content warnings for review: This review references MCs with anxiety, depression, trauma, and suicidal ideation, but does not describe these things in detail.  This is one of the …

Review of Matzah Ball Surprise

Matzah Ball Surprise by Laura Brown. Entangled Lovestruck. 2020. Take a moment just to look at the cover for this book. This cover makes me incredibly happy. It is so rare to find covers for romances that have such clear Jewish representation. The Jewish couple on this cover are gorgeous together, cheerful, have amazing chemistry, …

Review of Brazen and the Beast

Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean. Avon. 2019. Note: I do not recommend this book to trans and non-binary readers. I would suggest that fat readers approach this book with caution.  Content Warnings for the review: References MC's trauma history. References misogyny in the story. Describes a crossdressing scene and gender reveal moment that …

Review of Wolf Rain

Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh. Berkeley. 2019. Content Warnings for review: Discussion of ableism and internalized ableism. Discussion of trauma and torture.  Note: I do not recommend this book to disabled readers, and recommend particular caution to neurodivergent readers, especially readers with mental illness. So, I finally read my first Psy-Changeling novel.  I've read and …

Review of It’s a Whole Spiel

It’s a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories (anthology) edited by Katherine Locke and Laura Silverman. Forward by Mayim Bailik. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 2019. I really enjoyed this collection of YA short stories centering Jewish characters written by Jewish authors! It's a very strong collection, with only a few stories that …

Review of Not Your Backup

Not Your Backup by CB Lee. Interlude Press. 2019. Content Warnings for review: discusses internalized aro spec and ace spec antagonism Note: I'm reviewing this in conjunction with Purple day for #PrideLibrary19. This book was part of my #PrideLibrary19 TBR and I'm reviewing it on Purple day because it has a gorgeous purple cover! Here is …

#PrideLibrary19 Day 6: Green books

I thought I’d do a recommendation list for day 6, which focuses on green covers. All the books on this list are queer; I tried to have a bit of a cross-section, identity-wise. This list definitely shows my bias towards contemporary queer fiction, esp romance, but also includes historical romance, speculative fiction, YA fiction, litfic, …

#PrideLibrary19 Day 4: Orange Books

I thought I’d do a recommendation list for day 4, which focuses on orange covers. All the books on this list are queer; I tried to have a bit of a cross-section, identity-wise. This list definitely shows my bias towards contemporary queer fiction, esp romance, but also includes speculative fiction, essays, YA romance, litfic, aromantic …

#RomBkLove: Geek Romances

This post is part of #RomBkLove, a month-long Twitter event where folks share their recs for romances that fit particular themes. For the purposes of this post, geek romance is a romance that centers characters who are enthusiasts of something, be it a special interest, a hobby, a subject, a fandom. "geeks are fans of their subjects, …

Review of Team Phison Forever

Team Phison Forever by Chace Verity. 2019. Content Warnings for review: discussion of abusive family, familial estrangement, depression Team Phison Forever gave me so many feelings. It was rather different, and substantially more angsty when compared to Team Phison, which I also really enjoyed, as a fluffy cozy grumpy/sunshine geek foodie romance between two queer …