In this short story by Anyta Sunday we meet Jacob, a young man whose flatmate flunked out without a heads-up and left him with an empty room to rent. In this short story by Anyta Sunday we meet Jacob, a young man whose flatmate flunked out without a heads-up and left him with an empty room to rent. When Jacob puts up ads to let his peers know about the room, he's shocked to find out that said ads have all but vanished not even an hour after he first put them up - but even more so that some Mr. X claims to be responsible for the ad heist. Three men show interest in renting the room, thankfully, and so Jacob is stuck with having to interview all three to decide who will be getting the room while bantering with Mr. X via handwritten notes... And dealing with his ex-boyfriend Scott, whose sudden comeback to Jacob's life is setting Jacob's nerves on edge.
This was everything I could've asked for! On the one hand, the banter between Jacob and Mr. X was really funny, but there was nonetheless just the right amount of mystery regarding this unknown man's identity. Even though there's an ex-boyfriend involved, there was never any unnecessary drama or miscommunication that might've made the plot drag, and I personally lost myself in this little short story as I tried to figure out alongside Jacob who this Mr. X was. Excellent palate cleanser in-between longer, and/or more complex, reads!...more
This was quite a sweet and lovely short story by Anyta Sunday that had me kicking my legs as I giggled at 1:30 AM! Perfect for anyone looking for a paThis was quite a sweet and lovely short story by Anyta Sunday that had me kicking my legs as I giggled at 1:30 AM! Perfect for anyone looking for a palate cleanser between longer reads, a quick novella to catch up on their reading goals, or merely a little tale of two men loving each other quietly throughout the years. Since I'm a huge fan of all things Circus-themed, I quite enjoyed all the descriptions of the different acts by both Stardust and the rest of the crew. Then there was Danny, who won my heart through his kindness and his hilarious sense of humour! But what I loved the most was the way Sunday captured Stardust and Nathan's story, threaded with maturity, longing and oh so much love. Cannot recommend this little tale enough....more
In what constitutes Truman's first toe-dip into paranormal romance, "Only One Coffin" is a sweet novella filled with witty banter, immortal yearning aIn what constitutes Truman's first toe-dip into paranormal romance, "Only One Coffin" is a sweet novella filled with witty banter, immortal yearning and ceiling sexual hijinks that is guaranteed to make you laugh, sigh, and swoon. Equal parts comedic, romantic and nostalgic, this is the story of Magnus and Kilroy, two vampires coming from rather different walks of the afterlife who find themselves sharing a coffin after the Icelandic hotel they're staying at double-books their room.
After mourning the loss of his partner Gunnar for years, Magnus has all but given up on leading a worthy afterlife. Now he spends his immortal days in quiet solitude and brooding silence, without so much as memories to keep him company after two centuries of vampirism. Meanwhile, former surfer Kilroy has only just been turned into a vampire, and his human life is fresh enough in his memory that he remembers the taste of the sea and the feeling of the sun on his skin still. But there are three things they have in common, against all odds: their longing for companionship, their vacation in Iceland of all places and, of course, their coffin - all of which might come together to maybe, just maybe, bring them the love they didn't know they had been missing.
Since this story is a shorter one, the stakes are low, which made it all the more charming. There are no major blow-ups or dramatic third act breakups as Kilroy and Magnus navigate their blooming attraction for each other, which is always a relief! Instead there is a sweet waltz as the two men get to know each other, which feels every bit as enjoyable and endearing as you'd expect from such a cutesy cover. Even though the story is fast-paced, its twists and turns didn't feel rushed at any point, and I personally enjoyed how refreshing it felt to have them both accept their growing feelings without any big fussing. It was also quite funny to me that vampire bites also turn you into a raging bisexual. Go OFF, legends! I *knew* that Dracula was not just playing games with Jonathan with the whole "I, too, can love" ordeal!
All in all this was a really welcome read, full of light-hearted feelings and warmth. One-hundred percent recommended, that's for sure, regardless of whether it's spooky season, Christmas, the summer, or anything in-between. Will be diving into other works by A.J. Truman ASAP!...more
It's 4 AM and I'm sobbing like they pay me handsomely per gallon wept while my dog snores like an old train by my bed, so yeah, that's the easiest 5 sIt's 4 AM and I'm sobbing like they pay me handsomely per gallon wept while my dog snores like an old train by my bed, so yeah, that's the easiest 5 stars I have EVER given in my WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.
Lily Morton I absolutely adore your writing, and I thank the Heavens each and every day that you were born, learnt your ABC's, and then made the choice to grace the universe with your novels. Please know that you are forever my favourite author as well as an immediate, fierce and enthusiastic AUTO BUY for me forevermore....more
As far as urban fantasy goes, this book kicked it out of the park for me! With "The Shadows Beyond" we meet Cinn, a young man who's on the run from hiAs far as urban fantasy goes, this book kicked it out of the park for me! With "The Shadows Beyond" we meet Cinn, a young man who's on the run from his own shadowslipping power, and Julien, who's similarly on the run from his abilities - and from himself. Though at first all Julien wants Cinn for is a chance at bringing his sister Béatrice back from the dead, soon their bond evolves into something far more complex, beautiful, and ultimately timeless.
This is my first TJ Rose book, and I'm happy to say that it will NOT be my last. Rose's writing is breathtakingly atmospheric, each description brimming with sensation, feeling, and sensory vividness for days, and I found myself utterly enthralled by her ability to bring places and characters to life. The plot was seamless, in my opinion, with no loose ends left blowing in the wind, and I loved how high the stakes were without the story losing its touch of whimsy and charming fun.
One of my favourite things about it by far was the delightful cast. All characters were their own person, their complexity palpable with each sentence, and I was in awe of how well-executed both Cinn and Julien's character growth was. With Cinn, we slowly peel the many layers he's shielded himself behind to reveal a vulnerable, rowdy young man with the brightest smile, whereas with Julien we get to peer over the tall walls he's surrounded his soft heart with to find out that he's got a tender enough soul. Both main characters had strong and clear narrative voices, which is quite a feat considering that this story is told from a 3rd person point of view, and they were both genuine enough that I soon found myself caring for them with a passion.
Something that I do hope to get more of in the next installment is the worldbuilding. Book one has taught us a lot about the very rough basics of the moteblessed society, as well as shown us the deadly umbraphages that are striving to destroy the world. Can't wait to keep learning about this story's lore in its sequel!
With this book, it's safe to say that miss T.J. Rose has gotten herself a new die-hard fan. Despite the rising stakes, the book still felt cosy to me all the way through, the occasional banter and shameless flirting creating a beautiful dynamic every single time, and I loved how much emphasis was placed on bonds other than the growing feelings between Julien and Cinn. Oftentimes love stories neglect the rest of the cast, but it wasn't the case with "The Shadows Beyond". From Darcy and Elliot to Tyler, all the characters that were dear to Cinn and Julien stayed relevant, and it was beautiful to watch the small friend group at Auri grow tightly knit with each passing page. As for Tyler, I can't help feeling like there's more in store for us in regards to him, and it makes me really curious! The story handled the complexities of addiction, as well as the oftentimes tumultuous consequences of choosing to stay by a loved one's side as they struggle to get clean, with great nuance, respect, and care, and I loved the book even more for it.
One truly can't miss with Morton's books!! This was the second installment in the 'Confetti Hitched' series, and revolved around the childhood friendsOne truly can't miss with Morton's books!! This was the second installment in the 'Confetti Hitched' series, and revolved around the childhood friends to lovers trope. On the one hand we've got Rafferty, whose life story has made him avoid commitment like the plague, whereas on the other we have Stanley, who has just about given up on his hopeless crush on Raff. Both of them are sunshiney as they come, and upbeat about the whole thing, but deep down neither of them is happy about the state of things - let alone when Stan's partner, Bennett, proposes to Stan in the middle of their friends' engagement party.
This book made me laugh out loud more times than I can count, since Raff's acid humour and Stan's own sharp wits provided a great deal of hilarious remarks. I had a lot of fun watching them dance around each other shyly, and although their feelings were painfully evident to everyone (but them) the book did not, at any point, feel boring or cliché. Quite the opposite! It was amazing to read Morton's take on a handful of well-known tropes and give them the Snarky British Character treatment. All characters were unique and three-dimensional, and it didn't take long for the book to feel like retreating from the hostile real world into a warm hug under a cozy blanket.
Something that jumped out to me in the best way possible was how thoroughly researched this story was. Stanley is a blind man, and the narrative excelled at presenting him as such without making his whole identity revolve around it. The casualness with which this story handles a main character with a disability is exactly what all writers aiming to include diversity in their books should aspire too - and when the narrative does denounce how blind people are condescended upon by far too large a chunk of society, it never does so from a place of paternalistic preaching. This is in no way an opinion that should eclipse that of actual blind people, though, since it is ultimately them who have the last say on whether they find this representation to be good, but as a disability-focused therapist I did love to find such nuanced and respectful rep.
Fingers crossed for more Confetti Hitched stories!!...more
This book was all I hoped for it to be, and more! 'Confetti Hearts' is the story of Joe, a wedding planner; Lachlan, his soon to be ex? husband; and tThis book was all I hoped for it to be, and more! 'Confetti Hearts' is the story of Joe, a wedding planner; Lachlan, his soon to be ex? husband; and the ups and downs that come with trying to get a second chance at their once-in-a-lifetime connection. Upon meeting at a wedding, Joe and Lachlan fell in lust with each other, and slowly built a partnership that was formalised by one Elvis impersonator at a Las Vegas wedding chapel. Things haven't been smooth-sailing, though, since Joe can't help feeling that his husband never opens up to him about anything, is always away for work, and doesn't really care about getting to know each other. So it does come as a surprise to find out that Lachlan doesn't want to sign the divorce papers, and it's even more baffling to find out he's a guest at the wedding Joe has been organising. Even more so when they get snowed in the hotel that was booked for the reception, and Joe finds himself falling for Lachlan all over again.
This book was extraordinarily witty and charming, to the point that it had me howling with laughter in the train more than once. Joe and Lachlan both were fantastic narrators, whose flaws and shortcomings made them feel complex without turning either into the bad guy, and I loved the twist in the miscommunication trope that the dual PoV allowed for. While Joe was charming, had a sharp tongue, and was a hopeless flirt, Lachlan turned out to be a gentle giant with a golden heart, and I loved that these two seemingly opposite personalities were given the chance to come together through a second chance.
This was such a good pick for an otherwise gloomy week!!...more
En una segunda entrega tan hermosa como desgarradora, regresamos a Italia de la mano de Elen Chase para vivir la historia de Francesco, a quien ya conEn una segunda entrega tan hermosa como desgarradora, regresamos a Italia de la mano de Elen Chase para vivir la historia de Francesco, a quien ya conocimos un poquito en "Cuando fuimos mar y estrellas". Como programador informático por vocación, a Francesco le vuelve loco su trabajo. No solo se le da bien y le gusta, sino que (a diferencia de los hombres) nunca le ha fallado. Sin embargo, todo cambia cuando su impredecible ex resulta ser su nuevo jefe de proyecto, porque ¿cómo va ahora a huir de sus pensamientos, y de su sensación de fracaso? ¿Por qué él sigue tratando de reconstruirse a sí mismo mientras Eric parece disfrutar de su vida? Aún es más... ¿Por qué sigue acelerándole el corazón a Francesco?
Una de las cosas que más me enamoran de la obra de Elen Chase es la autenticidad y complejidad que las caracteriza. La primera vez que leí "When We Were Fire On Fire" recuerdo llorar, por primera vez en mucho tiempo, porque la representación de la salud mental es tan hermosa y vulnerable como realista. Como vamos descubriendo a medida que avanza la novela, Francesco no está bien. Quizás sea capaz de rendir en sociedad, pero cada día es una batalla y ni siquiera se da cuenta de cuán cansado está, de lo cerca que está del abismo. Se trata de una novela en la que muchísimas personas que estén peleando por seguir adelante van a verse no solo reflejadas, sino también acogidas y validadas.
Por otro lado, también me fascinó la habilidad de Elen para construir personajes tan tridimensionales como humanos. No puedo dejar de mencionar aquí a Eric, la ex-pareja de Francesco, que durante el libro nos va revelando fragmentos de un terrible secreto que lo ha estado atormentando desde los dieciocho; pero también a Giacomo, el estricto padre de Francesco al que Fra se siente incapaz de complacer en nada. Pese a que sería muy fácil juzgar a cualquiera de ellos, la novela entreteje una historia delicada de errores muy humanos, y de lo que implica aprender a convivir con nuestros fallos.
Una de las cosas que más me gustan de Llamitas, como he apodado a esta obra cariñosamente, es el amplio elenco de personajes que nos trae. Nuestros amigos son la familia que elegimos, y en esta obra conocemos a Betta y Kim, amigos de Francesco, además de volver a encontrarnos con James y Rob. Se trata de un elenco íntimo en el que cada personaje brilla con fuerza, y confieso que leer las interacciones del grupete me hizo reír a carcajadas más de una vez.
En general, esta obra brilla con luz propia, pero destaca sobre todo por ser una oda a las segundas oportunidades que nos damos a nosotros mismos. Narrada con mimo y una prosa tan hermosa como desgarradora, "Cuando fuimos llamas en la ceniza" es la novela que no te puedes perder esta Navidad. Rebosa magia, amor y esperanza, así que ¿a qué esperas para darle una oportunidad?...more
¿Cómo puede una historia tan cortita, que no llega a las 6.000 palabras, tener el impacto en tu corazón de un tsunami? En "Ambeth", una breve novelett¿Cómo puede una historia tan cortita, que no llega a las 6.000 palabras, tener el impacto en tu corazón de un tsunami? En "Ambeth", una breve novelette de Belén Trueba, no hace falta rociar de palabras lo que los corazones sienten, porque cada página late con vida propia. En esta historia cortita conocemos a Horacio, un chico tímido que vive por y para la escritura; y a Ambeth, un misterioso joven al que se encuentra un día en la ribera del riachuelo en el que tiende a refugiarse para escribir en paz.
En apenas unas páginas, Belén pinta una acuarela de sentimientos, sensaciones y vulnerabilidades, con una prosa mágica y otoñal que se ve resaltada por la preciosa maquetación de la novelette. Tal y como ya sabemos que suele hacer, la autora transmite en cada línea una pasión arrolladora, hasta el punto en que no hace falta llegar a 6.000 palabras para que te salten las lágrimas y se te acelere el corazón. Cada cosa que escribe Belén Trueba deja una huella indeleble en quien lee su obra, y he de decir que ha sido uno de los grandes descubrimientos del año, para mí, en términos de autoras.