I checked out this book from KU on April 1. I promised to start reading it several times (sorry about that), started July 1, got distracted by ImmortaI checked out this book from KU on April 1. I promised to start reading it several times (sorry about that), started July 1, got distracted by Immortals After Dark audiobooks (I'm sure you've seen me post about them)… and finished it July 12.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. It's super popular and I don't always love books that are really mainstream/well-loved. Maybe it feels like I have higher standards because I've heard so much praise about them? Also any book where there's a celebrity-ish hero (actor, musician, athlete), I worry about if there will be "other women"/jealousy - one of my least favorite subplots/conflict.
I liked this book. I liked Summer, I liked Rhett. I liked the spice. I liked the surety of Rhett in their relationship. But I just didn't fully click with them or this book! Something stopped me from moving from "I like it" to "I LOVE IT". And that's okay! This was a decent book and the start to a small town series I'm excited about....more
This book has been sitting on my shelf for so long and I'm so glad I finally picked it up!
This is a queer male / male romance that takes place on the This book has been sitting on my shelf for so long and I'm so glad I finally picked it up!
This is a queer male / male romance that takes place on the set of a reality show. There's disability rep as one of the heroes has OCD and anxiety, the other has depression. The cast of side characters are wonderfully diverse and at times wonderfully awful (see: Maureen, who I pictured as Kelly Cutrone from The City).
I love the idea of a TV show, especially a reality TV show, as the set of a book. (I read Kiss the Sky, the first Calloway Sisters book, and it has this set up and I think a few of the others do too so I need to get back to that series.) But the addition of filming scenes was so fun.
I loved the characters - Dev, Parisa, Jules, Skylar... but my favorite was definitely Charlie. There was something about him that really spoke to me and I found myself underlining so many of his lines - spoken words and thoughts.
This book is fade to black, and while I am always down to clown smut I didn't mind this at all. It really worked with the book and I found I didn't "miss it" at all.
This was a third act conflict I actually really liked, especially with the inclusion of the time bump/schedule. Every part of it down to what happened at the live finale felt real, like I was watching it play out on cable (even though I've never watched an episode of The Bachelor).
I do wish we were getting book 2 with you-know-who as the lead since the epilogue was so great but I don't see this listed as book 1 in a series... sad face. ...more
Okay this cover model… I’m sorry but please change it. Because this book was so good!
Summary first: Wren just got a job at a record label, and in walkOkay this cover model… I’m sorry but please change it. Because this book was so good!
Summary first: Wren just got a job at a record label, and in walks Callum Rose, bassist to the band The Seasons Change. Also known as her ex-pen pal best friend. But they haven’t spoken since she ghosted him years ago. And he’s not exactly friendly enough for her to fess up now.
My main issue with this book was that the flashbacks to years earlier were just their emailed letters to one another. And we know that they were “best friends”, closest to each other through a year and a half of writing, but the emails were… lame. Super surface level. I wish there had been more because based on what we were given I didn’t buy the “best friendship”.
But once the story started rolling… oh my god.
I don’t want to say too much because the TikTok I saw that sold me on this book literally gave away a major spoiler in the video.
But holy hotness. There were some very good spice scenes. He’s a voyeur and a virgin, and he’s obsessed with her. Ooh, and she’s a plus sized heroine!
Again, this Lily Gold book didn’t work for me… I think that she’s at her best when she does lighter, funnier books - like Faking With Benefits or NannAgain, this Lily Gold book didn’t work for me… I think that she’s at her best when she does lighter, funnier books - like Faking With Benefits or Nanny for the Neighbors. But maybe it’s just that’s what I prefer from her so… maybe give this one a shot if you want to try a contemporary reverse harem.
The heroine is not a “nice girl” - but she’s a good person, deep down. She’s been abused by the media for years and uses her role as “mean girl” to her advantage by bringing notice to plights she cares about. However she comes across as petty, mean, cruel, callous, etc. etc. She’s also being stalked and has panic attacks, providing more than one instance where she reacts with a reasonable amount of trauma or fear and just comes across like a bitch.
This book just wasn’t enjoyable to me because I spent so much of it being uncomfortable. With the heroine, the guys, the plot, everything. I didn’t connect to anyone or anything.
CW: stalking, sexual assault (stalker ~finishes~ on her while she sleeps), violence, bomb threat...more
When I’m stumped on what to read next, I’ll dig through my folder labeled “KU” which is full of screenshots from TikTok of book recs. I wasn’t able toWhen I’m stumped on what to read next, I’ll dig through my folder labeled “KU” which is full of screenshots from TikTok of book recs. I wasn’t able to put my finger on exactly what I wanted, but I was feeling a contemporary without too much drama.
My screenshot of Rush was from JULY 2021. Lordy I need to have a better system for categorizing my TBR.
Anyway, I want to line up the content warnings up front, because they’re lengthy: past workplace abuse and harassment; online bullying; drugging (no assault) and hospitalization; daddy kink and light DDLG (no diapers, thank goodness), BDSM, requests to be degraded during sex, to be hit and choked; panic attack; physical violence.
I’m always on board for a daddy kink so while I didn’t really get the requests for violence and degradation, I shrugged it off. All violence/degradation was super super consensual.
Okay on to the actual story. The heroine, Dree, is a ballet dancer and choreographer who previously had a bad experience with a band that abused her in the workplace. Months have passed and she takes a small job for a friend’s music video but Rush, the lead singer of a massive rock band, is obsessed with the video and tracks her down, wanting to collab.
Dree learning to regain confidence in herself and her work was lovely, as was her professional relationship with Rush and his team - a stark contrast to past experiences.
Rush was dreamy. Super alpha, tough, protective, a little jealous. I liked that there was no usual “rockstar drama” from other women, groupies, jealousy, etc.
Even the third act conflict (which came a bit early) was great, because it was so internal to their relationship and Rush was like, “you’re not fucking giving up on this.”
I saw someone else’s review call this a palate cleanser which I would say is pretty accurate. While I liked the type of character Rush was as a hero/ alpha/ daddy, I didn’t really connect with either of them or their relationship - which was largely just based on sex > emotions. So it was fine, but I didn’t feel some type of way about them as a couple....more
This is like New Girl with a reverse harem twist: 3 popular podcasters give their bad-at-dating neighbor training on how to date by all being her fakeThis is like New Girl with a reverse harem twist: 3 popular podcasters give their bad-at-dating neighbor training on how to date by all being her fake boyfriend.
I picked this book up last minute for my vacation, and absolutely LOVED it. Most reverse harems center around fantasy-ish books, where there's a reason for the multiple love interests... like an omegaverse or "four horsemen of the apocalypse" set up. This book is contemporary and a true romantic comedy. And a complete delight!
I liked the quick set up of the plot: Layla is a workaholic who is put together in every area of her life except romance. Her friendship with the guys is already set up - they've been neighbors for years and have become very close friends. One night after her latest date jumps out of a window to escape her, the guys cook up a new idea: they will teach her to date.
I love "sex lessons" and while that's definitely touched on in this book, the majority is really them teaching her how to flirt, how to open up, how to trust someone. And again, the reason is sound: they have their own dating podcast that's flagging in the ratings, and decide to make this a new segment on the show (in exchange for Layla getting some advertising airtime for her business).
The reverse harem aspect was interesting, because of course poly relationships exist in real life but I guess they're more rare in romances? Like I said, I feel like most reverse harems I see are in a non-contemporary setting. But the guys are totally down for it from the jump - they dated another woman previously, so are familiar with this kind of set up.
The inclusion of podcast episodes as transcripts was genius, as was the positive and negative social media comments we got to read.
This was a book where I was truly laughing in delight as I was reading, and kept turning the page, not wanting it to be over. The book is over 500 pages but it really flew by.
My only complaint would be the resolution of the third act conflict - I really needed a bit more groveling. Or at least some more time apart before the happy ending.
But overall, I loved this and I want all my reverse harems to be romcom's, please and thank you.
CW: past bullying and sexual harassment, slut shaming, online bullying...more
What does it say about me that whenever I read a book where the hero is a sociopath or psychopath, I’m like… “YES. THIS is my SHIT.” ??
I have to say What does it say about me that whenever I read a book where the hero is a sociopath or psychopath, I’m like… “YES. THIS is my SHIT.” ??
I have to say - Onley James excels at writing these types of characters. Jayne “Shep” Shepherd feels so different from the boys in the Necessary Evils series - because he IS different. He’s a sociopath, not a psychopath, and was raised by a mother who studies both and put him in therapy and trainings from a young age. Although he has killed people, it was while he was in the military - and he says he never had a killing instinct or craved to kill, the way (some of) the Mulvaney boys do. Shep doesn’t feel much of anything for anyone (he knows what he’s supposed to feel and is good at mirroring other people or being fake-charming) … until he meets Elijah.
I loved the writing around Shep’s sexuality. He’s a virgin, because sex has simply never interested him before. In his mind, why would he bring in another person when he can achieve the end result (orgasm) solo? He doesn’t call himself straight or gay because he’s never felt anything for anyone. At one point, he calls himself Elijah-sexual, because he’s the first/only person to get a rise (pun intended) from him. In Shep’s mind, none of this is a big deal - the fact that he’s a virgin, has never done anything with another person (well, that one time in high school where he pretended to be his brother…), gay v straight. He just is.
Elijah is… like a precious flower to me. Which is funny because he’s described as 6’2” and buff, getting hired to play some kind of superhero… so I kind of pictured him like a young Henry Cavill / Matt Bomer?? The prologue was absolutely heartbreaking, and I was furious with his good for nothing mother for the entire book. I wish we had gotten a little more of Elijah’s grandfather and their relationship, but I understand why we didn’t. I had moments where I was like, “Elijah - WHY are you putting up with a woman who treats you like dog shit and never protected you??” but it’s literally all he’s ever known and she’s his only family left.
Anyway, I loved it. Obviously. If you also enjoy a psycho hero who’s a walking IRL red flag but those red flags look like red roses in a book… you will probably like it too.
CW: child molestation/rape, trauma and PTSD, neglectful and abusive parents, violence/torture (off page and recalled), homophobia...more
This was a pretty cute, closed door, sapphic romance between a single mother and a movie star. There’s also neurodiverse rep as AJ’s daughter Parker hThis was a pretty cute, closed door, sapphic romance between a single mother and a movie star. There’s also neurodiverse rep as AJ’s daughter Parker has autism and it’s discussed that Melanie is on the spectrum as well.
The beginning (the first 30%) was very slow to me. We see AJ and Mel orbiting each other and sometimes crossing paths, but it takes a while before they officially meet and have a real conversation.
I thought it represented the struggles of being a single parent and of dating someone in the limelight (with a famous ex and lots of tabloid coverage) well.
I really liked the relationship that developed between Mel and AJ’s daughter, Parker, but some parts of the book felt underdeveloped to me. Parker at times seems so young but then in other times she speaks eloquent words of wisdom. The whole subplot of AJ also being an artist and being taken advantage of by a place that was selling her art without her knowledge wasn’t really talked through. ...more
Hmmmmmmmm. Okay. Off the bat, this is a closed door, celebrity romance. I didn’t read the description or see any reviews before reading it so I didn’tHmmmmmmmm. Okay. Off the bat, this is a closed door, celebrity romance. I didn’t read the description or see any reviews before reading it so I didn’t realize either one of those things.
Annie is obsessed with romcoms. But to a point where it dictates her real life. I mean, I’ve read hundreds of romances but… I know they’re not real. I don’t expect my fiancee to act like a gentleman from a historical romance or a dark hero from a mafia romance. Because… they’re escapism? But Annie treats them like Bible.
She’s searching for her Tom Hanks, which means she has a preoccupation with men who own houseboats (even if she lives in Columbus, Ohio) and when a guy she meets tells her he has a kid, her first thought is to compare him to Tom Hanks ins Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.
She refuses to see what’s around her because she’s consumed with what could be.
I actually really enjoyed the writing, but the heroine (and her best friend Chloe) were insufferable and the romance was lukewarm.
You’re really going to make the third act conflict in a celebrity romance that (view spoiler)[she accidentally sends a post-coital pic to a gossip rag??! First of all what woman takes a picture of the guy she just boned sleeping to send to her friend… and who does that to a guy who’s a CELEBRITY. That’s like the # 1 no-no!! (hide spoiler)]...more
HOW have I not reviewed this on Goodreads? Ugh I am the worst. I have read this book… so many times. Like constantly flipping back through it to re-reHOW have I not reviewed this on Goodreads? Ugh I am the worst. I have read this book… so many times. Like constantly flipping back through it to re-read it, it’s highlighted to heck, I bought a book box to get a SPECIAL EDITION COVER. (Click here to see the cover)
If you are looking for a low angst, super sweet first love, musician romance with no jealousy… look no further!! This is available on Kindle Unlimited aaaaand Lauren wrote/recorded songs so you can LISTEN as you read (they are linked within the ebook).
Fish is the bassist for 22 Goats, a band we originally met in Rockstar, which follows the bands lead singer. Years after they’ve blown up Fish still feels like the awkward guy he always was… but now girls throw themselves at him because he’s famous. Just because he’s famous.
Until he meets Alessandra. She’s the shy sister of a journalist interviewing them and they immediately bond over a love of music. She’s a music student and huge 22 Goats fan and although they live across the country from one another, they keep talking and fall in love.
This definitely isn’t a super steamy book. Alessandra is a virgin and Fish isn’t super experiences past one night stands, but holy crap - this book is SWEET. Like, peanut M&M’s personified. My biggest “yuck” about musician romances is plots of jealousy and groupies and those are no where to be found. Fish and Aly are honest with one another, optimistic, and just plain in love.
I have like 100 highlights from this book just read it okay??...more
I was excited to read another Sweet Omegaverse book... unto l realized this wasn't written by Kathryn Moon. I didn't click with this book at all, evenI was excited to read another Sweet Omegaverse book... unto l realized this wasn't written by Kathryn Moon. I didn't click with this book at all, even though I liked the concept... an omega who wants to be seen as more than her designation, who wants to go on tour and finds a pack in the guys she tours with. But execution fell flat for me.
For one, it was in third person instead of first, and chapters/sections weren't labeled with whose POV we were in. And the emotional connection between Lyric and the guys just wasn't there for me, except maybe with 1 or 2 of them....more
If Grip (the book) was a story about finding love, Still is the story of what happens after you find it.
You could read books 0.5 (Flow) and 1 (Grip) If Grip (the book) was a story about finding love, Still is the story of what happens after you find it.
You could read books 0.5 (Flow) and 1 (Grip) and be done with the series, but I think Still is the long love story more rarely told. Two people who have found each other and committed to each other making their relationship work and figuring out how and when to move forward.
I’ll say the same thing I did in my review of Grip: what separates a 4 from a 5 star read for me is a feeling, the same way what makes a book a “favorite” is a feeling. Still is both for me.
This book deals with heavier issues than relationships. It touches on police violence, racism, interracial relationships. And it focuses on two imperfect people navigating an imperfect world.
This book is what I would call a “sprawling love story”. I don’t know exactly how much time passes but it feels like a lot, even though I think Still only takes place over a few years. The struggles they go through are much different than in Grip. I cried through an entire subplot of this book. And yet I loved it.
Grip and Bristol are one of my favorite couples of all time. The way he loves her is… wow. Out of the five love languages mine is definitely acts of service, but Grip’s words could make a case for it being “words of affirmation.” Him quoting poetry to her, as they make love, as they fight, as they live their life - MY HEART. Through every dark moment they’re always there fighting for each other and I really thought, these two would do ANYTHING for each other.
That said, there were some things that made me uncomfortable. The biggest thing is that throughout this book, their relationship faced animosity and challenges from only Black people and one white supremacist. But what stuck out to me was that I think apart from 1 Black man, all the animosity was portrayed as from Black women. This made me uncomfortable.
The Black women characters were a panel host, a rapper (and ex-girlfriend), and the hero’s cousin. They repeatedly told Grip and Bristol together and separately they wouldn’t last, that Grip should be with a Black woman, that Grip was only with Bristol because being with a white woman was a kind of trophy, etc etc.
While none of them were the villains of the story, they were certainly antagonistic and having all the backlash come from Black characters (and specifically Black women) felt like a bad choice.
What separates a book between 4 and 5 stars for me is the way it made me feel. Kind of that indescribable feeling that pushes it beyond “I loved it” tWhat separates a book between 4 and 5 stars for me is the way it made me feel. Kind of that indescribable feeling that pushes it beyond “I loved it” to something else. And that’s how I felt about Grip, and the whole trilogy. I fell in love with the writing and the characters and their journey just as much as the book.
So lets set up Grip: 8 years after the prequel Flow, Bristol Gray is the manager of Grip and several other artists and one of the founders of a record label. She has been fending off advances from Grip (Marlon James) since moving to LA for a complex number of reasons. But the bottom line is, she likes him but refuses to show it; he likes her and isn’t giving up.
On its own, Grip (the book, not the man) was, at times, frustrating to me. I don’t gravitate towards rockstar romances because I know they’re filled with the hero hooking up with girls and potentially cheating, and usually jealousy from the heroine about groupies/ex’s. Those just aren’t things I *enjoy* reading about.
In this book, they address the other partners they’ve had multiple times. The first time they talk about it, Grip says that if they were together, there would be no one else, but he won’t wait around being a saint until then. So yes, we have to see each of them with other partners - I’m including this info for if you, like me, don’t enjoy that in a story line.
They do the will they/won’t they dance for a long time. It gets frustrating, but not once did I want to put the book down. This book is a story about finding and fighting for love - it has drama, angst, anger. Do I wish they had come together sooner? Yes. But once they are together, they’re explosive. ...more
This novella did so many things right. I didn’t feel the friendship between Marlon “Grip” James and Bristol Gray was rushed… it happened so organicallThis novella did so many things right. I didn’t feel the friendship between Marlon “Grip” James and Bristol Gray was rushed… it happened so organically and I adored their conversations. The chemistry between them was wow.
But this novella sets up the first book in the series - Grip. So don’t read this thinking there will be a HEA or a HFN, because there isn’t one. But it pulls off something a lot of novellas don’t, which is make me believe in and root for two characters....more