What an absolute gut punch of a book. Joyce goes HARD with the second chance of it all, and I love how vulnerable and open Georgia was (at least to thWhat an absolute gut punch of a book. Joyce goes HARD with the second chance of it all, and I love how vulnerable and open Georgia was (at least to the reader) with her neediness—for love, for praise, for belonging, because isn't that most of us, really, at our most honest? And don't get me started with the paper rings. What a treasure to have Jessica Joyce writing romance for us...more
I really enjoyed this collection of essays from JVN, particularly the one on the queer history of their hometown of Quincy, Illinois (which was the orI really enjoyed this collection of essays from JVN, particularly the one on the queer history of their hometown of Quincy, Illinois (which was the original reason I picked it up, as part of my queers-in-small-towns research), and the one on the HIV safety net. And emotionally, the one about their cat’s very tragic death really stuck with me. :(
My one tiny complaint is that I wish they used dick jokes in regards to homosexuality just slightly less, especially as a nonbinary person. (Being that there are a lot of gays without dicks. But then again, I know dick jokes reflect their own experience & I don’t really want to be in the practice of policing the word choices of someone whose life experiences are outside of my own. So I dunno, maybe I don’t really have a point here.) Overall, I am continually inspired by JVN’s honesty and empathetic efforts to see the good in others....more
As someone who has been in a long term relationship/marriage for a long time, I really appreciate marriage-in-trouble stories, and Liese goes HARD witAs someone who has been in a long term relationship/marriage for a long time, I really appreciate marriage-in-trouble stories, and Liese goes HARD with this one in her signature emotion-heavy, kind, comforting way. Her notes in her acknowledgments at the end, speaking to those who have been in relationship trouble of their own, almost made me cry harder than the actual book. Also really appreciated how Aidan's anxiety is accepted/loved by Freya. ...more
My favorite thing about Casey’s writing is how it wraps me in a chokehold from the first chapter and doesn’t let go until I’ve consumed the whole thinMy favorite thing about Casey’s writing is how it wraps me in a chokehold from the first chapter and doesn’t let go until I’ve consumed the whole thing without rest—and then for a while after I’ve finished, too. (Followed by an inevitable pang that I read it so fast.) Their writing is so immersive and atmospheric, like we are immediately and intimately put in these two people’s heads and their worlds and ready for wherever their journeys take us. It’s like their stories are a different color in my head than everyone else’s stories. I also honestly don’t know how Casey creates such instant chemistry between her MCs, every time.
Anyway! This one was really, on the whole, incredibly sweet. Like both MCs were really thoughtful, kind people even when they’re getting in each other’s and their own way. I thought Jake’s compulsions were handled particularly well here; I always enjoy the various mental health/disability issues Casey explores. I also love the care they put into describing at least one of the MC’s families, their quirks and importance to the MC. As always, I just really wish the best for these two, however their futures play out....more
Need to get my thoughts into a more coherent space for a blurb, but PHEW. This destroyed me in the most wonderful, cathartic way. (There are many CWs Need to get my thoughts into a more coherent space for a blurb, but PHEW. This destroyed me in the most wonderful, cathartic way. (There are many CWs for this one, which Lim lists in thoughtful detail at the beginning of the book, but the biggest one to probably know is parental death.) Most of this book is told alternating between current day narration & flashbacks, & it crafts Quito and Emmett’s slow burn love story so, so well, so that I had a hard time putting it down.
This is such a passionate love letter to music, from classical to Broadway show tunes to pop, especially the art of singing, and a tribute to the legacy of good music teachers. Anyone who still feels emotionally connected to their high school choir memories will be destroyed by this one, I think. It is also such a loving portrait of Filipino-American culture, especially via food; I was so hungry for so much of this lol. I was also obsessed with Ujima & am sad they don’t actually exist so we can’t be friends. Overall: so lovely, and so great as well to have more gay romance written by gay authors of color in the world of traditional publishing....more
Wowowow. This YA/NA queer & trans romance is gorgeous & heartwrenching & a visceral love letter to LA (and music and anime and friendship but especialWowowow. This YA/NA queer & trans romance is gorgeous & heartwrenching & a visceral love letter to LA (and music and anime and friendship but especially, imo, LA). Read it in almost one sitting. Santi <3...more