May

Haley Cass is a master at writing absolutely incredible slow burn, and Those Who Wait is one of her best. Sutton and Charlotte have some absolutely incredible chemistry, I could read about these two doing anything mundane together and still enjoy it. They're both immediately likeable, messy and relatable in the best possible way. Cass masterfully swaps perspectives between both characters to keep each scene as gripping as possible, and the numerous obstacles and misunderstandings that plague their relationship manage to stay engaging without feeling frustrating.

In comparison to Cass' later works, Those Who Wait isn't as tightly written; it's her longest, and there are points, particularly in the latter half, where it shows. But the core relationship behind this story never stops being gripping, and watching Sutton and Charlotte inch closer and closer towards their romance is absolutely incredible.

If I have any complaint, it's that the ending feels a little abrupt. This is fully rectified by the book's sequel, Forever and a Day, but I would've loved to see a glimpse of Sutton and Charlotte's future together here. That doesn't mean that the ending is bad, just that it left me wanting more, which likely would've happened regardless for any story with these two characters in it.

Those Who Wait is a book that I go back to, frequently. It's one of the most captivating slow burns I've ever read, and I've never been able to put it down, even on rereads. Absolutely worth a read, there's so, so much to love here.

This summer was the apocalypse is genuinely such an impactful entry in contrast to how elaborate the other entries are

I absolutely adored Ribbonwood. Absolutely seeping in atmosphere and full of complex, dynamic characters with palpable chemistry, I was absolutely hooked from page one.

Lara is such a beautifully complex character. Turning years of mistreatment and mischaracterizations into armor to protect her and other women, all while cutting herself off from the same community she's helped. It's not surprising that the book begins and ends with vivid descriptions of how the town's residents see her; Lara is the absolute center of this story.

Ollie, in comparison, is a little more straight forward, but her personal issues are still handled masterfully. Struggling to slow down after years of focusing solely on her career have finally caught up to her, watching Ollie reconcile with her hometown was incredibly heartwarming.

Together, Ollie and Lara have so much chemistry. Their history is obvious, but it's clear from their first interaction that both women are way more than their high school selves. Watching both of them learn to truly see each other for the first time and fall in love with one another was extremely captivating. These are two complex characters with a complex relationship, but the core of that relationship burns with such intensity that I couldn't help but be entranced by every single moment.

Ollie's family and Lara's bonfire community helped give Ribbonwood the warmth it needs; despite the town's darker aspects, the closeness of its' residents shines through. Landers' depicts partner violence with the weight it deserves, and the town's casual misogyny is confronted in a beautifully satisfying way.

This was an absolutely captivating work, one I couldn't put down from start to finish. Absolutely recommended.

I received an advance copy in exchange for a review, but all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

I was absolutely expecting this to be a fun read, but I wasn't expecting it to be so, so human. As someone who has personally struggled with impostor syndrome throughout my transition, Lily's struggles here were just so, so relatable (even if I wasn't that dense). Good trans representation is such an easy way to my heart, and reading through this book made me feel something good during a very rough moment.

Initially, I thought some of the side characters were a little one-note, but the (very) extended epilogue does a great job rounding out most of the cast. They're likable, help explore a number of different interpersonal relationship dynamics that come about as a result of transitioning, and Vicky's story brought me to tears.

Absolutely recommended, we don't get enough legitimately fun and heartwarming trans fiction, and I could not put this one down from the very first page.

I've loved every single Lily Seabrooke book I've read, and Bad Luck Charm is no exception. London and Cameron's chemistry is immediately tantalizing and exhilarating; I knew from the start that this was going to be an extremely entertaining read, but I wasn't expecting London and Cameron's personal struggles to be just as captivating as they were. These two really help each other become the best version of themselves, and watching them fall in love with each other in the process is extremely enjoyable.

Miami is a very different setting than most of Seabrooke's earlier works, but she does an excellent job representing the city, especially through it's food, something not surprising to anyone familiar with Seabrooke's prior works. I couldn't stop myself from smiling through each and every one of London and Cameron's dates.

My only major complaint is that there were a few places where the pacing felt a little too quick. London, in particular, has a pretty major character shift that felt like it could have used some more time to establish, but I find it hard to complain too much when everything that came after that growth was so enjoyable. I absolutely could not put down Bad Luck Charm, it's a truly exhilarating and enjoyable ride from beginning to end.

I received an advance copy in exchange for a review, but all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

A Break in Communications is incredibly fun. A rivals-to-lovers holiday romance with elements of fake dating and some of the best characterization I've ever seen. The sudden shift from Anna's rivalry towards Lucy's obsessive crush is absolutely adorable, and the chemistry between the two is palpable throughout every stage of their relationship. I'm not usually a fan of fake dating plotlines, but the way this one was framed made it more than enjoyable.

The side cast is extremely dynamic, with Anna's meddling mother, Lucy's grandmother, and the relationship between Anna's sister and coworker being highlights. I would've read an entire book on Kelcey and Veronica's relationship.

The workplace subplot felt a little unnecessarily convoluted at points, but resolves in an incredibly entertaining fashion, and ultimately doesn't detract from the focus of the book.

A Break in Communications is a delightful, charming and cozy holiday read. The chemistry is fantastic, the twists are engaging, and I couldn't put it down from beginning to end. Absolutely recommended.

I received an advance copy in exchange for a review, but all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

When I first read A Break in Communications, I immediately wanted a book following Kelcey and Veronica. I assumed that, if it happened, it would happen next year. I never expected my wish to come true just one month later. And A Conflict of Interest is every bit as good as I hoped for.

Kelcey and Veronica's history and dynamics are just so compelling. Watching Veronica accept the fact that she's absolutely in love is great, and Kelcey's struggles with with trusting her are totally understandable. These two are both so, so damn fun and Seabrooke does an excellent job at voicing each of them. I laughed out loud at multiple points, and I just couldn't get enough of them. More than anything, it was great to see Kelcey and Veronica get fleshed out, with aspects of their characters that once only served comedic purposes getting explored with the depth and humanity they deserved.

The returning supporting cast was absolutely wonderful. I loved Anna and Lucy, so getting more of them was absolutely delightful. Most of the supporting cast is giving more of what they offered in the previous book, but they were a delight there too so I really can't complain.

I was never expecting to get to read this book, much less so soon, but it's everything I could've dreamed of. An absolutely delightful holiday romance, two perfectly unhinged leads, and some of the best yearning I've read all year. Definitely check this one out.

I received an advance copy in exchange for a review, but all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Satire about marginalized books isn't exactly new, and in many ways A Rotten Girl almost feels inevitable. But Topaz does an excellent job setting this story apart. Pearl is a trans woman who, in an attempt to achieve mainstream success, poses as a cisgender gay man to write a trashy M/M romance targeted at straight women. She's a fairly unlikeable protagonist, willing to go to extreme lengths at the expense of her gay trans roommate Pippin and her girlfriend Barbs, but her motivations are ultimately fairly relatable.

It helps that the writing is consistently a blast: relentlessly quotable, with nearly every single paragraph having at least one standout line. From exerpts from Pearl's novel, to pointed (and fairly) accurate depictions of the horrors of being an online trans woman, Topaz's writing is incredibly sharp, balancing both humor and commentary excellently.

My only major complaint is that some character development, particularly in regards to Pearl's relationship with Barbs, felt a little rushed and contrived. I would have loved to see more justification for Pearl's decision not to be upfront with both Barbs and Pippin, and neither characters' relationship with Pearl felt like it ended on a satisfying note.

A Rotten Girl is an absolute blast to read. But more than that, it's an excellently written piece of satire, that manages to cram quite a bit of layered commentary into a short (but sweet) package. Definitely worth a read, I loved this one quite a bit.

Fingersmith is one of the most riveting books I've ever read. It's atmospheric as hell, absolutely seeping with yearning, and has multiple twists that left me absolutely shocked. From beginning to end, I was absolutely enthralled, and on those merits alone, it would be worth reading.

But Fingersmith is more than just an engaging book; Waters' explorations of women's sexuality and agency in a deeply patriarchal society are extremely effective. Some of the plot twists came off feeling slightly forced, but this wasn't enough to significantly impact my experience reading, and the twists that land absolutely land. Absolutely recommended.

This was a really hard book for me to read. And I'm not talking about quality; Becky Albertalli is a fantastic writer, and I absolutely loved the book (more on that later). But it brought up some memories; of being a freshman in college, surrounded by my brand new, very queer friend group. Questioning myself, but hiding the very, very obvious truth beneath layer after layer of imposter syndrome. Feeling like I wasn't queer enough, because I hadn't always known, and I wasn't visibly queer, even though deep down, I knew that I wasn't the kind of person who craved visibility.

So yeah, reading this book pushed me back through a rollercoaster of emotions and memories I'd mostly forgotten about, a chapter of my life I mostly skip over, the good and bad. Imogen is an extremely compelling character, and Albertalli's writing does an excellent job putting you right in her head. Imogen's journey is extremely compelling, managing to feel extremely relatable without feeling generic. I'm not usually a fan of books that can feel a little heavy handed with discourse, but Albertalli carefully navigates a subset of queer discourse so expertly, that I couldn't help but get engaged, no matter how close to home it hit.

I'm going to try and keep this review contained to just the first book, but so much of what I love about Dorley as a series is paid off later on in the series, so forgive me if I can't control myself. Welcome to Dorley Hall is one of the most compelling books I've ever read, and is absolutely worth your consideration.

The force fem nature of this premise is by far its' most provocative, so let's start there. I don't think that morality discourse is the most productive this early into the narrative; there's so much context about Dorley's methods and history revealed later in the series that informs my thoughts on the matter, but I also don't think that the question of whether or not Dorley Hall is morally good directly informs the quality of the book. If anything, the complexity of the question only speaks to its' qualities. If the premise doesn't make you too uncomfortable, feel free to skip ahead a little bit.

However, it is an aspect of the story that many people, particularly non transfems, struggle with overcoming. So, as a trans woman, here's some things to consider: transition isn't just something you are, it's also something you do. Dorley's women are materially trans, they've taken the steps to transition both physically and socially. And while they may not have taken those steps on their own, Dorley's program is designed to select those who are most likely to benefit from a material transition. Gendering is an inherently violent and traumatic process, one done to each and every one of us from birth. Dorley's mechanisms are designed to inflict that trauma in reverse, to provide its' patients with a healthier framework to interact with the world.

You can argue about the nuances of these mechanisms, but I find it extremely reductive to treat Dorley Hall's morality as a black and white issue. You can be uncomfortable with a premise while still engaging with it; the fact that Dorley's forced feminization is so provocative is part of what makes the series so compelling.

In the same way that I find much of Dorley's morality discourse to be reductive, I find framings of the series as some kind of “enlightened forcefem” to be unhelpful. It is undeniable that Dorley is written with clear mastery of forcefem as a genre; Alyson explores tropes and archetypes with a level of depth and nuance rarely seen, and the series' popularity has ensured that it will remain both monumental and influential for forcefem and broader tg/tf narratives for a long time. But I also feel that this framing, that Dorley somehow “redeems” a genre of transmisogynistic smut, is incomplete. What Dorley does with the genre is incredible, yes, but its' built on a foundation of other stories, each of which has something to offer.

Dorley has one of the best ensemble casts I've ever seen. While much of this comes later in the series, as Welcome to Dorley Hall focuses primarily on the viewpoints of Stef and Christine, the foundation for that growth is established here. Alyson depicts the internal struggles of transfemininity absolutely incredibly, while simultaneously managing to cover such a broad spectrum of the trans experience.

Stef's internal struggles reminded me of many of my own very early in transition. Overcoming the seemingly impossible mental barrier of admitting your transness. Struggling to accept a new identity because you still “feel” like your old gender, before hormones have had time to do their thing. She's got so, so much to work through, and works as a fantastic challenge to Dorley's methods.

Christine is the other focus of book one, and for the sake of brevity I won't go into full detail about how much I love her. Long story short: I've never felt so damn seen by a fictional character before. Her struggles with being seen as a woman publicly, with overcoming her anxieties and insecurities in order to learn the tools of femininity that she yearns for, mirrored so many of my own struggles so perfectly. Her arc was the motivating push I needed to push beyond the stagnation I'd been feeling in my own transition, and I cannot praise it enough.

Every single side character has this level of depth throughout the series. While Dorley's deconstruction of forced feminization is both provocative and compelling, I personally believe its greatest strength lies in its depiction of transness. This is something the series goes in much greater depth on as it continues, expanding to the viewpoints of a much larger cast, but those characters are all established here, and even without their internal monologues, their internality remains extremely apparant.

Alyson's writing is absolutely captivating. The story is paced incredibly well, allowing its' heavier moments to land without ever letting things get too dark. And more than anything, I can't understate just how funny it is. The premise is big and weighty, yes, but there are so many jokes that absolutely land here. The gallows humor on display here does an excellent job keeping things fun without ever fully distracting from the facts of the scenario. I could not put this book down on first read, and that's a fact that's remained true on rereads.

The Sisters of Dorley is one of the most compelling pieces of fiction I've ever read. And so much of that ground work is laid here in Welcome to Dorley Hall. I cannot understate just how impressive it is for a serialized work to feel so carefully planned and considered. Every single aspect of Dorley's world and characters feels perfectly crafted to spark interesting discussions about the nature of gender and the trans experience. If the premise makes you uncomfortable, that's fine! Don't let that discomfort rob you of an incredible read.

This was an incredibly enjoyable read that I couldn't put down. Brooke and Kennedy are both well-rounded, dynamic characters that play off each other perfectly. This is an extremely slow burn, but their relationship is absolutely captivating. I kept finding myself shocked at just how far I'd read, as it felt like their relationship was only just beginning. I loved every second of this book, and wanted more.

The final act felt a little messier and rushed compared to earlier parts of the story, as the relationship gains quite a bit of momentum fairly quickly, but my investment in the characters made this almost a non-issue, and I found the ultimate conclusion to be extremely satisfying. Definitely a worthwhile read, the yearning on display here is absolutely perfect.

I don't know why I took so long to finally get around to reading this one, but I'm absolutely regretting it. Because Delilah Green Doesn't Care is absolutely fantastic. By far one of the strongest supporting casts I've ever seen in a romance novel, and a main romance that starts off absolutely incredible.

Unfortunately, the last few chapters were a little disappointing to me. The shift from a casual relationship to a serious one felt a little bit rushed, even if the build-up to that shift had been very well established. Part of this is that there are sort of two separate third-act conflicts, without enough time to properly explore either afterward. I'm sure that the sequels will help quite a bit, but the ending fell a little flat for me. Which is a shame, because I loved absolutely everything else.

Still recommended, and I'm definitely going to check out the sequels, because everything I loved here I absolutely loved, even if I was a bit disappointed by the ending.

There's a definite swiftie bias here, but there's a lot to like here. The layout is clean, the print quality is fantastic. I love the way each album's font is incorporated; while the layouts of each section broadly stay the same, it does a nice job differentiating each one just enough from one another.

Getting a full version of the setlist with all the eras included, and without the compromises to incorporate TTPD was nice. Even songs like invisible string that haven't been on since the very start get a spot here, it's nice.

I do wish there was more information in here, though? Each era only gets a paragraph, and a brief behind the scenes section at the end. The behind the scenes stuff is fantastic, but there just isn't that much in terms of new information at hand here. It's a nice thing to have, it'll display well, but I would've loved just a little bit more with such a steep price tag.

4.5/5 Stars • I received an advance copy, but am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

From the second I first laid eyes on Make Room for Love, I knew I would love it. I'm an absolute sucker for slow burn, and every single detail I learned just had me wanting to read the book more and more. A trans femme lead? A pro union plot? Learning to embrace risk after a breakup? Sign me up.

Mira and Isabel are both absolutely fantastic characters. They both parallel each other in incredibly interesting ways, and their individual struggles were complex and extremely human. Watching both of them overcome their struggles was absolutely enjoyable. Their chemistry is absolutely impeccable, but Liao doesn't let up on the tension of their relationship until the end. It's rare for me to see two characters constantly make mistakes with their relationship and completely understand why they're making those mistakes every single time.

Mira's union subplot was one of the most interesting subplots I've read in a romance novel all year. The importance of community and support networks really shines through, and hit at the perfect time given everything going on right now.

This was a fantastic read, absolutely recommended.

I absolutely adored On the Same Page, so it's not surprise that I loved seeing more of Riley and Gianna. I absolutely loved the way this was structured; getting glimpses into their past experiences before seeing how those experiences shaped their futures really helped to maintain the feeling of the first book. Absolutely recommend to anyone who read the original!

I don't think I could have been more excited for The Snowball Effect. I've loved literally every single Haley Cass book, and an enemies to lovers fake relationship starring two of my favorite characters from Those Who Wait? That's basically everything I could have ever wanted. And even with those extremely high expectations, The Snowball Effect still managed to surpass them.

This book just builds and builds and builds. The pacing is absolutely exquisite, and the tension is palpable. Watching Emma and Regan's relationship finally come together was just so, so satisfying. Finally reaching the tipping point where everything starts to fall into place was absolutely enthralling, and I seriously couldn't get enough of these two.

Emma and Regan were both extremely likable in Those Who Wait, but they're both given so much more depth here as leads. They both have relatively similar arcs, but their personalities are so different that the similarities only serve to complement each other. Combined with a dynamic supporting cast (both new and old), and every single scene is just so engaging.

My only major complaint is that I just want more of these two. I absolutely love the slow burn, and everything comes together in an extremely satisfying way, but by the time Emma and Regan actually get together, things are already wrapping up. Ultimately, it works, and in my mind wanting more of a great book is never a bad thing.

Absolutely recommended. I could not put this down from the second I picked it up, and I'm already desperate to reread it when my physical copy arrives. Easily one of the best books I've read this year, and worth every second of your time.

I knew that there was going to be so much more than it seemed when I started reading Kimmy, and I could not have been more right. This is an incredibly smart book, one that I haven't been able to stop thinking about since I put it down. Greaves' writing is deceptively nonchalant, before diving deep into the psychological impact of the abuse and discrimination brought as a result of transmisogyny. Absolutely worth a read.

How to Fly is one of the most fun books I've ever read. Max and Taylor are both immediately captivating leads, as a series of misunderstandings results in Max, an ex-gymnast who moved across the country to escape his traumas, joining Taylor's cheer team, as a girl. While the initial plot setup is more than a little contrived, the lighthearted tone, drawing heavily from high school comedies like Bring It On helped to smooth over my disbelief, and the contrivances allow for some absolutely incredible character moments.

And once things get going, they never stop. Max and Taylor's chemistry is immediately apparent, and the mutual angst and yearning kept hooking me deeper and deeper. I can't wait to see these two finally get together in the next book, because I'm already obsessed. Greaves does an absolutely fantastic job pacing out heavier character moments in between lighter scenes, consistently keeping things an enjoyable read while still exploring the premise to its' fullest.

Compared to Greaves' other works, How to Fly isn't nearly as complex or deep. But it's not trying to be, and it's both a fantastic entry point to her books, as well as a much needed breather from the heavier parts of Kimmy or Dorley. There are still a lot of interesting ideas here, particularly as Max comes to terms with her gender, but the payoff for a lot of these ideas is held off for book two.

Which brings me to my biggest (and only) complaint: this is just the first part of a much bigger story. I absolutely loved what's here, and while the final chapter has some absolutely fantastic development for both Max and Taylor, development that establishes a fantastic foundation for the sequel, it's hard to treat this as anything but the first part of a much larger story. Having read ahead on Alyson's patreon, the major developments setup by the end of How to Fly are absolutely paid off, and Book 2 is going to be even better than this one, but the story is currently lacking a destination, even if the journey is an absolute blast.

How to Fly is such a fun ride from start to finish, and while it might just be part one of a larger story, what's here is so much fun, and absolutely worth your time.

An absolutely beautifully written slow burn, and easily one of my favorite books of the year. Sam and Emmanuelle are both beautifully complex characters, navigating through their traumas, guilt, and insecurities through their connections with one another. The side characters are charming and dynamic, helping to balance out the weight of Sam and Emmanuelle's personal journeys. I was absolutely captivated, and couldn't put this one down from start to finish. Absolutely recommended.

It's really hard to review Love/Aggression without spoiling so much of what makes it incredible. At the heart of this bizarre, fragmented, surreal world is an incredibly human story about our relationships with others. One of the most inventive pieces of trans literature I've ever read; I don't want to say more for fear of spoilers, this is absolutely worth a read.

When Paisley and Harper's relationship was first teased in book one, I knew I'd fall in love with them. Their dynamic seemed so chaotic and fun. And this book absolutely delivers. But their relationship is more than that, so much more than that. Paisley and Harper both have so, so much more depth than initially let on, and uncovering their hidden depths is a captivating, painful, and thrilling journey, one that I absolutely could not put down.

It's not just Paisley and Harper that are outstanding, either. Nobody wastes away into happily ever after. Every single character continues to grow and struggle, both in their romantic relationships and in their interpersonal ones. Literally every single major character from throughout the series is given a satisfying ending to their arcs, and I couldn't be happier with the way this series ended. I'm definitely not forgetting about Bayview anytime soon.

The latter half of this book takes some absolutely insane turns, ones I wouldn't dare spoil. So, spoilers below:

I basically cried my way through the latter half of this book. Harper and Paisley's heartbreak just felt so, so real. And Harper coming back only to leave again only twisted the knife further.And of course, the big twist. The best twists totally shock you, while feeling completely setup in retrospect. And this one absolutely, totally was. Harper being Lindsay trying to live up to her sister's dreams not only fits the final pieces into this book's plot into place, but completely recontextualizes her character in the previous books in a way that adds so, so much extra depth.Comparatively a much smaller spoiler, but I absolutely adored Paisley's glow up/rediscovery arc. It hit a little too close to home in the best way possible, and parallels Lindsay's own journey perfectly. Watching these two come into their own was an absolute joy, I seriously loved every single second of this experience.

I'm probably rambling by now, but I absolutely adored this book. It's more than worth your time, especially if you've already read the previous two books (which you should, because they're also amazing). I'll be thinking (and crying, and smiling) about this book (and series) for a long time.

This book is absolutely everything. Riley and Gianna are absolutely incredible characters, who play off each other so well. Haley expertly weaves together past and present, and these two really do feel like best friends who have learned and grown and loved each other for such a long time. Their relationship shines through so brightly here, reading this book was essentially just a day of screaming at them to get together in my head because they just play off each other so, so well.There are very few books that keep me this emotionally invested throughout their entire runtime. Feeling the awkwardness, the pain, the yearning, and being unable to do anything but read onward. But I seriously could not put this one down.I'd absolutely recommend reading [b:Down to a Science 60914760 Down to a Science (I Heart Sapphfic Pride Collection, #1) Haley Cass https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651432669l/60914760.SY75.jpg 96081793] first, both because it's really good, and because it does an excellent job setting up Riley and Gianna. But regardless, this is an absolutely gripping read, and one that I won't stop thinking about for a long time.

4.5/5

Another win for Sapphic YA Romance. Audrey and Lucy are both great characters, who play off each other extremely well. Lucy in particular was incredible, watching her growth throughout the narrative was absolutely captivating. This was overall an extremely fun read, playing with the setting and time-travel concept to deliver a well-paced, fairly lighthearted story.

My only complaints were with the third act, whose resolution felt a little convenient, and not properly setup. While I'm ultimately happy with where things ended up for most of the characters involved, the end of their journey just felt a little contrived and convenient. It wasn't enough to ruin my enjoyment or anything, I still ended up loving the book, I just wish there was a little more setup for some very late moments.