amymarsdenauthor's review against another edition
4.0
Another great book in this series!
I liked both protagonists, Steph a little more than Gemma. While the romance is obviously the main plot, I really enjoyed Steph's side storyline of realising her job isn't good for her anymore and she needed to leave. Donnie was the worst.
I liked that Gemma realised she was a lesbian later in life. She already knows and divorced her husband before the book starts, so it's not the focus, but it was still nice. Her 'friends' were awful. The kind of homophobic that's almost passive, insidious. I'm glad she moved on from them.
The thing that let Gemma down for me is her hang up on appearances and how she thought (just briefly) Steph wasn't the kind of person someone brings home to meet the family. Steph is butch and covered in tattoos, and it just wasn't a nice thing to read as a butch woman. She realises almost straight away that she's being horrible though, so I give her credit there.
The thing that stops this from being 5 stars is the unnecessary conflict like 90% in. The book would have been fine without it. I really don't like the silly 3rd act angst common in romance novels.
I hope the author continues this series!
I liked both protagonists, Steph a little more than Gemma. While the romance is obviously the main plot, I really enjoyed Steph's side storyline of realising her job isn't good for her anymore and she needed to leave. Donnie was the worst.
I liked that Gemma realised she was a lesbian later in life. She already knows and divorced her husband before the book starts, so it's not the focus, but it was still nice. Her 'friends' were awful. The kind of homophobic that's almost passive, insidious. I'm glad she moved on from them.
The thing that let Gemma down for me is her hang up on appearances and how she thought (just briefly) Steph wasn't the kind of person someone brings home to meet the family. Steph is butch and covered in tattoos, and it just wasn't a nice thing to read as a butch woman. She realises almost straight away that she's being horrible though, so I give her credit there.
The thing that stops this from being 5 stars is the unnecessary conflict like 90% in. The book would have been fine without it. I really don't like the silly 3rd act angst common in romance novels.
I hope the author continues this series!
100_healings's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
hannahwillacy's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
1.0
abigailwantstoread_01's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
decklededgess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trigger warnings: alcohol, workplace harassment, anxiety and panic attacks, sexual content, homophobia, abandonment, transphobia**
I think this is perhaps my favourite of the series so far? God I hope it’s not the last because I want a shelf full of these books. It’s clear that the author has grown exponentially in three books so I have no doubt the rest of her work is going to get explosively better. I can’t wait.
Gemma and Steph were such compelling leads. Gemma’s late in life realisation that she’s lesbian and subsequent isolation from her old friends leads her to being incredibly isolated and unable to navigate the queer community. Finding Steph and befriending her gives her the support system she desperately needs. Steph is almost a foil character to Gemma, not just in the aesthetic sense but also because Gemma knew early and had to deal with a rough life relatively early on. I think this is a hallmark of the author’s work that she intentionally sets up two characters who are emotionally polar opposites who fill in each other’s need for support. It really sets up a strong foundation for a romance.
This was the slowest of burns. The relationship building through a friendship makes for an incredible baseline off of which tension is built between the two as they realise their feelings for each other but choose not to act on it. The thing is, it didn’t feel like the slow burn knife was being twisted because they both needed time. I found that the pacing in that sense was incredibly well thought out.
**One issue I did come across was this line: "Just the wrong anatomy for me to stay married." This was in reference to the main character talking about why she got divorced from her husband (late in life coming out). This conversation about anatomy determining she can't stay with her husband is transphobic and there's no denying it. But since this is the only issue I've come across in three books, I'm chalking it up to the author simply not knowing how dialogue like this is harmful to trans, intersex, non binary, and gender queer folks. Determining attraction based on anatomy means that you ascribe anatomy to gender identity. That is inherently transphobic because anatomy determines biological function of the body NOT the gender identity or the gender presentation of the person. Only a person can dictate what their gender is or isn't. Wanted to make that plain for anyone planning to read this book and as a trigger warning for folks who would find this difficult to come across without warning.
Idk I expected these to be silly little lesbian novels I can just read and move on from but they’ve really taken root in my brain as some well done romances and I cannot wait for more.
I think this is perhaps my favourite of the series so far? God I hope it’s not the last because I want a shelf full of these books. It’s clear that the author has grown exponentially in three books so I have no doubt the rest of her work is going to get explosively better. I can’t wait.
Gemma and Steph were such compelling leads. Gemma’s late in life realisation that she’s lesbian and subsequent isolation from her old friends leads her to being incredibly isolated and unable to navigate the queer community. Finding Steph and befriending her gives her the support system she desperately needs. Steph is almost a foil character to Gemma, not just in the aesthetic sense but also because Gemma knew early and had to deal with a rough life relatively early on. I think this is a hallmark of the author’s work that she intentionally sets up two characters who are emotionally polar opposites who fill in each other’s need for support. It really sets up a strong foundation for a romance.
This was the slowest of burns. The relationship building through a friendship makes for an incredible baseline off of which tension is built between the two as they realise their feelings for each other but choose not to act on it. The thing is, it didn’t feel like the slow burn knife was being twisted because they both needed time. I found that the pacing in that sense was incredibly well thought out.
**One issue I did come across was this line: "Just the wrong anatomy for me to stay married." This was in reference to the main character talking about why she got divorced from her husband (late in life coming out). This conversation about anatomy determining she can't stay with her husband is transphobic and there's no denying it. But since this is the only issue I've come across in three books, I'm chalking it up to the author simply not knowing how dialogue like this is harmful to trans, intersex, non binary, and gender queer folks. Determining attraction based on anatomy means that you ascribe anatomy to gender identity. That is inherently transphobic because anatomy determines biological function of the body NOT the gender identity or the gender presentation of the person. Only a person can dictate what their gender is or isn't. Wanted to make that plain for anyone planning to read this book and as a trigger warning for folks who would find this difficult to come across without warning.
Idk I expected these to be silly little lesbian novels I can just read and move on from but they’ve really taken root in my brain as some well done romances and I cannot wait for more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Abandonment, Mental illness, Misogyny, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Transphobia
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