Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - Yerba Buena

One of my new favorite sapphic stories. A beautiful example of a story that isn’t ABOUT being queer, but has queerness seamlessly woven throughout the same way straightness traditionally can be with no effort. This was a coming of age story for both women, and they just happened to be queer.

Sara’s plight gutted me. In the beginning, the whole “the only solution is to run away” baffled me, but I’ve come to notice this is a recurring theme in La Cour’s work (We Are Okay comes to mind first, which I also read and loved but have not reviewed yet). And the more Sara’s character was constructed, the more it made sense for her. I have a little brother that I was old enough to help raise (albeit with two parents) and the thought of losing him so young is enough to kill me. So I get Sara, I do. Their reunion was so complicated. It just kept hurting.

Emilie is almost seemingly less pitiable, but that would be superficial to say wouldn’t it? Being manipulated by an older married man fucks you up big time. I didn’t think I would feel for her as much but god I did. And then I felt like an asshole for judging her as a home wrecker when she was receiving trauma the whole time. I loved the weaving in of her New Orleans culture, loved the rekindling of love between sisters.

And Sara and Emilie together. I ship it so hard. I know Sara is a mess, and I was so worried all the while that this would be the “I’m too fucked up to be in a relationship” trope but La Cour didn’t disappoint. I know they lived happily ever after. I know they had a sick gay wedding. I love them so much.

EDIT: do agree with other reviewers, though, that it isn’t a romance. Notice how above I said “new favorite sapphic story” not “sapphic romance.” Because I kind of felt that it was more than a romance before I even read other reviews. It’s really about these women growing, healing, and finding themselves, and the last step to that just happens to include each other. Which I happen to find incredibly romantic. I love it.

Definitely my favorite of La Cour’s work. Her prose and language is the most beautiful in this one too. Her work always flows beautifully as it’s read to me (I’m an audiobook girlie) but this one was just exceptionally so. Cannot recommend enough. Gorgeous in every way.

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iriwindel's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

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aweso10's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

such a lovely read! i've been in a bit of a slump lately so it was very essential to read a book where the characters really roped me in- we can't deny a complicated sapphic romance! i loved the diverse cast of characters, the very vivid LA/cali setting, and the interspersed flashbacks. this book is like a refreshing summer cocktail sprinkled with a little trauma, we LOVE<3

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ronan_lesh's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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

5.0

Firstly, I'm obsessed with this cover, and now that I know what the cover means, I love it even more.

Secondly, I don't want to go through a spiel about what this is about, because I don't think I can do that adequately without giving it all away. The only thing you need to know going in is that it's a story of two women and the story intersects. The rest is beautiful. Of course, I advise you to check the triggers online, but as for looking into the actual journey of the characters, I'd advise against it. I think going into it blind made me love it even more.

The writing was beautiful, but it wasn't flowery or too much. I thought the main characters were both hot messes with a ton of red flags between the two of them, but I love reading about women with red flags. I would say, actually, it's one of my favorite things. Another thing I really loved about it was how much Lacour put her own Creole heritage into the pages. It made the book just that much more personal. I thought the stories of the two women were layered seamlessly and although the chapters are long, I *flew* through this in a way I haven't flown through a book in awhile.

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lesbrarycard's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

Yerba Buena is a fantastic exploration of nostalgia and vulnerability. i found Sara and Emilie to both be poignant characters with rich histories and complex emotions. i loved their connection throughout the story, and how their pasts contributed to who they are without defining them. this whole book feels as warm and sunny as light streaming through a window, and the descriptions of food, cocktails, and plants are all so vibrant. the audiobook was fantastic and well-paced, and i know that i'd love to pick up this story as a physical book as well.

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