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lezreadalot's review
4.0
This is a good book. Honestly it's a great book. Amazing writing and style, a compelling story, really wonderful performance from the narrator. But I can't rate it as highly as I thought I would because the tail end of it disappointed me so bad. I feel like a sexy butch took me out to a great dinner and then spit in my food during the last course.
Let's start with the good:
- A very atmospherically beautiful novel. You can tell this was written by someone who grew up in and loves the south. I loved the descriptions of nature, the accents, the small town vibes. A great job was done establishing the setting, and everything, including all the later weather events, felt so visceral.
- Really lovely writing! Nothing more nothing less! Some books are badly written, some books are well written, and some books, you read a line and immediately want to read it again because it was so striking or poignant. This was one of those books. And it did so while remaining simple, and true to the characters. There was never a point where, say, Lucinda said something really pretty but it bothered me because it sounded like it came from the author rather than the character. That's another thing: all the dialogue was really good, really authentic. I just ENJOYED reading this so much!
- I say 'reading' but of course I listened to the audiobook as performed by Elizabeth Saydah and she was peeeeerfect. Great and distinctive character voices, great tone, awesome job with the accents (imo; I'm not from the south, or even American). I really loved it.
- Gosh I also loved the characters. I came to care and root for Lucinda super quickly. I freaking fell in LOVE with Ardie. Most of the romance in this really appealed to me. Really liked Rhonda, and was pleasantly surprised by her since I was sort of wincing in anticipation like I do every time a black character appears in a predominantly white novel. She had a role to play and wasn't the mammy character I had kinda feared at first. The entire little small town cast was really fun, added life and character to the novel.
- This just does a really good job of treating with abuse, PTSD, and trauma, and memory as trauma (oh man that was good), grief and all the little coping mechanisms we have. The Shahrazad metaphor was so good.
- I really recommend reading the author's little personal essay at the end; it really helped pull me back from the edge of that initial tidal wave of disappointment.
Speaking of disappointments... Let's.
- (Brief aside to say that, okay, the way in which that whole sequence was written, when Ardie comes back from the forest with Lucinda, and when we revisit it in the end, was super skilfully done. Also, I was thinking that I had all aspects of this book figured out but this was a twist which I did NOT see coming. I'm always complaining when I manage to figure out huge parts of the mystery in a book, so it would be remiss of me not to give kudos when a book pulls one over on me. Even in such a deeply fucking unpleasant way lol.)
- I've seen other reviewers say that the book didn't deliver on the promise of a book in the romance genre, i.e. with a HEA. In the author's defence, it does say very clearly in the description that this is not a typical romance, and I went in knowing that. However I'm STILL ticked off about not getting a HEA and I'll tell you why: because of Ardie. Most of the f/f romance available, and therefore most of the f/f romance that I read is femme/femme. And that's fine and great and good. I love femmes, would probably call myself one. But I am HUNGRY for butch women in romance and Ardie was such a breath of fresh fucking air. Every time Lucinda came on to her, or every time Lucinda blushed because of something Ardie said, I felt it in my SOUL. You just don't get to see fat butches as the objects of desire in romance, and I just loved it so much. So to get the ending that we did, Lucinda dead and reunited with her vaguely sinister ghost of an ex-gf, and Ardie meeting a new love interest in the book's dying gasp (someone whose name Lucinda whispered to her... how??? Did the knowledge of being a ghost give her some kind of super sentience??) was disappointing in the extreme. Lucinda and Ardie's romance was being developed on page from the very beginning, and to have it end like that... so disappointing. I was all ready to hop on here when I finished and yell "WHOOOO FAT BUTCH SAVES THE DAY AND GETS THE GIRL". And I'm left with dust in my mouth! It was so incredibly unsatisfying. I still can't believe it ended that way.
- Speaking of unsatisfying... I don't know, I didn't expect a perfect fairy tale ending where Lucinda was concerned; she's been through so much, has had more grief and trauma than any one person deserves. Her and Ardie's romance felt great to me because PTSD was something they shared in common, something they've both had to battle. I wanted a resolution where she could continue overcoming that pain with Ardie. Instead, for the protagonist to commit suicide after being coaxed into it by the ghost of her ex-gf, and get catharsis only through an imaginary act... it felt so incredibly bad. So bad. Emotionally off kilter. I'm really so baffled by this resolution. And you know what, I don't buy Dion's kindly explanation of 'you were meant to die tonight, it was going to happen one way or the other'. That just feels silly and insulting to readers.
- Man not to harp on about it but Lucinda and Ardie were so great as a couple. Dion was great, I liked the character, but her chapter with Lucinda was OVER. Also again, I feel like Dion purposefully came off as somewhat sinister, so to have her and Lucinda be endgame was... a decision. God this book could have been so much better but the last sixth or so just THREW me.
- I got to "I woulda loved you" in the taxi on the way home and it made me tear up and I pretty much deducted an entire star for that. Any book that makes me cry on public transportation deserves to go to jail.
This feels unfinished but I'm all talked out. Again, this was a good book. A great book! I guess I kind of just wish it was something that it's not. You know?
3.5 stars.
Let's start with the good:
- A very atmospherically beautiful novel. You can tell this was written by someone who grew up in and loves the south. I loved the descriptions of nature, the accents, the small town vibes. A great job was done establishing the setting, and everything, including all the later weather events, felt so visceral.
- Really lovely writing! Nothing more nothing less! Some books are badly written, some books are well written, and some books, you read a line and immediately want to read it again because it was so striking or poignant. This was one of those books. And it did so while remaining simple, and true to the characters. There was never a point where, say, Lucinda said something really pretty but it bothered me because it sounded like it came from the author rather than the character. That's another thing: all the dialogue was really good, really authentic. I just ENJOYED reading this so much!
- I say 'reading' but of course I listened to the audiobook as performed by Elizabeth Saydah and she was peeeeerfect. Great and distinctive character voices, great tone, awesome job with the accents (imo; I'm not from the south, or even American). I really loved it.
- Gosh I also loved the characters. I came to care and root for Lucinda super quickly. I freaking fell in LOVE with Ardie. Most of the romance in this really appealed to me. Really liked Rhonda, and was pleasantly surprised by her since I was sort of wincing in anticipation like I do every time a black character appears in a predominantly white novel. She had a role to play and wasn't the mammy character I had kinda feared at first. The entire little small town cast was really fun, added life and character to the novel.
- This just does a really good job of treating with abuse, PTSD, and trauma, and memory as trauma (oh man that was good), grief and all the little coping mechanisms we have. The Shahrazad metaphor was so good.
- I really recommend reading the author's little personal essay at the end; it really helped pull me back from the edge of that initial tidal wave of disappointment.
Speaking of disappointments... Let's.
Spoiler
- I don't care how innovatively you do it, any book whose twist/zinger/gotcha moment/ending is some version of 'dead lesbians' gets a thumbs down and a raspberry from me. Those are just the rules. This obviously isn't everyone's experience but I've had enough dead wlw in fiction. I've had enough! It doesn't interest me! A wlw's murder featured prominently in this book and that was enough for me! So when it turned out that Lucinda had committed suicide... I felt sick.- (Brief aside to say that, okay, the way in which that whole sequence was written, when Ardie comes back from the forest with Lucinda, and when we revisit it in the end, was super skilfully done. Also, I was thinking that I had all aspects of this book figured out but this was a twist which I did NOT see coming. I'm always complaining when I manage to figure out huge parts of the mystery in a book, so it would be remiss of me not to give kudos when a book pulls one over on me. Even in such a deeply fucking unpleasant way lol.)
- I've seen other reviewers say that the book didn't deliver on the promise of a book in the romance genre, i.e. with a HEA. In the author's defence, it does say very clearly in the description that this is not a typical romance, and I went in knowing that. However I'm STILL ticked off about not getting a HEA and I'll tell you why: because of Ardie. Most of the f/f romance available, and therefore most of the f/f romance that I read is femme/femme. And that's fine and great and good. I love femmes, would probably call myself one. But I am HUNGRY for butch women in romance and Ardie was such a breath of fresh fucking air. Every time Lucinda came on to her, or every time Lucinda blushed because of something Ardie said, I felt it in my SOUL. You just don't get to see fat butches as the objects of desire in romance, and I just loved it so much. So to get the ending that we did, Lucinda dead and reunited with her vaguely sinister ghost of an ex-gf, and Ardie meeting a new love interest in the book's dying gasp (someone whose name Lucinda whispered to her... how??? Did the knowledge of being a ghost give her some kind of super sentience??) was disappointing in the extreme. Lucinda and Ardie's romance was being developed on page from the very beginning, and to have it end like that... so disappointing. I was all ready to hop on here when I finished and yell "WHOOOO FAT BUTCH SAVES THE DAY AND GETS THE GIRL". And I'm left with dust in my mouth! It was so incredibly unsatisfying. I still can't believe it ended that way.
- Speaking of unsatisfying... I don't know, I didn't expect a perfect fairy tale ending where Lucinda was concerned; she's been through so much, has had more grief and trauma than any one person deserves. Her and Ardie's romance felt great to me because PTSD was something they shared in common, something they've both had to battle. I wanted a resolution where she could continue overcoming that pain with Ardie. Instead, for the protagonist to commit suicide after being coaxed into it by the ghost of her ex-gf, and get catharsis only through an imaginary act... it felt so incredibly bad. So bad. Emotionally off kilter. I'm really so baffled by this resolution. And you know what, I don't buy Dion's kindly explanation of 'you were meant to die tonight, it was going to happen one way or the other'. That just feels silly and insulting to readers.
- Man not to harp on about it but Lucinda and Ardie were so great as a couple. Dion was great, I liked the character, but her chapter with Lucinda was OVER. Also again, I feel like Dion purposefully came off as somewhat sinister, so to have her and Lucinda be endgame was... a decision. God this book could have been so much better but the last sixth or so just THREW me.
- I got to "I woulda loved you" in the taxi on the way home and it made me tear up and I pretty much deducted an entire star for that. Any book that makes me cry on public transportation deserves to go to jail.
This feels unfinished but I'm all talked out. Again, this was a good book. A great book! I guess I kind of just wish it was something that it's not. You know?
3.5 stars.
misthios_pat's review
5.0
Edit: it's been months and I can't stop thinking about this one. I still think it's what I wrote down here, but I feel with time that I'll end up mellowing and giving it a 5 star review. Just adding this edit was enough to bring a big lump in my throat and opened the dam of tears.
__________________________________________
Edit 2:
Well, 5 months later and I'm here giving 5 stars cause I can't stop thinking about it and with eyes as teary as the day I finished it
__________________________________________
This serves me right, ya know. I avoid this genre of book for a reason, a good one. But couldn't control myself seeing the reviews both here and on Amazon and curiosity got the better of me. And I don't like to be sad and now I'm fucking sad.
The book is GOOD, REALLY GOOD, have no doubt about it. The writing and POV style, very enjoyable. So I can see and appreciate the work, but it's TOTALLY NOT MY CUP OF TEA, because it hits hard and more than once and honestly I like to read books that gives me utopia. Life is already too sad to be sobbing for fiction and I'm here right now trying to type whilst sobbing like an idiot and I'm failing royally in making a review not so personal, which is recurrent for me, but at least most of the time I'm able to say something less about my feelings and more about the work itself, but not gonna happen this time.
Anyway, like many said already, much can't be said without giving the whole trip away. But again, even though is not my kind of reading I can appreciate it, but I rather be numb with some love-dovey HEA than feel like this.
__________________________________________
Edit 2:
Well, 5 months later and I'm here giving 5 stars cause I can't stop thinking about it and with eyes as teary as the day I finished it
__________________________________________
This serves me right, ya know. I avoid this genre of book for a reason, a good one. But couldn't control myself seeing the reviews both here and on Amazon and curiosity got the better of me. And I don't like to be sad and now I'm fucking sad.
The book is GOOD, REALLY GOOD, have no doubt about it. The writing and POV style, very enjoyable. So I can see and appreciate the work, but it's TOTALLY NOT MY CUP OF TEA, because it hits hard and more than once and honestly I like to read books that gives me utopia. Life is already too sad to be sobbing for fiction and I'm here right now trying to type whilst sobbing like an idiot and I'm failing royally in making a review not so personal, which is recurrent for me, but at least most of the time I'm able to say something less about my feelings and more about the work itself, but not gonna happen this time.
Anyway, like many said already, much can't be said without giving the whole trip away. But again, even though is not my kind of reading I can appreciate it, but I rather be numb with some love-dovey HEA than feel like this.
kaelyndawnyea's review
5.0
This book wrecked me in the very best of ways. Ugh, I’m officially a fan of Eliza Andrews.♥️♥️♥️
elvang's review
5.0
Loved this audiobook.
From the opening quote by T.S. Elliott to the final scenes this story grabs you and doesn’t let you go.
The voice actor, Elizabeth Saydah compliments this moody mind bending look at a couple of women damaged by life and doing their best to survive in the small southern town of Reverie.
This book has to be experienced without preconception so no spoilers from me. I will say Eliza Andrews has that southern knack for setting the mood, slowing down to enjoy a piece of peach pie and blurring reality until you find yourself wondering if time itself stands still in South Carolina.
Powerful look at the way memories shape us, lift us up and occasionally tear us down. Wow. Bravo.
From the opening quote by T.S. Elliott to the final scenes this story grabs you and doesn’t let you go.
The voice actor, Elizabeth Saydah compliments this moody mind bending look at a couple of women damaged by life and doing their best to survive in the small southern town of Reverie.
This book has to be experienced without preconception so no spoilers from me. I will say Eliza Andrews has that southern knack for setting the mood, slowing down to enjoy a piece of peach pie and blurring reality until you find yourself wondering if time itself stands still in South Carolina.
Powerful look at the way memories shape us, lift us up and occasionally tear us down. Wow. Bravo.
zefrien's review
dark
mysterious
medium-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
4.75
valedeoro's review
5.0
Not your average lesfic read - actually, not your average read in general. The book is very well written, the characters very relatable and the story draws you in with more twists than you'd expect. It was one of those books I send my kids to the playground for so I can get another chapter in. I absolutely loved it. And I am going to refrain from discussing the content as not to include any spoilers.
corrie's review
5.0
Author Eliza Andrews warns us in advance, this is not your run-of-the-mill fluffy lesbian romance. And she is right. Even though it starts out harmless enough with a woman (Lucinda Hamilton) newly arriving in the small Southern town of Reverie. She is trying to start a new life and with help of a local cousin she gets a job as a hairdresser. Soon we find out that Lucinda has left an abusive husband and a younger female lover Dionne. She is still feeling very raw about that when she finds out her hopefully-soon-to-be-ex-husband has skipped bail and without a doubt will be coming for her next.
Lucinda strikes up a friendship with the only lesbian in town, a local Harley driving ex-marine named Ardith (Ardie) Brown. Ardie, who lives with her aging parents and works at her father’s garage, offers to do some much needed DIY on Lucinda’s rented duplex and begins to hope there could be something more between her and Lucinda.
Lucinda also meets her new next-door neighbor. A mysterious young woman who bares an uncanny resemblance to her lost love Dionne. She is attracted to this woman who refuses to give Lucinda her name, even makes it into a little guessing game. Lucinda doesn’t dare hope this young, beautiful woman will answer her feelings until she is proven wrong. Can she be happy again or is it almost too good to be true?
And then… OMG… then the author throws in a twist that I did not see coming. The romance novel turns into something much more sinister, something that gave me a cold shiver down my spine. The next shoe had dropped. We switch from Lucinda to Ardie’s pov and I read on with bated breath.Nuh-uh! No spoilers. You will have to read it for yourself. It’s just too good to give it away
f/f explicit
Themes: Something wicked this way comes and it’s not only hurricane Amber, Holy shit… I was not prepared for this, a twist within a twist! Be sure to read the author’s personal essay in the back of the book as well and to answer your question, Eliza Andrews, yes, it worked.
5 stars
Lucinda strikes up a friendship with the only lesbian in town, a local Harley driving ex-marine named Ardith (Ardie) Brown. Ardie, who lives with her aging parents and works at her father’s garage, offers to do some much needed DIY on Lucinda’s rented duplex and begins to hope there could be something more between her and Lucinda.
Lucinda also meets her new next-door neighbor. A mysterious young woman who bares an uncanny resemblance to her lost love Dionne. She is attracted to this woman who refuses to give Lucinda her name, even makes it into a little guessing game. Lucinda doesn’t dare hope this young, beautiful woman will answer her feelings until she is proven wrong. Can she be happy again or is it almost too good to be true?
And then… OMG… then the author throws in a twist that I did not see coming. The romance novel turns into something much more sinister, something that gave me a cold shiver down my spine. The next shoe had dropped. We switch from Lucinda to Ardie’s pov and I read on with bated breath.
f/f explicit
Themes: Something wicked this way comes and it’s not only hurricane Amber, Holy shit… I was not prepared for this, a twist within a twist! Be sure to read the author’s personal essay in the back of the book as well and to answer your question, Eliza Andrews, yes, it worked.
5 stars
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