displacedcactus's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
For a book that is marketed as a romance, the main couple actually spends very little time together on the page! Amy is our only POV character and the book is really about her figuring out her career and how to navigate where and when it's safe being "out" in mid-2010s Tulsa, OK. It feels like almost as much time is dedicated to her friendship with her two gay besties as with Charley the love interest. And that's fine, friendship is important! But ultimately this ended up reading more like a general fiction book with a romantic subplot than a true romance.
There are lots of yummy baked goods on the page, as well as other food-centered scenes and traditions. Because Amy works at a dive-y queer bar in 2013-14 Tulsa, there's not really a lot of "mixology" going on, she's mostly slinging beers and shots. It's definitely more food-focused than drink-focused.
Overall, I felt like this book was good but not great. I'd recommend it to anyone who specifically enjoys food-themed romances, but I wouldn't put it on my list of top romance reads ever.
There are lots of yummy baked goods on the page, as well as other food-centered scenes and traditions. Because Amy works at a dive-y queer bar in 2013-14 Tulsa, there's not really a lot of "mixology" going on, she's mostly slinging beers and shots. It's definitely more food-focused than drink-focused.
Overall, I felt like this book was good but not great. I'd recommend it to anyone who specifically enjoys food-themed romances, but I wouldn't put it on my list of top romance reads ever.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Homophobia, and Alcohol
Although this book is overall light in tone and hopeful, the characters are all living through a time of uncertainty as to whether they will ever even be allowed to be married, and whether it's safe to be "out" in public or at work.callmekt's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Outing
Minor: Vomit and Toxic relationship
The whole book is about a queer woman working in the wedding industry in a red state during a time where being queer wasn't as widely accepted. She also works at a bar and attends a lot of weddings (hence the alcohol).bookcrushin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Vomit and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer
rotatinglibrary's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, and Vomit
Moderate: Cursing
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Thanks to The Dial Press for the free advance copy of this book.
- QUEERLY BELOVED is a joy. It's a romcom with a delightfully screwball premise that also digs deep into some really hard, complicated feelings around queerness, assimilation, found family and more.
- I didn't live in the Midwest, but I remember having so many of these exact conversations and arguments in the pre-marriage equality days. It's cathartic to see so much of these tangled thoughts hashed out here.
- I love Amy and Charley. They're wonderful complements to each other, and it's fantastic to see a sapphic pairing that isn't two femmes.
- It's also lovely to see a queer story set somewhere that isn't traditionally thought of as gay-friendly, and showing that there is still vibrant queer life there, and not everyone is desperate to escape to a bigger city.
- QUEERLY BELOVED is a joy. It's a romcom with a delightfully screwball premise that also digs deep into some really hard, complicated feelings around queerness, assimilation, found family and more.
- I didn't live in the Midwest, but I remember having so many of these exact conversations and arguments in the pre-marriage equality days. It's cathartic to see so much of these tangled thoughts hashed out here.
- I love Amy and Charley. They're wonderful complements to each other, and it's fantastic to see a sapphic pairing that isn't two femmes.
- It's also lovely to see a queer story set somewhere that isn't traditionally thought of as gay-friendly, and showing that there is still vibrant queer life there, and not everyone is desperate to escape to a bigger city.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Cancer, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cursing, and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia
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