cleo_reads's review
4.0
I read 2 out of the 5 stories - the 2 queer ones.
The Cat Sebastian was worth the price of the whole anthology.
Friends to lovers / 2nd chance romance set in 1959 in an elite New England boarding school. It’s kind of like if the boys in A Separate Peace had acted on all of that UST and it had ended badly and then they reunited 15 years later as adults - with one of them a teacher at the school and the other the father of one of his students. So, so good!
I didn’t like the Adriana Herrera as much - too much posturing for my taste. Once the h/h admitted they liked each other, I enjoyed it more.
The Cat Sebastian was worth the price of the whole anthology.
Friends to lovers / 2nd chance romance set in 1959 in an elite New England boarding school. It’s kind of like if the boys in A Separate Peace had acted on all of that UST and it had ended badly and then they reunited 15 years later as adults - with one of them a teacher at the school and the other the father of one of his students. So, so good!
I didn’t like the Adriana Herrera as much - too much posturing for my taste. Once the h/h admitted they liked each other, I enjoyed it more.
araleith's review
2.0
I wanted to love this anthology because I love so many of the authors in it, but for some reason most of the stories just set my teeth on edge and made me so irritated.
sm_almon's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this anthology - the standout for me was the first story, "Appasionata", by Emma Barry, which I'd give five stars to on its own. I also particularly liked "Unraveled" by Olivia Dade. But every story in this anthology was really good.
whatsbookinjenni's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
A very fun romance anthology! Olivia Dade's story was definitely my favorite, although I also loved Cat Sebastian's story. Guess I have the hots for teachers?
chocolatemeerkat's review
5.0
This rating is entirely based on Tommy Cabot was Here by Cat Sebastian as that is the only one I wanted to read
I am so utterly delighted by the story of Tommy and Everett. It is beautiful and heartfelt with so much emotion between the two of them in such a short amount of time. I so wish for more 1950s queer stories of people being able to realize what they deserve is happiness and found family.
I loved Pat and the hints at her own queer relationship with the very butch lesbian Harry and how that Tommy truly wasnt alone that he has a queer nephew who sought him. It was just so beautiful and important to show how even during the turbulent time it was to be queer in the 50s that happiness could still be had.
It also makes me want to go drive around the berkshires this summer when we are finally free.
I am so utterly delighted by the story of Tommy and Everett. It is beautiful and heartfelt with so much emotion between the two of them in such a short amount of time. I so wish for more 1950s queer stories of people being able to realize what they deserve is happiness and found family.
I loved Pat and the hints at her own queer relationship with the very butch lesbian Harry and how that Tommy truly wasnt alone that he has a queer nephew who sought him. It was just so beautiful and important to show how even during the turbulent time it was to be queer in the 50s that happiness could still be had.
It also makes me want to go drive around the berkshires this summer when we are finally free.
radioactve_piano's review
4.0
This was the first anthology that I've seen such a detailed list of content warnings, which was pretty impressive (and honestly, I probably would have chalked up the stage fright flashback feelings I had as, "She just wrote about it REALLY really well" had I not gone into the first story thinking, "Oh, is that an actual trigger? Shit.").
Anyway, on the whole, this was a solid anthology. I was annoyed at some of the stereotypes that were used as character traits, though when you are trying to cram a whole story into 75ish pages, I suppose that makes sense that you might fall back on some "types". I found something to enjoy about each of these, though I really think the first one was my favorite. (But yay for the nod to Frances Glessner Lee in the second!)
Anyway, on the whole, this was a solid anthology. I was annoyed at some of the stereotypes that were used as character traits, though when you are trying to cram a whole story into 75ish pages, I suppose that makes sense that you might fall back on some "types". I found something to enjoy about each of these, though I really think the first one was my favorite. (But yay for the nod to Frances Glessner Lee in the second!)
phoenixinthecity's review
4.0
Appassionata by Emma Barry
Loved this - did not expect the heroine to be Chinese, but why not? That being said, nothing about her besides her name, and maybe the stereotype that her parents made her take piano lessons not expecting her to be a talent but for it to look good on her premed app were the only things that felt stereotypically Chinese (incidentally, while Asian Americans make up only 8% of the population, they overindex in healthcare, making up 18% of doctors and 10% of nurse practicioners according to this article in the WP: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/19/asian-american-discrimination/)
I didn’t know there were so many things to consider for a concert pianist, but in hindsight, of course. I love that Brennan and Kristy knew each other as teens and that he was able to help her face her fears by being vulnerable in sharing his disappointment. This was just lovely.
Unraveled by Olivia Dade
This had shades Pride and Prejudice where Simon is Mr. Darcy, rather proud and kind of cold and he misunderstood Poppy from the start with her messy clothes, “inappropriate” unit on murder and other things that she shot down point by point and it’s amazing. I liked that she was unapologetically bi and shared that fact like it was a matter of course when they were talking about let their single status while Simon articulates the math of relationships that I’ve always described as “more” and I’m here for it.
Caught Looking by Adriana Herrera
Friends to lovers gay HEA - we dive right into the action with BFFs having slept together after a night of drinking and Yariel the first MLB player that’s out having regrets because he doesn’t want to risk losing the love of his life as a friend should a relationship between them fail. Long story short, this was so tender - did not expect Hatuey’s dad to be so accepting of his son being gay given 1) his warning Yariel from ruining his son’s life years earlier, and 2) the stereotype of Latin men being rather macho.
Yes, and... by Ruby Lang
Buttoned up doctor wanders into an improv class that he thought was meditation and meets the woman he falls in love with. Here’s another example of an MC who’s Chinese but that’s just a matter of fact - we don’t get any explanation of his ethnic background and it’s almost radical because it’s so matter of fact, which begs the question, do romances HAVE to be so white?
Joan is caring for her mother who’s suffering from dementia, and it felt a little too close to home as I think about my mom who is getting older - not that she is suffering from the same, but what will happen as she gets older. Joan suffers from the anxiety of having to be the caregiver, relieved by her aunt the one evening she teaches her class and by a support worker a couple days a week. She doesn’t have much time for herself and that’s the environment in which she and Darren engage in their relationship, she gives him what she can and he doesn’t ask for more than she can give and it’s a beautiful slow burn.
Tommy Cabot Was Here by Cat Sebastian
This was my favourite in the anthology despite the angst – and there was a lot of it – but it was also surprisingly funny! It’s set in 1959 Massachusetts at an all boys school where Everett is a math teacher and Tommy, his one-time BFF and in the closet lover went to school, and this whole mood is why I had sun-dappled images of Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa’s Smile on my mind.
The meaning behind the title of the novella was so sweet and charming and the surprising little twist at the end when we come to learn who Harry is and why Tommy and Pat’s divorce is so amicable was everything. We do NOT want to make Patty mad lest she talk to all the reporters. It was just so deliciously old school and NWL in the best way.
Loved this - did not expect the heroine to be Chinese, but why not? That being said, nothing about her besides her name, and maybe the stereotype that her parents made her take piano lessons not expecting her to be a talent but for it to look good on her premed app were the only things that felt stereotypically Chinese (incidentally, while Asian Americans make up only 8% of the population, they overindex in healthcare, making up 18% of doctors and 10% of nurse practicioners according to this article in the WP: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/19/asian-american-discrimination/)
I didn’t know there were so many things to consider for a concert pianist, but in hindsight, of course. I love that Brennan and Kristy knew each other as teens and that he was able to help her face her fears by being vulnerable in sharing his disappointment. This was just lovely.
Unraveled by Olivia Dade
This had shades Pride and Prejudice where Simon is Mr. Darcy, rather proud and kind of cold and he misunderstood Poppy from the start with her messy clothes, “inappropriate” unit on murder and other things that she shot down point by point and it’s amazing. I liked that she was unapologetically bi and shared that fact like it was a matter of course when they were talking about let their single status while Simon articulates the math of relationships that I’ve always described as “more” and I’m here for it.
Caught Looking by Adriana Herrera
Friends to lovers gay HEA - we dive right into the action with BFFs having slept together after a night of drinking and Yariel the first MLB player that’s out having regrets because he doesn’t want to risk losing the love of his life as a friend should a relationship between them fail. Long story short, this was so tender - did not expect Hatuey’s dad to be so accepting of his son being gay given 1) his warning Yariel from ruining his son’s life years earlier, and 2) the stereotype of Latin men being rather macho.
Yes, and... by Ruby Lang
Buttoned up doctor wanders into an improv class that he thought was meditation and meets the woman he falls in love with. Here’s another example of an MC who’s Chinese but that’s just a matter of fact - we don’t get any explanation of his ethnic background and it’s almost radical because it’s so matter of fact, which begs the question, do romances HAVE to be so white?
Joan is caring for her mother who’s suffering from dementia, and it felt a little too close to home as I think about my mom who is getting older - not that she is suffering from the same, but what will happen as she gets older. Joan suffers from the anxiety of having to be the caregiver, relieved by her aunt the one evening she teaches her class and by a support worker a couple days a week. She doesn’t have much time for herself and that’s the environment in which she and Darren engage in their relationship, she gives him what she can and he doesn’t ask for more than she can give and it’s a beautiful slow burn.
Tommy Cabot Was Here by Cat Sebastian
This was my favourite in the anthology despite the angst – and there was a lot of it – but it was also surprisingly funny! It’s set in 1959 Massachusetts at an all boys school where Everett is a math teacher and Tommy, his one-time BFF and in the closet lover went to school, and this whole mood is why I had sun-dappled images of Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa’s Smile on my mind.
The meaning behind the title of the novella was so sweet and charming and the surprising little twist at the end when we come to learn who Harry is and why Tommy and Pat’s divorce is so amicable was everything. We do NOT want to make Patty mad lest she talk to all the reporters. It was just so deliciously old school and NWL in the best way.
emmalita's review
4.0
I read He’s Come Undone months ago, so this isn’t going to be the best review I’ve ever written (probably not the worst either). I enjoyed it a lot, but at the time that I read it, it was all I could do to review my NetGalley books before their publication date. Writing a review of a book that didn’t come with an obligation was too much.
The five authors in the anthology are all authors I have enjoyed very much. I can guarantee that the stories are well written, well thought out, and may or may not ring your bell. Each story centers on a man who is tightly wound and comes undone when he falls in love. I didn’t dislike any of them, but two stood out for me particularly: Ruby Lang’s “Yes, And…” and Emma Barry’s “Appassionata.
In “Yes, And…” uptight physician Darren Zhang has been told he needs to take preventative action to lower his blood pressure so he signs up for a meditation class. He accidentally ends up in Joan Lacey’s Improv class. Darren is completely flummoxed and never plans to come back.
He lingered. “For what it’s worth, I kind of had fun in your class. I mean, I was terrified, but you made it enjoyable. In a weird way.”
Joanie is drowning in responsibilities with a layer of self loathing. She’s is taking care of her mother full time and she uses one of her few breaks to teach an improv class at the community center. She needs the class to be popular so that she can keep teaching it. Not only is it time away from her mother, it’s time for herself and it’s a tether to her previous life. The class is not popular and Joanie is feeling increasingly unmoored. While Darren is attracted to Joanie, he doesn’t really think theater is serious work. Darren and Joanie aren’t entirely sure what to do with their attraction to each other. They try dating anyway. The secret of “Yes, And…” is, they are both tightly wound – Darren by long habit and Joanie by recent circumstances.
One of my favorite things about Ruby Lang is that she writes adult women who can be both terrifying and terrified. Joanie is smart and challenging, but the things that tell her who she is are falling away and she is overwhelmed. Darren needs to take better care of himself, but he finds that wanting to take care of Joanie allows him to unwind enough to care for himself. It’s a lovely story and I can relate to the need to hold onto yourself when everything you’ve worked for is falling apart.
In Emma Barry’s “Appassionata,” Kristy Kwong is a concert pianist who has struggled with intense stage fright and a loss of confidence. She is scheduled to perform live in Boston in an effort to save her career. Brennan Connelly is the piano technician hired to tune and voice Kristy’s piano. He is also asked to watch her and give his opinion about whither she is capable of performing.
Unlike most starchy one/chaotic one romances, Kristy and Brennan have a shared trauma – not a shared event, but for both their current careers are rooted in realizing they aren’t the artist they thought they would be. Kristy can’t find the vulnerability she needs to perform live. Brennan is also a pianist, but realized young that he wasn’t ever going to reach Kristy’s level. Again, Barry explores a work place romance where the work is a part of the characters. Their relationship isn’t separate from the work they do and the work they do is an integral part of their bond.
In four of the five stories, older characters are grappling with who they are having reached a certain age. There’s a richness in characters who have experienced life and are questioning whether they have peaked, if this is all they will ever be, if the effort of the past decades has been meaningful. The best romances let us reconnect with that part of ourselves that wants more from life, wants companionship, and is willing to be and accept vulnerability. Several of the characters in these stories are wondering if they are destined to calcify as they are and dwindle into nothing. Falling in love, taking a chance on being vulnerable with someone else, another imperfect adult, blows them apart and lets them grow.
The five authors in the anthology are all authors I have enjoyed very much. I can guarantee that the stories are well written, well thought out, and may or may not ring your bell. Each story centers on a man who is tightly wound and comes undone when he falls in love. I didn’t dislike any of them, but two stood out for me particularly: Ruby Lang’s “Yes, And…” and Emma Barry’s “Appassionata.
In “Yes, And…” uptight physician Darren Zhang has been told he needs to take preventative action to lower his blood pressure so he signs up for a meditation class. He accidentally ends up in Joan Lacey’s Improv class. Darren is completely flummoxed and never plans to come back.
He lingered. “For what it’s worth, I kind of had fun in your class. I mean, I was terrified, but you made it enjoyable. In a weird way.”
Joanie is drowning in responsibilities with a layer of self loathing. She’s is taking care of her mother full time and she uses one of her few breaks to teach an improv class at the community center. She needs the class to be popular so that she can keep teaching it. Not only is it time away from her mother, it’s time for herself and it’s a tether to her previous life. The class is not popular and Joanie is feeling increasingly unmoored. While Darren is attracted to Joanie, he doesn’t really think theater is serious work. Darren and Joanie aren’t entirely sure what to do with their attraction to each other. They try dating anyway. The secret of “Yes, And…” is, they are both tightly wound – Darren by long habit and Joanie by recent circumstances.
One of my favorite things about Ruby Lang is that she writes adult women who can be both terrifying and terrified. Joanie is smart and challenging, but the things that tell her who she is are falling away and she is overwhelmed. Darren needs to take better care of himself, but he finds that wanting to take care of Joanie allows him to unwind enough to care for himself. It’s a lovely story and I can relate to the need to hold onto yourself when everything you’ve worked for is falling apart.
In Emma Barry’s “Appassionata,” Kristy Kwong is a concert pianist who has struggled with intense stage fright and a loss of confidence. She is scheduled to perform live in Boston in an effort to save her career. Brennan Connelly is the piano technician hired to tune and voice Kristy’s piano. He is also asked to watch her and give his opinion about whither she is capable of performing.
Unlike most starchy one/chaotic one romances, Kristy and Brennan have a shared trauma – not a shared event, but for both their current careers are rooted in realizing they aren’t the artist they thought they would be. Kristy can’t find the vulnerability she needs to perform live. Brennan is also a pianist, but realized young that he wasn’t ever going to reach Kristy’s level. Again, Barry explores a work place romance where the work is a part of the characters. Their relationship isn’t separate from the work they do and the work they do is an integral part of their bond.
In four of the five stories, older characters are grappling with who they are having reached a certain age. There’s a richness in characters who have experienced life and are questioning whether they have peaked, if this is all they will ever be, if the effort of the past decades has been meaningful. The best romances let us reconnect with that part of ourselves that wants more from life, wants companionship, and is willing to be and accept vulnerability. Several of the characters in these stories are wondering if they are destined to calcify as they are and dwindle into nothing. Falling in love, taking a chance on being vulnerable with someone else, another imperfect adult, blows them apart and lets them grow.
tayslibrarybooks's review
5.0
This whole anthology is based on the archetype of uptight, stoic heroes who lose their collective marbles around their love interest and WOW IS THAT ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. Every single novella in this collection is 5/5 and honestly helped introduce me to some new-to-me authors. Highly recommend!!!!
alisonalisonalison's review
5.0
Five stars for Cat Sebastian! I usually rate anthologies based on the best story, rather than the average, so this gets an easy five stars because Cat Sebastian is brilliant. This was a quality romance anthology featuring both queer and het stories about buttoned-up folk letting loose. Three or four stars for the rest of the stories.
I did a thing I never do--I skipped ahead to the story I bought this for--Cat Sebastian's "Tommy Cabot Was Here," which is last (radical, I know). This story is beautiful and quiet and heartwarming and charming and so lovely. For fans of this author's [b:Hither, Page|44785311|Hither, Page (Page & Sommers, #1)|Cat Sebastian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558580046l/44785311._SY75_.jpg|69432362], it's more that kind of story than her Regencies. There's winter and pining and heartache and coziness in the mid-20th-century and it made me cry because it's a gorgeous story and very heartfelt. It features two boarding-school best friends, who are totally in love with each other, who lose touch for *reasons*. We meet them when they bump into each other fifteen years later, older and wiser. When I'd read the rest of the anthology, I read this story again with glee and cried again. I really connected with Everett and Tommy's story. It is so satisfying. This anthology is worth it for this story alone.
The rest of the stories were well done and well written, even if they weren't all entirely my cup of tea. "Appasionata" was a good one. The musical setting was cool and was very well done. The author clearly knows all about music. I really enjoyed the concert piano technician/concert pianist dynamic. I also enjoyed Adriana Herrera's story about two Dominican pro baseball players, called "Caught Looking." "Yes, and..." was really sad, but very real. "Unraveled" was pleasant and I learned about murder dioramas, not something I had ever thought about before. I enjoyed the easy diversity of these stories and how they were all so different.
I bought this because I'm a big Cat Sebastian fan, and her story was absolutely brilliant, but I also read four quality stories that I would not have read otherwise and it was interesting and worthwhile. Anthologies are so great in this way--I've been introduced to new authors and read stories that I would not have chosen for myself and so have learned new things. Win-win.
I did a thing I never do--I skipped ahead to the story I bought this for--Cat Sebastian's "Tommy Cabot Was Here," which is last (radical, I know). This story is beautiful and quiet and heartwarming and charming and so lovely. For fans of this author's [b:Hither, Page|44785311|Hither, Page (Page & Sommers, #1)|Cat Sebastian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558580046l/44785311._SY75_.jpg|69432362], it's more that kind of story than her Regencies. There's winter and pining and heartache and coziness in the mid-20th-century and it made me cry because it's a gorgeous story and very heartfelt. It features two boarding-school best friends, who are totally in love with each other, who lose touch for *reasons*. We meet them when they bump into each other fifteen years later, older and wiser. When I'd read the rest of the anthology, I read this story again with glee and cried again. I really connected with Everett and Tommy's story. It is so satisfying. This anthology is worth it for this story alone.
The rest of the stories were well done and well written, even if they weren't all entirely my cup of tea. "Appasionata" was a good one. The musical setting was cool and was very well done. The author clearly knows all about music. I really enjoyed the concert piano technician/concert pianist dynamic. I also enjoyed Adriana Herrera's story about two Dominican pro baseball players, called "Caught Looking." "Yes, and..." was really sad, but very real. "Unraveled" was pleasant and I learned about murder dioramas, not something I had ever thought about before. I enjoyed the easy diversity of these stories and how they were all so different.
I bought this because I'm a big Cat Sebastian fan, and her story was absolutely brilliant, but I also read four quality stories that I would not have read otherwise and it was interesting and worthwhile. Anthologies are so great in this way--I've been introduced to new authors and read stories that I would not have chosen for myself and so have learned new things. Win-win.