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gracedunne's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Terminal illness
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this bright, fluffy, feel-good (well, other than the homophobia Amy faces) story. It was just what I needed right now. I love unusual business adventures inspired by odd coincidences, and enjoyed the social world building. It’s not perfect, but if you need books to be perfect then you’re in for a lot of disappointment in your life. There’s also a cupcake recipe in the back of the book, and I love when authors do that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Outing
Minor: Alcoholism
victoriousbookworm's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Outing
paperbackparker's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
Such a delight!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Outing
Moderate: Sexual content
callmekt's review
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: Homophobia and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Outing
Minor: Toxic relationship and Vomit
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).tlrjhnlwsn's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Homophobia, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Outing
zabeishumanish's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I rather hated this book. I don’t think that is the book’s fault though. This was sold to me as a romance, and while I think it technically qualifies for the genre, the romance is such a tiny portion of this book. Despite the characters all being mid/late 20’s this is a coming of age book way more than a romance. And a coming of age story filled with uniquely queer trauma I was entirely unprepared to read. The book is well written and interesting cover to cover, but if you are looking for a happy queer romance this isn’t the book for you. There is an incredibly satisfying happily ever after, but the queer trauma it takes to reach that point is a lot.
Sometimes she felt guilty for staying closeted at the bakery, both because she was pretending to be someone she wasn’t and because she was allowing her colleagues’ homophobia to go unchecked. (6)
This book is in a way a love story to Tusla. Tulsa has never been on my radar as a place with lots of cool stuff or somewhere I wanted to visit, but this book genuinely made me want to go. As a southerner along the Arkansas river the depiction of Tulsa’s queer community in the book felt so authentically familiar to me. That sense of small city tight knit southern queer community added a whole other layer to my new Tulsa appreciation. The way Tulsa and the character’s love of Tulsa shines in this book is one of it’s biggest strengths.
She picked apart each outfit in the mirror, trying to guess what kind of girl Charley might like. … Something simple would have to work until she figured out Charley’s type. (65)
The queer trauma in this book is overwhelming. Add to that the interpersonal conflict Amy experiences with her best friend in the book and this book felt like a chore to finish rather than an entertaining pleasure. While everything in this book ends happy Amy and her best friend Joel have a falling out in the book. Not only was that falling out painfully emotional, but felt horribly unrealistic for decade long best friends to literally not talk for months, rather than any kind of conflict resolution. Ultimately just not the read for me.
Amy worked so hard to always be positive and helpful, to make the day a little brighter for everyone she encountered. Joel and Damien were some of the only people around whom she’d felt like she could drop the act. Did that mean the true Amy was negative and draining to her loved ones? (279)
Book is oddly pro-oil/pro-fracking which felt weird for such an otherwise conscious queer book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Cancer and Medical content
bookcasey's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I think this is one of those books that could be really meaningful to someone who related more to some of the aspects of the setting, but I didn’t get enough of the characters I did like and far too much of the MC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Outing
mlindsay27's review
I found this book very boring. It's described as being a romcom but the love interest has only been it for maybe 5% of what I did read. It also stereotypes the gay male characters as the "gay best friends" and stereotypes the love interest as a lesbian who has short hair and wears suits. and gives the message that someone NEEDS come out in order to be considered valid in the LGBTQ+ community. The book mentions that it takes place in 2013 but then references things that weren't common then (introducing yourself using pronouns). The one plus side to the physical copy of the book is that it has a recipe for cupcakes at the back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
bandysbooks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest romance reader, but I’m trying to mix it in occasionally. I work as a chef and the fact that this book is so focused on food was a big draw I convincing me to give it a try!
I’m not sure where exactly to start this particular review because this book was quite a bit different than I imagined. I expected a fluffy queer romance, but the romance was a very small part of the actual plot. The majority of the book is focused on Amy’s semi-closetedness and her struggles with being authentic to herself and to the larger queer community. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was expecting.
As for the romance, it felt a bit generic. I mean there were parts of it that were cute, but we never learn much about Charley, the love interest. Also, so many of their interactions are awkward that you start to wonder where the chemistry is. Eventually, it does have that sweet ending though. Also, kind of annoyed that the very few sex scenes included were brief and fade to black. I don’t want smut necessarily, but it felt a little YA in terms of sex.
I will say there was also quite a disconnect in the timeline versus the dialogue. This book is supposed to be set in 2013 before gay marriage was legalized in the USA…but a lot of the dialogue reads as very now. For example, all of the characters introduce themselves with pronouns which I’m all for…but I don’t remember anyone doing that prior to a year or two ago. In fact, I still barely here it today.
That being said, I did find myself laughing at several points throughout the book. There were some generally funny points.
I also love how much food and food description was a part of this book! The cakes and pastries sounded genuinely amazing and a couple recipes were included at the end of the book! I’m looking forward to trying them.
And I did love the diversity of representation in this book even if it wasn’t quite as diverse as it could’ve been. I know that’s confusing. Let me explain. The author did a great job with LGBTQIA diversity as ther are characters of varying sexualities and genders throughout this book. That said, it wasn’t very racially or ethnically diverse. I suppose we can attribute some of that to the story being set in Oklahoma…but it’s a weak excuse. After making such an effort to be inclusive, I wish she’d gone just a bit further.
Was this the best queer romance I’ve ever read? No. Is it an entertaining enough, light read? Yes. I think it would be good for a day by the pool or beach.
I’m not sure where exactly to start this particular review because this book was quite a bit different than I imagined. I expected a fluffy queer romance, but the romance was a very small part of the actual plot. The majority of the book is focused on Amy’s semi-closetedness and her struggles with being authentic to herself and to the larger queer community. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was expecting.
As for the romance, it felt a bit generic. I mean there were parts of it that were cute, but we never learn much about Charley, the love interest. Also, so many of their interactions are awkward that you start to wonder where the chemistry is. Eventually, it does have that sweet ending though. Also, kind of annoyed that the very few sex scenes included were brief and fade to black. I don’t want smut necessarily, but it felt a little YA in terms of sex.
I will say there was also quite a disconnect in the timeline versus the dialogue. This book is supposed to be set in 2013 before gay marriage was legalized in the USA…but a lot of the dialogue reads as very now. For example, all of the characters introduce themselves with pronouns which I’m all for…but I don’t remember anyone doing that prior to a year or two ago. In fact, I still barely here it today.
That being said, I did find myself laughing at several points throughout the book. There were some generally funny points.
I also love how much food and food description was a part of this book! The cakes and pastries sounded genuinely amazing and a couple recipes were included at the end of the book! I’m looking forward to trying them.
And I did love the diversity of representation in this book even if it wasn’t quite as diverse as it could’ve been. I know that’s confusing. Let me explain. The author did a great job with LGBTQIA diversity as ther are characters of varying sexualities and genders throughout this book. That said, it wasn’t very racially or ethnically diverse. I suppose we can attribute some of that to the story being set in Oklahoma…but it’s a weak excuse. After making such an effort to be inclusive, I wish she’d gone just a bit further.
Was this the best queer romance I’ve ever read? No. Is it an entertaining enough, light read? Yes. I think it would be good for a day by the pool or beach.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Minor: Sexual content