Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - From the Start

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

From the Start by Katie Duggan

9 reviews

jadeejf's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? No

4.0

Very spicy little romance with an autistic lead (one of my favorite genres I guess?). My brain has not been well enough for reading deeper stuff, and when I'm struggling, fun, interesting romance novels seem to get me back on track. It was good! Appreciated the queer representation and having a lead that was a big dude, too.

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wildatheart1339's review

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4.75

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aromanticreadsromance's review

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emotional funny 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

3.5

love that there's no redemption arc for a homophobic relative!!!

full rtc

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mcrosby11's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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

This book had a slow start, but once it picked up, I couldn't put it down. The characters are endearing, lovable, and relatable, making it a delightful one-sitting read. I'm eagerly anticipating more from this author, as the emotional rollercoaster and the slow burn kept me hooked. The first kiss even gave me butterflies, and I couldn't help but audibly squeal. It's a heartfelt story that strikes the perfect balance between cheesy and genuinely touching.

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thefatpaperback's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

“But I’d do it all again if it meant that it would lead to where it did. If it would lead to us.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

On April 3, 2023, I was in Katie’s DMs talking about nerdy book boyfriends, our anticipation for BETTER HATE THAN NEVER by Chloe Liese, and our love of childhood enemies to lovers. Katie said it was a trope she wanted to write and before we knew it, she was abandoning her WIP to plan, outline, and write this book I adore so very much.

I say all this so you know I’m biased. I’ve been with FROM THE START from its very start. But I truly believe y’all are going to fall in love with this story too. It offers readers a chance to feel so many different emotions—amusement, vulnerability, grief—and most of all, hope.

When Nic Quinn runs into her childhood enemy, Josh Henry, on a late night train headed back to the city, she’s pissed. When she accidentally and unknowingly crashes his birthday party after a tinder date gone wrong, she’s furious. When she hears his guests talking about the Good Time they’ve had with Josh in the past…she’s curious. And that ounce of intrigue grows until she’s asking him to help her find out what she likes from a partner. Josh agrees, but he can’t figure out why. Between teaching and caring for his grandmother, Josh doesn’t have the time—and certainly not the patience—to spend with Nic. What unfolds is a story of self-discovery, forgiveness, and a love that heals.

🌼 Childhood Enemies to Lovers
🌼 Grumpy/Sunshine
🌼 Intimacy/Seduction Lessons
🌼 Fat MMC Rep
🌼 Queer Rep
🌼 Autistic FMC Rep
🌼 Quinn Family Shenanigans

⚠️ CW: death of family members, autistic meltdowns, fatphobia, PTSD, cancer, bullying, ableism, and religious trauma.

FROM THE START releases in 1 week! Pre-order now on Kindle Unlimited 🫶

Katie, thank you for letting me be such a vital part of Nic and Josh’s story. Your friendship and your care for stories like theirs means the world to me.

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sarahsbookstacks's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I can’t believe this is a debut! I loved every bit of Nic and Josh’s story. This book is such a gift.

For the folks like me that love queer and neurodivergent romcoms a la Chloe Liese and Mazey Eddings, this is for us!!!!

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turnthepages_nl's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book was healing and kind. Sweet and spicy. I loveeee the communication but also the banter.

I was scared this would be a Bergman Brothers wannabe situation. But Katie really found their own voice and made her own story. Yes, it also surrounds a family with chaotic siblings and has lots of disability representation. But it really stands on it's own and that makes me so happy! I got to read an eARC early and absolutely fell in love with Nic & Josh.

This was the first book I read with spicy lessons. And I was scared it would be 'too spicy' for my taste. But honestly I loved it. Because it wasn't just physical sex. It was emotional vulnerability. And it was beautiful. And the conversations about consent, protection, preferences, wants and needs?!! Ughhhhhhh AMAZING!

Nic is Autistic, Josh has PTSD. And both were handled with such care. I may not have autism, but I recognized a lot in Nic, because ADHD has a lot of similarities. And the way Josh was there for her when she got overwhelmed or had a shutdown/meltdown. It made me cry. I wish more people acted like Josh. Absolute husband material tbh. Not just boyfriend, he is Husband material!!! (Give me someone to calm my nervous system the way Josh calmes Nic by laying on her like a big weighted blanket, PLEASE! as long as it is with consent ofcource)

And they were both queer. And there were other queer characters. My Bisexual heart was so so happy. Nic is Bi, Josh doesn't label himself. They had conversations about both aesthetically/physically feeling attraction to a person and truly my Bi heart burst with joy. These conversations are so healing and wholesome. Being able to talk about these things with no shame or fear and with someone who gets it, it's amazing. No biphobic comments, just joy about the other person being able to appreciate someones looks and sharing in that joy with them. No cheating remarks. Just joy and love.

I don't know if anything I just said made sense. But this book means so so much to me. It healed a piece of me I didn't know needed healing. It was so wholesome. Filled with love and respect and joy and communication. Ofcourse mixed in with some lovely tropes like grumpy (her)/sunshine (him), enemies to lovers, sex lessons, found family and a big chaotic loving family. It has amazing disability representation, Bisexual and Queer rep and both MCs are fat.
I fell in love with Katies writing, loved their characters even more and cannot wait to read her next book, coming summer 2024!!!

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mollyfischfriedman's review

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5.0

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alesiagalati's review

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inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book had everything I love in a book. Sex Lessons, queer and fat representation, and a family that is loud and proud.

Nic was such a curmudgeon (with good reason) and Josh was the sweetest most attentive guy.

I loved the growth of both characters and how they used that growth to improve not only their relationship but the ones with others as well.