Reviews tagging 'Outing'

Work for It by Talia Hibbert

20 reviews

sarahnewg's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

3.0

The plot and characters are classically Hibbert, full of depth and nuance. However, my reading experience was definitely hindered by how bad one of the narrators was. So. Maybe skip audio on this one and read the digital/physical book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, Outing, and Classism

fran's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, and Outing

amris's review against another edition

emotional slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Outing

ruthiedr89's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Medical content, Car accident, and Pregnancy

reminiscences's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Outing, and Classism

tamarant4's review against another edition

emotional relaxing slow-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

3.25

I’ve never seduced someone I don’t know. Fuck, living in a place like this, I don’t think I’ve ever talked to someone I don’t know. [chapter 2]

This is one of Hibbert's earlier novels and one of her few M/M romances. Griff Everett gains more satisfaction from plants than from people: he's the manager of a small fruit farm and responsible for the wild success of its fruit cordials, and he is also openly bisexual in the small town where he grew up, and where his mother committed suicide just after his 18th birthday. He has one (1) friend, Rebecca, and has never had a proper relationship, just one-night stands. 

Olumide Olusegun-Keynes is gorgeous but damaged, a Londoner through and through who's in deep depression after being outed and blackmailed. (I believe this story is background to another book.) Olu decides to take a break in Fernley, picking elderflowers at Fernley Farm. The attraction between him and Griff is instant -- but Olu's shaking when they sneak a kiss in the alleyway behind the pub...

This was an enjoyable read, if somewhat frustrating in the usual romance-novel way (could their issues be resolved by actual communication? why, yes, who'd have thought). The aspect that worked really well for me, though, was Hibbert's treatment of mental health issues. Both Griff and Olu struggle with depression, and for Griff it's all tied in with his mother's mental health issues and suicide. What they learn from one another is to love someone for who they are, regardless of how depressed that person is.

Fulfils the ‘by a neurodivergent author’ rubric of the 52 books in 2024 challenge.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

Minor: Outing

peachani's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Racism, Suicide, Medical content, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, and Classism

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was solid. It didn’t blow me away (which actually came as a surprise; I thought I’d devour this). I think my issue was I didn’t realize this was part of a series (???) and if it’s meant to work as a standalone, I’m not sure it succeeded. There’s a lot about Olu in particular that I felt like I was missing. Parts of his character and his story where I felt context should have been given and it just wasn’t.

Again, that’s probably because I was reading out of sequence, but if the book is meant to be a spin-off capable of standing on it’s own, those things have to get explained on page? Idk, maybe I’m being unfair (like those people who make huge changes to online recipes then comment to complain it turned out bad).

But other than that, I enjoyed this! There were a lot of really beautiful, tender moments, and I think that’s where the book was really strong. I highlighted so many quotes that had me swooning and even getting a bit misty-eyed at times. I appreciated the focus on Olu’s depression and I loved the way that Griff handled him with such care and gentleness.

“I raise a slow hand toward his side, and when he doesn’t flinch or stiffen or go cold in front of me, I touch him. Press my palm against his body and wait patiently for an answer. That’s me: patient. I’ll be so fucking patient for you.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicide and Outing

Minor: Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

mayareadsxo's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Outing

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

brigid_reads_romance's review against another edition

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I loved this book! It was really cool to learn more about Olu’s character since I really enjoyed him at the beginning of The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco. I love how this books looks at trauma and grief and acknowledges that progress is not always linear. I love how Talia always writes such compelling and complex character who have their own lives and struggles and such outside of the relationship which is something that is missing in many romance books. I’ve been really enjoying reading Talia’s books especially with how all the stories are a bit interconnected I do think though I’m going to try to figure out when each story is set chronologically because I kind of feel like reading Undone by The Ex Con first might have increased my appreciation of Lizzie’s characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Outing and Classism

Minor: Suicide