A review by phoenixinthecity
He's Come Undone: A Romance Anthology by Emma Barry
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.