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stargoddess's reviews
315 reviews
Karaoke Queen by Dominic Lim
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This book was a warm hug of queer joy! I enjoyed Dominic Lim’s first book and had been looking forward to this since it was announced, and I am pleased to say that it did not disappoint. There was clearly a lot research that went into this book, from the detailed description of the trials and tribulations of doing drag (including the infamous tuck) to the references to RuPaul’s Drag Race, the cultural touchstone for many drag fans. Also, the book oozed love for Filipino culture, particularly in the detailed food descriptions, which were mouthwatering! I particularly enjoyed the focus on the importance of familial love, both in the Filipino blood family context and in the queer found family culture.
My one quibble with the book, which kept it from being a perfect five stars, was the frequent use of the technique of starting a scene and then launching into a flashback of a few hours earlier. I understand the narrative intent to build tension in what is generally a low-stakes book, but I mostly just found it broke the flow of the story. Other readers may find it less distracting.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book for all fans of queer stories, particularly those with an interest in drag, music, or both.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
My one quibble with the book, which kept it from being a perfect five stars, was the frequent use of the technique of starting a scene and then launching into a flashback of a few hours earlier. I understand the narrative intent to build tension in what is generally a low-stakes book, but I mostly just found it broke the flow of the story. Other readers may find it less distracting.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book for all fans of queer stories, particularly those with an interest in drag, music, or both.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
You Had Me at Happy Hour by Timothy Janovsky
- 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
I loved the rep for mental health, as well as the exploration of the challenges those can create in sexual encounters and the creative ways of achieving a satisfying experience. That said, I felt this book struggled a bit to hold my attention outside the spicy scenes - a lot of the side characters were rather forgettable and the fact that the plot was so similar to another new release I just read kept throwing me off to the point where a few days later I am genuinely struggling to keep the two sorted in my head. Overall an enjoyable read if you’re a fan of wine, cocktails, or Janovsky’s work in general, but not what I would recommend as a first foray into M/M romance.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It took me a bit to get into this book and the author’s voice, but perseverance paid off and I ultimately found it an interesting read. The characters are messy and real, in a way that was sometimes uncomfortable and sometimes cathartic.
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is messy and meta, and I absolutely devoured it. I am both immediately tempted to reread it and want the next book in the series as soon as possible. This is actually the rare 5 star rating for me that I didn’t think was perfect - sometimes the writing was a little too over the top for my taste - but at the end I know this book will stay with me in a way that made it impossible to rate anything other than 5 stars.
Rae, Key, Emer, and the Cobra are all deeply compelling even as they make terrible decisions and hurt the people they care about. The side characters are equally interesting, to the point where I squealed and kicked my feet when two “minor” characters kissed (since of course the whole book is about how no one is a minor character). I loved the examination of what it means to be “real,” particularly when faced with so much pain and sufferIng. I can’t wait to see where the story goes in book two!
Rae, Key, Emer, and the Cobra are all deeply compelling even as they make terrible decisions and hurt the people they care about. The side characters are equally interesting, to the point where I squealed and kicked my feet when two “minor” characters kissed (since of course the whole book is about how no one is a minor character). I loved the examination of what it means to be “real,” particularly when faced with so much pain and sufferIng. I can’t wait to see where the story goes in book two!
Marriage & Masti by Nisha Sharma
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This book was fighting an uphill battle from the start - I just read a Twelfth Night adaptation I adored in Twelfth Knight and the previous book in the series, Tastes Like Shakkar, was on my best list last year. It unfortunately couldn’t quite beat those two very high marks, but on its own was an enjoyable romance.
I loved the opening with a “yacht-wreck” and from there the action was always moving. I tore through this book in just a couple days, eager to see where the story was going. The examination of what it means to be the last single person as all your friends are entering committed relationships and particularly the family dynamics around the expectations for “life milestones” were very impactful for me personally. Sometimes I find friends to lovers overwrought, but here I understood how the cultural factors made it more difficult for the leads to express their feelings for each other. I also enjoyed the spice - no one writes a bedroom scene quite like Nisha! Overall, I would recommend reading the series in order, but the touching character relationships and general sexiness would probably make it accessible even if it were your first foray into the world.
I loved the opening with a “yacht-wreck” and from there the action was always moving. I tore through this book in just a couple days, eager to see where the story was going. The examination of what it means to be the last single person as all your friends are entering committed relationships and particularly the family dynamics around the expectations for “life milestones” were very impactful for me personally. Sometimes I find friends to lovers overwrought, but here I understood how the cultural factors made it more difficult for the leads to express their feelings for each other. I also enjoyed the spice - no one writes a bedroom scene quite like Nisha! Overall, I would recommend reading the series in order, but the touching character relationships and general sexiness would probably make it accessible even if it were your first foray into the world.
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I can’t remember where I first heard about this book, but it must have been a glowing recommendation because I immediately added it to my hold list, which is unusual for me. And despite not always being a fan of the genre, I quite enjoyed this book. The audiobook production quality is impeccable and kept me engaged such that I tore through it in just a few days.
Lucy and Savvy were great examples of writing women who are complicated, bordering on unlikeable, who are nevertheless deeply compelling. I liked the examination on the posthumous “perfecting” of a victim as well as the selective blindness communities engage in to “keep the peace.”
Having read it, I don’t see myself revisiting this book, but I would recommend it to others for the fun of getting the reveals for the first time.
Lucy and Savvy were great examples of writing women who are complicated, bordering on unlikeable, who are nevertheless deeply compelling. I liked the examination on the posthumous “perfecting” of a victim as well as the selective blindness communities engage in to “keep the peace.”
Having read it, I don’t see myself revisiting this book, but I would recommend it to others for the fun of getting the reveals for the first time.
Good Duke Gone Wild by Bethany Bennett
- 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
4.0
A cute and spicy take on the different worlds-style historical romance. I really loved Caroline’s side of the story. Her desire to claim her independence in a world that made it difficult to do so, even at the potential cost of her own heart, was highly relatable. Her life was also filled with delightful characters, from the relationships with her cousins, Connie and Hattie, to her friends, Gerald and Leo. It was wonderful to see a heroine so surrounded by love and support. On the other hand, for me, Dorian’s side of the story tended to drag a bit, with the following the threads of first wife Juliet’s affair becoming very convoluted and his mother being an obstacle beyond what seemed supported by reason. There was some spice, and I enjoyed that, despite this being a historical, Caroline as an author of erotic novels was not inexperienced or coy about her desire. Overall, I found the book enjoyable for fans of historicals, but not one I would recommend to those new the genre.
Thank you to Forever for the courtesy copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Forever for the courtesy copy in exchange for my honest review.
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
It’s odd for a romance that the characters that will stick with me the most are not the two leads, but rather the side characters. Nevertheless, Zane and Brindle have my whole heart. I want to follow the Rat God and hear gnoll wisdom forever. As for core story, I thought the premise was interesting, but in general the pacing felt off. The first half dragged, the story felt like it was basically over at the 3/4 mark, and then suddenly a bunch of additional twists were thrown in so that the last 10% was so stuffed I felt like there wasn’t going to be time to get it all done. I enjoyed the audiobook narrator greatly and she did a lot to keep me engaged where if I had been reading on the page my attention might have wandered. Overall I think this is a enjoyable read for lovers of high fantasy but not the best representation of the genre.
Monsieur X by Adriana Herrera
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This is clearly a novella, so the depth of plot is less that one would expect from a full novel, but I enjoyed that the spicy (which is beautifully written and very steamy) was set off with some true depth of character moments that allowed both men to show vulnerability and growth. Recommend picking up if you like high heat D/s content with a great historical vibe.