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Reviews
Short Stuff by Kate Fierro, Alysia Constantine, Jude Sierra, Julia Ember, Jen Sternick, Tom Wilinsky
ericrobien's review
3.0
I Ate the Whole World to Find You by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick
⭐⭐⭐
A foodie and sports romance, two of my favs! I liked the miscommunication in the beginning bc I love a slowburn, but I felt that there were too many points of conflict for a short story, esp a contemporary.
The August Sands by Jude Sierra
⭐⭐
I just didn't really connect to any aspect of this story, and I disliked the writing, very purple prosey.
Love in the Time of Coffee by Kate Fierro
⭐⭐
The main character had no personality outside of pining after her best friend whom was in a relationship for most of the story.
Gilded Scales by Julia Ember
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my favorite story! It wasn't as romance forward as the other stories, but I liked that it was more subtle. There was a good balance between plot, character development, and romance that I liked.
⭐⭐⭐
A foodie and sports romance, two of my favs! I liked the miscommunication in the beginning bc I love a slowburn, but I felt that there were too many points of conflict for a short story, esp a contemporary.
The August Sands by Jude Sierra
⭐⭐
I just didn't really connect to any aspect of this story, and I disliked the writing, very purple prosey.
Love in the Time of Coffee by Kate Fierro
⭐⭐
The main character had no personality outside of pining after her best friend whom was in a relationship for most of the story.
Gilded Scales by Julia Ember
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my favorite story! It wasn't as romance forward as the other stories, but I liked that it was more subtle. There was a good balance between plot, character development, and romance that I liked.
rfonta69801's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Character Development: Since this was a book of short stories, I felt like 65% of the characters were developed fully and the rest were just "there."
Diversity: Yes!
Likes: PRIDE!!
Dislikes: At some parts and the last story I just wasn't "connected" to it.
What mood should you read this book in?: Emotional, Romance.
Pace: Medium/Fast
Likable Characters?: 50% of the characters.
Characters or Plot?: Character probably.
Overall, I had higher hopes for this books.
Character Development: Since this was a book of short stories, I felt like 65% of the characters were developed fully and the rest were just "there."
Diversity: Yes!
Likes: PRIDE!!
Dislikes: At some parts and the last story I just wasn't "connected" to it.
What mood should you read this book in?: Emotional, Romance.
Pace: Medium/Fast
Likable Characters?: 50% of the characters.
Characters or Plot?: Character probably.
Overall, I had higher hopes for this books.
maranull's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jennasophia's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thereadingtrashqueen's review against another edition
5.0
A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
An average of 4,5/5 if rating the stories separately; two 5 stars, and two 4 stars.
This anthology is honestly so good! I am starting to write this review at 3:15am, after having read it in one go and I already kind of want to read it again. It's- I spent 4 hours smiling, or hurting but knowing I would smile soon enough, as the book promises happy endings, because dammit queer people deserve happy endings.
I don't even really know what to talk about. The stories are diverse, and none of them are like the others.
We have I Ate The Whole World To Find You which is about a swimmer getting ready for the Olympics, and a chef who provides said swimmer with food during his days at the pool. This is pure fanfiction material, and I spent the entire story with a huge smile on my face. They are boys, they are idiots, they are gay, and it is absolutely beautiful. It also made me want all of the food. (and yes there is the asshole coach and asshole sponsors, but they just set off the goodness even more.)
Then there is The August Sands. We follow Tommy, a gay boy on summer holiday with his family, before going off to college, which is something he struggles with. He struggles with his identity a lot and then he meets Chase, a confident boy who has no qualms in expressing interest. This story focuses on Tommy's struggles, and how he comes to terms with himself, while experiencing romance for the first time. Note that him coming to terms with himself is not about his sexuality! It's actually about who he is as a person, and being scared of change.
Next, we have Love in the Time of Coffee which follows Gemma and Anya from the time they were heading to school for the very first time, to them in college. You move through the story by the coffee they drink, which I actually really loved- and I find coffee absolutely gross, haha! I just really loved the set up of it, and I wonder if the book this is inspired by (Love in the time of Cholera) has a similar set up. Gemma is gay, and has been in love with her best friend Anya for ages. Anya, on the other hand, has a boyfriend, which is pretty serious. Lesbian and bi rep, here, y'all! Also, the ending is super cute hdfjksdgalsdf
Last, but certainly not least, we have Gilded Scales. This story is like nothing you would expect. It's the only one that's not contemporary, or even modern. It's fantasy, loud and clear, as there is a dragon. Yep, you read that right: there is a DRAGON! Besides the dragon there is a girl who wants desperately to be a warrior, but whose village won't let her and only wants her to marry and settle down. When a dragon is discovered, she volunteers to help save the girl the dragon is keeping prisoner. SPOILER ALERT (but not really a spoiler it's in the summary): the dragon and the girl are one and the same. This story is very subtle on the romance front, but you just know where they're headed. Safe to say, this story was nothing like I had imagined- I have never read a dragon like this and I loved it!
Add to the that the gorgeous cover and I'm in love. So in love I read this in one sitting and am still writing this review at 3:30am while my laptop is dying. Would wholeheartedly recommend, especially if you're in need of (queer!) feel good stories!
An average of 4,5/5 if rating the stories separately; two 5 stars, and two 4 stars.
This anthology is honestly so good! I am starting to write this review at 3:15am, after having read it in one go and I already kind of want to read it again. It's- I spent 4 hours smiling, or hurting but knowing I would smile soon enough, as the book promises happy endings, because dammit queer people deserve happy endings.
Spoiler
(The August Sands has a bittersweet ending, but in my head it ends up happy anyways because that's the kind of trash queen I am, and Gilded Scales promises plenty.)I don't even really know what to talk about. The stories are diverse, and none of them are like the others.
We have I Ate The Whole World To Find You which is about a swimmer getting ready for the Olympics, and a chef who provides said swimmer with food during his days at the pool. This is pure fanfiction material, and I spent the entire story with a huge smile on my face. They are boys, they are idiots, they are gay, and it is absolutely beautiful. It also made me want all of the food. (and yes there is the asshole coach and asshole sponsors, but they just set off the goodness even more.)
Then there is The August Sands. We follow Tommy, a gay boy on summer holiday with his family, before going off to college, which is something he struggles with. He struggles with his identity a lot and then he meets Chase, a confident boy who has no qualms in expressing interest. This story focuses on Tommy's struggles, and how he comes to terms with himself, while experiencing romance for the first time. Note that him coming to terms with himself is not about his sexuality! It's actually about who he is as a person, and being scared of change.
Next, we have Love in the Time of Coffee which follows Gemma and Anya from the time they were heading to school for the very first time, to them in college. You move through the story by the coffee they drink, which I actually really loved- and I find coffee absolutely gross, haha! I just really loved the set up of it, and I wonder if the book this is inspired by (Love in the time of Cholera) has a similar set up. Gemma is gay, and has been in love with her best friend Anya for ages. Anya, on the other hand, has a boyfriend, which is pretty serious. Lesbian and bi rep, here, y'all! Also, the ending is super cute hdfjksdgalsdf
Last, but certainly not least, we have Gilded Scales. This story is like nothing you would expect. It's the only one that's not contemporary, or even modern. It's fantasy, loud and clear, as there is a dragon. Yep, you read that right: there is a DRAGON! Besides the dragon there is a girl who wants desperately to be a warrior, but whose village won't let her and only wants her to marry and settle down. When a dragon is discovered, she volunteers to help save the girl the dragon is keeping prisoner. SPOILER ALERT (but not really a spoiler it's in the summary): the dragon and the girl are one and the same. This story is very subtle on the romance front, but you just know where they're headed. Safe to say, this story was nothing like I had imagined- I have never read a dragon like this and I loved it!
Add to the that the gorgeous cover and I'm in love. So in love I read this in one sitting and am still writing this review at 3:30am while my laptop is dying. Would wholeheartedly recommend, especially if you're in need of (queer!) feel good stories!
brookeisbusyreading's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
I haven’t read an anthology before, much less an LGBTQ+-centered one so I was excited!
- I Ate the Whole World to Find You
The title was so intriguing! I wasn’t expecting it to involve baking - or swimming - and I thought it was an odd combination at first. BUT it makes sense and fits so well! Basil and Will have an interesting dynamic and I love how the authors fit a slow-burn romance into a short story like this. It wasn’t heavy on the swimming or baking terms, which I do appreciate because I think it would’ve been a little chaotic since this is just a short story. It was nicely paced and the characters were well-developed too!
- The August Sands
Oh, my heart! I should have known how this story would end once it started but damn, the author just sucked me into Tommy and Chase’s adorable freaking relationship! Honestly though, ‘I relate to Tommy’ is a severely underrated statement for me. I WAS Tommy, down to the distance from home. Reading this story was like flashing back to two versions of myself when I moved away for college - the depressed introvert I was and the social nerdy butterfly with friends I hoped I would be… All that minus the romance (which I adore!). I’m conflicted about why I’m okay with the ending because I wanted it to keep going and a big happily ever after as they somehow made it to the same college or something like those teen movies.
- Love in the Time of Coffee
I’m a coffee fanatic (but maybe a specific one?). Starbucks frappucinos are my go-to but I fix coffee at home too. Never once have I considered a story like this - told from coffee fanatics with a love story woven in. The concept is delicious, pun intended! (Really though, each coffee described sounded SO GOOD!) Anya and Gemma’s relationship is the perfect balance of friendship and romance…but a tricky romance. The sexuality exploration in this story is one I feel deeply. I saw myself in so many parts of it for where I am now. This is also the kind of story I think I’d be okay with regardless of the ending. The journey for Gemma in particular was worth every page.
- Gilded Scales
This was a wonderful, fresh take on the ‘save the damsel in distress from the dragon’ trope I grew up on! It’s also been a while since I read a proper fantasy story. But a queer fantasy story? My first! I love how descriptive this story is, each of the characters is developed how they should be, and what’s in between the lines leaves room for that sweet spot of imagination I love. Bryne and Fenn’s relationship is full of fascination and, despite not knowing a lot about each of their individual interests or things they have in common, I don’t feel like I’m missing anything or that the relationship is forced in any way.
Overall, I’d say my favorite story in this book is probably The August Sands with my second favorite being Love in the Time of Coffee - both for my level of relatability with them and the characters. Tommy and Chase won me over, as well as that ending!
But as for Short Stuff itself, I LOVED IT! I really want more stories like this - similar anthologies or by these authors! The very real themes and obstacles the characters face is perfectly balanced with the fiction side of things so props to everyone involved for creating a book I happily stumbled across that made me FEEL things!
- I Ate the Whole World to Find You
The title was so intriguing! I wasn’t expecting it to involve baking - or swimming - and I thought it was an odd combination at first. BUT it makes sense and fits so well! Basil and Will have an interesting dynamic and I love how the authors fit a slow-burn romance into a short story like this. It wasn’t heavy on the swimming or baking terms, which I do appreciate because I think it would’ve been a little chaotic since this is just a short story. It was nicely paced and the characters were well-developed too!
- The August Sands
Oh, my heart! I should have known how this story would end once it started but damn, the author just sucked me into Tommy and Chase’s adorable freaking relationship! Honestly though, ‘I relate to Tommy’ is a severely underrated statement for me. I WAS Tommy, down to the distance from home. Reading this story was like flashing back to two versions of myself when I moved away for college - the depressed introvert I was and the social nerdy butterfly with friends I hoped I would be… All that minus the romance (which I adore!). I’m conflicted about why I’m okay with the ending because I wanted it to keep going and a big happily ever after as they somehow made it to the same college or something like those teen movies.
- Love in the Time of Coffee
I’m a coffee fanatic (but maybe a specific one?). Starbucks frappucinos are my go-to but I fix coffee at home too. Never once have I considered a story like this - told from coffee fanatics with a love story woven in. The concept is delicious, pun intended! (Really though, each coffee described sounded SO GOOD!) Anya and Gemma’s relationship is the perfect balance of friendship and romance…but a tricky romance. The sexuality exploration in this story is one I feel deeply. I saw myself in so many parts of it for where I am now. This is also the kind of story I think I’d be okay with regardless of the ending. The journey for Gemma in particular was worth every page.
- Gilded Scales
This was a wonderful, fresh take on the ‘save the damsel in distress from the dragon’ trope I grew up on! It’s also been a while since I read a proper fantasy story. But a queer fantasy story? My first! I love how descriptive this story is, each of the characters is developed how they should be, and what’s in between the lines leaves room for that sweet spot of imagination I love. Bryne and Fenn’s relationship is full of fascination and, despite not knowing a lot about each of their individual interests or things they have in common, I don’t feel like I’m missing anything or that the relationship is forced in any way.
Overall, I’d say my favorite story in this book is probably The August Sands with my second favorite being Love in the Time of Coffee - both for my level of relatability with them and the characters. Tommy and Chase won me over, as well as that ending!
But as for Short Stuff itself, I LOVED IT! I really want more stories like this - similar anthologies or by these authors! The very real themes and obstacles the characters face is perfectly balanced with the fiction side of things so props to everyone involved for creating a book I happily stumbled across that made me FEEL things!
emeelee's review against another edition
3.0
Short Stuff is an anthology of four YA LGBTQ short stories... though it's actually just LGB. The stories themselves are nice enough, but when taken as a whole there is very little diversity of representation. Only one of the stories includes actual identity labels (lesbian and bi), but I think it's clear to say there are no trans or non-binary characters, no ace representation, no mention of pansexuality, intersex, polyamory, two-spirit, etc. And I'm almost positive all of these characters are white, along with most of the authors (Jude Sierra is Latinx). So while the stories themselves range from "not bad" to "really enjoyable," the collection as a whole is a bit disappointing. The first three stories are contemporary fiction, while the fourth is historical fantasy.
✏️ I Ate the Whole World to Find You by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick ★★★★☆
✏️ I Ate the Whole World to Find You by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick ★★★★☆
b10tch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
readbyryan's review against another edition
5.0
I saw this anthology bouncing around Instagram and I knew I had to get it. A LGBT young adult anthology less than 200 pages? I’m in. And this book did not disappoint. I loved all of the stories:
- An olympic hopeful swimmer who meets a short-order chef at the pool snack bar
- A friendship thorough the years over coffee drinks
- A summer connection on the shore of Lake Huron in Michigan
- A warrior who searches for a dragon who has captured a girl
All of these stories have the sweetness and innocence of young adult fiction, but with some really great writing. These authors capture the gossamer threads connecting young lovers, fleeting encounters that become sticky memories. I loved the conceit of the third story threaded with a coffee theme. I enjoyed the memories of my home state of Michigan and the sand dunes while reading the second story. If you want a fun, enjoyable, light collection of stories, this is a great book. Enjoy it in the backyard with some lemonade or on the beach or under the stars with a flashlight. ★★★★★ ◊ Trade Paperback ◊ Fiction, Young Adult, LGBT, Anthology ◊ Purchased online ◊ Published by Duet, an imprint of Interlude Press on June 8, 2020. ◾︎
- An olympic hopeful swimmer who meets a short-order chef at the pool snack bar
- A friendship thorough the years over coffee drinks
- A summer connection on the shore of Lake Huron in Michigan
- A warrior who searches for a dragon who has captured a girl
All of these stories have the sweetness and innocence of young adult fiction, but with some really great writing. These authors capture the gossamer threads connecting young lovers, fleeting encounters that become sticky memories. I loved the conceit of the third story threaded with a coffee theme. I enjoyed the memories of my home state of Michigan and the sand dunes while reading the second story. If you want a fun, enjoyable, light collection of stories, this is a great book. Enjoy it in the backyard with some lemonade or on the beach or under the stars with a flashlight. ★★★★★ ◊ Trade Paperback ◊ Fiction, Young Adult, LGBT, Anthology ◊ Purchased online ◊ Published by Duet, an imprint of Interlude Press on June 8, 2020. ◾︎
majasbookishcorner's review against another edition
5.0
Short Stuff is a super cute YA Anthology edited by Alysia Constantine. It features four great LGBTQ+ meet-cute type stories and is a perfect summer read! Below are some details on the individual stories ☺️
.
I Ate the Whole World to Find You by Tom Wilinsky & Jen Sternick 4.5 ⭐️
This was a super cute m/m romance about a professional swimmer training for the Olympics and an aspiring chef he works at the swim club.
.
The August Sands by Jude Sierra 3.5⭐️
A cute m/m romance, set over the course of a week about a gay boy who is soon going to start college and experiences his first romance and first kiss over the summer.
.
Love in the Times of Coffee by Kate Fierro 5⭐️
This friends to lovers story is about two girls and how their relationship develops over the years.
Overall a cute f/f story, told in short scenes and I loved how the chapters were named after the coffee that they were drinking.
.
Gilded Scales by Julia Ember 5⭐️
A faced paced fantasy story about a girl who wants to be taken serious as a warrior, but on a mission starts to fall in love with a dragon shapeshifter. This was a super cute f/f romance and very easy to get into.
.
I Ate the Whole World to Find You by Tom Wilinsky & Jen Sternick 4.5 ⭐️
This was a super cute m/m romance about a professional swimmer training for the Olympics and an aspiring chef he works at the swim club.
.
The August Sands by Jude Sierra 3.5⭐️
A cute m/m romance, set over the course of a week about a gay boy who is soon going to start college and experiences his first romance and first kiss over the summer.
.
Love in the Times of Coffee by Kate Fierro 5⭐️
This friends to lovers story is about two girls and how their relationship develops over the years.
Overall a cute f/f story, told in short scenes and I loved how the chapters were named after the coffee that they were drinking.
.
Gilded Scales by Julia Ember 5⭐️
A faced paced fantasy story about a girl who wants to be taken serious as a warrior, but on a mission starts to fall in love with a dragon shapeshifter. This was a super cute f/f romance and very easy to get into.