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and_so_she_reads_'s review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
More Kit and Basie?! Yes please sign me up!!!
This was just as cute and wholesome as the first one, though just a little bit more high stakes.
I especially loved getting to see more of the Simon clan! The kids are so precious and their chaos made me giggle quite a few times. I also love the softness of a married Kit and Basie. And the 3 short stories included were a nice surprise!
At this point, I will absolutely devour anything Tess Carletta writes.
Thank you to the author for sending me a free eBook in exchange for a review!
jce's review
emotional
hopeful
4.5
I really enjoyed this. I’m trash for love interest in peril and hurt/comfort. I hate cliffhanger endings, but I’ll definitely be reading the next one.
bookstackmatt's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
evitaveda's review
5.0
“I’m glad I get to go through this life with you.”
Oh my god I love these characters, this world, this everything. Tess Carletta does it again!!
Patchwork is a collection of stories from Tess Carletta’s Long Lily series. After loving Kit & Basie earlier this year I was excited to return to this world of cosy fantasy.
The main novella still had all the wholesomeness that made me fall in love with the first book yet it also felt a bit more serious. I loved seeing Kit and Basie tackling new challenges in their relationship and also loved that we got more Lewie and Orion content — all the Simon siblings have won my heart. The way the story ended had me going “what?” and I absolutely need there to be a sequel because whyyyyy??? I was not prepared.
The extra short stories were brilliant too. My favourite was probably the “What If” story at the very end. It was such a sweet take on what could have been if things had been different in the original story. And damn, if it wasn’t the sweetest story yet.
I really can’t recommend these Tales From Long Lily enough. Go pick up Kit & Basie and then Patchwork if you want brilliant, cosy, queer fantasy!
Great quotes:
“I think there are some people that you fit with; no effort required.”
“If you pick somewhere you don’t belong, you’re going to spend your entire life thinking you’re the reason you don’t feel settled. All the work and effort and soul you pour into the place will all be wasted, and you’ll be miserable.”
Oh my god I love these characters, this world, this everything. Tess Carletta does it again!!
Patchwork is a collection of stories from Tess Carletta’s Long Lily series. After loving Kit & Basie earlier this year I was excited to return to this world of cosy fantasy.
The main novella still had all the wholesomeness that made me fall in love with the first book yet it also felt a bit more serious. I loved seeing Kit and Basie tackling new challenges in their relationship and also loved that we got more Lewie and Orion content — all the Simon siblings have won my heart. The way the story ended had me going “what?” and I absolutely need there to be a sequel because whyyyyy??? I was not prepared.
The extra short stories were brilliant too. My favourite was probably the “What If” story at the very end. It was such a sweet take on what could have been if things had been different in the original story. And damn, if it wasn’t the sweetest story yet.
I really can’t recommend these Tales From Long Lily enough. Go pick up Kit & Basie and then Patchwork if you want brilliant, cosy, queer fantasy!
Great quotes:
“I think there are some people that you fit with; no effort required.”
“If you pick somewhere you don’t belong, you’re going to spend your entire life thinking you’re the reason you don’t feel settled. All the work and effort and soul you pour into the place will all be wasted, and you’ll be miserable.”
terriaminute's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
This is a beautiful novella, followed by three beautiful shorter stories, the last of which is an alternate universe story of how Basie and Kit meet. The novella is part 2 in their story, and manages to be every bit as good as the first book. And, I'm never sure about additional stories, but I enjoyed all three very much.
If you enjoyed the first book, you'll enjoy this one.
If you enjoyed the first book, you'll enjoy this one.
jurgbury's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
Kit and Basie is one of my favorite books and this is lively set of novellas and ‘what if’ story set in this universe. Highly recommend kit and Basie and this follow up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
meli_thebookworm16's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
UPDATE (MARCH 2024)
Re-read, now including the 3 new short stories.
I FEEL UNWELL.
Not only we got a (very heartbreaking) glimpse of Kit's life before meeting Basie in Soldier Boy(s), but then Old Men Don't Fuck on the Floor gave me EVERYTHING I wanted, and personally felt was the only thing shy of PERFECTION after Ch24 of Kit & Basie, and it was Basie on full grovelling and worshipping mode. Also the smut. GOOD GODS, I am pretty sure reading that much beautiful intimacy is a felony in every single possible jurisdiction in this third rock from the sun, and at this point I have no other choice than to quietly surrender to whatever law enforcement agency that is in charge of putting away good people who do very bad things because I REGRET NOTHING!!!!
The What If story of what it would be if Della was still alive when Kit moved into Long Lily (Great Day in the Morning) simultaneously broke me and made my heart grow 10 times its regular size. There is one paragraph that had me calling my sister to do a wellness check on me because it was either that or going to the ER:
Re-read, now including the 3 new short stories.
I FEEL UNWELL.
Not only we got a (very heartbreaking) glimpse of Kit's life before meeting Basie in Soldier Boy(s), but then Old Men Don't Fuck on the Floor gave me EVERYTHING I wanted, and personally felt was the only thing shy of PERFECTION after Ch24 of Kit & Basie, and it was Basie on full grovelling and worshipping mode. Also the smut. GOOD GODS, I am pretty sure reading that much beautiful intimacy is a felony in every single possible jurisdiction in this third rock from the sun, and at this point I have no other choice than to quietly surrender to whatever law enforcement agency that is in charge of putting away good people who do very bad things because I REGRET NOTHING!!!!
The What If story of what it would be if Della was still alive when Kit moved into Long Lily (Great Day in the Morning) simultaneously broke me and made my heart grow 10 times its regular size. There is one paragraph that had me calling my sister to do a wellness check on me because it was either that or going to the ER:
If Kit was [REDACTED], his intuition was older. It was a living thing forged before he was born and placed like a spirit in his body to keep him out of harm. He trusted it before all else. When a man with sun on his breath opened the door, Kit’s intuition said: He is the man all this has been for.
PERFECTION! PERFECTION! ALL THE F*CKING STARS!!!!
P.S. Dear Tess Carletta, I really NEED answers re the main story cliffy ASAP. Thank you!!🙏🙏
.
.
UPDATE (FEB 2024)
Patchwork Official Release is gonna be on MARCH 5TH, with new cover, and THREE MORE SHORT STORIES about Kit & Basie???😍😍😍
PRE-ORDERED!!!!✅
.
.
DEC 2023
In the few seconds it took for him to black out, he’d mustered enough strength and enough love to think of the house that knew how to miss him and the man with marigolds for hair who would sleep alone that night.
4.5⭐
I honestly could read thousands and thousands of pages of Kit and Basie's domestic life as husbands and I would not have enough. There is a reason why Kit & Basie is probably my favorite book by a debut author this year, and is because of the layers and layers of depth in Carletta's writing that just gets to you, that makes you yearn for a place to call home. (And please if you haven't read Kit & Basie, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND READ IT!! It has references to Ruben Darío's Azul, and it is sweet and beautiful and I haven't stopped thinking about it since I read it a few months ago).
Going from all that delicious slow burn in book 1 to this novella, where it feels like they would literally die (ok, not really lol) if they don't use a term of endearment when talking to the other one, made my heart almost burst with happiness. Although, I must admit I kinda missed Basie speaking in spanish a little bit; it was one of my favorite parts of the first book. Listen, if a book has a character who knows how to properly incorporate the word pendejo into their banter/teasing it will always get major bonus points from me and my undying devotion (which according to proper dictionaries means 'a stupid or contemptible person', however ask any hispanic and they will tell you it has all sorts of connotations lol and it is why is one of my favorite words to use).
Bottom line, loved this one!!
P.S. That ending. 😱
Where is the rest? I am calling my lawyer on you, Tess Carletta!😭(technically, that would be me since I am my own lawyer lol, so my lawyer is actually crying too😭)
jemima_reads15's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
k_myers's review against another edition
5.0
I love Long Lily and the stories of Kit and Basie and the Simon’s. It was so fun to have some more time with these characters because what an ending! I’m going to need more!!