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amberinpieces's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Racism, Sexism, Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Mental illness
dottiewankenobi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
(3.75 was rounded up from the mean rating. also sorry I can't remember all the character names lol)
---
SILVER AND GOLD by Natasha Ngan -- 3.25 stars
very cute but I think I would've liked it more if it were longer!! I wanted to know more about the characters and the world. still, I think it was nicely ended and had really interesting imagery
FIVE STARS by Amy Spalding -- 3.25 stars
cute premise, I enjoyed their conversation and thought the POV character's inner thoughts were really funny. I would've reacted similarly in either of their positions so that was nice too haha
UNFORTUNATELY, BLOBS DO NOT EAT SNACKS by Rebecca Kim Wells -- 3.5 stars
I found the world building really intriguing!! the dynamic between the main characters was fun and I liked seeing them have to problem solve together. would've liked the trope (kissing under the influence) to be explored more tho :/
EDGES by Ashley Herring Blake -- 3.5 stars
I really really loved Clover. she was by far my favorite part of this one. I liked the message of this one, and it was good seeing a MC apologize and try to do better for themselves, not just their partner! unfortunately, I really did not like Mac -- I could understand where she was coming from but she just seemed rude to me and it made it hard to enjoy it as much as I could've.
WHAT MAKES US HEROES by Julian Winters -- 3.25 stars
again, I really liked the love interest -- Kyan is amazing. his characterization was a high point for this one, I loved how he was trying to help but still respect Shai's boundaries. I didn't like Shai, honestly, and I didn't like the ex boyfriend at all. they were both pretty annoying. sorry :/
AND by Hanna Moskowitz -- 3.5 stars
very interesting that it was in second pov! I enjoyed the connections the POV character had with the boys and the hints we got of their relationship as well. I think I would've liked this one more if it were longer, because some of the issues that popped up between the characters would've done better with more breathing room (like the communication issues). I did like that the ending was the way it was but the meat of the story could've had more
MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL by Sara Farizan -- 3.75 stars
I almost didn't read this one because I generally don't enjoy the trope. but!! I tried it out and I ended up really liking it. the dynamics between the characters were very interesting and I wouldn't say no to a longer story with them <3 (it might be because I'm a dc/marvel nerd but I really enjoyed having a POV from the Man in The Chair so to speak. I also liked how it began with the MC thinking "we both lie to Clara all the time." very interesting!)
(FAIRY)LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE by Claire Kann -- 4 stars
this was one of my favorites in the book. the characters were so loveable and I really really enjoyed the reveal at the end, and how things progressed between the main characters. also the vibes are just impeccable everyone say thank you Claire Kann
THESE STRINGS by Lilliam Rivera -- 3 stars
this one was cute but I think I would've liked it more if the story and the characters had had more time to breathe. the relationship between Lili and Oscar was a bit rushed and while it started out strong and cute, it did not continue that way --I liked that Oscar kissed her, but I wish we could've had more of his side of things, as we got like.. nothing about why he suddenly changed his mind and wanted to communicate with her about it. I liked the way it ended though, kind of open but still soft and hopeful!!
THE PASSOVER DATE by Laura Silverman -- 3.75 stars
I loved this one a lot!! the characters were very loveable and I wanted more from everyone haha. the humor was great and I liked how Rachel and Matthew had been friends before! definitely one of my favorites, will probably come back to reread sometime!
BLOOM by Rebecca Barrow -- 3.5 stars
while the pacing seemed a little off at times (personally), I enjoyed the way this one focused on the main character's healing! the magical realism was fun and kept my attention the whole time.the contents of the letter will haunt me lmao
TEED UP by Gloria Chao -- 4 stars
this was an absolute delight to read. having said that, it's pretty melancholy at times haha. I loved the journey Sunny took and how sweet Liam was the whole time.I really loved that Liam helped her remember (or find for the first time) what she enjoyed about golf, and that it became something fun for them both to have together . everyone say thank you Gloria Chao
BOYS NOISE by Mason Deaver -- 4.25 stars
so so so so so good. the emotions in this were beautifully portrayed, a little sad and a little regretful but more than that, happiness and freedom. also the pining was top notch, and the characterization was really good. not to be cringey but the author mentioned fanfics and now I want fics of Lev and Felix. everyone say thank you Mason Deaver
GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN by Malinda Lo -- 3.75 stars
I'm not great with sci-fi so at first all of the world building info kind of threw me, but once I got the hang of it, I really enjoyed this one. very sweet and I loved the sense of freedom that emanated from the story!!
DISASTER by Rebecca Podos -- 3.5 stars
I'm really not great with apocalypse stories but I didn't want to skip the last one so I tried to get through it. I did cry lmao. the mix of science and apocalypse with the romance was skewed a little more toward the former, but understandably so I think.I really enjoyed that they ended up doing their Last Day plan together like they'd talked about before, and I liked that they communicated finally! also I really liked that the world didn't end lmao
---
SILVER AND GOLD by Natasha Ngan -- 3.25 stars
very cute but I think I would've liked it more if it were longer!! I wanted to know more about the characters and the world. still, I think it was nicely ended and had really interesting imagery
FIVE STARS by Amy Spalding -- 3.25 stars
cute premise, I enjoyed their conversation and thought the POV character's inner thoughts were really funny. I would've reacted similarly in either of their positions so that was nice too haha
UNFORTUNATELY, BLOBS DO NOT EAT SNACKS by Rebecca Kim Wells -- 3.5 stars
I found the world building really intriguing!! the dynamic between the main characters was fun and I liked seeing them have to problem solve together. would've liked the trope (kissing under the influence) to be explored more tho :/
EDGES by Ashley Herring Blake -- 3.5 stars
I really really loved Clover. she was by far my favorite part of this one. I liked the message of this one, and it was good seeing a MC apologize and try to do better for themselves, not just their partner! unfortunately, I really did not like Mac -- I could understand where she was coming from but she just seemed rude to me and it made it hard to enjoy it as much as I could've.
WHAT MAKES US HEROES by Julian Winters -- 3.25 stars
again, I really liked the love interest -- Kyan is amazing. his characterization was a high point for this one, I loved how he was trying to help but still respect Shai's boundaries. I didn't like Shai, honestly, and I didn't like the ex boyfriend at all. they were both pretty annoying. sorry :/
AND by Hanna Moskowitz -- 3.5 stars
very interesting that it was in second pov! I enjoyed the connections the POV character had with the boys and the hints we got of their relationship as well. I think I would've liked this one more if it were longer, because some of the issues that popped up between the characters would've done better with more breathing room (like the communication issues). I did like that the ending was the way it was but the meat of the story could've had more
MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL by Sara Farizan -- 3.75 stars
I almost didn't read this one because I generally don't enjoy the trope. but!! I tried it out and I ended up really liking it. the dynamics between the characters were very interesting and I wouldn't say no to a longer story with them <3 (it might be because I'm a dc/marvel nerd but I really enjoyed having a POV from the Man in The Chair so to speak. I also liked how it began with the MC thinking "we both lie to Clara all the time." very interesting!)
(FAIRY)LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE by Claire Kann -- 4 stars
this was one of my favorites in the book. the characters were so loveable and I really really enjoyed the reveal at the end, and how things progressed between the main characters. also the vibes are just impeccable everyone say thank you Claire Kann
THESE STRINGS by Lilliam Rivera -- 3 stars
this one was cute but I think I would've liked it more if the story and the characters had had more time to breathe. the relationship between Lili and Oscar was a bit rushed and while it started out strong and cute, it did not continue that way --
THE PASSOVER DATE by Laura Silverman -- 3.75 stars
I loved this one a lot!! the characters were very loveable and I wanted more from everyone haha. the humor was great and I liked how Rachel and Matthew had been friends before! definitely one of my favorites, will probably come back to reread sometime!
BLOOM by Rebecca Barrow -- 3.5 stars
while the pacing seemed a little off at times (personally), I enjoyed the way this one focused on the main character's healing! the magical realism was fun and kept my attention the whole time.
TEED UP by Gloria Chao -- 4 stars
this was an absolute delight to read. having said that, it's pretty melancholy at times haha. I loved the journey Sunny took and how sweet Liam was the whole time.
BOYS NOISE by Mason Deaver -- 4.25 stars
so so so so so good. the emotions in this were beautifully portrayed, a little sad and a little regretful but more than that, happiness and freedom. also the pining was top notch, and the characterization was really good. not to be cringey but the author mentioned fanfics and now I want fics of Lev and Felix. everyone say thank you Mason Deaver
GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN by Malinda Lo -- 3.75 stars
I'm not great with sci-fi so at first all of the world building info kind of threw me, but once I got the hang of it, I really enjoyed this one. very sweet and I loved the sense of freedom that emanated from the story!!
DISASTER by Rebecca Podos -- 3.5 stars
I'm really not great with apocalypse stories but I didn't want to skip the last one so I tried to get through it. I did cry lmao. the mix of science and apocalypse with the romance was skewed a little more toward the former, but understandably so I think.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
lindseygetsliterary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Racism, Sexual harassment, and Sexism
rorikae's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
'Fools in Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales' is a super cute YA anthology of short stories that provide unique twists on classic romance tropes. The stories offer a lot of variety including a number of queer love stories and dipping into different genres, including science fiction and fantasy. It won't be too surprising that my favorite stories were those that were queer and genre heavy. The anthology starts out with a great example of this in 'Silver and Gold' by Natasha Ngan, which turns the snowed in together trope on its head by being about two girls who are snowed in a tent while competing on a fantastical dog sled race.
A few other stand out stories include 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' by Malinda Lo and 'Disaster' by Rebecca Podos. Far and away my favorite story in the collection is 'Bloom' by Rebecca Barrow, which includes a sapphic love story and flowers that when eaten can transport one in time and space.
This is a fun collection of stories that always come around to happy endings. If you are looking for something sweet and not too heavy, this might be the perfect pick. For some reason, I didn't realize it was YA when I went in and the stories focus largely on teenagers, so the stories mostly end with kissing or the start of a new relationship. This anthology has definitely piqued my interest in a number of the included authors and I will be looking to check out more of their work.
A few other stand out stories include 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' by Malinda Lo and 'Disaster' by Rebecca Podos. Far and away my favorite story in the collection is 'Bloom' by Rebecca Barrow, which includes a sapphic love story and flowers that when eaten can transport one in time and space.
This is a fun collection of stories that always come around to happy endings. If you are looking for something sweet and not too heavy, this might be the perfect pick. For some reason, I didn't realize it was YA when I went in and the stories focus largely on teenagers, so the stories mostly end with kissing or the start of a new relationship. This anthology has definitely piqued my interest in a number of the included authors and I will be looking to check out more of their work.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
make_believer's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
This collection made me so happy. There were a couple of stories that I liked a little bit less than others, but all of the short stories were enjoyable. My personal favorites were Silver and Gold, Five Stars, Bloom, and Disaster. There is such a wide variety of stories in this collection, and I feel like there is something for everyone in it. The cast of characters is mostly LGBTQIA+, and it is also racially diverse. I read it in two sittings, but if you're looking for a collection of short stories that you can come back to when you have a little bit of free time, this is a great choice. Some of the stories made me laugh and some of them made me cry. There's a little bit of everything.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
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