Reviews with content warning for Biphobia - Outdrawn

Reviews tagging 'Biphobia'

Outdrawn by Deanna Grey

24 reviews

chrisb913's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

This story was amazing and perfect. I absolutely loved the rep, the artistic nerdiness, the characters, the plot, just everything. The relationship between Noah and Sage was just so incredibly realistic, warm, sappy, painful, adorable, just everything you enjoy reading in a romance book. I would really love a sequel just to find out what happens next in their life.

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canascorner's review

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emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-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

4.5

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cleansetolovers's review

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slow-paced

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? It's complicated

5.0

CW: brief discussions of biphobia and lesbophobia, parent struggling with alcoholism, chronic pain, paren-tification, suicidal ideation, and sexually explicit scenes.

happy pride everybody! After seeing reviews/recs from @theselfishsapphic and @preadsalot about Outdrawn, I finally got my hands on it and wow, I think I’ve found my book of the year. This is officially my benchmark for any rivals to lovers books I’ll read in the future.

Outdrawn is a book about Sage and Noah, two comic artists that have been in competition with each other since college, who have connected together in person again at the same comics job. Both women are working as co-lead artists on a title relaunch, and both Noah and Sage are doing there best to one up each other. Overtime, their rivalry begins to soften as they try to support each other, especially when a Web comic competition that both have entered has them both pushing themselves harder than either expected.

I love how the rivals part this story felt like a real rivalry, not just a snarky quip fest. You really feel the pressure and anxiety both MCs put on themselves, and how it manifest in different ways. Between complicated family dynamics and chronic pain, you really understand the why for both Noah and Sage. While their relationship is a slow burn, when it finally commences, all bets are off. It is honestly so warm, fulfilling, and sexy, you can tell these to really have a true bone deep connection. I mean the hand massage scene may be one of my top five favorite moments of intimacy I’ve read in a long time. I love these two so much.

I love the side characters so much too, especially editor Tyson as the grumpy dad trying to get his team in order. Selene, Harry, Melissa and Amaya are also just so much fun. Even Noah and Sage’s families, who don’t come off as joyously as some of the other side characters, really add beautiful texture, and dimension to both the story and your understanding of what is going on and Noah and Sage’s life. All in all, fabulous work.

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penandpages's review

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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letsgolesbians's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

five star read, Black sapphics and comics and softness and bubbline energy 🩷🖤

outdrawn is a rivals to lovers romance with comic artists who have been competing since college, first in classes then on a webcomic site. noah gets hired at the major comic company sage works at, which sage doesn’t take well, and their rivalry softens as they work together.

this is one of those books against which i’m going to compare other romances, because i loved watching noah and sage work through their own insecurities together and grow as their relationship deepened. they encouraged each other to stand up to their families in different ways and talked through problems. highly recommend settling into this one if you need a little softness right now.

tw: alcoholic parent; chronic wrist pain; mentions of bi- and lesbophobia; mention of suicide ideation; parentification; sex on page

photo review here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6W2it9SdhY/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==

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smartie_chan's review

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emotional inspiring 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

4.5

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athenathestorier's review

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-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

4.75

I came in expecting a comfort read. And even though more serious topics were explored, that remained the case. In fact, I would say this is among the closest you can get to being fluff without actually being fluff. The climax wasn't overly dramatic, was eased into, and had the foundations for a quick but believable resolution.

As a character-driven reader, I loved the focus that the characters and their relationships got. I really feel like I got to know them. In fact, getting to know Sage felt like looking in a mirror at times - so much so that I wondered if I'd be able to finish the book during this read through. And I'm so glad I did. Because this is what a good relationship (of any type) does: support you, and give you the strength to support yourself as well. Seeing these women grow into more healthy versions of themselves - learning where to put boundaries, learning how to incorporate self-care, and more - made me so soft and happy.

Sage and Noah at first seem like opposites, something their rivalry also paints a picture of. But they're actually very similar. Their fire to pursue their dreams and find success may have different fuel, but they both blaze just as intense. And when put together, that fire ebbs and flares in a fun cycle of steamy, challenging, affectionate, and vulnerable - much as the two of them describe certain moments themselves.

This is an adult romance in way more than just spice. The maturity of these MCs and their relationship is truly goal-worthy. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone seeking a contemporary romance, and I cannot wait to have this standing proudly on my physical bookshelf.

Rep: Black FMCs, Lesbian FMC, Bisexual FMC, Black supporting characters, subtle gay romance in the background

Memorable Quotes:

“I am. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” She gave me a knowing smile. This woman could be fun. Noah was still a bit stiff and had a lot of work to do in terms of her artistic confidence, but she could be fun.

“Once in a lifetime,” I agreed as I stared at her.

Noah tilted her head to the side. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Just…realizing something.”

“That it’s going to be a long six months?”

I nodded. “Something like that.”

“Stop reading into it."

"I'm not reading into anything," I said, even though I was already on the tenth chapter, deep into the footnotes.

“Some of us have to claw our way through the real world, survive any way we can. Sometimes, that survival looks like quitting to the outside."

"I burned myself out. Every dollar I earned I saved because every day was a rainy day. Once you guys saw that, you didn't feel the need to pitch in. You felt safe, T. I was terrified, and you felt safe."

I dragged out her name in a playful tone. The syllables felt good on my tongue. Had her name always felt like this? Like something I could repeat and never get bored of?

“But I’ve always seen you as a human. No matter how good you are at what you do. You know why?” I shook my head, mesmerized by how her lips moved when she insulted me with, “You’re an asshole. Assholes are the most human of us all.”

“But not all those lines I draw are the right ones.”

“How can you tell the right ones from the wrong ones?”

“When you put them down and don’t feel anything,” I said without hesitation.

“I love your laugh.” I cupped her chin, pulling her close so our lips nearly touched. “And your growth. You don’t take shit from anyone. You never should have, especially from me.”

Noah nodded, eyes hooded with warmth and desire. “I know.”

“You’re so beautiful—your body and your determination. Thank you for telling me to fuck off,” I whispered.

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haileyhardcover's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Am I the only person who thought this was YA/college-age for some reason? If not, let me assure you this is, in fact, very adult. Three-chapter long spicy scene kind of adult lol

I really enjoyed this story and characters. I’m not normally an enemies/rivals to lovers girlie, but this one was great. The little quips and banter were perfect. I also really appreciated that Noah and Sage both had lives and issues outside of each other. Characters feel more real that way.

There were elements of the story that didn’t feel fully fleshed out to me, hence the four instead of five stars, but I still definitely recommend Outdrawn. Looking forward to more from this author!

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fleur____'s review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

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graceheartsbooks's review

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5.0

I adored Sage and Noah so much! Seeing their rivalry, peeling back the layers of their characters, their backgrounds and letting them find strength through each other. I loved this book so much❤️❤️❤️

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