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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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Biphobia
Minor: Addiction, Lesbophobia, and Car accident
cleansetolovers's review
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Biphobia and Lesbophobia
penandpages's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Biphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Alcoholism, Lesbophobia, Car accident, and Panic attacks/disorders
letsgolesbians's review against another edition
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==
photo review here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6W2it9SdhY/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Biphobia
fleur____'s review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Biphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Chronic illness
Minor: Car accident and Lesbophobia
graceheartsbooks's review
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❤️❤️❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Chronic illness
Moderate: Biphobia and Alcoholism
Minor: Car accident, Lesbophobia, and Addiction
cloreadsbooks1364's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
This is a really sweet adult romance! It's a rivals-to-lovers story between two comic artists.
Sage and Noah were both such deep, well developed protagonists. They were like real people, flawed but good, the ideal way for characters to be in a contemporary novel!
The side characters had just enough development to be lovable, but not too little!
The romance was amazingly written, it didn't seem unrealistic.
The comic competition was such an interesting past to the story, and I thought the ending was perfect!!!
Sage and Noah were both such deep, well developed protagonists. They were like real people, flawed but good, the ideal way for characters to be in a contemporary novel!
The side characters had just enough development to be lovable, but not too little!
The romance was amazingly written, it didn't seem unrealistic.
The comic competition was such an interesting past to the story, and I thought the ending was perfect!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Abandonment, Biphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Lesbophobia
btwnprintedpgs's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? No
4.5
I really really loved this. For a lot of reasons, but I'm going to walk you through a few of them.
First and foremost, I love how Sage and Noah's competitive history is established immediately. You get their history in a way that's natural and interesting, but it also lends itself so well to building both characters. Noah is someone who's always been told that her interests are not valid, her job isn't valid, and she's not enough to be the best, so she's very determined to prove herself, no matter the costs. Sage, on the other hand, is a loner and a fixer - she swoops in to help her family with their finances, but she also pushes people away constantly so she can never be hurt. At the start, they're both so into the art to cope with everything else, they don't see anything else around them.
Their characters develop so well, and as they become lovers you really get to see how they respect, support, and challenge each other. How this impacts their peripheral lives (friends, family, etc.) was also very telling for their growth and development and I feel like every secondary and tertiary character had their purpose. Nothing felt extraneous, and I loved that.
The subject of web comics and comic publishing was so much fun too. I don't know too much about that side of publishing, but I loved learning about their art and interests and getting to know their coworkers. It definitely helped flesh out the main stage (their workplace) and the looming deadlines added stakes and intensity to every moment spent there.
As a bonus, a sapphic sex scene on page?? So rarely do I find books that have that and in such a way the fits the characters so well in their teasing, competitive, yet also soft manner?? Perfection.
I love how every moment in this book matters - not that it's heavy, but that it adds value to the characters and their stories. This book really came to life for me and loved every moment!
Rep: Black bisexual MC, Black lesbian MC with chronic pain (carpal tunnel)
TW: sexual content, chronic illness, burnout, mental illness, suicidal thoughts, abandonment; mentions lesbophobia, biphobia, car accident
First and foremost, I love how Sage and Noah's competitive history is established immediately. You get their history in a way that's natural and interesting, but it also lends itself so well to building both characters. Noah is someone who's always been told that her interests are not valid, her job isn't valid, and she's not enough to be the best, so she's very determined to prove herself, no matter the costs. Sage, on the other hand, is a loner and a fixer - she swoops in to help her family with their finances, but she also pushes people away constantly so she can never be hurt. At the start, they're both so into the art to cope with everything else, they don't see anything else around them.
Their characters develop so well, and as they become lovers you really get to see how they respect, support, and challenge each other. How this impacts their peripheral lives (friends, family, etc.) was also very telling for their growth and development and I feel like every secondary and tertiary character had their purpose. Nothing felt extraneous, and I loved that.
The subject of web comics and comic publishing was so much fun too. I don't know too much about that side of publishing, but I loved learning about their art and interests and getting to know their coworkers. It definitely helped flesh out the main stage (their workplace) and the looming deadlines added stakes and intensity to every moment spent there.
As a bonus, a sapphic sex scene on page?? So rarely do I find books that have that and in such a way the fits the characters so well in their teasing, competitive, yet also soft manner?? Perfection.
I love how every moment in this book matters - not that it's heavy, but that it adds value to the characters and their stories. This book really came to life for me and loved every moment!
Rep: Black bisexual MC, Black lesbian MC with chronic pain (carpal tunnel)
TW: sexual content, chronic illness, burnout, mental illness, suicidal thoughts, abandonment; mentions lesbophobia, biphobia, car accident
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Car accident, Biphobia, and Lesbophobia
lil_wavy_'s review
funny
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
3.75
This is my first Sapphic-type book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is such a cute book to read, especially if you love rivals to lovers stories. I am going to warn y’all that there is a few chapters in this book that are 🌶️🌶️🌶️. And they are very detailed if you catch my drift 😂. Those chapters were kinda dragging it during the plot because I wanted to know what else was going to happen besides their relationship as a couple 💀. Good job on doing POV chapters on both characters throughout this book👏🏾. Ending tied up everything which I absolutely love because I didn’t feel confused about the ending 🤣.
TW: biphobia and lesbophobia, parent struggling with alcoholism, a brief mention of s*icidal ideation, and s*xually explicit scenes
Rate: 6.5/10
TW: biphobia and lesbophobia, parent struggling with alcoholism, a brief mention of s*icidal ideation, and s*xually explicit scenes
Rate: 6.5/10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Lesbophobia
bookishkellyn's review
reflective
- 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
It’s marketed as enemies to lovers, but it’s more grumpy (Sage) sunshine (Noah) complicated by past miscommunications. The beginning was slow, because there was actually too much character development. It evolved from a potential rom-com to a deep dual POV romance tackling depression and imposter syndrome after the ⅓ mark, and I’m glad I fought the urge to DNF.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Ableism, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Minor: Car accident, Lesbophobia, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Biphobia