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kn1231's review
4.0
I love a story based in Hollywood/LA, so it was no shock that I enjoyed this story. Isabelle and Taylor were both great characters, I loved their relationship (even when Taylor was continuing to let herself be taken advantage of by her ex) but Raisin was the MVP of the story for me! Seriously, I’m pretty sure my next dog will be named Raisin! If you have started this series, keep going, it really only keep getting better and better as it goes!
angieinbooks's review
4.0
I've been avoiding starting Brayden's Seven Shores series for months because I didn't want to be caught up on Brayden without anything new to read, but then I said "f*ck it" because 3 months into a global pandemic, I just wanted something to read that I was sure I would like. If I can't actually go to the beach, I might as well read about it, right?
The Seven Shores series begins in New Hampshire, where Isabel Chase is waiting tables while trying to catch a big break as a screenwriter (seems an odd thing to try to do in NH, where TV/film/theater producers aren't famous for living or working, but whatever works for her, I guess). She's had some success on short films she's written and directed, but is still looking for her big break. That break comes when a former classmate reaches out to her about interviewing for a TV-writing job she'll be vacating, so Isabel hightails it to LA, where she meets Taylor Andrews, the showrunner and executive producer who turns every show she works on into gold. She's someone Isabel has admired for years, as Isabel wants to do exactly what Taylor is doing now. And now Isabel will be working for her.
So Isabel relocates to Los Angeles--Venice Beach, exactly--to an apartment complex a few blocks from the beach called Seven Shores. And it's here she meets a group of queer women who will become a family to her (and who will feature in their own stories in the series).
There's a lot to like about this novel. Isabel is the Brayden series anchor character, which means she's witty and charming and a little bit quirky. There's not a lot to dislike about her, and it's pretty clear why Taylor starts to fall for her--even with her impressive resume and arresting green eyes. But there's that whole pesky work dynamic they have to figure out--Taylor is Isabel's boss, and she's not in favor of getting in a relationship with her co-workers--not anymore, anyway. And Isabel has some issues that make things difficult for them. But they eventually figure out it. It's a Melissa Brayden novel, after all.
One last thing. I know Isabel is the star of this book, but I really, really like Taylor so much. She's almost a little too perfect, but Brayden manages to give her wit and intelligence and grace and an overall humanity I really liked.
Now onto the next book...
The Seven Shores series begins in New Hampshire, where Isabel Chase is waiting tables while trying to catch a big break as a screenwriter (seems an odd thing to try to do in NH, where TV/film/theater producers aren't famous for living or working, but whatever works for her, I guess). She's had some success on short films she's written and directed, but is still looking for her big break. That break comes when a former classmate reaches out to her about interviewing for a TV-writing job she'll be vacating, so Isabel hightails it to LA, where she meets Taylor Andrews, the showrunner and executive producer who turns every show she works on into gold. She's someone Isabel has admired for years, as Isabel wants to do exactly what Taylor is doing now. And now Isabel will be working for her.
So Isabel relocates to Los Angeles--Venice Beach, exactly--to an apartment complex a few blocks from the beach called Seven Shores. And it's here she meets a group of queer women who will become a family to her (and who will feature in their own stories in the series).
There's a lot to like about this novel. Isabel is the Brayden series anchor character, which means she's witty and charming and a little bit quirky. There's not a lot to dislike about her, and it's pretty clear why Taylor starts to fall for her--even with her impressive resume and arresting green eyes. But there's that whole pesky work dynamic they have to figure out--Taylor is Isabel's boss, and she's not in favor of getting in a relationship with her co-workers--not anymore, anyway. And Isabel has some issues that make things difficult for them. But they eventually figure out it. It's a Melissa Brayden novel, after all.
One last thing. I know Isabel is the star of this book, but I really, really like Taylor so much. She's almost a little too perfect, but Brayden manages to give her wit and intelligence and grace and an overall humanity I really liked.
Now onto the next book...
sixphanel's review
5.0
Yes! Light and fun read, specially loved that it was set in the TV world, I liked reading about that a lot :) I enjoyed all the characters a lot and I can't wait to read the rest of the Seven Shores stories! This group of friends' is very "goals" like.
hhushaw's review
5.0
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. Just one word, YES. This book was off the top amazing, and I just couldn't put it down. I connected with Izzy from the first chapter and as the reader is taken on a journey with her as she moves to LA to start working in Hollywood. The chemistry between the two characters was off the charts, but what really made this book into something extraordinary was the secondary characters. The girls that lived in Iz's apartment complex were amazing, and I need some sequels to them in it! Pick up this book, and you will not be disappointed.
liralen's review against another edition
3.0
A peculiar thing: this is the third Bad Lesbian [b:Romance|25898774|Built to Last|Aurora Rey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445050779s/25898774.jpg|45781600] [b:Novel|29502578|Pathogen (A Dr. Kate Morrison Mystery, #2)|Jessica L. Webb|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459328448s/29502578.jpg|49789821] (no, they're not actually all bad, but let me have the category anyway) I've read in the last couple of weeks...and all three of those books, by different authors, have had sexual harassment plotlines. In [b:Pathogen|29502578|Pathogen (A Dr. Kate Morrison Mystery, #2)|Jessica L. Webb|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459328448s/29502578.jpg|49789821] the harassment is real (directed at both heroines), and in both [b:Built to Last|25898774|Built to Last|Aurora Rey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445050779s/25898774.jpg|45781600] and Eyes Like Those a heroine is falsely accused of sexual harassment.
Oh, right: If you wanted a real book review, please go away and read somebody else's; the book was fine, if not my favourite by Brayden, and I'll carry on with reading the series later, but that's about all of use that I have to say about it.
But the sexual harassment: I don't know what to do with this. Brayden's not responsible for either of the other books, of course, so I don't so much mean to critique Eyes Like Those specifically when I say this...but it's quite sad to me that the options are basically 1) somebody is falsely accused of sexual harassment, and it threatens their career, but those accusations are conveniently swept away sooner or later, or 2) somebody is the target of sexual harassment, and they can't say anything because it might damage their career. And nothing happens.
This is not to say, mind you, that either of these scenarios is impossible, but...oof. False reporting (i.e., false accusations) is not common, about on par with false reporting for other crimes, and I'm wildly uncomfortable with books using it as a way for hero/ines to face injustice. It just spreads the myth that people who report sexual violence are doing so for attention or revenge (in this case, it's the latter), and makes reporting less safe for people who do need help/services. Like...it's nice that the people in this book treat sexual harassment by a woman as a reportable thing (which in real life is certainly not always the case, even though it should be), but that's about the only positive thing I can say about the use of false reporting as a plot device.
I read Bad Lesbian Romance Novels for entertainment value, and sometimes to swoon over firefighters (no chance of the latter here, alas). I don't read them to get pissed off about sexual harassment and false reporting.
Oh, right: If you wanted a real book review, please go away and read somebody else's; the book was fine, if not my favourite by Brayden, and I'll carry on with reading the series later, but that's about all of use that I have to say about it.
But the sexual harassment: I don't know what to do with this. Brayden's not responsible for either of the other books, of course, so I don't so much mean to critique Eyes Like Those specifically when I say this...but it's quite sad to me that the options are basically 1) somebody is falsely accused of sexual harassment, and it threatens their career, but those accusations are conveniently swept away sooner or later, or 2) somebody is the target of sexual harassment, and they can't say anything because it might damage their career. And nothing happens.
This is not to say, mind you, that either of these scenarios is impossible, but...oof. False reporting (i.e., false accusations) is not common, about on par with false reporting for other crimes, and I'm wildly uncomfortable with books using it as a way for hero/ines to face injustice. It just spreads the myth that people who report sexual violence are doing so for attention or revenge (in this case, it's the latter), and makes reporting less safe for people who do need help/services. Like...it's nice that the people in this book treat sexual harassment by a woman as a reportable thing (which in real life is certainly not always the case, even though it should be), but that's about the only positive thing I can say about the use of false reporting as a plot device.
I read Bad Lesbian Romance Novels for entertainment value, and sometimes to swoon over firefighters (no chance of the latter here, alas). I don't read them to get pissed off about sexual harassment and false reporting.
robinlikesreading's review
4.0
This is the first book of Melissa Brayden I read and I really liked it!
Not only did I absolutely love the romance between Taylor and Isabel, I loved the friendship between Isabel and her new friends Autumn, Gia and Hadley too (and if I understand correctly, the next three books are about each of these friends?).
I'm really excited to read the rest of this series.
Not only did I absolutely love the romance between Taylor and Isabel, I loved the friendship between Isabel and her new friends Autumn, Gia and Hadley too (and if I understand correctly, the next three books are about each of these friends?).
I'm really excited to read the rest of this series.
lourdesholanda's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
4.25
m0thermayi's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars | This novel has everything I enjoy in books: queer ladies, a good plot with amazing side characters and a dash of nerdiness, yet it took me a while (65% through) to really get into it and to start caring about the romance. I think it didn't help that the first sex scene was seriously CRINGY. It kinda threw me ha, and I had a hard time taking anything seriously after that, sorry.
As a (TV) fangirl, I liked that Taylor was an EP and Isabel a writer for a popular, primetime show. I'm not giving up on this series though! The writing was decent and I know if I hadn't been in a slumpy reading mood, I would have liked it a lot better. I intend to pick up the second book soonish.
As a (TV) fangirl, I liked that Taylor was an EP and Isabel a writer for a popular, primetime show. I'm not giving up on this series though! The writing was decent and I know if I hadn't been in a slumpy reading mood, I would have liked it a lot better. I intend to pick up the second book soonish.
raven9949's review
3.0
So.... the idea was cute but the execution was lacking? Like the author’s way of talking is... quirky and rather funky. It took a considerable amount of time to get used to. Over all I really struggled with the chemistry because I didn’t find there to be any real passion there... I can totally see the friendship there but that was it for me... there was no heat or zeal. The conflict was “eh” really. I had to struggle to get through the last 1/3 of the book.