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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
A whimsical, sweet and cosy queer romance that the genre desperately needed but that struggled craft-wise with a lot of info-dump.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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:
No
Loved this book, super cute, got a crush on nova and I loved marnies self development. Her friendship with paisley was cute too and sienna was a fab character
Honestly I DNF at page 98.
Don't have any major objections to this book but I picked it up in a charity shop because it looked like some fun to help me get back into reading. Then I found it difficult to read. I just wasn't flying through it in the way I'd like for a fun book.
There were a few things which baffled me. Firstly, it was implied that there was some conflict in the character's life and there just was not. She was completely surrounded by friends and family who love her unconditionally and know her inside out and who pop round to make her lovely meals when they suspect she might be slightly sad. She knows and loves everyone who owns a shop on the high street. She didn't seem to be giving them anything in return or any particular reason to love her. She was just moping. 90 pages later they still loved her and she was still moping and the supposed love interest hadn't even turned up.
Also, I hate to say it but the author was irritating me via the book. Very clunky writing and grammar. "She was stood" all over the place. Lots of strong Americanisms mixed in with very British words like 'arse' generally gave the impression that she didn't know whether she was coming or going linguistically. Then I googled her and she's a twin who loves baking, so she clearly wrote this book about herself. I don't have an inherent issue with that but in this case it annoyed me, probably due to the amount of self-pity whilst describing someone who seems to have an absolutely wonderful (and VERY BORING) life with no conflict and absolutely no reason whatsoever to complain about anything.
If this were good-quality high-brow literature then I would plough on despite it being slow-going, but it isn't, and the reason it's slow-going is that it's poorly written. It is therefore not worth my time or effort.
Don't have any major objections to this book but I picked it up in a charity shop because it looked like some fun to help me get back into reading. Then I found it difficult to read. I just wasn't flying through it in the way I'd like for a fun book.
There were a few things which baffled me. Firstly, it was implied that there was some conflict in the character's life and there just was not. She was completely surrounded by friends and family who love her unconditionally and know her inside out and who pop round to make her lovely meals when they suspect she might be slightly sad. She knows and loves everyone who owns a shop on the high street. She didn't seem to be giving them anything in return or any particular reason to love her. She was just moping. 90 pages later they still loved her and she was still moping and the supposed love interest hadn't even turned up.
Also, I hate to say it but the author was irritating me via the book. Very clunky writing and grammar. "She was stood" all over the place. Lots of strong Americanisms mixed in with very British words like 'arse' generally gave the impression that she didn't know whether she was coming or going linguistically. Then I googled her and she's a twin who loves baking, so she clearly wrote this book about herself. I don't have an inherent issue with that but in this case it annoyed me, probably due to the amount of self-pity whilst describing someone who seems to have an absolutely wonderful (and VERY BORING) life with no conflict and absolutely no reason whatsoever to complain about anything.
If this were good-quality high-brow literature then I would plough on despite it being slow-going, but it isn't, and the reason it's slow-going is that it's poorly written. It is therefore not worth my time or effort.
If there are two things I know when picking up one of Lucy's books, it's 1) I know I'm going to smile and 2) I'm going to feel all the feelings - joy, laughter, giddiness, hope, sadness, nervousness, and geekiness. What do you mean geekiness isn't a feeling? I beg to differ.
I always worry about coming off as biased when reviewing Lucy's books, knowing her as I do, but I like to think it gives me a deeper insight into what she writes and how she writes. She puts so much of herself into her books, and each one is a piece of her and I know she puts her heart and soul into them. It may not mean everyone will understand every part of the story she writes, or why, but everything she puts in there is for a reason - even down to meticulous detail like the feel of carpet underneath a character's toes or the flavour, texture and aroma of a doughnut.
Of all of Lucy's books, I think this one has more of her in it than any of her previous books and I think I say that with each book but it's true. It's clear to me that she's put a lot of herself into not just Marnie, but Nova too. Two different parts that have come together to make a perfect whole.
There's very much two stories going on in "Love Lessons..." - that of Marnie and Nova - and I love that Lucy has put herself out there and chosen to produce not only QueerLit - which I know she adores. But I also love that she has used her experience as a Teaching Assistant to highlight how those that are neurologically diverse - especially children - are expected to conform and fit society's standards when it should be the other way around. Lucy is one of the most caring - if not *the* most caring and compassionate human beings I have ever met, and I know she's put a lot of care, effort and feeling into creating the relationship between Marnie and Paislee.
I honestly think that "Love Lessons..." tugged at my heartstrings more than any of other Lucy's books - and they did that a lot, trust me - because I can see how much of Lucy's experiences and herself is in this book, and it made my heart swell and break for her in equal measure. Lucy doesn't write the words in her books because she feels that's what people want to read or because it's what might sell - but it's because it's what she believes, what she feels and what she's experienced in some way, shape or form. She crafts characters and worlds and goes into wonderfully expressive detail to draw you into her world, figuratively in the sense of the stories she crafts and literally in the sense that this isn't just Lucy the writer, but Lucy the person. A human being of kindness, light, empathy and energy even when the world hasn't always been kind - one that inspires me and gives me hope in the world, and that I will always support and whose books I will always look forward to because I know I will always end up finishing the book with a smile - and "Love Lessons" did especially as it reminded me that even though life doesn't always go as we plan, it can still take us where we exactly need to be at the right time.
I always worry about coming off as biased when reviewing Lucy's books, knowing her as I do, but I like to think it gives me a deeper insight into what she writes and how she writes. She puts so much of herself into her books, and each one is a piece of her and I know she puts her heart and soul into them. It may not mean everyone will understand every part of the story she writes, or why, but everything she puts in there is for a reason - even down to meticulous detail like the feel of carpet underneath a character's toes or the flavour, texture and aroma of a doughnut.
Of all of Lucy's books, I think this one has more of her in it than any of her previous books and I think I say that with each book but it's true. It's clear to me that she's put a lot of herself into not just Marnie, but Nova too. Two different parts that have come together to make a perfect whole.
There's very much two stories going on in "Love Lessons..." - that of Marnie and Nova - and I love that Lucy has put herself out there and chosen to produce not only QueerLit - which I know she adores. But I also love that she has used her experience as a Teaching Assistant to highlight how those that are neurologically diverse - especially children - are expected to conform and fit society's standards when it should be the other way around. Lucy is one of the most caring - if not *the* most caring and compassionate human beings I have ever met, and I know she's put a lot of care, effort and feeling into creating the relationship between Marnie and Paislee.
I honestly think that "Love Lessons..." tugged at my heartstrings more than any of other Lucy's books - and they did that a lot, trust me - because I can see how much of Lucy's experiences and herself is in this book, and it made my heart swell and break for her in equal measure. Lucy doesn't write the words in her books because she feels that's what people want to read or because it's what might sell - but it's because it's what she believes, what she feels and what she's experienced in some way, shape or form. She crafts characters and worlds and goes into wonderfully expressive detail to draw you into her world, figuratively in the sense of the stories she crafts and literally in the sense that this isn't just Lucy the writer, but Lucy the person. A human being of kindness, light, empathy and energy even when the world hasn't always been kind - one that inspires me and gives me hope in the world, and that I will always support and whose books I will always look forward to because I know I will always end up finishing the book with a smile - and "Love Lessons" did especially as it reminded me that even though life doesn't always go as we plan, it can still take us where we exactly need to be at the right time.
It is a good book and I really enjoyed reading it, but the beginning of the book was really scattered. It felt like I was being jolted through a time warp instead of gently led through the quick passage of time, I wish that it would have taken a bit longer for the reader to journey home with the main character. I LOVED the opening scene with Nova it felt a bit like a dream that you were dragged from too soon, which is part of why I as a reader wished the entire Canada montage had been a bit longer. Everything after the most precious meet-cute was rushing to get the reader back home to the far less dreamy return to reality (which was still enjoyable but much different narrative-wise). I felt like the description of the book was not very accurate for the experience of reading the book, but it was still overall an enjoyable quick read. Reading this book made me hungry, I have been craving sweets since I started reading. Speaking of food, I love Antoni. He is such a wonderful character who brings a lot of joy to every scene he is in. He also reminds me a lot of Antoni from Queer Eye since he cooks and obviously has the same name. I rounded up to four stars from the three and a half solely because of Antoni alone. If you are looking for a quick sapphic read this is definitely a good one to put on the list!
emotional
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
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
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
A wonderful sapphic love story with the characters nova and Marnie
Amazing development of their relationship as well as growth with in familial ones for both.
Also some amazing autistic representation in the character paislee and I love how it highlighted that not every child learns the same
Amazing development of their relationship as well as growth with in familial ones for both.
Also some amazing autistic representation in the character paislee and I love how it highlighted that not every child learns the same
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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
Love Lessons in Starcross Valley by Lucy Knott. This was a cute, cozy, sapphic romance. Marnie is overwhelmed with her split from her long time bf and her parents are separating so she takes a trip to Canada. She has a chance encounter with Nova, a woman she meets at a hockey game, and they hit it off. After her trip, Marnie goes home to sort out her life.
It was a bit slow in spots and I wish there was more with Nova, she doesn’t reappear until over halfway through the book. Otherwise, good. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
It was a bit slow in spots and I wish there was more with Nova, she doesn’t reappear until over halfway through the book. Otherwise, good. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5