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kparrbooks's review
5.0
A delightful poly story with an interesting set-up and a charming pay-off!
This was my first poly story, and I really loved it! The characters were dynamic, the plot elements refreshing and new (building miniatures for movie sets?? Cool, tell me more!), and the sex scenes steamy and fun. I loved the communication between Simon and Lydia, and how Ian so seamlessly folded into the mix with both of them (after a few hiccups, of course). This story made me very happy!
This was my first poly story, and I really loved it! The characters were dynamic, the plot elements refreshing and new (building miniatures for movie sets?? Cool, tell me more!), and the sex scenes steamy and fun. I loved the communication between Simon and Lydia, and how Ian so seamlessly folded into the mix with both of them (after a few hiccups, of course). This story made me very happy!
chocolatemeerkat's review
5.0
I received an arc of this in exchange for a review
Outside the Lines is my new favorite book from Anna Zabo. Out of all their books I think this one is the most well crafted and best written. It has a presence that comes alive and pulls you in. I have been burned by several polyamorus romances this year so I was wary going but found myself blown away as I rather humorously was flying away from Washington state.
I found all three of the characters to be well rounded and fully fleshed out. I adored Ian, Simon and Lydia in turn with Lydia vying for top spot. The three of them fit together so well it made me smile. It was the little things in this story that just clicked for me like the puns about ethical polyamory and the heavy emphasis on consent when checking in during the kink scenes. It came across as refreshing that it was done every scene and it was tender and sweet and just so lovely.
From the blurb I had been worried that the lack of communication that breaks them up would take up half the book. And I can thankfully say that it does not. It is such a small but an important part but does not drag away from the story like so many miscommunication plots do. It is also part of the reason I like Lydia the most because she knocks some sense into poor Ian.
I also really appreciated how Ian and Lydia developed their relationship how it became romantic and nonsexual that they loved and supported each other as metamours of Simon. This is also the first time in a romance novel I have seen the word metamours used and it made me so happy.
I also liked the final arc of the book in regards to fandom and fanart politics it was well handled and helped to flesh out Lydia as a character.
Overall I think this is the most realistic poly V I have read and I truly wish there was more of them in the genre.
Outside the Lines is my new favorite book from Anna Zabo. Out of all their books I think this one is the most well crafted and best written. It has a presence that comes alive and pulls you in. I have been burned by several polyamorus romances this year so I was wary going but found myself blown away as I rather humorously was flying away from Washington state.
I found all three of the characters to be well rounded and fully fleshed out. I adored Ian, Simon and Lydia in turn with Lydia vying for top spot. The three of them fit together so well it made me smile. It was the little things in this story that just clicked for me like the puns about ethical polyamory and the heavy emphasis on consent when checking in during the kink scenes. It came across as refreshing that it was done every scene and it was tender and sweet and just so lovely.
From the blurb I had been worried that the lack of communication that breaks them up would take up half the book. And I can thankfully say that it does not. It is such a small but an important part but does not drag away from the story like so many miscommunication plots do. It is also part of the reason I like Lydia the most because she knocks some sense into poor Ian.
I also really appreciated how Ian and Lydia developed their relationship how it became romantic and nonsexual that they loved and supported each other as metamours of Simon. This is also the first time in a romance novel I have seen the word metamours used and it made me so happy.
I also liked the final arc of the book in regards to fandom and fanart politics it was well handled and helped to flesh out Lydia as a character.
Overall I think this is the most realistic poly V I have read and I truly wish there was more of them in the genre.
gale_bruckner's review
4.0
Compersion, pining, and small towns.
Love can grow anywhere, if you nurture it. I loved watching Ian and Simon fall in love, and I especially loved watching Simon's wife Lydia cheer them on! This is a fun, heartwarming read to highlights the importance of communication, and shows a healthy example of a poly partnership.
Love can grow anywhere, if you nurture it. I loved watching Ian and Simon fall in love, and I especially loved watching Simon's wife Lydia cheer them on! This is a fun, heartwarming read to highlights the importance of communication, and shows a healthy example of a poly partnership.
sapphicsolace's review
3.0
Review also on my blog • Twitter • Bookstagram
I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Outside the Lines follows Ian and Simon. Ian works as a set designer on a popular TV series while Simon owns a geeky merchandise store. Some of such merchandise includes things related to the TV series Ian works on. They meet and there is instant attraction between them. Simon is in an open relationship with his wife, which Ian is okay with. At least until he begins to develop strong feelings for him.
This book had a lot of potential and I think the start was really strong. I think it was good to portray a healthy and happy open marriage. I also like how Simon, in his internal monologue, pointed out how it was unfair he would be seen as a cheating bisexual when that wasn't the case. I liked how he and Ian had communication and both he and his wife Lydia made sure he had an understanding of their relationship. All of that was really good.
What I didn't like was how quickly 'I love you' was said between Ian and Simon. It felt like, maybe, a week had passed. Maybe a little more than that but definitely less than a month. It felt really rushed, and I just did not believe they were in love with each other. All they really knew about each other was their shared love of fandom culture. Ian also became friends with Lydia far too quickly and it felt a little odd to me. Their overall relationship was kind of odd to me. Later in the book they become a triad and Ian, who's gay, says he is in love with Lydia. This would be awesome but he's never called 'biromantic', even though it is acknowledged there's a difference between romantic and sexual attraction.
I also feel Lydia could've been written better. She had little of her own character. You really know little about her outside of that she likes geeky sort of things. She doesn't have a point of view and she just, kind of quickly accepted things and a little too easily at that. The story implied Simon falling in love with Ian was the first time he'd been in love with someone else during their relationship. And she is not only okay with it but invites it really easily. She almost felt like a prop rather than a character at times. I think it would be too harsh to say she was a doormat but she wasn't far from that at times. It felt... almost too easy. I wish she was portrayed better.
This was just not my favourite. I mostly read it because I want to read more books with polyamorous relationships but this one just didn't work for me.
I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Outside the Lines follows Ian and Simon. Ian works as a set designer on a popular TV series while Simon owns a geeky merchandise store. Some of such merchandise includes things related to the TV series Ian works on. They meet and there is instant attraction between them. Simon is in an open relationship with his wife, which Ian is okay with. At least until he begins to develop strong feelings for him.
This book had a lot of potential and I think the start was really strong. I think it was good to portray a healthy and happy open marriage. I also like how Simon, in his internal monologue, pointed out how it was unfair he would be seen as a cheating bisexual when that wasn't the case. I liked how he and Ian had communication and both he and his wife Lydia made sure he had an understanding of their relationship. All of that was really good.
What I didn't like was how quickly 'I love you' was said between Ian and Simon. It felt like, maybe, a week had passed. Maybe a little more than that but definitely less than a month. It felt really rushed, and I just did not believe they were in love with each other. All they really knew about each other was their shared love of fandom culture. Ian also became friends with Lydia far too quickly and it felt a little odd to me. Their overall relationship was kind of odd to me. Later in the book they become a triad and Ian, who's gay, says he is in love with Lydia. This would be awesome but he's never called 'biromantic', even though it is acknowledged there's a difference between romantic and sexual attraction.
I also feel Lydia could've been written better. She had little of her own character. You really know little about her outside of that she likes geeky sort of things. She doesn't have a point of view and she just, kind of quickly accepted things and a little too easily at that. The story implied Simon falling in love with Ian was the first time he'd been in love with someone else during their relationship. And she is not only okay with it but invites it really easily. She almost felt like a prop rather than a character at times. I think it would be too harsh to say she was a doormat but she wasn't far from that at times. It felt... almost too easy. I wish she was portrayed better.
This was just not my favourite. I mostly read it because I want to read more books with polyamorous relationships but this one just didn't work for me.
quinncaspian's review
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
lizshayne's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
January has been a MONTH my friends. As should be obvious because literally half of what I've read this month has been romance. 8/16.
I'm also fascinated by when I cope with stress by reading and when I cope with stress by not.
None of this has to do with the story, which was very sweet and I knew that the "for the love of dog and all that is holey will you have a conversation" part was coming and it did not last very long so, everything else being equal, it was a sweet little book.
I...don't have that much to say about it, although I am wondering about books 1-21 in this series and whether it's worth experimenting with a bunch of authors. IDK, let's find out.
I'm also fascinated by when I cope with stress by reading and when I cope with stress by not.
None of this has to do with the story, which was very sweet and I knew that the "for the love of dog and all that is holey will you have a conversation" part was coming and it did not last very long so, everything else being equal, it was a sweet little book.
I...don't have that much to say about it, although I am wondering about books 1-21 in this series and whether it's worth experimenting with a bunch of authors. IDK, let's find out.
ens's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe 4.5 stars. This was a lot of fun to read and clearly a love letter to fandom.
elineedsmoreshelves's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Delightful polyamorous romance - fun, sexy, joyful.
em_reads_books's review against another edition
3.0
Lots to love here - the chemistry (of various kinds) between the characters was brilliant. However, the love story moved VERY fast and the conflict seemed to fizzle out. As a pure fluffy / fantasy kind of romance, fine, but I wished for maybe another 50 pages of making the characters working a little harder for their happy ending.
small_giant_plans's review against another edition
4.0
The polyamourous queer comic nerd love story I never knew I needed. My only complaint is that it was too short! Well, and that the conflict in the last third was wrapped a little too quickly. mostly offscreen, and had little to no foreshadowing about the antagonist. Also I am desperate for Lydia to have a book. I wanna be in her head so bad!