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rivulet027's review
5.0
This is such a delightful feel good story. The characters are all dealing with some heavier topics, but Kilaen balances that by making them adorably right for each other. Noelle opens the story with being laid off, then finding out her boyfriend is cheating, and the crux of her story becomes her realizing she wants a better work/life balance. She also has a lego Dazzler and Yoda (with wings!) that she likes to take pictures of. Allie and Matt have an open relationship. Allie gets duped by Noelle’s boyfriend, but as soon as she realizes Noelle isn’t cool with her hooking up with her boyfriend she steps up to tell that boyfriend off and attempt to comfort Noelle. The thing for Allie is that while it’s easy for her to realize her attraction to Noelle, she’s not used to finding she’s got feelings for anyone that isn’t Matt. I really enjoyed how Allie and Matt are clearly home to each other and how Noelle fits into their dynamic. Matt is nursing a broken heart which is causing him to question his sexuality.
Add all this together with Allie and Matt’s annual road trip to a concert, that of course they invite Noelle to, and you’ve got a book that will leave you turning to the pages to find out what happens next. I really enjoy when communication is central to a relationship and this book delivered. The characters check in with each other and take the time to communicate where they’re at emotionally. Occasionally assumptions are made and feelings are hurt, but those issues get recognized and worked on.
This is a book I look forward to rereading.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Add all this together with Allie and Matt’s annual road trip to a concert, that of course they invite Noelle to, and you’ve got a book that will leave you turning to the pages to find out what happens next. I really enjoy when communication is central to a relationship and this book delivered. The characters check in with each other and take the time to communicate where they’re at emotionally. Occasionally assumptions are made and feelings are hurt, but those issues get recognized and worked on.
This is a book I look forward to rereading.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
tempest_1313's review
4.0
4.5 stars
All my love for an open relationship that is still open, at the end of the book, instead of just becoming a closed triad.
All my love for an open relationship that is still open, at the end of the book, instead of just becoming a closed triad.
elementarymydear's review
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
This was a lovely romance, with the added dynamics of being two/three romances in one. It’s a real page turner, and it’s obvious from the get-go how well-matched the characters are.
This is the second ‘Love at Knockdown’ book I’ve read, and it felt much more immersed in the wider world. It was really great to get to know the other characters a bit more, and all of the main characters had really nice individual storylines as well as the romantic ones.
📚Read this and more reviews on my blog!📚
If anything, I wish it had been a little bit longer, a bit more of a slow-burn. Especially given the circumstances under which Noelle and Allie meet (no spoilers!), I would have enjoyed a slightly longer journey to get to the end.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
This is the second ‘Love at Knockdown’ book I’ve read, and it felt much more immersed in the wider world. It was really great to get to know the other characters a bit more, and all of the main characters had really nice individual storylines as well as the romantic ones.
📚Read this and more reviews on my blog!📚
If anything, I wish it had been a little bit longer, a bit more of a slow-burn. Especially given the circumstances under which Noelle and Allie meet (no spoilers!), I would have enjoyed a slightly longer journey to get to the end.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
annesbookishtravels's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ghostboi's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
on paper it has all the things I get excited over in a book, but the writing style seriously took me out of it. the ending was very predictable and the characters often didn't feel like actual people.
that being said, i did enjoy it for its healthy poly representation and found it to be a quick and easy read before bed.
that being said, i did enjoy it for its healthy poly representation and found it to be a quick and easy read before bed.
emmalita's review
5.0
I intended to go to bed 2 hours ago, but I couldn’t put this down.
Twitter may be a hellsite most of the time, but it brought me to so many great writers I wouldn’t have found otherwise. I don’t know how else I would have found Skye Kilaen, an absolutely delightful queer self published author who should be more widely read.
Shake Things Up is the second in her Love at Knockdown series and I feel like I’ve been eagerly anticipating it forever, but probably only about a year, what is time? We meet Noelle just after she’s been laid off from her job at a start-up. She’s been working non-stop, so maybe a week to relax won’t be so bad. But when she gets home, she finds her boyfriend with his hand up another woman’s skirt. This is not going to go the way opening like this often go.
Allie thought she had texted with the jerk’s girlfriend and gotten her ok to sleep with him. As soon as she realizes Noelle has no idea what’s going on she shifts into supportive protector mode, booting the now ex-boyfriend out and helping Noelle pack. The two bond over a terrible packing tape dispenser and drinking the jerk’s expensive scotch. Allie is pansexual (attraction not dependent on gender identity or expression) and Noelle is bi. Allie’s longtime partner, Matt, has assumed he was straight, but now questions that. Allie and Matt’s relationship is open. There’s flirting at the queer owned coffee shop, a road-trip, and lots of communication.
All three of them are trying to work through their individual life challenges. Noelle needs a new job, but she also needs to think about what kind of life she wants outside of work. Allie is trying to decide if Noelle is a road-trip fling, or someone she wants to build a relationship with. Matt is trying to understand his shifting identity and grieving the loss of a friendship that might have meant more than he realized. They are such lovely characters and so concerned with each other as human beings. I knew very quickly where I wanted them to end up, and watching them get there was a really nice way to spend a few hours.
Shake Things Up is the second in a series, but can easily be read as a standalone. I love the way Skye Kilaen writes. She is very gentle with her characters, even when they are going through it. And she is kind and respectful of her readers. She does a great job of providing content warnings, and if you are interested in looking at any of her other books (contemporary romance, sci-fi, and post-apocalypse), her website is a treasure trove of information and excerpts.
Shake Things Up is out March 22. I received this as an advance reader copy from the author. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given.
Twitter may be a hellsite most of the time, but it brought me to so many great writers I wouldn’t have found otherwise. I don’t know how else I would have found Skye Kilaen, an absolutely delightful queer self published author who should be more widely read.
Shake Things Up is the second in her Love at Knockdown series and I feel like I’ve been eagerly anticipating it forever, but probably only about a year, what is time? We meet Noelle just after she’s been laid off from her job at a start-up. She’s been working non-stop, so maybe a week to relax won’t be so bad. But when she gets home, she finds her boyfriend with his hand up another woman’s skirt. This is not going to go the way opening like this often go.
Allie thought she had texted with the jerk’s girlfriend and gotten her ok to sleep with him. As soon as she realizes Noelle has no idea what’s going on she shifts into supportive protector mode, booting the now ex-boyfriend out and helping Noelle pack. The two bond over a terrible packing tape dispenser and drinking the jerk’s expensive scotch. Allie is pansexual (attraction not dependent on gender identity or expression) and Noelle is bi. Allie’s longtime partner, Matt, has assumed he was straight, but now questions that. Allie and Matt’s relationship is open. There’s flirting at the queer owned coffee shop, a road-trip, and lots of communication.
All three of them are trying to work through their individual life challenges. Noelle needs a new job, but she also needs to think about what kind of life she wants outside of work. Allie is trying to decide if Noelle is a road-trip fling, or someone she wants to build a relationship with. Matt is trying to understand his shifting identity and grieving the loss of a friendship that might have meant more than he realized. They are such lovely characters and so concerned with each other as human beings. I knew very quickly where I wanted them to end up, and watching them get there was a really nice way to spend a few hours.
Shake Things Up is the second in a series, but can easily be read as a standalone. I love the way Skye Kilaen writes. She is very gentle with her characters, even when they are going through it. And she is kind and respectful of her readers. She does a great job of providing content warnings, and if you are interested in looking at any of her other books (contemporary romance, sci-fi, and post-apocalypse), her website is a treasure trove of information and excerpts.
Shake Things Up is out March 22. I received this as an advance reader copy from the author. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given.
shector1's review
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed reading this book. I liked how the author explored Noelle and Allie's relationship a lot. Matt's plot was so good but I wanted the author to explore his side more as he overcame his feelings. I kinda cried when he was having his discussion with Allie. I just loved the openness among the characters that I wanted it to be a longer book. It was a quick read and I think this is a book I would want to reread physically.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility
erinrachelreads's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25