Scan barcode
sapphicsolace's review
3.0
Review also on my blog • Twitter • Bookstagram
Rep: gay mc, Chinese li, m/m romance
Trigger warnings: mentions of homophobia, racism, racist imagery
Content warnings: explicit sexual content, drug use
I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Capsicum Head is set in 1980's Adelaide. It follows Jon and his band attempting to get their band more out there. He is gay and in a relationship with his band mate and best friend, Pete, who is Chinese. Because of the time period there's a little discussion around homophobia, racism, and how the sodomy laws were only recently struct down in Adelaide. Most of it focusses on the band.
This book was short and I think that's why I can't go further than saying it was only okay. I think the relationship could've been developed a little better. I liked that it was an established relationship but sometimes this will lead an author to not work on chemistry much. That's sort of what happened here. There was focus on the relationship but their dialogue was a little weird at times. I do like that the people around them were accepting of their relationship, even one of the other band members was bisexual which was awesome. The book was just a little bland and I wanted to see more with the band.
I do think the book tried a little too hard to seem Australian. Maybe it was because it was set in the eighties but it did feel a little oversaturated at times.
It was a decent novella and if this was extended into a full novel, I would read it.
Rep: gay mc, Chinese li, m/m romance
Trigger warnings: mentions of homophobia, racism, racist imagery
Content warnings: explicit sexual content, drug use
I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Capsicum Head is set in 1980's Adelaide. It follows Jon and his band attempting to get their band more out there. He is gay and in a relationship with his band mate and best friend, Pete, who is Chinese. Because of the time period there's a little discussion around homophobia, racism, and how the sodomy laws were only recently struct down in Adelaide. Most of it focusses on the band.
This book was short and I think that's why I can't go further than saying it was only okay. I think the relationship could've been developed a little better. I liked that it was an established relationship but sometimes this will lead an author to not work on chemistry much. That's sort of what happened here. There was focus on the relationship but their dialogue was a little weird at times. I do like that the people around them were accepting of their relationship, even one of the other band members was bisexual which was awesome. The book was just a little bland and I wanted to see more with the band.
I do think the book tried a little too hard to seem Australian. Maybe it was because it was set in the eighties but it did feel a little oversaturated at times.
It was a decent novella and if this was extended into a full novel, I would read it.
crunden's review
5.0
A great short story about love, music and friendship. The relationships between the characters was very well written and the main couple were adorable. Definitely excited to read more by this author and definitely recommend!
More...