Reviews

It Had To Be You by Clare Lydon

themermaddie's review

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2.0

what a ... bizarre story. i just finished a different clare lydon book that i loved and find it hard to believe these were written by the same person.

the writing is about as subtle as a gun, and it honestly feels like it could have used another round of edits. there was loads of repetition that definitely wasn't stylistic; they just kept repeating the same talking points, like why so and so shouldn't be together, why this situation was awkward, what happened 30 years ago etc. all the dialogue strangely stilted, as though the characters themselves recognised which roles theyre meant to play in the story; things like "because we're unfinished" and "let's drive to the next part of our lives" that just feel absolutely unrealistic. none of the characters feel like real people, nor did i particularly care about any of them. i love a good romance about older wlws, but this was just a weird story overall.

lezreadalot's review

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3.0

And on the pavement in front of  number 49, a Shakespearan plot played out.
 
3.5  stars.This novella ended up being nothing like I expected it to be, and I still enjoyed it a great deal? It's an age-gap-with-a-twist, home for the holidays kind of story. The sort of thing I couldn't stop reading because I had to know what was coming next. Older women in f/f are always catnip to me. For what is a pretty short novella, the romance was really sweet, and I really liked the writing. And it also helped that, being a novella, it didn't attempt to pigeonhole itself into the usual story arc.

Def. worth the read.

lesbrary's review

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3.0

Honestly, giving the premise, I was hoping for a little more melodrama! But it wraps up a little too quickly and neatly for me

misthios_pat's review

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4.0

I totally wasn't expecting this big age gap. But it didn't bother me at all, why would it? Actually I liked it very much, it was so awkwardly funny and somewhat heartbreaking... Sometimes life throws lemons at people and these lemons are just the size of a watermelon and lets say making a lemonade of it won't be easy.

The thoughts that kept coming back to me during the reading was "oh no, she won't go there, will she?" "Oh, she is!" ""She really is, omg!" "Wow"

I just hope that the 3rd party, if you guys know whom I'm speaking of, gets her happy ending. Please Ms. Lydon, give her all the love she deserves and us a glimpse of how the other couple is doing. I'll pay the big bucks for it heheheh.

On a note, since the 31 years age gap caused quite the uproar in some other reviews, I'd like to add my 2 cents saying that tbh unless I fell in love unexpectedly and couldn't hold back lust induced behaviour I'd never get involved with someone under [around] 27 and I'm just 32, but to each their own... But if the if the age gap, even a +30 years one, was the other way round I'd be very willing to be part of it, give me an older woman anytime. I'm all for Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor.

coops456's review

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4.0

At 54, Georgia knows how she likes spending Xmas: alone, doing whatever she wants. But this year she finds herself with a new, twenty-something girlfriend who's determined to take Georgia home to meet the parents. Everyone is in for a surprise.

This is a charming, quick read with an unexpected twist. And available free from Clare Lydon's website, what more can you ask for.

julessssss's review

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1.0

1.5

althea's review

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4.0

This was a really fun, short sapphic Christmassy novella that I'd definitely recommend! This is my second novella by Clare Lydon now and I can't wait to dive into some of her longer novels! Full RTC.

Read for the 12 Days of Queermas Readathon

netgyrl's review

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4.0

4 Stars - deliciously awkward way to reconnect with your one true love

nerdykat's review

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

kat1137's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0