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ellehubb's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a fun and light hearted enemies to lovers story. The characters were both relatable and their relationship was very cute to watch unfold. The story centers around Scottish dance teachers/performers so the world was quite colorful and fun to read about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
katejoanna's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? N/A
4.0
I’m glad I gave Katia Rose a second chance after DNFing the first book of hers, this one was much better. Enemies (and competitive rivals) to lovers, cute, funny and a great plot line. A little cringe and sappy but just the light wlw read I was after.
“I'm staring like an idiot again, but I can't stop. I can't even move my feet any farther on the floor.
The glow of the candles makes everything about her
look soft and blurred, like a prized oil painting on the wall
of an ancient old house. If I could draw, I'd sit down with a
sketchbook right here and spend hours capturing the way
the light catches on her hair.
She matters to me. She makes my whole body light up
in ways it's never done for anyone else. She makes me
feel like the sun and the sky and the stars all at once.
She makes me feel limitless, even when so much of the world has tried to tell me just how limited I am.”
“I'm staring like an idiot again, but I can't stop. I can't even move my feet any farther on the floor.
The glow of the candles makes everything about her
look soft and blurred, like a prized oil painting on the wall
of an ancient old house. If I could draw, I'd sit down with a
sketchbook right here and spend hours capturing the way
the light catches on her hair.
She matters to me. She makes my whole body light up
in ways it's never done for anyone else. She makes me
feel like the sun and the sky and the stars all at once.
She makes me feel limitless, even when so much of the world has tried to tell me just how limited I am.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Body shaming
Severe depression descriptions (not entirely kind/understanding or accurate) and a non-graphic, non-fatal ODpatroc's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I picked this book up as a bagpiper and frequent attendee at Highland Games rather than as a purveyor of sapphic contemporary romance. That said, it felt like a fairly run of the mill sports/dance romance. I was shocked to learn that the author has indeed been a Highland dancer. Don’t get me wrong, the terminology is there and, from my understanding, used correctly, but the Highland dance setting felt a lot like it was just kind of there but also totally replaceable. You could, for the most part, pick this plot up and drop it instead on a cheerleading backdrop or a ballet backdrop and have pretty much the same novel. There are so many things unique to Highland Dance and Highland Games culture as a whole, and I guess I was hoping that it would be a bit more integral to the way the story. The little tartan-wearing devil really is in the details.
I was in need of a light read and this fit the bill. However, I wish the book had spent more time with Kenzie’s family and that whole situation. I know it was there to give her motivation and backstory but the way it was resolved felt extremely rushed and forced.
I was in need of a light read and this fit the bill. However, I wish the book had spent more time with Kenzie’s family and that whole situation. I know it was there to give her motivation and backstory but the way it was resolved felt extremely rushed and forced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Addiction
thereadingskeleton's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rep: lesbian MC, sapphic (questioning) MC, queer Jewish SC, SC with depression
This is the fourth Katia Rose book I’ve read (thank you to Katia for being kind enough to send me a digital ARC!), and it was another thoroughly enjoyable story. Although I’m unfamiliar with the highland dance world, I loved the competition aspect of the plot. Rivals-to-lovers is my favorite trope, and this is an excellent example of it. Kenzie and Moira’s relationship is full of tension (sexual and otherwise) and banter, and I found myself swooning and laughing in turn.
I have a couple of favorite things (the first two of which are related) about Katia’s books, including this one.
The first is the showcase of multiple complex characters with a range of emotional experiences, combined with the nuanced exploration of the complicated feelings that come with loving someone who struggles with mental illness. On that second note, I’ve dealt with mental illness (both in myself and in close family members) my whole life, and while I’m sure not every mentally ill person will have the same perspective, I really relate to being both empathetic with and exasperated by it.
The other is how Katia includes sapphic characters who are still figuring themselves out. As someone who took a long time to figure out that I wasn’t straight, and as someone who has finally settled on a label (albeit an extremely broad one) after trying on a bunch of them that just didn’t fit, I love seeing a character who gets to say “I know I’m not straight, but I don’t know exactly what label I’d like to use” even at the end of the book. It’s so refreshing to have stories where characters aren’t pressured to “pick a label” and can instead just figure themselves out on their own timetables—even if that extends beyond the end of the written story.
If you enjoy romantic comedies with a helping of drama and a dollop of steam, sapphic rivals-to-lovers stories, and/or sports romances (yes, dance is a sport), I recommend this one.
Rep: lesbian MC, sapphic (questioning) MC, queer Jewish SC, SC with depression
This is the fourth Katia Rose book I’ve read (thank you to Katia for being kind enough to send me a digital ARC!), and it was another thoroughly enjoyable story. Although I’m unfamiliar with the highland dance world, I loved the competition aspect of the plot. Rivals-to-lovers is my favorite trope, and this is an excellent example of it. Kenzie and Moira’s relationship is full of tension (sexual and otherwise) and banter, and I found myself swooning and laughing in turn.
I have a couple of favorite things (the first two of which are related) about Katia’s books, including this one.
The first is the showcase of multiple complex characters with a range of emotional experiences, combined with the nuanced exploration of the complicated feelings that come with loving someone who struggles with mental illness. On that second note, I’ve dealt with mental illness (both in myself and in close family members) my whole life, and while I’m sure not every mentally ill person will have the same perspective, I really relate to being both empathetic with and exasperated by it.
The other is how Katia includes sapphic characters who are still figuring themselves out. As someone who took a long time to figure out that I wasn’t straight, and as someone who has finally settled on a label (albeit an extremely broad one) after trying on a bunch of them that just didn’t fit, I love seeing a character who gets to say “I know I’m not straight, but I don’t know exactly what label I’d like to use” even at the end of the book. It’s so refreshing to have stories where characters aren’t pressured to “pick a label” and can instead just figure themselves out on their own timetables—even if that extends beyond the end of the written story.
If you enjoy romantic comedies with a helping of drama and a dollop of steam, sapphic rivals-to-lovers stories, and/or sports romances (yes, dance is a sport), I recommend this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism and Fatphobia
Minor: Drug abuse and Addiction
libraryofpeculiar's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Huge thanks to Katia Rose for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. It has been absolute pleasure reading this one.
I am obssesed! Totally fucking obssesed with this book! I think I fell in love at the very first page. This is probably my favorite queer enemies to lovers book.
I'm a huge fan of Katia's writing ever since I've read her "Catch and Cradle" so I don't have anything new to say about her writing style. I love that it's simple and easy to read. I get lost in the book without even trying, it just sucks me into the story and I don't wanna stop reading.
As for our MCs, I had a hard time warming up to Kenzie, I have to admit. I like Moira from the start, but Kenzie has this bitchy, cold, distant attitude and I had a hard time liking her. But as the story went by, I actually grew to like her more than Moira. Their chemistry felt quite natural to me, despite it being rivals to lovers, there were so many sparks flying around. 😍
I recommend this to literally everyone if they wanna read NA contemporary WLW romance. Pure 5/5, one of the best WLW books I've read so far.
I am obssesed! Totally fucking obssesed with this book! I think I fell in love at the very first page. This is probably my favorite queer enemies to lovers book.
I'm a huge fan of Katia's writing ever since I've read her "Catch and Cradle" so I don't have anything new to say about her writing style. I love that it's simple and easy to read. I get lost in the book without even trying, it just sucks me into the story and I don't wanna stop reading.
As for our MCs, I had a hard time warming up to Kenzie, I have to admit. I like Moira from the start, but Kenzie has this bitchy, cold, distant attitude and I had a hard time liking her. But as the story went by, I actually grew to like her more than Moira. Their chemistry felt quite natural to me, despite it being rivals to lovers, there were so many sparks flying around. 😍
I recommend this to literally everyone if they wanna read NA contemporary WLW romance. Pure 5/5, one of the best WLW books I've read so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction
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