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lurker_stalker's review
3.0
I wanted to like this book more than I actually ended up liking it. I loved the basic story: autistic woman who lost the one person who seemed to hold her together, who was also the father of her autistic child, meets woman who is being pushed into dealing with the death of her overbearing, emotionally distant father. Family issues and love follow. Great right?
There were a few things that didn't sit right with me and that's why I rated it only three stars. First, there were so many similes. Similes flowed like a raging river to the ocean. Or wherever rivers flow to. There were a lot of them. I also couldn't feel a lick of chemistry between the protagonists. I wanted to. I felt a flicker here and there but it just didn't happen for me. And the final conflict at the end came on quickly, didn't seem realistic to me, and was solved easily.
While those things bugged me, I loved the mother/daughter relationship between Georgia and Hannah. They made the book for me. There were also some good humorous exchanges and some emotional stuff that hit the mark.
This is a debut novel and I think some of the issues I had are common in first books for authors. When Ms. Acker's sophomore effort is available, I'll absolutely put it on my TBR.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
There were a few things that didn't sit right with me and that's why I rated it only three stars. First, there were so many similes. Similes flowed like a raging river to the ocean. Or wherever rivers flow to. There were a lot of them. I also couldn't feel a lick of chemistry between the protagonists. I wanted to. I felt a flicker here and there but it just didn't happen for me. And the final conflict at the end came on quickly, didn't seem realistic to me, and was solved easily.
While those things bugged me, I loved the mother/daughter relationship between Georgia and Hannah. They made the book for me. There were also some good humorous exchanges and some emotional stuff that hit the mark.
This is a debut novel and I think some of the issues I had are common in first books for authors. When Ms. Acker's sophomore effort is available, I'll absolutely put it on my TBR.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
becisatree's review
emotional
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? No
4.0
pdestrienne's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
As an autistic bisexual I was excited to see someone like me represented in romance. And I do like romances where the romance part isn't the main source of conflict. Themes include: opening your life to change when change is hard. Opening your life to children when you thought you didn't like children. Falling in love slowly and with lots of care for each other. Working through shame issues from your father. Working through having to deal with obnoxious family. Axlotls. and Recognizing the not so great parts of your personality and taking steps to soften them. All interesting themes, and Acker is a writer who is sensitive to the nuances of these themes. (Aside: I felt like Lauren is written as an undiagnosed autistic person and that was intriguing).
nefariousnev's review
5.0
This is a sweet, slow burn adult romance that deftly touches on complex issues like grief, autism, and the raising children and handles them all well. It's a grounded and sensitive book and an amazing debut for Kay Acker. Nice use of axolotls to punctuate a passionate kiss too!
elvang's review
4.0
Impressive debut delivering a slow burn romance with characters who were a refreshing change from the usual romance novels we read.
Georgia is an architect on the autism spectrum and has a daughter, Hannah, who is also autistic. Losing her best friend and Hannah’s father has left Georgia feeling lost and overwhelmed. She and Hannah have coping techniques to manage their daily routines but Kyle’s death has left Georgia feeling adrift. Lauren is a computer programmer who is also dealing with the loss of a father she has spent her life trying to please. Lauren is not identified as being on the autism spectrum but her inability to read emotions and her single minded logic reminded me of someone with Aspergers.
The first scene when Lauren meets Hannah and the two connect gave me all the feels and I knew I was going to enjoy this read. These characters felt so real, honest and sincere. I loved how Hannah was a buffer between the women during their early and often awkward moments together. Georgia and Lauren become friends first and eventually lovers. The romantic attraction is there but is often in the background as Georgia deals with her late co-parent’s family and Lauren spends a lot of time in her head, pondering the direction her life should take.
I wasn’t crazy about the ending but knew in my heart these three were meant to be together. The author made me wonder if Georgia and Lauren would ever find their HEA. As unsettling as the conflict is, the drama of it had me remembering exactly where I was when I read this portion of the novel. I so wanted Lauren to see she didn’t need to follow some misconceived dream to honour her father’s wishes but to accept that being the woman Georgia and Hannah needed in their lives was something concrete, something right for Lauren. That I remember exactly where I was (listening via TTS on a walk) speaks volumes to the emotional impact the ending of this novel had for this reader. Well done, Ms. Acker.
This is an author to watch and I look forward to reading her books in the future.
ARC received with thanks from Bella Books via NetGalley for review.
Georgia is an architect on the autism spectrum and has a daughter, Hannah, who is also autistic. Losing her best friend and Hannah’s father has left Georgia feeling lost and overwhelmed. She and Hannah have coping techniques to manage their daily routines but Kyle’s death has left Georgia feeling adrift. Lauren is a computer programmer who is also dealing with the loss of a father she has spent her life trying to please. Lauren is not identified as being on the autism spectrum but her inability to read emotions and her single minded logic reminded me of someone with Aspergers.
The first scene when Lauren meets Hannah and the two connect gave me all the feels and I knew I was going to enjoy this read. These characters felt so real, honest and sincere. I loved how Hannah was a buffer between the women during their early and often awkward moments together. Georgia and Lauren become friends first and eventually lovers. The romantic attraction is there but is often in the background as Georgia deals with her late co-parent’s family and Lauren spends a lot of time in her head, pondering the direction her life should take.
I wasn’t crazy about the ending but knew in my heart these three were meant to be together. The author made me wonder if Georgia and Lauren would ever find their HEA. As unsettling as the conflict is, the drama of it had me remembering exactly where I was when I read this portion of the novel. I so wanted Lauren to see she didn’t need to follow some misconceived dream to honour her father’s wishes but to accept that being the woman Georgia and Hannah needed in their lives was something concrete, something right for Lauren. That I remember exactly where I was (listening via TTS on a walk) speaks volumes to the emotional impact the ending of this novel had for this reader. Well done, Ms. Acker.
This is an author to watch and I look forward to reading her books in the future.
ARC received with thanks from Bella Books via NetGalley for review.
zefrien's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
courtneyfalling's review
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.0
I think this was roughly what I expected, a pretty cute and unusual middle-aged autistic lesbian love story set in New England! Some standard romance tropes (too attached to a career that isn't delivering what the heroine wants, single mom trying to find love after a co-parent's unexpected death, trying to navigate extended family struggles), but I think the explicit attention to autistic adulthood and parenting makes this special. (Even Lauren reads as autistic really strongly... maybe related to this as an Own Voices book?)
I think my only main issue was that sometimes the plot seemed too slow, then sometimes too fast, and the ending was rather sudden. I could've done with another chapter or two to round everything out.
I think my only main issue was that sometimes the plot seemed too slow, then sometimes too fast, and the ending was rather sudden. I could've done with another chapter or two to round everything out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Ableism
Minor: Death of parent
aawexa's review
3.0
this one was okay it was basically fluff the whole time except for the last like 50 pages, felt like it was angst for no reason cause it was resolved in one convo and then no epilogue so u don’t even know what happens .. sort of unsatisfying ending but i didn’t hate it
rogue_lurker's review
4.0
This was a very pleasant surprise. Ms Acker's novel is an impressive debut. Well written, engaging characters that feel real as well as a well paced build up of the romance. After the death of her father, Lauren is at an impasse both with her work and her personal life. Cue a disastrous first meeting with Georgia, also dealing with the death of her best friend/co-parent, and then a follow on meeting at a local grief support group and you've got enough baggage to go on a two week trip. Despite the rocky start, the two women form a a relationship, thanks in part to Georgia's daughter, Hannah (love that kid ) that seems to be what both of them need.
I particularly liked the choices Ms Acker made with the portrayal of Lauren and Georgia. Lauren's seeming lack of ambition is a direct result of her unresolved feelings around the rather ambivalent relationship with her father and you can sympathize with her seeming paralysis to make changes and the frustration of when she does begin to focus more on her career it is completely ignored by her boss. Georgia's autism was deftly portrayed - she is so self-aware of the triggers and reactions but at times is unable to stop them. The struggle she had with managing both her and her daughter's autism with seemingly well intentioned friends or family not quite understanding the impact of their actions and words was a bit of an eye opener. Both women are portrayed with a wonderful realism that makes you connect with them and root for relationship.
From a romance perspective, this is a slow burn and the time Ms Acker takes building the friendship helps build the reader's engagement with the characters so that when the relationship turns to more than friends, its a natural and believable progression and just feels right.
This is a refreshingly romance that hits all the right buttons with engaging characters who are original and well developed and a nice build up of the romance.
Recommended.
I particularly liked the choices Ms Acker made with the portrayal of Lauren and Georgia. Lauren's seeming lack of ambition is a direct result of her unresolved feelings around the rather ambivalent relationship with her father and you can sympathize with her seeming paralysis to make changes and the frustration of when she does begin to focus more on her career it is completely ignored by her boss. Georgia's autism was deftly portrayed - she is so self-aware of the triggers and reactions but at times is unable to stop them. The struggle she had with managing both her and her daughter's autism with seemingly well intentioned friends or family not quite understanding the impact of their actions and words was a bit of an eye opener. Both women are portrayed with a wonderful realism that makes you connect with them and root for relationship.
From a romance perspective, this is a slow burn and the time Ms Acker takes building the friendship helps build the reader's engagement with the characters so that when the relationship turns to more than friends, its a natural and believable progression and just feels right.
This is a refreshingly romance that hits all the right buttons with engaging characters who are original and well developed and a nice build up of the romance.
Recommended.
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