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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
I loved this book, can't wait for the next book in the series.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Cozy gay romance that is clearly written by an actual gay man instead of a straight woman. Loved the characters and the setup. Loved that they were both larger bodied and weren't insecure or afraid that they didn't deserve love/ affection. The entire thing felt like a giant bear hug. (Pun intended.) Also, some parts were very spicy, more than I expected even though one of the main characters is a sex/ relationship writer. So, basically, I'm dumb for not expecting that. Lol. Anyway, super sweet and super spicy. But it was really the characters that made this a 5 star for me. I loved them both and loved that they didn't try to change each other. I hope they get a sequel. I need them to winter together with a lot of homemade mead and Bowie the fox. I have no idea what the conflict would be but honestly they could just hang out being happy together and I'd read it.
I liked the premise and the characters were fine, but I didnt jive with the authors writing style.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Will be going back to this. I just felt like I HAD to finish it. And with work being so busy in July, I just didn't get around to it.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So this book started off pretty well. The cover art is cute and inviting. There was a good setup with a great setting, and surprisingly excellent nature descriptions. There was positive plus size rep with our MMCs happy and confident in their bodies. And then, BAM! Outta nowhere, Luca meets Artair and the story becomes one big constant graphically weird and repetitive description of body parts which was often so jarring that it took me completely out of the story.
One major complaint I have is that Luca’s horniness oftentimes got in the way of any real character development. Being horny and constantly obsessed with sex is not a personality trait, and while men irl might think about sex a bajillion times a minute, it doesn’t make for a great reading experience or give much space to develop an actual relationship in the narrative.
I also found it concerning that Luca couldn’t even go three weeks without sex and was constantly obsessing about having it? This feels less sex positive and more like sex addiction. I don’t know? I may be way off base here? But it’s so ridiculous that Luca found the idea of going three months without sex to be such a Herculean effort and insurmountable feat, that he literally had to move to the middle of nowhere in a desperate attempt at self imposed isolation so that he even had a chance at surviving a couple of months of keeping it in his pants. Like what?! Where is the self control? You know you can masturbate right? Like, it’ll be ok! You won’t die!
Luca also clearly thinks and states multiple times that the article, the opportunity, and the promises he made to the newspaper are really important to him. So, the fact that even with all that, he still can’t maintain his commitment to his employers and more importantly to himself, is kinda concerning. This lack of self control wasn’t something I found cute or romantic or endearing. There was no swooning at the loss of control here. It was actually the opposite and kinda gave me the ick.
Plus it felt like a missed opportunity. Why not lean into the slow burn and longing? This would have allowed for an actual friendship and relationship to develop and then, at the end of the summer, think of the fireworks and the impact of a sex scene after waiting so long to be together physically.
And, I may not be a gay man, but I’m pretty sure some sort of lube is essential for a good time, especially when one’s partner has the “girth of a beer can”.
Also, please, please, stop saying “girth”! And “seven-inch slab”! And “steaming man-scented cave” (WTF even is that??) And “full-balled” and “big slapping balls”! And “brick-hard broadsword”! And all the other weird as hell variations this author came up with to describe a dude’s junk!
Ultimately, the use of all these out of the box adjectives, and the lack of actual romance/connection, meant that the sex scenes were really cringe, with descriptions that made me roll my eyes so hard, I think I may have pulled something.
I’m more disappointed than anything, as this could’ve been a really good story.
One major complaint I have is that Luca’s horniness oftentimes got in the way of any real character development. Being horny and constantly obsessed with sex is not a personality trait, and while men irl might think about sex a bajillion times a minute, it doesn’t make for a great reading experience or give much space to develop an actual relationship in the narrative.
I also found it concerning that Luca couldn’t even go three weeks without sex and was constantly obsessing about having it? This feels less sex positive and more like sex addiction. I don’t know? I may be way off base here? But it’s so ridiculous that Luca found the idea of going three months without sex to be such a Herculean effort and insurmountable feat, that he literally had to move to the middle of nowhere in a desperate attempt at self imposed isolation so that he even had a chance at surviving a couple of months of keeping it in his pants. Like what?! Where is the self control? You know you can masturbate right? Like, it’ll be ok! You won’t die!
Luca also clearly thinks and states multiple times that the article, the opportunity, and the promises he made to the newspaper are really important to him. So, the fact that even with all that, he still can’t maintain his commitment to his employers and more importantly to himself, is kinda concerning. This lack of self control wasn’t something I found cute or romantic or endearing. There was no swooning at the loss of control here. It was actually the opposite and kinda gave me the ick.
Plus it felt like a missed opportunity. Why not lean into the slow burn and longing? This would have allowed for an actual friendship and relationship to develop and then, at the end of the summer, think of the fireworks and the impact of a sex scene after waiting so long to be together physically.
And, I may not be a gay man, but I’m pretty sure some sort of lube is essential for a good time, especially when one’s partner has the “girth of a beer can”.
Also, please, please, stop saying “girth”! And “seven-inch slab”! And “steaming man-scented cave” (WTF even is that??) And “full-balled” and “big slapping balls”! And “brick-hard broadsword”! And all the other weird as hell variations this author came up with to describe a dude’s junk!
Ultimately, the use of all these out of the box adjectives, and the lack of actual romance/connection, meant that the sex scenes were really cringe, with descriptions that made me roll my eyes so hard, I think I may have pulled something.
I’m more disappointed than anything, as this could’ve been a really good story.