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hideyourspoons's review against another edition
5.0
Six stories of six pairs facing the idea of the world ending.
Take away the need to think about tomorrow. Where does grief, fear, anger, regret, panic, hope, love, or passion go when there's nowhere to be but right in that moment.
Each story was compact & staurated with forced proximity goodness. The collection's relationships also ranged from casual vibes to high intensity with lifelong potential.
What makes the emptiness and unknown bearable is eachother. Of the six stories "Bunker Buddies" says it best:
“The world isn’t ending. I would have felt something by now.”
“What do you feel now?”
“Hope.”
*
Tropes & Highlights from each story.
1. All the Stars
Exs working together
Regrets & priorities
2. Keep Calm & Curry On
Masala girl & Curry boy
She's catastrophe brain
He's a golden retriver
Montague vs Capulets
Lockdown in a flea market
3. My Lucky Stars
w|w
Law school
Opposites
Pride & Prejudice
Misunderstanding
4. Bunker Buddies
Mutual. Pining.
Bookstore owner
Teacher
Cold war bunker
Spy role play
5. Interlude
WFH Songwriter
Contractor
Oops, just out of a shower
Casual
6. Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better
Academic rivals
Alumni awards
Last. Names.
Hes already fallen
Praise kink
Change of plans
7. Epilogue (All the Stars)
Month later
Proposal
Take away the need to think about tomorrow. Where does grief, fear, anger, regret, panic, hope, love, or passion go when there's nowhere to be but right in that moment.
Each story was compact & staurated with forced proximity goodness. The collection's relationships also ranged from casual vibes to high intensity with lifelong potential.
What makes the emptiness and unknown bearable is eachother. Of the six stories "Bunker Buddies" says it best:
“The world isn’t ending. I would have felt something by now.”
“What do you feel now?”
“Hope.”
*
Tropes & Highlights from each story.
1. All the Stars
Exs working together
Regrets & priorities
2. Keep Calm & Curry On
Masala girl & Curry boy
She's catastrophe brain
He's a golden retriver
Montague vs Capulets
Lockdown in a flea market
3. My Lucky Stars
w|w
Law school
Opposites
Pride & Prejudice
Misunderstanding
4. Bunker Buddies
Mutual. Pining.
Bookstore owner
Teacher
Cold war bunker
Spy role play
5. Interlude
WFH Songwriter
Contractor
Oops, just out of a shower
Casual
6. Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better
Academic rivals
Alumni awards
Last. Names.
Hes already fallen
Praise kink
Change of plans
7. Epilogue (All the Stars)
Month later
Proposal
kiwi_00's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
There are some great stories in this book but overall it was kinda mid
dlmobley31's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
feliciasrose's review against another edition
2.5
The only story I really liked was Denise Williams story! The rest were a three or below honestly.
Story 1 - 3 star
Story 2 - 1.5 star, I honestly wish I hadn't finished it. The last thing they fight about kind of urked the hell out of me. She was like mad on behalf of her father as if this man and his father are the same person. At your age, you don't understand that grown folk business isn't yours to worry about. It just felt like she was grasping at something to be mad about...
Story 3 - DNF, didn't want to listen to two teens just be mad about nothing so bye bye. Sad about it bc this was the only sapphic story.
Story 4 - It was okay, 3 star read. These two were cute nerds.
Story 5 - 3 stars. Again, it was okay. Wow these two are horny, like relax lmao
Story 6 - 4...almost 5 compared to everything else here. Funny, charming, cute. I laughed and I wanted these two to actually be together.
Wished I liked this more. I appreciated all the diverse reads. I will try a Charish and Taj book.
Story 1 - 3 star
Story 2 - 1.5 star, I honestly wish I hadn't finished it. The last thing they fight about kind of urked the hell out of me. She was like mad on behalf of her father as if this man and his father are the same person. At your age, you don't understand that grown folk business isn't yours to worry about. It just felt like she was grasping at something to be mad about...
Story 3 - DNF, didn't want to listen to two teens just be mad about nothing so bye bye. Sad about it bc this was the only sapphic story.
Story 4 - It was okay, 3 star read. These two were cute nerds.
Story 5 - 3 stars. Again, it was okay. Wow these two are horny, like relax lmao
Story 6 - 4...almost 5 compared to everything else here. Funny, charming, cute. I laughed and I wanted these two to actually be together.
Wished I liked this more. I appreciated all the diverse reads. I will try a Charish and Taj book.
feleiciaj's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
This book has a heavy presence of intimacy which caused for the lack of plot. However because it is an anthology of short stories, it is fine to not have an in depth character development and analysis.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
samlovessleep's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
nidzi_c's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hereforthefunofit's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
All the Stars by Taj McCoy - ⭐⭐
I saw someone saying that this could have been the last story instead as it it would be kind of funny for it to be revealed they were all freaking out over nothing and I second that. Otherwise, I do not think this story was very very good, especially since it is supposed to be a romance. The writing is abysmal. The romance is horrible. The sex scene is fine, but it makes so little sense where it is that I genuinely restarted the book because I thought I missed something. So you may wonder? Why did I give it 2 stars? Well, I don't give out 1 stars very easily, I oddly don't think it's 1 star worthy. And also, it does its job in setting up the context of the collection. But Griffin leaving Halley cause he was stressed then coming back like he didn't do anything, only to be like I still want you is...no, just no. And Halley just lets him like hello???? Our standards??? I could understand if this was hate sex and like palpable sexual tension but I didn't even get that so, this first story is just a hard pass for me on the romance front. But although I though Willy was ridiculous, I did at least find that plot point interesting and I like that they lied to the whole country even though it still puts all their incompetence is on display.
Keep Calm and Curry On by Farah Heron - ⭐⭐⭐.75
After the first book, I got very scared so this story saved me. However as it went on, I thought Maya was losing it a bit. I was going to give this one 4 stars but she kept confusing me. I can vibe with a useless grudge and that being the reason why she doesn't like/would never work with Tarek's family but as she kept explaining I realised she had a different reason for being all anal with him and I can't even remember what it was but that's how I ended up at 3.75. Also the main reason this was a docking from 4 stars and not 5 is because of the dialogue. I just found it a bit stilted at times, robotic yet still childish.
My Lucky Stars by Lane Clarke - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This has a whole star for GOOD LESBIAN SEX. Jones is a LEWWSSEEERR and she's been outwardly mean to Dianna all because of storylines she made up in her own head. I understand making assumptions, but I think it's ridiculous to be smart enough to be in law school but not understanding that your assumptions of a person is not fact and it is ridiculous to treat them based on your assumptions. THE SEX IS SAUR GOOD THOUGH.
Bunker Buddies by Charish Reid - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why I love this one so much? The writing I felt was lovely. They sounded a bit younger than their age but it wasn't egregious.The roleplaying almost got me. I almost died. I thought I would absolutely hate it, but I just didn't like it. WHICH IS A WIN. so no stars docked for that. Realistically, this is a 4.25 or 4.5 but I wanted a 5 star so we're sticking with it.
Interlude by Sarah Smith - ⭐⭐.5
THIS GIRL IS SO HORNY OMG. It was cringey and that's its biggest fault. I lived.
Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better by Denise Williams -
I actually didn't read this one in time for the book club meeting and everybody scared me away from it so it will remain unread.
Overall, it has its high points and it's really really low points. I don't think short story anthologies like this really worked for me, but it was a book club pick (lily reads book club) and a harmless read. Plus, I found some new authors to look out for.
Keep Calm and Curry On by Farah Heron - ⭐⭐⭐.75
After the first book, I got very scared so this story saved me. However as it went on, I thought Maya was losing it a bit. I was going to give this one 4 stars but she kept confusing me. I can vibe with a useless grudge and that being the reason why she doesn't like/would never work with Tarek's family but as she kept explaining I realised she had a different reason for being all anal with him and I can't even remember what it was but that's how I ended up at 3.75. Also the main reason this was a docking from 4 stars and not 5 is because of the dialogue. I just found it a bit stilted at times, robotic yet still childish.
My Lucky Stars by Lane Clarke - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This has a whole star for GOOD LESBIAN SEX. Jones is a LEWWSSEEERR and she's been outwardly mean to Dianna all because of storylines she made up in her own head. I understand making assumptions, but I think it's ridiculous to be smart enough to be in law school but not understanding that your assumptions of a person is not fact and it is ridiculous to treat them based on your assumptions. THE SEX IS SAUR GOOD THOUGH.
Bunker Buddies by Charish Reid - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why I love this one so much? The writing I felt was lovely. They sounded a bit younger than their age but it wasn't egregious.
Interlude by Sarah Smith - ⭐⭐.5
THIS GIRL IS SO HORNY OMG. It was cringey and that's its biggest fault. I lived.
Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better by Denise Williams -
I actually didn't read this one in time for the book club meeting and everybody scared me away from it so it will remain unread.
Overall, it has its high points and it's really really low points. I don't think short story anthologies like this really worked for me, but it was a book club pick (lily reads book club) and a harmless read. Plus, I found some new authors to look out for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
nbammodu's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
3.5
Fun reads but stories of such varying quality. Keep Calm and Curry On was amazing. 5 star story.