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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
What set Hearing Red apart for me wasn’t just the post-apocalyptic world or the slow-burn romance — it was Saff herself.
Nicole Maser wrote her character with such raw honesty and complexity. Saff isn’t a character who just “softens” over time. Instead, we see her slowly unravel and reveal layers of pain and trauma and everything she’s been carrying. She felt so real… and seeing her navigate survival and vulnerability stuck with me in a way I didn’t expect.
Maddie balances her out perfectly — tender without being cheesy, and never over the top. But Maddie’s also confident and independent, with her own strength and quiet determination. She pushes and supports Saff in all the right ways, and Saff does the same for her. Their connection feels natural and believable, and every interaction between them is charged and meaningful.
The world they live in is rough and authentic without drowning you in details. It’s clear this is a hard place to survive, but it never takes over the story. It just makes the characters’ struggles and connection feel even more real.
I’m definitely a crier when it comes to media, but even so, there was one scene in particular that absolutely WRECKED me. The writing pulled me in so deep, I felt like I was right there with them. Nicole Maser has a way with words that just makes every moment hit harder (right in my chest, to be exact).
To me, this book wasn’t just a romance set in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s a story about survival, trauma, and healing with love woven through every part of it. And I’m pretty sure I’ll be emotionally recovering from this one for a while.
Nicole Maser wrote her character with such raw honesty and complexity. Saff isn’t a character who just “softens” over time. Instead, we see her slowly unravel and reveal layers of pain and trauma and everything she’s been carrying. She felt so real… and seeing her navigate survival and vulnerability stuck with me in a way I didn’t expect.
Maddie balances her out perfectly — tender without being cheesy, and never over the top. But Maddie’s also confident and independent, with her own strength and quiet determination. She pushes and supports Saff in all the right ways, and Saff does the same for her. Their connection feels natural and believable, and every interaction between them is charged and meaningful.
The world they live in is rough and authentic without drowning you in details. It’s clear this is a hard place to survive, but it never takes over the story. It just makes the characters’ struggles and connection feel even more real.
I’m definitely a crier when it comes to media, but even so, there was one scene in particular that absolutely WRECKED me. The writing pulled me in so deep, I felt like I was right there with them. Nicole Maser has a way with words that just makes every moment hit harder (right in my chest, to be exact).
To me, this book wasn’t just a romance set in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s a story about survival, trauma, and healing with love woven through every part of it. And I’m pretty sure I’ll be emotionally recovering from this one for a while.
So, honestly book was a good read but I also feel like it fell a bit flat for me. I honestly lean towards 3.5 stars as the rating.
Let's start with the good stuff: The slow burn was done pretty good. The romance moments had me kicking my feet. Saff and Maddie's relationship was super cute and I loved their adventures together. The ending really captured my interest and I was stressed cause even if I knew everything was going to be okay, watching them get hurt was still stressful. I even shed a few tears at the end with how sweet their love was and how much they cared about each other. That last chapter with the popcorn really sealed the book with a kiss, it was just too cute.
Now the bad: I feel like it was a little slow and boring at times. It took me a while to get through the beginning and the middle felt a little boring. I was especially dreading the third act break up and when I finally got to that part I was rolling my eyes. I was honestly super confused on why it was such an issue. It just felt like Maddie kinda overreacted but at least it got resolved kinda quick (not quick enough tho). I just feel like this book was a tad bit long and even though I don't have much to complain about, I am just not in love with this book as much as I hoped to be unfortunately. Something is missing and I can't put my finger on what it could be.
Anyways, I need more sapphic books to make my little gay heart happy.
"Time seemed to slow, and with each passing moment, it felt as if the wounds deep in their souls were tangling together, healing each other with every touch."
Let's start with the good stuff: The slow burn was done pretty good. The romance moments had me kicking my feet. Saff and Maddie's relationship was super cute and I loved their adventures together. The ending really captured my interest and I was stressed cause even if I knew everything was going to be okay, watching them get hurt was still stressful. I even shed a few tears at the end with how sweet their love was and how much they cared about each other. That last chapter with the popcorn really sealed the book with a kiss, it was just too cute.
Now the bad: I feel like it was a little slow and boring at times. It took me a while to get through the beginning and the middle felt a little boring. I was especially dreading the third act break up and when I finally got to that part I was rolling my eyes. I was honestly super confused on why it was such an issue. It just felt like Maddie kinda overreacted but at least it got resolved kinda quick (not quick enough tho). I just feel like this book was a tad bit long and even though I don't have much to complain about, I am just not in love with this book as much as I hoped to be unfortunately. Something is missing and I can't put my finger on what it could be.
Anyways, I need more sapphic books to make my little gay heart happy.
"Time seemed to slow, and with each passing moment, it felt as if the wounds deep in their souls were tangling together, healing each other with every touch."
adventurous
emotional
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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:
Yes
Where do I begin? I found this book on booktok and recognized the author. Immediately downloaded and devoured easily. There’s so many things I love about this book. The story. The descriptions. The characters. I mean, a visually impaired love interest that’s forced to use physical touch ?! *slams fists on the table* I ATE THAT SHIT UP. Let’s not forget the moody brunette that can’t share her feelings and hates everyone EXCEPT for the overly-generous blonde that she’s forced to spend time with. Ugh. Chefs kiss.
*SPOILER COMING UP*
I was hooked throughout this entire story but towards the end, after Saff and Maddie’s run in with Mike, I was literally at the edge of my seat. I was sweating, I couldn’t read fast enough. And not to mention the “you have to get up, okay, baby” *flips a chair* I LOVE IT. I WAS KICKING MY FEET AND GIGGLING. SHE SAID BABY. SHE CALLED HER BABY.
Overall, I loved this and I need so much more of their story. I’m about to write my own fanfiction just to continuing obsessing over them.
*SPOILER COMING UP*
I was hooked throughout this entire story but towards the end, after Saff and Maddie’s run in with Mike, I was literally at the edge of my seat. I was sweating, I couldn’t read fast enough. And not to mention the “you have to get up, okay, baby” *flips a chair* I LOVE IT. I WAS KICKING MY FEET AND GIGGLING. SHE SAID BABY. SHE CALLED HER BABY.
Overall, I loved this and I need so much more of their story. I’m about to write my own fanfiction just to continuing obsessing over them.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
Why aren’t there more books like this? Ugh! I love sapphic post-apocalyptic/dystopian style books, especially lengthy ones. Unfortunately, there just isn’t anywhere near enough of them! I loved Charon Docks at Daylight and have been looking for another book with those similarities ever since first reading it and this hit the spot. I LOVED this book and I also really loved the dynamic between the two MCs. Maddie has my heart.
challenging
emotional
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gods, this felt like a slog to get through. Paint by numbers and questionnable blind representation. The chapters where Saff is dying are written well and Lori Prince narrates wonderfully. I hate that I had to go back to Audible for this though, fuck Amazon.
@not_a_sasquatch's DNF at 60% Storygraph review covers a lot of the same critiques I have which are typical for bad books so I won't belabour the point. But I picked it up again at 70% and immediately felt rwady to put it down again. Also, if I can read it at x2.75 speed and still hear words, then no wonder it drove me nuts trying to read it at x2.0.
The main point I want to discuss in more detail is Maddie's blindness, which felt badly done, falling wayside to intermittment PSAs and serving more as excuses to move the plot or characterisations forward. The writing feels close enough to believable of good representation, but if you think about it more it just doesn't match at all. Example, memorising the layout of a place. Is it done by blind people? Yes. But after just ONE instance and it being perfectly replicated, hell no. As for Maddie and Saff's first nighttime interaction, stupid. And an excuse to develop romance via blindness reasons. Eugh.
Maybe Nicole Maser is blind herself, or spoke with lots of blind and visually impaired people to conjure Maddie. I can remain hopeful, albeit skeptical. Perhaps she feels really representative for someone blind and that's great. But for me Maddie's blindness felt like just a convenient facet to cone and go as needed for danger, smut, or just a challenge for Maser to write a scene without relying on sight. (Of course Saff smells like coffee grounds, can't believe it also wasn't pine, eugh). Equal comments could be made about other disabilities in the book.
Having grated on it for so long, I did like the starting bits initially as Maddie and Saff are first getting to know each other. Maddie's experience of light described, Saff's description of guiding a blind person to manouver about a shower and Saff's use of the lamps, and Saff calling out kerbs. Cool shit.
The sapphic stuff was predictable but fine for standard.
24/07/2025
@not_a_sasquatch's DNF at 60% Storygraph review covers a lot of the same critiques I have which are typical for bad books so I won't belabour the point. But I picked it up again at 70% and immediately felt rwady to put it down again. Also, if I can read it at x2.75 speed and still hear words, then no wonder it drove me nuts trying to read it at x2.0.
The main point I want to discuss in more detail is Maddie's blindness, which felt badly done, falling wayside to intermittment PSAs and serving more as excuses to move the plot or characterisations forward. The writing feels close enough to believable of good representation, but if you think about it more it just doesn't match at all. Example, memorising the layout of a place. Is it done by blind people? Yes. But after just ONE instance and it being perfectly replicated, hell no. As for Maddie and Saff's first nighttime interaction, stupid. And an excuse to develop romance via blindness reasons. Eugh.
Maybe Nicole Maser is blind herself, or spoke with lots of blind and visually impaired people to conjure Maddie. I can remain hopeful, albeit skeptical. Perhaps she feels really representative for someone blind and that's great. But for me Maddie's blindness felt like just a convenient facet to cone and go as needed for danger, smut, or just a challenge for Maser to write a scene without relying on sight. (Of course Saff smells like coffee grounds, can't believe it also wasn't pine, eugh). Equal comments could be made about other disabilities in the book.
Having grated on it for so long, I did like the starting bits initially as Maddie and Saff are first getting to know each other. Maddie's experience of light described, Saff's description of guiding a blind person to manouver about a shower and Saff's use of the lamps, and Saff calling out kerbs. Cool shit.
The sapphic stuff was predictable but fine for standard.
24/07/2025