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lurker_stalker's review
2.0
So much potential with an interesting concept but the over-the-top bad guys and overblown dialogue, I nearly quit several times. If Phoebe wasn’t in the book at all, I would immediately bump it up a star but there’s no way I buy Faye being her friend for years and her being such an evil person. And the way Faye continues to talk with her! Ugh. Just so much ugh throughout. There was plenty of drama and angst without all the extra. Sometimes less is more. I had other issues but these were the big ones that kept me from loving this book.
yoni08's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lezreadalot's review
3.0
Everything about the synopsis of this book appealed to me, but the execution turned me right the hell off. I mean, it wasn't bad, not by a long shot, and it could be that I'm just in a pet peevy kind of mood. But so much about this didn't land right for me. A moderately well-to-do author strikes up a romance with a stripper who also happens to be her barista. It sounds like a nice simple contemporary romance, and from the blurb, I figured it would also get serious and emotional too. But unfortunately, this wasn't emotional or angsty as I'd have liked; it just felt melodramatic and overplayed. Everything that happened in this book felt like it was being filtered through an artificial angst strainer. The villainous character especially. I'm not saying people like that don't exist in real life, because they certainly do, but the abruptness and forcefulness and lack of subtlety was just so weird and laughable. I couldn't get immersed in the story because nothing felt authentic.
Another problem I ran into that I feel like I often experience when reading about characters with taboo jobs, like strippers or escorts or sex workers, is the sorta not-like-other-girls emphasis. Every time we were at Talia's club, there was so much stress on the fact that it was classy and upscale, not ~sleazy and gross~. Anyone can feel however they want about their job, but all the implicit comparisons to other strippers, or strippers as society perceives them, really rubbed me the wrong way. I could definitely be reading too much into it. But idk. I found it hard to like either character, and the fact that it felt cartoonishly melodramatic didn't help matters.
It definitely wasn't all bad. Talia and Faye had chemistry, and I was relieved that not everyone was as one-dimensional as it might seem at first. That did raise my general enjoyment, coming down to the end. There wasn't much to complain about re: the writing either. But I definitely enjoyed the first book I read from Tereze more. I'll give her another try because her plots/blurbs do appeal to me. Fingers crossed that the execution of the next one works better.
Content warnings:
Another problem I ran into that I feel like I often experience when reading about characters with taboo jobs, like strippers or escorts or sex workers, is the sorta not-like-other-girls emphasis. Every time we were at Talia's club, there was so much stress on the fact that it was classy and upscale, not ~sleazy and gross~. Anyone can feel however they want about their job, but all the implicit comparisons to other strippers, or strippers as society perceives them, really rubbed me the wrong way. I could definitely be reading too much into it. But idk. I found it hard to like either character, and the fact that it felt cartoonishly melodramatic didn't help matters.
It definitely wasn't all bad. Talia and Faye had chemistry, and I was relieved that not everyone was as one-dimensional as it might seem at first. That did raise my general enjoyment, coming down to the end. There wasn't much to complain about re: the writing either. But I definitely enjoyed the first book I read from Tereze more. I'll give her another try because her plots/blurbs do appeal to me. Fingers crossed that the execution of the next one works better.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
slut shaming, sexual harassment, attempted assaultmisthios_pat's review
5.0
TERRIFIC! The story is absolutely gorgeous. It's light, sweet and hot. A must read in my opinion and I'll be definitely buying the paperback in the near future since it's now among my all time favourites. I honestly don't know why only now we crossed paths, but better late than never.
Both MCs are sweethearts and anyone with ill intention towards them needed to sod off. There, I said it. It was really nice to witness them getting over their and other people's insecurities and just be, to love and support each other. They were also quite hot together, it's summer in the Southern hemisphere, but that's not the reason my place felt suddenly warmer.
Seriously, they deserve the world and being greedy as I am, one can only hope that there will be a follow up on them in a future not so distant.
Now that I said some good stuff let me get the hate off my chest, because is easier:
Urrrrrrrggggggghhhhh
27 pages and I few dialogues, this is how long it took me to strongly dislike Phoebe, and when I thought things couldn't go more south, she just went and proved me wrong.
JESUS, MARY, JOSEPH and THE WEE DONKEY, what a hypocritical cunt! It's been a while since I experienced such a strong distaste towards a character... even if by the ending I was starting to melt, just like Faye.
Sorry, I got a bit carried away here.
Go and read it, it's worth every penny.
Both MCs are sweethearts and anyone with ill intention towards them needed to sod off. There, I said it. It was really nice to witness them getting over their and other people's insecurities and just be, to love and support each other. They were also quite hot together, it's summer in the Southern hemisphere, but that's not the reason my place felt suddenly warmer.
Seriously, they deserve the world and being greedy as I am, one can only hope that there will be a follow up on them in a future not so distant.
Now that I said some good stuff let me get the hate off my chest, because is easier:
Urrrrrrrggggggghhhhh
27 pages and I few dialogues, this is how long it took me to strongly dislike Phoebe, and when I thought things couldn't go more south, she just went and proved me wrong.
JESUS, MARY, JOSEPH and THE WEE DONKEY, what a hypocritical cunt! It's been a while since I experienced such a strong distaste towards a character... even if by the ending I was starting to melt, just like Faye.
Sorry, I got a bit carried away here.
Go and read it, it's worth every penny.
netgyrl's review
5.0
5 stars - I loved it. Cute MCs, good communication. Sexy.
So I have a complicated relationship with books by Ms Tereze. I always love her premise but not always the execution of the story. Usually there is a point in story where if the characters would just be honest and talk about what's going on everything would work out. Or they are talking but they are not listening to each other. Or they are listening but then choose not to believe what they are hearing. IT DRIVES ME NUTS. So, it was with caution that I began reading this book and when stuff starting happening... They talked. And they listened. And they believed!!!
Glory hallelujah!
I really liked both of these characters and wanted them protected at all costs and guess what? It happend over and over! I kept waiting for the stupid misunderstanding or whaterver but then I crept by 80%... nothing. And then I got to 90%... still a-ok. Both still communicating. No one jumping to conclusions to the point of making stupid unilateral decisions. Both still making smart choices. Reading on, I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Then I hit the epilogue! We made it! I could finally stop holding my breath and enjoy the last bit of the story. I am going to have to re-read this at some point so I can relax and enjoy the whole thing it with a stupid grin on my face.
I can say without a doubt this is my fav Melissa Tereze book. Brilliant! Thank you so much Ms Tereze. I loved it.
So I have a complicated relationship with books by Ms Tereze. I always love her premise but not always the execution of the story. Usually there is a point in story where if the characters would just be honest and talk about what's going on everything would work out. Or they are talking but they are not listening to each other. Or they are listening but then choose not to believe what they are hearing. IT DRIVES ME NUTS. So, it was with caution that I began reading this book and when stuff starting happening... They talked. And they listened. And they believed!!!
Glory hallelujah!
I really liked both of these characters and wanted them protected at all costs and guess what? It happend over and over! I kept waiting for the stupid misunderstanding or whaterver but then I crept by 80%... nothing. And then I got to 90%... still a-ok. Both still communicating. No one jumping to conclusions to the point of making stupid unilateral decisions. Both still making smart choices. Reading on, I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Then I hit the epilogue! We made it! I could finally stop holding my breath and enjoy the last bit of the story. I am going to have to re-read this at some point so I can relax and enjoy the whole thing it with a stupid grin on my face.
I can say without a doubt this is my fav Melissa Tereze book. Brilliant! Thank you so much Ms Tereze. I loved it.
josb's review
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Well written romance with a sexworker perspective. While the perspective was a bit simpler, I felt like there was a clear understanding of the issues and how they affect anyone working in the industry.
There was quite a bit of plot. I appreciated how it was not just one or two hurdles the couple had to face together but a number of them in order to get their happy ending. This certainly helped keep me engaged.
The mains were genuinely good people. Their biggest flaws, and the first half of the book, are their insecurities. Miscommunication is a thing, kindof. It felt more relatable to me as they were misinterpreting conversations between one another as a result of their insecurities.
My biggest issue was some of the dialogue was a bit odd. Sometimes the characters would say overly romantic sweeping statements. I just had a hard time imagining the delivery as anything other than formal vows.
Certainly worth the read if youre looking for a new sapphic author to try and would like to try reading from a lighter sexworker perspective.
There was quite a bit of plot. I appreciated how it was not just one or two hurdles the couple had to face together but a number of them in order to get their happy ending. This certainly helped keep me engaged.
The mains were genuinely good people. Their biggest flaws, and the first half of the book, are their insecurities. Miscommunication is a thing, kindof. It felt more relatable to me as they were misinterpreting conversations between one another as a result of their insecurities.
My biggest issue was some of the dialogue was a bit odd. Sometimes the characters would say overly romantic sweeping statements. I just had a hard time imagining the delivery as anything other than formal vows.
Certainly worth the read if youre looking for a new sapphic author to try and would like to try reading from a lighter sexworker perspective.
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