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women_using_words's review
- 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
4.25
Georgia Beers’s new romance, Playing with Matches, is a delightful exploration of small town life, family drama, and true love. Beers expertly utilizes the small town setting to create a heartwarming and nostalgic atmosphere, while also crafting a tender love story. The tight-knit nature of the town allows for believable tension and heartfelt joy, providing the perfect backdrop for her characters to grow and change. However, it is Beers’s ability to infuse warmth and tenderness into her settings that truly captivates readers. These moments of hope and promise are the lifeblood of the romance, drawing readers in and keeping them hooked until the very end.
Beers’s love for writing small town romances shines through in Playing with Matches, and it is this passion that elevates the narrative. Set in the fictional town of Crimson Valley, New York, nestled in the picturesque Adirondack Mountains, Liz and Cori navigate the delicate balance between their passions and fears, all while fulfilling their obligations and commitments. The sanctuary of Crimson Valley provides them with a safe space to explore their desires and aspirations, but it is their love for each other, surrounded by the charm of small town life, that gives them the courage to take risks and ultimately find happiness.
While small town tropes may be common in sapphic romances, Beers manages to avoid clichés and instead uses them effectively to enhance her storytelling. The story world seamlessly intertwines with the plot, adding depth and dimension to the narrative. It also allows for an exploration of personal setbacks, making Liz and Cori’s struggles feel authentic and relatable. These flawed yet likable characters draw readers in, and their bittersweet but hopeful romance sets this love story apart from the rest.
Final remarks…
Playing with Matches is a heartwarming and captivating romance that could easily be adapted into a Hallmark movie. Liz and Cori are charming characters with undeniable chemistry, and their sweet and tender small town, “fake-dating” love story is sure to capture the attention of readers. Their journey reminds readers of the importance of love, forgiveness, family, and community, making this feel-good romance a true triumph.
Strengths…
- Likable characters
- Immersive story world
- Captivating themes
- Well-scripted dialogue
- Heartwarming and tender
felissadee's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
This book was cute, but ultimately a bit disappointing. There were too many moments of obvious miscommunication, some of the drama points were just unnecessary, and the spice felt stilted at best.
I’m rooting for Liz & Cori, but I do feel that the writing itself could have used further development and the plot could have been simplified in terms of dramatics and filled out more with their relationship or other moments. Overall, a solid 3.25 stars.
[Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.]
I’m rooting for Liz & Cori, but I do feel that the writing itself could have used further development and the plot could have been simplified in terms of dramatics and filled out more with their relationship or other moments. Overall, a solid 3.25 stars.
[Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.]
sapphic_library's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
playing with matches was a delightful, fun and heartwarming holiday romance that was perfect to read this time of year. i had such a great time reading about liz and cori's love story, but what made it even better was that they each had their own things going on outside of their romantic relationship, making them well-rounded and interesting main characters. their individual storylines worked perfectly to further their relationship, without feeling overwhelming or overcomplicated. my only issue (which is fairly minor in the grand scheme of things) is that i wish cori had a moment of realization/acknowledgment that while her mom may not be her birth mother, she is still her mom. i understand that cori needed the time to process what she learned, but it felt like that was a loose end left untied. despite that, i still absolutely loved this book and spent the whole time kicking my feet, blushing and giggling as i read about liz and cori falling in love. thank you to netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
kjanie's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.25
deathh_by_tbr's review
4.0
*Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Liz has to move back home after she gets laid off and her mom has a surgery that puts her on rest for a few weeks, leaving her sister to need help in their B&B. Cori is a local business owner who creates her own merchandise and strives to give local artists a place to show off their craft. Reconnecting after high school, Liz begs Cori to be her fake girlfriend for a week so she doesn’t look like a failure in front of her ex boyfriend. Cori agrees and the two ladies start spending a lot of time together. Their feels might not just be for show.
Right off the bat, Liz is me and I am Liz. Spiders=death. I, too, would crash my car before I let a spider touch me. Liz is currently feeling like a failure because she doesn't know where her life is headed. This is relatable to so many people and definitely struck a chord with me.
Then we have Cori. She is a crafty, introverted businesswoman who loves her pets like they're her children and would do anything for some quiet. Cori is also a super relatable character for me.
It started out kind of slow, but once we got to the fake dating stuff I was all in. I was definitely expecting more spice or for them to hook up sooner, but this was a bit of a slow burn.
This was a super cliche Hallmark-like book, but I eat those right up. And it's not often that you can get your favorite cliche tropes with LGBTQ+ characters so this was a fun and refreshing read for me.
So many times these fake dating tropes are all about making someone jealous or so you don't show up at the holidays alone, and while I do understand those, I related more to Liz and her incessant need to prove that she is not a failure, even though she's the only one that thinks she is.
At one point, Cori's whole world seems to come crashing down on her and I wish in that time we could have gotten more of her thoughts and feelings. It felt like the narrative was more focused on Liz, but I really wanted more of those deep feelings with Cori when everything first goes down. It's definitely something that you won't see coming, but it makes so much sense.
This book takes place around thanksgiving and Christmas time so it would be perfect to read this time of year. Overall, this book was beautifully put together and Beers did a great job of putting emotion on the page. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next queer romance from this author.
Liz has to move back home after she gets laid off and her mom has a surgery that puts her on rest for a few weeks, leaving her sister to need help in their B&B. Cori is a local business owner who creates her own merchandise and strives to give local artists a place to show off their craft. Reconnecting after high school, Liz begs Cori to be her fake girlfriend for a week so she doesn’t look like a failure in front of her ex boyfriend. Cori agrees and the two ladies start spending a lot of time together. Their feels might not just be for show.
Right off the bat, Liz is me and I am Liz. Spiders=death. I, too, would crash my car before I let a spider touch me. Liz is currently feeling like a failure because she doesn't know where her life is headed. This is relatable to so many people and definitely struck a chord with me.
Then we have Cori. She is a crafty, introverted businesswoman who loves her pets like they're her children and would do anything for some quiet. Cori is also a super relatable character for me.
It started out kind of slow, but once we got to the fake dating stuff I was all in. I was definitely expecting more spice or for them to hook up sooner, but this was a bit of a slow burn.
This was a super cliche Hallmark-like book, but I eat those right up. And it's not often that you can get your favorite cliche tropes with LGBTQ+ characters so this was a fun and refreshing read for me.
So many times these fake dating tropes are all about making someone jealous or so you don't show up at the holidays alone, and while I do understand those, I related more to Liz and her incessant need to prove that she is not a failure, even though she's the only one that thinks she is.
At one point, Cori's whole world seems to come crashing down on her and I wish in that time we could have gotten more of her thoughts and feelings. It felt like the narrative was more focused on Liz, but I really wanted more of those deep feelings with Cori when everything first goes down. It's definitely something that you won't see coming, but it makes so much sense.
This book takes place around thanksgiving and Christmas time so it would be perfect to read this time of year. Overall, this book was beautifully put together and Beers did a great job of putting emotion on the page. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next queer romance from this author.
charleys_bookshelf's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers is a cute, sapphic wintery small-town romcom! This book is giving all of the hallmark vibes.
This sapphic romance had all the hallmark classic features, with Liz coming home to her small town after being laid off. She runs into her high school crush, Cori, who runs the local Artisan gift shop. Liz struggles to figure out her next moves when she gets a big surprise and drags Cori into a fake relationship!
Fake dating is my favorite trope! I love the messiness, and how both parties are already into each other, so it turns into a battle. I don't want this to be fake, but I can't get too attached because it is supposed to be fake! I loved the instant chemistry between Liz and Cori. Beers such a sweet, heartfelt relationship between these two characters that even when things got crazy, they still supported each other. Georgia Beers did a great job creating a holiday romance that still had some twists and turns. While the story started a little slow, once it got going, I was engaged and excited to see what was coming next. It had an air of individuality, even in a used
Overall, this book was heartfelt and felt like a warm hug. It is one that you can cuddle up on the couch with a warm mug of coffee and read till your heart is content. I had a great time reading this sapphic romance and would highly recommend picking up Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers.
This sapphic romance had all the hallmark classic features, with Liz coming home to her small town after being laid off. She runs into her high school crush, Cori, who runs the local Artisan gift shop. Liz struggles to figure out her next moves when she gets a big surprise and drags Cori into a fake relationship!
Fake dating is my favorite trope! I love the messiness, and how both parties are already into each other, so it turns into a battle. I don't want this to be fake, but I can't get too attached because it is supposed to be fake! I loved the instant chemistry between Liz and Cori. Beers such a sweet, heartfelt relationship between these two characters that even when things got crazy, they still supported each other. Georgia Beers did a great job creating a holiday romance that still had some twists and turns. While the story started a little slow, once it got going, I was engaged and excited to see what was coming next. It had an air of individuality, even in a used
Overall, this book was heartfelt and felt like a warm hug. It is one that you can cuddle up on the couch with a warm mug of coffee and read till your heart is content. I had a great time reading this sapphic romance and would highly recommend picking up Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers.
bookgabz's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? No
3.75
noraaa_9999's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I have not read a book by this author before and I'm glad I stumbled over this book! If you are looking for a cozy sapphic romcom to get into winter holiday spirit, I recommend to read this book!
I found the two main characters very likable, and the development of their relationship believable. The story has all the tropes (fake dating, coming back home to small town, family secrets) and I also liked all the side story lines.
There is just one small detail that kept bugging me throughout the whole book. We never really know what Liz' profession is. In general that would be okay, when the focus of the story is on the characters, but one big plot point was that she left her home town to study and work in a city, that she lost her job there and is trying to get a new job. And it is always stressed she wants a job "in her field" but it is never said what her field even is. I think the first time it is mentioned is 90% in the book when Liz' mum says she could probably get a job in marketing or advertising or sales. And that vague sentence , plus again a mention that she is good at helping Cori with the marketing in her shop, is all we get about what she actually works (and then in the epilogue she suddenly starts a completely different job and no one talks anymore about how she wanted to have a job "in her field"). I found that very weird, that she also never talks to Cori about it, in contrast to how we get to know Coris work in her shop and her candle making in such detail.
Apart from that detail though I enjoyed the book a lot!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I found the two main characters very likable, and the development of their relationship believable. The story has all the tropes (fake dating, coming back home to small town, family secrets) and I also liked all the side story lines.
There is just one small detail that kept bugging me throughout the whole book. We never really know what Liz' profession is. In general that would be okay, when the focus of the story is on the characters, but one big plot point was that she left her home town to study and work in a city, that she lost her job there and is trying to get a new job. And it is always stressed she wants a job "in her field" but it is never said what her field even is. I think the first time it is mentioned is 90% in the book when Liz' mum says she could probably get a job in marketing or advertising or sales. And that vague sentence , plus again a mention that she is good at helping Cori with the marketing in her shop, is all we get about what she actually works (and then in the epilogue she suddenly starts a completely different job and no one talks anymore about how she wanted to have a job "in her field"). I found that very weird, that she also never talks to Cori about it, in contrast to how we get to know Coris work in her shop and her candle making in such detail.
Apart from that detail though I enjoyed the book a lot!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
librariangeorgia's review against another edition
4.5
This is such a cute, cosy book - the perfect holiday read!
I loved Cori and Liz. I loved their relationship development. I loved all the background elements to the story - the family, business dilemmas and general life problems.
It's the kind of book that I could read by the fire with a hot chocolate whilst it's snowing outside.
I loved Cori and Liz. I loved their relationship development. I loved all the background elements to the story - the family, business dilemmas and general life problems.
It's the kind of book that I could read by the fire with a hot chocolate whilst it's snowing outside.
bookedwithlex's review
4.75
i love love love a good holiday sapphic romance.
this is the definition of hallmark movies but make it better.
Liz is the marketing city girl who has to come back home as she gets fired and has to help the family business and surprise surprise, she meets Cori again. A CANDLE MAKER-CRAFTY LESBIAN. and her dog, bear.
i loved it. kicking, giggling, smiling.
it has everything you would want.
- family drama
- romance drama
- fake relationship
- a dog
- smut but not too much
- it's a small town in the middle of a forest
- whimsy shop!!!
this is the definition of hallmark movies but make it better.
Liz is the marketing city girl who has to come back home as she gets fired and has to help the family business and surprise surprise, she meets Cori again. A CANDLE MAKER-CRAFTY LESBIAN. and her dog, bear.
i loved it. kicking, giggling, smiling.
it has everything you would want.
- family drama
- romance drama
- fake relationship
- a dog
- smut but not too much
- it's a small town in the middle of a forest
- whimsy shop!!!
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