Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail

I loved this! I really enjoyed the first book in this series Delilah Green Doesn't Care, and I was really looking forward to reading from Astrid's perspective after how that book ended. I think I may have liked this story even more. Astrid and Jordan were both compelling, interesting, and easy to root for. I loved how their romance grew from the awkward situation they started in. I love how Astrid personally grew and rediscovered herself. I was relieved at how well Astrid and Jordan communicated through most of the problems that came their way. One of the best romances I've read so far this year, I'm really looking forward to the next entry about Iris now.

Content Warnings

hobbithopeful's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Romance books make everything a bit better, and queer romance makes everything a lot better.
Astrid and Jordan have such great chemistry, the tension whenever they argue had me fanning myself, really it gets heated. (In more ways than one!)
Astrid goes through a journey of self-discovery, not just in coming to terms with her queerness, but also in deciding what she wants out of life. The process that she goes through is so incredibly relatable, the decision to do what makes you happy instead of what is expected of you is impossible for so many people.
Jordan also goes through a similar journey, her finally believing in herself and standing up to her ex gave me so much serotonin. (Though I wish they had popped off on Meredith a bit more!)
I've never dabbled in tarot cards myself, but it was really interesting to see how they tie in with the storyline and are used for symbolism. It reminds me of my favorite illustrator, Yoshi Yoshitani, and Yoshi's' beautiful and diverse tarot card set.
I would hire Jordan immediately to design a space, the Everwood Inn became such a beautiful and warm place after the design, it makes me wish it existed in real life to visit.
I can't pinpoint the reason I didn't quite love this as much as the first book. I think there were a few plot points that happened off page that I would like to have seen depicted. Iris and her relationship wasn't really a surprise, but I wish it was shown on page instead of so much happening off. (Grant just disappeared and I'm like..okay not really surprised but I wanted to see it happen!)
Why are we forgiving an abuser? Make it make sense. When it came to Astrid's Mom, I really despised how it was handled.
If someone abuses you to the point of effecting your entire sense of self, and you need years of therapy to recover, why are they even in your life? Let's not sugar coat it. Astrid's Mom was abusive. (and still is in this book!) It puts a bad taste in my mouth that nothing was ever resolved in regards to the abuse Delilah suffered either. If someone claims to care about you, but still has a relationship with your abuser that is a MILLION RED FLAGS. Weird excuses were given for the behavior "oh she was grieving". There is no excuse ever for abuse. It says a lot more about Astrid's character that she would allow someone who has shown no remorse for what has been done to Delilah back in her life. But they're family and blood-I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! If you wouldn't tolerate that behavior from a friend, why would you allow it from your family? Blood relations doesn't equal a free pass to treat you however they want! I know this is probably my hot take, but I say cut them off cut them out. People treat family like it's something to be clung onto, even as the knife it is makes you bleed. Just...why. end rant
Dare I say I now want to own a clit necklace? Quick someone send me a link!
Another must read book from Ashley Herring Blake!

Content Warnings

katyfayyyx's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-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

4.0

God, I do love my silly little queer romance books 🌈.

I was a little worried that I wouldn't like this one as I thought the idea of a romance being set around an interior design/make over show showed kinda boring to me because I couldn't give less off a shit about interior design shows were like this book... girl, I would be a super fan because this book was just so much fun like it was just so good. Ashley Herring Blake clearly has and will never miss with her romance because damn this shit hit different.

Every single person in the book have the most unhinged and chaotic energy but in the best way especially Iris would I love deeply and who I am very excited to see take centre stage in her book Iris Kelly Doesn't Date which I believe is coming out in October!!! But I am also kinda sad because it is the last one in the series and I just love all the characters. I also loved how much of menace everyone in this book was from Iris telling Astrid about Jordan new job or Jordan just painting and changing the whole design without asking Astrid.

I loved getting to know more about Astrid and seeing her try and heal from her childhood and her mother's control because the women is a piece of work and I fear that she could make me cry. I loved how both Astrid and Jordan challenged each other and changed and grow into to better people because of each other but Jesus Christ did they take their time getting to kissing part like girl... it took so long that it was driving me a bit crazy and then when you think they are finally going to kiss Jordan pulls again and just wanted to scream but when they finally got over themselves, they really went there and they didn't stop and it just so fun and loved it. I also loved seeing Astrid's and her friendship group and her relationship with Delilah it was really nice seeing them start getting a relationship and heal from their difficult relationship and it was just really cute to see them starting having a sister relationship even if Astrid is shocked that she actually liked her most of the time. I can't lie one of my favourite moment of this whole book was Astrid in a blind Bi panic goes to Delilah's house to tell her she had a sex dream because that was a totally normal and sound thing to do, don't get me wrong I love my sister deeply but I would never and I mean never tell her if I a sex dream about someone.

Something I love about these book is that we get both POVs can we please normalised this for romance novels because I fucking love seeing both of them longing and wanting each other. It was just so fun. I don't get me wrong I loved them as a pair but I also loved them as individual characters because it felt like they are both given space to develop as whole character. I can't lie I really related to both of the main character because I am a deeply fucked up person who should got to therapy (and not just read queer romances and listen to Taylor swift and while crying) but you know it is what it is. They were me and I am them because I don't think I deserve anything good and when good things happen to me and I think I am going to fuck up and I am not even going to get into my fear of failure because girllllll, it's bad. I really give ✨Burned Out Autism Academic Gifted Gay Mess✨. Also the two main characters was just so fucking Taylor Swift coded it really screamed Folklore ✨This Is Me Trying & Mirrorball✨ Also can we just talk about the tension from the started between these two characters, girl it was everything and just knew it was going to be so good when Astrid find out who Jordan was, I was in love and so were them! Also they were just so wholesome and cute I loved when the went on there date not date to the movies and when they went to the park after and then when she throw up and then got naked because she was so drunk and I loved that Astrid got drunk for the first time and I love how they both have fun with each other and the names in each other phone. The baking and her baking and then her singing was just so wholesome. Also there is something so iconic that Astrid has never had good sex before and doesn't figure that shit out until she fucked a girl for the first time, I love that for her. Girl they were just perfection.

Also I loved how we got to know Jordan family as well and her relationship with her twin and nan was just so cute, like I loved her and Simon and how protective they were about each other and I loved how the became a part of the friendship that they also call it the coven just so cute. I want friends like that when will it be my turn.

I have said this before but I will say it again this whole book series would make such a series of films but that's never going to happened because the world and the hate Sapphic media but a queer girl can wish.

I also really liked that we got to see more of Delilah and Claire because they are just in love and I love them, they are just so fucking cute man, the fact that Astrid says it is a forever kind of love (girl I did in fact nearly cry) and the fact that Delilah apartment before they both move in together having family pictures up that just so fucking cute and I just thought it was just so wholesome when Ruby came out as queer to them and they are helping though it and I just loved it and I love their cute little queer characters

However, girl these women were fucking stressing me out near the end, like for the love of christ please fucking talk to each other but then it was really cute with the whole tarot cards but Jesus also what the fuck was it with the whole Meredith storyline because she was just fucking a messy and toxic bitch you left her, leave her the fuck only. Imagine being the one to leave and then have the audacity to went to be bestie with her, yeah fuck that queen. I would I have not been that nice about it.

The humour in this book was just so well done and it just so funny and it planned so well. I love when Women, Women and these fuckers really do women!!! Maybe I am just gay, guess we will never know.

"God, we must be in love or something? It's like it's fate. Astrid Parker, are you saying that you're my destiny? Astrid's eyes went to a piece of art on the wall by the fireplace.Settled in between off-white matting and surrounded by a square sage-green frame, were nine Tarot cards. Nine Two Of Cups. She smiled and kissed Jordan softly on the mouth . That's exactly what I'm saying Jordan Everwood.'

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brittanylee0302's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.25

Astrid Fckn Parker
I loved this book so much. Representation all around & characters that had actual personality & back story! I loved that this wasn't instalove & that we actually watched the characters fall for each other. I listened to the audiobook & found the narrator did both voices & the side characters very well. One of the things I didn't love about this book was all the side characters, sometimes I felt like people were mentioned for no reason & with so many side characters it was a little hard to keep track of who was who but other than that I definitely enjoyed!

Content Warnings

bzliz's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Edit: almost a year later, I’ve changed my rating from 2.75 to 3.5. While it had some flaws, I’ve decided I was a little harsh previously. I liked the first book more but this is by no means a bad book, nor is it an incredible, life changing masterpiece. It’s just good old fashioned queer fun.

Original review:
I liked the last book enough to give this one a read and it was kind of a let down. Our main characters are Astrid- a closed-off, Type A designer still being micromanaged by her mother- and Jordan- a carpenter who only knows her self worth in very specific situations.

They’re filming a TV show about renovating Jordan’s family’s inn, for which Astrid is the designer. She follows the plan set forth by Simon and Pru (Jordan’s twin brother and grandmother, respectively) but Jordan hates it for being so White Lady Chic and goes rogue by painting a room blue.

I found it hard to suspend my disbelief on how this show was being filmed. I’m not an expert by any means but there’s no universe in which this very important designer host lady is spending all day every day on the set, nor would (spoilers for the end)

the production company lose out on the money spent filming just to scrap the whole thing so close to completion. They absolutely would have just tossed in a scene where Jordan and Astrid admit it was Jordan’s design but she was afraid to speak up about it because she thought her family would only like it if it was someone else’s work. While I’m spoiling things, I hate Astrid’s ending. She should have opened a bakery, without question. Becoming the inn’s manager who does the baking sometimes feels pretty similar to the nonsense of PTSD-ridden Harry Potter becoming a wizard cop instead of a teacher.

I’m probably going to be skipping the next one since I don’t much care for Iris.

Content Warnings

fanboyriot's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-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

5.0

Read For:

Small Town

Rivals to Lovers

Queer Awakening

Workplace Romance

Coming Out Later in Life

I absolutely loved all the queer rep in this book. The small-town romance I didn't even know I needed. The friendships, the side characters, and the setting were all so lovely too. I love the vibe of Bright Falls and I was happy to read more from this world. It was also lovely to read more about Astrid and getting to see her find out who she is without her mother controlling everything. It was so satisfying to see her character development.

(Switching, Third Person POV)

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Rep: Bisexual MC, Lesbian MC, Non-Binary SC, BIPOC SC, LGBTQIA+

Content Warnings

mandi_lea's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

stacy837's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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

4.0

Content Warnings

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