Scan barcode
A review by chloe_liese
Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon
5.0
Every once in a while, I pick up a romance and find an author's voice that I know I could read anything they wrote. That's Rebekah Weatherspoon for me. There's something grounded, confident, and mature about her storytelling; I can't really think of how else to say it except that I felt as a reader that I was in good hands.
The best parts of this story for me were:
- Characterization: we've got a cinnamon roll, bear-sized Scotsman with a flair for whipping up seafood alfredo, sending pitch-perfect gifs, and having crystal clear communication about sexuality and intimacy. Yes. Please. Then we have Xeni, who both knows and loves herself, who is a deeply capable, self-reliant person that also can touch into her feelings and have a good cry; give me a strong soft heroine any day.
- Chemistry: these two *clicked*. So, so well. They had physical attraction, dispositional compatibility, and they're so good and kind toward each other. Yes, there's banter and teasing, there's jokes and glib digs, but they're so respectful of each other's hearts. Couldn't get enough of it.
- Representation: both leads are bisexual and discuss that openly and positively. Xeni is a beautiful, curvy Black woman and Mason is a big teddy bear with an almost-too-large for life, soft-tummy body. There are very organically threaded in moments that highlight white (particularly cis male) privilege, the unease Black people feel around police, the tendency for white people to touch Black people's hair, realities of Black life that are important for readers to recognize not only in nonfiction that opens our eyes to racism but in fiction that is portraying real people and real bodies. This book felt authentic, honest, and real. So much yes!
- Sexy times: always developed the narrative, balanced dirty talk/hot physicality and emotional tenderness. It was so well-balanced.
Basically, I can't recommend this book enough! Hot, original, heartfelt, and swoony, this was just the romance I needed.
The best parts of this story for me were:
- Characterization: we've got a cinnamon roll, bear-sized Scotsman with a flair for whipping up seafood alfredo, sending pitch-perfect gifs, and having crystal clear communication about sexuality and intimacy. Yes. Please. Then we have Xeni, who both knows and loves herself, who is a deeply capable, self-reliant person that also can touch into her feelings and have a good cry; give me a strong soft heroine any day.
- Chemistry: these two *clicked*. So, so well. They had physical attraction, dispositional compatibility, and they're so good and kind toward each other. Yes, there's banter and teasing, there's jokes and glib digs, but they're so respectful of each other's hearts. Couldn't get enough of it.
- Representation: both leads are bisexual and discuss that openly and positively. Xeni is a beautiful, curvy Black woman and Mason is a big teddy bear with an almost-too-large for life, soft-tummy body. There are very organically threaded in moments that highlight white (particularly cis male) privilege, the unease Black people feel around police, the tendency for white people to touch Black people's hair, realities of Black life that are important for readers to recognize not only in nonfiction that opens our eyes to racism but in fiction that is portraying real people and real bodies. This book felt authentic, honest, and real. So much yes!
- Sexy times: always developed the narrative, balanced dirty talk/hot physicality and emotional tenderness. It was so well-balanced.
Basically, I can't recommend this book enough! Hot, original, heartfelt, and swoony, this was just the romance I needed.