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A review by kjcharles
Start Here by Danice Sison, Motzie Dapul, Ronald S. Lim, H. Bentham, Brigitte Bautista, Agay Llanera, Barbie Barbieto, Katt Briones, Yeyet Soriano, Ella Banta
A collection of #romanceclass LGBT+ shorts of first meetings. I tend to feel that romance is hard to pull off at short length given the fun is in the build up and elaboration of characters, but I am also a total sucker for the UST-to-first-kiss part and some of these stories got it terrifically.
I bought this for the m/m Ajay Llanera story that gives Caleb of Another Word for Happy his HEA *happy sigh*, but the whole antho is worth your time. I particularly liked 'Gorgeous' by Motzie Dapul (f/nb about the fat misfit and the cool kid who hated her meeting many years later without recognition--emotional, fat positive, and honest about how horrible teenagers are and how we change); Lemon Drop Friday by Brigitte Bautista (f/f friends to lovers with two fairly edgy hard-drinking leads, lovely writing); Another First by Yeyet Soriano (f/f where the heroine starts off in a two year relationship with her boyfriend and the consequences are beautifully worked out).
Admirably varied collection--loads of f/f, loads of bi rep, a nonbinary lead. Mostly low heat or off page sex but the H Bentham in particular is scorchio. Overall a strong collection, and it's fab to see more queer stories from this remarkable author collective.
I bought this for the m/m Ajay Llanera story that gives Caleb of Another Word for Happy his HEA *happy sigh*, but the whole antho is worth your time. I particularly liked 'Gorgeous' by Motzie Dapul (f/nb about the fat misfit and the cool kid who hated her meeting many years later without recognition--emotional, fat positive, and honest about how horrible teenagers are and how we change); Lemon Drop Friday by Brigitte Bautista (f/f friends to lovers with two fairly edgy hard-drinking leads, lovely writing); Another First by Yeyet Soriano (f/f where the heroine starts off in a two year relationship with her boyfriend and the consequences are beautifully worked out).
Admirably varied collection--loads of f/f, loads of bi rep, a nonbinary lead. Mostly low heat or off page sex but the H Bentham in particular is scorchio. Overall a strong collection, and it's fab to see more queer stories from this remarkable author collective.