bookobsessedmommy's reviews
1074 reviews

All Hail the Underdogs by E.L. Massey

emotional 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

I loved this! If an author can get me to cackle out loud numerous times, it's basically an automatic 5 stars. Both of these guys are sweet and a little messed up, but watching them figure it out gave me butterflies. My single complaint is that I wanted more. I could have read another 100 pages of this. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Fly With Me by Andie Burke

emotional 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

3.5

Oh my GAHD I wanted to punch so many people in the face! Olive's family and Stella's coworkers are the absolute worst and I was cussing at them in my car. 🤬 The romance is sweet and the sex is hot, but the miscommunication irked me. So glad they dealt with their issues and got some perspective/help instead of acting like their relationship could fix everything. Overall I enjoyed it as much as you can while wishing to slap half the cast upside the head. 

New Nigeria County by Clare Brown

funny fast-paced

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

4.0

I am well aware that this story is satire, but it made me stomach turn while also making me laugh. Mission accomplished I guess? I loved the full cast, especially that ridiculous HR manager, how this fictional world brings the realities of this one into stark relief.

Cubs & Campfires by Dylan Drakes

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

Luca is a journalist looking for his big break when he runs off to the woods for a summer of celibacy to write the masterpiece that will guarantee his job. He never imagined running into A red bear named Artair that would tempt him to throw it all away for a summer of frolicking in the woods, but could this be more than temporary? This was pretty cute, but the description over load had me skimming. The sex scenes were hot, but even those were overly descriptive. I liked the underlying story, but I would have preferred a novella.

The Left Hand of Dog by Si Clarke

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Lem and her dog Spock were hoping for an adventure when they left England, but they weren't expecting to be abducted by aliens in a teapot spaceship. This is a silly adventure story with Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Vibes, but make it queer. I had fun with this one and I think I'll read the next in the series. 

The Cock Down the Block by Amy Award

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

Fun and fluffy read with healthy dose of grown and sexy. Love the body and sex positive narrative, and the silly banter. It gets a little repetitive at times, but I'm looking forward to the next on in the series.

The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall

emotional 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

3.5

Hollis is trying  to get closer to her boyfriend Chris by playing a tabletop role playing game, but his friends have a rule: No Girlfriends Allowed. So, she finds a group of girls to play with instead, and finds a freedom she never knew was possible. This is a sweet queer coming of age story, and I really enjoyed watching Hollis come into her. There were a lot of characters that I couldn't always keep straight, but the main players had great personalities. Thr DnD style game features heavily in this, and so if you enjoy that type of storytelling, this mighy be a good fit for you. It was a little much for my taste, because I wanted more IRL interaction. I could literally punch Chris and all his little friends in the teeth, especially Landon, but I get why Hollis stayed around as long as she did. Overall, I enjoyed the writing, and I would try more from this author.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I read this because I was absolutely obsessed with the movie as a kid, but reading it as an adult, I am so torn. We have these terrible parents and abusive head teacher (principal) that no one will report to the authorities, so a small child with magical powers has to save them all from her tyranny. I'm sure I would have enjoyed this a lot more when I was younger, but yikes! I just cannot abide helpless and hapless adults, and definitely not violent vitriolic ones. I hate to say it, but the whole story gives me the ick. 😭

Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins

emotional funny lighthearted tense 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? No

4.0

Ok Beverly! I'm not usually in the market for non-queer historical romance, but this was really good! I was a little concerned there would be too much racism with black characters in the reconstruction period, but while being present, it wasn't the central focus of the story. I love stories about women who have fought long and hard to take care of themselves finding a partner that loves them for who they are. The banter is fun, the sex scenes are steamy, and the 3rd act conflict and resolution actually make sense. I'll definitely try another one in this series.

Hate Notes by Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland

emotional 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

3.5

Charlotte Darling is down on her luck, but finds hope in a thrift store wedding dress. A drunken night of internet sleuthing leads her to the grumpiest man alive, Reed Eastwood, but maybe there's more beneath his stony façade. Vi Keeland has a unique way of pissing me of at the beginning of a story, only to make me actually care about the characters. This is a pretty typical GrumpyxSunshine romance, with a few twists and turns. My biggest complaint is the sharp and awkward turns we take into a couple intimate scenes.

Seriously, what the hell is up with the demand to see her underwear? And the sniffing?!😳

Reed also has this macho man streak that I am so annoyed by, but I like how committed he was to helping Charlotte. I do love the grandmother's meddling ways, but this wasn't my favorite.