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chloe_liese's reviews
232 reviews
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.
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
5.0
This made my heart sing. Childhood friends to lovers. Christmas traditions. Chosen family. A smidge of chaos. A whisper of heartache. A tiny bit of magic. Plenty of laughter. Love in its many facets. *Happy sigh*
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
5.0
“— I don’t want to pretend to be anyone, not any more."
"— So who is The Black Flamingo?"
"— He is me, who I have been, who I am, who I hope to become. Someone fabulous, wild and strong. With or without a costume on.”
There really aren’t words to do this book justice. This story, written in verse, was deeply moving, lyrical, and immersive. I cannot recommend this enough.
"— So who is The Black Flamingo?"
"— He is me, who I have been, who I am, who I hope to become. Someone fabulous, wild and strong. With or without a costume on.”
There really aren’t words to do this book justice. This story, written in verse, was deeply moving, lyrical, and immersive. I cannot recommend this enough.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
5.0
This story was painful and profound, engrossing and thought-provoking. I loved Addie’s tenacity, her resilience. I loved how she learned hard truths and didn’t let them crush her but instead teach her. I love the symbolism of a woman finding a way—in a world built against her by a cruel man—to still outsmart him, to make her mark and leave a legacy.
I felt a bit of a lull in the second third of the book, where Henry’s backstory dragged for me, but the last quarter more than made up for that brief ebb in otherwise pure-brilliant pacing.
Finally, Schwab’s prose...I’m in awe, how she crafts and employs just enough evocative language to draw me into her world without becoming bogged down with too much description or flowery language. It was the kind of writing that I read and makes me excited about improving my craft and deepening my skills.
I can’t help but grieve that Addie’s story begins because patriarchy made her powerless. But I also can’t help but marvel at the life she made in spite of the desperation patriarchy forced on her, the lengths she had to go so she could escape—to be free, to learn and love...to live a life truly hers.
I felt a bit of a lull in the second third of the book, where Henry’s backstory dragged for me, but the last quarter more than made up for that brief ebb in otherwise pure-brilliant pacing.
Finally, Schwab’s prose...I’m in awe, how she crafts and employs just enough evocative language to draw me into her world without becoming bogged down with too much description or flowery language. It was the kind of writing that I read and makes me excited about improving my craft and deepening my skills.
I can’t help but grieve that Addie’s story begins because patriarchy made her powerless. But I also can’t help but marvel at the life she made in spite of the desperation patriarchy forced on her, the lengths she had to go so she could escape—to be free, to learn and love...to live a life truly hers.
Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long
5.0
This book so movingly portrayed two people’s journey toward intimacy, their conflicting motivations as impressed upon them by their station, class, and gender to be dutiful (him), to be financially secure (her), but also to find connection and meaning in their lives. This was swoony and emotional and smart and funny and slow-burn-glorious. Highly recommend.
Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas
Whew. Sherry Thomas can *write*. Her prose? Chef’s kiss! From a craft standpoint this is jaw dropping.
This marriage in crisis is angsty as it gets. There is a massive amount of miscommunication and vindictive behavior from our hero and heroine, who we meet after ten years of marital estrangement that began on their wedding night (yep, you read that right). This had Becky Sharp/Vanity Fair vibes for me at moments and the toxicity between these two felt like it stepped beyond what I expect for romance BUT in the end it made sense for who they are.
This book masterfully excavated the MCs’ motivations, backstory, and flaws, while also taking them on significant growth arcs. My only regret is that it takes a very long time to get there. My personal pacing preference would have reunited them earlier than 92%. That is not a critique per se, merely a personal preference. I will absolutely read more of her writing—I truly cannot say enough good things about her craft.
This marriage in crisis is angsty as it gets. There is a massive amount of miscommunication and vindictive behavior from our hero and heroine, who we meet after ten years of marital estrangement that began on their wedding night (yep, you read that right). This had Becky Sharp/Vanity Fair vibes for me at moments and the toxicity between these two felt like it stepped beyond what I expect for romance BUT in the end it made sense for who they are.
This book masterfully excavated the MCs’ motivations, backstory, and flaws, while also taking them on significant growth arcs. My only regret is that it takes a very long time to get there. My personal pacing preference would have reunited them earlier than 92%. That is not a critique per se, merely a personal preference. I will absolutely read more of her writing—I truly cannot say enough good things about her craft.
Lord Dashwood Missed Out by Tessa Dare
5.0
“Luckily, the world is a sphere. I was always traveling toward you. I just took the long way around.”
My favorite Dare novella yet!! Perfect pacing, a great childhood frenemies to lovers dynamic, and hilarious cameos from favorite Spindle Cove characters. If you love her Spindle Cove novels, this novella is not one to miss.
My favorite Dare novella yet!! Perfect pacing, a great childhood frenemies to lovers dynamic, and hilarious cameos from favorite Spindle Cove characters. If you love her Spindle Cove novels, this novella is not one to miss.
The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
5.0
What a beautiful, poignant romance—I highly recommend!
With elements of the gothic (a decrepit house that embodies the struggles of our heroine, a ghost haunting it whose painful childhood shares parallels with the heroine, and a local lore of fear and gruesome cruelty that isolates this property from the town), delightful details of Gilded Age New York, a truly villainous brother in law, and a romance between two people whose upbringings couldn’t have been more different The Widow of Rose House was a gentle, engaging love story with just enough unsettling ghostly elements generating conflict and suspense to keep me invested but not so much so that the joy of Sam and Alva’s romantic journey was overshadowed.
The love scenes, the discussions of trust, the work of healing, the perspective of people whose lives have been hard in the way Alva’s has, the rare beauty of a loving, supportive family like Sam’s, all made this an engaging, feel-good, engrossing romantic story. I’m excited to see if other characters from this world (Benedict? Henry and Maggie?) get their own stories—if so I will absolutely be reading!!
With elements of the gothic (a decrepit house that embodies the struggles of our heroine, a ghost haunting it whose painful childhood shares parallels with the heroine, and a local lore of fear and gruesome cruelty that isolates this property from the town), delightful details of Gilded Age New York, a truly villainous brother in law, and a romance between two people whose upbringings couldn’t have been more different The Widow of Rose House was a gentle, engaging love story with just enough unsettling ghostly elements generating conflict and suspense to keep me invested but not so much so that the joy of Sam and Alva’s romantic journey was overshadowed.
The love scenes, the discussions of trust, the work of healing, the perspective of people whose lives have been hard in the way Alva’s has, the rare beauty of a loving, supportive family like Sam’s, all made this an engaging, feel-good, engrossing romantic story. I’m excited to see if other characters from this world (Benedict? Henry and Maggie?) get their own stories—if so I will absolutely be reading!!
Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas
5.0
After having finished her Wallflowers series, I was intrigued to learn the love stories of the Marsden sisters (whose brother Marcus is the MC of It Happened One Autumn). Wow, this full-length prequel did not disappoint. It was such a compelling story that essentially developed two love stories that intertwined slightly and shared harmonious parallels and divergences. Delving into internalized ableism (post-injury) and the battle with addiction/alcoholism, as well as familial healing and the power of forgiveness, this was such a lovely way to wrap up the series.