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cozycritiques's reviews
64 reviews
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
”Home is where you are, okay?”
- Mooncakes
Tropes: Paranormal Romance, Friends to Lovers
Representation: LGBT (Nonbinary/Trans), Disability (Hearing Loss)
CW: Kidnapping, Confinement, Violence, Death of a Parent
I don’t read a lot of fantasy graphic novels, but after Mooncakes, I will definitely be reading more. The diversity representation is done really well and woven throughout, so it doesn’t feel forced. The illustrations were beautiful and warm, giving the book an overall cozy feel that I loved—especially since a lot of the fantasy I ready leaves me with the opposite of cozy feelings. Overall, his was a short and sweet story with great world-building and an adorable side romance.
- Mooncakes
Tropes: Paranormal Romance, Friends to Lovers
Representation: LGBT (Nonbinary/Trans), Disability (Hearing Loss)
CW: Kidnapping, Confinement, Violence, Death of a Parent
I don’t read a lot of fantasy graphic novels, but after Mooncakes, I will definitely be reading more. The diversity representation is done really well and woven throughout, so it doesn’t feel forced. The illustrations were beautiful and warm, giving the book an overall cozy feel that I loved—especially since a lot of the fantasy I ready leaves me with the opposite of cozy feelings. Overall, his was a short and sweet story with great world-building and an adorable side romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent
Love and War by Killian Ng, Andrew Wheeler
lighthearted
fast-paced
”Tug-of-war s not about the singular ‘you.’ It’s about the transcendent ‘us.’ It’s about that most human aspiration, the many coming together in one purpose.”
- Love and War
Tropes: Sports (Tug of War), Opposites Attract, Forbidden Relationship
Representation: Gay, Plus-Size Male, POC
This was only the first volume of this story, so it left off at a bit of a cliffhanger. However, the story was cute and had good pacing. I loved the diversity rep, especially the plus-size male lead, and the uniqueness of tug of war being the sport. If you’re looking for something to read after finishing Fence, I definitely recommend this.
- Love and War
Tropes: Sports (Tug of War), Opposites Attract, Forbidden Relationship
Representation: Gay, Plus-Size Male, POC
This was only the first volume of this story, so it left off at a bit of a cliffhanger. However, the story was cute and had good pacing. I loved the diversity rep, especially the plus-size male lead, and the uniqueness of tug of war being the sport. If you’re looking for something to read after finishing Fence, I definitely recommend this.
Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, Val Wise
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
”Seeing you go first let me know I could do it, too!”
- Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms
Tropes: Sports (Cheerleading), Friends to Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers
Representation: Trans MC, Lesbian MC, Plus-size
CW: Transphobia, Fatphobia, Sexual Harassment
Cheer Up was short and sweet, but with a powerful message. I loved the growth that Bebe and Annie went through—Bebe as she become more comfortable with her identity and Annie as she opened up and learned to let others support her.
- Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms
Tropes: Sports (Cheerleading), Friends to Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers
Representation: Trans MC, Lesbian MC, Plus-size
CW: Transphobia, Fatphobia, Sexual Harassment
Cheer Up was short and sweet, but with a powerful message. I loved the growth that Bebe and Annie went through—Bebe as she become more comfortable with her identity and Annie as she opened up and learned to let others support her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Transphobia
Fence, Vol. 5: Rise by C.S. Pacat
lighthearted
medium-paced
"You were worried about failing in the eyes of someone else. When you fence don’t think about the outcome of the match. Don’t think about winning. Winning is a distraction. Think about fencing."
- Fence, Vol 5
Tropes: Sports (Fencing), Boarding School, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn
Representation: LGBT, POC
CW: Parental Abandonment, Minor Injury
*This review is for Fence Vol 1-5
Fence is fun, quick to read, and has lovable characters. The representation is weaved in throughout and just kind of casually exists, which I loved. It is heavy on the fencing (more so than any sports romance I’ve ever read), but everything is explained, so I actually learned a lot. The romance is very slow burn, though, so if you're impatient, I would maybe wait until more issues are out to start reading. However, I'm patient, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the storyline progresses.
- Fence, Vol 5
Tropes: Sports (Fencing), Boarding School, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn
Representation: LGBT, POC
CW: Parental Abandonment, Minor Injury
*This review is for Fence Vol 1-5
Fence is fun, quick to read, and has lovable characters. The representation is weaved in throughout and just kind of casually exists, which I loved. It is heavy on the fencing (more so than any sports romance I’ve ever read), but everything is explained, so I actually learned a lot. The romance is very slow burn, though, so if you're impatient, I would maybe wait until more issues are out to start reading. However, I'm patient, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the storyline progresses.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail
Bloom by Kevin Panetta
fast-paced
“I would love to have something like that... To be on a team with someone... and to be better together than you ever could be alone.”
- Bloom
Tropes: Workplace, Baking, Friends to Lovers
Representation: Queer (M/M relationship), POC
CW: Death of a Grandparent, Fire, Toxic Friendship
This was such a sweet read. It reminded me a lot of Heartstopper if it were set in a bakery—just two soft boys becoming friends and falling in love. I loved the character growth, and the Maryland setting was a definite bonus.
- Bloom
Tropes: Workplace, Baking, Friends to Lovers
Representation: Queer (M/M relationship), POC
CW: Death of a Grandparent, Fire, Toxic Friendship
This was such a sweet read. It reminded me a lot of Heartstopper if it were set in a bakery—just two soft boys becoming friends and falling in love. I loved the character growth, and the Maryland setting was a definite bonus.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
The Christmas Pact by Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland
lighthearted
fast-paced
“Looking for someone, Riley? Perhaps, Mr. Riley?” a deep, raspy voice said from over my shoulder.
- The Christmas Pact
Tropes: Workplace (Publishing), Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Only One Bed
Spice Scale: 🌶
CW: Grief, Cheating Mention
The Christmas Pact was an adorable read. The publishing company setting was fun, and I loved the concept of how the characters knew each other. The characters were well developed, and once they met in person, they had amazing chemistry and great banter. The conflict felt forced, but the epilogue after it was resolved completely made up for it. Overall The Christmas Pact was fun and had the perfect amount of Christmas cheer without being over the top.
- The Christmas Pact
Tropes: Workplace (Publishing), Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Only One Bed
Spice Scale: 🌶
CW: Grief, Cheating Mention
The Christmas Pact was an adorable read. The publishing company setting was fun, and I loved the concept of how the characters knew each other. The characters were well developed, and once they met in person, they had amazing chemistry and great banter. The conflict felt forced, but the epilogue after it was resolved completely made up for it. Overall The Christmas Pact was fun and had the perfect amount of Christmas cheer without being over the top.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity and Grief
Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
“Maybe I’m lonely. Maybe it’s the holidays, or maybe it’s the way that letter spoke to me, but Resting Scrooge Face caught my attention, and for some reason, I want to write back.”
- Resting Scrooge Face
Tropes: Holiday Romance, Second Chance, Epistolary, Small Town
Spice Scale: 🫑
Resting Scrooge Face was wholesome, festive, and had no third act breakup, which made it the perfect quick holiday read. The small Christmas town was the perfect setting for a love story between two Scrooges. Caleb had total Luke from Gilmore Girl’s vibes, too, which was great. I loved the witty letters back and forth. They acted as a great way to move the story forward through showing rather than telling and gave the book a You’ve Got Mail feel. My only complaint, which is more a warning than a complaint, was the lack of spice. Meghan Quinn is known for writing some amazing sex scenes, so if you’re going into this expecting spice, you won’t find any. Resting Scrooge Face keeps things basically PG. However, it’s still cute and witty, so I definitely recommend it.
- Resting Scrooge Face
Tropes: Holiday Romance, Second Chance, Epistolary, Small Town
Spice Scale: 🫑
Resting Scrooge Face was wholesome, festive, and had no third act breakup, which made it the perfect quick holiday read. The small Christmas town was the perfect setting for a love story between two Scrooges. Caleb had total Luke from Gilmore Girl’s vibes, too, which was great. I loved the witty letters back and forth. They acted as a great way to move the story forward through showing rather than telling and gave the book a You’ve Got Mail feel. My only complaint, which is more a warning than a complaint, was the lack of spice. Meghan Quinn is known for writing some amazing sex scenes, so if you’re going into this expecting spice, you won’t find any. Resting Scrooge Face keeps things basically PG. However, it’s still cute and witty, so I definitely recommend it.
The Bachelor on the Shelf by Jana Aston
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
“I wonder if it’s possible for genetics to carry the jackass trait because, if so, it seems firmly implanted in the trio.”
- The Bachelor on the Shelf
Tropes: Sports (Baseball), Fake Engagement, Image Rehab
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶
CW: Grief
I think The Bachelor on the Shelf was my favorite of the second three books in this series. The heroine is a bookworm and works at a librarian, which I was completely jealous of while reading, and the hero is a cocky athlete. It’s a common combination in romances, but I still enjoy it. I also love fake dating, so although the ending was a little too neat and the pacing didn’t really work for me, fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, so it made up for it. The cute Christmas dates, grandfather meddling from beyond the grave, and dog shared-custody agreement definitely didn’t hurt either. Overall, it was a nice way to wrap up the second half of series, and the epilogue gave a satisfying glimpse into the three couples’ lives after their books ended.
- The Bachelor on the Shelf
Tropes: Sports (Baseball), Fake Engagement, Image Rehab
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶
CW: Grief
I think The Bachelor on the Shelf was my favorite of the second three books in this series. The heroine is a bookworm and works at a librarian, which I was completely jealous of while reading, and the hero is a cocky athlete. It’s a common combination in romances, but I still enjoy it. I also love fake dating, so although the ending was a little too neat and the pacing didn’t really work for me, fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, so it made up for it. The cute Christmas dates, grandfather meddling from beyond the grave, and dog shared-custody agreement definitely didn’t hurt either. Overall, it was a nice way to wrap up the second half of series, and the epilogue gave a satisfying glimpse into the three couples’ lives after their books ended.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief
One Night with a Nutcracker by Jana Aston
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
“Tomorrow, I’ll deal with the reality of this situation. Tomorrow, I’ll follow the rules and go right back to hating him. But right now? Right now, I plan to spend the rest of the day enjoying this man. Thankfully, the feeling seems mutual.”
- One Night with a Nutcracker
Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, One Night Stand, Forced Proximity
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶
CW: Grief
One Night with a Nutcracker was cute, and I liked it a lot more than Elves with Benefits (first in the second trilogy). The Christmas vibes were great though, and it was a quick read. I liked the simultaneous timeline with the fourth and sixth books and the continued references to a Christmas romance book club. However, the pacing was rushed, and the chemistry felt forced. But it also had rescue goats and a protective hero moment over those goats, so it was an overall entertaining read.
- One Night with a Nutcracker
Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, One Night Stand, Forced Proximity
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶
CW: Grief
One Night with a Nutcracker was cute, and I liked it a lot more than Elves with Benefits (first in the second trilogy). The Christmas vibes were great though, and it was a quick read. I liked the simultaneous timeline with the fourth and sixth books and the continued references to a Christmas romance book club. However, the pacing was rushed, and the chemistry felt forced. But it also had rescue goats and a protective hero moment over those goats, so it was an overall entertaining read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief
Elves with Benefits by Jana Aston
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
”Ryan Sheppard and I will never be a thing. Not even a quick Christmas fling. Besides, I’m more of a ‘kisses under the mistletoe’ than a ‘tryst with a naughty Santa’ kind of girl.”
- Elves with Benefits
Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Grumpy/Sunshine, Opposites Attract
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶
CW: Grief
Elves with Benefits was cute, however out of this series, it’s been my least favorite. But I still liked the setting and the series, which is why I stuck with it. The whole concept of a Christmas cop was hilarious, and the introduction of the Christmas romance book club was delightful. The heroine brought a whole new meaning to Christmas cheer, which helped make up for the pacing issues and the forced chemistry between the love interests.
- Elves with Benefits
Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Grumpy/Sunshine, Opposites Attract
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶
CW: Grief
Elves with Benefits was cute, however out of this series, it’s been my least favorite. But I still liked the setting and the series, which is why I stuck with it. The whole concept of a Christmas cop was hilarious, and the introduction of the Christmas romance book club was delightful. The heroine brought a whole new meaning to Christmas cheer, which helped make up for the pacing issues and the forced chemistry between the love interests.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief