Devon May's debut novel BECAUSE OF HER is a capably written debut from the Australian bookstagrammer turned writer. It follows the story of Cassidy and Callum, teenage friends who are reconnected after over a decade apart (and substantial life changes). While the spark returns between them quickly, they each have their own reasons to hesitate jumping back in so quickly.

Positives: May's writing gives clear pictures of the settings, backgrounds, and personalities of the characters. She handles the writing of Cassidy's lingering trauma around her struggles with fertility with sensitivity and thoughtfulness. It's quite unflinching and if you have experienced similar, I advise you to venture in carefully and with a self-care plan in place. The characters are charming, though some secondary characters could have been provided with a little more characterization. In particular, I really hope a novel featuring Cassidy's roommate Amira is in the plans for the future. The spicy scenes deliver, and while it's somewhat of a slow burn, just enough false starts are including to keep the reader from itching to get to the good stuff.

My main criticism of the book is that the complications that prevented Cassidy and Callum from coming together felt repetitive, which resulted in those sections of the book dragging some. I understood why, narratively, but it was frustrating as a reader.

You may like BECAUSE OF HER if you like:
- Carly Fortune, Colleen Hoover (but with less trauma)
- Dual first person POVs
- Second chance romance
- Friends to lovers
- Stories infused with real life problems and challenges
- Hunky single dads
- Forced-ish proximity

This review is of a pre-release ARC and may reference details that changed before publication. Thanks to Devon May for the ARC.

Content Warnings

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

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funny hopeful inspiring reflective

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

4.75

Now I understand what everyone was raving about. This is such a beautifully written book, such a lovely story, and being read by Meryl Effing Streep doesn’t hurt.

Content Warnings

The Last Love Song by Kalie Holford

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4.25

THE LAST LOVE SONG kicks into gear quickly and moves through its ~230 pages at an equal pace. The story follows Mia Peters as she graduates from high school and struggles to figure out what her next step in life is. Helping her on her journey is a scavenger hunt set up for her by her mother, a country singer who died tragically when Mia was only a year old. Through her life, she's struggled with her identity as they daughter of her small town's most famous resident, especially since no one, including her grandmothers, can bring themselves to talk about her mother with her. During her journey to learn more about her mother (and her own past) she carves out a path for her own future.

This story punched me in the feelings in a big way. Debut writer Kalie Holford gets the emotions -- of abandonment, yearning, that summer after graduation when everything feels that it's changing -- all so right and so truthful that you can't help but be brought along the journey with Mia. A standout element of the writing is the song lyrics; it's incredibly difficult to write song lyrics for songs that within their universe are smash hits, but these lyrics sing right off the page (pun absolutely intended).

THE LAST LOVE SONG might be for you if you love:
- Taylor Swift, Mamma Mia, I KISSED SHARA WHEELER, Almost Famous
- Queer representation all over the place
- Complex mother/daughter dynamics
- Girl bands

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing an advanced review copy. This review is cross posted to other sites.

Content Warnings

More with You by Elin Kind

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2.25

The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore

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slow-paced

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

2.0

Slow. Never really captured me. Never felt a connection to the characters or the writing.

Content Warnings

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

WITH LOVE, FROM COLD WORLD had me from its indie Orlando theme park setting and never let go.

Content Warnings

Orphia and Eurydicius by Elyse John

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adventurous emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I suspect this will join a small handful of books that will stick with me, returning to me at random and not-so-random times.

From being a kid with a Greek mythology phase, I've long known the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and was already familiar with multiple retellings going into this. HADESTOWN moved me when I saw it on Broadway last year (though my husband was less impressed), but the biggest feeling I had coming out of it was frustration with Orpheus... come ON, my dude, why couldn't you just trust that she was there? More than a decade ago, a theatre I worked at did Sarah Ruhl's EURYDICE, an absolutely beautiful piece of art that gave Eurydice more life, history, and motivation than any other retelling I'd seen before or since... until ORPHIA AND EURYDICIUS by Elyse John. Yes, obviously, she brings more to the female of the pair (Orphia, in this gender swapped version), but she also brings more to her male Eurydicius -- he has a backstory, a family, motivations, deep reasons for loving Orphia, a much fuller writing than the Eurydice of myth who barely existed before her meeting with Orpheus.

Elyse John uses the frame of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice to tell a story far deeper and more poignant than its ancestor. It is simultaneously: an adventure full of lush, evocative imagery; a vindication for an apology to every woman who's ever had their voice taken from them in some way; a manual on and example of the importance of writers and artists everywhere; an examination of family and grief; and, yes, a love story.

This started slow for me. I wasn't sure I could like this Orphia, she just wasn't grabbing me. It also might TOTALLY have been a me thing as I started it right before some medical stuff and might not have been able to focus on it properly. But soon, it had me and I'm so glad it did. I've highlighted more in this book than I have of any book in recent history. This is one particular standout:

"[...] All of your family walks with you, Orphia [...] We are not here because of the blood running though your body, but because we have chosen to be your family. Our support is no accident."
"And I choose you." Tears blocked my view. "I had not guessed that love would shine in the darkest of places."
"That is where love does its greatest work."

crystalleighwrites's reviews 356 reviews

crystalleighwrites's reviews
356 reviews