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dobbsthedog's reviews
1739 reviews
Better Hate than Never by Chloe Liese
3.0
I feel like I really should have liked this more than I did. Feminist, anti-capitalism FMC and an MMC who runs an ethical investment firm? But, it just really did not work for me. I didn’t like either of the MCs, it felt like their whole enemy background was hella weak (we’re both so attracted to each other that rather than do something about it, we’re going to hate each other?).
I read this for work, as I’m trying to post book reviews to our social media that highlight books with disability rep in them, and this is one of the few that we have (which is a problem), and if I hadn’t needed to get through it for work, I likely would have DNF’d it. I didn’t enjoy the other Chloe Liese book I read, so I suspect that I just don’t like her writing style.
The ADHD and chronic migraine rep seemed good, though the demisexual rep really wasn’t. The way it’s described is not what demisexuality even is, which is really unfortunate. This could have been a great opportunity to have some good aspec rep, but then it completely didn’t do that.
I read this for work, as I’m trying to post book reviews to our social media that highlight books with disability rep in them, and this is one of the few that we have (which is a problem), and if I hadn’t needed to get through it for work, I likely would have DNF’d it. I didn’t enjoy the other Chloe Liese book I read, so I suspect that I just don’t like her writing style.
The ADHD and chronic migraine rep seemed good, though the demisexual rep really wasn’t. The way it’s described is not what demisexuality even is, which is really unfortunate. This could have been a great opportunity to have some good aspec rep, but then it completely didn’t do that.
At Dark, I Become Loathsome by Eric LaRocca
Received from NetGalley, thanks!
CW: pedophilia, violence, grief
I… don’t know what to say about this book… it was super fucked up and I kind of wish I hadn’t read it.
I’ve enjoyed some of Eric Larocca’s other books, I like that he really pushes the boundaries in a realistic way, and in a way that I haven’t come across in horror before. But this was maybe too far? I thought it was good up until the big twist, the reveal, and while I kind of saw it coming, there were details that I really didn’t need to know.
CW: pedophilia, violence, grief
I… don’t know what to say about this book… it was super fucked up and I kind of wish I hadn’t read it.
I’ve enjoyed some of Eric Larocca’s other books, I like that he really pushes the boundaries in a realistic way, and in a way that I haven’t come across in horror before. But this was maybe too far? I thought it was good up until the big twist, the reveal, and while I kind of saw it coming, there were details that I really didn’t need to know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Violence, and Grief
Paternity Case by Gregory Ashe
3.0
CW: homophobia, slurs, sexual assault, pedophilia, parental neglect
So… I’m having really mixed feelings about this series, and I’m actually going to take a break. The amount of violent homophobia and slurs is just too much for me. I could let it slide in the first book, because there’s a lot of flashbacks, it’s setting up the whole story, I didn’t like it, but okay… but the slurs and homophobia just continue and I honestly just don’t want to read it. Which is unfortunate because I’m enjoying the stories, I’m really liking Hazard and Somers, the angst is a bit much (just fucking talk to each other already!!!), but it’s compelling me through the books. However, my enjoyment of the books can’t outweigh having to put up with the slurs and homophobia.
Though having read these first 3, it has made me want to go back to Cole McCade’s Criminal Intentions series, so I think I’ll do that.
Will I come back to Hazard and Somerset? I honestly don’t know…
So… I’m having really mixed feelings about this series, and I’m actually going to take a break. The amount of violent homophobia and slurs is just too much for me. I could let it slide in the first book, because there’s a lot of flashbacks, it’s setting up the whole story, I didn’t like it, but okay… but the slurs and homophobia just continue and I honestly just don’t want to read it. Which is unfortunate because I’m enjoying the stories, I’m really liking Hazard and Somers, the angst is a bit much (just fucking talk to each other already!!!), but it’s compelling me through the books. However, my enjoyment of the books can’t outweigh having to put up with the slurs and homophobia.
Though having read these first 3, it has made me want to go back to Cole McCade’s Criminal Intentions series, so I think I’ll do that.
Will I come back to Hazard and Somerset? I honestly don’t know…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Pedophilia
The Relationship Mechanic by Karmen Lee
3.0
Received from NetGalley, thanks!
This book was okay. I felt like I could see what the author was trying to do, but it didn’t quite work. Like, things were either not enough or too much, and that didn’t work for me.
Also, at one point in the book, one of the POV characters kind of has a non-con birthday party thrust upon her, and as someone who could really take or leave birthdays, this didn’t sit right. Her sisters were upset that she didn’t want to do anything for her birthday, so they went to her love interest, who immediately took their side and planned an extravagant, multi-day party. At no point did they ask Vini if this was something she even wanted. I know this is probably something fairly specific to me, but it just felt really wrong.
Overall, the book was fine. There were some continuity errors that I’m hoping we’re fixed during editing.
This book was okay. I felt like I could see what the author was trying to do, but it didn’t quite work. Like, things were either not enough or too much, and that didn’t work for me.
Also, at one point in the book, one of the POV characters kind of has a non-con birthday party thrust upon her, and as someone who could really take or leave birthdays, this didn’t sit right. Her sisters were upset that she didn’t want to do anything for her birthday, so they went to her love interest, who immediately took their side and planned an extravagant, multi-day party. At no point did they ask Vini if this was something she even wanted. I know this is probably something fairly specific to me, but it just felt really wrong.
Overall, the book was fine. There were some continuity errors that I’m hoping we’re fixed during editing.
Pretty Pretty Boys by Gregory Ashe
4.0
I enjoyed this! I’ve been seeing Gregory Ashe all over my GR feed, so decided to give him a try.
In terms of queer crime thrillers, though, Malcolm and Seong-Jae will always own my heart.
In terms of queer crime thrillers, though, Malcolm and Seong-Jae will always own my heart.