endemictoearth's reviews
4008 reviews

Hyacinth by Elle Porter

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

Girlmode by Magdalene Visaggio

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Escape From St Hell: My Trans Life Levels Up by Lewis Hancox

funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.25

alone and palely loitering by Julian Stuart

emotional mysterious reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is one I've had my eye on for years, but wasn't sure about spending $4 on a pretty short novella (it felt longer, so there's that.) I had a random credit this week, so I went for it. It was really lovely and felt complete (though of course I would have happily read more of this story). 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Xenocultivars: Stories of Queer Growth by Isabela Oliveira, Jed Sabin

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Whirlwind by Reese Morrison

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Building Home by J. Mackenzie

challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

4.25 stars - I really appreciated this slower paced, lower angst romance. I went in knowing there would be consensual non-monogamy and was intrigued to see how it would play out. We follow Spencer's third person POV, and he has never conceived of the concept, certainly not for himself. He had an abusive ex, which has made anything more than a one-night stand feel like too much. But when he takes a chance on a client who asks him out, and Ian mentions it when they start to get serious, Spencer really ponders how he feels about the concept for himself.

I am always a fan of a house being made into a home, so all the talk about renovations and visions for the space were catnip for me. And I didn't mind the slightly meandering speed of this book at all, and in fact appreciated this potentially fraught issue being presented without anyone countering with the case for monogamy. (I'm monogamous myself, but its case has well and truly been made, to the point that people who aren't built for it feel they have to exist within it or chafe against it.)

The 'conflict', if there is one, is Spencer's internal struggle to accept that this works for him, that he can be committed to one person emotionally, but share pleasure with others from time to time. This isn't a poly romance, but is still expansive, which . . . there are 40 billion romance novels out there, a little bit more variety can only be a good thing.

It's not a five star because it didn't knock me out, but that's not what this book was trying to do. I'll let slip a secret: some of my most re-read books are 4/4.25 stars. I have some 5 star books I never want to return to, for various reasons, but a very good solidly snuggly sweet comforting 4 star? Much more likely I'll be returning. And who knows? I've had four star books that I have re-read so much they are upgraded to fives on principle, and I could see this book having that potential.

Missed Connections: Love, Lost & Found by Sophie Blackall

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad

4.0

Over Easy by Mimi Pond

3.25

A Note of Explanation: An Undiscovered Story from Queen Mary's Dollhouse (Historical Stories, Stories from Famous Authors, Literary Books) by Vita Sackville-West

adventurous lighthearted

4.0