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judeinthestars's reviews
1341 reviews
Magdalene Nox by Milena McKay
I know this story so well—having read and listened to The Headmistress several times and then read Magdalene Nox more than once as well, even as Milena McKay was writing it—I found myself in a very unfamiliar situation when this audiobook hit my ears. I’m so used to forgetting things that my attention is usually divided between listening to the words and experiencing the narration. Which is fine, I also listen to books I haven’t read before, and I love discovering stories, characters, details, through a narrator’s performance. That said, being able to focus almost solely on Abby Craden‘s narration was wonderful too.
I was so happy to hear Magdalene again. I already knew what she sounds like when she delivers the iconic words The Headmistress is known for (“My name is Magdalene Nox. I am the new Headmistress of Three Dragons. And you are all fired.”), and the anticipation was delicious. There’s so much more to delight in, however. Being able to actively listen allowed me to enjoy every nuance of the narration, tiny things that I would normally feel without identifying them, without noticing them. One example that blew my mind: in the prologue, Magdalene is a teenager, and Craden’s voice for her is very much Magdalene’s voice but younger. There’s a quality to it that makes it still innocent, not jaded by life yet, even if she’s well on her way to it. And yet it’s unmistakably the voice of the adult she’ll become and to whom readers were first introduced.
Everything I wrote in my review of the book, I felt even more with the audiobook. From the wonder that is Candace—for the reader/listener, if not for Magdalene—to Willoughby’s ultimate catness (and no, I didn’t remember him meowing and so didn’t expect Craden to either), to the absolute joy of experiencing Magdalene’s fall for Sam from within. Milena McKay’s beautiful words and ability to convey emotions are, once more, perfectly served by Abby Craden’s narration.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I know this story so well—having read and listened to The Headmistress several times and then read Magdalene Nox more than once as well, even as Milena McKay was writing it—I found myself in a very unfamiliar situation when this audiobook hit my ears. I’m so used to forgetting things that my attention is usually divided between listening to the words and experiencing the narration. Which is fine, I also listen to books I haven’t read before, and I love discovering stories, characters, details, through a narrator’s performance. That said, being able to focus almost solely on Abby Craden‘s narration was wonderful too.
I was so happy to hear Magdalene again. I already knew what she sounds like when she delivers the iconic words The Headmistress is known for (“My name is Magdalene Nox. I am the new Headmistress of Three Dragons. And you are all fired.”), and the anticipation was delicious. There’s so much more to delight in, however. Being able to actively listen allowed me to enjoy every nuance of the narration, tiny things that I would normally feel without identifying them, without noticing them. One example that blew my mind: in the prologue, Magdalene is a teenager, and Craden’s voice for her is very much Magdalene’s voice but younger. There’s a quality to it that makes it still innocent, not jaded by life yet, even if she’s well on her way to it. And yet it’s unmistakably the voice of the adult she’ll become and to whom readers were first introduced.
Everything I wrote in my review of the book, I felt even more with the audiobook. From the wonder that is Candace—for the reader/listener, if not for Magdalene—to Willoughby’s ultimate catness (and no, I didn’t remember him meowing and so didn’t expect Craden to either), to the absolute joy of experiencing Magdalene’s fall for Sam from within. Milena McKay’s beautiful words and ability to convey emotions are, once more, perfectly served by Abby Craden’s narration.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
In the Shadow of Victory by J.E. Leak
It wasn’t that long ago that I read this book and thought it was a very fitting ending for this captivating series. Getting to experience it again through Abby Craden’s narration was a real joy, even though the story isn’t easy. Kat and Jenny have gone through a lot over the course of this four book series and they more than deserve their happy ending.
I don’t have much to add to my original review, except that Abby Craden made me love this book and the entire series even more. Scenes that I wasn’t sure were necessary made a lot more sense to me in audio, for some reason. Maybe because I already knew the story, or thanks to the narrator’s excellent performance. Either way, I enjoyed In the Shadow of Victory very much and feel like the ending did the series justice.
I may not have loved each book in the same way, and I know I rated some higher than others, but as a whole, the series is a must-listen. Review maths follows different rules than regular maths and while I didn’t rate any of the individual books 5⭐️, the series, especially in audiobook, gets all the stars from me.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
It wasn’t that long ago that I read this book and thought it was a very fitting ending for this captivating series. Getting to experience it again through Abby Craden’s narration was a real joy, even though the story isn’t easy. Kat and Jenny have gone through a lot over the course of this four book series and they more than deserve their happy ending.
I don’t have much to add to my original review, except that Abby Craden made me love this book and the entire series even more. Scenes that I wasn’t sure were necessary made a lot more sense to me in audio, for some reason. Maybe because I already knew the story, or thanks to the narrator’s excellent performance. Either way, I enjoyed In the Shadow of Victory very much and feel like the ending did the series justice.
I may not have loved each book in the same way, and I know I rated some higher than others, but as a whole, the series is a must-listen. Review maths follows different rules than regular maths and while I didn’t rate any of the individual books 5⭐️, the series, especially in audiobook, gets all the stars from me.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
In the Shadow of Truth by J.E. Leak
It took me an awfully long time to decide to listen to this audiobook, for several reasons. It’s lengthy, and I needed to be in the right headspace for it. This third episode in the series is also my least favourite of the four, which added to my reluctance. When I first read it, I found it too dense and convoluted. The word I used in my review at the time is “messy”. However, when I finally gave it a chance, I enjoyed it a lot more. I have no doubt that it’s in part due to Abby Craden’s talent. Her narration makes the story more poignant and, at the same time, faster-paced. That said, the fact that I now know everything that comes after played a role too. I love the anticipation, the feeling that I have knowledge the characters don’t of their inescapable fate. Besides, I’d found all the intricacies confusing, but having read the fourth and last book now, it all makes sense, and my initial frustration has evaporated.
I’ve written several times about Craden’s French not being the best but in this, all the words she has to say in my mother tongue were perfect (with the tiny exception of Thierry Bouchaule’s sidekick’s first name, Bertrand—the final “d” is silent).
In the end, I enjoyed the experience so much, I went on to listen to the final book straight away. More on that one soon!
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It took me an awfully long time to decide to listen to this audiobook, for several reasons. It’s lengthy, and I needed to be in the right headspace for it. This third episode in the series is also my least favourite of the four, which added to my reluctance. When I first read it, I found it too dense and convoluted. The word I used in my review at the time is “messy”. However, when I finally gave it a chance, I enjoyed it a lot more. I have no doubt that it’s in part due to Abby Craden’s talent. Her narration makes the story more poignant and, at the same time, faster-paced. That said, the fact that I now know everything that comes after played a role too. I love the anticipation, the feeling that I have knowledge the characters don’t of their inescapable fate. Besides, I’d found all the intricacies confusing, but having read the fourth and last book now, it all makes sense, and my initial frustration has evaporated.
I’ve written several times about Craden’s French not being the best but in this, all the words she has to say in my mother tongue were perfect (with the tiny exception of Thierry Bouchaule’s sidekick’s first name, Bertrand—the final “d” is silent).
In the end, I enjoyed the experience so much, I went on to listen to the final book straight away. More on that one soon!
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Fly With Me by Andie Burke
Olive’s afraid of flying, but she needs to get to Disneyworld in order to check an item off her brother’s bucket list. As fate would have it, on her very first flight, a medical emergency requires her to intervene. An ER nurse with ten years of experience, she efficiently cares for the passenger in need of help, filmed by several phones. In the process, she catches the eye of Stella, one of the pilots. And of the world, as the video goes viral. A few days later, Olive and Stella being the adorable useless sapphics that they are, they agree to act as fake girlfriends to their mutual benefit.
Olive, who benefits from the author’s knowledge as a nurse herself, is passionate, driven, but her panic attacks and a nasty ex make her question her worth. Add to that an inextricably difficult family situation and it’s no wonder her heart isn’t into dating. She’s aware fake dating a woman she has a crush on is probably stupid but she’s also trying to get out of her comfort zone. Stella, on the other hand, seems to know exactly who she is and what she wants: an excellent pilot who keeps being overlooked for promotion because she’s a woman, and a Latina. On the personal front, said woman is bad at relationships and keeping to friendships or a bit of fun is safer. Yeah, right.
Yes, it’s another fake romance. Once again, it’s sweet and funny, with characters I couldn’t resist. Despite some very heavy themes, Burke keeps the tone mostly light, which allows her to explore topics such as grief or the weight of expectations, the one others impose upon us as well as those we hold ourselves to, while maintaining a sense of hope throughout. I enjoyed the banter and the tenderness, the badass scenes, Olive’s best friend, Stella’s dad…
I also loved the narration. Chelsea Stephens’ name rang a bell but not her voice(s). It turns out that I’ve listened to her narrate The Heart of the Banshee by Carolyn Elizabeth, but it’s such a different genre that I didn’t recognize her. I always find that kind of versatility amazing. I was unsure about Stella’s voice at the beginning but it really suits her personality. I don’t think it’s stated at any point, but I wondered several times whether she had ADHD. She has that unstoppable tornado energy. Olive seems to settle her, just as being with her makes Olive forget about her anxiety. My wife and I have the same kind of dynamics, so of course I enjoyed it!
My friend Carrie recommended this book to me a few months ago and it took me some time to finally listen to it, but I had a really good time with it.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Olive’s afraid of flying, but she needs to get to Disneyworld in order to check an item off her brother’s bucket list. As fate would have it, on her very first flight, a medical emergency requires her to intervene. An ER nurse with ten years of experience, she efficiently cares for the passenger in need of help, filmed by several phones. In the process, she catches the eye of Stella, one of the pilots. And of the world, as the video goes viral. A few days later, Olive and Stella being the adorable useless sapphics that they are, they agree to act as fake girlfriends to their mutual benefit.
Olive, who benefits from the author’s knowledge as a nurse herself, is passionate, driven, but her panic attacks and a nasty ex make her question her worth. Add to that an inextricably difficult family situation and it’s no wonder her heart isn’t into dating. She’s aware fake dating a woman she has a crush on is probably stupid but she’s also trying to get out of her comfort zone. Stella, on the other hand, seems to know exactly who she is and what she wants: an excellent pilot who keeps being overlooked for promotion because she’s a woman, and a Latina. On the personal front, said woman is bad at relationships and keeping to friendships or a bit of fun is safer. Yeah, right.
Yes, it’s another fake romance. Once again, it’s sweet and funny, with characters I couldn’t resist. Despite some very heavy themes, Burke keeps the tone mostly light, which allows her to explore topics such as grief or the weight of expectations, the one others impose upon us as well as those we hold ourselves to, while maintaining a sense of hope throughout. I enjoyed the banter and the tenderness, the badass scenes, Olive’s best friend, Stella’s dad…
I also loved the narration. Chelsea Stephens’ name rang a bell but not her voice(s). It turns out that I’ve listened to her narrate The Heart of the Banshee by Carolyn Elizabeth, but it’s such a different genre that I didn’t recognize her. I always find that kind of versatility amazing. I was unsure about Stella’s voice at the beginning but it really suits her personality. I don’t think it’s stated at any point, but I wondered several times whether she had ADHD. She has that unstoppable tornado energy. Olive seems to settle her, just as being with her makes Olive forget about her anxiety. My wife and I have the same kind of dynamics, so of course I enjoyed it!
My friend Carrie recommended this book to me a few months ago and it took me some time to finally listen to it, but I had a really good time with it.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
The Price of Cookies by Finnian Burnett, Finnian Burnett
I don’t know if I’d have read The Price of Cookies if the author hadn’t been so kind to me last summer at the GCLS conference. I don’t read many concise works, I didn’t know whether I’d enjoy flash fiction, 99.99% of the books I read have sapphic MCs, I rarely go for wider queer casts, etc. I would have missed out, though. Hugely. It’s impressive how such a short book can pack so much, in terms of characters, emotions, nuances.
There’s an entire world in these 36 pages, an entire universe. In a page or three, Burnett draws multiple slices of life, all interconnected, some more loosely than others.
In a few sentences, the reader is introduced to a whole array of characters and their feelings, as if they were entering a village and were suddenly privy to the lives being lived, in all their frailty and fallibility, the anger, the resentment, the frustration and pettiness, but also the hope, the compassion, the love. Human beings doing their best with whatever cards they were dealt.
Despite being nowhere near as long, The Price of Cookies is reminiscent of Georges Perec’s La Vie mode d’emploi (Life: A User’s Manual) and its more than six hundred pages. It also reminded me of a hand-clapping game/song in French called “Trois petits chats” or “Marabout, bout d’ficelle”. While Burnett’s novella in flash doesn’t follow the same stylistic device of having each part begin with the sound the one before ends on (dorica castra), the cookies have the same effect.
This masterful and poignant story of humanity, intolerance, and compassion came into my life at the perfect time. I haven’t been able to focus on reading recently (audiobooks seem okay), and the novella length felt less intimidating. I didn’t expect it to encompass so much, and even though it took me longer than I’d like to finish, it also made me want to read just one more page. And then just one more. And one more. Until suddenly the one more page was the last page and it had all come full circle, in the most satisfying way.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I don’t know if I’d have read The Price of Cookies if the author hadn’t been so kind to me last summer at the GCLS conference. I don’t read many concise works, I didn’t know whether I’d enjoy flash fiction, 99.99% of the books I read have sapphic MCs, I rarely go for wider queer casts, etc. I would have missed out, though. Hugely. It’s impressive how such a short book can pack so much, in terms of characters, emotions, nuances.
There’s an entire world in these 36 pages, an entire universe. In a page or three, Burnett draws multiple slices of life, all interconnected, some more loosely than others.
In a few sentences, the reader is introduced to a whole array of characters and their feelings, as if they were entering a village and were suddenly privy to the lives being lived, in all their frailty and fallibility, the anger, the resentment, the frustration and pettiness, but also the hope, the compassion, the love. Human beings doing their best with whatever cards they were dealt.
Despite being nowhere near as long, The Price of Cookies is reminiscent of Georges Perec’s La Vie mode d’emploi (Life: A User’s Manual) and its more than six hundred pages. It also reminded me of a hand-clapping game/song in French called “Trois petits chats” or “Marabout, bout d’ficelle”. While Burnett’s novella in flash doesn’t follow the same stylistic device of having each part begin with the sound the one before ends on (dorica castra), the cookies have the same effect.
This masterful and poignant story of humanity, intolerance, and compassion came into my life at the perfect time. I haven’t been able to focus on reading recently (audiobooks seem okay), and the novella length felt less intimidating. I didn’t expect it to encompass so much, and even though it took me longer than I’d like to finish, it also made me want to read just one more page. And then just one more. And one more. Until suddenly the one more page was the last page and it had all come full circle, in the most satisfying way.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
I Dare You to Love Me by Lori G. Matthews
I didn’t have this audiobook on my radar until I listened to Rachel Lacey’s Lost in Paradise, which was my first narration by Ellie Gossage. My friend Elena then recommended this one and it helped lighten a complicated weekend. The premise is a pretty simple enemies to lovers story. Dani, a surgical resident, is engaged to her best friend Will. As a self-described cat person, she’s not exactly enthusiastic about the cute but overly energetic dog Will brings home one day. Her other best friend, Zoe, suggests using a doggy day care service. When the owner, Kara, comes to fetch the dog for the first time, the sparks that fly are undeniable yet not of the pleasant kind.
This book doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s light, fun, fluffy. Some things don’t completely make sense, but it doesn’t matter. The chemistry between the main characters is real and overrides everything else, and Zoe’s shenanigans, added to adorable cats and dogs, had me laughing out loud. I can’t tell if I would have enjoyed this book as much if I had read it. All I know is that Ellie Gossage’s performance brought me definite joy.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I didn’t have this audiobook on my radar until I listened to Rachel Lacey’s Lost in Paradise, which was my first narration by Ellie Gossage. My friend Elena then recommended this one and it helped lighten a complicated weekend. The premise is a pretty simple enemies to lovers story. Dani, a surgical resident, is engaged to her best friend Will. As a self-described cat person, she’s not exactly enthusiastic about the cute but overly energetic dog Will brings home one day. Her other best friend, Zoe, suggests using a doggy day care service. When the owner, Kara, comes to fetch the dog for the first time, the sparks that fly are undeniable yet not of the pleasant kind.
This book doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s light, fun, fluffy. Some things don’t completely make sense, but it doesn’t matter. The chemistry between the main characters is real and overrides everything else, and Zoe’s shenanigans, added to adorable cats and dogs, had me laughing out loud. I can’t tell if I would have enjoyed this book as much if I had read it. All I know is that Ellie Gossage’s performance brought me definite joy.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Dear Sylvia, Love Jane by Erin Hall
I was scrolling on Instagram one day a few months ago, as one does when they’re supposed to be working, and saw Jenifer Prince’s cover for this book. It’s absolutely perfect for the story Erin Hall wrote. When we say covers matter and indie authors should definitely invest in cover artists and designers, this is what we mean. I bought this book because the cover is by one of my fave artists. Both cover and novel are reminiscent of the girl detective stories I loved as a teenager, only the girls are all grown up now, holding their own in a world that tends to overlook them and go for Philip Marlowe types.
Set in San Francisco in 1943, Dear Sylvia, Love Jane looks at the war some powerful people—in all eras—go to against “vice mongers”, aka queer folks, often for political clout, revenge, money… Molly Malone is a brilliant private investigator, who, as a woman—and a lesbian—hides behind her actor friend James when new clients want to meet “the detective”. Sylvia Owens is one of these clients, convinced her ambitious politician husband Carl is devising an evil plan for the city, that also probably includes killing her.
At a time when knowing the secret knock is the only way to enter a queer bar, being out is unimaginable. Recognition of kinship happens through stolen and perilous looks and touches, and community only exists in carefully hidden spaces. As she uncovers a conspiracy to “clean” the city of these spaces, Molly is confronted to all sorts of dangers and moral dilemmas.
As far as I can tell, this is Hall’s debut novel and it feels extremely promising. It has debut novel flaws, such as repetitions, but it doesn’t take much to overlook them. Molly is very easy to love and root for. I love how she takes responsibility for her mistakes, her determination, her sense of what is right, what needs to be done. I hope we’ll get many more of her adventures. Since Molly is the one telling the story, I didn’t get as much of a feel of who Sylvia is but I imagine we’ll get to know her better in future books.
Striking the right balance between light writing and endearing, witty characters on one hand and heavy topics on the other isn’t always successful, yet Erin Hall found it.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I was scrolling on Instagram one day a few months ago, as one does when they’re supposed to be working, and saw Jenifer Prince’s cover for this book. It’s absolutely perfect for the story Erin Hall wrote. When we say covers matter and indie authors should definitely invest in cover artists and designers, this is what we mean. I bought this book because the cover is by one of my fave artists. Both cover and novel are reminiscent of the girl detective stories I loved as a teenager, only the girls are all grown up now, holding their own in a world that tends to overlook them and go for Philip Marlowe types.
Set in San Francisco in 1943, Dear Sylvia, Love Jane looks at the war some powerful people—in all eras—go to against “vice mongers”, aka queer folks, often for political clout, revenge, money… Molly Malone is a brilliant private investigator, who, as a woman—and a lesbian—hides behind her actor friend James when new clients want to meet “the detective”. Sylvia Owens is one of these clients, convinced her ambitious politician husband Carl is devising an evil plan for the city, that also probably includes killing her.
At a time when knowing the secret knock is the only way to enter a queer bar, being out is unimaginable. Recognition of kinship happens through stolen and perilous looks and touches, and community only exists in carefully hidden spaces. As she uncovers a conspiracy to “clean” the city of these spaces, Molly is confronted to all sorts of dangers and moral dilemmas.
As far as I can tell, this is Hall’s debut novel and it feels extremely promising. It has debut novel flaws, such as repetitions, but it doesn’t take much to overlook them. Molly is very easy to love and root for. I love how she takes responsibility for her mistakes, her determination, her sense of what is right, what needs to be done. I hope we’ll get many more of her adventures. Since Molly is the one telling the story, I didn’t get as much of a feel of who Sylvia is but I imagine we’ll get to know her better in future books.
Striking the right balance between light writing and endearing, witty characters on one hand and heavy topics on the other isn’t always successful, yet Erin Hall found it.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl by Brianna R. Shrum, Sara Waxelbaum
Margo Zimmerman is the super cool kid others don’t know whether they want to be or be with. She aces all her classes, she’s part of the high school swim team, she’s gorgeous, and her family is wonderful. When she realises she’s a lesbian, she wants to learn everything about being gay, from the culture to meeting girls. One of her teammates is openly queer, so Margo asks her to teach her. Abbie Sokoloff, who is struggling in one of her classes, agrees, in exchange for some tutoring.
I love that for once, the autistic MC is the self-confident character, not the awkward one. Margo has zero issues with being on the spectrum. It’s who she is. Take it or leave it. At first, Abbie may seem rude and dismissive, but as the story unfolds, it’s easy to understand her initial behaviour. The person behind the persona is a lot more likable, as Margo will find out.
This audiobook kept me chuckling for most of the time I listened to it. I laughed aloud any time one of the Zimmerman’s family’s pets was mentioned because they all have such brilliant names. I loved Margo’s relationship with her brother, who is also queer, and a communist. He’s not the most helpful on her journey to understand how to act gay (spoiler: there’s no right way), but I loved the way he teases her lovingly and respectfully. Another thing I liked is that even though it’s a YA book, it’s spicy. Teens have sex in real life and while I don’t necessarily expect sex scenes in books aimed at teenagers, I like that there are, sometimes. Because, you know, life.
Dual narrations aren’t often convincing to me, but I rather enjoyed this one. I loved Kristen DiMercurio’s performance in Ashley Herring Blake’s Bright Falls series and I loved her in this too. Marli Watson was a new narrator to me, she’s great as well, and I hope to hear her in more sapphic stories. The whole narration is excellent but my favourite part was the first kiss, which sounds like spoken word poetry. 4.5⭐️
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Margo Zimmerman is the super cool kid others don’t know whether they want to be or be with. She aces all her classes, she’s part of the high school swim team, she’s gorgeous, and her family is wonderful. When she realises she’s a lesbian, she wants to learn everything about being gay, from the culture to meeting girls. One of her teammates is openly queer, so Margo asks her to teach her. Abbie Sokoloff, who is struggling in one of her classes, agrees, in exchange for some tutoring.
I love that for once, the autistic MC is the self-confident character, not the awkward one. Margo has zero issues with being on the spectrum. It’s who she is. Take it or leave it. At first, Abbie may seem rude and dismissive, but as the story unfolds, it’s easy to understand her initial behaviour. The person behind the persona is a lot more likable, as Margo will find out.
This audiobook kept me chuckling for most of the time I listened to it. I laughed aloud any time one of the Zimmerman’s family’s pets was mentioned because they all have such brilliant names. I loved Margo’s relationship with her brother, who is also queer, and a communist. He’s not the most helpful on her journey to understand how to act gay (spoiler: there’s no right way), but I loved the way he teases her lovingly and respectfully. Another thing I liked is that even though it’s a YA book, it’s spicy. Teens have sex in real life and while I don’t necessarily expect sex scenes in books aimed at teenagers, I like that there are, sometimes. Because, you know, life.
Dual narrations aren’t often convincing to me, but I rather enjoyed this one. I loved Kristen DiMercurio’s performance in Ashley Herring Blake’s Bright Falls series and I loved her in this too. Marli Watson was a new narrator to me, she’s great as well, and I hope to hear her in more sapphic stories. The whole narration is excellent but my favourite part was the first kiss, which sounds like spoken word poetry. 4.5⭐️
The Only Exception by Allie McDermid
Fake romance is a very popular trope these days, but what makes this one special is how lovely Izzy and Ingrid are. They’re not perfect, they have flaws. They’ve both been through emotional hardships, either with family or partners, that could have made them hard, but they’re kind and respectful, of each other and of the world around them. While Izzy is desperate to be in a proper relationship, to the point of questioning whether her feelings are genuine, Ingrid is determined not to fall but can’t resist. Perpendicular journeys to the same destination.
Izzy is an expert at making a fake relationship look real. She’s also a serial dater, as unlucky at finding love as she is great at pretending. After another predictable breakup, Izzy’s friends bet she can’t go six months without dating. Just in case, they allow for an exception if the woman meets certain criteria. As fate would have it, around the same time, Izzy, to keep her employer happy, breaks her own rule of not accepting women clients and agrees to act as Lady Ingrid’s girlfriend up to her brother’s wedding. All sorts of mishaps, misunderstandings, and—of course—feelings ensue.
The secondary characters on either side are a joy too, whether it’s Izzy’s friends or Ingrid’s family. Again, not perfect but lovely. Speaking of Izzy’s friends, this book, despite being the second in a series, can be enjoyed as a standalone. That said, I felt at times that I was missing some background, and I’ll have to catch up and read Long Time Coming.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Fake romance is a very popular trope these days, but what makes this one special is how lovely Izzy and Ingrid are. They’re not perfect, they have flaws. They’ve both been through emotional hardships, either with family or partners, that could have made them hard, but they’re kind and respectful, of each other and of the world around them. While Izzy is desperate to be in a proper relationship, to the point of questioning whether her feelings are genuine, Ingrid is determined not to fall but can’t resist. Perpendicular journeys to the same destination.
Izzy is an expert at making a fake relationship look real. She’s also a serial dater, as unlucky at finding love as she is great at pretending. After another predictable breakup, Izzy’s friends bet she can’t go six months without dating. Just in case, they allow for an exception if the woman meets certain criteria. As fate would have it, around the same time, Izzy, to keep her employer happy, breaks her own rule of not accepting women clients and agrees to act as Lady Ingrid’s girlfriend up to her brother’s wedding. All sorts of mishaps, misunderstandings, and—of course—feelings ensue.
The secondary characters on either side are a joy too, whether it’s Izzy’s friends or Ingrid’s family. Again, not perfect but lovely. Speaking of Izzy’s friends, this book, despite being the second in a series, can be enjoyed as a standalone. That said, I felt at times that I was missing some background, and I’ll have to catch up and read Long Time Coming.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
Dark Star by C.X. Myers
Sometimes when a book overwhelms me to the point that I can’t sort my thoughts, I read other reviews to help me remember details I loved etc. I tried this for Dark Star but all the reviews are super short, along the lines of “this is such a perfect sequel and I can’t wait for book 3!” And you know, that’s exactly how I feel too: this is such a perfect sequel and I can’t wait for book 3.
I’m not even going to attempt to give you more than a glimpse of what the story is about. Either you’ve read Reflector and you know most of the protagonists and can’t wait to fight alongside them or you haven’t read it and you should. The team is reeling from the events from the first book and facing new dangers. Wally and Vess find creative ways to be together, for romance and to save the world. Another character stumbles upon love in unexpected places. That’s it, go read the book for more.
The world Myers has created is fascinating, terrifying, intense. The worldbuilding is at once detailed, coherent, and accessible. The Sixth Precinct motley crew of diversely talented and undead people is charismatic and incredibly endearing. They’re who I’d want by my side (besides my wife) in case of a zombie invasion or, to keep things simple, the apocalypse.
As well as carrying the reader away through a flowing stream of twists and reveals, the author tackles sensitive issues such as PTSD, anxiety, imposter syndrome, survivor’s guilt, the weight and pitfalls of organised religion and cults even as the characters build community, solidarity, trust, family. All this with a significant dose of adrenaline and humour. As I said, such a perfect sequel and I can’t wait for book 3.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Sometimes when a book overwhelms me to the point that I can’t sort my thoughts, I read other reviews to help me remember details I loved etc. I tried this for Dark Star but all the reviews are super short, along the lines of “this is such a perfect sequel and I can’t wait for book 3!” And you know, that’s exactly how I feel too: this is such a perfect sequel and I can’t wait for book 3.
I’m not even going to attempt to give you more than a glimpse of what the story is about. Either you’ve read Reflector and you know most of the protagonists and can’t wait to fight alongside them or you haven’t read it and you should. The team is reeling from the events from the first book and facing new dangers. Wally and Vess find creative ways to be together, for romance and to save the world. Another character stumbles upon love in unexpected places. That’s it, go read the book for more.
The world Myers has created is fascinating, terrifying, intense. The worldbuilding is at once detailed, coherent, and accessible. The Sixth Precinct motley crew of diversely talented and undead people is charismatic and incredibly endearing. They’re who I’d want by my side (besides my wife) in case of a zombie invasion or, to keep things simple, the apocalypse.
As well as carrying the reader away through a flowing stream of twists and reveals, the author tackles sensitive issues such as PTSD, anxiety, imposter syndrome, survivor’s guilt, the weight and pitfalls of organised religion and cults even as the characters build community, solidarity, trust, family. All this with a significant dose of adrenaline and humour. As I said, such a perfect sequel and I can’t wait for book 3.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars