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kitaface's reviews
537 reviews
Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I know romance novels are meant to be read with brain closed and heart open. But while this book started off cute, the focus of this book wasn't romance. The majority of the book was about the ever present fear of outing, homophobia, and the desire for marriage equality.
Besides being selfish and self-centered, the main character is also very White Feminist. She monologues often in the book about how life is tough for her, a cis white lesbian, and needs other characters to point out their own struggles that she has not cared to pay attention to.
This book just didn't work for me (including the mostly non-existent romance) but I am willing to chalk it up to bring a rocky debut. I was lucky enough to read the author's second novel first, and it was much better overall.
TLDR: Skip this one and read Looking For A Sign instead.
Besides being selfish and self-centered, the main character is also very White Feminist. She monologues often in the book about how life is tough for her, a cis white lesbian, and needs other characters to point out their own struggles that she has not cared to pay attention to.
This book just didn't work for me (including the mostly non-existent romance) but I am willing to chalk it up to bring a rocky debut. I was lucky enough to read the author's second novel first, and it was much better overall.
TLDR: Skip this one and read Looking For A Sign instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
Minor: Alcoholism
Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This made me cry so much. Like honestly SO much.
Actual review:
5 shining stars to this truly wonderful romance.
Something Wild & Wonderful is a beautiful slow burn romance set along the Pacific Crest Trail. Alexei is hiking alone to find himself and grow into the person he wants to become after being disowned by his religious family for coming out as gay. Ben is hiking to meet new people and have an adventure before starting to work as a nurse, something he feels doubts about his ability to do successfully. They meet and form a partnership, each having strengths and weaknesses that balance each other.
The romance is so gentle and sweet, both men having respect and care for each other. Anita Kelly masterfully weaves together an airy and loving romance with heavier topics of grief over the loss of family, religious trauma, homophobia, fear or failure, and (unspecified) lasting trauma from past relationships.
The letters section pushed this book to even further to a 5++ star read for me.
Actual review:
5 shining stars to this truly wonderful romance.
Something Wild & Wonderful is a beautiful slow burn romance set along the Pacific Crest Trail. Alexei is hiking alone to find himself and grow into the person he wants to become after being disowned by his religious family for coming out as gay. Ben is hiking to meet new people and have an adventure before starting to work as a nurse, something he feels doubts about his ability to do successfully. They meet and form a partnership, each having strengths and weaknesses that balance each other.
The romance is so gentle and sweet, both men having respect and care for each other. Anita Kelly masterfully weaves together an airy and loving romance with heavier topics of grief over the loss of family, religious trauma, homophobia, fear or failure, and (unspecified) lasting trauma from past relationships.
The letters section pushed this book to even further to a 5++ star read for me.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Dementia, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Looking for a Sign by Susie Dumond
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
What Never Happened by Rachel Howzell Hall
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
This book was so slow. A thriller should be fast paced and fun, this was neither. Plus having the first week of Covid lockdown as the setting was unpleasant. It added nothing to the story and was just an unwelcome reminder of that time.