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onceandfuturebooknerd's reviews
917 reviews
There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool
5.0
This reread was EVERYTHING ππ€π» Still one of the most amazing (queer!! π) fantasies I have ever read π
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
4.5
Well, what a book to end my February of 24 with. I need a physical copy asap ππ€π»
Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender
4.75
When Logan Grey, Hollywood's bad boy, and Mattie Cole, the sunshine newcomer, are cast together in a romcom, the production is off to a shaky start with Logan calling Mattie talentless. To create some positive buzz, the two are persuaded into a fake dating scheme - but soon real feelings get involved as Mattie and Logan get to know each other; the good, the bad, and the ugly.
This book was EVERYTHING!!! One of those more hard-hitting romances, so do check the trigger warnings before diving in, but very much a needed one!
While I adore romance novels and I always will, I can see how they can sometimes brush over the more painful parts - so I appreciate it when some books don't. There has been an ongoing discussion on mental illnesses rep in books for ages now and back in the day, there was a belief that romance either:
a) doesn't belong in books where the MC struggles with a mental illness
or b) that romance is an end all, be all for mentally ill people, that it will cure them and that's it.
And guess what?? It's neither! And Stars in Your Eyes portrays that perfectly! Of course we've had books that tackle these topics in the same manner, more and more in the recent years and I am so grateful for that. But there have been few (that I've stumbled upon!) that deal with rape, sexual assault and PTSD (and CPTSD) that comes from that. And Stars in Your Eyes managed that with a lot of sensitivity and care - of course that doesn't mean it isn't a hard read. It is, but it is also a necessary one (IF and only if you are comfortable with reading books with certain TWs. Safety first, of course). Hollywood has a lot, a lot of skeletons and while Stars in Your Eyes is a romance novel, it also shines a light on the ugliest truths of the world of glamour, on trauma and pain that stems from that, and how that affects relationships as well. There is literally a paragraph in the book that talks about how people who deal with trauma, who are survivors of SA, very rarely see themselves in romance novels and how unfair that is. How the time has come for the industry - both book and movie - to change that, to change the narrative and show that everyone is worthy of love (romantic or platonic or any type they want).
All in all, Stars in Your Eyes is a beautiful romance, but it is not straightforward or easy. I love it even more for the way it deals with mental health in relation to romance and how they are not mutually exclusive.
This book was EVERYTHING!!! One of those more hard-hitting romances, so do check the trigger warnings before diving in, but very much a needed one!
While I adore romance novels and I always will, I can see how they can sometimes brush over the more painful parts - so I appreciate it when some books don't. There has been an ongoing discussion on mental illnesses rep in books for ages now and back in the day, there was a belief that romance either:
a) doesn't belong in books where the MC struggles with a mental illness
or b) that romance is an end all, be all for mentally ill people, that it will cure them and that's it.
And guess what?? It's neither! And Stars in Your Eyes portrays that perfectly! Of course we've had books that tackle these topics in the same manner, more and more in the recent years and I am so grateful for that. But there have been few (that I've stumbled upon!) that deal with rape, sexual assault and PTSD (and CPTSD) that comes from that. And Stars in Your Eyes managed that with a lot of sensitivity and care - of course that doesn't mean it isn't a hard read. It is, but it is also a necessary one (IF and only if you are comfortable with reading books with certain TWs. Safety first, of course). Hollywood has a lot, a lot of skeletons and while Stars in Your Eyes is a romance novel, it also shines a light on the ugliest truths of the world of glamour, on trauma and pain that stems from that, and how that affects relationships as well. There is literally a paragraph in the book that talks about how people who deal with trauma, who are survivors of SA, very rarely see themselves in romance novels and how unfair that is. How the time has come for the industry - both book and movie - to change that, to change the narrative and show that everyone is worthy of love (romantic or platonic or any type they want).
All in all, Stars in Your Eyes is a beautiful romance, but it is not straightforward or easy. I love it even more for the way it deals with mental health in relation to romance and how they are not mutually exclusive.
One Last Midnight by Claire Winn
4.75
THIS is what novellas are all about!! Epic new content for side characters that deserve more page time - namely Morphett and Kaya aka two characters who couldn't be more different but that slay so hard!
These two short stories are full of what we've come to expect from Claire Winn: high stakes, heart-squeezing plot twists, soft friendships (in the sense of emotions, they are quite loud and a lot in every other sense π), and epic characters you love with every fiber of your being!! Morphett, my aroace QUEEN!! And Kaya, a character that captured my heart through the way Asa (our MC) saw her, and that deserves all the good things after the hell she's been through. And she's getting there. (Also TY my precious baby! Fave from the first page and it never let up! π) π
These two short stories are full of what we've come to expect from Claire Winn: high stakes, heart-squeezing plot twists, soft friendships (in the sense of emotions, they are quite loud and a lot in every other sense π), and epic characters you love with every fiber of your being!! Morphett, my aroace QUEEN!! And Kaya, a character that captured my heart through the way Asa (our MC) saw her, and that deserves all the good things after the hell she's been through. And she's getting there. (Also TY my precious baby! Fave from the first page and it never let up! π) π
The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa
4.0
Queer Latinx pirate story inspired by the queer Latinx pirates that so often get overlooked in history books?! Plus a deal with the devil?? This was fantastic and I can't wait for Dami's story! ππ€π»
One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny
3.75
Queer historical fiction galore! π₯Ί I can't wait for the next book hehe sapphics let's goooo!
The Prospects by KT Hoffman
4.5
LOVES! Sports romance babes! It's time to take notes!
The Prospects is an incredibly cute, incredibly sweet and angst-filled yet hopeful story! In it, we follow Gene, a trans baseball player for the minor league Beaverton Beavers. He's made it in professional baseball, plays the sport he loves most in the world, and lives with his best friend, an ex major-leaguer Vince who is finishing his illustrious career with the Beavers. But then Luis Estrada, Geneβs former teammate and current rival, gets traded to the Beavers, destroying the careful equilibrium of Geneβs life. Their rivalry first throws a wrench in the team dynamics, but through prolonged exposure, the two are forced to work together. And soon training sessions are full of longing glances and maybe, just maybe, there might be something worth everything between Gene and Luis.
I am finding it hard to explain how special this story is! From an openly queer and trans trailblazer main character to his shy and anxiety-filled love interest (the mental health rep in this book is FANTASTIC! I am always here for all the sports romances that deal with mental health as well, we need more of them!) and side characters that will make you fall in love with this story even more. The Prospects had it all! Add to that a deliciously torturous slow burn, a lot of longing glances and insecurities, and a lot of baseball goodness and you have a sports romance for the ages!
All in all, The Prospects is a wonderfully soft love story that walks the line between down to earth and beautifully hopeful, and my heart still cannot! Gene is a fantastic MC and I truly can't wait to see what KT Hoffman writes next! 10/10 wanna be his friend!
The Prospects is an incredibly cute, incredibly sweet and angst-filled yet hopeful story! In it, we follow Gene, a trans baseball player for the minor league Beaverton Beavers. He's made it in professional baseball, plays the sport he loves most in the world, and lives with his best friend, an ex major-leaguer Vince who is finishing his illustrious career with the Beavers. But then Luis Estrada, Geneβs former teammate and current rival, gets traded to the Beavers, destroying the careful equilibrium of Geneβs life. Their rivalry first throws a wrench in the team dynamics, but through prolonged exposure, the two are forced to work together. And soon training sessions are full of longing glances and maybe, just maybe, there might be something worth everything between Gene and Luis.
I am finding it hard to explain how special this story is! From an openly queer and trans trailblazer main character to his shy and anxiety-filled love interest (the mental health rep in this book is FANTASTIC! I am always here for all the sports romances that deal with mental health as well, we need more of them!) and side characters that will make you fall in love with this story even more. The Prospects had it all! Add to that a deliciously torturous slow burn, a lot of longing glances and insecurities, and a lot of baseball goodness and you have a sports romance for the ages!
All in all, The Prospects is a wonderfully soft love story that walks the line between down to earth and beautifully hopeful, and my heart still cannot! Gene is a fantastic MC and I truly can't wait to see what KT Hoffman writes next! 10/10 wanna be his friend!