reads_esther's reviews
41 reviews

Threads That Bind Us by Rae Douglas

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An absolultely brilliant debut from Rae Douglas. 

This book was soft and sexy, emotional and engaging, and full of some of the most beautiful writing. A soft dark romance filled with people who may not be perfect, but they sure are perfect for each other. 

I adored Gwen and Charlie and cannot wait for the rest of this series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Cancer

Shadowlands Omega by Elizabeth Stephens

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Exhibited by Nellie Wilson

emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Jeremy and Davis' story might be a "gentle'' love story, but what that actually means is that they are the softest, safest, swooniest, sexiest love story. From the jump, Exhibited felt like curling up with the coziest blanket - that sense of warmth and security. J&D's story is a beautiful exploration of queerness and how vast an experience queerness is, but how unifying it is as well. Nellie articulates what queerness looks like - in that there is no one way to be queer, or to be out. I think that Exhibited needs to be required reading for everyone, honestly. This book made me feel seen, but I know that had I read this book before I came out, it would have been the most comforting, healing book I could have read. 

One thing that I love deeply about all of Nellie's books is the profound meaning of family that runs throughout. What does family mean and what does it look like? And in Exhibited, the beloved Vanberg found family feels even more meaningful and closer than ever. Seeing all the characters that we fell in love with in previous books embrace Davis and include him was so beautiful. If I had to join a fictional found family, I would move to Vanberg in a heartbeat. These characters feel so real, because of how multidimensional they are. Nellie’s characters feel real in a way that I’ve never really experienced before. 

I feel like I could go on about this book for eons, simply because it is so much more than a romance novel. This book is profound and thoughtful, it's smart and witty, it's gentle and kind. I feel smarter for having read this book. It's a love letter to history, forests, Appalaticha, queerness, museums. Nellie handles difficult topics with care and thoughtfulness - including sobriety and grief - in all of their many forms. 

I hope that you love this novel even half as much as I did. 

Dark City Omega by Elizabeth Stephens

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Absolutley phenomenal. I have no words. 
This book is a stunning, STUNNING story.
This is so much more than an omegaverse. The world building was exquistite, the story was gripping and I never want to go back to who I was before this book ripped me apart. 

Little Heart of Stone by Clio Evans

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

absolutley brilliant. Clio handles every kink they write with such care. And always balances heat with heart to the point of inferno!

All My Love by Morgan Elizabeth

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 

I wish I could say that this story has all my love. It has half of it though? 

This story is messy – so messy. And I waffled back and forth while reading it if they should be back together. Because they nearly destroyed each other once. There are certain second chances that maybe shouldn’t be given that opportunity. And for about 85% of the book, I believed that Stella and Riggins shouldn’t be together. 

Morgan said that this book is “Noah Kahan inspired”. With direct nods to specific lyrics, and others that are overall thematic, there are extremely direct parallels to Kahan’s discography. I think that personally, based on Noah and his fiancée’s story, this felt almost too close? At times I could only picture Noah as Riggins and when the story is so heavily inspired by him, it felt almost like objectification and that was extremely uncomfortable. 

All My Love is a moving story of grief, depression, addiction, toxic relationships, cyclical substance abuse issues and the overwhelming hope and love found in the midst of it all.

There was a continuity error that bugged me, unless Riggins’ mother had two middle names. Stella uses Marie as a pen name, and it’s said that that was Riggins’ mom’s middle name, but then in one of the voicemails, she says that they named Gracie after her middle name…honestly it’s so minor but it bugged me!!!!! 

 

Wild Love by Elsie Silver

2.5

Kings and Monsters by Clio Evans

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

As always, Clio delivered another phenomenal monster romance. Ryan and Grim are so good! This book is hot, hot, HOT, while keeping a perfect balance between plot and spice. I'm such a sucker for a fated mates moment and Kings & Monsters delivered on that and every other microtrope I adore. I'm so excited to see what happens next in the Three Fates universe and Val's story!

Just This Once by Lena Hendrix

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Soft Flannel Hank by Eliza MacArthur

emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A truly brilliant, heart wrenching, beautiful, atmospheric, paranormal romance. One that I could not recommend more. Hank & Esther are so unbelievably special.