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stargazer3845's reviews
48 reviews
Not Just Gal Pals by Elizabeth Luly
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was honestly a very charming sapphic romance, realistically exceeded my expectations given I basically chose it because the cover looked like the same style as some others I enjoyed 😅. Guaranteed happy ending as required by genre, not super spicy (borderline slow burn, not too many scenes) but enjoyable, and there was some teasing writing working up to those scenes. Characters felt fairly three-dimensional (not the most ever but definitely enough) and lovable, if sometimes very "useless lesbian" 😅. One of the main characters actually reminded me of myself and was giving almost neuro-spicy vibes (which were completely misinterpreted, as you might expect) for whatever that's worth. My least favorite plot point, the third act breakup, was at least foreseen, and not overly drawn out, thankfully. Not too painful either. Pacing was good too, felt like the character development was spread nicely thru the duration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Medical content, Car accident, and Alcohol
Car accident is super minor and no injuries, barely even counts
The Dommes by Hildred Billings, Cynthia Dane, Cynthia Dane
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Too much sex talk, not enough romance, I guess? Also I guess I'm not big on enemies to lovers. Can't take the brash aggression. Not enough feelings.
Also I started it on a recommendation from a request to include a trans femme and there is no trans femme here, which means unlike that other light kink book (Temptation at Randy's iirc) it is not redeemed for me.
Also I started it on a recommendation from a request to include a trans femme and there is no trans femme here, which means unlike that other light kink book (Temptation at Randy's iirc) it is not redeemed for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny and Alcohol
A Perfect Fit by Kellan McKnight
The rape of a minor occurred off the page, before the start of the book, but the setting is described in some detail, and dealing with the ensuing trauma is a major part of the story
fast-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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Sapphic age gap romance. Felt a little clunky at times: third person, and despite the age gap there wasn't clear points of shift in perspective. I decided eventually it was trying to be alternating viewpoint, but just at irregular intervals.
I'm not sure how it managed to be so many pages in print, it seemed to go really fast in digital form, and seemed to be fairly surface level. Seeing that this is the author's apparently first book, this and other details make more sense. (E.g. For a book not about fashion, it was awfully specific about what each character was wearing in each encounter. Except for the one outfit where a dress shirt and suspenders were mentioned, but no slacks or skirt...) I'm not sure if some of these irregularities were signs of using a Large Language Model ("AI") to "write" or if it was just inexperience from the writer. It's more consistent than one such generate novel I accidentally read, but I'm not totally sure. Spicy scenes were ok but not super well developed. It was emotional enough to make me sob in parts, for sure, and I did want to finish it, but the conclusion was a little unsatisfying and parts of the epilogue were really cringe.Promise rings are hetero, evangelical Christian virginity-policing bullshit and have no place in queer culture.
There was some repeated insensitivity from Ella in this book. While I didn't find it as bad as some of the other reviewers here, there were parts others haven't mentioned that made me wonder what the author was trying to do or if a sensitivity or beta reader was used.Going right from "you can tell me to stop any time, I understand you've been assaulted" to responding to "don't stop" with "I'll never stop" seemed in poor taste to say the least. Likewise when she pulled Parker back towards her when she moved away during a spicy scene: it made no sense in the context of the story of trauma.
There's also some frankly upsetting misuse of alcohol that is just laughed away or glossed over. It hardly seems romantic to me to over-serve somebody then take care of them, for example.
I'm not sure how it managed to be so many pages in print, it seemed to go really fast in digital form, and seemed to be fairly surface level. Seeing that this is the author's apparently first book, this and other details make more sense. (E.g. For a book not about fashion, it was awfully specific about what each character was wearing in each encounter. Except for the one outfit where a dress shirt and suspenders were mentioned, but no slacks or skirt...) I'm not sure if some of these irregularities were signs of using a Large Language Model ("AI") to "write" or if it was just inexperience from the writer. It's more consistent than one such generate novel I accidentally read, but I'm not totally sure. Spicy scenes were ok but not super well developed. It was emotional enough to make me sob in parts, for sure, and I did want to finish it, but the conclusion was a little unsatisfying and parts of the epilogue were really cringe.
There was some repeated insensitivity from Ella in this book. While I didn't find it as bad as some of the other reviewers here, there were parts others haven't mentioned that made me wonder what the author was trying to do or if a sensitivity or beta reader was used.
There's also some frankly upsetting misuse of alcohol that is just laughed away or glossed over. It hardly seems romantic to me to over-serve somebody then take care of them, for example.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, and Pregnancy
Fire & Ice by Lily Seabrooke
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This sapphic college romance (with spicy scenes and happily ever after) has a very unusual premise. A group of less well-off students effect class warfare against the rich students, for unclear reasons (revenge? Access to resources?), and this warfare sometimes includes breaking their hearts on purpose. The "straight" girl heartbreaker is assigned a female student in the figure skating team to break, and as you might imagine things don't go to plan. It's very strange: the group gets a little abusive at times to its members (since it helps provide housing and is also the social circle - and loss of these is threatened in case of failure of a "job"), though maybe no more so than other university social organizations.
Despite the strange setting, I really enjoyed this one. We gradually learn more about the characters as the book moves along, and as they learn more about themselves. There is emotional manipulation, which might be a little triggering to some, but it makes sense in context and is resolved more realistically than many "relationship started based on deception" books. Tears were shed during obvious 3rd act breakup (her job was to break her heart, it has to happen), but it didn't feel arbitrary or cruel or needless like these sometimes do. The conclusion was pretty satisfying.
Additionally there is effectively an extended epilogue available from the author linked at the back of the book, which is worth reading: fun and quite spicy.
Despite the strange setting, I really enjoyed this one. We gradually learn more about the characters as the book moves along, and as they learn more about themselves. There is emotional manipulation, which might be a little triggering to some, but it makes sense in context and is resolved more realistically than many "relationship started based on deception" books. Tears were shed during obvious 3rd act breakup (her job was to break her heart, it has to happen), but it didn't feel arbitrary or cruel or needless like these sometimes do. The conclusion was pretty satisfying.
Additionally there is effectively an extended epilogue available from the author linked at the back of the book, which is worth reading: fun and quite spicy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting and Alcohol
Emotional manipulation in a relationship, reference to manipulative arranged marriage
Racing for Love: A Lesbian Sports Romance by Reba Bale
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is an awfully short book to include a third act breakup. Felt like all the plot points of a full length (300+ page) romance novel were just compressed into this length, dropping most of the subtlety, exposition, and characterization. The first few chapters before the one MC realizes the other MC is neurodivergent (not rude) were kind of painful to read, because it was clear to me what was going on.
Yes, it's a sapphic sports romance, with some spicy scenes and a happily ever after, set primarily at something closely resembling the Paris Olympics.
I'm not likely to read any more from this series, I guess I like more depth and detail in my romances.
Yes, it's a sapphic sports romance, with some spicy scenes and a happily ever after, set primarily at something closely resembling the Paris Olympics.
I'm not likely to read any more from this series, I guess I like more depth and detail in my romances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Against the Current by Lily Seabrooke
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was really a masterpiece of a book. Standard sapphic romance rules apply: there is satisfying spice and a happily ever after. This definitely has more depth to it than many, though. There wasn't a clear "ok this is the third act breakup" and 20 pages later "phew it's done" - it's more complex and realistic. Honestly I could have used more spice in the latter portion of the book, but there was plenty going on in the plot. I usually don't like power differentials like this (coach and student athlete), but with the age difference being so small, and the student being the one pushing (and both being adults), that helped reduce the ick feeling there. It's very clear that there is no abuse of power, though I wish the student were the top.
Really sophisticated story, lots going on, but not hard to follow. You even get a secondary romance storyline embedded in there... And again I love the setting, the extremely sapphic small town she's created for these books is just a dream.
Really sophisticated story, lots going on, but not hard to follow. You even get a secondary romance storyline embedded in there... And again I love the setting, the extremely sapphic small town she's created for these books is just a dream.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol
If It's Meant to Be by Lily Seabrooke
emotional
funny
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
4.5
I really enjoyed this book and setting. Sapphic romance, somewhat friends to lovers, small town, with so much fun queer energy in the town. Honestly I wish I could live there, even with the chaos. Really grew to love the characters, both main and side characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
How to Fly by Alyson Greaves
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Paused after sample. Too painful to read about pre-transition.
Those Who Wait by Haley Cass
Did not finish book. Stopped at 57%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 57%.
One main character is a politician and I just can't right now, even though I want to enjoy this and finish it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content