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stargazer3845's reviews
48 reviews
Last Chance by Lily Seabrooke
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Gaslighting
Fake It by Lily Seabrooke
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
A really enjoyable sapphic romance with all that entails. The spice is spicy but not super drawn out. The plot is intriguing, in addition to the development of the characters. We learn more about their background and motivation as the book goes on, in a satisfying way.
In terms of tropes, this is an interesting mix between celebrity romance, fake relationship, friends to lovers... The happily ever after is sweet and not a stretch.
Spoiler about main character identity representation: one main character isa trans woman (post op), but this isn't mentioned or even really alluded to until you're well into the book - though it does actually start helping put together the pieces. Great to have trans femme rep in this genre.
In terms of tropes, this is an interesting mix between celebrity romance, fake relationship, friends to lovers... The happily ever after is sweet and not a stretch.
Spoiler about main character identity representation: one main character is
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Transphobia
The Snowball Effect by Haley Cass
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A really lovely sapphic romance, with obligatory and satisfying happily ever after (as required), and no real third act breakup . Deliciously slow burn, and yet I didn't feel strung along (and I'm not usually that big of a fan of slow burns). I kind of got addicted to reading it and took it all in one day, despite its size. And oh the spice, once we got there... Not super explicit or exotic, but so passionate.
I guess you could maybe call it enemies to lovers, forced proximity, ice queen, but I think it's mostly just fake romance plus a touch of ice queen. Not really like cruel heartless business lady with trauma ice queen, though.
The writing wasn't quite as polished as I expected: there were a few places that names were inserted awkwardly because "two people using she/her" presumably seemed too confusing, but yet I still had to reread a few of those bits. (Ironically, the spicy scenes.) A few typos, which I regret noticing, but none grievous, it was just weird. (It passed spell check but not grammar check.)
Alternating third party POV, but not super omniscient, and not always super clear whose perspective we had at any time: switch points weren't regular: sometimes mid chapter I think, sometimes after 2 chapters. And no names shown at those points, which was hard for an ADHD girl like me.
Ironically I really related to Regan in several ways, including her ADHD 😅 Her sapphic awakening was less relatable than eg "Stars Collide," somehow, for me as a trans woman, but still very sweet. (Honestly I totally forgot until the awakening that she hadn't had that yet. The interactions were so gay...)
I will say I appreciated that these characters, unlike the ones in "On The Same Page" (also by Haley Cass), appear to actually have flaws. Not physical of course, they're both described as perfect specimens that way, but they have quirks of character.
This was a very enjoyable book, very hard to put down.
I guess you could maybe call it enemies to lovers, forced proximity, ice queen, but I think it's mostly just fake romance plus a touch of ice queen. Not really like cruel heartless business lady with trauma ice queen, though.
The writing wasn't quite as polished as I expected: there were a few places that names were inserted awkwardly because "two people using she/her" presumably seemed too confusing, but yet I still had to reread a few of those bits. (Ironically, the spicy scenes.) A few typos, which I regret noticing, but none grievous, it was just weird. (It passed spell check but not grammar check.)
Alternating third party POV, but not super omniscient, and not always super clear whose perspective we had at any time: switch points weren't regular: sometimes mid chapter I think, sometimes after 2 chapters. And no names shown at those points, which was hard for an ADHD girl like me.
Ironically I really related to Regan in several ways, including her ADHD 😅 Her sapphic awakening was less relatable than eg "Stars Collide," somehow, for me as a trans woman, but still very sweet. (Honestly I totally forgot until the awakening that she hadn't had that yet. The interactions were so gay...)
I will say I appreciated that these characters, unlike the ones in "On The Same Page" (also by Haley Cass), appear to actually have flaws. Not physical of course, they're both described as perfect specimens that way, but they have quirks of character.
This was a very enjoyable book, very hard to put down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Alcohol
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
A Shot at Love by T.B. Markinson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Too slow, too political, too dry.
Down to a Science by Haley Cass
emotional
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Effectively a prequel to "On The Same Page", but read that one first. Sapphic romance novella focusing on Riley's sister Ellie: her lesbian awakening and how she ends up with Mia. Be sure to read the content warnings on Storygraph though! There is some heavy stuff near the end of the book that I wasn't expecting or prepared for. Moderate spice, not a ton, but it is pretty short. Neuro-divergent rep that might make you feel seen: Ellie is brilliant, focused on her work, studies people and their behavior in a way that felt familiar to me, but isn't a caricature, at least in my eyes. (To be fair I'm not the most neuro spicy person ever, but I'm definitely in that realm.) She feels deeply and cares deeply, and the story really feels like it reflects her voice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, and Alcohol
Flight Plan by T.B. Markinson, Miranda MacLeod
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Too much references to real life that I didn't want.
The View from the Top by Rachel Lacey
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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 is a really lovely sapphic romance with cozy fall vibes. In terms of tropes, it's a one-night-to-forever, kinda enemies to lovers (at times), possibly age gap, borderline ice queen sapphic romance.
Super spicy start (though with ample literary foreplay), OMG. Not too much angst despite a brief (and typical for this author)third act breakup and despite the sound of the blurb. Some cathartic tears, yes. This is a really beautiful, warm, sweet book, with deep characters you'll feel close to, and plenty of exposition to paint the pictures in your mind.
Now I just need to get some flannel and a blanket...
Super spicy start (though with ample literary foreplay), OMG. Not too much angst despite a brief (and typical for this author)
Now I just need to get some flannel and a blanket...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
Just Kiss Her by Clare Lydon
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
A charming sapphic romance. A little bit of a slow burn but I didn't mind. This one falls into the "fake relationship" trope, specifically "pose as gay best friend's girlfriend for a destination wedding". It also counts as a queer awakening for one of the main characters. (She's a very quick study at being sapphic, so not a long drawn out adaptation period or learning period, but it felt natural and plausible enough.)
The characters were loveable, and honestly not too many bad decisions were made. Not very high angst either. Just some challenging life situations, personal relationships, and need for growth. Characters have depth and subtlety, and the exposition is sufficient to help me envision all the scenes. I was even mostly able to keep up with the relevant members of the fairly large blended family at the center of this wedding.
Happily ever after, as is the guarantee of the genre. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, and I was happy with how the story wrapped up. Recommended!
The characters were loveable, and honestly not too many bad decisions were made. Not very high angst either. Just some challenging life situations, personal relationships, and need for growth. Characters have depth and subtlety, and the exposition is sufficient to help me envision all the scenes. I was even mostly able to keep up with the relevant members of the fairly large blended family at the center of this wedding.
Happily ever after, as is the guarantee of the genre. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, and I was happy with how the story wrapped up. Recommended!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Outing, and Alcohol
Minor: Death and Grief
I want you: an enemies to lovers sapphic romance by Ivy Lane
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Indeed a sapphic enemies to lovers romance, though be warned it starts with some straight sex. Really not my favorite: there was plenty of spice, and it felt promising at times, but I couldn't really feel like I understood or cared about the characters very much. They all had pretty simple motives, actions, and choices. There was lots of high-society drama, but not a lot of romantic growth shown between the two main characters: you get a happily ever after of course, but it's mostly flipping between sex and dealing with their own issues... Where are the cuddles, the hand holding, etc?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Alcohol
Minor: Infertility, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
Attempted rape
Meeting Millie by Clare Ashton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.
Too slow paced, not enough exposition, not enough heart, the appearance of a misogynist guy as an anticipated major side character, and apparently I care very little for the feelings of lawyers.