thedambookshelf's Reviews (338)

"History huh? Bet we can make some."

Holy shit, Casey McQuinston you definitely did. This book was a masterpiece, I just need that to be out there before I continue with this review. Firstly, I want to say how easy of a read this is. Despite that, I took my time because I couldn't bare the thought of having to say goodbye to the characters.

The plot of this book is everything I look for when it comes to a romance. Enemies to lovers trope. Rivals. Angst!!! so much of it too, but done really fucking well. I absolutely sobbed my way through the last 100 or so pages, and other than that THE FUCKING INFORMATION.

I learned a good amount about Politics without wanting to gauge out my eyes, most likely due to Alex's very colorful language that I can totally relate too. It was refreshing to read about a woman president as well, and dead ass there wasn't a character that I didn't like! except Richards of course, and the Queen because nope.

Also can I just point out how much love this book was written with, you can literally read it in the voices of every character. AND ALL THE FANDOM REFERENCES. Alex's obsession with Henry being compared to Draco with Harry made me roar with laughter.

I can't even put emphasis's around this point (LET NORA AND JUNE DATE PLEASE)

The emails, the emails were probably my favorite part. It really displayed the differences between Henry and Alex in the most amazing away, and the quoting of the letters from historical figures? Bloody brilliant -as Henry would say-

All together, this book is a must read. It's full laughter, love, and understanding. Honestly, it was like embracing someone after a long hard battle. Alex and Henry's development shed light on knowing that you have choices. The world can be completely against you, but at the end of the day it's your choice if you allow those obstacles to stop you from obtaining the happiness you deserve. Rather its love, a career, a dream, or even getting to know yourself.

It's a story about love coming at the most unexpected times, and finding it in the least expected person but that shouldn't stop you from embracing it. Holding it close. I also feel as if this book is a treasure to the lgbtq+ community. I want to just thank Casey for displaying the love and support that exists in this world that we perceive as wicked and cruel. And that everyone is human, no matter what job or life they undertake. We should be more forgiving and understanding.

Love is Love, and this book absolutely proves that.

Also I want to point out one of my favorite parts of the book,

"His election night was on the wide-open stretch of Zillar Park, against the backdrop of the Austin skyline. He remembers everything. He was eighteen years old in first custom-made suit, corralled into a hotel around the corner with his family to watch the results while the crowd swelled outside, running with his arms open down the hallway when they called called 270. He remembers it felt like his moment, because it was his mom and his family, but also realizing it was, in a way, not his moment at all, when he turned around and saw Zahra's mascara running down her face. He stood next to the stage set into the hillside of Zilker and looked into eyes upon eyes upon eyes of women who were old enough to have marched on Congress for the VRA in '65 and girls young enough never to have known a president who was a white man. All of them looking at their first Madam President. And he turned and looked at June right at his side and Nora at his left, and he distinctly remembers pushing them out onto the stage ahead of him, giving them a full thirty seconds of soaking it in before following them into the spotlight."

I can not express how much this scene effected me, despite being read from a males POV the stand for women and feminism woven into this story left me completely awe-struck. I can not tell you how many times I reread that single part, tears blurring my sight because fiction or not, that moment was written with such hope for the future of women.

Summing up it up, if I could rate this higher than a five star read, I would not hesitate. It was incredible, and I was lucky to have received an arc in exchange for an honest review. And I am happy to brag about owning my own copy as well, and I cannot wait to see what Casey puts out next!