tjalexandernyc's reviews
73 reviews

The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore

A clever NYC-centric retelling of Pretty Woman where the Richard Gere character's super lucrative big-shot business is, itself, sex work. Cole (our Richard Gere) is the CEO and public face of an OnlyFans/hookup app mashup while Teddy (our Julia Roberts) is a divorced guy whose beloved houseplant business has just bit the dust. Our heroes start fake dating and fall in love in the process. There's a fashion montage, obviously. Fake dating as a form of sex work is something I've touched on before in my own work, and it was fun to see that concept turned around and examined from another angle. SUPER high heat, flirting with kinky. Would recommend for fans of online drama, haute couture, and classic romcom reinventions. 

Meegan by Rebekah Weatherspoon

A super steamy D/s love story and a great excuse to revisit the Weatherspoon multiverse. Plus a cute dog!

Power Born of Dreams: My Story is Palestine by Mohammad Sabaaneh

A beautiful, heartbreaking piece of visual storytelling. I don't think that reading stories about and by marginalized people is a substitute for activism, but it is a good way to further my own understanding of what's at stake. It's a slim volume and contains a few pages of text toward the end that lays out the major points of Palestinian struggle since the 1960s in a way that's easy to understand, if that's  something you feel you're lacking.

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

5.0

 I’ve been very impressed with the Remixed Classics series being put out by Feiwel and this one!!! This one. It’s a Pride & Prejudice retelling where our young Bennet is a trans boy. Absolutely delightful on so many levels and a joy to read. I have only a vague recollection of the original P&P text so I can't say exactly how it differs, but each twist and turn felt fresh to me. Oliver Bennet is a gem of a main character, and his struggle with living a dual life is so #$%&ing real. The struggle is nicely balanced by the support he finds with trusted friends and family, so if you're feeling tender when it comes to reading stories with misgendering I would say proceed with caution but do try to proceed because the triumphant payoff is, in my opinion, worth it. 

On a personal note: I hesitated to share this because I think the main purpose of reviewing of the books I've read is to let y'all decide whether or not a book would be a fit for you, but I think there's also something important about recording my personal reading experiences too, so I will! Anyway, it was  

wild for me to read this when Eden’s End, my trans regency romance (adult), is coming out next year. I had a tiny bit of panic that, oh no, there are some similarities in our stories (as you might expect for two trans men MC’s in the same time period)! People will be mad! But then I remembered that we have, like, five total traditionally published trans historical romances in the world and no one should be mad about having more. Two cakes! 

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

 A really enjoyable ensemble historical. The book has  four main characters, all Black women living in early 20th century Chicago, that take turns at the narrative. This gives us several points of view: different social classes, different desires, different romances. It's skillfully done, and I appreciated the variety of voices. Plus the 1910s is often an overlooked period in historicals, so I was happy to see it.

Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender

Stars in Your Eyes, for me, is an excellent addition to what I'm personally calling Therapeutic Romance. There are some heavy themes and content warnings that should definitely be given a glance by readers, but ultimately it's a love story and a story about how people can grow and change, something that seems increasingly impermissible. It's a dual POV story about two Hollywood actors whose bad boy/golden boy dynamic is exploited in a fake dating scheme. This isn't a romcom so bear in mind that any tropes are not there for funsies, they're there to interrogate what we expect from people in the public eye. Kacen Callendar is now an auto-read for me. Every book of theirs shows me something new in writing. 

Friday I'm in Love by Camryn Garrett

A queer teen tries to save enough money to throw herself the coming out party of her dreams in this sweet sapphic love story. She also starts the story crushing on an unavailable girl with an Irish accent, which, relatable. There's a thread of economic hardship, racism in school, and overwork running throughout AND it manages to be a pretty fun, light story.

Girls with Bad Reputations by Xio Axelrod

A sweet and rock-filled love story that sees both leads grow as people within and outside of the relationship. Kayla is a drummer in an up and coming all-girl rock band, but she's kept her music career a secret from her overbearing mother who expects her to be perfect. Ty is a utility kilt-wearing hottie whose academic career was cut short by baseless accusations and is now trying to find his footing. Rock star & tour bus driver? Please and thank you. Xio Axelrod has a real talent for writing about live music, which is REALLY difficult to do. The concert & studio scenes are dynamic and exciting, and I can hear what's going on. 

Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni

A cute and soft romance between two bisexual Armenian women. We love a witchy love interest. Features lots of food, a coming out, rediscovered culture, and "we were on a break!!!!" The main character read a bit younger than her actual age (27) to me but it's also possible I'm just a cranky old man nowadays. 

Director's Cut by Carlyn Greenwald

 Hollywood meets academia in this sapphic love story that'll have you reaching for the popcorn. With plenty of steam, mlm/wlw solidarity, and a touching look at mental health and personal growth, Director's Cut is a delight.