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tristatereader's Reviews (114)
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was my first read by Mazey Eddings and what a fun and sweet, sapphic romance š„° Opal and Pepper had the best banter and I found myself laughing so many times throughout this book. I absolutely adored Opalās family (her sisters can do no wrong) and Pepperās found family.
Opal, a mega people pleaser, found herself constantly being hurt by others. Grumpy yet lovable Pepper never had the chance of being hurt by anyone because she built her walls sky high, and made sure she was always alone. It was incredibly beautiful watching these women grow (no pun intended) from these defense mechanisms and blossom (ok that one was intentional) into such strong and confident characters.
I do think this book could have been a bit shorter, but I will definitely be recommending it to friends and I canāt wait to see what Mazeyās next project will be!
Opal, a mega people pleaser, found herself constantly being hurt by others. Grumpy yet lovable Pepper never had the chance of being hurt by anyone because she built her walls sky high, and made sure she was always alone. It was incredibly beautiful watching these women grow (no pun intended) from these defense mechanisms and blossom (ok that one was intentional) into such strong and confident characters.
I do think this book could have been a bit shorter, but I will definitely be recommending it to friends and I canāt wait to see what Mazeyās next project will be!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ok, I need yāall to hear me out on this one. I know everyoneās vibing with the currently trending covers that have illustrated characters on them. I really like them too. But youād be doing yourself such a disservice if you sleep on Teenage Dirtbags. The unconventional and raw cover perfectly encapsulates this incredible sophomore novel from author James Acker.
Teenage Dirtbags is a dual POV, queer, YA story featuring Jackson and Phil. Itās set in the same universe as The Long Run, but during junior year (the year prior to Bash and Droās story).
Jackson is perfection personified. President of Student Council and multiple school clubs, Ivy League bound, and #1 teacherās pet. Phil is a fuck up. A loner with absent parents and school detention on the regular. These two couldnāt be more opposite, and yet they used to be best friends. That is, until their differences got in the way and they stopped speaking.
But when Phil gets outed and gaslit into a relationship with the pathologically charming Cameron, the wall he built around his heart begins to crumble. He thinks heās finally found the connection and love heās been craving. And then Cameron shows his true, narcissistic colors. In a state of post-break up sadness, Phil comes face-to-face with Camās ex, Veronica (Ronny). The two form an unlikely friendship, and start to formulate a Mean Girls-esque plan to get back at Cam. But theyāll need Jacksonās help.
If thereās one thing you should know about me and YA, itās that I love YA that tackles real issues. Yes, teenagers are young. But that doesnāt mean theyāre not experiencing real world shit. And this author always uses his writing to expertly explore that. This book tackled tough topics like homophobia and parental neglect while also highlighting things like queer love and compassion.
Ultimately, Teenage Dirtbags is a story about two people finding their way back to one another. At times, that journey is raw, messy, and lonely. But the journey also leads to bigger feelings of comfort and self-acceptance.
In conclusion: Ronny for President.
Teenage Dirtbags is a dual POV, queer, YA story featuring Jackson and Phil. Itās set in the same universe as The Long Run, but during junior year (the year prior to Bash and Droās story).
Jackson is perfection personified. President of Student Council and multiple school clubs, Ivy League bound, and #1 teacherās pet. Phil is a fuck up. A loner with absent parents and school detention on the regular. These two couldnāt be more opposite, and yet they used to be best friends. That is, until their differences got in the way and they stopped speaking.
But when Phil gets outed and gaslit into a relationship with the pathologically charming Cameron, the wall he built around his heart begins to crumble. He thinks heās finally found the connection and love heās been craving. And then Cameron shows his true, narcissistic colors. In a state of post-break up sadness, Phil comes face-to-face with Camās ex, Veronica (Ronny). The two form an unlikely friendship, and start to formulate a Mean Girls-esque plan to get back at Cam. But theyāll need Jacksonās help.
If thereās one thing you should know about me and YA, itās that I love YA that tackles real issues. Yes, teenagers are young. But that doesnāt mean theyāre not experiencing real world shit. And this author always uses his writing to expertly explore that. This book tackled tough topics like homophobia and parental neglect while also highlighting things like queer love and compassion.
Ultimately, Teenage Dirtbags is a story about two people finding their way back to one another. At times, that journey is raw, messy, and lonely. But the journey also leads to bigger feelings of comfort and self-acceptance.
In conclusion: Ronny for President.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Ok, I absolutely adored this book. This sapphic historical romance was equal parts witty, charming, and spicy. I will definitely be going back to read the first two books in this series (but Bluestockings can definitely be read as a standalone!)
The year is 1885ā¦ but donāt tell Dr. Emily Clarke or Jo Smith! These two MCs were fierce, thriving women decades ahead of their time. Jo is in a lavender marriage with the lovely Paul Smith. But then Paulās paramour, Vanessa, becomes pregnant. Emilyās twin, Noah, is a friend of the Smithās and requests his sister take Vanessa on as a patient. And if Noahās partner, David, thinks that Emily and Jo would make a great couple, thatās just a bonus.
There was so much I loved about this book. Starting with a woman doctor being represented in the year 1885. I also adored the dynamic relationship between Emily and Jo, which was extremely rocky in the beginning. It was almost an enemies to lovers type trope, but in a very low angst and endearing way. Other things I loved was the amount of queer rep, how open and accepting the MCs friends and family were, and learning that Noah does drag š„ Also, the found family built in this world and the epistolary writing in this book is perfection.
Thank you so much to Harlequin for the gifted copy of this book!
The year is 1885ā¦ but donāt tell Dr. Emily Clarke or Jo Smith! These two MCs were fierce, thriving women decades ahead of their time. Jo is in a lavender marriage with the lovely Paul Smith. But then Paulās paramour, Vanessa, becomes pregnant. Emilyās twin, Noah, is a friend of the Smithās and requests his sister take Vanessa on as a patient. And if Noahās partner, David, thinks that Emily and Jo would make a great couple, thatās just a bonus.
There was so much I loved about this book. Starting with a woman doctor being represented in the year 1885. I also adored the dynamic relationship between Emily and Jo, which was extremely rocky in the beginning. It was almost an enemies to lovers type trope, but in a very low angst and endearing way. Other things I loved was the amount of queer rep, how open and accepting the MCs friends and family were, and learning that Noah does drag š„ Also, the found family built in this world and the epistolary writing in this book is perfection.
Thank you so much to Harlequin for the gifted copy of this book!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Icarus by K. Ancrum was probably the most unique book Iāve ever had the pleasure of reading. From the poetic writing style to the one page chapters, this book was unlike anything Iāve ever read.
Icarus Gallagher is a 17-year-old high school student and part time art thief. Trained by his dad, his thievery skills are unmatched. That is, until he gets caught by the son of the person heās stealing from.
Helios Black is also a teenager, but has essentially been imprisoned in his home by his father, Mr. Black, due to past struggles with substance abuse. Mr. Black is a cruel and abusive man who has a cynical history with Icarusā family. As Icarus and Helios spend more time together, it becomes clear that Heliosā life is in danger. And Icarus will do everything in his power to save him.
This book is about letting your guard down and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. Itās about forgetting everything youāve been trained to feel. Itās about chipping away at your Suit of Armor and trusting others. Itās about not only feeling, but embracing human emotions. I loved watched Icarusā journey unfold and the authorās incredible rep, which included a character with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome as well as an intersex character.
Also, if youāre not someone who regularly reads the author notes in books, youāll want to with Icarus š„¹
Thank you so much to Colored Pages Book Tours and Epic Read for a gifted copy of this book š
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
No
The Boyfriend Subscription made me realize that my favorite type of romance books are those in which I adore all of the MCs right from the start. And I was absolutely head over heels for both of the MCs in this book, Teddy and Cole. These two sweet baby angels have never done anything wrong in their entire lives and I will die on this hill. Their genuine, messy, hearts of gold made this book so enjoyable.
Teddy has lost everything at the hands of his POS ex-husband. Heās lost his marriage, his home, and now his business. On his last night in NYC before moving back to Louisiana, he and his bestie Kit decide the only place to mourn the end of this era is at the bar. Teddy wants to let loose for his last night in the city and if that means going home with someone, thatās no oneās business. But as the bar scene starts to stale, in walks the incredibly sexy and wealthy entrepreneur, Cole Vivien, who flips Teddyās world upside down.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book was the authorās spin on the movie Pretty Woman. For the record, Pretty Woman is a top 5 best romcom in cinematic history and you can go argue with a wall if you disagree. And what the author does in this book is create such a fun and unique twist on the classic. In The Boyfriend Subscription, the sex worker (Cole) also happens to be the successful and wealthy businessman. Heās built a thriving and safe company centered around sex work. I loved this dynamic so much and I adored how down to earth Cole was, despite the money. Teddy, the actual loml, was out here trying his damndest! The guy was one of the most resilient characters Iāve read in a long time and I loved that about him. I also need to shoutout Kit, Teddyās sassy childhood bestie who is in a very sweet and supportive polyamorous relationship (we love to see it). And finallyyyā¦ the women š®āšØš All of the women in this book were exceptionally badass š„
The Boyfriend Subscription is out TODAY so make sure you pick up your copy! š„³šš¾
Thank you to Harlequin for the gifted copy of this book ā¤ļø
Teddy has lost everything at the hands of his POS ex-husband. Heās lost his marriage, his home, and now his business. On his last night in NYC before moving back to Louisiana, he and his bestie Kit decide the only place to mourn the end of this era is at the bar. Teddy wants to let loose for his last night in the city and if that means going home with someone, thatās no oneās business. But as the bar scene starts to stale, in walks the incredibly sexy and wealthy entrepreneur, Cole Vivien, who flips Teddyās world upside down.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book was the authorās spin on the movie Pretty Woman. For the record, Pretty Woman is a top 5 best romcom in cinematic history and you can go argue with a wall if you disagree. And what the author does in this book is create such a fun and unique twist on the classic. In The Boyfriend Subscription, the sex worker (Cole) also happens to be the successful and wealthy businessman. Heās built a thriving and safe company centered around sex work. I loved this dynamic so much and I adored how down to earth Cole was, despite the money. Teddy, the actual loml, was out here trying his damndest! The guy was one of the most resilient characters Iāve read in a long time and I loved that about him. I also need to shoutout Kit, Teddyās sassy childhood bestie who is in a very sweet and supportive polyamorous relationship (we love to see it). And finallyyyā¦ the women š®āšØš All of the women in this book were exceptionally badass š„
The Boyfriend Subscription is out TODAY so make sure you pick up your copy! š„³šš¾
Thank you to Harlequin for the gifted copy of this book ā¤ļø
adventurous
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Prospects is the debut novel for KT Hoffman and it centers around Gene, the first openly trans baseball player in the Minors. Gene plays for the Beaverton Beavers (Portlandās triple A team) and truly loves it. He loves his coach, his teammates, and his routine. But then his old college teammate, Luis, gets traded to the Beavers. After Luis was scouted in college, he left without a word to Gene. Although Gene is super annoyed by the trade, his forever optimistic disposition wins out as he attempts to make amends with Luis. But Luis seems quiet, guarded, and much more reserved than Gene remembers and he begins to wonder if there was more to Luisā sudden departure back in college than Gene thought.
This book made my little baseball-loving heart explode. Itās fair to say that hockey tends to dominate the sports romance market. So when I see a baseball romance, I immediately gobble it up. I also went into this book pretty blindly (other than knowing it was a baseball setting with a trans MC) and holy spice š„ Was not expecting it and definitely was not mad about it š
I did have to take a star off my rating because I didnāt love the head coach character š¢ Having a queer, female, head coach in the minors is groundbreaking and could have been incredible. Especially because she scouted the first trans player. But I was really underwhelmed by her character. She felt a little bit like a bully in my opinion.
Thank you to The Dial Press, Colored Pages Book Tour, and NetGalley for a gifted copy of this book!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think after Otherworldly, I can officially add fantasy to one of my favorite genres. Iāve never considered myself a fantasy girly but every fantasy book Iāve read has slapped.
Now I know this is going to be hard to believe, but this was my first FT Lukens book! I have several of their books on my shelves / tbr and Iāve been dying to read their work. And let me tell you: they did not disappoint.
Otherworldly is a fantasy action / adventure / romance book set in modern day, in a region where most people are believers of the supernatural. Wellā¦ most people except Ellery. Ellery is a 17-year-old non-believer whose home has been stuck in a winter that has lasted 5 years. Elleryās familyās farm is suffering as a result and Ellery moves to the city to live and work with their cousin in order to send money home. Itās at work that Ellery is captivated by āhot weird guyā, who has mesmerizing gold eyes, always seems happy, and never appears affected by the harsh elements outside.
Otherworldly was a grump / sunshine masterpiece and even though Ellery was the grump, you couldnāt help but adore them. I really loved how this enby character was written in such a strong and courageous way. Knox was a sweet little cinnamon roll and I was a puddle watching him embrace his found family. Ellery and Knox beautifully complimented one another and made such a great team. I was also beyond obsessed with Elleryās snarky and fiercely loyal cousin, Charley, and her girlfriend, Zada. Charlada endgame and you canāt convince me otherwise. Other things I loved about this book include the worldbuilding, the magic, and the badass mythical characters.
Donāt forget to pre-ordered Otherworldly, out April 2nd.
Thank you so much to Colored Pages book tour, Simon Teen, and NetGalley for a gifted copy of this book.
Now I know this is going to be hard to believe, but this was my first FT Lukens book! I have several of their books on my shelves / tbr and Iāve been dying to read their work. And let me tell you: they did not disappoint.
Otherworldly is a fantasy action / adventure / romance book set in modern day, in a region where most people are believers of the supernatural. Wellā¦ most people except Ellery. Ellery is a 17-year-old non-believer whose home has been stuck in a winter that has lasted 5 years. Elleryās familyās farm is suffering as a result and Ellery moves to the city to live and work with their cousin in order to send money home. Itās at work that Ellery is captivated by āhot weird guyā, who has mesmerizing gold eyes, always seems happy, and never appears affected by the harsh elements outside.
Otherworldly was a grump / sunshine masterpiece and even though Ellery was the grump, you couldnāt help but adore them. I really loved how this enby character was written in such a strong and courageous way. Knox was a sweet little cinnamon roll and I was a puddle watching him embrace his found family. Ellery and Knox beautifully complimented one another and made such a great team. I was also beyond obsessed with Elleryās snarky and fiercely loyal cousin, Charley, and her girlfriend, Zada. Charlada endgame and you canāt convince me otherwise. Other things I loved about this book include the worldbuilding, the magic, and the badass mythical characters.
Donāt forget to pre-ordered Otherworldly, out April 2nd.
Thank you so much to Colored Pages book tour, Simon Teen, and NetGalley for a gifted copy of this book.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
You know when Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda first came out in 2015 and the book community (especially the queer book community) was like, āStop everything youāre doing and read this book right nowā? I had the same reaction while reading TLBRFR. This book made me feel like a new wave of queer defiance is being ushered in, and I am here šš¼ for šš¼ it šš¼. I think itās more than serendipitous that Becky Albertalli blurbed for this book.
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge tells the story of Ezra, Finley, and Lucas. These three Alabama-living besties are in relationships with the shittiest guys. I mean, their boyfriends are just the WORST. And as each of these toxic relationships begins to crash and burn, EF&L take solace in the fact that they're all "last boyfriends". At the same time, their school attempts to stifle their queerness under the guise of a "Watch What You Say" initiative, and the boys are not having it. They decide to fight back.
There were so many things about this book that I loved and the amount of diversity and representation was just the tip of the iceberg. The characters in this book were all so uniquely and unapologetically themselves, which is something I adore. I also loved the unwavering courage shown by all of the characters in the face of adversity. I adored Ezra, Fin, and Lucasā friendship and the unshakable loyalty shown to one another throughout this story. And on top of all of that, there was romance š, a Zaddy named Kevin, a āCarrie momentā, and a plethora of Sour Patch Kids.
TL;DR- Reading TLBRFR has made me feel like Iām part of a movement. This book has lit a fire, fueled by queer-defiance. And we, as the readers, are helping to feed the flames. I am bursting with pride by that sentiment and I canāt wait to watch my community create an inferno š„
BONUS: Please enjoy the following Kevinisms:
- "Don't be afraid of a fight"
- "Being brave is doing what's right when you know the consequences"
- "The best revenge is believing in yourself"
- "And wear a rubber if you're gonna have sex"
*The The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is out April 30th, but you can pre-order now and submit your receipt to www.lastboyfriends.com for some fun swag š*
Thank you so much to Underlined and Delacorte Press for an ARC of this book ā¤ļø
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge tells the story of Ezra, Finley, and Lucas. These three Alabama-living besties are in relationships with the shittiest guys. I mean, their boyfriends are just the WORST. And as each of these toxic relationships begins to crash and burn, EF&L take solace in the fact that they're all "last boyfriends". At the same time, their school attempts to stifle their queerness under the guise of a "Watch What You Say" initiative, and the boys are not having it. They decide to fight back.
There were so many things about this book that I loved and the amount of diversity and representation was just the tip of the iceberg. The characters in this book were all so uniquely and unapologetically themselves, which is something I adore. I also loved the unwavering courage shown by all of the characters in the face of adversity. I adored Ezra, Fin, and Lucasā friendship and the unshakable loyalty shown to one another throughout this story. And on top of all of that, there was romance š, a Zaddy named Kevin, a āCarrie momentā, and a plethora of Sour Patch Kids.
TL;DR- Reading TLBRFR has made me feel like Iām part of a movement. This book has lit a fire, fueled by queer-defiance. And we, as the readers, are helping to feed the flames. I am bursting with pride by that sentiment and I canāt wait to watch my community create an inferno š„
BONUS: Please enjoy the following Kevinisms:
- "Don't be afraid of a fight"
- "Being brave is doing what's right when you know the consequences"
- "The best revenge is believing in yourself"
- "And wear a rubber if you're gonna have sex"
*The The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is out April 30th, but you can pre-order now and submit your receipt to www.lastboyfriends.com for some fun swag š*
Thank you so much to Underlined and Delacorte Press for an ARC of this book ā¤ļø
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Blackwoods was one of those books that I could not put down. Once I was hooked, I was HOOKED and stayed up until 2am finishing. And when I finished, I immediately wanted to start it over.
The Blackwoods tells the story of a multigenerational Black family in Hollywood. The book starts with the death of the matriarch, Blossom Blackwood, and introduces readers to two of her great-great granddaughters, Ardith and Hollis. At 17, Ardith has chosen to continue the Hollywood family legacy and is a well-known actress. Hollis, also 17, has decided to stay out of the limelight. The story flawlessly weaves between time periods, showing readers the sacrifices that Blossom had to make throughout her life in order to make it in old time Hollywood, while also showing us how those sacrifices have affected her family in the present day.
I absolutely love historical fiction and the way this author seamlessly switched from the mid-1900s to present day was perfection. I loved all of the characters in this book (Ardith hunny youāve never done anything wrong in your entire life) and watching Blossomās journey unfold was both heartbreaking and inspiring. This is a book that skillfully highlights resilience, the importance of family, and the reminder to never give up on your dreams. While there are quite a few Blackwoods to keep track of in this story, the author provided a family tree in the beginning of the book and this was so helpful to refer back to when I was just getting to know everyone.
If you enjoyed the mini series āHollywoodā on Netflix, this book is definitely for you!
ā¤ļø Thank you so much to Epic Reads for this incredible ARC
The Blackwoods tells the story of a multigenerational Black family in Hollywood. The book starts with the death of the matriarch, Blossom Blackwood, and introduces readers to two of her great-great granddaughters, Ardith and Hollis. At 17, Ardith has chosen to continue the Hollywood family legacy and is a well-known actress. Hollis, also 17, has decided to stay out of the limelight. The story flawlessly weaves between time periods, showing readers the sacrifices that Blossom had to make throughout her life in order to make it in old time Hollywood, while also showing us how those sacrifices have affected her family in the present day.
I absolutely love historical fiction and the way this author seamlessly switched from the mid-1900s to present day was perfection. I loved all of the characters in this book (Ardith hunny youāve never done anything wrong in your entire life) and watching Blossomās journey unfold was both heartbreaking and inspiring. This is a book that skillfully highlights resilience, the importance of family, and the reminder to never give up on your dreams. While there are quite a few Blackwoods to keep track of in this story, the author provided a family tree in the beginning of the book and this was so helpful to refer back to when I was just getting to know everyone.
If you enjoyed the mini series āHollywoodā on Netflix, this book is definitely for you!
ā¤ļø Thank you so much to Epic Reads for this incredible ARC
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
No
HAPPY RELEASE DAY to Ruby Barrett and this gem of a book, The Friendship Study!
Lulu and Jesse are a couple of millennials just trying to hold it all together after life-altering events. Luluās being betrayal by an ex-partner and ex-bestie, which resulted in her leaving her life in the UK and returning to the US to live with her parents. And Jesseās being the loss of his firefighting career after a car accident left him with a physical disability. The two are capital L Lonely and having a hard time adjusting to their new lives.
Enter their mutual friend (and Jesseās ex!) George, who is a PhD student at the University in which Lulu is a professor. He sets Lulu and Jesse up on a less than stellar blind date that ends as awkwardly as it began. Although the date was a bust, Lulu and Jesse end up agreeing to be part of Georgeās academic study about millennial friendships. The two already know that their physical chemistry is off the charts. But as they open up to one another and the friendship grows, the emotional connection is undeniable.
I enjoyed this book so much and my little millennial heart was bursting with relatability. Some of the many topics in this book that were executed flawlessly were feelings of loneliness, bisexuality rep, neurodivergence, and chronic pain. I also loved how accurately Alzheimerās disease was portrayed in this book. And in case you needed even more reason to pick this one up, thereās a rescue cat named Betty. Youāre welcome. Equal parts funny, emotional, and spicy, this is one you donāt want to miss.
The Friendship Study is out TODAY!!! š„³
Thank so you much to Harlequin Publicity Team and Harlequin Books for a gifted copy of this book