#Thank you to netgalley

[teanderthalrex]

The Martian Contingency by Mary Robinette Kowal.

The Martian Contingency follows the continuing story of Elma York, as she goes from world-famous Lady Astronaut to Martian.

This book is like a slice of life in space. While I found the traditions of the 1950s (yes it takes place in the 1970s but overall that's the vibe here) slowed the pace of the story more than I would have liked, there are some deeply heartfelt and well-written suspensive moments here that fans of the series will love.

The mystery that Elma encounters as she starts her journey towards calling Mars home is one that tragically illustrates the desire of the entire contingency to not make Mars just a second Earth, but a better home for all humanity than the one they left.

Overall, I want to stay positive about this book because it has a lot of positive things to say about colonization and racism. Not calling the Martians colonists or their base a colony was great. That being said, the writing really did drag at times. It's like The Martian in some ways and like I Love Lucy in others. Call it Slice of Life on Mars.

6/10 stars.

Content Warnings for racism, transphobia, and abortion.

Okay, the most spoilery way I could describe this book is that I think someone who loves those World War II spy stories about women in the war would eat this up. Maybe that's the target demographic. Maybe I should let my mom read this to make the case that Science Fiction is, in fact, the best genre out there. I don't know.

I haven't really figured out my thoughts on the weird messaging here about gender and racism. It was all over the place from women having to figure out how to pleasure their husbands when condoms run out, to Elma rescuing a crew member via abortion after giving her bad sex advice. If these topics had been worked into the plot instead of one and done beats I would have had an easier time parsing through them but it was like the sexism was cilantro and Koval decided everything needed it. You could honestly remove the entire condom, sex advice, abortion plot and nothing changes that couldn't have been changed more effectively another way. The racism plotline was better. It actually had an impact on the characters, their decisions, and how they continued forward throughout the story and so I had an easier time with it, but I'm not really qualified to say if it was better or not. It just felt clunky but not unnecessary to the plot.

This was a weird one y'all. I love me some space scifi with gender commentary and rep that subtly addresses real world issues so I can't really tell you what didn't hit here. But it was a miss for me. If you had similar vibes, I'd love to know your thoughts because it might help me put my own together.

[cloudbooks]

Starting to read Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date today! I’ve been holding off because I don’t want this series to be over :’) but it’s been a long day and I deserve a sapphic romance from my fav author. As a treat.

[thebibliosphere]

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm one of those people who priates books. But only because I've bought so many books that disappointed me! I need to flip through a bit of it before buying.

Sometimes, if the author has kofi or patreon or something, I like to just give them the full price of the book. That way they get it all. But I also know that this isn't the perfect answer because it messes with stats and actual readership and therefore advertising and the platform they are selling on promoting it....

It's complicated. Maybe I should buy the book normally and tip the author what the publishers/printers/distributors take? But that can get really pricey fast. Ugh.

Books are often a luxury when you have no money. I’m very familiar with that. I've saved up for several months sometimes because I wanted a $5.99 ebook and didn't want to steal from the author. That’s just what being poor is. Wanting something doesn't entitle me to it.

That said, most books these days have a reading sample on purchasing sites so you can see if you like the style. Most sites also offer refunds, at least on digital books, before you reach a certain point. (please be sparing with refunds if you can. The refund is taken from the author/publisher, not Amazon. Same with audible. My audible funds are often close to zero or negative because people just return and reuse their monthly credit.)

You can also check and see if the books are available at your library, and if not, request them. Honestly, library sales are so, so, so good for authors. Libraries pay higher lending license rates to authors, and also, depending on the country, every time someone checks out my book via Libby or the local equivalent, I get a little tiny amount of money (we’re talking literal pennies, but it can add up), and it increases the library’s likelihood of re-purchasing the library lending license the following year.

You can alsp sign up to be an ARC (advanced reader copy) reader through places like NetGalley or by checking if the author offers ARCs as well. In a world of algorithms, books live and die by reviews. Some of us are quite happy to give out ARCs for new and upcoming titles.

Failing that and you have absolutely no other option... Yeah. Ko-fi or whatever is an option. Even if I wish they didn't do it because it fucks my sales metrics, I still appreciate when I get a little ding on ko-fi for the exact amount of the book. It's always telling. I even sometimes get little anon messages going “sorry for pirating your book it was really good.”

Like thank you. Please buy the next one properly, lol.

[bookishfreedom]

For anyone who loved The Raven Cycle, but thought, "that could've been scarier": This book is for you.

Don't Let the Forest In follows Andrew Perrault, returning to the elite Wickwood Academy for his senior year. And although high school has never been easy for Andrew, from the start, this year is different. His twin sister, Dove, is keeping him at arms length, and his best friend Thomas is acting strangely, disappearing into the forest behind the school at night. One night, Andrew follows him, to find Thomas fighting off horrifying creatures. But there's something familiar about these creatures: they look exactly like the ones from Thomas's drawings.

I absolutely devoured this book. It had me up way too late reading, and even though I finished at 3am, I wanted to turn to the beginning and start all over again. (And, at the cost of precious sleep, I did in fact reread the first chapter.)

I would recommend this book to anyone, and it's got me super excited to tackle CG Drews' backlist. The characters leap off the page and sink claws into your heart (in a good way). They're complex and messy and in need of a good hug. Andrew and Thomas are just two kids trying their best to figure out the world, and each other. My heart ached for them both, even when I wanted to shout at them. This story also has some of the best ace rep I've ever read. Andrew's identity is central to the story, and woven into all of his choices seamlessly, in a way that feels natural without distracting from the story.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and came away from the story thoroughly haunted. (It was maybe a mistake to read this in the middle of the night.... walking to the bathroom after was a terrifying experience.) Drews' prose is evocative, equal parts beautiful and macabre.

Thanks so much to Netgalley & Macmillan for the free review copy. Happy to say that I ordered my own copy before I even finished the ARC🖤

and thank goodness I did because do you SEE the barnes & noble special edition??? the DRAWINGS. and the @paperfury annotated chapter?? I’m obsessed

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli

“Amelia If Only,” by Becky Alberta is a slow-burn YA novel about a Jewish high schooler, Amelia, who drags her friends on a road trip to meet her favorite YouTuber. Though she thinks she has a crush on him, she ends up meeting and befriending him and realizes her crush is her best friend, Natalie.

By slow-burn, I mean she doesn’t realize her crush until way into the book (at least 80%). Though interspersed throughout the book are her subtle thoughts of her actually falling for Natalie. The book is a sweet YA novel that has an adorable group of friends who are all queer and deeply care for each other. Amelia is a jokester and as the book is in first person, the humor comes across on the page even in her thoughts.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to any readers looking for a YA romance, especially if looking for bisexual or Jewish representation.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the digital ARC!

POV: first person, present tense

Spice: 0/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[b-a-pigeon]

As you might expect from a couple of queer indie authors, Fell & I are going hard on the sales and promotions for Pride Month! I'll try to summarize as succinctly as possible, and remember that you can always click the links for a full synopsis ;)

Are you in the mood for...

✨ An emotional, reflective gay fantasy romance following a werewolf cowboy whose family takes in an amnesiac vampire? Fell's debut novel, Both Sides of the Moon, is on sale! You can buy a paperback for $11.99 & the ebook is on Countdown Sale June 3-7, starting at $0.99!

✨ A short and sweet sapphic contemporary fantasy read? My novella Worm in a Jar is pay what you want on Gumroad all month, so you can download it free if you'd like!

✨ A not-romantic fantasy novel with queer trans protagonists, about a demon and a demon hunter who must team up to prevent an imprending wave of violence? Our upcoming collab, Hierarchy of the Unseen, comes out June 21! It's up for preorder now, and available as an ARC on Netgalley :)

✨ The above, and also deals and/or supporting queer trans authors? This month, we're running a special offer on Patreon: all new & current patrons starting at the $4 tier will receive a free paperback of HotU (in addition to the ebook downloads, early access to our work, behind-the-scenes exclusives, and more already offered to patrons)!

✨ Finding more queer indies to support? Check out Pride SFF Reads & Read LGBTQ Authors on Bookfunnel!

I'll post about these individually in the coming weeks, but just wanted to throw it all out there at once 🖤 Reblogs appreciated! Thank you all for your support!

[jetwhenitsmidnight]

Idolfire by Grace Curtis

Release date: 11 March 2025

Genre: adult fantasy

If you like:

Long journeys

Character driven

Slowburn sapphic love stories

Strange gods

The fall of (fantasy) Rome

On one side of the world, Aleya Ana-Ulai is desperate for a chance. Her family have written her off as a mistake, but she's determined to prove every last one of them wrong.

On the other, Kirby of Wall's End is searching for redemption. An ancient curse tore her life apart, but to fix it, she'll have to leave everything behind.

Fate sets them both on the path to Nivela, a city once poised to conquer the world with the power of a thousand stolen gods. Now the gates are closed and the old magic slumbers. Dead — or waiting for a spark to light it anew…

Content Warnings

Death, violence, injury, blood

Infant death

Infertility

Past war, genocide

Misogyny

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

I didn't realise how much I had been craving a good old-fashioned fantasy roadtrip until I read this!

The first part of the book shows us where our protagonists start out and how they get to deciding to embark on their journeys. While I did like getting to know Aleya and Kirby, I think the story really takes off when they meet for the first time. Everything—their initial impressions of each other, their (this makes me cringe but IDK how else to say this) grumpy/sunshine dynamic, the development of their relationship— is just chef's kiss.

I love character driven stories, so this book was right up my alley, but if you prefer plot, I cannot emphasise enough how slow the plot is. Majority of this book is spent travelling, and the main plot stuff only really happens in the last 10%. Of course, this isn't a bad thing, but just so you know. You know?

This book is equal parts dark and humorous. Objectively, this book is pretty heavy as many terrible things happen, but the happier, lighthearted moments of friendship and banter left more of an impression on me. Honestly, I would personally categorise this book as a cozy fantasy. (What I mean is that I felt cozy reading this. The characters are definitely not feeling cozy.)

We only really get to see a few gods, but I adored the concept behind it: gods being created by worship, and existing in physical objects that can be stolen. Pretty cool!

[readingwiththestars]

₊˚⊹♡ NOTHING LIKE THE MOVIES

["Trust me, Lib," I said, picturing her lips. "In a crowd of million ski masks, I'd still be able to find you."]

| ✮ 3 stars |

ᝰ.ᐟ ⊹ arc review thank you to netgalley + simon and schuster for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

THOUGHTS ° ᡣ𐭩 . ° . [minor spoilers]

ok. i put this review off for a couple days cause i knew this was gonna be harder to write because i love lynn painter books, really. buuttt i was horribly disappointed with this one. i'm the biggest wesliz fan but... like yeah i cant even form coherent thoughts about it. like this was unnecessary there was no point in shattering their relationship to write this.

like it was good to see wes's pov and everything but it felt so... idk yeah. (see im still struggling so bad to find words.)

one thing i would formally like to invite lynn to STOP doing though is shoving every taylor/ pop culture reference on the planet into the book. like holy shit woman. i few is okay BUT NOT THAT MANY COME ON!!!! they were in the middle of a fucking argument and wes is quoting illicit affairs or some bullshit. usually i love finding little references on page but this felt like too much.

i feel like she's whipped out her computer and gone straight to some dog fanpage or just plainly scrolled through edits seeing people saying "this song is so wesliz coded" and shoved those songs into the book. there is an on page reference to in between reference saying its their montage song.

also um this shit: ”little liz can’t come to the phone right now. why? oh. because she’s dead.” and somehow when jack antonoff was randomly brought up??? like some people are good at weaving taylor swift lyrics into books. lynn you are not.

also lynn take this a plea to never use the word "growl" or "growled" in a sentence ever again when describing your male characters. and to never write this sentence “she’s one of the guys you know? she’s just… different,” EVER AGAIN. PLEASE.

WHAT I DID LIKE THO WAS THE TINY TINY CRUMBS OF BAILEYCHARLIE AND NICKEMELIE (even tho nick was only mentioned and i dont think emelie was even there but eh)

CHARACTERS ° ᡣ𐭩 . ° .

liz - ok so weirdly enough she was the most tolerable and still intolerable at the same time. like she was so different from the liz in bttm the sunshiney, wearing dresses of all different colours and her love of romcoms. she was described as anti-love and was practically a full on different character seriously. if you liked the first book maybe dont have high expectations for nltm. like i do understand she had her heart broken and so obviously that makes sense for some of the change but it had been two years and as liz likes to say SO FUCKING MUCH "she's moved on, she's moved past it, its in the past" well for someone who's moved on you sure like to avoid the past a lot. also idk who tf she was trying to fool with that whole "i don't like wes, im over him." shit like gurl- you were literally kissing 2.5 seconds ago whats with the switching sides. and there was SO much about her leaving "little liz" behind. like what was so wrong with liking flowers and romcoms? and being a hopeless romantic and wearing bright colours?

wes - okay so it was quiet heartbreaking to hear abt wes's side of this book (except for the whole pursuing liz part) and i did feel sorry for him. but like what happened to the sweet, caring wes in the first book. and tell me why i had to read THIS sentence “climb on me like a good girl,” LIKE MY EYES LYNN WTF????? i did not sign up for this wes, like no stop telling me how obsessed you are with liz's lips or how she's a mythological sex goddess- boy sit ur ass down. and don't even get me started on the beginning of the book. WHAT WAS THAT SHIT? why was wes acting like a 7yr old excited for school and talking (so much) abt his love for scootering? SCOOTERING. LYNN PAINTER WHAT THE EVER LOVING HELL? SCOOTERING. DO YOU HAVE SOME OBSESSION WITH THEM OR SOMETHING? WHY DID THOSE DUMB THINGS KEEP SHOWING UP?? like tell me why i needed to read this shit: "i fucking loved the scooters ..... wes + scooters = HEA" ..... lynn.

QUOTES ° ᡣ𐭩 . ° .

im not going to bother to find any of these, see: im too lazy

all in all i still liked some points when both of them were acting normal. which is why its a 3. but i feel like this is leaning towards a hate review but yeah idk i cant actually pin point parts that i remember liking- also the ending??? what was that? it made no sense to me.

[vkelleyart]

Hello! I just wanted to say I finished your book this morning. I'm a bookseller and recieved an ARC via Netgalley. I requested mostly it because of all your lovely art throughout the years, and I came out of it in happy tears and in awe. I'm always searching for stories about fellow Boricuas, and to find one when I wasn't actively looking was a gift I wasn't expecting.

I've always loved merpeople, and gay people, and hearing a character speak the way my family does within that... I can't thank you enough. GRACIAS. It felt like a little piece of home. I will be recommending this story to everyone who even looks in my direction for the foreseeable future and beyond.

Congratulations on your continuing success 🇵🇷🧜🏾‍♂️

Oh gosh, this is so amazing to hear! 🥹 Thank you so much for reading the ARC of When the Tides Held the Moon—I’m thrilled you enjoyed it, and so touched that you connected with Benny! That you just happened to trip over my Boricua story feels like providence, and it was my deepest wish for other Puertorriqueños to read it and feel themselves reflected in his journey. 🇵🇷

Abrazotes y mil gracias for this kind message. You’ve made my weekend.

[oracleofmadness]

This was such a delight! Gwen is a princess at Camelot, years after Arthur Pendragon has turned to myth. Arthur is her betrothed. However, neither is looking forward to their future together because both are queer.

Gwen has spent years falling for the one and only female knight that takes part in the tournament every summer while Art is falling for Gwen's brother. This story is not only romantic but is full of meaningful moments. The dialogues, the banter, is so funny and enjoyable.

The ending completely surprised me. I thought this would never get too serious, but the ending is intense!

Out November 28, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

[ x ]

🦇 Heir Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD What's your favorite fantasy book?❓ 🦇 An orphan. An outcast. A prince. And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees. An old tragedy fuels Aiz's need for vengeance, while love of her people that propels her. Sirsha agrees to use her magic to hunt a killer who is murdering children across the Martial Empire. And Quil is the Empire's crown prince, though he's loath to take the throne. Sabaa Tahir interweaves the lives of these three young people as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives—and their hearts. Literally.

💜 *Insert a plethora of creative curses here* For fig's sake. I can't even begin to describe the pure AWE I have, not only for this story, but for Sabaa Tahir, fantasy and Muslim-American literary goddess, in general. I honestly can't think of a story I've read that was so well intertwined, so fully conceptualized, while respecting roots of the series that came before it. Earlier this year, I had the fortune to read The Fragile Threads of Power by VE Schwab, which continued her Shades of Magic series. Reading Heir sparked that same feeling; the sensation of returning home after a long journey through other vast worlds. I'm grateful that Penguin Teen hosted the Ember in the Ashes read-along this summer. While Heir introduces us to new characters, 20 years after the Ember in the Ashes series ends, each mention and emergence of a familiar character provided a sweet taste of nostalgia I didn't know I needed. These books have seeped themselves deep within my marrow since 2015, and Sabaa Tahir has been on my favorite/auto-buy author for just as long. She's the first Muslim-American to win the National Book Award for Young People's Literature; a feat that gives me hope and inspiration as a Muslim-American writer.

💜 Reading Heir, you can see how much Tahir's prose has flourished over the past decade. Despite stepping back into this familiar world, it's richer, more vivid. The action is just as intense and ruthless, the characters undeniably unique. The underlying themes resonate deeply. I loved every nod to South Asian, Pakistani, and Islamic culture. It's always the five-star book reviews I struggle with the most. I could talk about this story for hours, but I'd spoil so much that I want you to experience for yourself.

💙 Don't worry: if you haven't read the An Ember in the Ashes quartet, you can still enjoy Heir. The three main characters have their own vivid story to tell, and while there are mentions of many beloved characters from the original series, they're supporting cast to Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil. I will say that the first part of the story took a moment to adjust to, and there's the lingering question of HOW these characters are connected, but once you realize how the breadcrumbs were laid out for you, you'll realize the execution is FLAWLESS. The fast pace keeps you on your toes, the ever-growing tension driving you to the last page. As for the underlying romantic story, AH! It was perfectly built, the sass and chemistry playful without stealing from the main plot, yet heart-wrenching; that kind of painful that keeps you invested long-term. OH! And can we talk about our villain? That BUILD?! I love a villain with reason--a character who doesn't realize they're the villain at all, someone with a mission that goes about it in all the wrong ways. This story had EVERYTHING and then some. I'll be recommending it for the next 20 years.

🦇 Recommended for fans of The Red Queen series, The Lunar Chronicle series, and The Throne of Glass series.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🫀First in a Duology ✨ Young Adult High Fantasy/Romantasy 👑 Political Intrigue ⛏ Enemies to Lovers 💓 Found Family 👁 Multi POV

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #Heir

💬 Quotes ❝ Get what you need. Forget the rest. ❞ ❝ "You are a daughter of the evening star. You are not meant to be caged." ❞ ❝ “I give my heart unto her keeping, a gift with no compare.” ❞ ❝ "The past will distract you from the now. And it’s the now that matters.” ❞ ❝ “You seek to understand the fibers that make the world,” Loli Temba said, “but not your own pain, nor that of others. You’d be better served understanding the latter.” ❞ ❝ He looked at her like her secrets were the sea, and he was at home in dark water. ❞ ❝ “Quil—” His name rolled off her tongue, a prayer. “Please—” “Mmm,” he said. “You should say that more, Sirsha. I’d give you whatever you wanted.” ❞ ❝ “Care about yourself as much as you care about those you love. As much as— as we care about you.” ❞ ❝ Sirsha grabbed his hand, wishing she could articulate the desire suffusing her, something more than I need you and I wish I didn’t. ❞

[bookshelvesandtealeaves]

✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨

Emberclaw by LR Lam

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

QOTD: What’s the last sequel you read?

[instagram]

Thank you DAW and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to be back with these characters and so anxious for what they faced.

I loved the whole magic academy plot this book had going for it. I didn’t actually think Arcady would get there and the fact that they did made me so genuinely happy even though they had so much crap to deal with.

I loved the relationship formed between Arcady and Sorin. I would absolutely love a short story of them just hanging out having some kind of carefree holiday together, like what their trip to Willem’s estate could have been under better circumstances.

I LOVED Willem, Rahela and Damon and the group they formed with Arcady. Honestly fictional friendships make my heart sing and this group was no exception.

The romance between Everen and Arcady is EVERYTHING. I love them so much!

The climax and resolution felt really well paced and I really enjoyed how everything turned out. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire last 100 pages.

I really loved this duology and I can’t recommend it enough.

[through-scattered-pages]

An adorable story about a chaotic witch working in a prestigious finance role and her encouter with her frienemy, a happy-go-lucky, non-profit hero who gives little miracles with a flick of his hand. The story follows along the two as they navigate their friendship, banters, and sudden yearn for each other, while trying to find their missing magical items, all while hidding the fact that their day work is pitting themselves against each other.

This is my first book of the author and I’m so happy to have found her 🥹🫶 I don’t usually read a lot of cozy (??) fantasy because most of the time it’s a little too ‘tame’ for me 🤣🤭 At first glance this does give that cozy fantasy vibe but I really atee up the little spice and banter tucked within the coziness that made this book a perfect wind down read while still having that elements of excitement 🥰🥰

Thank you to the author for sending me the ARC for an honest review 🫶 #TheWitchofWallStreet #NetGalley

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC REVIEW: Enemy of My Dreams by Jenny Williamson

4.25/5. Releases 2/4/24.

The Vibes:

—actual factual enemies to lovers (as in, enemy of the state)

—KIDNAPPING!!!

—Ancient Rome, naturally

—high as hell stakes

Heat Index: 7/10

The Basics:

When an attempt to escape a horrible forced marriage goes wrong, Julia, sister to Rome's emperor, is taken captive by Alaric, King of the Goths. He wants freedom for his people; she wants freedom for herself. As much as they hate each other—an alliance could be in order.

The Review:

Is that... a historical romance set sometime and some place other than the nineteenth century in England? Um, shockingly enough, yes! And boy does it wring every bit of tension and world it can possibly get out of that world? Also yes.

The thing about Enemy of My Dreams is that it actually is a legitimate enemies to lovers novel, which is harder to find than you'd think (these days). Alaric spent fifteen years prior to the story killing Romans, essentially. Julia's brother wants him dead. Julia is very much taken against her will! Alaric very much doesn't see her as anything more than a hostage... at first.

It's all quite delicious, and you really feel the push-pull between the two of them throughout the novel. Because, even when they develop feeling for each other, the conflict and distrust doesn't automatically go away. You still have this tension between two people with fundamental differences, as well as different motivations.

And they're fun people, by the way. Alaric is, frankly, quite hot—he's a big alpha warrior type, but also a strategist. Williamson avoids the barbarian stereotype, emphasizing his cunning and knack for manipulation. The trouble is that he's coming up against a fellow manipulator, though Julia... rather adorably, isn't the most experienced at it. There's an age gap, and you feel it when she hurtles herself into plot after plot, only for it to not quite land because she's a bit of a young hedonist.

It's incredibly endearing. I love Julia; in a lot of ways, this book is her journey as much as it's her romance with Alaric.

Make no mistake, though. I can make a couple of critiques regarding pacing, but generally speaking, this one harkens back to old schools in the best ways. Peoples' lives are at stake. We have a classically hulking and dangerous hero and a defiant, beautiful heroine way in over her head (but she's gonna fight anyway). We have a broad cast of fun characters. It's an old school vibe updated for modern sensibilities... But not TOO updated.

The Sex:

Alaric and Julia's loathing and lust lead to several different hate sex encounters, as well as looooovemaking sex. It's explicit, though Williamson does often use euphemisms and avoids super anatomical descriptions. Regardless, the chemistry between the leads makes each scene FAB.

I'm excited to read more from Jenny Williamson. This is a novel both unique and a throwback. It's plenty exciting—check it out!

Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[hayleyreadssapphicbooks]

Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti

Before reading, I was unaware that “Ladies in Hating” by Alexandra Vasti is part of a series until I added it on Goodreads. I’m glad I didn’t notice because the book is incredible! It’s likely “series” overstates the relationship of the books, and they may just be in the same world or Regency era. From a quick glance, it appears this one is the only sapphic one, too (sorry if I’m wrong about that). I can safely say this book is a standalone novel regardless of the others, as it made total sense and didn’t rely on any previous knowledge.

I loved, loved, loved this book! The novel features Georgiana and Cat, two authors who came from different but intertwined backgrounds (one of high status and the other in a servant family) who end up crossing paths years later. At this point, both are highly successful but controversial authors. Enveloped in a sort of feud because of their writing similarities, they both end up researching at a (possibly haunted) dilapidating mansion.

The relationship between the two women changes the course of both of their lives in a collision course of passion and intrigue and it is absolutely delicious and delightful to partake in. The Regency era gives a hint of scandal to their relationship while their colliding careers give stakes and drama.

If you’re interested in sapphic romance, this is definitely not one to miss! Especially if you like Regency romance. Also, a hint of supernatural and murder mystery spice up the novel (in addition to the actual spice). Highly recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC!

POV: third person, past tense, two POVs

Spice: 🔥🔥/3

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[jessread-s]

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

✩🐻🏕️Review:

Reading this book is like receiving a bear hug that gives you all the warm, fuzzy feelings!

“Unbearably Your” follows Charlee Fletcher and Oliver Reynolds after a twist of fate forces the former lovers to collaborate on a nature documentary and put their grudges and wounds aside. But will they survive two weeks together in the wilderness if their bond still lingers? 

This was such a delightful book to read! I was completely immersed in the small town of Pine Falls and fully invested in the lives of Colliard’s compelling characters. 

What sets this book apart from others is that it is told from two perspectives and split between two timelines—the past and the present—that ultimately converge towards the end. Chapters taking place in the past are written as letters exchanged between Oliver and Charlee that document their development from strangers to friends to lovers over the span of a year leading up to June 21, 2018—the day they ceased communication. As a fan of epistolary novels, I really enjoyed this touch and the seamless transition between the two timelines. The contents of each letter directly connects to something going on in the present in one way or another or another, making it easy to follow Colliard’s storytelling. Only bits and pieces surrounding why their relationship went awry are revealed over time, which kept me engaged all the way through. 

I adored Oliver as soon as he graced the page! He’s so sensitive and kind and Colliard portrays his neurodivergence with care. The more time I spent with Charlee, the more I grew to love the woman beneath her tough exterior. Both characters grapple with grief, but find solace in each other even after five years apart. They have such great chemistry and this becomes only more obvious when circumstances beyond their control leave them no choice but to spend more time together the deeper they journey into the Great Bear Rainforest. I loved watching the sparks reignite between Charlee and Oliver as they worked through their pasts to get another shot at love!

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