WOW!! A new classic perfect for fans of The hatchet by Gary Paulson or Alone by Megan E Freeman. This was a heartfelt, moving, California wilderness sWOW!! A new classic perfect for fans of The hatchet by Gary Paulson or Alone by Megan E Freeman. This was a heartfelt, moving, California wilderness survival story featuring a young nonbinary teen, Ash who hikes into the woods in search of their grandfather's remote cabin. They learn how to survive for 48 days with only their dog for a companion before wildfires chase them back to civilization. Important messages of acceptance, environmental activism, climate change and queer identity pervade in this graphic novel that has amazing illustrations and is spare in text. I absolutely loved it!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
Hannah, a socially anxious, hard of hearing and recently divorced best-selling fantasy author moves to Sapphire Springs to try to finish her latest boHannah, a socially anxious, hard of hearing and recently divorced best-selling fantasy author moves to Sapphire Springs to try to finish her latest book only to get caught up working (and falling) for the local cafe/bookstore owner, George.
This was another swoony, seasonal Sapphic romance from one of my fav queer indie romance authors. It featured cameos from the main characters in the first book but definitely can be read as a standalone and had great #ownvoices mental health, therapy and disability rep.
Highly recommended for fans of authors like Ashley Herring Blake and Meryl Wilsner and a perfect book to pick up and take to the beach this summer. Many thanks to the author for sharing an early digital copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own.
This was an excellent dual POV, queer middle grade coming of age story featuring the complicated relationship between two best friends and their time This was an excellent dual POV, queer middle grade coming of age story featuring the complicated relationship between two best friends and their time at theatre camp one summer working on a production of Wicked. I loved the disability and fat rep in this book! It was done so well and I learned a lot about Dyspraxia, a condition that affects physical coordination. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Maya plays the part by Calyssa Erb....more
A new favorite Reese Book Club pick for sure! I loved how multi-layered this story was, filled with rich characterization, mediums, ghosts and the stoA new favorite Reese Book Club pick for sure! I loved how multi-layered this story was, filled with rich characterization, mediums, ghosts and the stories of strong women who are all connected in some way to one Maine, cliff-side mansion across the ages.
Told from alternating POVs, this story touches on Sapphic love, alcoholism, colonialism, loss and so much more! I loved the multi-cast narration on audio that included some of my favs, Cassandra Campbell and Brittney Pressley, among others.
The main character of the story is Jane, a Harvard archivist whose alcohol addiction causes her to lose both her her job and her husband. As she escapes to her recently deceased mother's house in Maine to prepare it for sale, she finds herself caught up in the past as she researches the lives of the women who lived and died in the cliff house she's admired since she was a child.
Rich in detail and deeply moving, this was a long but so well-written story and I couldn't get enough. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and BookSparks for sending me a beautiful finished copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
WOW!! What a standout Middle Grade debut this was!!! One of the best ones I've read all year by far, this book tackles BIG feelings and has important WOW!! What a standout Middle Grade debut this was!!! One of the best ones I've read all year by far, this book tackles BIG feelings and has important messages about learning how to be brave, be a good friend, daughter, sister and how to apologize and forgive when people let you down.
Told from the POV of two friends who having a falling out, this story is multi-layered one about four former best friends and soccer teammates who learn how to forgive one another and show up for one another. There is also a fun online penpal element, poetry interspersed throughout and a heartwarming first crush Sapphic romance.
EXCELLENT on audio narrated by Bailey Carr and Elsa Lepeccki Bean, this is one NOT to miss and is perfect for fans of books like Key player by Kelly Yang or The beautiful game by Yamile Saied Méndez. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I cannot wait to read what Erin Becker writes next!!...more
A beautiful second chance YA MM romance between former best friends who had a falling out by a mistaken betrayal who find themselves spending the summA beautiful second chance YA MM romance between former best friends who had a falling out by a mistaken betrayal who find themselves spending the summer together working to save a family vineyard/B&B. I really enjoyed the mental health (Depression) rep in this book. You could tell it was a personal story for the author and was written in a very relatable, sensitive way.
The romance was also swoony and realistic with a touch of whimsy in the form of a wishing rose bush and a curse - the protagonist Grant believes he's doomed in love. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of books like Icebreaker by A. L. Graziadei. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A really interesting exploration/historical account of queer Olympian athletes and the way the IOC evolved to fully embrace sex testing as a way to exA really interesting exploration/historical account of queer Olympian athletes and the way the IOC evolved to fully embrace sex testing as a way to exclude intersex and trans athletes. Starting from the 1930s, the book highlights some of the most prominent trans athletes of the day and the reception they received from both the press and world at large. Great on audio and highly recommended if you want to better understand gender and sports in history over time!...more
While this was a bit of a departure from some of Kate's previous WWII historical fiction novels, I absolutely loved the 1950s McCarthy era setting, thWhile this was a bit of a departure from some of Kate's previous WWII historical fiction novels, I absolutely loved the 1950s McCarthy era setting, the female friendship among a group of very different residents living in a Washington D.C. boarding house, The Briarwood house.
The author did a great job telling the story of women's lives in the 1950s and how their roles changed at this time. From an undercover Soviet spy, to a African American former woman's baseball league star, a domestically abused mother, the lover of a gangster, a secret Sapphic romance, plus an excellent exploration of race, class and politics at the time.
Told from the POVs of each woman (and the house itself!), this story is both a murder mystery, a spy thriller, and a heartwarming story of companionship between women who come together to share food (recipes included) and the ups and downs of their individual lives.
Amazing on audio narrated by all time fav, Saskia Maarleveld, this book is perfect for fans of movies like A league of their own and Good night, and good luck and the tv show, The Americans. Readers don't want to miss the audio version with an author's note and an exclusive conversation between Kate and Saskia.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
An incredible YA must read about two Muslim girls fighting for abortion access and rights in a near future Texas in which Roe v Wade is still overturnAn incredible YA must read about two Muslim girls fighting for abortion access and rights in a near future Texas in which Roe v Wade is still overturned! Great on audio and such an important read. I absolutely devoured this important book about women's rights, access and body autonomy told from the perspective of the Muslim American community! I cannot recommend this book enough!...more
A new, super STEAMY, Sapphic romantic suspense novella set in the Christmas Notch universe that sees Addison, an influencer trying to launch a Cruise A new, super STEAMY, Sapphic romantic suspense novella set in the Christmas Notch universe that sees Addison, an influencer trying to launch a Cruise experience falling for her hot female bodyguard, Krysta.
While things heat up between the off limits Krysta, a stalker comes for Addison threatening to blackmail her in exchange for a "favor." This was fun, flirty and great on audio narrated by one of my favs, Joy Nash. Highly recommended for a quick beach read experience!...more
Another GORGEOUSLY illustrated picture book from Mathias Ball, that is full of whimsy, love and a beautiful story featuring an 8 year old nonbinary chAnother GORGEOUSLY illustrated picture book from Mathias Ball, that is full of whimsy, love and a beautiful story featuring an 8 year old nonbinary child celebrating their birthday. Orphaned at a young age, Robin lives with their uncle and in one of their dreams gets whisked away to a magical world full of acceptance, love and new friends.
Heartwarming, affirming and full of positive messages, this is sure to delight young readers and become an instant favorite! Perfect for fans of books like Still my Tessa. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this picture book coming out in December 2024!...more
This one started off really strong but got a little weird for me. I loved the full cast audio narration and the Hollywood film/tv commentary on the maThis one started off really strong but got a little weird for me. I loved the full cast audio narration and the Hollywood film/tv commentary on the marginalization of queer characters. As for the story it was just an okay read for me. Chuck Tingle was a new to me author but I would read more by them. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
A moving and at times heartbreaking story of perserverence, passion, pain and persistence told from the voice of a determined Jamaican American trans A moving and at times heartbreaking story of perserverence, passion, pain and persistence told from the voice of a determined Jamaican American trans woman hurdler with big Olympic dreams. I hadn't heard of CeCe before but learning about her childhood growing up in a very conservative, homophobic and transphobic home was hard to hear and the way her Olympic dreams for 2020 got shut out because of paperwork technicalities was a travesty. I love that she doesn't give up or let setbacks discourage her from pursuing her dreams of being one of the first trans women Olympic medalists. I really hope we get to see her in Paris 2024!! Highly recommend this amazing memoir that is excellent on audio narrated by the author themselves!...more
This was a really fun, YA college sports enemies to lovers romance between Sadie, a Scottish bisexual women's football (soccer) star and Arlo, the AmeThis was a really fun, YA college sports enemies to lovers romance between Sadie, a Scottish bisexual women's football (soccer) star and Arlo, the American biracial transplant who needs to learn how to be a team player.
Forced to help teach Arlo how to work with his team, Sadie finds herself learning more about him and slowly starts to fall for the secretly big-hearted American. I loved the mental health rep and queer rep in this book perfect for fans of Bend it like Beckham or Meryl Wilsner's Cleat cute....more
This was an interesting sci-fi speculative thriller set in a near future where technology is very advanced, the world has been devastated by climate cThis was an interesting sci-fi speculative thriller set in a near future where technology is very advanced, the world has been devastated by climate change and a woman tech guru a la Steve Jobs esque has created a special "Wellness" Pod that allows people to escape life and take a break while being isolated and supported in a special dome set out in the ocean. At times bizarre, I thought this was good on audio and I really enjoyed the queer female MCs, the motherhood aspects and the unique vision of the future. Recommended for fans of dystopian/climate change fiction. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
This was a heartfelt, raw, honest and relatable story about discovering your sexuality later in life and the struggles of being in a mea3.5 rounded up
This was a heartfelt, raw, honest and relatable story about discovering your sexuality later in life and the struggles of being in a meaningful relationship where the two people have different end goals. Encouraged to go out and experience more queer and Sapphic love hook-ups, newly out, Bette embarks on a life changing adventure that sees her losing her first real girlfriend and discovering more of what makes her truly happy. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of The L word tv series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
More great artwork and I finally felt like the story was moving forward in this latest volume of the Lore Olympus series! I enjoyed gett3.5 rounded up
More great artwork and I finally felt like the story was moving forward in this latest volume of the Lore Olympus series! I enjoyed getting to learn about both Hades' and Kore's backstory and see how their romantic relationship finally started to evolve. There are still some heavy topics covered in this one, from rape, intimate partner abuse, gaslighting and more but overall a solid new instalment and I look forward to seeing what happens next!...more
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