Minor league baseball + rivals-to-lovers + the first openly trans player…good golly, I couldn’t have loved this more!
Gene is the heart and soul of thiMinor league baseball + rivals-to-lovers + the first openly trans player…good golly, I couldn’t have loved this more!
Gene is the heart and soul of this contemporary romance. He’s the shortstop for the Beaverton Beavers, the Triple A minor league team for the Portland Lumberjacks. That is, he’s the shortstop until his rival Luis is traded to the Beavers and takes his position, leaving Gene to play second base instead. They haven’t seen each other since playing in college. Gene thinks Luis is a miserable grump but really Luis is dealing with severe anxiety…and a secret crush on Gene, just as Gene as been secretly crushing on him too!!! I loved watching these two fall for each other and then figure out whether and how they can make it work as baseball players who could potentially get traded at any time.
The story doesn’t shy away from the harder things of life, like anxiety, figuring out how or when to come out, and systemic transphobia in the baseball world. But the camaraderie of the Beavers and Gene’s skill on the field also shines a light on how inclusive baseball could become. It was fun to read a book set on a minor league team and the specific pressures (and low pay) those players face. Initially, Gene thinks he’s gone as far up in baseball as he’ll be able to go due to perception of trans players but that’s also a way that he doesn’t get his hopes up. The exploration of hope for both Gene and Luis was my favorite part of the story.
Just an absolute delight of a debut! I can’t wait to see what Hoffman writes next.
Characters: Gene is a 26 year old gay trans white Jewish Romanian American second baseman, photographer, and vegetarian with ADHD. Luis is a 28 year old gay Mexican American shortstop with severe anxiety. He has an emotional support dog named Dodger. This is set in Portland and Beaverton, OR.
Content notes: anxiety/panic disorder, panic attacks, Xanax, ER visit after fainting (dehydrated on top of a panic attack), medical privacy violation (Gene tells the manager about Luis going to the ER without asking permission to share. He apologizes after and Luis isn’t upset about it.), closeted MC (no forced outing; comes out to accepting family), overt and systemic transphobia, past deadnaming, misogyny (fan tweets), systemic racism, ageism, baseball injury (secondary character), past car accident (Luis had a panic attack while driving), past death of Luis’s father, scars from top surgery, needles (testosterone injection; ear piercing), secondary character with hearing aids who prefers ASL, Luis’s sister has Down syndrome, past adoption (Gene’s dad is his uncle; his birth mom was an alcoholic and left when Gene was young and his dad adopted him), unsafe sex practices (Luis rips open condom packet with his teeth), on page sex, locker room shower sex, strap-on harness, alcohol, inebriation (secondary character), cigarettes (secondary character), gendered pejoratives, ableist language...more
New favorite Olivia Dade. While she’s known for her humor, I cried through at least half of this antagonistic neighbors-to-lovers romance. It’s not a New favorite Olivia Dade. While she’s known for her humor, I cried through at least half of this antagonistic neighbors-to-lovers romance. It’s not a romcom; it’s a gut-punch of feelings. And I loved it.
It’s too close to my heart to properly review it but I do want to address the way this deals with Athena’s depression. In many ways, this is a tale of wish fulfillment. Matthew and many of the townspeople immediately notice that Athena has been holing up in her home and not leaving. On day 7, Matthew figures out a way to break in via her 3rd floor window that’s been left ajar so that he can check on her. Now this is only possible in a small town and even then, it’s an extremely fast timeline to notice something might be wrong. However, the townspeople’s concern is the way people should respond to someone who might be depressed, breaking and entering aside. I can’t even tell you how much it meant to see people noticing and then taking action to help Athena. So often the follow through is missing when it comes to coming alongside someone with depression, if people even notice in the first place, and that can intensify and confirm the feelings depressed people have about themselves. Obviously, there’s more to it than that; we can’t be responsible for everyone and it takes more than good friends to lift someone out of an episode. But when people can show up, it means the world. Truly.
There is one aspect that was a bit of a gray area for me. When Matthew breaks in, he first ascertains that Athena is okay and then he helps her make some small decisions, like giving him permission to set up an appointment with a therapist and getting medication, and then he starts cleaning her house and making her food. The next day he gently suggests she take a shower or a bath. And when that prospect is overwhelming, he offers to help bathe her. At this point, they’ve become friendlier but Athena still views him as the jerk who broke off her engagement to his brother. It was surprising that she’d want his help bathing, even if he promised to remain aboveboard. I wasn’t certain whether she was too depressed to properly consent; it was certainly of how much she was struggling. But at the same time, this goes back to a very specific kind of fantasy and so I rolled with it. He helps her, they talk through how she’s feeling, and it wound up being a very moving scene. It might not work for everyone but it ultimately worked for me.
Characters: Athena is a 37 year old fat white bakery clerk and library temp who wears glasses. Matthew is a 39 year old white pediatrician and a virgin. This is set in Harlot’s Bay, MD.
Content notes: depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, sibling parentification, codependency, past death of MMC’s toddler brother (pseudoephedrine intoxication), MMC breaks into FMC’s house due to concern of illness or harm, fear of storms, fear of heights, creepy dolls, cuticle picking, vaccination shots (patient), past child neglect (MMC’s parents gave up after his brother died; he took care of Johnny and no one took care of him), parental estrangement, past parental divorce (blamed each other for their son’s death), past death of MMC’s grandmother (emphysema), on page sex, voyeurism/exhibitionism, erotic dream, monster-f*cking audiobooks, alcohol, inebriation, past marijuana, gendered pejoratives, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction, mention of pediatric patients who have died...more
My family is far from perfect but one thing I have always been grateful for is the way my mom’s side of the family modeled grief. Laurel Braitman did My family is far from perfect but one thing I have always been grateful for is the way my mom’s side of the family modeled grief. Laurel Braitman did not have such a model in her family. Her father was diagnosed with aggressive cancer when she was three and used his expertise and connections as a surgeon to keep beating the odds for 14 additional years, hiding as much of his treatment from Laurel and her brother as possible. This was in part because he did not want to face his own mortality. When he died, she was unmoored but followed the family path of suppressing her emotions. To the point where years later, her then-girlfriend asked her if she even knew what emotions she felt. She didn’t.
This led to finally beginning to mourn her loss. She signed up for a training at a child bereavement group when she was 36. While she’s there ostensibly to help the kids, she’s also learning about the ways her dad’s diagnosis and eventual death affected her and the limitations of her coping skills up to that point. It’s a different portrait of grief and such a necessary one. What further elevates this memoir from other accounts of grief is we eventually see Braitman put what she’s learned into practice, when her mother is eventually diagnosed with and dies from cancer herself. It’s gut-wrenching and I wouldn’t have wished it on anyone and yet there was such power in seeing how she mourned this time around.
In addition to being an interesting story in and of itself (the farm she grew up on! her work at Stanford! her various travels! where she met her eventual husband!), Braitman’s prose is gorgeous and luminous. Several passages stopped me in my tracks. This is worth reading just to experience the writing. I loved learning about her life, from her childhood to her relationships. Highly recommended.
Content notes: rape and reproductive assault (coerced and and rapist refused to use a condom even when asked), unplanned pregnancy and abortion, anxiety, death of father (diagnosed when she was 3 and died 14 years later), death of mother (pancreatic cancer and liver metastases), dad diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma and lung and larynx metastases (amputation, chemotherapy, radiation, lung surgery), assisted suicide for terminally ill parents (dad’s friend got him the medication illegally, right-to-die medication for mom), TIA (mom), mom’s second husband died of small cell bladder cancer, past breast cancer and remission (boyfriend’s mom), ableism, fatshaming, fatphobia (overt and internalized), family-forced diet as a teen, vision fast as an adult (no food), bullying, past infidelity (she and boyfriend cheated on each other, she slept with guy who had a girlfriend), past divorce, death of pets (including dog who suffocated in a car after his head got stuck in a treat bag), vomit (chemotherapy), COVID-19, wildfires (childhood house burned down but mom and stepdad were able to get out), boat lost at sea (no survivors), STI shaming (countered), on page sex (not explicit), alcohol, inebriation, pipe (dad), gendered pejorative, ableist language, boyfriends/girlfriends compared to a drug...more
Abdurraquib proves once more that he is one of the best writers of our time with this brilliant essay collection about basketball, LeBron James, and OAbdurraquib proves once more that he is one of the best writers of our time with this brilliant essay collection about basketball, LeBron James, and Ohio. As with all things by Abdurraqib, whatever topic he’s writing about is merely a launch pad to talk about deeper themes and ideas. This delves into grief, community, incarceration, underdogs, police brutality, hope, and more.
He explores what makes a place home, homesickness, what outsiders miss, and the way we can know a place to its marrow. He interrogates nostalgia and the way a city can lie to us. I’ve lived in a lot of places and returned to my hometown a few years ago so this was infinitely relatable.
This would be a solid collection in and of itself but the structure takes it to the next level. This is broken into five parts: pregame and four quarters, plus intermissions. He plays with form, weaving in poetry with his prose. Each quarter begins with a countdown clock, mimicking an actual game. As with many games, our emotions rise and fall as he writes. I teared up at the very end. The third quarter section was my favorite but there are no misses here. This is the kind of collection I’ll pick up more each time I revisit it.
*I did not take content notes for this book....more
I forgot how much I love reading about baseball. An incredibly well-researched account of not only Pete Rose but the way baseball evolved over the decI forgot how much I love reading about baseball. An incredibly well-researched account of not only Pete Rose but the way baseball evolved over the decades that he played. I learned so much about league history, in addition to Rose himself. O’Brien knows how to write exciting baseball scenes, truly bringing the game to life. Plus, he made me want to read a book about Pete Rose, a player I have hated for years! True, I was motivated to read about the scandal but this is a big overview of the player’s life so that was a lot of time to spend with Pete Rose for not caring about him. It’s excellent. I plan on pushing this book on a few of my cousins.
I was 9 years old when Pete Rose was banished from Major League Baseball for life for betting on the sport or really, let’s be honest, lying about it. While my immediate family didn’t follow baseball, my extended family were Cubs fans and loved talking about the sport whenever we were all together. I’ve always had an anti-Pete Rose bias as a result. (Let the record reflect that I’m a White Sox fan.) My relatives may have respected him as a player before the news broke—at least when the Reds weren’t playing the Cubs—but his actions crossed every line. He was persona non grata. I share all this to say I went into this having a hazy idea of what Rose did and vehemently believing he’s an asshole. Now I have full context for just how far he fell.
Pete Rose is undoubtedly one of baseball’s best players but he didn’t start out that way. His work ethic reminded me of the 2005 White Sox Grinder Ball Rules campaign: he went after every play with everything he had. He lived and breathed baseball and he played to his strengths. This also gave him somewhat of a god complex where he felt he didn’t need to follow the same rules as everyone else. He may have been an incredible player but he was also the quintessential example of toxic masculinity, a serial cheater, and a neglectful father, on top of having a gambling problem.
Rose could never admit to any of it, even when he was caught. His wife put up with his mistresses for years before reaching a breaking point. His gambling problem was an open secret in the clubhouse. He was friends with bookies despite guidelines saying otherwise. He had guys who helped him place bets on horses and other sports. And eventually he started betting on baseball, including his own team. So many people looked the other way when it came to Rose’s exploits until Sports Illustrated finally got wind of it and MLB was forced to do its own investigation. WILD. Even then, he refused to admit that he’d bet on baseball, no matter how much evidence stared him in the face. If he could have admitted to it, the League probably would have doled out a lesser punishment. It was the bald-faced lies that led to his banishment. Decades later, Rose still has a nebulous relationship with the truth about his actions. He’s more likely to cast blame elsewhere than accept that he’ll never make it to the Hall of Fame. At least, under the current rules. There are still people who feel he belongs to be there. I personally hope he stays out.
Content notes: statutory rape/ephebophilia (sexual relationship with 16 year old when Rose was in his 30s; he started calling her when she was 14 or 15; no accountability or consequences), serial infidelity (Rose had multiple mistresses and other liaisons), mistress had to sue for child support, substance abuse (multiple people), drug trafficking, steroid injections, alcoholism (player), death of father (heart attack), gambling addiction (sports, horses), fistfights, physical assault, police corruption (stole money after pulling Pete over for speeding), incarceration, misogyny, toxic masculinity, homophobia, racism, segregation, antisemitism, anti-fat bias (including fining players for being overweight), witnessed plane crash (only 12 survivors), death by heart attack (baseball commissioner), death by lung cancer (manager), baseball-related injuries, corked bats, COVID-19, Army Reserves (to avoid being drafted in Vietnam), pregnancy, divorce, STD stigma, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, cigarettes, tobacco, gendered pejoratives, ableist language, high school party was called the “Pow Wow”...more
An examination of the way trans people are portrayed in TV and film, how it's evolved, what more needs to happen, and the impact it has on us all. TheAn examination of the way trans people are portrayed in TV and film, how it's evolved, what more needs to happen, and the impact it has on us all. The author is a Black trans journalist and shares their own journey. It's a master class in trans Hollywood history, as well as a thoughtful and informative read.
Content notes: intimate partner violence, child physical abuse, transphobia, anti-trans legislation, misgendering, deadnaming, gender affirmation surgery, body dysmorphia, gender dysphoria, genital mutilation and self-harm, homophobia, sex work, cross-dressing, HIV and AIDS, incarceration based on sex assigned at birth, murder, police violence and brutality, racism, infidelity, divorce, past enslavement, past death of grandmother, author raised by single mother in the army and grandma, gendered pejoratives, ableist language ...more
Rival art thieves—who had a hot night together three years ago—face off when they’re both tasked with stealing photographs from an upcoming exhibit atRival art thieves—who had a hot night together three years ago—face off when they’re both tasked with stealing photographs from an upcoming exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. Due to a misunderstanding, Sloane and Jillian have relished sabotaging each other since parting ways. They are the embodiment of “thou doth protest too much.” This was SO GOOD!!!
The characters are sharp blades (ice royalty!!) and good at what they do. They dance around each other as they plan their respective heist and figure out how they can beat the other person at their own game. I cannot tell you how delicious this level of competency was. Should I have been cheering for art thieves this hard? I sure as hell did because they are thieves with a moral code who recognize how many museums and private collectors have ill-gotten gains. Sloane and Jillian have their own way of giving back and restoring justice. It just happens to be funded by theft.
The Art Institute of Chicago is my favorite museum so I could not have been more thrilled to read about a heist set there. I think this would be just as enjoyable even if you’ve never visited but being able to picture the different parts of the museum added to my enjoyment. Although I did laugh at how they kept calling the Bean “Cloud Gate.” LOL no one here calls it that!
I loved how inclusive this world was despite having so few characters. Sloane is nonbinary and while there are some nods to the care they take in public, there’s no misgendering. Add in a couple of twists and some close calls and you have a complete winner of a romantic suspense. Sloane and Jillian finally realizing how much time they’ve wasted? *Chef’s kiss*
Characters: Jillian is a 33 year old white art thief. Sloane is a nonbinary white art thief. This is set in Chicago.
Content notes: gunshot (blocked by vest), MCs sabotage each other (primarily past), family estrangement, Sloane’s parents’ company produced opioids (they destroyed the company), artist’s girlfriend went missing and was never found (past; (view spoiler)[by the end of the book, we learn she was an undercover agent and it was a honeypot setup (hide spoiler)]), past parental infidelity and substance abuse (secondary character’s deceased father), past childhood poverty, past death of secondary character’s parents, MCs do not want children (Jillian is on birth control), on page sex, alcohol, ableist language...more
What a heartbreaker for Ads and Beccs. I typically avoid books that have anything to do with pregnancy but there was no way I wasn’t goCW: miscarriage
What a heartbreaker for Ads and Beccs. I typically avoid books that have anything to do with pregnancy but there was no way I wasn’t going to read this, since it’s part of the SMU world. I’ve been curious about Adam and Becca too and wanted to get to know them better, particularly Beccs who has always seemed more remote and closed-off. (I should also note she frequently comes across as the kind of self-righteous feminist I really struggle with and was glad that a couple of characters called her out on some of her more questionable ideas.)
In any case, shortly after the book begins, they have a miscarriage and this deals with their immense grief and the way they eventually come back to each other. It’s a really expansive exploration of grief, from the way Beccs distances herself from everyone to the the lack of resources for men in this position and the way it acknowledges other people impacted by loss beyond the couple. Adam notes the differences in his personality before and after the loss, referring to himself as Adam 2.0 who can’t be the jokester he was before. Lucy forces Beccs to let her help, whether it’s meeting her at the marina or telling her to go to her house for lunch or demanding she and Ads go to therapy.
Because Beccs ices everyone out, including Ads, they both have to make sense of loneliness in a relationship, something they haven’t dealt with before. Once Beccs finally is able to take a step back to him, they’re able to discuss what queerness and found family means for them starting a family…or not. Beccs is diagnosed with PCOS and it might not be a straightforward road for them if they want to try again, which opens up a host of issues for her. At the end, (view spoiler)[they decide to take six months off from making any decisions about trying to have a kid or adopting or not having any children. This struck me as very wise and true to what they needed. (hide spoiler)]
My favorite part is the way their friends surrounded them and loved them through this time of loss. Hugh gives them a green stone with “Tadpole” etched on it—while Beccs is initially resistant to the stone, Ads finds a lot of comfort in it. Later, their therapist encourages them to hold a memorial. The friends give them a rock/succulent garden (since they’re renters and can therefore take it with them wherever they go) and they all contributed stones or sand from their homes. Then they shared the role they thought they’d play in Tadpole’s life as aunts/uncles. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen this in grief fiction before and I found it to be incredibly moving.
I just love these characters and this world so much.
Characters: Adam is a 28 year old white massage therapist and submissive. Beccs is a 28 year old queer white nonprofit supervisor and Domme. This is set in Richmond, CA.
Content notes: suicidal ideation/concern, depression, pregnancy and miscarriage at 11 weeks, D & C off page, Vicodin (post-miscarriage, throws it out after realizing she could become dependent on it), cough syrup as drug use (one time), past abortion, PCOS diagnosis, YouTube videos about infertility, family planning discussion, MMC’s coworker kisses him without consent (he backs away and tells FMC after), past emotional neglect (FMC’s parents), internalized fatphobia (secondary characters), secondary character wants to lose weight before her wedding, fatphobia (countered), overexercising (to point of throwing up), diet to build muscle, ADHD, secondary character with spinal cord injury, vomit, on page sex, D/s, impact play, sensation play, alcohol, diet culture, gendered pejoratives, ableist language...more
An important eye-opening read. In February 2012, a semi truck collided with a school bus full of Palestinian kindergarteners in the fringes of JerusalAn important eye-opening read. In February 2012, a semi truck collided with a school bus full of Palestinian kindergarteners in the fringes of Jerusalem. There was no help from Israeli police, firefighters, or soldiers despite pleas as the bus burned. Palestinian drivers on the road worked to get the children and teachers out instead. The children were taken to different hospitals in Jerusalem and the West Bank, with no record of who was taken where and no central figure helping the parents find them.
It is a harrowing account as we go from the kids’ excitement about a field trip to their parents’ terror over trying to not only figure out what hospital their child might be at but whether they can cross a checkpoint to get to them. The book starts with Abed Salama’s son Milad getting ready for the day and then everyone learning about the accident. Then the author zooms out to share about Abed’s life, as well as the history of other parents and some of the first responders.
Through it all, Palestinian parents await the fate of their children and navigate a more difficult hospital system than necessary. In the aftermath, Abed finally finds his son (view spoiler)[and learns Milad was one of the children who died, burned so badly he could only be identified by DNA test. (hide spoiler)] The stories of other children and families are just as heartbreaking, even for the ones who survived the traumatic crash.
This highlights the systemic issues that led to an unnecessary tragedy, one that the Israeli government has never taken responsibility for. There is no excuse for the callousness of those who did not intervene sooner or at all. It unfortunately explains so much about current events, that not even children are safe or worthy of protection and compassion.
The Stacks Podcast had a fantastic interview with the author, who is a Jewish American living in Israel, which is how I learned about this book. It’s well worth a listen.
Content notes: PTSD, mass casualty accident involving a school bus and semi trailer, death of six children and one teacher, severe burns, amputation, missing and injured children, children shot by Israeli Border Police and soldiers, arrest and incarceration of children, torture of prisoners (including children), intimate partner violence (including man’s family encouraging him to beat his wife and hire someone to kill her), substance abuse, past suicide bombings, murder, massacre, gun violence, bombing, stabbing, physical assault, parents arranged marriage between their 17 year old daughter and a 29 year old man, forced family separation (abduction of refugee Mizrahi Jewish infants and children who were then adopted by Ashkenazi Jews), police corruption and violence, military corruption and violence, abuse of power, medical abuse (border police won’t let patients pass to go to the hospital), incarceration, solitary confinement, inhumane treatment of prisoners, leukemia, Alzheimer’s, blood clot and severe heart failure (result of grief), racism, sexism, purity culture, verbal abuse, social media bullying (Israelis rejoicing in the deaths of Palestinian children), refugee camps, street harassment, cousin marriage, polygamy, divorce, pregnancy, ableist language, mentions of rape, reference to a man’s friend who died by suicide...more
As much as I hated Iris and Roman being torn apart at the end of Divine Rivals, I have to admit it made for quite the compelling premise for this follAs much as I hated Iris and Roman being torn apart at the end of Divine Rivals, I have to admit it made for quite the compelling premise for this follow up. Particularly once we learn Dacre has erased Roman’s memories and he has no idea who he was before, much less that he knew Iris. Heartbreaking!
Enter the magical typewriters, bringing them together once more. I loved how every part of this developed. Great tension and character-building. Parts of it stressed me out! But it was so cool to see how it all came together and to learn more about Dacre and Enva. (view spoiler)[I was surprised Enva tapped Iris to kill Dacre but whatever. She and Attie managed to get it done so all’s well that ends well. Except for the part where Iris’s brother died. That one hurt. (hide spoiler)]
Characters: Iris is an 18 year old white journalist. Roman is a 19 year old white journalist.
Content notes:(view spoiler)[death of FMC’s brother (hide spoiler)], amnesia (memory erased by a god), missing husband, captivity, imprisonment, nightmares, PTSD (secondary character), past near-death experience (battlefield), war, warring deities who are estranged spouses, explosions, murder, assassination attempt, execution of soldiers without a trial, physical assault, casualties, scarred lungs from gas bomb (permanent condition), lacerations, refugees, animal death, stalking, breaking and entering, vandalism, toxic father, secondary character with bullet fragments still inside, past death of FMC’s alcoholic mother (hit by a tram), past death of MMC’s sister (drowned), classism, vomit, off page sex, alcohol (secondary characters), cigarettes (secondary character), cigar (secondary character), story of nightingales who died in captivity for research...more
Stellar writing and strong characters, plus the gritty reality of life in Western Massachusetts…I am absolutely going to be trying more from this authStellar writing and strong characters, plus the gritty reality of life in Western Massachusetts…I am absolutely going to be trying more from this author!
Taryn and Nick are both EMTs. Nick is clearly into Taryn, though trying to hide it. But when she breaks up with her boyfriend, all bets are off. Except Taryn uses sex to distract and to cope with her wreck of a family life, which she keeps a secret, while Nick is trying to figure out how to move forward after the death of his wife three years ago. Taryn’s family issues are no joke and stressed me out to no end. I so badly wanted her to ask for help, even while being aware of why she didn’t. But still!!!
Taryn can be spiky and mean as a result of her responsibilities (and codependency with her alcoholic mother). I had no idea how much Nick would be able to take or whether he should or if Taryn could step up to the plate to be there for him. Watching them navigate the ups and downs kept me enrapt. They’re not perfect. Far from it. And yet they make it work. (view spoiler)[I was very relieved that part of their HEA included Taryn’s siblings moving in with them and out of that house. I wish Taryn would have cut her mom off completely and really struggled with the fact that she didn’t, going so far as to not report physical abuse even though she and Nick are both mandatory reporters. (hide spoiler)]
While the setting doesn’t play as big of a role as other rural romances I’ve read, it had that same lived-in weary vibe, while also providing a different lens through their work as EMTs. I want more like this!
Characters: Taryn is a 24 year old white EMT and a redhead. She helps take care of her younger siblings Connor (9), Caitlin (11), and Mikey (6) with the help of her brother Jesse. Nick is a 33 year old white EMT and co-owns a family diner with his sisters. He has a rescue dog named Atlas. This is set in Western Massachusetts.
Content notes: alcoholic mother, past and present alcohol poisoning (view spoiler)[mom stops breathing but EMTs are able to bring her back; she then goes to rehab off-page (hide spoiler)], child physical abuse (one instance: (view spoiler)[FMC’s mother hits Caitlin and Mikey while drunk before she collapsed (hide spoiler)]), professional ethics violation (MMC and FMC opt not to report (view spoiler)[her mother for child abuse and FMC tells her brother to lie about his black eye at school) (hide spoiler)], codependency, substance abuse and drug dealing (FMC’s brother), past death of MMC’s wife (Huntington’s disease), past infidelity (FMC was dating someone when she had sex with MMC one year ago), home arson (everyone’s okay), physical assault, poverty, credit card debt, MMC’s rescue dog was likely abused before he adopted him, descriptions of patient’s accidents and injuries (including domestic violence, cancer, fire), past attack by patient, secondary character’s baby has a heart defect (healthy after surgery), past death of MMC’s parents, past death of FMC’s grandparents, past death of pet dog, on page sex, truck sex, anal play, alcohol, cigarettes (secondary character), STD stigma, casual ableism, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mention of FMC’s father not being involved (left when she was 4)...more
My new favorite Anita Kelly. I savored this contemporary romance, not wanting it to end. It almost feels too personal to review; it made me cry almostMy new favorite Anita Kelly. I savored this contemporary romance, not wanting it to end. It almost feels too personal to review; it made me cry almost every time I picked it up because of the relatability. But it also had so many delightful moments. First and foremost: we don’t get the “dating lessons” trope nearly often enough!
High school basketball coach Julie can’t believe her eyes when her long-time crush-from-afar walks into the gym. Elle is a foster parent for her cousin’s daughter Vanessa who has newly joined the team and a former WNBA player. Julie eventually ropes Elle into becoming her assistant coach. They start spending more time together and when Julie confesses she’s never dated or been sure she wanted to, Elle suggests they give dating lessons a try.
This had such a gentle approach to Julie figuring out her sexuality. She’s on the asexual-spectrum, possibly demisexual but possibly something else. I liked that this leaves things open-ended. Labels can be very helpful to people but they’re not necessary for everyone. What does become clear is that she has feelings for Elle and those feelings are worth exploring. It was lovely to watch play out and to see Elle accept Julie as she is regardless of inexperience and uncertainty. Julie is Julie and she’s enough.
This centers the role and importance of friendship when you’re single. It delves into the ways Julie’s friendships have changed and are changing with Ben moving away and how she’s no one’s first phone call anymore. Or when a loved one doesn’t share important news with you at all and you realize you’re not as important to them as you think. Julie is happy that her loved ones have found partners but she also feels left out. Friendship/found family is even more important when you don’t have a partner and this really gets at the uncertainty of these changes. I felt all of this so deeply.
While I primarily related to Julie, Elle’s storyline also got me because of the depiction of her depression. Mine manifests differently but there are some similarities. Mostly what I loved about it was the way Julie took care of her without Elle even asking, sometimes in spite of Elle’s protests. It was a great example of partnership and coming alongside someone during their darkest hours and loving them through it.
And then there’s the actual romance. Julie and Elle were so dang good together! Elle’s patience, Julie’s curiosity and open-heartedness. They’re great coaches and foster parents (OK Julie isn’t an official foster parent but she’s very involved with Vanessa’s care). And they have fantastic chemistry. Getting to watch Julie experience everything for the first time was such a treat. Also loved the Julie's cat Snoozles, the Nashville setting, as I lived there for five years, and all the secondary characters living out their HEAs. This book is going to have a special place in my heart for a long, long time.
Characters: Julie is a 28 year old white HS basketball coach and Vanderbilt alumni relations administrative assistant. She’s on the asexual spectrum, possibly demisexual, but hasn’t landed on a label. She has a cat named Snoozles. Elle is a 32 year old lesbian white Vanderbilt medical billing clerk and ex-WNBA player. She’s the temporary foster parent for her cousin Karly’s teen daughter Vanessa. This is set in Nashville.
Content notes: depression, Elle is a foster parent for cousin’s teen daughter, cousin in rehab for substance abuse, child neglect (teen secondary character), chronic migraines, Elle’s mom has fibromyalgia, top surgery (secondary character), sick cat and emergency vet visit (recovers), acknowledgment of homophobic and transphobic politics and legislation in TN, gender binary in sports and assumption the players are all girls, suspected infidelity (Elle’s ex-girlfriend), past career-ending injury (ACL), family planning discussion (fostering queer teens someday), Elle isn’t drinking alcohol while she’s a foster parent, past death of grandparents, Elle never knew her father, on page sex, alcohol (epilogue), inebriation (secondary characters), ageist jokes, diet culture, gendered pejoratives, ableist language, mention of former assistant coach being treated for ovarian cancer, mention of past player who dealt with disordered eating
Disclosure: I’m friendly with the author online, who provided this ARC....more
The audiobook is as good as everyone said. Michelle Williams did an amazing job bringing Britney’s words to life. Everyone involved in Britney’s conseThe audiobook is as good as everyone said. Michelle Williams did an amazing job bringing Britney’s words to life. Everyone involved in Britney’s conservatorship, from her family to the judge who appointed her father, is a monster and I hope they get exactly what they deserve. Most importantly: I'm glad Britney is finally free.
*I didn’t track content notes since I listened on the road and most people are familiar with what Britney endured....more
By far the best book of the series but don’t skip the first two books or you’ll miss the pay off. Jules is recovering from an abusive marriage when MaBy far the best book of the series but don’t skip the first two books or you’ll miss the pay off. Jules is recovering from an abusive marriage when Max walks into the gas station where she works and immediately realizes she’s his mate. He has to figure out how to play it cool while getting to know her. They bond over canoeing and hiking and he finds her an arrowhead for her collection…one of the sweetest gifts. They were such nerds together but nerds with great chemistry. The first half of the book was an utter delight.
Then things change. (view spoiler)[Jules is attacked by a vampire and turned. Vampires and wolf kin are enemies. Max should kill her but he can’t bring himself to do it. But he’s not kind to her either in the process, completely breaking her heart and undoing much of the progress she’d made in recent months. Eventually they cross paths again and Max still won’t kill her but he can’t let her go either. (hide spoiler)] This was HEARTBREAKING. I didn’t know what to make of this choice at first but now I see how many possibilities it opens up for the series going forward. Plus, we get an actually great grovel from Max when he realizes just how thoroughly he screwed things up. It was my favorite kind of angst and I cried a ton.
Max and Jules have to move around for safety and go on a road trip to all the national parks she’s always wanted to visit. Initially she’s barely on speaking terms with him but as they continue to travel and see new wonders and as Max realizes everything he knows about (view spoiler)[vampires (hide spoiler)] was wrong, they start to make their way back to each other. And then they realize there are a few perks with this change in condition. Hello, primal play! Gah, so good. I’m excited to see where things go from here and what this means for the paranormal beings of this world.
There was one misstep. Jules and Max cross the Rio Grande into Mexico without any acknowledgment of immigrants/political reality, besides her saying she’s there illegally since she’s (view spoiler)[technically dead and doesn’t have a passport (hide spoiler)]. Jules is politically progressive so it seemed odd not to be more explicit about the double standard for white Americans to cross into Mexico but not for Mexicans to cross into the US.
Characters: Jules is a 30 year old white gas station clerk. Max is mixed race wolf kin. This is set in Saint Roch and Cry Lake, WI, Chicago, and various national parks.
Content notes: complex PTSD, panic attack, physical and emotional abuse, vampire attack (view spoiler)[FMC is turned into a vampire and her family/friends believe her to be dead (hide spoiler)], MMC threatens (view spoiler)[to kill FMC once she turns into a vampire as vampires are the long-presumed enemies of wolf kin. However, he’s not able to follow through, although the threat remains for a while. (hide spoiler)], past emotionally abusive marriage (FMC divorced a year ago; ex-husband was originally her professor and 14 years older), sexual harassment by customer, past bad sex with ex-husband, infertility during marriage (issue was with FMC’s ex-husband’s sperm), murder, torture, body horror, physical assault, captivity, blood-drinking, enslaved thralls, pregnant secondary character, past death of FMC’s grandfather, family planning discussion, unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of pregnancy and/or STI prevention), on page sex, primal play, medical role play, mating bite, alcohol, inebriation, inbreeding joke, casual ableism, gendered pejoratives, ableist language
Impossibly beautiful essay collection by a Chinese Canadian trans poet and writer. I can only aspire to have this level of empathy.
Content notes: rapImpossibly beautiful essay collection by a Chinese Canadian trans poet and writer. I can only aspire to have this level of empathy.
Content notes: rape and sexual violence in sex work, suicide and suicide attempts, intimate partner violence, murder of trans people, child abuse, transmisogyny, homophobic and transphobic slurs, racism, gun violence, police brutality, family estrangement, physical assault, victim-blaming, AIDS epidemic, sex work stigma...more
Academic and dense but very powerful and insightful read. If we as a society understood the detriments of compulsory sexuality and embraced another waAcademic and dense but very powerful and insightful read. If we as a society understood the detriments of compulsory sexuality and embraced another way, the ripple effect would be unreal. Highly recommended.
*The author provides content notes before sections/chapters....more
This second chance romance exceeded all expectations! Hannah and Levi had an all-consuming relationship despite having very different visions for theiThis second chance romance exceeded all expectations! Hannah and Levi had an all-consuming relationship despite having very different visions for their lives. Hannah wanted to stay at Carrigan’s forever, while Levi couldn’t wait to escape. Four years ago, things came to a head and Levi left. Hannah has been recovering ever since. When Levi returns, her life is upended once again while they try to figure out if their connection is enough and what a healthy relationship might actually look like. Plus, their goals haven’t changed: Hannah loves her job at Carrigan’s and wants to stay while Levi does not.
Despite the ways they’ve hurt in each other in the past, Levi and Hannah have an undeniable connection and chemistry. This is likely why Levi stayed at the inn longer than wise. (I was really shocked he stayed until he was 32.) They love each other still but they’ve been locked into unhealthy pattern from when they were younger. Mainly, an inability to communicate because they think the other person should already know. So that’s the focus: figuring out if there’s a compromise and what that might be. Levi has to atone for his past selfishness and show that he’s changed, as well as figure out his career as a chef and reconnect with the family and friends he left behind. Hannah has to understand that Carrigan’s doesn’t hold the same meaning for him and in fact might stifle him, while she continues to go to therapy and work on her anxiety and agoraphobia.
One of the linchpins is Levi sharing a different perspective on Cass. Cass may have welcomed everyone with open arms but that welcome was not extended to Levi, despite him growing up on the property. He never shared that pain, knowing what Cass meant to Hannah and his parents. This answered the questions I had about her from the last book, though her mistreatment of Levi wasn’t exactly what I had imagined. I really appreciated this layer of grief. It’s so easy to idealize a loved one after they’re gone and forget that they were a flawed human being. Levi deserved so much better than a manipulative inheritance and napkin note after Cass died. He still has to make peace with that relationship and everyone else around him has to be open to seeing Cass in a new, more tarnished light.
Hannah was an administrative badass and I was filled with admiration for her, as well as empathy as a fellow agoraphobe. I would have liked more details about how she’s working through that and what the game plan is in therapy but that’s just out of idle curiosity. Levi was my actual favorite, moody feral cat that he is. I very much related to having all the feelings, although I’m not feral like him. It was so interesting to compare the few flashbacks we get of Levi growing up and see how he’s grown and changed since then. He and Hannah are not the same people they were four years ago and that was beautiful to see.
There were so many other things I loved about this: Kringle the cat, the fact that (view spoiler)[they've been secretly married all this time! (hide spoiler)], celebrating Passover, the food descriptions, a transformational haircut (this gave me Felicity vibes), vibrant queer community, counseling with Rabbi Ruth, and (view spoiler)[Levi’s grand gesture via power point! (hide spoiler)]. Plus we get enticing updates from Cole and Tara. I cannot wait for their respective books.
I also appreciated how Levi’s demisexuality figured in. He felt different than other people in town growing up but he didn’t figure out the word for it until he went away and more things clicked into place. He’s only ever been sexually attracted to Hannah and that was only after years of friendship, which could be a lot of pressure for her but he’s great at not positioning it that way. There’s some education of secondary characters about what demisexuality means but everyone is accepting. A few reviewers have dinged this for being closed door and I would like to challenge them to be mindful of their wording. It’s completely fine to prefer open door and/or high heat books but on page sex scenes are not a requirement of romance. Any claims along those lines can quickly become acephobic, which suggests those readers did not pay attention to what Levi shared. Perhaps one day Greer will write an open door book but I personally find it refreshing how horny her characters are in these closed door books. They have more chemistry than some of the erotic romances I’ve read recently. That is a sign of great skill.
Characters: Hannah is a 35 year old fat white Jewish inn co-owner and manager. Levi “Blue” is a 36 year old demisexual pansexual white Jewish reality show chef and inn co-owner who wears glasses. They’ve been estranged for four years. Kringle the cat is a Norwegian Forest tortoiseshell who lives at the inn. This is set at Carrigan’s Year Round in Advent, NY.
Content notes: anxiety, agoraphobia, (view spoiler)[marital (hide spoiler)] estrangement, past death of great-aunt, past homophobia and recounted slur, past parental rejection for being gay (secondary character), past unstable childhood, past emotionally abusive father (secondary character), sober secondary character, secondary character who uses a cane, off page sex, alcohol, inebriation, gendered pejorative...more
Nik was so immediately gone for Aria and I ate it up with a spoon. He was such a sweetheart! Transforming a playboy without even knowing it has to be Nik was so immediately gone for Aria and I ate it up with a spoon. He was such a sweetheart! Transforming a playboy without even knowing it has to be the ultimate fantasy. One of my favorite dynamics is when a sunshine character looks at the grumpy one and can only see how sweet and soft they are, completely dismissing their surly demeanor. And this happened immediately with Nik and Aria! Aria was no slouch either—she believed in Nik and could see through to the heart of him (even while completely missing that he was in love with her.) Their respective insecurities made sense, especially when they came to a head, and it made the HEA that much more satisfying. I loved this so much.
Also: Nik's group of friends were wonderful. Great casual queer rep and lots of history between them all.
Characters: Nik is a bisexual white Greek retired football star. Aria is a 27 year old fat Black British tattoo artist with lip and nose piercings. This is set in Greece, Spain, and England.
Content notes: biphobia (countered), past abduction and attempted murder of FMC’s best friend by FMC’s boyfriend (he was stalking her and used FMC to get closer), past career-ending knee injury, stick-and-poke tattoo, past divorce (FMC), past verbal abuse and fatshaming by FMC’s ex-husband, past death of MMC’s father, on page sex, orgasm control, masturbation, sex toys, alcohol, inebriation, excessive drinking, hangover, cigarettes, mentions of recreational drugs (secondary characters), diet culture, small penis joke, gendered pejoratives, ableist language...more
A fantastic marriage-in-trouble Thanksgiving romance novella. Margie and Mitch’s marriage has deteriorated over the course of their 20 years together A fantastic marriage-in-trouble Thanksgiving romance novella. Margie and Mitch’s marriage has deteriorated over the course of their 20 years together but now they’re at the point of no return. When all their guests back out of Thanksgiving dinner last minute, Mitch seizes the opportunity to get his wife to talk.
With flashbacks to when they first met and how things slowly went awry, we see the mistakes and misunderstandings in clear light. While it’s true that Margie wasn’t a perfect wife despite the image she presents to the world as the leader of the astronaut wives, the lion’s share of the blame is on Mitch due to his career and other choices he made. Marriage is also a choice and I really enjoyed seeing them finally be honest with each other and make the choice to still be together. It’s not an easy, straightforward process but it makes for an earned and very satisfying HEA.
Characters: Margie is a white astronaut’s wife who leads all the other astronaut wives. Mitch is a white astronaut and Army Air Force vet. They’re in their 40s and have been married 20 years. They have six children: Tom (18), Hazel, Annie (14), Ricky, and twins Sherry and unnamed. This is set in 1965 Houston, TX with flashbacks to 1945 George Army Airfield in Illinois, 1946 Muroc Air Force Base in California, 1951 Neelis Air Force Base in Nevada, 1955 Vanderberg Air Force Base in Florida, and 1961 Cape Canaveral, FL.
Content notes: infidelity (MMC kisses another woman with the intent of having sex but can’t go through with it; when he tells FMC years later, she doesn’t view it as breaking their vows because he didn’t have sex), rocket explosion, past military funerals, past deployments and war, ageism, sexism, pregnancy announcement, pregnant secondary character, past death of FMC’s parents, on page sex, alcohol, inebriation, hangover, cigarettes, gendered pejorative, gender essentialism, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide...more
I savor every installment of this series. The character arcs are outstanding! The specter of cancer has shadowed Hugh since his mother and and grandpaI savor every installment of this series. The character arcs are outstanding! The specter of cancer has shadowed Hugh since his mother and and grandparents died well over a decade ago. When his doctor doesn’t like the look of a mole, it’s no surprise where his thoughts go. This was far too relatable for me: cancer is riddled all over my family medical history. I’ve had to have a couple of moles removed and return for a diagnostic mammogram—all benign, thankfully. The wait before an appointment or lab results can be interminable.
It can make you shut down, like Hugh. No matter how often he tells himself it will probably be okay, there's what question of what if it's not. My heart went out to him as he tried to grapple with his fears and fruitlessly protect Truman and Will. I loved how Truman and Will ultimately forced Hugh to deal with it, in the way only they can. And that strengthens each’s understanding of what they contribute to their triad. It was so beautiful to see. (I also loved Eddie and Nick giving giving Will sub advice!)
I only have one book left before this series ends and I’m not ready for it. Yes, there are spinoff books and series, as well as some short stories I need to go back and read. But it won’t be the same as watching Will, Hugh, and Truman’s relationship evolve and grow. Truly masterful work.
Characters: Will is a 28 year old white submissive who works at a radio station and says he’s “not straight”. Hugh is a 36 year old gay white therapist, switch, and former escort who wears glasses. Truman is a 39 year old gay white therapist. Hugh and Truman are married and have been together six years. Will and Hugh have known each other 8 years. Hugh and Truman are polyamorous; Will is polyamorous and in a relationship with Molly. This is set in Oakland, CA.
Content notes: mole biopsy and concern of cancer (view spoiler)[it’s not cancerous (hide spoiler)], past death of Hugh’s mom and grandparents (cancer), history of depression, homophobic slur (in-group use), body insecurity, unsafe sex practices (Truman has unprotected sex with Will that is not pre-negotiated but they talk it through afterward and Will is okay. They all get tested regularly.), on page sex, D/s, sadism, Daddy play, CNC, somnophilia, degradation play, shaving, impact play, pain play, sensory play (nipple clamps, gag), menage, phone sex, sex toys, top drop, alcohol, gendered pejoratives, ableist language...more
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