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kharlan3's reviews
173 reviews
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Outing, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Minor: Excrement and Vomit
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Abandonment
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
oh my GOD I loved this book. Theo and Kit were childhood best friends until they discovered they both wanted to be more. Then, 4 years ago, on the way to a European food and wine tour, they broke up. Now they realize they've both joined the same tour again. The only solution? To have a who-can-have-sex-with-the-most-people competition. Definitely not because of all the sexual tension between them, nope. This book was a delight. The visual descriptions and the food descriptions were lush and the pining was gloriously intense. Like Red, White & Royal Blue, this book is an ideal, optimistic world, but this book is more mature at the same time. Incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Bullying
Triple Sec by TJ Alexander
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this book! Mel, a fancy bartender, is entranced by the woman flirting with her at the bar (Bebe), only to find out that Bebe is married to equally, but very differently, alluring Kade. I think it's really hard to write a triad romance because there are 4 relationships that need to be fleshed out (one between each of the 3, and then another for the unit as a whole). I felt I wanted a little more time with Kade and between Kade and Bebe, but overall this is a very fun read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality by Julia Shaw
informative
medium-paced
Julia Shaw, researcher, has written a compelling, fascinating, and thoroughly fact-based book about bisexuality and bisexuals. The book is written clearly, and was interesting enough to keep me reading. I finished it in two days.
Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti
4.25
In Ne’er Duke Well, the Duke of Stanhope, trying to gain custody of his father’s “natural” children, enlists the help of Lady Selina, who decides the solution is to find him a wife. She, of course, could not be the wife, for important secret library reasons. Selina and Peter are excellent, and I really enjoyed the plot and the secondary characters, especially the possible wives and the children. Vasti is a must-read author for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This is my honest opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This is my honest opinion.
Second Night Stand by Fay Stetz-Waters, Karelia Stetz-Waters
medium-paced
3.75
Second Night Stand is a romance set during a team dance competition between Izzy, aka Blue, the curvy leader of a queer burlesque troupe hoping to save their theater, and Lillian, a Black ballerina fighting to keep her dance company funded. After a one night stand, they meet again, and have to decide if they’re willing to break their self-imposed rules against second night stands. This book was cute, and I loved the diverse experiences about and perspectives on dance. I particularly liked Lillian’s history and conflict with her family, but the end felt too cleanly wrapped up and I wish I’d connected more with the secondary cast. I’d recommend this book for lovers of dance and sapphic romance.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This is my honest opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This is my honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Racism
Tempted by the Bollywood Star by Sophia Singh Sasson
1.0
I had high hopes for Tempted by the Bollywood star and tragically, I was disappointed. I hoped, based on the cover, that both main characters were South Asian, but actually, one lead is a white American TV producer and the other is an Indian actress trying to make her name in America. The main conflict revolves around the white main character's disappointment that the Indian main character won't come out publicly, despite her extremely real fears that it will ruin her career and endanger her and her family. I'm glad there's a South Asian main character and authored sapphic romance, because it's a sub-genre I've sought out before and found little to nothing. I'd probably try one more sapphic romance by this author, but this book didn't live up to my hopes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Racism
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Top misc (litfic) of 2023
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent