brookeisbusyreading's reviews
340 reviews

I didn’t have high hopes for this book just because I tend to not enjoy the popular poetry, but I was surprised. There’s quite a few poems and even some concepts or imagery that I liked. Overall though, it didn’t blow me away at all. I did sense the emotions from the author, which is good that it came across, but it how the poems were written that missed rhe mark for me.

I was also a bit confused if this book was chronological or just a collection with a theme. There were parts that felt like both. And for a book that focused on a few different relationships, it could be jarring which one the author was talking about. I did relate to some of the issues between Lovelace and her mother. But the book had a love story too? There was just A LOT packed into this book and I felt like things jumped around.

All around not a BAD book. Not one I’ll probably remember though.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I would handle the space aspect of this story with the terminology and whatnot. But Mr. Stamper did a fantastic job making everything easy to understand while not overloading the story with it! Cal Jr.’s journalism angle was a great way of presenting it all too. And the use of social media adds that touch of realism, which was satisfying.

The drama was interesting! Especially the accident, which I won’t go into for the sake of spoiling anything. That really got me! But, as I kept reading, it was one of those things that felt necessary to put the characters where they needed to be. It was just a moment I noticed from a writing perspective (because I’m also a writer). It didn’t feel forced and really ramped up the chaos that was happening.

Cal and Leon’s relationship was very nice, though I did kind of want more scenes with them….which could be the gay romance freak in me. The feelings that came through Leon from Cal’s perspective made me so happy! Stamper nailed that element! However, there was one aspect I’m conflicted on, hence the 4.5 stars. That would be how depression was shown. I’m one of the MANY people who have depression and I can’t decide if I like/agree with how Stamper presented Leon’s depression. On one hand, everyone deals with it differently and, on the other, I would’ve reacted another way. Maybe the thing that makes me conflicted is how Leon seemed like he had one foot off the edge through the whole story, save for the better moments? I kept waiting for him to snap since he felt that way to me. It put me on edge.

And, now that I acknowledged that, I’m wondering if it was intentional? If it was, success! If it wasn’t, it was still a success for me because it sometimes served as a distraction from the real rollercoaster. Then bang! Hits us with a good bomb drop!

The Gravity of Us is an absolutely wonderful story and I can’t wait to read more of Stamper’s work!

I am obsessed with the way Jason June described Sean’s chubbiness! I’ve always loved Sean’s size in a guy because it make hugs more comfortable! Sean is also a sweetheart, hopeless romantic, and aspiring filmmaker whose ideas sound like something I’d watch. While I’m giving this book 5 stars, I do kind of wish we’d explored more of Sean’s personality and likes or dislikes. His empathy makes me very relatable, which makes me think there’s so many layers to him we didn’t get to see. Oh, and did I mention I’m obsessed with the way Jason June described his chubbiness? Because I can’t express how much I love it!

I have a lot to say about Crest too. Beautiful name, by the way! I wouldn’t call them selfish at the beginning of the story, maybe narrow-minded and self-absorbed. Naturally, Big Bear Sean swoops in with his thick thighs and brings Crest out of their shell. Their relationship feels smooth and, like their hand holding, just right. Crest’s outfits were iconic too! Love the non-gendered approach to this character and exploration of gendered attire! Between them and Sean, we definitely more details on Crest’s world and environment in the Blue. It makes sense with the human world being what we experience daily. Crest’s - no, I won’t call him Ross - fascination with new human things was adorable. And made even cuter through Sean’s perspective and project! I kind of want to see the film Sean made of them!

References to romance movies were enjoyable, though I don’t watch too many romances so I didn’t get some of them. Kavya’s part toward the end threw me! I get why she did it but come on, girl! The mer terminology, descriptions of their lifestyle, and how scaling works was beautiful! June’s writing style had me in a chokehold in Jay’s Gay Agenda and it wasn’t just a fluke. I need more! More stories, more chubby rep!

Lastly, we’ve got to talk about that ending… Yes, but also why’d you have to do my heart like that? It’s so satisfying, even if it wasn’t what I was expecting. Yeah, this is a wonderful book with some important lessons. So proud to put it on my shelf next to JGA!

From re-reading Boyfriend Material in preparation for this, and being genuinely excited for this, I can’t help but be massively disappointed. Frustrated too. Like, what happened?? BM was great! This left me rolling my eyes, waving my hand in that ‘get to the point’ motion, and groaning as Luc tried to blow every relationship he’d built over the past 2 years.

Criticisms:
- Why did Jon Fleming have to appear again? It seemed like Luc got his closure in BM and didn’t even need him at all in HM. What was the point?

- How many times, especially between Alex and Rhys, are we going to have them go back and forth about things that literally have no relevance to the story? It was so annoying!

- Going on a tangent during one or two emergencies is fine BUT DID IT HAVE TO HAPPEN EVERY TIME?? An emergency would happen, the pacing would go from zero to rocket launch, then almost grind to a halt because the characters decided to have a conversation about some random remark (often sarcastic) one of them made.

- Where did the relationship between Luc and Oliver go? BM felt so much more balanced. It just seemed like Oliver became a background character in his own relationship with Luc.

- THERE WAS NO NEED FOR A DRAWN OUT LUC-LIKE SPEECH FROM OLIVER AT HIS FATHER’S FUNERAL! A whole chapter - rant, sorry - that was all over the place and just kept talking about how crappy Mr. Blackwood was? I get the need for Oliver to have closure but why like this? It didn’t have to be so long. Public, yes. It just…wouldn’t stop.

- The rainbow balloon arch thing was annoying too. Joke about it, sure. Have an argument about it, okay. I know it was just a symbol but the reasoning behind those conversations/arguments just made me kind of view Luc as a shitty person.

- The level of ridiculousness and chaos were way too high for me. It felt more like HM was an over the top joke, or at least one I didn’t get.

Basically, I’m just MASSIVELY disappointed and frustrated with the choices Hall made with this book. I’m just going to pretend BM is the only book to make myself feel better. Also, I have Paris Dallencourt is About to Crumble on my TBR and I want to read 10 Things That Never Happened but this experience has me a bit nervous to read them…

First, I want to say that anyone can write whatever story they like. I’m not judging the author for writing the things they did. HOWEVER, this book had ZERO mention of adult themes/scenes or trigger warning for mature content. It didn’t have to go further than that, but there should have been mention of it somewhere between the blurb, Amazon/Goodreads page, or even in the ranking/keyword section - SOMETHING. I know it’s up to the author (or publisher) whether to include warnings but, since the scenes were so…explicit, there should’ve been something in my opinion because…

I feel like this book was basically vampire porn with a decent plot.

It was definitely the plot that kept me interested. I wasn’t a fan of the sex stuff. Yet I thought the plot was stuffed beneath the whole bonding thing. Nino and Haruka had a nice relationship outside of all the primal ‘I need to bond with you but I’m scared’ part.

And then there were the things I disliked:
- The use of present tense. It just didn’t work for me.
- The lack of explanations for why things were the way they were, what the rules of the world were, and character motivations (minor characters mostly).
- What was the deal with Giovanni and Cellina’s relationship? I thought it might’ve been they secretly loved each other but were being stubborn…and then it seemed like Lina just hated him?
- HOW MANY TIMES CAN ONE AUTHOR USE THE WORDS ‘HONEY/HONEYED’, ‘ALMOND’, ‘BEAUTIFUL’, ‘HANDSOME’, AND ‘FRIEND’ IN A NOVEL THAT ISN’T EVEN 300 PAGES???

I can’t tell you how annoyed I got with the last one by the time I reached the end. Don’t even get me started on the sex terminology. And there were like FOUR sex scenes by the way! I’m not bashing the author, I just don’t understand WHY.

So yeah, not continuing the series. It’s a shame too because the cover(s) are GORGEOUS and the plot was pretty interesting.

[3.5]

This book has a wonderful aesthetic and I like Samantha’s style. I don’t normally highlight things but I couldn’t help myself. There were tons of poems and lines that were so pleasing to read - you know, when it just makes you want to sigh contently.

That said, my biggest issue with the book are the repetition of words, frequent alliteration (not entirely bad, just used A LOT), and occasional awkward or kinda-forced rhymes. I still finished the book and it’s good! It could’ve been shorter though, which would’ve made it more powerful in my opinion.

I wasn’t expecting all the rhyming. I try to be extra careful reading books with rhyming poems because I don’t really care for them too much. This book was okay on that front, though I did feel like some of the rhymes were forced. It was a nice little short book though.

[Side note: There were two pages of repeated poems so I’m not sure what happened there but if the author sees this review, maybe they can be aware and change it.]

I absolutely devoured this book! Spencer was such a loveable character from the start, but I wasn’t expecting to also love his little brother, Theo. Their relationship was so damn adorable! Macintosh was another pleasant, yet welcome, surprise. I had so much sympathy and hope for Justice to get out of his toxic environment too. I didn’t really have any issues with the characters.

I think this story focused on the balance between Spencer’s transgender rights and his (deserved) right to play soccer on the guy’s team. The Passing Playbook reminds me of those inspirational sports movies, which I love! And if no one has told Mr. Fitzsimons that he’s written an amazing book, allow me to say it: MR. FITZSIMONS, I LOVE YOUR BOOK!

Another example of why I love enemies/rivals to lovers! Theo and Gabi are incredibly relatable with their internal and external struggles. I love how smoothly they fall for each other! Theo’s rugged perspective and Gabi’s innocent one pair so nicely too. The story did get a bit chaotic, but it just works with the characters and their messy views of themselves/the world.

That ending though has me wanting more! I want to know what happens next - how Theo and Gabi’s lives, as well as their families, changes with ‘new developments’! Café con Lychee, which is a delicious name (pun absolutely intended), is one of those books that has potential for expansion. I don’t know if that was the author’s intention but either way, I loved this book!

[It has also, unsurprisingly, made me hungry for something sweet.]