jennireadsmaybe's reviews
651 reviews

Miles Apart by Tanvier Peart

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emotional funny lighthearted 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
Miles Apart cemented Tanvier Peart as an auto-buy author for me. It was the perfect amount of humor, sexiness, and mystery!!! I've savored every bit of this series so far, from the ski resort singles retreat to the characters just lounging at home. There's a bit more family drama in this one due to Emma's less than ideal parents. I have such a soft spot for Emma and her mommy issues; she's probably my favorite character in the whole Chance at Love series. I also really liked getting to know a bit more about mysterious Miles and what exactly he does for work. 

I never thought I wanted to be called kitten until it came off of Miles tongue 🥵 Tanvier Peart is truly a master at writing descriptive and hot steamy scenes. Honestly, Emma and Miles have such insane chemistry that every scene between them was brimming with all the feels. I loved that they both weren't looking to settle down and enjoyed hooking up; it made it that much more powerful when they started catching feelings. Anyways, I love them with my whole heart!!! 

Read this if you like catching feelings for the person you least expected, fake dating, the not sharing a bed rule in romance, MMCs who beef up the security in their love interest homes, and friendships that last a life time. 
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Lucy Undying by Kiersten White

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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
Kiersten White heard the call for more sapphic vampires and said stand aside losers because I'm going to write the best sapphic reimagining of Dracula about Lucy Westerna y'all have ever seen. I would die for this book. I want everyone to read it. The gothic, romantic, brutally bloody, dark fantasy setting swept me up in the story immediately. Multiple POVs, past/present timeline, and a bit of epistolary/journal storytelling... everything about Lucy Undying worked so well for me. 

Vampires + a MLM scheme straight from the streets of Utah + a sapphic romance + a mysterious set of journals, the plot was so intriguing. I adored the romance between Lucy and Iris and nearly died when they were apart. I would honestly read a million more books about their journey to take down Dracula once and for all. Honestly, I loved everything about this!!! 

Read this if you like vampires, gothic romance, sapphic romance, falling in love in two timelines, destroying abusive and powerful men, learning who you really are, and stepping out of your parents toxic expectations.
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Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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
Queer and trans kids in a dystopian world fighting an oppressive religious fundamentalist group dead set on bringing about the end of times. I loved this dark, gritty story of a trans teenage boy (err biblically accurate bioweapon) questioning his faith and where he belongs in the world while simultaneously working to overthrow the extremely evil people who was raised by. At times he's so alone in this cruel world that I found myself so deeply emotionally traumatized for him.

Like most queer stories Hell Followed with Us has a strong found family element. I loved the ragtag group of kids from the Acheson LGBTQ+ Center; they lean on each other and fight so hard for each other in their dystopian society. Benji finally gets to be in a place where his transness isn't "wrong" and it's a heartwarming bit of love in an otherwise hateful world. Every bit of representation in this is so powerful. Andrew Joseph White is a powerhouse when it comes to terrifyingly realistic dystopian setting, and I will definitely be reading more of his works in the coming future

Read this if you like biblically accurate weapons of mass destruction, dark and gritty dystopians, found family, queer, trans, and neurodivergent representation, and taking a stand against fundamentalist sects. 

An animated adaption is in the works, and I’m seated. The theater employees are scared and asking me to leave because it’s ‘not adapted yet’ but I’m simply too seated 💀
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From the Start by Katie Duggan

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emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes
Within the first five pages, I knew I was going to love From the Start. Nic and Josh have a tension filled chance encounter on the journey home from their small town. They couldn't stand each other as kids and they certainly don't want anything to do with the other as adults. Katie Duggan's writing is at once hilariously heartfelt and an honest portrayal of being neurodivergent, fat, and queer in a world that doesn't support non-cishet identities. I'm so glad this book exists!!! If you love Chloe Liese, Katie Duggan is the author for you!!! 

I'm melting 🥵 Nic and Josh are by far my favorite spicy lessons couple of all time. I was putty in the palm of their hands. The fact that they really didn't like each other in the beginning made it so fun/ridiculous that he was the person Nic chose to teach her. Every moment small and large was important to their developing relationship and I was bewitched body and mind by these two. Honestly, writing this review makes me want to reread it already!! Two adults learning to communicate their wants and needs in a relationship while also learning to trust and rely on the person they choose to be with, I'm freaking obsessed with them. 

Read this if you like childhood hate to adulthood love, neurodivergent, fat, and queer representation, spicy lessons, realistically learning how to communicate with your partner, large family shenanigans, and supporting indie authors.
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Karaoke Queen by Dominic Lim

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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
Rex's joyful and pain-filled history makes you desperate to root for him and Regina Moon Dee in his present day hidden identity romance. He just wants his one-that-got-away ex to fall back in love with him, and if that means hiding his formerly internet famous drag queen persona and saving the gay karaoke bar Aaron works at he's going to do whatever it takes. I was bewitched by the hidden identity antics and the past/present storylines that let us get to know Rex and his family. 

Of course there is a romance element between Rex and the KJ Paolo that I absolutely adored!! Paolo sees Rex for he is and love him for it. I want 1 million more drag queen romances. Paolo is willing to do anything Rex needs and it's so refreshing to see a book that's a love letter to drag culture. Obviously, I had such a fun and emotional time reading Karaoke Queen. I will be checking out Dominic Lim's previous work. 

Read this if you like falling in love with who you are, a community of people coming together to save important parts of queer history, drag queens, and someone who wants to see every part of you inside and out. 
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The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

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emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes
If you have anything bad to say about Yamilet, then you'll have me to contend with; I would kill for her. She goes through so much in her story that I just want to wrap her in a hug and protect her from the world. Sonora Reyes captured Arizona heat and catholic school religious bigotry so well. I loved Yami's friend group and her familial relationship particularly because they felt so real to the teenage experience (LET TEENS BE TEENS!!!). I'm definitely going to read more from Sonora Reyes. 

So much was packed into 389 pages/9 and a half hours, but it never felt like the book dragged on to me. The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School covers queer identity, immigration/deportation, mental health, coming out, being gay in a religious heavy environment, and so much more. Reyes handles everything with care. There's a bit of romance sprinkled in between Yami and Bo that I adored. I'm so glad this exists and that BIPOC queer girls will be able to see themselves in the pages of it. 

Read this if you like contemporary YA stories with a dash of romance, messy teenagers existing in an even messier world, unpacking religious trauma, and hot summer days. 
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You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

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emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes
Akwaeke Emezi packs a heartbreaking punch with Feyi's tale of grief and its everlasting effect on our lives. You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty is my favorite of the two Emezi works I've read. The forbidden romance plot mixed with Feyi's character really sucked me in. The writing is so easy to want to keep reading. It definitely had the typical messy charm I've come to associate with their storytelling as well as a lush setting description. 

I think the best part of Feyi and Alim's romance is that they've both experience the unique grief of losing a partner that you'd thought you'd grow old with. It makes their romance that much more believable because they understand each other's loss. I generally didn't like the third act drama from Alim's grown-ass kids, but I understood why it happened. I would've liked to see just a little bit more at the end, but it was still very good. 

Read this if you like forbidden/friends dad romance, being insanely attracted to someone you shouldn't, delicious and delectable foods, and art that packs a punch.
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Hers for the Weekend by Helena Greer

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense 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? Yes
Helena Greer will be receiving my therapy bill after reading this. How is it that every single character in this series managed to call me out; I didn't know how traumatized I really was before until I read Carrigan's Christmasland. Anyways, Greer is a masterclass in character work; Tara and Holly are such flawed, realistic, whole characters you want the best for both of them. I'm going to wish the magical Carrigan's setting is real for the rest of my life. 

I love a roadtrip romance because you're stuck in an enclosed space until you get to your destination; you can't escape the person you're with. Throw in fake dating and getting to truly know the person you've been wildly attracted from day one and shiiiiiit I was eating out of the palm of Tara and Holly's romance. I love that they are each so wildly different in their wants at the beginning. I got to see just how much they grew in themselves by the end. I just love them!!! 

Read this if you like fake dating, roadtrips, opposites attract, realistic third act breakups, learning your worth, and the cute barista at your favorite local coffee shop. 
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Talk Wordy To Me by Kaylin Evans, Frankie Love

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Did I read this just because it had a fat librarian FMC? Yes. It was a quick lesson and downright hilarious at that. My one complaint... his name is Chuck. I just can't picture anyone moaning that name!?!?! Overall, it was okay. We'll see if I continue with the series. 
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Outfield Assist by Cat Giraldo

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes
As with the previous book in the Dominating the Diamond series, I absolutely 100% adored Outfield Assist!!! It takes a step back from in season baseball games and follows Kitt as he trains in during the off season with Jules (the new bubbly coach) and Gideon (the traumatized former olympic swimmer). I loved all three of them so dearly. They all had their own character arcs and the story never felt bogged down by having three. I would die for all of them!! Kitt is the first biromantic character I've ever read; all the representation is handled with so much care. 

I will never see weightlifting the same after this 🥵 Cat Giraldo writes some of the hottest smut I've ever read and really captures the emotional high during the act so well. Jules, Gideon, and Kitt are probably my favorite triad. Each of their relationships had time to develop on its own while also fitting into the triad's relationship so well. The dynamics just worked so well that I needed them to get together more than air. Gah, I just freaking loved them!!!! 

Read this if you like sports romance, queer polyamorous romance, dom/sub dynamics and kink explorations, and learning to fall back in love with sports. 
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