queerafictionado's reviews
353 reviews

 I LOVE me a good forbidden romance story and Emily Wright did not disappoint with this one! This story had all the things I love about this trope - tension, pining, spice, and of course…drama! I knew I was going to love this story from the start and I’m so glad Emily started by giving us a glimpse into their teen years - the (at least as Jess thought at the time) unrequited crush, the prom night disaster and Rebecca showing up in her swoon worthy burgundy suit to save the day, and the almost moment that never came… It reminded me of the Ross/Rachel prom story from Friends - but sapphic and happy because they actually went and therefore even better! 

I adored Jess and love the way Emily presented her struggles with anxiety. And the way Rebecca responds when Jess is feeling anxious is incredibly endearing. Jess was a big sweetheart who worked hard and always showed up for the people that mattered to her - like when her bff Lily gets engaged and wants Jess to be her wedding planner and becomes a bridezilla. The downside to being a people pleaser though (and I should know) is that you far too often set aside your own needs and wants for the sake of other people - like denying your attraction to someone for years.

And well…let’s just say I can understand why Jess harbored a crush on her best friend’s sister all those years - Rebecca Lawson is extremely crush worthy! 😍 She has that confident swagger, is effortlessly cool, and nearly everything that comes out of her mouth is flirty or sassy or combination of the two. I mean…the woman turned counting sheep into a sexual innuendo! 🫠 I fucking LOVE her!! And while the story was only told from Jess’s POV I liked that we got to see behind that calm, cool exterior to the internal struggles Rebecca dealt with - especially in regard to not feeling good enough. She had layers that added complexity and depth to her character beyond her heartthrob exterior. 

So when Jess is forced to work with her forbidden HS crush in planning her best friend’s wedding - it gets hard to squelch the horny teenager inside that is still clearly head over heels for the last person she should be starting something with - Lily’s sister. After chaos erupts at a wedding venue visit leading to a very charged moment in a supply closet - the pull becomes impossible to ignore. And oh boy! Do these two have chemistry! 🥵The dressing room…the car….the str🍆p scene…SO FREAKING GOOD!

You can tell from the very beginning that these two have something special between them. It crackles in the air every time they are in the same vicinity. Their connection was so strong I could feel it leap off the page and into my own heart. They just simply belong together. Plus this story has an adorable little sausage dog that will steal your heart! I highly recommend it! 

I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Bi FMC with Anxiety, Lesbian LI, black queer SC

📝Tropes/Themes: Sapphic Romance, Forbidden Love, Best Friend’s Sister, Spice, Str@p Scene, Wedding Drama, Cute Sausage Dog

WHY?! Why am I just now discovering the captivating experience of an Erin Zak book? WHY? This is only my second novel of Erin’s and I am completely enamored with both her writing style and the beautifully broken and raw characters that she writes. When Worlds Collide pulled me in from page one and if stupid life hadn’t gotten in the way I probably would have finished this in a day. But in some ways I’m glad I didn’t because I got to enjoy the experience longer.

This story was a beautiful combination of celebrity romance, forbidden love, and instant attraction that immerses you into the world of live theater, screenwriting, and movie making - allowing you enough of a peek behind the curtain to experience life through the lens of the main characters. 

I am not a big insta love fan. It is one of my least favorite tropes. The connection can so often feel forced and inauthentic and I have a hard time buying into it. But the way Erin writes these stories - I fall in love with these characters as quickly as they fall for each other. 

Heather and Grace stole my heart from the start! Both as individuals and as a couple. I saw so much of myself in each of these two women. The insecurities and imposter syndrome. The fears and anxiety. I absolutely adore them both. They were real and authentic and utterly relatable. They are both beautifully imperfect people who struggle with focusing too much on their flaws and imperfections - the “bad parts” they don’t feel anyone should want or love. And UGH! There were so many statements and questions that I could have been making myself throughout this book. 

I live with insecurity and low self-esteem every day. I know the pain that comes from always wondering what is wrong with me, if I’ll ever be enough, if anyone could ever love all the bruised, broken, and ugly parts of me. And I felt so seen and understood reading this book…like Erin somehow pulled the thoughts right out of my head and put them on the page. And as Heather and Grace began to heal, I felt their story and words healing me a little bit too. 

And add to all that the undeniable chemistry between these two, the pining and longing (Act 2 killed me in all the best ways), and the heat between the sheets - this story had it all! I loved the growing sexual tension between them…and that first kiss was everything I wanted it to be and more. And once they finally open that door…🎇🥵

I also loved reading a book with an MC that has been divorced more than once. It’s not something you see a lot of in books and as someone who has been there…it was nice to see that representation. And to see her find love again. The kind of love that heals parts of you you didn’t even realize were broken. A love that helps you finally realize you are enough.

I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian & Bi FMCs, queer SCs, Anxiety rep

📝Tropes/Themes: Sapphic Romance Author, Actress/Broadway Star, Forbidden Love, Instant Attraction, Celebrity Romance, Age Gap, 40+ MCs, Cute Dogs, Spice, Divorced MC, Dual POV

OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS BOOK! Anita Kelly does it again! I don’t even know where to begin. I absolutely adored Julie Parker and Elle Cochrane - their chemistry was palpable and oozed off the page. The way Elle just completely understood Julie. Like she could see the thoughts swirling in her head and respond without them needing to be named. Her patience and reassurance and understanding and total respect of Julie and her journey of self discovery even while she grappled with her own inner battles. The way Julie slowly began to let Elle into her life and heart, allowing herself to be vulnerable. And how she showed up for Elle over and over - no questions asked, no judgment, no pushing. The way their energies always seemed to shift in a positive way whenever they were together. The story was emotional and powerful, but also fun and playful. And I adored every moment, every word, every single part of it!

Their journey wasn’t without hiccups and bumps. But that’s to be expected when you have characters like Julie and Elle. And while there were definitely moments where some communication could have helped, it wasn’t done in the typical way miscommunication tropes are often written. It felt true to who these characters were and their journeys - necessary moments for their growth in the story. It felt real and authentic and honest. Elle’s and Julie’s souls are laid bare on the pages of this book. 

I loved witnessing each of their individual journeys. Julie’s exploration of her sexual identity and trying to figure out who she was. Her worries about needing to find the right label and struggling to make sense of the things she felt and didn’t feel and what it all meant. And to discern what the parts of this journey were that truly mattered. Elle’s struggle with migraines and depression, and suddenly finding herself caring for her teenage niece. Reconnecting with basketball after years of removing herself from the world that once defined her. Trying to figure out where she wanted to go in life that wasn’t just running from something else, that was more about passion and fulfillment than mere stability. Both of them beginning to discover the difference between simply existing…and actually living.

Anita also handled some big subjects with extreme care  - like depression, the impact of addiction on families, and the inclusion of trans/non-binary folx in sports. These themes were woven throughout the book in big and small ways that helped bring light to these topics without sensationalizing or trivializing them, adding to the overall story in meaningful ways.

GAH! I just freaking loved this book! So much. I’m rambling now though. So I’ll leave it there. But I highly recommend this book! The first book in the series (Love & Other Disasters) is Julie’s twin sibling London’s story and it was equally amazing! Now I need to go read Ben’s story (which has been on my TBR) and basically everything else Anita Kelly ever writes! 😁

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Aspec FMC, Lesbian FMC, POC, Queer, and Non-binary SCs

📝Tropes/Themes: Sapphic Rom Com, Sports Romance, Practice Dating, Childhood Crush, Athlete, Coach, Found Family, Self Discovery, Foster Parent

⚠️TW/CW: anxiety, depression, sexual content, mentions of addiction, foster care, mention of injury

Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish who is a monster and who is an angel. Because looks can be deceiving, and our interpretation and perception is always influenced by the world and people around us. 

In this story, Jam accidentally brings a creature to life from her mom’s painting. A monstrous looking creature not of this world. And its name is Pet. By looks alone, it is something we would be told to fear. Something we would be told is a monster. But Pet came to hunt monsters. The monsters the world doesn’t realize still exist. Monsters that don’t look monstrous. I loved the juxtaposition of these things in the story, the way Emezi took concepts of monsters and angels and presented them in this unexpected way. It really got me thinking about things like transphobia and homophobia, namely the “phobia” parts of those words. And how trans* and queer people have been painted by the world as something to be feared, while the real monsters remain hidden, protected by power, privilege, and politics.

Emezi poignantly addressed heavy topics in this book. Using magical realism, they crafted a story that speaks to the nature and reality of our world, to the existence of monsters hidden in plain sight, to what it takes to uncover the truth, and to take those monsters down. It was an absolutely brilliant book and we need more stories like this in our world! 

I am also very glad I listened to the audiobook of this because Christopher Myers did a phenomenal job bringing this story and all these characters to life!

🏳️‍🌈✊🏿Rep: black trans FMC with selective mutism, black SCs