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romancereadinglist's reviews
191 reviews
The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
I liked this book a lot; Rosie Danan is such a good writer. I loved the two MCs and their relationship, but the book wasn’t quite as great as The Roommate. There were some pacing issues and in particular the third act felt very rushed. But definitely worth reading!
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I loved so much about this book. The reflections on how you show up in the fullness of your identity to fight for what you believe in were exquisite. The reality of what it might have been like to be a
trans man in this time period was portrayed really beautifully and sensitively.
It wasn’t quite a 5 star read for me; I felt it was a little too padded and could have done with more editing. There were some side plots and side characters that felt a bit superfluous and distracted me from the central love story. Although that might have bothered me less had I been reading on page - the audiobook narrator was great, but audio isn’t my preferred medium as I find it more difficult to get immersed in the world and characters of the book.
Also I ADORED James (the MC’s BFF) - I would love to read a whole book about him.
Bass-Ackwards by Eris Adderly
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski
hopeful
informative
5.0
Should be required reading for every woman, and every person that has sex with women.
The Duke Who Didn't by Courtney Milan
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? It's complicated
4.0
Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I really liked this book and there were moments that were absolutely perfect and heart-rendingly emotional. The main characters’ emotional journey is beautifully rendered. However I didn’t love the book as much as I thought I would based on word-of-mouth hype and reviews. I often struggle with books written in first-person single POV; it didn’t bother me as much as usual here, but I still didn’t feel Bo was a fully-rounded character. There were some aspects of his personality and behaviour that didn’t quite add up for me - like he was sometimes a collection of characteristics and actions rather than a fully-rounded person? But nevertheless, this was a minor quibble and in general I’d really recommend Out on a Limb.
At First Spite by Olivia Dade
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
The Dating Pact by Sophie Andrews
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0