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unusablebooklore's reviews
322 reviews
Not So Straight Up by J.E. Joyce
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
#MiddleLifeRomance
Single dad
Bi awakening
Work friends - lovers
Segguality is a spectrum
This book was so good. Callum and Charlie were so cute. This was the first book that was in the 150-250 page rage I’ve read in ages and it was so nice. It was a great length to tell the boys story without rushing or feeling the story drag.
The WHOLE truth or dare scene 😍, my feet were kicking and I had a face cracking grin plastered on my mug.
This was perfectly standalone, I didn’t even wonder about book one. To be perfectly honest I’m not sure I would go back and read book 1 but I would 100% consider future books in this series and by this author.
The WHOLE truth or dare scene 😍, my feet were kicking and I had a face cracking grin plastered on my mug.
This was perfectly standalone, I didn’t even wonder about book one. To be perfectly honest I’m not sure I would go back and read book 1 but I would 100% consider future books in this series and by this author.
Georgie is the star of the show.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Coaching Prince Charming by Hayden Hall
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Dads bestie
Player/Coach
Forbidden/secret romance
Age gap 38/19
Decade long crush
Size difference 😏
Okay. This was lovely. Nate and Carter were great. I was a tiny bit concerned about the age gap (I’m not a huge fan) but it was so much less weird than I thought it would be. Nate essentially missing his youth and Carter being raised in the public eye kind of evened the played field for them and made the gap feel smaller.
Carter getting determined, so many tingles.
Nate, when he resigns he goes all in. 😍
The angst was intense but short lived.
Personal hate - Beckett calls Nate “Uncle” with out his name attached. It feels weird and formal to me and my brain did not like.
Hayden Hall has been a new to me author this year and I’m so glad I found his books. I plan to go back and read this series from the beginning (I’ve only read books 6 & 7) and will definitely be checking out other books of his.
Player/Coach
Forbidden/secret romance
Age gap 38/19
Decade long crush
Size difference 😏
Okay. This was lovely. Nate and Carter were great. I was a tiny bit concerned about the age gap (I’m not a huge fan) but it was so much less weird than I thought it would be. Nate essentially missing his youth and Carter being raised in the public eye kind of evened the played field for them and made the gap feel smaller.
Carter getting determined, so many tingles.
Nate, when he resigns he goes all in. 😍
The angst was intense but short lived.
Personal hate - Beckett calls Nate “Uncle” with out his name attached. It feels weird and formal to me and my brain did not like.
Hayden Hall has been a new to me author this year and I’m so glad I found his books. I plan to go back and read this series from the beginning (I’ve only read books 6 & 7) and will definitely be checking out other books of his.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, and Infidelity
A Little Weird by J.B. McDonald
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
My brain wasn’t 100% engaged when I picked this up so I’m unclear who is who, I decided not to reread the blurb for funsies.
Kel - Military veteran was a POW at some point
Tyrone - Dommy “normal” dude
London - Socially confused, with an impulse control disorder
This book felt very slow, reading 30 pages felt like a feat.
Lots of dynamic building among the three MCs and to be perfectly honest, I’ve not been a huge fan. It all seems a little predatory in a very casual way. It felt like Kel was convinced to join the couple and rationalised into it. Like he was convinced by them it was something he wanted to do, all because Ty thought he was hot, while London liked his body and thought he smelled good. The whole dynamic feels a little lop sided, they call him a good sub (in front of people...unnegotiated), but he never really externally or internally identifies that way.
I wasn't a huge fan of the intermingling of POV within the chapters.
Lots of dynamic building among the three MCs and to be perfectly honest, I’ve not been a huge fan. It all seems a little predatory in a very casual way. It felt like Kel was convinced to join the couple and rationalised into it. Like he was convinced by them it was something he wanted to do, all because Ty thought he was hot, while London liked his body and thought he smelled good. The whole dynamic feels a little lop sided, they call him a good sub (in front of people...unnegotiated), but he never really externally or internally identifies that way.
I wasn't a huge fan of the intermingling of POV within the chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
Coddiwomple by S.E. Harmon
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
It seriously feels like SE Harmon is personally attacking me with their books.
I’ve LOVED other books of theirs I’ve read so this was a natural pick up.
Second Chance
#MiddleLifeRomance
#MiddleLifeRomance
First loves
FWB
Small town
Short king (he’s not really short…just average) JJ moves home to caretake for his sick dad. He falls in love with a tea cup pup and gets all tangled up with his bestie/ex/neighbour Cam.
Vet extraordinaire Cam with his ever expanding halfway house for pets, does everything he can to keep JJ at a distance including reminding everyone in earshot (including JJ) that he and JJ are NOT a thing.
As you can imagine this works out spectacularly for both of them.
I love a second chance, and this was really something special. Not just an "oh, we haven't seen each other since you crushed my heart", these guys stayed friends, their lives were intwined, there was distance but they kept being forced (...Cam buying the house next door to JJ's dad might not have been all that forced...) together.
The narration was great, although as usual I would always prefer a second narrator for a book with dual POV.
I love a second chance, and this was really something special. Not just an "oh, we haven't seen each other since you crushed my heart", these guys stayed friends, their lives were intwined, there was distance but they kept being forced (...Cam buying the house next door to JJ's dad might not have been all that forced...) together.
The narration was great, although as usual I would always prefer a second narrator for a book with dual POV.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Medical content
Rubber Duckie Shifter Next Door by Mia Harlan
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.0
Holy lightning speed Duckman!!!
Fun quick read, a little odd. I’m not sure I would follow on with the series.
I thought the idea of shifting into whatever you loved seemed troublesome...(the suggestion of a cruise ship!?) most especially after reading one of the characters shifted into a hot pepper...with no mobility. Fun read but not something I will reread.
I thought the idea of shifting into whatever you loved seemed troublesome...(the suggestion of a cruise ship!?) most especially after reading one of the characters shifted into a hot pepper...with no mobility. Fun read but not something I will reread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Confident Flint by Minty Marie
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
The plot thickens!! These novellas are part mystery and I’m loving it.
High heat (these dudes seem to be very comfortable with each other and sharing one lady) but there is a good amount of plot to keep me interested.
The heat doesn't feel out of place. A little insta lovey but even the characters seem to acknowledge things are moving at light speed.
High heat (these dudes seem to be very comfortable with each other and sharing one lady) but there is a good amount of plot to keep me interested.
The heat doesn't feel out of place. A little insta lovey but even the characters seem to acknowledge things are moving at light speed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
Kidnapped by the Orc by L.A. Monteiro
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Fun 40 page read that is part of Season Spice story. I'm not 100% if there are more of these novellas to come, I hope so, as the story hasn't wrapped up. We actually learned things regarding the mating process in book 4 that haven't really been addressed in book 5
Much like Mated to the Sapphic Orc I don't really feel this continued the whole story any further. I'm still curious about what's happening on the back of the first 3 books.
Much like Mated to the Sapphic Orc I don't really feel this continued the whole story any further. I'm still curious about what's happening on the back of the first 3 books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement and Kidnapping
Rookie Recovery by Lex Easton, Jemma Croft, Lex Veia
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
#MiddleLifeRomance
MCs Jamie 37/Archie 25
Grump ☀️
Archie has big doofus golden retriever energy and I loved it.
Top tier chat. I can honestly say having lived in Britain for about 5 years, many people in the UK have an exceptional level, as they would put it, of banter. This book wasn't short on it at all. While a slow burn this book was really well paced. I didn't want to put it down, which I haven't had happen in AGES.
Internal dialogues of the guys are PERFECT. This was dual POV done really well. Not only did we get to see things from each of their eyes, reading their thoughts was a total pleasure.
I loved this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
Here for the Wrong Reasons by Lydia Wang, Annabel Paulsen
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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? No
4.5
Sapphic
Queer awakening
Reality dating show
Giving me all the feel good brain tingles I get watching the bachelor without ACTUALLY watching the bachelor (…because reasons).
Kristen is a Rodeo queen who’s never really explored herself and what she wants. She know’s what she wants and never really thought of how she’d get there or what it would look like.
Lauren is a social media influencer who know’s who she is. She know’s she likes women and being on a heterosexual dating show is a vehicle to additional success.
Josh the third wheel in this relationship, is just a mediocre yt dude.
This book being in dual POV is great. It really allows the reader to understand the train of thought of the women. Considering Kristen is coming to terms with both her future and her sexuality, it’s a HUGE component of the story.
The whole book was super enjoyable, the ending fit perfectly. It didn’t feel rushed or artificially delayed.
The audio was perfect. Having two narrators was such a good choice, it made the book dynamic and fun to listen to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Someone to Share by Kelvin Young
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
TLDR: Kieran gets Spił Roasłed. In this instalment we find Kieran going on a day trip, flirting and canoodling with his fellow cruiser. However, things aren’t always as they seem…
My goodness I like these novellas even if they give me a little bit of ick. This one has 🍑2👄, I’m not here to yuck someones yum…but I’m personally not keen. But Kieran is, and I love that for him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content