You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
jazhandz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I picked this up because I loved You Should Be So Lucky, and thought this would be just as good. It is not. I liked the characters, but there’s not much of a plot to speak of (despite clear hints/seeds of plots) and the pacing drags on a lot. The central relationship is great. With any luck, that’s what I’ll remember about this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Stalking
Police corruption and overreach, but no physical brutalityjdanby's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Death of parent, Outing, and Alcohol
eclecticallyreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
I don't know how Cat Sebastian does it but truly every book is incredible and this one was no exception. I absolutely adore a black cat/golden retriever pairing and Nick and Andy have my whole heart. The way that Andy blows into Nick's carefully constructed life of safe fear and blows it all up completely accidentally (in the most Andy way possible). I loved getting to watch Andy's queer awakening dawn on him as something that has always been there, but just as something he could ignore. And the pair's fierce devotion to each other and making sure the other is taken care of and loved (even before they realize that is what is going on). This book is about community and family and how queer folks construct worlds in which they can be fulfilled and safe in a world that deeply wants them to be neither of those things and the unexpected allies along the way.
Perfect for people who love historical romance, queer romance, best friends to lovers, black cat/golden retriever
Perfect for people who love historical romance, queer romance, best friends to lovers, black cat/golden retriever
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
jess_always_reading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This book is amazing, I've already added it to my physical book wishlist!
Sebastian's story is a beautiful narrative of love in a time of persecution, and queer joy and resilience. Nick and Andy are the friends-to-lovers we all want and I absolutely loved their story and characterizations. I also love the way bisexuality was handled in the book.
Sebastian paints a great picture of late 1950s New York, the changes going on from shifting societal attitudes to gentrification and development. There's enough historical accuracy for it to be realistic with enough wish fulfillment to make it a great HEA to escape into. Like Nick, I'm always on the search for beautiful queer stories with those sweet happy endings.
Featuring great ADHD and anxiety representation, awesome side characters, and an orange cat that lives up to the stereotype.
10/10 would recommend.
Sebastian's story is a beautiful narrative of love in a time of persecution, and queer joy and resilience. Nick and Andy are the friends-to-lovers we all want and I absolutely loved their story and characterizations. I also love the way bisexuality was handled in the book.
Sebastian paints a great picture of late 1950s New York, the changes going on from shifting societal attitudes to gentrification and development. There's enough historical accuracy for it to be realistic with enough wish fulfillment to make it a great HEA to escape into. Like Nick, I'm always on the search for beautiful queer stories with those sweet happy endings.
Featuring great ADHD and anxiety representation, awesome side characters, and an orange cat that lives up to the stereotype.
10/10 would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Police brutality, Grief, and Stalking
Minor: Ableism and Death of parent
stormeno's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, and Death of parent
juliana_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I read book two first (they are just interconnected) and although I liked it better, I still really enjoyed this. I don’t know if there is an official term for it, but it falls under the “literary romance” category for me. Like it was hot, but not spicy. So much yearning. So gentle and sweet. Lots of character development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
serafina's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and War
dogearedbooks's review against another edition
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Police brutality
pantslint's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
4.5
At this point, I'm going to have to read everything that Cat Sebastian has written and will write. She is so good at building delicious tension and creating beautiful slow-burn romances. I love Andy and Nick.
This work also encourages me to look into queer literature and works—I'll have to check out The Charioteer and "Revolt of the Homosexual" as mentioned in the book.
This work also encourages me to look into queer literature and works—I'll have to check out The Charioteer and "Revolt of the Homosexual" as mentioned in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
jourdanicus's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
5.0
Ooh, this book gave me the warm fuzzies 🥰 I think Cat Sebastian might be one of my favorite queer romance authors now!
This checked all the boxes of my romantic fiction requirements: diverse characters, characters being kind to one another, a good balance of external and internal conflict, open-door intimacy, just enough plot to keep things interesting without overshadowing character development, and an interesting setting that was present but also didn't overshadow the characters.
Usually I get impatient with slower burn romances; this one wasn't exactly slow burn because Nick and Andy definitely had desire for each other from the beginning. But something about it did seem a little slower - I think it was the way the internal plot developed. Their need to figure out where their relationship was going was present, but not so urgent that it got in the way of them enjoying each other.
The little moments of domestic intimacy also really drew me in, and I think that's what made this story really special to me. It combined the excitement and hesitancy of new love with the familiarity of a couple who lives together comfortably (to which I can relate as someone in a very long term LTR).
Finally, I'm no history buff so I wasn't exactly fact checking every little thing, but it seemed evident that the author did their research for this. I felt very present in the time and place while reading.
Yay for another 5 star read in 2024!
This checked all the boxes of my romantic fiction requirements: diverse characters, characters being kind to one another, a good balance of external and internal conflict, open-door intimacy, just enough plot to keep things interesting without overshadowing character development, and an interesting setting that was present but also didn't overshadow the characters.
Usually I get impatient with slower burn romances; this one wasn't exactly slow burn because Nick and Andy definitely had desire for each other from the beginning. But something about it did seem a little slower - I think it was the way the internal plot developed. Their need to figure out where their relationship was going was present, but not so urgent that it got in the way of them enjoying each other.
The little moments of domestic intimacy also really drew me in, and I think that's what made this story really special to me. It combined the excitement and hesitancy of new love with the familiarity of a couple who lives together comfortably (to which I can relate as someone in a very long term LTR).
Finally, I'm no history buff so I wasn't exactly fact checking every little thing, but it seemed evident that the author did their research for this. I felt very present in the time and place while reading.
Yay for another 5 star read in 2024!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Police brutality, Death of parent, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Abandonment