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ditten's reviews
604 reviews
Unraveling the Threads of Fate by Alice Winters
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First standalone I've read from Alice Winters. It was funny, though not as much as her other books, and this one had a really sad backstory.
I liked both Alex and Bishop, I thought their banter was great, and I loved Alex and Callie's relationship.
The "gifts" were well done, and while I felt the book could've cut some of the middle parts, I mostly liked the plot too.
I liked both Alex and Bishop, I thought their banter was great, and I loved Alex and Callie's relationship.
The "gifts" were well done, and while I felt the book could've cut some of the middle parts, I mostly liked the plot too.
Gay Whore by Jack Love
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Perfect book, 10/10, no notes, wouldn't recommend in any way.
In Gay Whore, a book from 1967, Jack the 18-year-old horny lifeguard at the local pool gets in the "gay game" as a way to gain experiences and mature faster, as one does. He moves to NYC with a hot older guy he just met a few hours earlier but refuses to be his kept boy, so Jack decides to join a brothel full of the most masculine men he's ever seen instead. It's all fun and (gay) games full of sexy sex until Jack ends up becoming *too* good at sex and realizes he's been sick and wrong about how to mature so he runs back to his former sugar daddy. Oh and I think there was a murder in the middle?
Absolutely terribly written, no plot to speak of, Jack's "carnal arousal" nearly got him killed, Bob is apparently a sexy name to this author, an author who is named Jack like the MC lol.
I listened to this book on the Gay Pulp podcast and had a blast.
In Gay Whore, a book from 1967, Jack the 18-year-old horny lifeguard at the local pool gets in the "gay game" as a way to gain experiences and mature faster, as one does. He moves to NYC with a hot older guy he just met a few hours earlier but refuses to be his kept boy, so Jack decides to join a brothel full of the most masculine men he's ever seen instead. It's all fun and (gay) games full of sexy sex until Jack ends up becoming *too* good at sex and realizes he's been sick and wrong about how to mature so he runs back to his former sugar daddy. Oh and I think there was a murder in the middle?
Absolutely terribly written, no plot to speak of, Jack's "carnal arousal" nearly got him killed, Bob is apparently a sexy name to this author, an author who is named Jack like the MC lol.
I listened to this book on the Gay Pulp podcast and had a blast.
Most Valuable Player by Amanda Woody
Add Most Valuable Player to your 2025 TBR immediately!! (out in October)
Absolutely loved it! Rom-com-traum ala They Hate Each Other but heavier on the trauma.
I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love. This book was so well done, and so brutal.
Full RTC
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
"I want to become your new favorite place."
Add Most Valuable Player to your 2025 TBR immediately!! (out in October)
"I’ll eat my own ass if he’s not a little fruity."
Absolutely loved it! Rom-com-traum ala They Hate Each Other but heavier on the trauma.
I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love. This book was so well done, and so brutal.
Full RTC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Alcohol
Content notice from the author at the beginning of the book (from ARC, subject to change):
Discussion and depictions of trauma and mental health.
Mentions of bullying and queerphobia (off page, invasive flashback).
Discussion and depictions of grooming and abuse from a character’s past, beginning when the victim was thirteen and the abuser seventeen. Emotional abuse is seen on page via manipulative verbal conversations. Physical and sexual abuse are stated to have happened, but are not depicted on page.
Scenes detailing these events do not go into descriptive depth or put readers “in the moment” of the past abuse.
The abuser is a recurring character and the story features tense moments between them and the victim.
The abuser restrains the victim once (grabbing their arms) and throws another character onto the ground.
Discussion and depictions of trauma and mental health.
Mentions of bullying and queerphobia (off page, invasive flashback).
Discussion and depictions of grooming and abuse from a character’s past, beginning when the victim was thirteen and the abuser seventeen. Emotional abuse is seen on page via manipulative verbal conversations. Physical and sexual abuse are stated to have happened, but are not depicted on page.
Scenes detailing these events do not go into descriptive depth or put readers “in the moment” of the past abuse.
The abuser is a recurring character and the story features tense moments between them and the victim.
The abuser restrains the victim once (grabbing their arms) and throws another character onto the ground.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I've had some issues with audiobooks not holding my attention lately but that couldn't have been further from the truth with The God of the Woods.
Great mystery thriller that kept me guessing and felt well paced.
Great mystery thriller that kept me guessing and felt well paced.
Sparks Fly by Birdie Lynn
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
3.0
Cute little romance that I probably would've gobbled up if it had been a magic high school AU fanfic on AO3 for my fave couple. As original, adult fiction, it was okay.
Sparks Fly was very fanfictiony which was fun though the characters pointed that fact out quite a few times lol
Some parts were really cute but I can't understand why this wasn't YA. I could believe teens acting this way, and the setting was also very YA so it kept throwing me off when they mentioned being over 20. Also didn't love how Cherry was treated or portrayed, solely there to further Mika and Arthur's romance.
Sparks Fly was very fanfictiony which was fun though the characters pointed that fact out quite a few times lol
Some parts were really cute but I can't understand why this wasn't YA. I could believe teens acting this way, and the setting was also very YA so it kept throwing me off when they mentioned being over 20. Also didn't love how Cherry was treated or portrayed, solely there to further Mika and Arthur's romance.
The Amazing Alpha Tau Boyfriend Project by Lisa Henry, Sarah Honey
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
The book seems pretty generic and mid, and the humor falls flat for me most of the time. I just don't care enough to continue this one.
SOS Hotel: Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous by Ariana Nash, Adam Vex
funny
mysterious
fast-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
3.0
Hmmm, not quite sure about this second installment in the SOS Hotel series. I really enjoyed the first one, but this felt... idk, like a filler?
I also really didn't like Zee being forced to sleep with and submit to his former boss, it seemed gross and unnecessary. Plus, Adam saying he couldn't stop it was BS, he just chose not to because it meant revealing a secret and it made me dislike him quite a bit.
Not sure I'll be continuing with this series.
I also really didn't like Zee being forced to sleep with and submit to his former boss, it seemed gross and unnecessary. Plus, Adam saying he couldn't stop it was BS, he just chose not to because it meant revealing a secret and it made me dislike him quite a bit.
Not sure I'll be continuing with this series.
Fumbling Toward Ecstasy by Bellamy Black
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
You think I'm not going to recognize a pre-war Stucky fic when I see it? Also, I remember reading this one like 5 years ago lol and all that's changed are the names.
I'm not sure I feel like this works as an original piece but I do have a fondness for it still. It's a short bit of erotica set in the early 1940s with a gender-fluid awakening love story that includes filthy dirty talk and feminization.
I'm not sure I feel like this works as an original piece but I do have a fondness for it still. It's a short bit of erotica set in the early 1940s with a gender-fluid awakening love story that includes filthy dirty talk and feminization.
SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay! by Ariana Nash, Adam Vex
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
This was a really fun, kooky fantasy book about a new hotel for supernatural beings with a definitely human hotel manager and his lust-demon business partner who try to get the hotel up and running despite teeny tiny small issues like a few murders and violent attacks by shadow monsters. Good thing they have their first guest, aka vampire daddy, helping them.
This was a quick read that made me laugh lots, and which has lots of mysteries still. I'm looking forward to finding out more about the secrets these three are trying to keep from each other and the world.
This was a quick read that made me laugh lots, and which has lots of mysteries still. I'm looking forward to finding out more about the secrets these three are trying to keep from each other and the world.
Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Eddy Flynn books are always good entertainment and this one was no different.