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kharlan3's reviews
181 reviews
Featherbed by Annabeth Albert
(m/m, contemporary, romance). A chicken farmer and a bookshop owner. Harrison’s situation felt a little contrived. I wanted their moms to fall in love more than I wanted the main characters to!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Headstrong by Eden Finley
(m/m, contemporary, romance). A gay college hockey player trying to get laid, and a “straight” former hockey player turned bartender, what could go wrong? I liked the slow burn. I didn’t like how long it took to unpack the “virginity” concept
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Heartscape by Garrett Leigh
(m/m, contemporary, romance). A wine bar manager and a Cornish former surfer turned wildlife photographer, both with serious trauma are accidental roommates to lovers. I’m glad the mental health stuff is treated well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Toxic relationship
Booklover by J.E. Birk
(m/m, contemporary, romance). Two huge book nerds fall in love! Former foster kid turned book shop employee and student librarian with an overly demanding farm family. Briar’s backstory is intriguing and so is Jamie’s family conflict. I like the romance novel lover through line, both in the themes and in the sex scenes. I like Jamie’s kid sister. Also, bookstores.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying
Hideaway by Rachel Lacey
(f/f, contemporary, romance). Second chance after being high school sweethearts. This one wasn’t bad! Dogs are a major plot point which worked for me. It did seem like the MCs both saw each other in a pretty flat way which was weird.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy
How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole
(f/f, contemporary, romance). Fake marriage! Royals of fictional nations! Only one bed! A “demon” cat! A sea voyage! Hilarious grandmothers! What a fun romp this is, and delightfully narrated by Karen Chilton.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Wanted, A Gentleman by KJ Charles
(m/m, romance, historical). KJ Charles never disappoints. This one is short and to the point. It also feels grounded- the silliness is in the plot and hijinks, but the emotions feel real and relatable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, and Slavery
We Unleash the Merciless Storm by Tehlor Kay Mejia
(f/f, YA, dystopian). An excellent follow up to We Set the Dark on Fire and I am ready for more! Stunningly narrated by Kyla Victoria. The romance is impactful and the dystopian/revolutionary setting even moreso.
Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
(f/f, scifi, YA, dystopian). This book was fabulous! The authoritarian controlled, god-like mechas, the vivid world of the pilots, and the even more vivid world of the scrappy gearbreaker children who live to take them down. Evocative prose and vivid, driven characters. Can’t wait for the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, and War
An Unseen Attraction by KJ Charles
(m/m, romance, mystery, historical). I would die for Clem or Rowley. I love how they’re both often wrong but in a way that feels super real and not blown out of proportion. The mystery was done nicely. The fact that I kept picturing Clem from Buffy was the worst part of this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism and Torture
Minor: Homophobia and Racism