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queer_books_and_kitties's reviews
132 reviews
My Accidental Valentine: MM Short Story Romance by Gaia Tate
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75
This was so cute!
I love when a little story is just focused on a short period of time with some flashbacks to relevant events. That worked particularly well in this book!
Sam was a great MC with a sweet personality albeit sort of nervous/awkward. On a similar note, Adam is adorable and the miscommunication between the two make for some fun moments and add to the build up of the final confession.
There's also a little bit of well-written spice towards the end and an adorable epilogue which finished the book off really nicely!
I love when a little story is just focused on a short period of time with some flashbacks to relevant events. That worked particularly well in this book!
Sam was a great MC with a sweet personality albeit sort of nervous/awkward. On a similar note, Adam is adorable and the miscommunication between the two make for some fun moments and add to the build up of the final confession.
There's also a little bit of well-written spice towards the end and an adorable epilogue which finished the book off really nicely!
The River's Edge by Jordan Castillo Price
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
River’s Edge (The) | | Jordan Castillo Price | Romance/supernatural | FALSE | FALSE | TRUE | FALSE | FALSE | FALSE | FALSE | FALSE | 22/01/2025 | 22/01/2025 | 9/10 | Creepy, Emotional and Perfect
This is one of the best short stories I've ever read!
There's a creepy, tense feeling to it from the start. I scored the way that little bits of information are thoughtfully pieced together throughout.
Both mcs were easy to empathise with and route for. Despite the short length, it felt like both characters were well rounded and their backstories didn't seem to need more than the few pages they were given. Sometimes I like to use my imagination to fill in the blanks and this was definitely a good example of that kind of story.
This is one of the best short stories I've ever read!
There's a creepy, tense feeling to it from the start. I scored the way that little bits of information are thoughtfully pieced together throughout.
Both mcs were easy to empathise with and route for. Despite the short length, it felt like both characters were well rounded and their backstories didn't seem to need more than the few pages they were given. Sometimes I like to use my imagination to fill in the blanks and this was definitely a good example of that kind of story.
A Happy Beginning by B.A. Richards
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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
5.0
Thank you to the wonderful author for this ARC!
I enjoyed every second of this book.
The worldbuilding was so easy to follow but still felt deep enough to provide the escapism you'd expect from a fantasy book.
All of the characters are so lovable and relatable. I fell in love with Alard, Raz and Meyda pretty much from the very start. I also adore the way each character represents a different element of the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
There's so many side characters to fall in love with too. Timmie in particular stole my heart!
The plot is a great mix of fun adventures and heartbreaking moments. I loved the attention to detail, not only of the characters and the places but also the feelings.
Of course, I love the fact that there's plenty of well-written spice as the cherry on top of an already fun, adventure-filled book!
I enjoyed every second of this book.
The worldbuilding was so easy to follow but still felt deep enough to provide the escapism you'd expect from a fantasy book.
All of the characters are so lovable and relatable. I fell in love with Alard, Raz and Meyda pretty much from the very start. I also adore the way each character represents a different element of the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
There's so many side characters to fall in love with too. Timmie in particular stole my heart!
The plot is a great mix of fun adventures and heartbreaking moments. I loved the attention to detail, not only of the characters and the places but also the feelings.
Of course, I love the fact that there's plenty of well-written spice as the cherry on top of an already fun, adventure-filled book!
How To Win a Million Dollars and BEEP Glitter! by Luke Stoffel
emotional
funny
2.5
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook arc.
I’m a bit conflicted about this book. I don’t think the synopsis gives an accurate description of the plot or even the overall vibes. I felt a bit disappointed by that.
The first half of the book is pretty interesting and easy to get invested in. The story of a kid discovering who he is alongside deciding what he wants from life. There’s humour, love and hope in those early chapters.
Unfortunately it kind of derailed after that for me. There are some very emotional and tear jerking moments as well as some seemingly pivotal/exciting aspects that were swept over way too quickly in my opinion.
On the plus side, I enjoyed the narrator a lot.
I’m a bit conflicted about this book. I don’t think the synopsis gives an accurate description of the plot or even the overall vibes. I felt a bit disappointed by that.
The first half of the book is pretty interesting and easy to get invested in. The story of a kid discovering who he is alongside deciding what he wants from life. There’s humour, love and hope in those early chapters.
Unfortunately it kind of derailed after that for me. There are some very emotional and tear jerking moments as well as some seemingly pivotal/exciting aspects that were swept over way too quickly in my opinion.
On the plus side, I enjoyed the narrator a lot.
The Embrace of Evergreen by Rayne Hawthorne, D.W. Michaels
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Thank you to the wonderful authors for this ARC!
If anyone thinks that I was obsessed with Beneath the Indigo Sky, I don’t even know the word to describe how I feel about Embrace of Evergreen.
I don’t think I’ve ever fallen in love with a book as deeply as this one.
Every single character in this book is perfect! Ethan and Blue are everything I’ve ever needed in an mc. They’re so well rounded and incredibly lovable and relatable, I can’t even begin to say how much I enjoyed them. Their backstories are equally emotional but different in a way that means they fit together perfectly.
As much as I love Blue and his sexy, cheeky personality, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more connected to a character as I do to Ethan. He’s just written in such a way that had me sobbing for so many different reasons and reading his parts of the story felt kind of cathartic.
There’s a bunch of side characters that I’m in love with as well. Gabriel in particular stole a big chunk of my heart that Ethan and Blue didn’t already own.
It’s so obvious that Rayner Hawthorne put so much of their heart into writing this story and creating these characters. It shows in every word.
The plot in general is beautiful, complemented by the wonderful writing style. The attention to detail is gorgeous and it all combines into one of the best books I’ve ever read.
One of the many other things that made this book so perfect, was the way that characters and plot points from book one were seamlessly threaded through it.
There’s an undercurrent of magic and supernatural elements to this book just like the first one. However I feel like there’s less obvious magic too, the kind of magic that we forget to look for in every day life, the precious moments we take for granted. All of that is embedded deeply into the plot and the characters which just elevates this from a great book to an absolutely stunning one.
I’ll be lost in thought about this story and all the characters for a long time to come. Probably until book 3 is released and I get to cry over this universe all over again!
If anyone thinks that I was obsessed with Beneath the Indigo Sky, I don’t even know the word to describe how I feel about Embrace of Evergreen.
I don’t think I’ve ever fallen in love with a book as deeply as this one.
Every single character in this book is perfect! Ethan and Blue are everything I’ve ever needed in an mc. They’re so well rounded and incredibly lovable and relatable, I can’t even begin to say how much I enjoyed them. Their backstories are equally emotional but different in a way that means they fit together perfectly.
As much as I love Blue and his sexy, cheeky personality, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more connected to a character as I do to Ethan. He’s just written in such a way that had me sobbing for so many different reasons and reading his parts of the story felt kind of cathartic.
There’s a bunch of side characters that I’m in love with as well. Gabriel in particular stole a big chunk of my heart that Ethan and Blue didn’t already own.
It’s so obvious that Rayner Hawthorne put so much of their heart into writing this story and creating these characters. It shows in every word.
The plot in general is beautiful, complemented by the wonderful writing style. The attention to detail is gorgeous and it all combines into one of the best books I’ve ever read.
One of the many other things that made this book so perfect, was the way that characters and plot points from book one were seamlessly threaded through it.
There’s an undercurrent of magic and supernatural elements to this book just like the first one. However I feel like there’s less obvious magic too, the kind of magic that we forget to look for in every day life, the precious moments we take for granted. All of that is embedded deeply into the plot and the characters which just elevates this from a great book to an absolutely stunning one.
I’ll be lost in thought about this story and all the characters for a long time to come. Probably until book 3 is released and I get to cry over this universe all over again!
Giles Ashby Needs a Nanny by K. Sterling
funny
lighthearted
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
4.25
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this audiobook from author and I loved it so much!
Giles in particular was so relatable and I couldn’t get enough of his chapters. The way he sees his son as his best friend is the cutest thing ever. I also loved the way he deals with his social anxiety and the healthy steps he takes (both on and off page) to ensure it doesn’t ruin his life.
Riley is so adorable! He’s such an easy mc to empathise with and route for! His past experiences make for a well rounded backstory which helps to make his overall chat development so enjoyable.
Little Milo is probably one of my favourite side characters ever! He’s so smart and cute. It’s adorable how he sees his dad as a hero whilst still understanding the daily struggles he faces.
It was also lovely to have a couple of appearances from Finn who I still love lots from book 1!
Overall the plot of this book was well paced and a great example of a rom-com style book. The narrator was also perfect, I particularly loved the way he portrayed Riley!
Giles in particular was so relatable and I couldn’t get enough of his chapters. The way he sees his son as his best friend is the cutest thing ever. I also loved the way he deals with his social anxiety and the healthy steps he takes (both on and off page) to ensure it doesn’t ruin his life.
Riley is so adorable! He’s such an easy mc to empathise with and route for! His past experiences make for a well rounded backstory which helps to make his overall chat development so enjoyable.
Little Milo is probably one of my favourite side characters ever! He’s so smart and cute. It’s adorable how he sees his dad as a hero whilst still understanding the daily struggles he faces.
It was also lovely to have a couple of appearances from Finn who I still love lots from book 1!
Overall the plot of this book was well paced and a great example of a rom-com style book. The narrator was also perfect, I particularly loved the way he portrayed Riley!
Glitterland by Alexis Hall
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wasn’t expecting this to be the first thing I said about this book but, it’s actually pretty special.
Ash isn’t the most likeable character I’ve ever read but that kind of adds to how valuable he is. His anxiety and depression is incredibly relatable and the way that Darian is and the feelings he develops for him, are described through his eyes made my heart hurt and feel so full at the same time.
On that note, Darian is an absolute delight from start to finish! I think I fell in love with him at his first ‘babes’ and by the end I felt kind of obsessed with him! Ash describes him as a glitter pirate and how can anyone not love someone like that?
The plot is great in general. I feel like most Alexis Hall novels follow a similar pattern but this one was a particularly shiny example of the genre.
Ash isn’t the most likeable character I’ve ever read but that kind of adds to how valuable he is. His anxiety and depression is incredibly relatable and the way that Darian is and the feelings he develops for him, are described through his eyes made my heart hurt and feel so full at the same time.
On that note, Darian is an absolute delight from start to finish! I think I fell in love with him at his first ‘babes’ and by the end I felt kind of obsessed with him! Ash describes him as a glitter pirate and how can anyone not love someone like that?
The plot is great in general. I feel like most Alexis Hall novels follow a similar pattern but this one was a particularly shiny example of the genre.
Riven by Roan Parrish
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
This had way more emotion and depth than I was expecting!
Caleb and Theo are absolutely amazing mcs. They have such different backstories but are just perfect for each other and I fell head over heels for them from the very start! Their relationship is just so pure and felt so realistic.
The narrators brought both characters to life so well and it drew me into the story in a way that I know wouldn’t have happened if I’d read it instead of listened.
There are a bunch of side characters which helped to lift this book even further. I was totally in love Ethan and Reese. I think of Coco had been in it a bit more id have fallen in love with her too!
The story overall has everything I enjoy - a sprinkle of drama, plenty of spice and all the emotions I can think of!
Caleb and Theo are absolutely amazing mcs. They have such different backstories but are just perfect for each other and I fell head over heels for them from the very start! Their relationship is just so pure and felt so realistic.
The narrators brought both characters to life so well and it drew me into the story in a way that I know wouldn’t have happened if I’d read it instead of listened.
There are a bunch of side characters which helped to lift this book even further. I was totally in love Ethan and Reese. I think of Coco had been in it a bit more id have fallen in love with her too!
The story overall has everything I enjoy - a sprinkle of drama, plenty of spice and all the emotions I can think of!
Given, Vol. 4 by Natsuki Kizu
emotional
funny
slow-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
5.0
This series is so gooooooood! The art is gorgeous and the story is just so emotional.
I loved that we got more Haruki and Akihiko content in this chapter, whilst still getting the Mafuyu and Ritsuka story progression.
I loved that we got more Haruki and Akihiko content in this chapter, whilst still getting the Mafuyu and Ritsuka story progression.
The Witch and His Crow by Ben Alderson
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I have to say this is probably my favourite Ben Alderson book yet!
The way this is written works perfectly with the plot. The first person, single perspective is ideal for the way that the story unfolds.
Hector is the perfect MC. He's annoying at times and definitely flawed, yet you can't help routing for him. He's cheeky and determined and knows what he wants.
Similarly, Arwen is just everything! He's mysterious and handsome and just everything I'd expect from a love interest written by Ben Alderson.
Every single side character served a purpose and added another layer to this already amazing book.
The pacing in this book is perfect. The plot is action-packed with so many little mysteries and a nice sprinkling of well written spice to finish it off!
The way this is written works perfectly with the plot. The first person, single perspective is ideal for the way that the story unfolds.
Hector is the perfect MC. He's annoying at times and definitely flawed, yet you can't help routing for him. He's cheeky and determined and knows what he wants.
Similarly, Arwen is just everything! He's mysterious and handsome and just everything I'd expect from a love interest written by Ben Alderson.
Every single side character served a purpose and added another layer to this already amazing book.
The pacing in this book is perfect. The plot is action-packed with so many little mysteries and a nice sprinkling of well written spice to finish it off!