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Babylove #1
Babylove
"Even with the blood, rituals, and resurrections, the most surprising thing about the summer of 2003 was Ivy Wexler."
When offered a chance to avoid summer school, goth girl Frankie Tanner reluctantly agrees to help Ivy Wexler, a cheerleader who has just resurrected her cat in preparation for bigger and better (dead) things.
Perfect for people who wanted The Craft to be sapphic.
BABYLOVE is a dark sapphic romance YA novella, and takes place right before the first book in the ZOMBABE trilogy.
When offered a chance to avoid summer school, goth girl Frankie Tanner reluctantly agrees to help Ivy Wexler, a cheerleader who has just resurrected her cat in preparation for bigger and better (dead) things.
Perfect for people who wanted The Craft to be sapphic.
BABYLOVE is a dark sapphic romance YA novella, and takes place right before the first book in the ZOMBABE trilogy.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2023
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2,076 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
February 11, 2024
This was a bit of fun, I always love stories of misfits struggling in high school, Frankie is the one here. Goth, into weird occult things, and not afraid to clock the arrogant male in her class. She is recruited by cheerleader Ivy to help her with some occult doings (her dead cat is back and creating havoc) and they kind of fall for each other. First in a trilogy of short books, fun but not memorable. 3.5 stars.
February 7, 2023
heck yeah! just a super fun little novella about two very different but sweet girls falling in love, the pains of high school, and some resurrection thrown in there as a bloody garnish.
August 18, 2023
this is a well paced cute novella about frankie the social outcast and ivy the popular cheerleader and how they come to hang out together and grow closer.
also 10/10 for the horror movie vibes~
can’t wait to read the next one
also 10/10 for the horror movie vibes~
can’t wait to read the next one
January 10, 2025
-> 1.75 stars
Babylove must be one of the most unnecessary books EVER. I guess it’s a good short read if you want to finish your reading goal last minute and don’t really care about the quality of the books you are reading. Okay, that sounds so mean, but it’s the truth. The plot was just really meh, the characters felt one-dimensional, and the romance felt so flat as well. And that’s so sad because I feel like the story had quite a lot of potential, but I personally feel like the author didn’t really put a lot of effort into the story. It just feels like the book was written within a week and that the author was inspired by a lot of other books but wasn’t ready to put the afford that a good book requires into the writing process of this book.
Babylove must be one of the most unnecessary books EVER. I guess it’s a good short read if you want to finish your reading goal last minute and don’t really care about the quality of the books you are reading. Okay, that sounds so mean, but it’s the truth. The plot was just really meh, the characters felt one-dimensional, and the romance felt so flat as well. And that’s so sad because I feel like the story had quite a lot of potential, but I personally feel like the author didn’t really put a lot of effort into the story. It just feels like the book was written within a week and that the author was inspired by a lot of other books but wasn’t ready to put the afford that a good book requires into the writing process of this book.
August 1, 2024
While I did get camp vibes from this book, it also felt like unintentional camp. Which is the worst kind of camp. If the plot was more prevalent throughout the book then maybe I would have liked it better. There were cute moments but it was drowned out by more moments that made no sense.
August 31, 2024
eheheh cute wlw romance with spooky stuff
March 7, 2023
This was a fun one.
The 2000s high school horror movies with cheerleaders and zombies made into a book. Plus we get the nerdy/goth + queen bee lesbian couple.
It won't blow your mind but it's really easy to read and you can get through the whole thing in one day.
The 2000s high school horror movies with cheerleaders and zombies made into a book. Plus we get the nerdy/goth + queen bee lesbian couple.
It won't blow your mind but it's really easy to read and you can get through the whole thing in one day.
March 2, 2024
Bulldean is not the typical Maine township (except, of course, that thanks to Stephen King there’s many a horror tale set in small town Maine). Strange things happen � but most of all, there’s a thing about resurrection and more than a hint of a zombie or two, although not necessarily with the whole brain eating thing.
It’s in this setting that school It-girl and cheerleader Ivy Wexler approaches former friend and now well-outside-the-It-gang goth Frankie Tanner for help. Recognising the transactional nature of much of high school life, Ivy offers to help Frankie with classes she’s struggling in if Frankie will help her with a spell. Turns out, it’s to resurrect her grandfather. Ivy had a practice run with her granddad’s cat, which didn’t work out so well � it’s not a brain eater, but it does kill and eat the neighbour’s dog. Understandably, Ivy’s keen to avoid this problem with her grandfather.
It’s a sweet Sapphic story of witchcraft: Frankie fancies Ivy; it’s reciprocated � but it’s tough being a small town lesbian in 2003, so discretion is the name of the game. The study sessions are a clear cover. Belle writes the yearning well, avoiding teenage clichés in favour a well-crafted fear of unrequitedness on Frankie’s part, and the problems of the It-gang on Ivy’s –all set nicely a weird small town where nothing seems quite right. It’s a well-built sense of being just off-kilter, which everyone recognises but no-one talks about.
It’s also a short novella, at just 77 pages, but the first of three with a parallel Zombabe series where stories seem to interact and share characters. It’s also good fun � sharp, witty, ironically unpicking aspects of YA and light horror genre that left me looking forward to delving into the rest of Belle’s world.
It’s in this setting that school It-girl and cheerleader Ivy Wexler approaches former friend and now well-outside-the-It-gang goth Frankie Tanner for help. Recognising the transactional nature of much of high school life, Ivy offers to help Frankie with classes she’s struggling in if Frankie will help her with a spell. Turns out, it’s to resurrect her grandfather. Ivy had a practice run with her granddad’s cat, which didn’t work out so well � it’s not a brain eater, but it does kill and eat the neighbour’s dog. Understandably, Ivy’s keen to avoid this problem with her grandfather.
It’s a sweet Sapphic story of witchcraft: Frankie fancies Ivy; it’s reciprocated � but it’s tough being a small town lesbian in 2003, so discretion is the name of the game. The study sessions are a clear cover. Belle writes the yearning well, avoiding teenage clichés in favour a well-crafted fear of unrequitedness on Frankie’s part, and the problems of the It-gang on Ivy’s –all set nicely a weird small town where nothing seems quite right. It’s a well-built sense of being just off-kilter, which everyone recognises but no-one talks about.
It’s also a short novella, at just 77 pages, but the first of three with a parallel Zombabe series where stories seem to interact and share characters. It’s also good fun � sharp, witty, ironically unpicking aspects of YA and light horror genre that left me looking forward to delving into the rest of Belle’s world.
January 16, 2024
꧁B۳շ�
r e v i e w
Tropes:
� opposites attract
� cheerleader x goth girl
� sapphic
� creepy cat
� YA
This book is so damn sweet. I think it‘s not so easy to find my kind of sweet romance, and to be honest, I did not expect to find it in ‘Babylove�. Often books labeled as ‘sweet� are cuteness overload, and afterwards I don‘t feel like picking up another for some time. But I think it‘s the dark themes, and the fact that Frankie and Ivy are not this constantly-in-your-face kind of cute (like f.e. Heartstopper) � though it is definitely as addictive as Heartstopper. I inhaled it in one day, and I want more. I‘m so glad I already have the second one waiting on my tbr. Frankie and Ivy are both characters I instantly connected with. They are polar opposites when it comes to outside image, but from their first interaction forward they are perfect for each other and it‘s so much fun reading about them. Aside from the love story I liked Frankie‘s relationship with her sister so very much. I hope this will also play a role in the following novellas.
4/5⭐️
r e v i e w
Tropes:
� opposites attract
� cheerleader x goth girl
� sapphic
� creepy cat
� YA
This book is so damn sweet. I think it‘s not so easy to find my kind of sweet romance, and to be honest, I did not expect to find it in ‘Babylove�. Often books labeled as ‘sweet� are cuteness overload, and afterwards I don‘t feel like picking up another for some time. But I think it‘s the dark themes, and the fact that Frankie and Ivy are not this constantly-in-your-face kind of cute (like f.e. Heartstopper) � though it is definitely as addictive as Heartstopper. I inhaled it in one day, and I want more. I‘m so glad I already have the second one waiting on my tbr. Frankie and Ivy are both characters I instantly connected with. They are polar opposites when it comes to outside image, but from their first interaction forward they are perfect for each other and it‘s so much fun reading about them. Aside from the love story I liked Frankie‘s relationship with her sister so very much. I hope this will also play a role in the following novellas.
4/5⭐️
October 6, 2024
this was so much funnnn i need the next one right now
Read
June 19, 2024yay pride month
February 20, 2024
it’s giving janis and regina but throw an evil resurrected cat into the mix
September 16, 2023
Rating: 3.5/5 �
Content Warnings: mentioned harm children, animal death, gore, bullying, drug use, smoking, profanity.
This sapphic novella was super fun to read and I loved the characters so much, now I'm hooked to this trilogy and I want read the next books ASAP.
I loved the contrast between Frankie and Ivy and how despite how different they could look to anyone outside their bubble, they weren't really that different personality-wise. I also loved a lot how open Frankie was about her feelings towards Ivy, even if it was scary at first for her. They were really well-shaped characters through the whole novella and the written was [chef's kiss] amazing, 10 out of 10 would recommend because I. S. Belle did a great job showing the complexity of their relationship/situationship without being overwhelming or feeling like they didn't have any chemistry. It's difficult to write clichés such as the "goth girl that's standoffish and scary for most people and the cheerleader "queen bee" that has never been afraid of the goth girl" and make these tropes actually work correctly, both Ivy and Frankie are everything to me and I hope to see more of them in the next books.
For fans of everything spooky and witchy, zombies and the "sunshine x sunshine protector" trope, this is the perfect novella for you and I hope you have as much fun as I did while reading it!
Content Warnings: mentioned harm children, animal death, gore, bullying, drug use, smoking, profanity.
This sapphic novella was super fun to read and I loved the characters so much, now I'm hooked to this trilogy and I want read the next books ASAP.
I loved the contrast between Frankie and Ivy and how despite how different they could look to anyone outside their bubble, they weren't really that different personality-wise. I also loved a lot how open Frankie was about her feelings towards Ivy, even if it was scary at first for her. They were really well-shaped characters through the whole novella and the written was [chef's kiss] amazing, 10 out of 10 would recommend because I. S. Belle did a great job showing the complexity of their relationship/situationship without being overwhelming or feeling like they didn't have any chemistry. It's difficult to write clichés such as the "goth girl that's standoffish and scary for most people and the cheerleader "queen bee" that has never been afraid of the goth girl" and make these tropes actually work correctly, both Ivy and Frankie are everything to me and I hope to see more of them in the next books.
For fans of everything spooky and witchy, zombies and the "sunshine x sunshine protector" trope, this is the perfect novella for you and I hope you have as much fun as I did while reading it!
February 17, 2024
it was okay 🤷🏻♀� usually novellas are either hit or miss for me and this one just didn’t hit as hard as honeyblood did 😔
May 2, 2024
Okay sooo� noting happend?
June 30, 2024
Une excellente romance sapphic YA.
J’ai adoré et j’ai hâte de voir comment va évoluer leur relation.
Frankie aime ses cheveux noirs, son rouge à lèvre noir, ses vêtements noirs� et son crush en tenue de pom-pom girl colorée, blonde et populaire. Et apparemment assez téméraire pour ressusciter son chat d’entre les morts.
La vie d’Ivy (la fameuse pom-pom girl) n’est en réalité pas si rose que ça. Elle est tiraillé entre deux facette de sa personnalité: celle de la fille populaire régie par des codes et des faux semblants, et son moi spontané et authentique qu’elle n’autorise que très peu à sortir. Et une vieille promesse de résurrection qui la lie malgré elle.
Je recommande vivement à celle.ux qui aiment:
- Lycée dans une petite ville pleine de mystères
- Cheerleader/Goth girl💄🔪
- Romance lesbienne
- Zombies
- Enemies to Lovers
- Opposite attract
P.S.: J’ai aussi beaucoup apprécié ce petit Crossover/Easter egg avec l’autre livre de l’auteure, Zombabe. Hâte de lire celui-là aussi.😇🧟
J’ai adoré et j’ai hâte de voir comment va évoluer leur relation.
Frankie aime ses cheveux noirs, son rouge à lèvre noir, ses vêtements noirs� et son crush en tenue de pom-pom girl colorée, blonde et populaire. Et apparemment assez téméraire pour ressusciter son chat d’entre les morts.
La vie d’Ivy (la fameuse pom-pom girl) n’est en réalité pas si rose que ça. Elle est tiraillé entre deux facette de sa personnalité: celle de la fille populaire régie par des codes et des faux semblants, et son moi spontané et authentique qu’elle n’autorise que très peu à sortir. Et une vieille promesse de résurrection qui la lie malgré elle.
Je recommande vivement à celle.ux qui aiment:
- Lycée dans une petite ville pleine de mystères
- Cheerleader/Goth girl💄🔪
- Romance lesbienne
- Zombies
- Enemies to Lovers
- Opposite attract
P.S.: J’ai aussi beaucoup apprécié ce petit Crossover/Easter egg avec l’autre livre de l’auteure, Zombabe. Hâte de lire celui-là aussi.😇🧟
May 3, 2024
Something isn't quite right in the small town of Bulldean, something sinister lurking in the background. And the town itself - not overly accepting. Frankie has that dark look, is a loner at the school, while Ivy is as far from her as you can get - a cheerleader, and popular. But when Ivy approaches Frankie with an offer, who is she to refuse ^^
Cute, fun, a little dark and a little spooky, this story deals with the request that Ivy made, setting the scene for the events of Zombabe (and crossing over a little), but more so, looks at the relationship that starts to develop between the two of them. It's neither easy nor smooth, and yet, through it all, perhaps there is the potential for something more.
And as to Babylove itself - yeah, that was a bit of a surprise.
It's not a long read, but it is very enjoyable slow burn romance, and I am very keen to see what happens to the two of them and how their relationship continues to develop in the remaining two books of the trilogy.
Cute, fun, a little dark and a little spooky, this story deals with the request that Ivy made, setting the scene for the events of Zombabe (and crossing over a little), but more so, looks at the relationship that starts to develop between the two of them. It's neither easy nor smooth, and yet, through it all, perhaps there is the potential for something more.
And as to Babylove itself - yeah, that was a bit of a surprise.
It's not a long read, but it is very enjoyable slow burn romance, and I am very keen to see what happens to the two of them and how their relationship continues to develop in the remaining two books of the trilogy.
October 8, 2024
⭐⭐� DNF 50%
Rep: Lesbian MC, Sapphic relationship
CW: Death of dog, death of cat, graphic
1) I love the Honeybloods series by this author but this book doesn't hit the same. I can definitely tell they've improved since writing this as Honeybloods is way more compelling and the romance is so good.
2) The dynamic between the MCs didn't really work for me instantly like in Honeybloods so I wasn't invested in them getting together.
3) The plot felt much slower paced so it wasn't as much of a wild bonkers ride like I was looking for
4) I had to DNF as the death of animals in this book was way too prevalent and detailed for me to stomach. I can't deal with the death of dogs in books so the reason I DNF'd is a me issue not a book issue.
Rep: Lesbian MC, Sapphic relationship
CW: Death of dog, death of cat, graphic
1) I love the Honeybloods series by this author but this book doesn't hit the same. I can definitely tell they've improved since writing this as Honeybloods is way more compelling and the romance is so good.
2) The dynamic between the MCs didn't really work for me instantly like in Honeybloods so I wasn't invested in them getting together.
3) The plot felt much slower paced so it wasn't as much of a wild bonkers ride like I was looking for
4) I had to DNF as the death of animals in this book was way too prevalent and detailed for me to stomach. I can't deal with the death of dogs in books so the reason I DNF'd is a me issue not a book issue.
June 25, 2024
Very silly, but not bad!! Read it in an evening. Like sitting down to watch a good 2000s Teen gory comedy-horror, my favorite kind of movies!!! So this fit me better than I expected.
It was still too short, though, shit happened so quickly. Indeed very much gives off The Craft vibes!! Jennifer’s Body a little too. Crazy shit just happens and everybody knows how to revive dead people 🤷
I was surprised how well written this was, and how likable Frankie and Ivy are. I� expected it to be very cringe. I mean, most romcoms already are, but self published ones? A girl speaks from experience. But it was really well written and Frankie and Ivy both have their own weird quirks and stuff going on. Still needed more build up, but whatever.
It was still too short, though, shit happened so quickly. Indeed very much gives off The Craft vibes!! Jennifer’s Body a little too. Crazy shit just happens and everybody knows how to revive dead people 🤷
I was surprised how well written this was, and how likable Frankie and Ivy are. I� expected it to be very cringe. I mean, most romcoms already are, but self published ones? A girl speaks from experience. But it was really well written and Frankie and Ivy both have their own weird quirks and stuff going on. Still needed more build up, but whatever.
October 22, 2023
cw heavy violence against animals
A nice, quick read for spooky season. Nothing deep, maybe a little too quick, but it’s entertaining and I like that the characters actually act like believable high school students.
I really didn’t like what happened to the cat though. Almost made me want to drop it
A nice, quick read for spooky season. Nothing deep, maybe a little too quick, but it’s entertaining and I like that the characters actually act like believable high school students.
I really didn’t like what happened to the cat though. Almost made me want to drop it
April 3, 2023
A brilliant, fast-paced novella that has great characters, and a wonderful queer romance in the the midst of a horror setting.
August 8, 2023
I enjoyed this a little more than Zombabe, but honestly wanted more from it. The story was kind of flat and not much really happened.
April 24, 2024
GOD THIS WAS SO GOOD I NEED THE NEXT ONE RIGHT NOW
May 5, 2024
Oooooohhhhh !!! NEXT!!!!
August 2, 2023
It was short and cute, and a little dark. I liked it.
December 20, 2024
3.5 stars eh this was a fun little novella to read. Not much more to say about it.
July 18, 2023
This was a quick, fun read with sapphic, spooky vibes with the perfect opening line! I really enjoyed Frankie and Ivy’s story. They are two seemingly opposite characters - goth girl/cheerleader, grumpy/sunshine - but when it comes down to it, they really aren’t all that different under the surface. Babylove is kind of a combination of The Craft, Warm Bodies, Mean Girls, and Frankenweenie…but sapphic! You get pet resurrection, zombies, rituals, and other paranormal goodness all mixed up with the typical teen high school popularity drama of who’s cool and who’s not. It was an all around quick and enjoyable read!
I didn’t realize until after I read this book that it was a prequel to I.S. Belle’s Zombabe. I don’t think it was necessary to read Zombabe first, but I think it would have helped me have a better understanding about the town (Bulldeen) and who the characters were. I’m looking forward to the next two books in the series and hope to learn more about Bulldeen and this spooky cast of characters.
I didn’t realize until after I read this book that it was a prequel to I.S. Belle’s Zombabe. I don’t think it was necessary to read Zombabe first, but I think it would have helped me have a better understanding about the town (Bulldeen) and who the characters were. I’m looking forward to the next two books in the series and hope to learn more about Bulldeen and this spooky cast of characters.
June 15, 2024
what a lovely novelette! I sped through this.
although I didn't completely understand some sentences, I enjoyed it so tremendously that I can't help but give it 5 stars. it just read so easily and the horrory vibes were immaculate. and what can I say? I have a soft spot for grumpy x sunshine
although I didn't completely understand some sentences, I enjoyed it so tremendously that I can't help but give it 5 stars. it just read so easily and the horrory vibes were immaculate. and what can I say? I have a soft spot for grumpy x sunshine
November 22, 2023
Sweet and spooky teen romance
This was such a fun read! And very quick. I had to keep reminding myself it's set in 2003, so it makes sense that more people smoke cigarettes haha.
The book is pretty short and moves quickly. I'd like to hear more about the characters' backstory (which I'm hoping comes in the next books), because we don't get much context here. On to the next book in the series!
Who doesn't love a goth-cheerleader romance?
This was such a fun read! And very quick. I had to keep reminding myself it's set in 2003, so it makes sense that more people smoke cigarettes haha.
The book is pretty short and moves quickly. I'd like to hear more about the characters' backstory (which I'm hoping comes in the next books), because we don't get much context here. On to the next book in the series!
Who doesn't love a goth-cheerleader romance?
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