Melissa Brayden’s first book took place in the theatre world and it’s great to return there with To the Moon and Back. I enjoyed my time with these chMelissa Brayden’s first book took place in the theatre world and it’s great to return there with To the Moon and Back. I enjoyed my time with these characters, their heartbreaks and triumphs. It may not have unseated Beautiful Dreamer and Kiss the Girl as my favourites, but I had a fun time reading it. If you’re looking for a book to sink into and hide away from the world, this would be a solid choice.
Incredible memoir and I can see why it won Canada Reads. Run, don't walk, for this one.Incredible memoir and I can see why it won Canada Reads. Run, don't walk, for this one....more
Colden is a supergrump and I love her. She’s been alone for a long time, so it’s understandable why she’s so guarded. I loved seeing her warm up to alColden is a supergrump and I love her. She’s been alone for a long time, so it’s understandable why she’s so guarded. I loved seeing her warm up to all the Sterlings, especially how she figures out that she might be attracted to Laura. Colden has a big emotional journey and I found it thoroughly satisfying.
We don’t get to see as much into who Laura is as a person, since this is Colden’s book, and I was okay with that. Her main thing is that she’s forging a path for herself that’s different from what her family wants for her and I loved that Laura is firm about her boundaries with them while still showing tremendous care for her family. I also appreciated that even when she and Colden don’t get along, she does regular pronoun check-ins with Colden to make sure she’s using the right ones.
Neither Lindsey nor Rebekiah were the easiest for me to connect with at first because they’re both carrying some massive baggage. They try to keep eacNeither Lindsey nor Rebekiah were the easiest for me to connect with at first because they’re both carrying some massive baggage. They try to keep each other at arms� length for a long time, and understandably so, given the way Lindsey’s previous relationship crashed and burned and how Rebekiah was crushed by losing her best friend. They each have a lot to figure out and I appreciated seeing their journeys and how their priorities shift throughout the book.
Despite being Canadian, I’ve never gotten into hockey. (Don’t tell my government. I don’t want my citizenship revoked.) And yet, I’m excited every timDespite being Canadian, I’ve never gotten into hockey. (Don’t tell my government. I don’t want my citizenship revoked.) And yet, I’m excited every time I see a new f/f hockey romance announced. I enjoyed the first 60% or so of this one, but unfortunately it didn’t hold up after that point, leaving me disappointed.
This is a really solid collection. Just like with every other short story collection, I liked some stories better than others. Unlike most other colleThis is a really solid collection. Just like with every other short story collection, I liked some stories better than others. Unlike most other collections, however, my enjoyment range for each story ranged between “yeah, I liked it� and “holy shit, I need to slack Maya because that story was SO good.�
I wasn’t sure about Kitty at first because she’s such a workaholic. Turns out, that just makes it all the sweeter when she falls head over heels for LI wasn’t sure about Kitty at first because she’s such a workaholic. Turns out, that just makes it all the sweeter when she falls head over heels for Lucy and the life Lucy has with her mom, Michelle. Lucy and Kitty have excellent chemistry, leaving me grinning for most of the book.
I also quite liked some of the side characters. Michelle is one of my favourites, as well as Kitty’s assistant, Cindy. They’re both very cute as they nudge Lucy and Kitty together.
This book is so freaking cute and so much fun. It was easy to sink into and I didn’t want to put it down.
Also, while this may be a holiday novella, itThis book is so freaking cute and so much fun. It was easy to sink into and I didn’t want to put it down.
Also, while this may be a holiday novella, it’s fairly light on the holiday stuff. Much more focus is put on the setting of the competitive cooking show, so it really can be read any time of year. Don’t make yourself wait until December to read this story!
I have no idea how the hell to grade this book. On the one hand, I had a LOT of fun. Like, the more bonkers it became, the more fun I had, which is veI have no idea how the hell to grade this book. On the one hand, I had a LOT of fun. Like, the more bonkers it became, the more fun I had, which is very much in its favour. On the other, it has some pretty big structural and historical problems that took away from my enjoyment.
The Girl Next Door is told in the first person, shifting back and forth between Jude and Iris’s perspectives. It was nice to get to know both characteThe Girl Next Door is told in the first person, shifting back and forth between Jude and Iris’s perspectives. It was nice to get to know both characters so well, since I’m often left wondering what the other lead is thinking and experiencing when romances are told in the first person from only one perspective. They’re total opposites, since Jude is quiet and steady, and Iris is bubbly and high strung, and you can see that as it shifts back and forth. Jude’s chapters are lower key like she is, and Iris’s have a little more tension to them, which reflects her excitement or anxiety depending on what she’s feeling.
In some ways, Something to Talk About feels as much like a friends-to-lovers romance as it does a workplace romance. Emma has been Jo’s assistant for In some ways, Something to Talk About feels as much like a friends-to-lovers romance as it does a workplace romance. Emma has been Jo’s assistant for more than a year, so their working relationship is well established. They have tremendous respect for each other and what they’re each capable of on the job, and they also clearly enjoy each other’s company.
I haven’t read a Gothic novel since university, but holy shit did this book drag me back and remind me of all the stuff I loved about them. Angst, draI haven’t read a Gothic novel since university, but holy shit did this book drag me back and remind me of all the stuff I loved about them. Angst, drama, and passion! Lucas had it all. It sucked me in right away because it captured the feel of early 19th century fiction just well enough, but it definitely has some stuff that raised my eyebrow on many an occasion and left me saying “wait, what?!?!!!�
I don’t usually read thrillers, so I have no idea if Pursuing Pandora is a good thriller. I just know that I had a lot of fun reading it and I had a vI don’t usually read thrillers, so I have no idea if Pursuing Pandora is a good thriller. I just know that I had a lot of fun reading it and I had a very hard time putting it down. I honestly don’t know if I recommend Pursuing Pandora, though. On the one hand, I was often frustrated by the characters, especially how they treated each other, and there was likely more going on in the book than there needed to be. On the other hand, it held my attention, keeping me well distracted from my pandemic panic. For that, I am truly grateful. The best I can say is this: if you pick it up, make sure you have a friend standby, so you can share some of your WTF energy with them too.
Have you ever said to yourself “I want to read a Robin Hood story, but full of lesbians and other queer people?� Well, good news! Because that’s exactHave you ever said to yourself “I want to read a Robin Hood story, but full of lesbians and other queer people?� Well, good news! Because that’s exactly what Nottingham is! I couldn’t have come up with a more joyfully queer interpretation of it if I’d tried. That said, it’s specifically the queer rep that’s joyful and not much else, because this is a gritty adventure story where the only foxes in it are ones that get hunted.
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