30something_reads's Reviews (820)

While not everything in this novella worked for me, I can say that it was a really fun read and definitely has me interested in checking out more from this author as she continues this series.

The spice ratio was off the charts! So if you want a quick, spicy alien read- this is definitely a great choice.

What you'll find:
✨ Alien abduction
✨ Fated mates
✨ Insta-lust
✨ Marriage of Convenience
✨ Vibrating/Ribbed anatomy
✨ Who did this to you?
✨ Touch her and die

As is the case with some novellas, the pacing and the world-building often felt a little rushed.
1. Some aspects of the knowledge that the aliens had regarding humans felt inconsistent. Why did they all speak English? (I'm assuming translators are involved but it's never mentioned.)
2. He also has an immediate understanding of her anatomy, which hey, good for Maya. But not even a little fumbling?


Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

 

This was an absolutely delightful read. So sweet and funny and sapphic.

I loved these characters.
I loved all of the cheese references.
I really loved Lady Gorgonzola.

I'll take 12 more, please.

 

This one is:

1.Part cultural and culinary history of the hot dog, 
2. Part quirky road trip memoir dubbed "hot dog summer" where she describes her eating tour, 
3. And big part American capitalist critique (both historically and presently during the Covid-19 crisis). 

The author is very funny and it translates well via audio. A little horrifying, totally weird, but also unputdownable.

DNF @ 8% 

Idk, I think I read 2 or 3 chapters? This author just might not be for me. I did not like the FMC, the writing felt like it was trying really hard to be funny, and all of the character interactions were just cringy. 

Also, idk how I feel about authors having characters that are specifically written to be self inserts? Seems like a lazy way to try and be inclusive. 

T Kingfisher is guaranteed to deliver on the slightly dark, slightly creepy, but wholly romantic fairy tale and this one is no different.

If you like concise novellas,
If you like atmospheric settings,
If you like dark fairytale reimaginings,
Then this is for you 😊

 Maybe being in love is knowing that you’d live it all over again— every part, suffering included— to get right back to the place where you’re standing.

This might be my new favorite thing you guys. 😭❤️

From Chapter 1, I was absolutely obsessed with Ari's and Josh's electric chemistry. And then- Oh. My. GOD!! The ways in which they blew into each others lives and left such lasting impressions over the years!

I was prepared for the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers situation but I was completely devastated (in the best possible way) by the 2nd chance aspect to their story! Ari and Josh are such real characters with all of the little neurosis that come along with being human. There are moments where both of them act like complete idiots and I hated it but it made them that much more believable.

✅Their banter was off the charts, top-notch! I was literally laughing out loud at points.
✅The neurotic PINING that they both did was everything I wanted.
✅The slow burn romance was perfectly paced. I was GIDDY the moment they kissed for the first time.

My one, absolutely minor, criticism is that I WISH we had gotten the spicy scene after Chapter 29. It will haunt me, not knowing the exact details in which Josh made Ari scream.

** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy ** 

 This was all the things - fricken spicy, super sweet, delightfully queer, and an overall great time.

All the things:
Bi Couple who film spicy content
Demi Best Friend/Roommate who offers to be in their film
Mutual Pining for DAYS
3 Friends to Lovers
Voyerism (accidental and intentional)
D/s (light)
Praise/light degradation

CWs:
Mentions of an emotionally abusive parent; depictions of an emotionally distant parent;  references to a character being left at the altar; references to an abusive relationship (as a past event); references to revenge porn (as a past event); references to a dead grandparent (as a past event); mention of addiction; dominance and submission; depictions of mild panic attacks; mention of a total hysterectomy; minor, social drug use (marijuana); alcohol consumption; and explicit sex scenes; unprotected sex, voyeurism, double penetration, daddy kink, and toy play. 

 The only part of this book I enjoyed was the last chapter & I only got that far because I wanted to know the little twist at the end.

And I'm kind of mad about that because the overall concept of this was very intriguing and I was poised to love it based on the concept alone (also full of art history factoids that I loved) but the erotic scenes were an absolute nightmare to read.

Here are some of my least favorite quotes I read:

"No man had ever taken her in that orifice before." For what reason did we use the word orifice? Other variations include: "aching orifice" and "devouring orifice"

"A spurt of his seed hit her cervix and she orgasmed suddenly from the incredible force and heat of it." Absolutely not.

"Her sex felt like an open wound, the tissue wet and raw and pried apart." 🥴

"...his hot spurts filling her bowels." Actually "spurts of semen" shows up a few times.



... I wasn't mad at the boot worshiping though and for that I blame Manson in The Dare.