gossamer_lens's Reviews (1.48k)

I cannot express how off-putting a book post 2018 using the term "Asperger's" is. I could excuse characters using the term. But the actual book synopsis not using the actual diagnosis term is frustrating. 

But I pushed on... And then I hit the main character having the most ridiculous in-office conversation with a sleeze of a man. I didn't get how non of her thoughts/dialogue seemed to register being uncomfortable with the hr violation of a man who pushed into her office. Then I was perplexed by her going "maybe he is right that I need to have more sex".... And then she looked up male escort services on her WORK COMPUTER?!?

Color that all by her references to her her work are vague and clearly the author knows nothing of the tech world... And that she seems to not have any internal motivation for what the books plot is... I just cannot. 

Doesn't help that when I hit the male escorts narrative he clearly feels forced to do his work for the money. How fun that neither of the protagonists are actually into what the plot is doing to them. Yuck. 

I am shocking myself with giving this a 4 star... it's cute and fast read that I enjoyed. I never picture myself as a romance girly... and than sometimes I decide to pick something out and surprise myself. I wasn't into some of the spicer scenes... but I really liked the main character's personality and found myself enjoying the romantic parts and the setting felt grounded while still being idyllic and cute. Was definitely there for Xeni! 

A solidly fun book but not much else to it. I think the characters were supposed to be very loveable, but I just felt like I kept being told that and didn't really get the chance to connect with them. I kept expecting a little more weight or dimension to be given to them, but I think they were just unfortunately swept up in the plotline too much to give me enough to hold onto. I appreciated the diversity of the crew and the nods to pan/bisexuality... but with one too many plot twists, I called a million pages ahead, not much description for the world-building, and a lack of character depth... I was left wanting. I don't think I will find myself going after reading the sequels. That all said, I enjoyed it while it lasted.

I wish I could give this a higher rating. Like many short story collections, this was very hit or miss. The first couple of stories had me wanting to DNF, but I knew there was potential, and with it being such a short book I pushed on. I was very glad to have done so when I got to the 3rd and then 4th story. I think possibly rearranging the stories could have helped this collection move along with better pacing and let the stories more naturally build into each other. I wish the intro didn't make me think Vampires were going to pop up... and ultimately I'm glad I read it because it had some refreshing and interesting pieces I hope to stick in my memory for a while. 

I think a good amount of the middle of this series is handled a little less interestingly or well then I would have liked to see, but overall I enjoy it a lot. I don't think I will be rating every single installment of this series so here is a copy paste of part of my rating of the physical book 3-5. I like this series enough to re-read it and the beginning gives my mushy heart joy, the end gives me joy in many ways, and the middle is all a fun ride. 

Just not interested to see where this goes, the art is sort of boring to me