jennireadsmaybe's Reviews (678)

In the helicopter!?!? In the changing room!?!? These two are so horny for each other!!! 

Nina and Russ are filthy in the best way possible!!! These two have more sexual tension than anything I've read in a long time. Nina isn't looking for capital C committment; there's not a man out there that can be everything she needs in a relationship, so she's got her roster. The smart one. The funny one. The romantic one. And Russ, the fun one. You can see how their relationship begins to shift as Russ' dates become more and more romantic. Her friends tease her because he's the first to move past his nickname of the fun one. 

Of course, just when these two lean into their feelings for each other, bad news strikes. Nina's new modeling gig that she's dreamt of for awhile has a nonfraternization policy, and lo and behold, Russ is her new boss. I think I actually cackled when it was finally revealed, because I knew way before them. Danielle Allen is such a fun writer. Her characters banter and relationships of all types shine. I always spend so much time laughing while reading. Don't get me wrong, I was fuming for a lot of this book because of the blatant fatphobia that Nina experienced from so many people. Nina is a badass bitch though and constantly called out everyone who had something to say. She knows she's hot, and she isn't going to take fatphobic insults from anyone. 

This book is outrageously hot and full of toe curling moments ;) Wesleigh Siobhan made this audiobook a real treat! 

I asked for more pegging in queer MF stories and Katherine McIntyre delivered this freebie to me no questions asked. It's hot and quick in the way only a novella can be. And, I'm really interested in what happens next for some of the other characters that were mentioned. 

Sometimes I think I'll never feel closer to God than when reading smutty little romance books where the characters are working through their own religious trauma. Isaac and Jensen have each been dealt a shitty hand when it comes to parents; Isaac ran away from home after being forced to hide his sexuality from his homophobic dad and Jensen's mom sent him to conversion therapy for most of his life. These two traumatized men meet at Isaac's (er Theo Virgil's) concert. They can't seem to stay away from each other afterwards, finding comfort in getting to know each other without the pressure of the outside world bearing down on them. Sara Cate explores religious trauma with such grace and care. I love that this series has given a space for queer people who continue to turn to religion after coming out. 

Speaking of coming out, I love love love that both Isaac and Jensen come out on their own time line. Most celebrity romances force the characters to come out before they're ready, but in The Prodigal Son they both have a lot of time to reflect and acknowledge what sharing with the world will mean for them in their public facing jobs. Country music is really special to me, but I've always felt like I have to leave entire parts of myself behind when I go to concerts. I can be outwardly queer or trans because I'm not sure how the audience will react most times. When Isaac comes out at his concert while singing the love song he wrote Jensen, the crowd is so supportive. It's beautiful to read about. 

Onto the romance: I was seriously in love with their story. There's the typical Sara Cate smutty goodness with gut punch yearning from both sides. Even with the third act breakup, I never doubted their love for each other (of course I am a third act break up apologist, so it shouldn't come as a surprise). Their romance is full of these small moments of being known. They find the love they've never experienced in each other. I'm such a sucker for these two, and Isaac's epilogue mane me cry in a good way! 

Sad to say goodbye to another Sara Cate series, but I can't wait to see what she does next! Thank you to Sara Cate and team for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts <3 

I talked about this book in therapy (/pos) lol. 

Essie "he's a mess but he's my mess" Romero is a certified badass bitch. She knows what she wants and she's going to get it no matter how many stinky, awful men get in her way (fuck whatshisname). The one person she can't have is Dalton. They've orbited around each other for literal years, but their parent's upcoming wedding is ruining everything. Of course, that's before a couple margaritas and mistaken identities work some magic. Suddenly, they're sleeping together and filming it. 

Listen, I fear there isn't a single fictional man that is as down bad as Dalton is; it's freaking delightful. He's been in love with her from the start, but Essie doesn't want those feelings to ruin everything for their parents. Dalton sees the bits of Essie that nobody else has. He wants to take care of her in more ways than one ;) and boy does he! 

Werewolves are back and sexier than ever baby!!! A.A. Fairview writing feels like a dream sequence. I am so honored to have received an e-ARC of Bark & Bite. 

I'm just an enby writing a review begging for more alphahole FMCs, because Sara made me feel all the feelings! In all seriousness, I love Sara. She's surrounded by people who love her, but she essentially functions as a lone wolf after leaving her toxic pack and even more toxic ex behind. Despite the overarching plot of the book revolving around her kidnapping and subsequent events, the book really does focus on her personal and relational growth as well as her addiction. She keeps trying no matter what the world has to throw at her. 

Her relationship with Malcolm is this soft, golden, glowing bit of hope. They seemed doomed by the narrative in the beginning of the book. There's this charged moment between them in the prologue that gives the audience a glimpse of what could've been, but obviously it's too soon for them. When the book starts several years later they're enemies because that's what the demands of them. Of course when it all comes down to it, Malcolm drops everything to come to her rescue. From there on out it's just a series of them saving each other in both big and small ways. 

Malcolm is a soft boy forced into violence by his pack and his brother. He's convinced he's unworthy of love for a variety of reasons. His lasting feelings for Sara don't matter. His character development might seem to take a back seat to Sara's, but it's just as moving. Also, I know he's fictional , but I just want to lay on his chest and listen to his heartbeat so bad. 

If you can't tell I loved this book. I love that each moment of physical intimacy led to a deeper emotional intimacy between them. Sure, it's hot, but it's also hella romantic. Anyways, please read this. 

I know this book is life changing because immediately after finishing it I had a meltdown in therapy. I wish I had this book sooner than I did. I wish that fifteen year old me existed in the same timeline as Man o' War. I know that without a doubt it would've given me the language I needed at that time to find comfort in who I didn't know I was. Outside of this book completely redirecting the path my life was on, it was just so necessary. Small town, stuck-in-the-suburbs trans and queer kids deserve to know they aren't alone. Across the country there are kids just like them learning and growing into who they are. 

Man o' War follows River, an Arab American teenager living in a small Ohio town. At the start of the book, they aren't doing well; in fact, River struggles for most of the book. Honestly, I had to take this book in small chunks because it mirrored a lot of my own experiences with depression and dysphoria as a teenager and even now at 25. However, it's not just a story of trans trauma, it's also a story of immense trans joy. Even in their landlocked Midwestern town they're able to find community, support, and a family. 

This book spans many years of River's life and returns to this SeaWorld like aquarium that has defined much of their life. You get glimpses into several marine creatures, especially the titular Man o' War that River embodies. You get to see how much River grows in each section of the book, as they return to this aquarium and reflect on who they were before. 

I truly loved this book. I want to buy my own copy and reread it already. I know that I will return to this many times in my life. 

Phenomenal! I read Something More by Jackie Khalilieh late last year, so I knew I HAD to read You Started It. Thanks to Tundra Books and NetGalley I got to read it ahead of its release. 

As a fairly seasoned reader of YA books, I find that messy teenage antics make me want to read the book more. Teens should never be expected to be perfect. Let them make mistakes. Let them learn and grow naturally. Let them feel all their feelings without judgment. The main character Jamie gets to make plenty of iffy decisions. Fake dating a boy she hardly knows to repay him for his broken bike and get back at her ex boyfriend are only a couple of examples. She's messy and real and exactly what teenagers need to be able to see in fiction. 

Axel is such a great love interest; he's one of the few Arab mmcs in traditional YA romance. He's soft, full of emotion, and a joy to read about. I love that he loves dancing. I ADORE how much he loves Jamie. He might go about things the "wrong" way but his heart is always in the right place. Jamie and Axel explore so much of Toronto, a city I've never been to and know very little about. It's as much a love letter to Toronto as it is a love letter to falling in love. These two really are the most adorable couple I've read in a long time! 

I'm already yearning for Jackie Khalilieh's next release. I can't wait to return to her writing. This has anxiety and IBS representation as well. Please take care to note the content warnings.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publish Group and Roaring Brook Press for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts <3 

A delightfully dramatic YA romance following Charlie a teenage transgender boy as he navigates his very traditional all boys school and being roommates with the boy who broke his heart before he transitioned. Charlie doesn't believe in love. After Jasper broke his heart at summer camp a couple years ago, he's stayed away from it. Now, he's taking love lessons from the very person who broke his heart. I would've liked to see more between these two as their feelings for each other built up. The story itself focused much more on Charlie's academic standing instead, 

While I enjoyed the romance between Charlie and Jasper, I would have been pleased without it as well. Charlie's story is beautiful and full of heartwarming moments. I enjoyed him as a character despite the fact that there isn't a ton of character growth; honestly, it's understandable that Charlie isn't aware of all the happenings in his best friend's life because he's going through a ton and his friend isn't sharing with him. His new friendships with several boys at Valentine's Academy was my favorite part. He finds a community of people who love him and will stand up against the school if it comes to it (spoiler alert: it doesn't). 

Overall, I really enjoyed And They Were Roommates. I'm looking forward to reading more from Page Powars in the future! 

My favorite Stone sister's book of all time!!! On Guard has so many trope that get me every time. A sad, party boy with an intense past and the good girl trying to change her image. Reese and Dante mean everything to me. They each grow so much from the start of the book. Reese comes into her own, discovers what it means to be bad, cuts her hair in the midst of a mental breakdown, and makes the action movie she's always wanted to. She's fierce. She's soft. She's everything! 

Dante, the bisexual, bad boy fencer who's just trying to get back to the olympics after being banned. He thinks he's alone in the world and that he's a just a let down. For once, there's a sibling in a powerful family that didn't follow the status quo. I love a sad, fictional man. Dante is down bad. He's been down bad for decades. He thinks he has to earn Reese's love, that if he gives up enough and becomes this "good" person he'll finally get the girl he's been dreaming of. He's soft. He's hurt. He's also everything. 

I love their romance so much. There's so much happening in the world around them. They're celebrities under intense scrutiny at all times. They can't escape the paparazzi. They want opposite things from the controversy. They fall in love in big moments and small moments. They yearn A LOT. They hurt each other. They help each other. They love each other so much. I love them so much.