This was cute! Far too short with everything wrapped up a bit too quickly, imo. Also, the resolution between Vivi and Lan felt more like a Happy For Now rather than a Happily Ever After, which is fine, but I thought they’d work a few more things about before the book ended. 

Great themes overall and very sweet. 

I really wanted to like this one!!! I didn’t dislike it per se, but it wasn’t as exciting for me as I’d hoped. The premise was dope: a trans man in Victorian England who is an artist and a bicyclist, and a widowed feminist botanist who becomes a bicyclist bc of a bet. They cycle England together and fall in love, while proving chauvinist men wrong. So many good discussions of gender, patriarchy, race, and colonialism. Heck, there are even some good talks about panic attacks and rabies! Lots of topics covered, but not too many that it got overwhelming. 

I’m not sure if there is a specific main reason I didn’t like it, but I often found my attention drifting during the audiobook. This whole book is set around this 10-day bicycle race competition which had a lot of mishaps/adventures along the way, and supposedly a high stakes ending. The competition was so built up throughout, and yet at the end of the race it was like “well that’s over, let’s immediately move on without clearly discussing the ramifications and how everything played out.” I was startled by how quickly that wrapped up. This lack of explanation happened often, especially with scene transitions, which was especially challenging to follow via audiobook bc sometimes a lot of time has passed or it’s in a fully different location but they author didn’t indicate that so I am startled by it. I think a physical book would’ve been a much better format for this one. 

So all that to say, this was fine but I was underwhelmed. 

For my second book review for Pride Month, I present Queerceañera, the sweetest book that made me say “Awww, baby boy!!” out loud both in joy and in sadness, bc our main character Joaquin is adorable & feels so much. It’s five stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Initially I checked out a physical copy from the library for my camping trip two weeks ago, but bc I never wanted stop reading it even when I was doing my hikes, I also downloaded the audiobook. It was a fantastic experience!! 

Once again I am reminded that my JAM is sweet queer teens of color with excellent friends trying to figure out their place in the world and with each other. A bit niche perhaps but clearly not impossible to find!! Other top contenders I love in this genre: 

Anywho back to Queerceañera! I especially enjoyed how the author explored the family dynamics. Joaquin’s dad, sister, and uncle are supportive & encouraging of his sexuality (Joaquin may say “too supportive” lol) and his mom is…..less so. His mom has remarried and has another family, and often makes targeted comments about gay people in Joaquin’s presence and then says she doesn’t mean anything by it. Dislike!!

This book is not queer joy where everything is wrapped up & perfectly solved at the end - it’s still realistic in its handling of difficult family members and different view points. Everything isn’t magically solved and that’s ok! What changes is how Joaquin grows and believes in himself, and changes how he views others. Joaquin’s got GROWTH! That’s the true joy, believing in yourself and in your community that steps up. 

I don’t usually enjoy second chance romances but Crespo is so good that I was rooting for Joaquin and Felix!! Often second chance romances have some big (and imo) unforgivable situation that I don’t enjoy, whereas this one was a misunderstanding and also…realistic. Like, yeah, I get it. And spoiler alert: they do fall in love after fake dating!!

This was only fine, which is surprising since I’ve seen so many glowing reviews - I was prepared to be bowled over!! But alas, there’s only so many times I can listen to a white gay man say to 6 and 9 year old children, “You don’t know this 80s musical theater quote???? I’m shocked and appalled!!!” 

Slow but enjoyable