queerafictionado's Reviews (374)

Knife River

Justine Champine

4.0

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Knife River is categorized as mystery/suspense, but the mystery components of the story weren’t what I found most compelling. While this story is in fact a mystery, in my opinion it is mostly a story about grief, loss, and family. Jess and her sister Liz processed their mother’s disappearance in very different ways, partly because of their ages at the time, and partly because of their different relationships to their mother. When Jess turned 18 she left home, moving from girlfriend to girlfriend, barely even experiencing her own life. Liz stayed in their home in Knife River, working the same job, and channeling her grief into a search for answers.

You do eventually find out the truth of what happened, but the part of the story that moved me the most was the ever-evolving relationship between Jess and Liz. They spent years on the periphery of each other’s lives. But when their mother’s remains are found, they get thrust together again. As the story unfolds, the dynamics begin to shift as they finally communicate with each other about their grief and memories and lives. They slowly begin to build a new kind of relationship together.

I also loved the messy dynamics between Jess and her high school girlfriend, Eva. Jess left without saying goodbye, but it’s clear that a decade later the pull between them is still as strong as ever. Except now things are even messier than before and their relationship is still something that can’t see the light of day.

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this story - the small town vibes, the mystery, the messy relationship dynamics between Jess and Liz and Jess and Eva (really Jess and everyone), the sapphic romance subplot, the quirky old lady/friend, the different twist on forced proximity, the flawed characters trying to find their way through complicated situations. I was expecting a bit more mystery and suspense in the story, but all in all it was an enjoyable read. And I can’t wait to read what Champine releases next!

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian MC, Sapphic Pairing

📝Tropes/Themes: mystery, family relationships, grief & loss, sisterhood, return to hometown, second chances, small town

Content Warnings

The View from the Top

Rachel Lacey

5.0

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

GAHH!! Let me just gush for a moment about how much I needed this story in my life!! First of all, I am (without shame) an absolute sucker for Hallmark movies. But most hallmark movies with the exception of a few only feature cishet people. The View from the Top gives all the quintessential Hallmark movie vibes in book form - but it’s sapphic and super queer!! Plus right off the bat we get this super sexy multiple chapter long one-night-stand that will make you 🥵🥵🥵!!

I mean, seriously - what’s more Hallmark than your one-night-stand turning out to be the corporate bigwig trying to buy your family’s small town inn?? And add into that fall vibes and festivities, a nearly tragic turned adorable meet cute, a cast full of lovable side characters you wish you could be friends with, a cute rescue sparrow named Jack, and insanely wholesome sapphic grandmas running a quaint little LGBTQ+ friendly inn in Vermont! What’s not to love?🥰

There was also SO MUCH amazing representation in this book. There were main and side characters with anxiety, characters that made up every letter of the queer alphabet, family trauma that was being unpacked, the most heartbreaking yet heartwarming backstory between Emily and her grandmas, cis and trans characters, characters of different races and ethnicities. I love that Rachel Lacey has started to include more and more representation in her books. It makes me happy to see!

If you love hallmark movies but wish they were queer and spicy - go read this book!! Then come gush about it with me! I adore all these characters so much and I want to live in this story and go on hikes and go to trivia night and pick pumpkins in the dark and all the things!

I received an advance copy from the author and this is my honest review.

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian MC, Bisexual MC; queer & trans prominent side characters, MC w/anxiety (on meds)

📝Tropes/Themes: One Night to Forever, Opposites Attract, Found Family, Hallmark Vibes, Small Town, Artist, Business Woman, Outdoor Adventures, Fall Festivities

Content Warnings

Triple Sec

TJ Alexander

4.0

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Triple Sec - what a perfect title for a book about poly relationships and the art of mixology! I truly enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to read more of TJ Alexander’s books that have been on my TBR for far too long. I am not poly and this is the first book I’ve read that involved a poly relationship and I felt like it was really well done (at least from an outsider perspective). I also LOVE me a good sapphic romance with non-binary rep!

Mel is divorced and a bit jaded when it comes to love and relationships. She’s got a shaved head, tattoos covering her arms, and is super passionate about mixology. Then the illustrious Bebe walks into her bar one night and Mel immediately feels drawn to her. Only to later find out she’s married to Kade, a genderqueer stoic artist. Mel then finds herself thrust into the world of polyamory and learning that love is far more expansive than she would have ever thought possible.

There’s not a lot of drama in this book. And the interpersonal conflicts all resolve pretty quickly. But I really loved seeing how important communication was, especially since Mel was new to all of this. Rules can change. Dynamics can shift. Feelings can expand. The only thing that matters through it all is communication. And I loved how TJ included the ever-evolving list of guidelines throughout the book.

There was also plenty of spice in this book! And I loved seeing the different sexual dynamics at play depending on who was involved. Each of the three of them had different needs and interests and the way they navigated all of that was beautiful.

One of my favorite parts of the story though was all the mixology! I want so many of the cocktail recipes from this book! I wanted to try all of them (even the ones that ended up not being the best lol). The cocktail competition part of the story was great and (without giving spoilers) I love how it all played out in the end. I do wish we had gotten more of the throuple towards the end of the book because I would have loved to see how those relationship dynamics continued to evolve with time. The ending was a bit rushed and while I loved the epilogue, I really wanted more of the story between the final chapter and when the epilogue happened.

If you are looking for a funny, sexy, romance that is super queer and full of delicious drinks - you should definitely check out Triple Sec! And if you’ve never read a poly romance, why not make this your first one too! Also - how awesome is it to have a queer, poly romcom published by a trad publishing company?! SO FREAKING COOL!

I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley and Atria Books. This is my honest review

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Queer and Polyamorous, Lesbian MC, Non-Binary LI, Prominent Gay SC, Plus Size Rep

📝Tropes/Themes: Jaded Bartender, High Femme, Butch, Three Love Stories, Cocktail Competition, Lawyer, Artist, Lots of Spice!!, Snowed in Together, Poly F/F/X Relationship

Content Warnings

Dead Girls Walking

Sami Ellis

3.0

dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I was so excited for this book and really wanted to love it because it sounded amazing and I love slasher movies/stories and all things related to summer camp. This book seemed right up my alley! But unfortunately this just didn’t end up being a good read for me. I really struggled to get into the story and it took me way longer to get through this book than it normally takes me.

The thing I loved most about this story was the representation of queer POC women! I mean - a summer camp geared toward queer teen girls who love horror - what’s not to love about that?!?! Such an amazing premise with an awesome diverse cast of characters. I just wish the story had delivered more. There was so much happening I found myself getting more confused and ending up with more questions at the end than I did to start.

About halfway through I did start to get a little more invested, but I never got hooked. The story was also VERY different from what I expected after reading the blurb. Minor spoiler: This ended up being more of a paranormal horror story than a classic slasher story like I went in assuming it would be.

Not a bad story overall. It had some great elements and the twists and turns in the story were unique and interesting (even if a bit confusing at times). This story just didn’t work for me. I’m still interested in reading what Sami Ellis comes out with next though!

Keeping Carmen Ruiz

Alyson Root

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian MCs (three), two sapphic pairings, gay SC/achillean sideship, Hispanic MC & prominent SC, other queer & Hispanic SCs, prominent SC with a prosthetic leg

📝Tropes/Themes: Multiple POVs, Family Relationships, Trauma/Healing, Hurt/Comfort, Chosen/Found Family, Quirky Old Lady, Self Discovery, Road Trip, Humor, Reconciliation, Sapphic Romance

Grab the tissues!! This is a beautiful, emotional journey that will get those tear ducts working! Ugh! Have you ever read a book where you just wished you could scoop up all the characters and hold them and comfort them and tell them they are loved and they aren’t alone and everything is going to be okay? Because that’s what I wanted to do throughout this entire book! I knew it was going to be intense with where Finding Molly Parsons left off in the story, and I was not wrong! But interspersed throughout these heart wrenching moments of grief and trauma are moments of humor and absurdity (mostly thanks to the honorary grandma of this found family, Enid) and moments of comfort and genuine, pure, love and happiness. You will laugh. You will cry. You will get wrecked by this book in all the best ways!

Carmen was abandoned as a baby and went through horrible experiences growing up in the foster care system. But one good thing that came out of that was Mateo. Carmen has always been the protector, caring for everyone else before herself - especially Mateo. But now she realizes that she has to face her past head on in order to be able to move forward, which includes allowing herself to lean into all those feelings that Molly Parsons stirred inside her before they’d even met. Carmen is finally ready to focus on her own needs, but she’s convinced she has to do it on her own.

Meanwhile, at the urging of her niece Faith, Molly Parsons realizes she needs to do some of her own work and face her own past, that is if she wants to be able to keep Carmen Ruiz. Because for once in her life, Molly doesn’t want to run away, she wants to run towards something, towards someone. And she doesn’t want to do anything to mess that up.

Two separate journeys across the country. Three individual journeys of growth and healing and confronting the past. Two stories of reconciliation. Two main love stories and a side love story. The joy of friendship. The power of finding and creating a family when you never had the family you needed or wanted growing up. Overcoming adversity and trauma and realizing you don’t have to go through it alone. Raunchy humor and a quirky old lady who can make you cringe then cry in a matter of minutes. One big beautiful found family filled to the brim with compassion, support, and love. And the most perfect ending you could hope for. 💛🥰

I received an advance copy and this is my honest review.

Content Warnings

Lockjaw

Matteo L. Cerilli

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

The foreshadowing! The intrigue and mystery! The twists and turns! The horror! This was such an incredible story that locked me in its jaws and kept me on the edge of my seat from page one! Cerilli’s brilliant use of a dual timeline and omniscient narrator (even the dog!), along with his general storytelling abilities, takes you on a labyrinthine journey toward the truth - giving you crumbs of information along the way while also keeping it hidden until the big twist when all the pieces finally come together, never revealing too much at once.

Lockjaw is a story about a small town that minds its own business. That doesn’t ask questions. That accepts whatever truth is told to them. Unless it comes from those deemed as unworthy. The outsiders. The outcasts. The pariahs. The scapegoats. The unwanted. The bullied. The ones who don’t fit into its idyllic, utopian, picture perfect version of how it wants to be seen.

Lockjaw is a story about monsters. The kind that lurk underneath the surface, hidden in plain sight, heard but ignored. The kind of monsters the world likes to pretend doesn’t exist (and silences those who say otherwise). It’s a reminder that monsters are real.

Lockjaw is a story about the courage and risk it takes to fight monsters, especially when no one else believes they exist. It’s a story about growing up and existing in a world that wants to chew you up and spit you out. That treats people like animals. It’s a story about a band of misfit kids fighting to be seen and heard. And when all else fails, getting revenge against those who silenced, ignored, and wronged them. No matter the cost.

Lockjaw is also a story about the power of forgiveness and change and reparations. It’s a story about the difference between “everyone for themselves” and “it takes a village.” It’s a reminder that we all have a part to play in fighting the monsters, and how much easier it is when we fight them together. And it all begins with understanding that the only way to kill a monster is to acknowledge it exists and expose it. Because the only way to banish darkness…is to shine a light.

The queer and trans rep in this book was beautiful - heartbreaking and inspiring all at once. It made me want to scoop all these kids up in my arms and take care of them and protect them and fight for them and with them. I wanted to stick a card in my bike spokes and join them. I could go on, but I’ll stop there. I just truly loved this story! It’s hard to believe that this is Cerilli’s debut book. I highly recommend it, especially if you love YA horror and trans rep! I will definitely be reading whatever Cerilli publishes in the future.

🏳️‍🌈✊🏾Rep: Trans, Genderqueer, Queer, Vietnamese, Latine, Foster Kids, Unhoused Youth

📝Tropes/Themes: Omniscient Narrator, Dual Timeline, Small Town, Coming of Age, Mystery, Friendship, Revenge, Found Family, Band of Misfits, Family Relationships, Trauma

Content Warnings

Second Night Stand

Karelia Stetz-Waters, Fay Stetz-Waters

3.5

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

First of all, the cover for this book is AMAZING!! I was very much looking forward to this book - a romance between a prim and polished black ballerina and a curvy and quirky blue-haired burlesque dancer with forced proximity, opposites attract, and rivals-to-lovers vibes! What’s not to love! The personalities of these two could not be more different, but underneath the personas they project to the world, they are both a lot more alike than it first appears. They have an amazing one night stand when they meet in a bar. And that was supposed to be it. No full names (or even real names in Blue’s case). No numbers. Nothing. But then they both end up on the same reality TV dance competition. They both feel something between them. Something that wasn’t left behind in that hotel room. But they both have a lot at stake in this competition too. Lillian is trying to save her ballet company from going under, leaving all her dancers unemployed. Izzy/Blue is trying to save the theater she bought to give her queer burlesque troupe a safe space to perform.

Both Lillian and Izzy are incredibly fleshed out characters with unique personalities - and as different as they might seem, it somehow just works. They feel safe with each other. Safe enough to share pieces of themselves they don’t show the rest of the world. And it’s beautiful. There are also some really amazing side characters and I loved getting to see all the friendship and family dynamics that were part of this story, too.

All the black and queer joy, body positivity, and messages about loving yourself were the biggest positives of this book! We need more books with those things in them!! These themes were woven throughout the whole book - through the performances, the conversations, the relationships, and everything in between. And it was incredible. Absolutely loved it! I also adore that this was written by a married interracial lesbian couple! 🥰

All that being said though, this story didn’t quite live up to my high expectations. It was sweet and sexy and beautiful, but it just didn’t “wow” me like I was hoping it would. I did enjoy it though and recommend it, especially if you like sapphic romance and found family stories with amazing characters and lots of queer joy and body positive fat representation!

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Black, Lesbian/Sapphic, Plus Size, Queer

📝Tropes/Themes: Interracial Couple, Sapphic Romance, Rivals to Lovers, Dance Competition TV Show, One Night Stand, Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity, Stranded Together, Only One Bed, Found Family, Family Relationships

Content Warnings

Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding

Maia Kobabe

5.0

informative fast-paced

I am so glad that this book now exists in the world!! This graphic guide to healthy chest binding uses both real-life stories from interviews with trans and nonbinary folx, as well as research-backed tips and advice on binding - complete with illustrations. It is a great mix of personal story and resources. And I love that it was inclusive of all body types! There were helpful tools including journal prompts, reflection questions, a mood and symptom tracker, a gender validation pie chart, and more. This guide addresses binding from a holistic angle, including the mental/emotional and physical aspects. It is not a one-size-fits-all type of resource, but a guide to helping individual people begin to understand what is right for them, how to balance the benefits and side effects, and how to care for their body. It is not meant to be a replacement for proper medical care, but rather a companion on the journey. This is going to be a helpful resource for so many people!

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Trans & Nonbinary, various POC rep, fat

Finding Molly Parsons

Alyson Root

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

SO MANY EMOTIONS! Oof. This story is heartbreaking and beautiful and I absolutely devoured it. Finding Molly Parsons is in part a story about sapphic romance and first love, but it is so much more than that. It’s about discovering and loving who you are - even (and especially) when the people who are supposed to love you the most reject the most beautiful and truest parts of you. It’s about finding the strength to leave abusive situations, and finding the courage to live authentically and freely and proudly. It’s about finding the people on your path who make your life better, who lift you up and encourage you and offer support and bring joy and light into even the darkest parts of your life. It is heartfelt and moving and packed full of humor. And also filled to the brim with wonderful, unique, perfectly imperfect characters - real characters who are flawed and messy and absolutely beautiful.

Finding Molly Parsons is a story told in multiple POV that follows three main characters - Faith Parsons, Carmen Ruiz, and Molly Parsons. And you get not ONE, but TWO different sapphic romances and all kinds of sapphic pining!

Faith is 18 years old and just ran away from home in search of her long lost aunt, Molly. After growing up in an abusive and extremely religious home, where she was completely sheltered from the outside world aside from one close friend and church, Faith has all the pieces in place to leave and try to start over. And it all centers around finding Molly Parsons.

But the Seattle apartment Faith thought she would find Molly landed her at the doorstep of Carmen and Mateo Ruiz. Carmen and Mateo grew up in foster care on and off together, and siblings by choice. Being queer and having dealt with their own turbulent childhoods, they take Faith in. They help Faith begin to come into herself, and give her the “lesducation” that her sheltered upbringing denied her. And Carmen promises that she will help Faith find Molly. It’s good for Carmen, too. Because Carmen had closed herself off to the world, and having Faith show up on her doorstep just might be the thing that helps her find meaning in her life again. And maybe even…love.

Molly Parsons has been on the move since her brother, Faith’s dad, kicked her out at 17 after they lost their parents and he found out she was gay. She refuses to stay put, or stay in a relationship, because she will settle for nothing and no one less than a person/place that makes her feel safe, like she’s home. So she has moved around the country helping LGBTQ+ youth, never staying in once place for long. Molly’s nomadic lifestyle sends Faith, Carmen, Mateo, and their quirky old neighbor, Enid, on road trips across the country in search of Molly.

I absolutely LOVED Enid. She is sassy and delightful and exactly the kind of quirky grandparent type figure I love to see in queer stories! She is a RIOT and had me literally cackling at times. But she is also just a generally sweet and wholesome person, and quickly becomes part of this beautiful chosen family - that just keeps growing throughout the story.

Finding Molly Parsons was a different kind of story compared to some of Alyson’s other work, but equally funny, heartwarming, and just incredible. It is heavy and intense at times, and if you are an abuse survivor and/or have religious trauma - please read this book with caution because both of those themes are woven into this story throughout. Alyson does a great job of breaking up the intense parts of the story with humor and lighthearted shenanigans without downplaying the seriousness of any of the things these characters have been through. You will laugh and cry and feel all the emotions while reading this book.

I loved this book SO DANG MUCH! I absolutely can’t wait to read book two, Keeping Carmen Ruiz, and find out what happens next in this beautiful story!

Thank you, Alyson, for the ARC!

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian MCs (three), two sapphic pairings, gay SC, Latine MC & SC, other queer SCs

📝Tropes/Themes: Multiple POVs, Family Relationships, Coming of Age, Chosen/Found Family, Quirky Old Lady, Self Discovery, Road Trip, Humor, First Love, Coming Out

Content Warnings

Magdalene Nox

Milena McKay

5.0

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Have you ever loved a story so much that you wish you could go back in time and read it for the first time again? That is how I felt after reading The Headmistress by Milena McKay. I was completely enraptured by that story. I found myself daydreaming about it while at work. So…imagine my delight when I saw that Milena was releasing book 2 in the series giving us Magdalene’s POV!! Friends….OH MY GOD!! It was like reliving it all over for the first time. Experiencing each moment anew and getting even more parts of the story I didn’t before. It was INCREDIBLE!!

Magdalene [f*cking] Nox is also like one of my ultimate book crushes (so maybe it was partly her I was daydreaming about lol), which made me extra excited to get her side of the story. And Abby Craden’s flawless narration, as always, makes this story even better. Every character has a distinct voice and they were exactly the same as I remembered them from book 1. Just phenomenal narrating.

I love Magdalene and Sam and the incredible, unexplainable connection they have. Getting to hear Magdalene’s POV, we get to experience more fully the profound impact Sam has on her, the way Sam has her wanting to let down her walls, to trust, to leap, to love. We get to see how all these seemingly inconsequential moments and events claw their way inside Magdalene’s broken heart and wounded soul and begin to heal a 30 year old wound.

I loved watching the Ice Queen that IS Magdalene Nox slowly melt through her relationships with both Sam and, of course, Sir Wiloughby - the best knight in shining orange fur anyone could ask for. But I also love how, even through the melting, she doesn’t lose that fierceness. She just finally feels safe enough to not let those icy walls dictate every facet of her life because she learns, for the first time in her life, what it feels like to be truly known to the depths of her soul.

I am completely captivated by this story. It will live in my heart rent free for all eternity and I will relisten to both books many many times. Thank you thank you thank, Milena, for giving your readers a chance to experience this incredible story again as if for the first time! It is a gift and a blessing!

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Bisexual FMC, Lesbian LI

📝Tropes/Themes: Ice Queen, Age Gap, Mature 40+ MC, Femme/Femme, Academia, Hot for Boss, Workplace Romance, Opposites attract, One Night Stand to Rivals to Lovers, Coming Out, Revenge, Alternate POV, Adorable Cat

Content Warnings

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