This was such a fun, wonderful short story by Alyson Root! She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I will be reading anything she puts out into the world. This story was originally supposed to be part of an anthology that got scrapped because of the AC Adams/Adam Gaffen scandal. And I am VERY glad that Alyson decided to publish this story anyway because it is truly wonderful and deserves to be read! I was snickering and laughing out loud numerous times throughout this story. Kesley is a shy, anxious woman who manages to always epically embarrass herself when pretty women are around - especially her crush Olivia, who she’s not even sure plays for her team. A team she has only been a bench warmer for so far.

This book needs to be in every library and in every school. I hope every queer, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming child can read these stories or stories like these. To see themselves reflected in the pages. To see that they are more than just their gender and sexual orientation. And that those parts of their identity do not hold them back or prevent them from doing whatever they want to do in this life. This book is full of short, one page stories about self-love, acceptance, pride, activism, and breaking barriers from women, girls, and non-binary people from all around the world. Some people you may have heard of and others you might not know. The stories are about people who range from activists and lawyers to athletes and singers, from comedians and actors to scientists and artists. Each story is also accompanied by a portrait illustrated by female and non-binary artists from around the world. And there are bonus activities about pride at the end. You can even learn more about some of the folks included with the Rebel Girls app. I highly recommend this book - especially to any who has kids or works with kids in any capacity!

I received an advance reader copy of this book through Netgally and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a beautifully written memoir read by the author that explores themes of identity, partnership, family, religion, mental health, and more. Maria Bello spends each chapter discussing various labels that might be used to identify her and whether or not those labels truly apply. Questions like “Am I a Partner?” and “Am I a Bad Girl?” While sharing her story she explores the deeper topic of labels in general. And in the end what it comes down to is this: only we get to decide the labels that define us. Life is not a static thing, it is fluid. We are all constantly evolving, changing, becoming. Each of us gets to decide which labels we want to use and what they mean to us. And we can change those labels as we grow and discover new parts of who we are. And it’s okay if we decide to just chuck the labels all together and be “whatever” too. So be who you are. Love loudly. Live boldly. You make the world more beautiful when you are your most authentic self. And only YOU get to decide who that is.

TW/CW: Mental Illness, Addiction, Suicidal Thinking, Abuse, Family Trauma, Death

This sapphic retelling of Sleepy Hollow was the perfect way to kick-off the spooky season! The story follows FBI Agent, Elizabeth Crane, who’s been behind a desk for a while and is ready to get back out in the field when her boss sends her to a quaint little town to track down a serial killer who is decapitating their victims. The FBI put her up in the local bed and breakfast so she could keep a lower profile while there. The B&B is run by the sweet, attractive girl-next-door, Katrina, and her aunt Morgana.

Agent Crane is paired up with Detective Jones and they set out to find the killer. But mysterious things start happening and the case gets stranger by the minute. Instead of finding answers they find more questions. What did they just see? Who was that? Could the Horseman be back? How do we tell this story and not sound like we’ve lost our minds? And they have to do all this while dealing with the likes of Bo Bowers, a cocky beat cop trying to insert himself into the case - “a toddler in a Superman costume.”

Anna Woiwood does not get half the recognition she deserves! She writes intense, gripping, heartbreaking, beautiful stories about queer women in the mid 1900s that are raw and real.

A Tiger in Suburbia is set in the 1950s and follows the story of Vera - an unhappy housewife and struggling mother - after her husband moves their family out of the city, and away from freedom. Vera finds herself surrounded by the monotony of suburban life - forced obligations, catty/gossipy housewives, unfaithful men, and the pressure to be everything she is not. A doting mother. An obedient wife. A happy homemaker. A quiet, reserved woman. Docile. Submissive. Perfect.

Drowning in the unrelenting sea of her new existence, Vera takes to alcohol and chain smoking for a way to escape. But it’s not enough. Especially when she catches sight of a breathtaking older woman in church. The more she learns about this woman, the more she needs to know her - and the whispers and rumors about this stranger only intrigue her more. Eventually the two women enter into a torrid affair, hidden in shadows and secrets (and church libraries

If you haven't read Stars Collide - read that first! [SPOILERS] I adored Eden and Anna's story and I loved getting a further look into their lives. I enjoyed all the extra scenes from when they were at Eden's cabin in Vermont - after their first time, Eden's birthday, moments shared in the gazebo. And I loved getting a glimpse into how Eden coming out was so beautifully responded to by her staff! I can't wait for Taylor's spinoff novel!

Becoming Her is about Julia and Jules - different versions of the same person living parallel lives in different dimensions who somehow switch places during a failed attempt at creating an artificial black hole. And while these two women may look identical, their lives could not be more different.

Dr. Julia Rottingaus is a professor and scientist, dedicated to making new scientific discoveries and uncovering mysteries about the universe no one ever has before. She is straight laced, super organized, a vegan/health nut, and married to her job. Jules, on the other hand, moves from temp job to temp job, is constantly losing things, loves to eat meat and greasy food, and lives her life in utter chaos (literal and figurative).

When they switch lives, Julia at least has a sense of what happened. Whereas Jules suddenly finds herself in a world very much similar and also very different from what she knows. As they both settle into the other’s life, they make some big changes and start getting comfortable in ways that leave them pondering the biggest question of all: to stay, or to find a way to go back.

There was more humor and sex in this book than some of Abby’s other books - especially from Jules' side of the story. It’s dual POV and each MC has a separate love interest - so you get two romance stories in one! Given the short timeframe in which the story takes place, it’s definitely insta love on both sides. And because it’s essentially two separate story lines, you don’t get quite as much build-up in the relationships, which I missed. But each romance arc was unique.

I didn’t particularly care for Julia or Jules. Can’t put my finger on why exactly, I just didn’t find myself liking them as much as I usually do Abby’s characters. My favorite character was by far Jules’ best friend Dino/Denise (in both universes). She was awesome!

This was a quick and enjoyable read. It’s lighter on the scifi side but heavy on the romance! Definitely a different direction than Abby’s other books, but I thought it was done well and didn’t feel inauthentic to her as a writer.

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

A sapphic Christmas romance with an adorable matchmaking job - sign me up!! I adored this book and of course the real MC who made it as special as it was - Bug. I love books where animals, especially dogs, play a key role in the plot and story, and Alyson Root did not disappoint with The Wisdom of Bug!

This wasn’t as spicy as some of Alyson’s other books, but the budding connection and building heat between Evelyn and Alyssa made for a delicious slow burn romance. The physical attraction between these two women was instant, but their first encounter was far from pleasant. Evelyn isn’t what I would call an ice queen, but she has some definite ice queen characteristics at the start. She’s a closed-off workaholic who can’t wait for the Christmas season to be over.

Then one day Evelyn almost trips over a dog in the middle of her office. And she discovers that only did her dad take off with no notice and leave her as CEO of Crawford Pet Supplies - he also made some sort of arrangement with a local dog rescue for the season.

Cue the sexy Alyssa Fox, owner of Four Paws. Tired of dogs being returned after the “Christmas shine” wears off, Alyssa decides to close the rescue for a couple of months. But the dogs still need interaction and play time. Which is why Alyssa, her team, and all their dogs are now at Crawford Pet Supplies. Every dog is paired with a volunteer, except Bug - who found his way to Evelyn’s office, and eventually into Evelyn’s heart.

The book is aptly named because Bug is a miracle worker who somehow knows exactly what both Evelyn and Alyssa need - long before either of them can see it or admit it to themselves. It’s not just about bringing them together, but about helping each of them learn to let go a little, and take care of themselves as much as they take care of their companies.

The Wisdom of Bug is a heartwarming story about two work obsessed women and a very special dog who helps them learn to live more fully…and even find love. It’s a quick and delightful holiday read you won’t want to put down!

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

A delectable short story about Langston, a food critic, and Nola, a wine connoisseur, who get off on the wrong foot when Langston is less than impressed with Nola’s wine suggestion and writes a scathing review. When Nola is forced by her boss to go make things right, it turns out that wine and food won’t be the only pairings getting made. This was a sweet and fun story that will definitely conjure up some cravings! I would love to see more of their story, but this was well developed for a short story.