sarahthegaymer's Reviews (305)

This was short and beautiful and so many things in between. 

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I so deeply wish that there would have been more resources such as this while I was growing up. The author’s story could be life-changing for not only queer, but especially black, queer individuals. 

The relationship with his Grandmother hits home for me as one of my Grandmothers was the first and only to really embrace me as I truly was - queer and all.  There’s just something about a Grandmother’s love. 💕 

I also love the discussion around being able to know that you’re queer without understanding exactly what that means. You don’t have to come barreling out of the closet dressed in rainbows to be your authentic self. It’s not black and white or rainbow. It’s all the colors and whatever makes you, you.  


Lots of important messages that are told while accompanied by a beautiful story.  Truly, truly loved this.

This book is following our main character, Jenny, who is stuck in a backwards time travel after watching her son commit a heinous crime. Can she solve what caused this to happen and fix the future, or will she be forever moving backwards? 


The first chapter is very intriguing. It grabs your attention and it pulls you in. The second and third chapter are even more interesting as you start to figure out what’s happening. Then from there, until about 70% into the book - it’s boring AF. Then, in the last 30% it’s like BAM! 💥 plot twist over here and BOOM! 🤯 plot twist over there! EVERYONE GETS A PLOT TWIST!!!! 🌪️ 

Overall, I ended up really enjoying the book and the outcome but I was disappointed that it took SO long to get there. I’m not sure that it’s THAT GOOD that I would tell you to read it and push thru 70% of the book to get to the good part. 

I did enjoy that in addition to the mystery/thriller/suspense portion of the book; there was also some character growth. The main character as she’s traveling backwards and gets to experience her child again at different ages makes her reflect on her life and some of her choices - and that was a little heartwarming. 

Alright, so this was initially a DNF for me, but ended up being a soft DNF because I was enjoying the beginning of the book enough that I wanted to continue moving forward and see what the outcome would be in the end.

Am I glad I read it? Meh. Did I enjoy? Sure. Was it worth it? Meh. 

In this story we're following our main character who in this world has an extra shadow (it's a form of punishment) and the story starts the moment that she comes home with a brand new baby after her wife dies during/after childbirth. The baby also has an extra shadow. 

Basically, we're just following along; watching her navigate her grief, trying to be a Mother to a most defiant child, and then additionally while she mends some old relationships, makes new relationships, and possibly moves on as time goes on. 

The story overall wasn't terrible, it was written in a way that was interesting and the audiobook kept me engaged for the most part. 

While I definitely related to some of the things she discussed - such as the hate and struggles you face as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community - there were also some aspects in which I couldn't relate so it left me feeling a bit all over the place. 

I think had I physically been reading the book - I wouldn't have pushed on, but the audio played a large role in allowing me to pursuit the ending.

I initially gave this book 4-stars upon completing it and I remember really liking it at the time. However, going on a month later when I am finally sitting down to review it, I don't remember literally anything about it, and therefore I am bumping my review down to 3-stars. 

In this book, we're following Savannah "Sav" - a young bisexual who is away at college and experiencing life outside of the constraints of her small hometown for the first time. We see her exploring her sexuality, learning more about the LGBTQIA+ community, falling in love, falling out of friendships, and learning what matters and what doesn't. 

It's a very wholesome book and something that I probably would have really appreciated having in late high-school, early college. It reads a little more YA to me, even though it's marketed as Adult. I don't hate or love it, overall I just feel like it exists and that's enough. 

I'd recommend if you're young and starting out on your own, trying to find out who you are and where you fit in the world.

....I'm going to say it. Don't @ me. Don't come for me in the comments. But I'm going to say it.

I don't think that I'm an Emily Henry girlie. *Gasps from the crowd*
I know that for some people Emily Henry is literally a lifestyle choice, and not just an author. But I don't think I really care for any of it. 

"Happy Place" was my second experience with this author and while I was reading it I just had to keep looking for my own "Happy Place" cause this book was not it. 

If you live under a rock and don't know, let me give you a brief synopsis: Wyn and Harriet were made for each other. Together, they were a third of their couples-friend group..until they weren't. But, the elephant in the room is that their friends don't know that they're no longer an item. It's their annual friend-cation to Maine - and the last vacation to this specific 'home' for all of them as Sabrina's family will be selling it at the end of summer. And while it's where they've always gone, it feels like a strange place. Everyone wants it to be 'perfect' but their desire for perfection might just be their undoing. 

And there you have it. Yup, literally that is it. 

A few positives: there were some really cute quotes and I did like some of the conversation's that took place. There were some funny moments. 

Now let's look at the negatives: This was literally not even a romance. NOT A ROMANCE. DO YOU HEAR ME? This was a slice of life story about some friends spending time together and trying to navigate their lives all going in different directions with a couple getting back together thrown in the mix. It is slow-burn at best and I literally just kept pushing along because I was waiting for something to happen.
(SIDE NOTE: I also read this book because my wife really liked it and we enjoy reading the same things so we can converse about it).

All in all, I think this is where the Emily Henry road ends for me. I have her back list and new novel downstairs in the library and I just don't know if I have the heart, nor the desire, to pick them up. 

Not gonna spend too much time reviewing this book or giving an in-depth synopsis. I didn't know this existed, saw the audio book was available from the library, and decided to give it a whirl since it was a short little novella. 

If you've read anything in the Finlay Donovan series, you'll know that Veronica, known as Vero, is Finlay's Nanny, and best friend/partner in crime. This story takes place pre-Finlay and the gang and how gives us the story of how Vero came to be. 

Super cute and quick. Not Earth-shattering. Nothing that we don't already know..just a little back story that adds a little extra something.

Another middle of the road thriller for me - I think that I might fall in the weird minority here because most of the review I see about this book are polar opposites. Most people either really love it or really fucking hate it. I am of the group that doesn't feel strongly in either way, but enjoy my reading experience non the less. 

We're following the main character Alex, as she embarks on a journey to an elite writing retreat along with a few other girls hosted at the home of a famous author. She couldn't be more excited to be a part of this experience, even IF her Wren, her former best friend is also going to be in attendance. When they arrive, there is definitely a bit of an odd vibe about the place, but each girl is determined to write THE best story and score the prize of a huge publishing deal...but things are not as they seem. 

Overall, I really like how the book was written and I liked that there was always just enough information given to us to keep us guessing but not enough that you every truly knew what was happening. I loved the plot-twist about 3/4 of the way thru when you finally understand WHAT is happening and now have to see how it's going to play out. However, I was not satisfied with the ending and I think the first-half could have been written a little more quickly, more showing and less telling? 

If I'm not mistaken, I believe this is the author's debut and I will definitely continue to read from them and see what else they have to offer in the future. All in all I think it's worth checking out if you're interested but I wouldn't say it's a 'MUST HAVE'.

This book was a pleasant surprise and beautiful palate cleanser. One of book club picks, I was happy when *most* of the crowd enjoyed the read. 

We're following Marigold, who though she's grown up in a loving home with two siblings and two wonderful parents, knows that she is different and that she was born to be more. She isn't interested in courting or dancing but loves the taste of Honey and going into the fields. When her Grandmother - The Honey Witch - comes to whisk her away and teach Marigold everything she knows, it's then that Marigold knows that she is going to be the next Honey Witch. Then along comes Lottie, a nonbeliever in magic who despises Marigold so much...just being anywhere near Marigold makes Lottie physically ill.... 


I will say, the first 20-30% of this book is boring as hell. If I was just reading it physically it would have 100% been a DNF for me. However, the audiobook was so delightful, it allowed me to keep pushing through and I am so, so glad I did. 

The book was basically meant to be cozy and I think it definitely succeeded in that. I loved the descriptions, the island, the friendships and family ties...it was just really wholesome. I will say that I think it was about 100 pages too long for what it was. There was a lot of talk about the battle between The Honey Witch and The Ash Witch and the buildup was SO intense that when the battle actually took place, it was very anticlimactic. I might have actually been pissed at it and that is what dropped this from a 5-star to 4-star for me. I understand that it wasn't suppose to be the point of the book, but we spent so much time talking about it that I just thought there would have been more than there was. 

One thing that I really loved about the book was the open sexuality of almost everyone and it was just accepted and didn't have to be explained. 100% *chef's kiss*.  

I would say this is for fans of Bridgerton and Legends and Lattes because its like the two of them had a Sapphic baby. There are parties and dances and masquerades but little plot. 

**ALSO, the beginning of the book lists trigger warnings which I found incredibly kind as there are a few dark topics. They wouldn't have personally been triggering to me - except for one - but I really love when Author's take the initiative to do so, so the reader doesn't have to search high and low for them.**

This was my second Riley Sager novel and while it was not as enjoyable as my first experience, this wasn't a bad book. 

In this story, we're following Casey Fletcher who is a recent widow and actress that suffered some bad press. Because of this, her Mother has sent her off to her family's lake house to 'detox' and stay out of the public eye. But, the place that once brought her such good feels and comfort is now a place of day-drinking, sorrow..and a bit of mischief. 

Casey quickly becomes obsessed with the family across the lake - watching them all hours of the day. 
The good..and the...bad? 

I really enjoyed this and it re-ignited my fire for how much I love thrillers and their pacing and the twist and turns and never knowing what's going to happen and when! I'd been on a bit of a thriller-hiatus and this definitely wants me to pick some more up and get back into them. Overall, I enjoyed the book and the storyline, however; their is one trope that I'm not a super big fan of and this book has it..and it plays a large enough part of the story that it drops it from a 5-star to 3.5ish star read. (I'm not going to give you the trope because it's essentially a spoiler.)

If you're a fan of Riley or just a good thriller that might keep you on the edge of your seat..consider picking this one up!