• All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: LGBT Literary Fiction (II)

    15 November, 2022

    The me from a year ago would never even dream of making this rec list. And here we are! But also, before we go into the heavy detail, let me just say that I use a very rough definition of ‘literary fiction’. And by that I mean that in my mind it’s mostly just… character-driven, hard to define stories. That’s it. I’m literally just here for the vibes and to have a good time.

    Anyway, Charlotte also recced some lit fic this year (and she included one of my favourite books of all time – On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous), so check out her post, too!

    And hey, a lot of those titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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  • All Reviews,  Literature

    ARC Review: One Night in Hartswood

    28 October, 2022

    If you’re looking for a new histrom to get excited about, then look no further than the upcoming One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny, releasing from Mills & Boon next year. You’ll sadly have to wait another 2 and a half months (or so) for this book, for which I have to apologise, but trust me when I say that it’s one you won’t want to miss out on. And this post will give you five reasons exactly why!

    Before we start, don’t forget you can follow Emma on twitter too.

    A love story worth fighting for…

    Oxfordshire 1360

    When Penn and Raff meet in Hartswood Forest the only truth they know of each other is a brief moonlit kiss they had shared previously. But Penn is escaping a life of cruelty, and an arranged marriage to a woman he has never seen. Raff is tracking the elusive missing groom of his sister to restore his family’s honour. Neither are looking for a travelling companion. Yet both men find themselves drawn to each other in ways neither imagined.

    Unaware of their true identities they venture north together through Hartswood Forest. And, as their bond deepens, their fates become irrevocably entwined. But, with one escaping a life of duty and one tracking a fugitive, continued concealment threatens everything they know and trust in each other. So when secrets are finally revealed, and the consequences of their relationship become clear, both must decide what they will risk for the man they love.

    One Night in Hartswood

    Emma Denny

    Goodreads

    Rep: bi mc, gay mc, lesbian side characters
    CWs: violence, implied child abuse
    Release: 19th January 2023

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  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: Historical (II)

    25 October, 2022

    Not the post we necessarily planned coming to you today, but a quick one we threw together at almost the last minute (haha blogging amirite?). If you’re a fan of historical fiction, then this is a list for you! Of course, it’s actually part two of the list (part one can be found here), but honestly, I’m a little happier with this one than the last, because I didn’t have to resort to histroms to fill in the gaps (which, let’s be clear, is not a bad thing, but I had a whole separate list for historical romances, as opposed to historical fiction which might or might not include romance). But anyways. I’ll not keep you waiting any longer for it!

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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  • All Recommended,  Film & TV Recs,  Film & TV Shows

    Film & TV Recs: Paranormal & Horror

    22 October, 2022

    Full disclosure at the start of this rec list: neither me nor Anna are the biggest fans of horror, so these recs are really, what we have found that we’ve either a. started and not finished (mostly me, this one), or b. managed to get through without being hidden behind a sofa. There’s a variety of horror here: things you might consider more conventionally horror, some slashers, some horror-comedies, and some more paranormal things. Hopefully, then, something for everyone.

    I just want to note here, before we start, that I’ve tried to put accurate CWs in each of these entries. However, having failed to watch all of the recs on this list, inevitably some of them will be lacking. So I’ll be coming back to update those (or, if you’ve watched, feel free to let me know what to add there).

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  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: Vampires

    19 October, 2022

    The other day, Anna posted books to read with the same vibes as Interview with the Vampire, on which you might have noticed, there were precious few actual vampires. That’s because this list was coming! Ten books featuring vampires—not all of them horror books—for your reading pleasure this spooky season. You can also find some more vampire recs (along with other spooky season stalwarts) in last year’s post!

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: LGBT Books With the Vibe of Interview With the Vampire

    17 October, 2022

    I am, of course, talking about the 2022 AMC TV series. The masterpiece of modern television. The adaptation that (hopefully) has Anne Rice turning in her grave. If you’re wasting your Sundays on a different show, I don’t know how to help you…

    For those of you who simply want more vampire stories, Charlotte will have a rec list soon has a rec list, don’t worry! But I’m here for vibes, and vibes alone. I’m here for the toxic, unhealthy relationships! (Though I did include a few vampire titles, as well, and because of that this list is actually longer than usually.)

    And if you want more trans stories about vampires (like we all do!), I’ve been told you should keep an eye out for Danny Bryn & Rem Wigmore next year!

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  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: LGBT Romances

    24 September, 2022

    When I told Charlotte that I want to make a rec list for LGBT romance books, she told me to only include “actually romantic ones”. If I knew what she meant. And I did! I really did.

    So that’s what you can expect here: 10 romance books with pining turned up to the absolute maximum, and ones where you can almost physically feel the love the characters have for one another. You’ll probably gonna cry, but you can thank me later!

    A lot of those titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

    Related: Historical LGBT Romances, New Adult LGBT Romances
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  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: Achillean YA Fantasy

    17 September, 2022

    Today, quite by accident, marks exactly 2 years and 1 month since we posted a sapphic YA fantasy list. Obviously, this means it’s time to post an achillean equivalent. So, after much head scratching (and a few faves sadly left out (for now)), here it is! And, of course, Anna’s sapphic YA fantasy list can be found here should you want to check that out at the same time.

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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  • All Reviews,  Literature

    ARC Review: Lavender House

    14 September, 2022

    If you’re a fan of historical mysteries, then trust us when we say this isn’t one you’ll want to miss out on. Marketed as Knives Out meets Carol, that alone should pique your interest sufficiently. But if, for some unknown reason, that hasn’t worked, check out our review to find out why Lavender House should be right up there on your TBR!

    And don’t forget, you can follow Lev on twitter.

    A delicious story from a new voice in suspense, Lev AC Rosen’s Lavender House is Knives Out with a queer historical twist.

    Lavender House, 1952: the family seat of recently deceased matriarch Irene Lamontaine, head of the famous Lamontaine soap empire. Irene’s recipes for her signature scents are a well guarded secret—but it’s not the only one behind these gates. This estate offers a unique freedom, where none of the residents or staff hide who they are. But to keep their secret, they’ve needed to keep others out. And now they’re worried they’re keeping a murderer in.

    Irene’s widow hires Evander Mills to uncover the truth behind her mysterious death. Andy, recently fired from the San Francisco police after being caught in a raid on a gay bar, is happy to accept—his calendar is wide open. And his secret is the kind of secret the Lamontaines understand.

    Andy had never imagined a world like Lavender House. He’s seduced by the safety and freedom found behind its gates, where a queer family lives honestly and openly. But that honesty doesn’t extend to everything, and he quickly finds himself a pawn in a family game of old money, subterfuge, and jealousy—and Irene’s death is only the beginning.

    When your existence is a crime, everything you do is criminal, and the gates of Lavender House can’t lock out the real world forever. Running a soap empire can be a dirty business.

    Lavender House

    Lev A. C. Rosen

    Goodreads

    Rep: gay mc, Mexican lesbian side character, lesbian side character, gay side characters, Jewish bi side character
    CWs: suicidal thoughts, murder, homophobic slurs, homophobic violence (ch. 10)
    Release: 18th October 2022

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  • All Reviews,  Literature

    ARC Review: Contract Season

    3 September, 2022

    It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Contract Season was one of both of ours most anticipated reads of the year. We both loved Season’s Change, and expected to love Contract Season just as much. And guess what? We did! So, if you’re looking for a great romance to devour over the next few days, let us put forward this one. Need more convincing, though? Check out our review below.

    And don’t forget, you can follow Cait on twitter.

    A heartbroken hockey player and an up-and-coming country music star fake it for the cameras (or do they?) in Cait Nary’s delightfully sexy new novel.

    Brody Kellerman has a plan. First, become the best defenseman in professional hockey. Second, get over his ex-boyfriend so he can focus on his game. Hooking up with the singer at his buddy’s wedding was the perfect solution, but it was never meant to be more than a one-night stand.

    Seamus Murry has never planned a thing in his life, including hooking up with a smoking-hot hockey player. Being ghosted sucks, but at least one good thing came from it—the breakout hit song of the summer. Now he’s one of country music’s brightest stars, but one slipup—or in this case, video—might cost him his career.

    When their video goes viral, Brody and Seamus agree to fake a relationship. But soon it’s impossible to remember what is real and what’s pretend, and although Brody has no intention of falling for freewheeling Seamus’s charm…life doesn’t always go according to plan.

    Contract Season

    Cait Nary

    Goodreads

    Rep: gay mcs
    Release: 6th September 2022

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  • All Reviews,  Literature

    ARC Review: Wranglestone + Timberdark

    18 August, 2022

    Did you ever go through a phase of reading all the zombie apocalypse books you could get your hands on? No? Just me? Okay then. But even if you didn’t, this is a series you’ll want to be on the lookout for. I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Timberdark, but my review here is for the whole series, because I couldn’t review one without the other. So, let’s dive in!

    And don’t forget, you can follow Darren on twitter.

    The islands of Lake Wranglestone are a safe haven in a world filled with the Restless Dead. But as the lake freezes over, there’s nothing to stop them from crossing the ice.

    Peter’s has never really felt at home in a place where practicality and grit are valued above all else. He’s nothing like rancher, Cooper, the boy he’s always watched from afar. But when he’s is ordered to join him out on the mainland to help herd the Dead from their shores, they find more than just each other.

    There they unearth a dark secret about Wranglestone’s past. One that forces the pair to question everything they’ve ever known.

    With the tide turned against the Dead, Peter and the remaining community on Wranglestone prepare to leave for town, where the comforts of the world before await them. Could this be the home that finally brings both safety and unity for all?

    Cooper isn’t so sure. He harbours feelings from that terrible night on the lake and worse, a secret… codename, Timberdark.

    With Cooper’s new found connection to the Dead, Peter’s suspicions about what he might do next grow. Faced with losing the boy he loves, Peter must uncover the truth about the mysterious Timberdark before their future together and the world around them is placed in danger.

    Wranglestone Duology

    Darren R. Charlton

    Goodreads

    Rep: gay mc, gay li
    Timberdark release: 1st September 2022

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  • All Releases,  Book Releases,  Literature

    Book Releases: Ownvoices Achillean Books of July-December 2022

    12 August, 2022

    A list of achillean books written by achillean authors from second half of 2022. The term ‘ownvoices’ is used broadly, in the sense that some of those books feature gay protagonists & are written by bi authors, some are written by nonbinary achillean authors, etc. But none of them are written by women, straight or otherwise. And the term ‘achillean’ is used as a blanket label, so you will find here mlm books, but also mlnb books and books with achillean protagonists & no romance at all.

    There are no rainbow emojis this time, for obvious reasons, but there are plant emojis for nonbinary and/or trans authors.

    And hey, over time a lot of those titles will be available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

    See also: ownvoices achillean books of January-June 2022 & LGBT releases by rep
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  • All Reviews,  Literature

    ARC Review: A Taste of Gold and Iron

    9 August, 2022

    A Taste of Gold and Iron is a book we imagine you’ve been anticipating ever since it was announced, because we know we were! We’re a mere 3 weeks out from release now, so, without waffling on any further, let us give you a little taste of what you can expect in this review. (And, as ever, there’s a mix at the end too.)

    And don’t forget, you can follow Alex on twitter too.

    Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, finds himself at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court—the body-father of the queen’s new child—in an altercation which results in his humiliation.

    To prove his loyalty to the queen, his sister, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds, with the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy, and the conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing and bring about its ruin.

    A Taste of Gold and Iron

    Alexandra Rowland

    Goodreads

    Rep: Turkish coded cast & setting, gay mc with depression and anxiety, bi mc, achillean side character, nonbinary side characters
    CWs: violence, panic attacks
    Release: 30th August 2022

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  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: Twitter’s Favourite LGBT Romance Novels

    21 July, 2022

    Once again, I have asked people on Twitter something and was overwhelmed with the responses. This time my question was: what are your 5 favourite LGBT romance novels? Almost fifty people replied! It’s amazing to see how much this community loves to hype up their favourite books!

    But it also means that I had to take some time to decide how to make this post. In the end I settled on dividing it into three parts: one for recommendations from me & Charlotte, one for books which were mentioned multiple times (some more than five times!), and one all the other hidden gems. I still ended up with close to 200 titles! (In each category, the books are in alphabetical order.)

    A lot of those titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

    💛 = sapphic rep (not necessarily an f/f relationship)
    💚 = achillean rep (not necessarily an m/m relationship)
    💙 = trans & nonbinary rep

    Related: Twitter’s Favourite Sapphic Books, LGBT Books & Trans Books
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  • All Releases,  Book Releases,  Literature

    Book Releases: July-December 2022 Books With Bi Protagonists

    13 July, 2022

    It’s that time of the year! Here’s a lit of 90 books with bisexual and/or pansexual representation. Like all the posts from previous years, this one includes books where either a character actually uses the label or the text makes it abundantly clear that they’re bi/pan. (As you can imagine, not a lot of fantasy or historical books use modern labels.) I’m sure I missed plenty of books, so please do let me know of any you know!

    As always on this blog, the rainbow emoji indicates that the book is by an LGBT author. 🌈

    A lot of those titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

    Related: January-June 2022 Bi/Pan Books, January-June 2021 Bi/Pan Books, July-December 2021 Bi/Pan Books
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