forevermore

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I really wanna love Ali Hazelwood's books, I so desperately do, because we, science girlies, also deserve representation in romance books! As a teenager I've never read or even seen a book with the main female lead being a scientist, so now I enjoy the rising popularity of the STEM romance. Moreover, showcasing political games in the academia, rivalries, struggles with peers or supervisers could be really helpful for people in similar situations - they would feel less alone and maybe even be motivated to take some action.

The other, much more important representation in this book, is of the Type 1 Diabetics. This chronical condition is draining by itself, but it's even harder without proper healthcare, when the need of money for insulin is hovering over you all day every day. Here we have Elsie, an extreme people pleaser, who wants to be easy and not to inconvenience anybody, so she usually hides the fact of being diabetic, which makes the experience even more isolating.

Even though I appreciate this book and I actually quite liked the story, there are still a few things that bothered me here, and previously in The Love Hypothesis. First of all, where does the author find those tall, muscular, sexy men she describes? Like we had guys at school, there are some in the lab, but let me tell you, none of them look like Jack Smith-Turner or Adam Carlsen (send some, I wouldn't mind😅). Maybe that's the reason it seemed a little fanfic-ish to me, the feeling strengthened by the fact that those guys fell for their girls head over heels during the first meetings. And, to top it all off, they have exceptional emotional intelligence - this really takes it to the verge of fantasy.

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I went into this story with almost no knowledge about polyamoric relationships, especially queer ones, and was excited to be educated in a fun way. Also I'm a sucker for vampires, so it was straight up my alley. And the book did not disappoint in any way!

In my time I've read a fair share of books about vampires and I like how here they weren't romanticised. The endless life was portrayed with its own challenges and vampires weren't immediately invincible, it took them lots of time to come into their power.

And now about the polyamory - surprisingly, it felt so natural how they made space for another people in their hearts without diminishing previous relationships. I liked the distinctive differences between all their relationships - it made each one seem special and precious, since they brought something else to the table and fullfilled different needs.

The other obvious differences were in their reactions to the extremely controlling and borderline abusive actions of their creator. Constanta simply followed him, always tried to act perfect to not provoke his anger, but when it was unavoidable, she either made herself invisible or calmed him down best to her abilities. Magdalena didn't take the limitation of her freedom as well, so she developed reoccurring depressive episodes. But Alexi refused to submit, he challenged that regime and was a spark the girls needed to finally break out of the vicious cycle.

I didn't have much expectations, mostly I was looking for fun, so I was surprised by the depth of this story. Would recommend👌

P.S. I was reading this book, when Laufey's Madwoman came out and I kinda saw it in here - knowing that someone is bad for you, but being unable to leave them.

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Well, this book took me AGES to finish and not because it was so good I wanted to savour it, quite the opposite - I had to make myself read it, because each time I got bored after a couple of pages.

The story here is as old as the world - two friends, one has been in love with the other for quite some time, and the other one realises her not-just-friendly-feelings only after they start sleeping together. Then there was a bit of miscommunication, some suffering, after that came big confessions and a happy ending.

To be honest, it isn't even a bad story, per se. The characters are quite nicely written, they all have their own thing, and Gianna's transformation from a mean spoiled girl to a decent human is impressive. But still, it was all so plain, it hurt.

Also, this might just be a pet peave of mine, but the author really went all in with a use of characters names, especially full ones. Like girl, they know how they are called, they don't need to adress each other by name in every sentence.

The author seemed quite popular, but I'm not sure if I'll read anything else by her.

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I've had this book on my list for some time, but I only got to it after the movie came out, because I can't resist judging the precision of a book adaptation.

Overall, it was a nice read, I've quite enjoyed the story, although there were a couple of frustrating buts. For example, I really liked both Poppy and Alex and their dynamic, but the ending seemed a bit out of character for both of them - it got a little too rom-comy with those long love declarations, big gestures and overly sweet scenes. I also liked that we got to see the evolution of their relationship through their previous trips, but since those were peppered in-between the current time, sometimes it felt disruptive to that main storyline - it lost momentum and for a couple of times I had to go back to remember what was going on before the flashback. However, these are my subjective complaints, maybe any of those things won't bother you, if you are not a cynic with bad memory.

The film also gave me mixed feelings. The actors were perfectly cast (especially Poppy), they had great chemistry and captured the main vibe of the book. But there were so many changes made, that at times it felt like a different story. It's quite a good movie, if you haven't read the book or take it like something inspired by the book, not it's literal adaptation.

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So this is the story about the time I read two books called Sunburn - one straight and the other one sapphic - so this was kind of an ultimate bi experience.

After seeing many recommendations on TikTok I finally got the Sunburn book and it quickly sucked me into the story. Polly's a complicated character, who is often in a gray area - she does questionable stuff, but it's for a good reason. Life had screwed her over, so she took control and screwed it back. And in between all that complicated scheming she unexpectedly found love. The tension lasted until the last pages, leaving you wondering what she did and didn't do.

Don't get me wrong, this was a great book, but it wasn't the life-changing queer romance I was promised, so I did some googling and quickly realised that sometimes it's useful to check the author. So then I got the right Sunburn.

Well, this book was pure poetry. Breathtaking, evoking, intimate, both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

I don't know if it was those poetic descriptions or the atmosphere of a small Irish village, love to the point of devotion or Catholic trauma, but I kept getting a feeling while reading this book as if I was listening to a Hozier song, more precisely Take Me to Church. It shows in how Lucy, at some point, began to think that sex may not be the sacred union she once imagined it to be, but a wonderful disgrace. It's in her knowing that there is evil in her yearning, she just couldn't see where yet. It's in her thoughts that being with Susannah is a sin, but being without her is a tragedy.

This is the perfect queer coming-of-age story, where we see Lucy first realising and coming to terms with her own sexuality, then exploring it. The devastating part here is that she had to choose between being with the girl she loved or staying in her mother's good graces - no matter the choice, she would hurt someone and also loose a part of herself. I'm not even sure what I would do in a situation like that.

This book was so raw, so human. I felt, what Lucy felt. Her actions, even though far from perfect, made perfect sense. And have I mentioned how beautifully written it was?

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I've just had a hell of a week, so I needed something to take my mind of the work and this book hit all the right spots. The characters, their story - it's all so incredibly cute, that it filled my heart with love and hope again. And I know that it's somewhat unrealistic and over-the-top, but I think the purpose of this book is to make you feel good, not to dig deep.

What I always appreciate is a nice bisexual representation. Some queer people may know their identities or orientation from a young age, but bi-awakening often happens later in life. Sometimes it just takes meeting that special someone to realise your attraction to both genders. The other thing I enjoyed is how calm Alex was about his sexual orientation and coming out to the world. These experiences can be hard and even traumatic, but in this case they are shown in a positive light, since he is comfortable with himself, confident in his partner and has mostly supportive environment.

Overall, this was such an easy and enjoyable read, so don't hesitate.

[leksivoz]

This took me long enough to finish, since I often needed some time to think and let the words sink in. It wasn't the love from the first page, I didn't become obsessed with the book like it sometimes happens, but there are so many things that I appreciate about it.

From the top, I like how the title can be interpreted in two ways - "deep cuts" as the lesser known songs, but also as a literal reference to hurting someone, which Joe and Percy have done repeatedly. Zoe even wonders at one point how many ways it's even possible for the same two people to break each other hearts. Also it kind of reminds me the lyric from Olivia Rodrigo's song: "We both drew blood, but, man, those cuts were never equal."

The other thing that really got me is how realistic all the characters are. We get to see them trying to figure out their lives, find careers, navigate through relationships and their own feelings. It all is so far from perfection, but that's just life.

And Percy, my girl. I relate so hard to her, as someone who is obsessed with music, but wasn't born with a talent for it. Maybe that's why I felt so proud of her, when she finally found and fought for her way in creating music, instead of just appreciating it. She definitely has a way with words, just her blog is worth a lot - I liked the idea of showing music not only through her eyes, but through her life.

So if you like music and a little bit of drama, then I couldn't recommend you this book enough.

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When the 3rd episode of Heated Rivalry came out a lot of people were complaining about it being unnecessary, since they wanted more of Shane and Ilya. To be honest, at first I also felt a bit disappointed, but after watching the episode I was immediately hooked on that storyline, so downloading the book was the next logical step.

It's funny how based on the series I gravitated more towards Kip, but after reading the books I grew fond of Scott. Especially I liked how his capitancy was showcased - he is a true leader, you could really feel the level of his care and responsibility towards the team and their fans. The other thing I enjoyed is how this book showed that even in your late twenties you can still change the course of your life and keep looking for yourself.

After reading a couple of books featuring gay hockey players, I felt quite sad realising how toxic and homophobic this sport can be (alongside other men's team sports, focused on macho culture). All of these characters - as, probably, many real men - have to suppress and hide a big part of themselves, because they are concerned about their careers. Their relationships are under a huge pressure, as they need to stay hidden. This issue is even more visible in this story, since Kip isn't in the hockey world and was used to living his life proudly out of the closet.

No wonder the name of the book is Game Changer, because that kiss didn't just affect Scott's and Kip's lives, but changed the situation for lots of others. That's why the representation matters - it makes you feel less alone, seen and included.

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I was on a gay hockey high after the Heated Rivalry, which it led me to this series. And these books also went down really quickly, I think it took me just one weekend to get through them.

It's hard not to compare this story with Heated Rivalry, because besides hockey there are quite a lot of similarities - hooking up that leads to something more, having a secret relationship and then being outed, mental health struggle, accepting family of one of the partners that "adopts" the other one. After reading both series in a row I would say that this one is inferior to the Heated Rivalry.

My main problem is that the story isn't the most thought out one - everything works out a little too easily and too perfectly to feel believable. It got on my nerves at some point when the main characters were having relationship trouble and kept saying they needed to talk it out but never actually did, yet somehow everything ended up fine between them.

Overall, these books were all cute and sexy, just a tad too sweet for my taste.

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Ladies and gentlemen, I am obsessed. This all started with me downloading a book (obviously from TikTok recs) for a long train ride, which made it seem so short, because I couldn't stop reading. It was catchy, it was fun and it was definitely hot. A week later I found out that there is a second part, so I wasted no time and downloaded it. Mind you, it was at 10:30 pm and I have devoured that book by 9 am (with short sleep brakes). And now there is a TV series coming out based on these books - I think I have been blessed by the Gay Gods.

The first book is so dynamic, showing the development of characters, their careers and their relationship, that it swallows you whole. There are more than enough sexual scenes, but they are well balanced out and make perfect sense in the story, so it just feels right. As someone said: "It's a slow burn, but they are fucking the whole time". The second book has a slower pace, it focuses more on their feelings and gives us a better look at the inner world of these two. And I can't even begin with how much I appreciate the mental health arc.

There is something so raw about this story, that makes you immediately connect with the characters. And let me tell you, it isn't possible to not love Shane and Ilya. There were moments, when I literally laughed out loud, because their dialogues are actually hilarious.

P.S. The TV series are just the chef's kiss👌 the actors fit so perfectly in the roles, I couldn't have imagined the character better in my head. But it's a bit annoying that people are taking sides and making conclusions only after seeing the two episodes - like babes, wait for the whole thing and you'll see, that they are both down bad for each other.

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So this is a bit unusual - here we have a piece of modern Ukrainian literature and I have to admit, that I was pleasantly surprised. The thing is, a lot of authors and TV series writers have problems with depiction of a typical Ukrainian teenager. They either go with goody two shoes who always speaks perfect Ukrainian, or jump right to a baddie, who swears all the time, sleeps around and does drugs. But this book captured high school kids just right - troubled, a little lost, trying to figure out life and make the most out of it. The title "Almost good guys" also fits perfectly. The only thing I hope isn't realistic, is the level of bullying of queer kids at school.

There is no doubt that the main character goes through a lot in the book, but you feel it all with him. For some reason, while reading this story, my brain kept bringing up memories of my first love, which made me connect deeper with the book.

So, if you know Ukrainian language - go read this one, the only regret you'll have is that you didn't read it sooner.

[leksivoz]

Today I have for you two stories that star queer princesses - and it's about all they have in common. I rarely compare books, but these two came in a row and I was stunned how nice was one of them and how terribly bad was the other.

As usually the book popped up on my TikTok, although this time it wasn't a review, but a post straight from the author. This story has it all - suspense, drama, secrecy, stress, betrayal, epiphany, character development and, of course, lot's of love. It was such an easy and cute book, I'm just sorry it didn't exist, when I was 15-17. It also would make a decent Netflix movie.

P.S. It keeps me wondering what would modern monachies do, if someone from actual royal heirs turned out to be gay. Would they try to hide it and force the child to have a heterosexual marriage, or would they accept the queer relationship and even use it to show how progressive they are.

And this is what I get, when I try to find a book myself, without recommendations from TikTok. It was one of those times, when you force yourself to read the book, because you just want to finish it.

Maybe it's just me being slow, but for how complicated this fantasy world is, it wasn't explained and described well enough, so at times it got a bit confusing. There also were some inconsistencies that even I noticed.

Characters and their relationships also weren't a win - it all was a little bland and quite predictable. Honestly, I kept reading the book only because I was mildly curious about the ending. But turns out, that this is just a part of the series and I'm definitely not reading another one of these.

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So I had a little break from reading, just didn't feel like it. For some time I couldn't even get through a couple of pages, because nothing seemed interesting enough and felt like too much work.

In order to get myself back on the track I turned to something I knew I would eat up - gay literature. And funny enough, I'm down six stories with queer characters, but there are still two unfinished books about straight relationships. I also kind of hit a writers block and wasn't able to write even my summaries, so that's where I also have to pick up some slack.

This book in the photo is a reportage by Marek Hudec called Spúšť (Trigger in English), which focuses on lives of members of LGBTQ+ community in Slovakia. If you know something about this country, you can guess that it's far from paradise for queer people.

Stories of love and hatred on the background of the tragedy. Book begins with the shooting in Bratislava in a gay cafe/bar, that took lives of two innocent people and feeling of safety from hundreds of others. This event shook up not only the community, but the whole nation really, and showed that situation was even worse than imagined.

The reportage takes us back in the day, showcasing the queer history, and comes back to the modern time. On the one hand, we can see that people are still being judged and persecuted because of how they identify or who they love. But on the other hand, they didn't let the challenges stop them and have achieved lots of improvements.

This book has a very special position and function - it commemorates, it validates feelings, it educates and it motivates. It is important both for member of the LGBTQ+ community and the general public.

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Oh, so this is an ultimate romance novel with the classic "girl/boy next door" trope. But I get it, after having been in a couple of long-distance relationships, I can say that living next to someone is definitely more convenient for the plot.

This book is so full of love that you just can't help, but love it. The backstory is perfect, you can see how the relationship slowly formed and that those two simply make sense as a couple. And when they meet after mistakes were made, feelings got hurt and years went by, they still can't deny how easy it feels to be around each other. Their interactions are so cosy, that it made me feel warm inside. By the end it got a little too sugary, with big emotional speeches, but I guess it's a part of the genre.

The only annoying thing was Luke with all that "you can't date any of my friends" thing. I understand the brotherly love and protectiveness over his younger sister, but it shouldn't be done through dictating who she can/cannot date and then being petty about her relationship with your close friend (who you know to be a nice person).

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I've been travelling a lot lately and there is nothing better, than reading an easy book on the road. So I went to my roots, which means vampires and witches, and ended up reading two stories with similar beginnings, but quite different vibes and endings. In both of them it all starts with a powerful witch brought up with hatred to a specific vampire. Obviously, this witch is highly trained and very determined to kill said monster. But when they actually meet nothing goes as planned, because feelings get in a way and some truths come out.

This was a very enjoyable book, I liked both of the main characters and was cheering for them to get out alive and have a long happy life they deserved.

I would say, this story proves once again, that you shouldn't form your opinion on something after hearing only one side of the story. Especially it applies to family feuds, because even the closest to you can omit facts and spin the truth to achieve needed effect. So in the end those presented to be monsters can turn out to be victims.

The writing in this book is so easy, definitely recommend to read if you want to relax.

Well this was going fine until it wasn't. The first book quickly caught my attention and the ending was quite unexpected, so I immediately found the second book to find out what happens next. And then I literally had to force myself through the first half of it, because all that sudden marriage trope between Gray and Willow was just uncomfortable to witness (made me feel icky, for lack of better words). Closer to the end of the book I made peace with that relationship, when they got to know each other better, formed some kind of connection and supported their causes. Overall I would just say, that Willow needs a break, because life hasn't been kind to her.

The ideas in these books are not bad, but could have been executed better. Also the sexual stuff... I usually have no problem with some spice, I even appreciate it, but here it felt like it was being pushed down my throat, and not in a pleasant way.

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I saw a post on TikTok saying "I like enemies to lovers, but only when it's gay" and a quick search in this category led me to this book. The creator recommending it said it was her comfort book and I couldn't agree more.

As an anxious person, who sometimes worries herself sick, I deeply relate with Prince Kadou, some of his thoughts sounded like straight from my head. And I love how this book validates being scared, doubting yourself and your choices, feeling useless or incompetent - negative emotions have place in our lives, you just can't let them take over. The same goes for someone highly controlled like Evemer - having structure in your life is fine, but sometimes you have to be flexible and not let rules dictate all your choices. This reminds me a lyric from Hozier song: "Don't you ever tame your demons, but always keep them on a leash".

The other lesson from this book would be not to make up your mind about somebody based on rumors or a quick first impression. In this case it caused tention and hostility between Kadou and Evemer in the beginning and it took them quite some time to overcome initial prejudice against each other. And all of that could be avoided.

Overall, this book is a real treat - it's cute, it's funny, it's real and relatable, so don't hesitate to read it.

[leksivoz]

TikTok recommended me Book Lovers by Emily Henry, but somehow Funny Story caught my eye, so I've opted for it and it was probably fate, cause I loved it soo much.

Even though it's a romance novel, I like how the main focus is on the personal growth of characters. The book shows us, that it's okay to not have everything figured out in your thirties (or even forties), because it's never too late to start over. Daphne's world crumbled, but it lead to her coming out of her shell - building new relationships, trying new things, finding new hobbies. What appealed to me the most is how she decided to leave a place for herself in her new romantic relationship, to not build all her life around her partner (again).

The other thing that the story reminds us, is that no matter how much we love someone, relationships are never perfect. All people have their traumas, quirks and insecurities, which make them act a certain way and influence their relationships. As Daphne said: "Things were allowed to be complicated. They were allowed to be messy. We were allowed to disagree and argue and even hurt each other, on occasion".