B O O K S
In September, I read 8 books!
For transparency, every book marked with * is a title I received for free, as I currently work in publishing.
But I Hate Him by Page Powars
Heir to a successful tutoring company, Rory faces a social disaster after a public meltdown sends him to a private academic camp where he must win the top spot or otherwise ruin his reputation. Except Luca, the cause of his meltdown, is also attending, and Rory almost loses all hope. But this time Rory is ready for revenge, plotting to make Luca fall in love with him so he can break his heart and swoop in to take 1st place. But as rivalry turns into real feelings, how far is Rory willing to go to salvage his dying reputation?
PAGE POWARS NEVER DISAPPOINTS! A super cute queer YA romance about a trans teen with an angry bite and a hockey player who is just trying his best despite Rory’s belief that everything he does is effortless. Fast-paced and super witty. I feel like the story doesn’t explore the conflict enough, and the ending wraps up too quickly, but it’s still a sweet coming-of-age story.
Ship Happens by Mason Deaver
When a cruise his best friend gifts him leaves him stuck on a ship with his ex-boyfriend, Jacob, Owen has no choice but to confront the mess that is his life. To him, it feels like everyone has moved on, including Jacob, who admits he would like to try and salvage their friendship. But can they fix what was already dead and buried, or has the ship sailed once and for all?
A lovely second chance romance between two hopeless but lovable characters. I just really think the side characters lacked depth, and the whole crisis they manufactured made them feel like accessories to the plot rather than fully fledged characters. The story starts off really strong, but their involvement in the conflict really soured the ending for me. In fact, I feel like people really underreacted in this book. I would’ve started pushing people off the BOAT.
Head Over Skis by Sophie Davies
A winter holiday goes awry when Lottie discovers her ski instructor is in fact the same guy she had a one-night stand with the night before. Her friends are ecstatic and ready to play matchmaker as Lottie tries to balance her growing feelings for Rory while also coming to terms with her breakup with her ex-boyfriend, Adam.
I was not a fan. For a book about a group of friends in their late twenties, I would’ve expected their behaviour from a bunch of teenagers. Lottie and her friend group should’ve gone their separate ways after graduation, because why am I reading about your ex-boyfriend who can casually call you a whore and not one of your friends even thinks to stand up for you and instead just watches in glee when Rory is the only person who comes to your defence? Lottie is just a very immature main character. There are only so many times I can read about her lamenting and thinking Rory is dating every single person he hangs out with before I lose sympathy for her cause.
‘For god’s sake, will you both grow up, you testosterone-fuelled IDIOTS!’ WHO EVEN SAYS SOMETHING LIKE THIS?? I’m not even joking; this line was the straw that broke the camel’s back with this book.
I will say, regardless of how I felt about this book, I would really recommend following the author on her social media; her content is really fun!
Love Galaxy by Sierra Branham*
Temmi is a trash collector on a long-forgotten planet. In a galaxy so vast, she is barely a speck on anyone’s radar. So when she accidentally pisses off the heir to the empire, she gets fast-tracked into an intergalactic dating show starring the empire’s brother and sister heirs. The producers want Temmi to win over the bookish prince, but it’s the brash princess (and the very reason she’s here) who confuses her daily. And when Temmi’s fellow contestants wind up dead, she finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that not even the empire can control.
I’ll be honest: I didn’t realise this was a series until the very end of the book. I genuinely went into this book thinking it was a standalone and was wondering why the heck it was taking so long for the story to move on. Turns out, there was more to come. The concept is fun; I feel like the mystery behind the murder was a genuine shock, but the execution was rather lacklustre.
I think my main problem was that the story doesn’t really commit to the plot you’re promised. On one hand, you’ve got a girl competing in a Love Island-like show while also trying to be social commentary on imperialism. On the other hand, there’s a murder mystery plot that doesn’t feel like a mystery because it seems like even the main character has forgotten about it for the most part. The biggest drawback was that, despite some amazing world-building, the story falls flat. I just hope I’m proved wrong in the next book.
This Is How The World Ends by Disco Barrington
Told through fictional epistolary sources and a multi-narrative, This Is How The World Ends is set in a dystopian Britain where all hope is lost, and the country is isolated by a digital blockade. This debut novella spans multiple timelines in a dark future where society’s breakdown has pushed humanity toward near extinction. Despite its bleak setting, this debut is ultimately a story of queer love and resistance in the face of total collapse. An unsettling yet hopeful take on the apocalypse, Barrington is an author who is just getting started. And I am thoroughly excited to see where his work goes next.
Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning*
After years of trying to stop drinking human blood, vampire Bastian is ready to enjoy his holiday in charming Italian villages alongside his familiar, Whitby, and maybe even find a fun guy to spend his nights with. What he doesn’t expect is to stumble upon a dead body that appears to have been killed by a vampire. The local police chief believes he’s the killer and assigns Detective Nico De Luca to watch over him as he awaits judgment from the Vampire Council. As more bodies are found, the trio must discover who is framing Bastian before it’s too late.
A vampire on a “veggie” diet, a talking feline familiar who tries to do magic and a young detective who clearly does not get paid enough to deal with all of this. Charming, funny and downright ridiculous. I loved it all.
May We Feed The King by Rebecca Perry
A curator who restores historic buildings finds herself transfixed by the past of a forgotten king. Another book where the synopsis doesn’t describe the story as well as it could. I liked the chapters about the King and his rise to the throne – a man who truly had no interest in the role until his two elder brothers died before producing heirs. I really loved how we never truly knew this man, only through whispers from his staff and the growing dissent from his council. I just don’t think the concept of this book was executed well enough.
Around the World in 80 Dates by Jasmine Burke
After a drunk post goes viral, Amorie gets the job of a lifetime documenting her journey across Europe in dates. When she meets another interrailer, Noah, the two hit it off, but this is only the beginning of Amorie’s journey. Can the two follow their ground rules, or will they be tempted to break every rule in her book?
It’s hard to root for a couple when there’s no real contender on any given date, so you’re just reading knowing what will inevitably happen without any real friction. Great bi rep, and Burke is clearly a great writer, but the story just felt so… lacklustre.
That’s it for this month! Tell me what went on in YOUR life this month! What sort of things was important for you this month? New obsessions? New TV shows? Or book? Any new song recs (I’m always open to new music!)? Best books you read this month?
