Book Review: "All's Fair in Love and Pizza" by Lane Hayes

Y’all, this book had me at PIZZA BAGELS. I enjoyed a lot about the story—the chemistry between the characters, the competition, the banter—but it was all about the pizza bagels for me.

Mateo has been working at his family’s pizzeria for as long as he can remember. Since his father and his uncle died, Mateo and his cousin run Boardwalk Pizza. It’s an institution in the college town of Haverton.

When Mateo and his crew learn that the empty space next door is going to be taken over by a bagel shop, they’re somewhat excited. The shop will be run by Rob Vilmer, Mateo’s football teammate in college who had a great pro career.

Rob remembers having a huge crush on Mateo back in college, but since Rob was closeted nothing ever happened. He’s excited to see Mateo again—until the two of them butt heads when Rob reveals his plan to make pizza bagels. How can this guy just come into town and start selling pizza bagels next to a pizzeria?

Mateo gets angrier and Rob loves egging him on. Rob’s business partner suggests the two stores have a bake-off that will last through football season. And when the heat of competition bubbles over to the bedroom, both have to decide whether to trust their heart to their rival.

This was fun, steamy, romantic, and hunger-inducing. It’s been a while since I read a rom-com by Lane Hayes, and I’ll be back for more!!

Book Review: "Two Left Feet" by Kallie Emblidge

As many of you know, I’m a sucker for a sports romance. I’ve totally broadened my horizons, though—this is my first soccer (football) romance in a long while. And my heart grew a bit bigger from this one, that’s for sure!

Oliver Harris is a star in the Premier League for the Camden Roses. He’s a local boy, born and raised in Camden, so the fans treat him like royalty, despite the team’s mediocrity. But with the arrival of a new head coach from the Netherlands and rumors the team’s owner is getting frustrated, things have been a bit tense.

After an injury sidelines Oliver for a few months, the coach gives him a new assignment. The team is calling up a young recruit to sub for Oliver and hopefully play alongside him once he’s back on the pitch. Would Oliver mentor the player and ensure he fits in?

At first, he is angry and worried about this request. Why should he train someone to replace him? But when he is assured that isn’t the case, he reluctantly agrees to help the young player, Leonardo Davies-Villanueva, who has dreamed of playing for Camden since he played for their youth academy.

Oliver is jealous of Leo’s talent and confidence, and at first he can barely stand him. But he begins to realize that the coach’s idea of working with Leo isn’t a bad thing, as their playing styles complement each other. And the easy camaraderie they build leads to attraction—and a direction they’re not sure they want to move in. Will they have to choose between their sport and their happiness?

There were so many moments that left me emotional—not only the romantic ones between Oliver and Leo, but also confronting their fears about not being able to achieve their dreams. And there are some family issues that touched me too. I found the other teammates to be a hoot and also enjoyed the actual soccer games. I hope to see more sports romances coming from Kallie Emblidge!

Book Review: "The Backup Plan" by Eden Finley

Y’all know I love my sports romances. Well, Eden Finley is one of the writers who have stoked that love!

Thad dreamed of nothing more than becoming a professional baseball player. He spent so much time playing and practicing, but when it came time for the draft, he was hit with the realization that he just wasn’t good enough. Dream: dead.

Now, angry and bitter, he’s pursuing his backup plan of becoming a sports agent. He’s interning at King Sports, one of the biggest firms working with queer athletes. He’d probably like the job and be good at it if he weren’t so mad. But dealing with athletes who are living his dream isn’t easy.

Kelley is a rookie pitcher and he’s on his way to becoming a superstar. He’s also under a lot of scrutiny: his fathers were the first out football players to win a Super Bowl and his brother is a star quarterback. While news of Kelley’s coming out is met with the usual mix of support and derision, his need for approval and his worry about what people are saying about him is only exacerbating his anxiety.

Thad is assigned to watch over Kelley on a two-week stay out of the public eye and off social media. At first, Thad resents that Kelley, who has everything Thad has ever wanted, is acting this way. But then he realizes how tough the pressure is and how much it feeds into Kelley’s other issues, and then Thad shifts into protector mode. And, of course, the animosity between them shifts into something intense, something deeper.

This was a good story, full of memorable characters, great steam, and terrific banter. It’s also a real examination of anxiety and fear of disappointment and disapproval, and how debilitating they can be. I’ll be waiting for book 2 in this series!

Book Review: "If You Can't Take the Heat" by Michael Ruhlman

A book primarily set in a restaurant? Written by an award-winning food writer and cookbook author? How quickly do you think I picked this up?

Cleveland, Ohio, 1980. Theo is a star athlete at his high school, and he’s looking forward to spending the summer practicing with his teammates. It’s the one bright spot for him, since his girlfriend broke up with him a few weeks ago.

And then tragedy strikes: while playing a casual game of football, he breaks his leg severely. He’s bedridden for weeks and he might never be able to play football again. With not much else to do, he starts watching Julia Child and Graham Kerr’s cooking shows, and he becomes more and more interested in replicating what he sees on television.

His friend Julia (with whom he’d like to be more than friends) gets him a chance to help out at Margaux, the fancy restaurant she works at. At first, Theo takes care of lots of prep work for Chef (while he’s on crutches), and he immediately realizes how at home he feels, even while he makes mistakes due to clumsiness or nervousness.

As Theo proves his worth and his skill, Chef gives him more and more responsibility. At the same time, he is dealing with wanting more from his relationship with Julia, and having to convince his parents he can balance high school and working at the restaurant. But when an incident occurs and Theo does what he thinks is right, it complicates things on all fronts.

I really enjoyed this and learned some new cooking things, too. At times I forgot Theo was only 16, and at other times it was obvious based on his decisions. I honestly could’ve done without the romance, but I was definitely hooked on this story.

Book Review: "Carrie Soto is Back" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Was it worth the hype? Yes, yes, a million times, yes!!

“My ambition has long felt oppressive. It is not a joy—it is a master that I must answer to, a smoke that descends into my life, making it hard to breathe. It is only my discipline, my willingness to push myself harder, that has been my way through.”

Carrie Soto was raised by her father, a former tennis player, to become the greatest player in the world. She was singularly focused on this goal, a ruthless competitor who made no friends and absolutely hated losing. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she rose to the top of the game, winning a record 20 Grand Slam titles, becoming #1 in the world, before retiring.

Known as “The Battle Axe” while competing, she lives a fairly lonely existence, with few friends and no real romantic relationships. But in the mid-1990s, as she watches a new women’s tennis star’s meteoric rise, Carrie starts to get hungry to play again. And when this player, Nicki Chan, ties Carrie’s record of 20 grand slams, Carrie decides it’s time for a comeback. But can she play the kind of tennis she needs to at age 37? And can she win one more Grand Slam to take the record?

Taylor Jenkins Reid has long been one of my favorite authors, and I have been eagerly anticipating this book for months. It’s a fascinating, emotional, totally compelling story, and what impressed me so much was that she created an entire world of 1970s-1990s tennis; she didn’t just drop Carrie into the middle of the real players.

I absolutely devoured this book and now I have to wait perhaps a year for her next!!

Book Review: "Smells Like Tween Spirit" by Laurie Gelman

Smells Like Tween Spirit heralds the return of one of my favorite fictional mothers/grandmothers!

I’ve really enjoyed Laurie Gelman’s series of books featuring smart-ass mom Jen Dixon (Class Mom, You’ve Been Volunteered, and Yoga Pant Nation) and I’m so glad that her fourth book helped wake me from my reading slump.

Now that her son is in 7th grade, Jen’s days as class mom are over, but much to her surprise she’s now a “mat mom,” as Max has decided to take up wrestling. (She does hate the name “mat mom,” but no one jumps at her suggested name changes.)

While she’s amazed at what being the mom of an athlete entails—including having to wash the gym clothes of a bunch of middle schoolers on occasion—she’s more amazed at the competitiveness of other mothers and the extents to which they’ll go to motivate and cheer for their kids.

But that’s not all Jen has to deal with. Her daughters decide to go into business together and start feuding, her aging parents are becoming more difficult to deal with, and her decision to get to know the students in her spin classes comes with some hilarious results.

What I really enjoy about these books is Jen, and how she’s matured (sort of) through the series. While she still has her smart-ass tendencies, as her son has grown up, she has, too, and as she juggles marriage, motherhood, grandmotherhood, and the realities of aging, her character has become even more well-rounded.

If you enjoy humorous books, dive into this series!

Book Review: "Beautiful Little Fools" by Jillian Cantor

The latest novel from Jillian Cantor, Beautiful Little Fools is a fantastic retelling of The Great Gatsby through the eyes of three female characters in the book.

“I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

The Great Gatsby is one of my absolute favorite books ever—so much so that my first dog’s middle name was even Gatsby. This book was one I’ve been eagerly anticipating since learning about it last year, and after devouring it yesterday I’m happy to say it more than lived up to my expectations.

In the summer of 1922, Jay Gatsby is shot to death in his West Egg swimming pool. Police believe he was killed by George Wilson, who took his own life shortly thereafter, so the case is quickly closed. But when a diamond hairpin is found at the scene of Gatsby's murder, one detective believes the murder could actually have been perpetrated by one of three women—Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker, or Catherine McCoy, Myrtle Wilson’s sister and George's sister-in-law.

The book looks at the lives of the three women, how Jay Gatsby came into their lives and, ultimately, what chaos he caused that might have pushed them to murder him. It’s a fascinating retelling because it brings so much added depth and takes the focus off Nick Carraway, who narrated the original book.

I absolutely loved Beautiful Little Fools. What a creative idea that still felt very true to Fitzgerald’s original novel, yet with some angles he wouldn’t have explored back then. While it's helpful to have read the original book, I don't know if you have to, because this is a different story in many ways.

This was so excellent!

Book Review: "Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun" by Jonny Garza Villa

Get ready for an emotional, powerful story about coming out, finding your way, and finding love!

I’ve been meaning to read Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun for a while. And how can you not love an author who writes this in their author’s note? “So, as the writer of the words that form this journey, I ask you to do me a favor and check in with yourself before starting. And I want you to know that it’s okay if you’re not ready for this book yet. It’s okay if you never are.”

Julián is a high school senior growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas. He can’t wait to graduate and get as far away as he can—hopefully to college in California—so he can finally feel free to be himself. He’s tired of his father’s expectations, criticisms, even occasional abuse, constantly telling him to act more like a man, not to be emotional, find a girlfriend, etc.

His best friends probably know he’s gay, but if he tells them, will everything change? He knows things with his father will only get worse, so he’s just biding his time. And then one night, with one drunken tweet, he throws his plans away, forcing it all—and himself—out into the open.

His friends are well-meaning, but when the abuse from classmates begins, they’re not as supportive as Jules expected them to be. But before his closet-smashing tweet he had met Mat, a high school student from California, by sliding into his DMs on Twitter. Little by little, this online friendship blossoms into something more serious, so Jules has someone to rely on as everything starts to come apart.

This is a beautiful story about taking control of your own life, about chosen family, and knowing that you have people in your corner. It’s tough at times, but I had faith that Jules would find his way.

Once again, I’m thankful that this generation has books like Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun to show them that they deserve love and friends and everything that they dream of, no matter how they identify themselves, no matter who they love.

Book Review: "Us" by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Steamy, fun, and romantic. I love this series by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy!

I never knew how much my life was missing M/M hockey romance until I picked up Him, the first book in this series, and I absolutely fell in love with it. And now, with the second book? Damn, I’m hooked.

Us picks up with teenage best friends-turned-lovers Ryan and Jamie moving to Toronto so Ryan can play in the NHL and Jamie can help coach a junior team. They agreed to keep their relationship a secret for Ryan’s rookie season so the focus could be on his athletic skills, not his sexuality.

But both start to get tired of hiding, of only being able to see each other when Ryan is home from games and doesn’t have appearances to make. And when his nosiest teammate moves into their apartment building, it further curtails their time together and they wonder how long it will be before their relationship is discovered.

When a crisis arises, it forces them both to think about what they want—personally and professionally. Can their relationship survive? Do they want it to?

I love "Wesmie" so much, and the supporting characters are fun, too. Once again, as it was in Him, the steam is SERIOUSLY hot (no complaints whatsoever) and the book definitely had me tearing up in more than a few places.

I definitely need more of these books!!

Book Review: "Him" by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Him is the hot, sexy, emotional M/M hockey romance I didn’t realize I’d been missing all my life.

This one was definitely a #Bookstagrammademedoit. My friend Abby and a few other Bookstagram friends have been talking about hockey romances, so I, as a fan of hockey and, well, hockey players, figured I’d give this one a try.

Wes and Jamie had an intense friendship when they were teenagers, playing at an elite hockey camp in upstate New York. Their rivalry made them better players and Wes was constantly involving Jamie in dares and pranks. Then after the summer they were 18, Wes just walked away and cut off their friendship. Sure, things got a little weird one night when they were drinking that last summer, but so what?

Four years later, their college teams are both in the Frozen Four championship. Both have been drafted by the NHL. But what Wes wants more than anything is a chance to see his old friend again, a chance to explain why he felt he had to end everything.

The minute they see each other, they slip back into their old routines. But Wes, who is gay, knows that what he feels for Jamie can’t be reciprocated, although he’s mostly okay with that because he missed his friend so much.

They wind up spending the summer between college and heading to their NHL teams working at the same camp they went to as teenagers. It seems like old times, and as they grow closer, Jamie realizes he has a lot to learn about his old friend—and himself. And both have key decisions to make about their future.

The steam factor is HOT in Him, but the romance factor is, too. The book touches on homophobia, self-esteem, and parental issues as well as the boundaries between friendship and love. I felt like there were so many times things could have become melodramatic and they didn’t, which made me love the book even more.

So now I’m a hockey romance fan! I’ll certainly be reading the sequel to this, called Us, very soon!!

Book Review: "The Passing Playbook" by Isaac Fitzsimons

Isaac Fitzsimons' debut YA novel, The Passing Playbook, is an emotional, hopeful story about finding your voice and being true to yourself.

Spencer is starting over. After a threat of violence against him put his old high school in lockdown, he’s about to start at a progressive private school, and a liberal one—the most liberal one in Ohio, in fact. But while he’s ready to tell his fellow students he is queer, he’s not ready to share the truth: that he’s transgender, because that's where the trouble arose at his last school.

It’s not long before Spencer’s athletic prowess lands him a spot on the soccer team. Despite his parents’ concerns, he’s happy to be part of a team, to have friends, and the possibility of even more with one of his teammates.

When the soccer league enforces a discriminatory rule, Spencer finds himself on the bench. He realizes he has two choices—he can keep silent and let discrimination win, or he can reveal the truth about himself and fight for his rights and the rights of other transgender students. But what price will he and his family pay for the truth?

I really enjoyed The Passing Playbook. I have to give Fitzsimons so much credit—there were so many times when I expected the book to go a certain way, to follow the “typical” plot lines—and nearly every time, he did something else. I loved these characters, from Spencer and his brother Theo to the coach and Spencer’s friends and teammates.

Living your truth isn’t easy, especially when you face the possibility of ostracism, violence, and rejection. Thanks to Fitzsimons for a book that focused more on the joy that comes from being who you are rather than the pain.

Book Review: "She Drives Me Crazy" by Kelly Quindlen

Fake dating? Characters obsessed with 80s music and movies? I’m in!! You get all of this and more in Kelly Quindlen's latest YA rom-com, She Drives Me Crazy.

Scottie hasn’t quite gotten over the fact that her girlfriend Tally broke up with her and then transferred to the more exclusive, rival high school. (She also can't seem to get over Tally.) Facing Tally at a basketball game, Scottie and her team get humiliated, and she wants to get even.

Leaving the game, she gets into a fender-bender with Irene, head cheerleader and all-around queen bee, who caused one of Scottie’s most humiliating moments. When Irene is left without a car, it’s decided by the mothers of both girls that Scottie can drive Irene to school—much to both of their displeasure.

Scottie quickly sees that her proximity to Irene raises her profile at school, and suddenly Irene and her minions start attending the girls’ basketball team’s games, which motivates them to play harder. (Plus, Tally is getting jealous, so, win-win.)

So Scottie does what everyone else would—she essentially convinces/bribes Irene to pretend to date her, in order for people to keep coming to the basketball games and hopefully motivate the team to beat their rival in the Christmas Classic. (And if it upsets Tally in the process, oh well!)

Through the course of their “relationship” both come to realize their assumptions about the other are wrong. Both have serious hurts they’re dealing with and have their guards up, but could a real relationship flourish amidst all of this?

I thought She Drives Me Crazy was a great story. There’s a lot going on here—issues with self-esteem and trust, toxic relationships, using people’s sexuality as a weapon against them—but it never gets too heavy. The characters aren’t perfect (who is?), so everything feels very real.

There are some really terrific moments here—some cheesy, some funny, some emotional. I need to go back and read Quindlen’s first book now! (I also couldn't get a mash-up of Fine Young Cannibals' "She Drives Me Crazy" and Britney Spears' "(You Drive Me) Crazy" out of my head.)

Pride Book Tours and Roaring Brook Press sent me a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available and inviting me on the tour!!

Book Review: "Fence: Striking Distance" by Sarah Rees Brennan

Fencing is far more fun than team bonding, that’s for sure!!

Over the last year, I’ve read four volumes of a great YA graphic novel series called Fence, by CS Pacat and Johanna the Mad. The series follows the adventures of the Kings Row fencing team, the rivalries, relationships, and challenges they face.

Sarah Rees Brennan has now written Fence: Striking Distance, an original novel featuring these characters. It was fun to spend an extended amount of time with them. This book delved more deeply into the dynamics between teammates and the emotions involved.

While Coach Williams knows that her team has some solid fencing skills, they can’t seem to work together. She knows if she can foster a sense of teamwork it may improve their success in competition as well.

She makes Harvard, Aiden, Seiji, Nicholas, and Eugene try to bond with each other. What she doesn’t count on is how much work that will require, particularly in some cases. It’ll take a few disastrous dates, a major prank carried out by an unlikely prankster, and lots of self-realization for this to work—if it will at all.

I love this series because the dynamics between the characters feel natural. I enjoyed getting to spend more in-depth time exploring their relationships than you usually get in the graphic novels. The book also treats sexuality as a non-issue, and I love the relationships between Nicholas and Seiji and Harvard and Aiden.

Looking forward to another graphic novel—or another novel—soon!

Book Review: "Furia" by Yamile Saied Méndez

Yamile Saied Méndez’s new YA novel, Furia, is a powerful, poignant story about standing up for yourself and going for your dreams, no matter what others say.

Camila dreams of being a fútbol star but she lives in the shadow of her less-talented brother, who plays for a local team. When she plays, her teammates call her La Furia (The Fury), as she weaves her way back and forth across the field, scoring goals and bewildering their opponents.

When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, she hopes that this may be the chance to realize her dreams. But she knows her abusive father and her overprotective mother will never let a girl play fútbol.

Meanwhile, the boy she has always been in love with, Diego, has returned to town. He’s now an international fútbol star, which causes Camila’s father a great deal of jealousy and anger, since he wants those dreams for his son rather than Diego. Diego wants another chance with Camila, and wants to take her out of this abusive life so she can accompany him around the world.

But as much as she may love Diego, is that the life she wants? Or does she want the chance to see La Furia go as far as she can, maybe realize her dreams? Whatever path she chooses will require revealing her secrets, and she’ll need the courage and strength to fight for herself and prove that girls deserve every right that boys do.

This is a moving story, and I loved Camila’s character so much. You get to watch her come into her own and deal with the obstacles thrown in her way by her family and friends. She's a tremendously positive role model for young women.

There is some physical and verbal abuse in here, and the story also takes place against a backdrop of young girls getting abducted and murdered in Argentina, but ultimately the book isn’t a downer.

If you like strong female characters, check out Furia!

Book Review: "A Short History of the Girl Next Door" by Jared Reck

A Short History of the Girl Next Door is a familiar yet immensely enjoyable story.

Tabby was Matt’s first friend. Since they were a little older than babies, she has been a part of his life and she features in all of his favorite—and sometimes, most embarrassing—memories. She’s truly a part of his family, and they all agree.

Even though she’s always been like a sister to him, now that they’re freshmen in high school, Matt is starting to realize his feelings for Tabby aren’t quite brotherly. But he’s not at all good at expressing his feelings, so all he can do is watch as she’s swept off her feet by Liam, a handsome senior (and a nice guy at that).

While he should be happy that Tabby still values their friendship and she still tries to be part of his life and his family’s traditions, of course, he’d rather have her as his girlfriend. But watching her be happy with Liam is hard, and of course, one night Matt and Tabby say things they shouldn’t, things which could potentially damage their friendship forever.

When something unexpected happens, Matt doesn’t know what to do or how to react. So he does the only thing he can and he tries to destroy everyone and everything, not really realizing what is at stake.

I picked this book up while randomly browsing at a bookstore. (Remember what it was like to do that?) I knew nothing about it but I just was intrigued when I saw the cover. But I loved this story.

So many of us have had unrequited feelings for a best friend, feelings that crush us. This book so perfectly captured the way that feels, and the emotions which occur when your feelings aren’t reciprocated. This is a sometimes-silly, sometimes-serious story that I was really surprised by, and Jared Reck did such a great job telling this story and getting you hooked on his characters.

So good!!

Book Review: "Fence: Rivals" (Volume 4) by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad, and Joana LaFuente

We return to Kings Row Boys School for more adventures with the fencing team, in the fourth volume of the Fence graphic novel series.

When Volume 3 ended, the members of the fencing team were chosen. To no one's surprise, prodigy Seiji Katayama was selected, but much to his own shock, Nicholas was selected as one of two reserve team members. But when an old rival of Seiji's comes to visit and tries to encourage him to return to his old school, it makes him more determined than ever to stay at Kings Row...but he still thinks he's better than everyone else.

But just as the team starts getting into a groove, the coach throws them for a loop: they're going to have an exhibition match with Methodist Lads College (MLC), the school that knocked them out of the state championships last year. While Seiji is prepared to lead his team to victory, what neither he nor Nicholas understand are the strategies involved with a team fencing event. Since fencing is usually an individual sport, a team event is entirely different, and it's going to take more than talent to win.

Will Kings Row be able to pull out a victory, or will they fall prey to their rival once again? Will one team member be responsible for the win, or will they finally start working together? Will Aiden show up for the match?

In Fence: Rivals, the relationships between the teammates start to develop into more than simple competition with one another. Friendships start to build, and who knows what could happen next?

I enjoy these graphic novels because the characters are so diverse without any discussion (Aiden goes from guy to guy, but there's never any conversation about his sexuality, just that he's a bit of a slut) and they teach me a lot about fencing, which I knew nothing about!

The downside is they're super, super slow-burn, so I hope the next volume advances the plot a little quicker. There are so many threads I'd love to see develop and I hate having to wait, lol! But I'm super excited because a full-length novel called Fence: Striking Distance, based on this series, will be published at the end of September.

See my review of Volume 1 here, and see my review of Volumes 2 and 3 here.

Book Review: "Rainbow Boys" by Alex Sanchez

Alex Sanchez's Rainbow Boys takes me back to those angst-filled high school days...

Jason is a star athlete and has a promising future ahead of him. He’s not above making or laughing at the occasional gay joke or slur with his friends. But why is he having intense dreams about guys? He has a girlfriend and they have sex, so he can’t be gay.

Nelson is openly gay and he’s lucky to have such a supportive mother. It’s tough being out in school, though, facing taunts and bullying and even threats of physical violence, and even the school administration doesn’t care. Luckily he has his best friend, Kyle, to commiserate with.

Kyle has always known he was gay but he’s been afraid to tell his parents. He knows that by associating with Nelson everyone assumes it anyway, but there’s something to actually saying the words out loud. Of course, he has a huge crush on Jason, but Jason is straight. Right?

Rainbow Boys, the first in a three-book series, so perfectly captures the feelings associated with coming to terms with your sexuality. How do you tell your parents? Will it jeopardize your future? Does having sex mean you’ll get HIV? What do you do when you’re in love with your best friend and they don't seem to feel the same way about you?

This book came out in 2003 and I totally missed it then, but it sure did bring back memories for me! I really enjoyed this story and the characters were all pretty authentic for the time period. Even though you pretty much knew what would happen, I was totally hooked, and the emotions it generated were very familiar.

Once again, I’m so glad this generation has books like these to help them feel better about themselves. This was another great selection for Pride Reads!!

(Yes, that’s a before-he-was-famous Matthew Bomer on the cover!)

Book Review: "Short Stuff" edited by Alysia Constantine

Boy, I’ve been loving the books I’ve read so far for Pride Reads!!

“Maybe that’s why the meet-cute is so right for stories of LGBTQ folks. We usually find ourselves in tough beginnings. Then circumstances conspire to make things really hard on us. Falling in love happens against all odds. But darn it if we don’t deserve our happy endings too.”

So says Alysia Constantine in her introduction to Short Stuff, a collection of four YA LGBTQ short stories with a romantic bent. Each are written by authors I wasn’t familiar with, which makes me happy, as I can now find even more books by authors whose work I enjoy!

In “I Ate the Whole World to Find You” by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick, an unlikely pairing is forged between a teenage swimmer with Olympic aspirations and the cook at the swim club where he trains. “The August Sands” by Jude Sierra chronicles a familiar trope—the summer romance. But there's more than just that.

“Love in the Time of Coffee” by Kate Fierro tells of a long-time friendship that starts when two girls are young, and often revolves around coffee. And in “Guilded Scales” by Julia Ember, the one fantasy story in the collection, a courageous young woman wants to be taken seriously as a warrior but finds far more than she bargained for in a search for a dragon.

These stories were so enjoyable, they made me smile—even the fantasy one. Each story had interesting twists on the familiar genre and each was really well-written. I also liked that the stories were all fairly long so I didn’t feel cheated out of an ending. My favroite was probably "I Ate the Whole World to Find You," but it was close.

Pick this one up, y’all, for some sweet stories.

Book Review: "Breath Like Water" by Anna Jarzab

How hard will you push to achieve your dreams, and what will you sacrifice to achieve them? These questions are at the core of Anna Jarzab's Breath Like Water.

All Susannah has known for as long as she can remember is swimming. She dreams of going to the Olympics, a dream she felt even closer to when she won a world championship at age 14. But when her body starts to slow down and change as she gets older, she wonders if her chance is over or whether she should listen to her overbearing coach and push harder.

When a new coach comes to the swimming club, Susannah wants nothing to do with her, until she realizes that her unique training techniques may take her where she needs to go. It’s a delicate balance between self-belief and recognizing the limits of her body.

"I feel like I'm one person in the water, and another on dry land. Me on land is still hesitant and uncertain; having faith is hard for her, and so is letting go. But me in the water, the girl Beth found beneath the rubble? She's elegant and powerful and fast."

Meanwhile, when she meets Harry, another talented swimmer, she wonders whether continuing to push herself for a dream she might never achieve is worth not taking a chance to follow her heart. But Harry has secrets of his own which also threaten to weigh Susannah down. She doesn’t understand why she can’t have it all, but if she has to choose, what’s the right choice, not just for her, but for those she cares about?

This really was a thought-provoking story, and Anna Jarzab does a great job in making you feel the tension of Susannah’s choices. But at its core, Breath Like Water is powerfully emotional, as you ride both the highs and the lows that these characters experience.

I’m honored to have been part of the blog tour for this book. NetGalley, Inkyard Press, and Harlequin Teen provided me with an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!

Book Review: "The Knockout Queen" by Rufi Thorpe

Rufi Thorpe's newest novel, The Knockout Queen, is an unflinching, sometimes painfully honest look at two teenage misfits trying to find their way in the world.

Michael is a gay teenager who has been hooking up with men since he was 13. He thinks his septum piercing and his long hair somehow make him more invisible. Since his mother went to prison, he lives with his aunt in an old house amidst mansions in a California suburb.

Although he’s been spying on their house for a while, one day he meets his next-door neighbor, Bunny, who is his age. Even though it looks from the mansion she lives in with her real estate agent father that she has it all, Bunny has more than her share of problems. At 6’3”, she is taller and bigger than anyone in her class, which is good for her dreams of becoming an Olympic volleyball player, but not for being accepted by her peers, and her father is a bit of a hustler with a serious alcohol problem.

The two connect with each other, fellow outcasts trying to handle difficult family situations and maybe even find their ticket out. When Michael embarks on his first real relationship and it is discovered, nasty gossip ensues, which leads to a shocking act of violence that changes everything in both of their lives.

"...being true to yourself, even if it makes everyone hate you, even if it makes people want to kill you, is the most radical form of liberty, and when you make contact with something as electric and terrifying as the unadorned truth of yourself, it burns away so many other smaller forms of bondage you weren't even aware of, so you find yourself irradiated and unencumbered. That there is something holy in that kind of stubbornness."

The Knockout Queen can be brutal but it is tremendously astute in how it captures the feelings of those who want nothing more than to be accepted, be loved, yet can’t seem to succeed, especially among family and friends. Rufi Thorpe doesn’t pretend her characters don’t have flaws; she makes them real and complex and not always sympathetic.

The book hit a little too close to home for me at times, so while this wasn’t an enjoyable book per se, it was affecting and thought-provoking. I did feel like things got a little rushed toward the end, and I didn't quite get the closure I had hoped for.

One thing I know for sure: this was definitely not the look back at high school and early adulthood I was expecting!