Two best friends. One huge crush. A year that could change everything... A warmhearted, hilarious queer rom-com about what happens when a group of friends are actually brave enough to live the dream and give up their dreary city apartments to buy a house in the country together. El is in a rut. She’s been hiding in the photocopier room at the same dead-end job for longer than she cares to remember, she’s sharing a flat with a girl who leaves passive-aggressive smiley face notes on the fridge about milk consumption and, worst of all, she’s been in unrequited love with her best friend, effortlessly cool lesbian Ray, for years. So when a plan is hatched for El, Ray, and their two other closest friends—newly heartbroken Will and karaoke-and- Twilight -superfan Jamie—to ditch the big city and move out to a ramshackle house on the edge of an English country village, it feels like just the escape she needs. Despite being the DIY challenge of a lifetime, the newly named Lavender House has all the makings of becoming the queer commune of the friends' dreams. (Will has been given a pass as the gang's Token Straight.) But as they start plotting their bright new future and making preparations for a grand housewarming party to thank the surprisingly but wonderfully welcoming community, El is forced to confront her feelings for Ray—the feelings that she’s been desperately trying to keep buried. Is it worth ruining a perfectly good friendship for a chance at love?
Publication Year: 2023
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I was absolutely thrilled to have been sent an advanced reader’s copy of Laura Kay’s new book, Wild Things. Wild Things follows the main character Eleanor and her adventure of doing one wild thing each month, a goal she set herself in fear of being seen as boring by her best friend/crush of many years.
This book is classed as LGBTQIA+ as well as General Fiction (Adult) and is set to be released in May 2023.
What I liked about it
Wild Things has been a refreshing change of pace compared to the kind of books I usually read. As someone who has anxiety and is bisexual, I found myself connecting with El instantly and recognising a lot of my own behaviours throughout the book. I feel as though I might just need a wild year myself. As the reader we witness El grow as she tackles unrequited feelings, being stuck in a job she hates, the minefield that is the dating scene and, more interestingly, buying a house in the countryside with her friends and converting it into a “gay commune” :). Honestly, this book was amazing and truly worth the read.
What I didn’t like about it
To be completely honest, I don’t even know why I include this section in my reviews. I never actually have anything relevant, let alone constructive to say.