My Selling Pitch:
Girlypop gets a redo so she can date her high school crush and file for unemployment.

Pre-reading: I’ve heard of A Song to Drown Rivers, but I have no idea what the reception was.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on) Thick of it: Not to be a horrible Capricorn, but if you can’t fix a PowerPoint in 10 minutes, you don’t deserve your job.

I feel like she’s tactless but the reality check friend you need. (I’m mean because I grew up in New England.)

That’s a stupid chant.

I love a bloody but what club is serving that?

I don’t like this one.

No pickles. I knew I didn’t like her.

How on earth do you do all that in the span of like three phone call rings? Also, you get a life redo and your priority is looking cute for a high school crush instead of stocks? Putting any of that future knowledge to use? Like I'd be making a fortune on bets.

Wear your sunscreen, don’t be dumb.

Post-reading: Lame! Maybe I’m a little extra pissy because the story before this one was so good. This is the blandest, most cliche, done to death short story out there. Don’t stay in a job you hate, but don’t subscribe to toxic positivity either. The guy hanging around frat bros who wants to go clubbing with you is not the golden retriever this book tries to delude you into thinking he is. Her supposedly bitchy friend is more the reality check this book needs. Tactless honesty can be cruel, but she can’t mind read your feelings either. What reads as backhanded compliments can often times be neurodivergence qualifiers and specificity. Also, I just don’t buy that PowerPoint is ruining your life. Watch a YouTube tutorial and grow up. Based on this writing style, I wouldn’t seek the author out again, and I think you’re safe to skip this one.

Who should read this: Generic new adult romance fans

Ideal reading time: Anytime

Do I want to reread this: No

Would I buy this: No

Similar books:

• Daydream by Hannah Grace-college romance, family drama, autism
• Just Friends by Haley Pham-Smalltown romance, family drama
• The College Try by Olivia Cuartero-Briggs-graphic novel, time loop, romance, queer

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Cramming this much sexual tension and bi panic into a short story should be illegal, and I want the full novel now.

Pre-reading: I’ve never heard of this author.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on) Thick of it: His name’s Camp?!? Aaaand I love it actually.

I love New England pretension. I'm sorry. I do.

The book: this is a YA short story Samantha, an intellectual: challengers throuple when? (I was lowkey joking, but thrilled to sniff it out every single time.)

…I wish she was their pet. What an unexpected undercurrent of sin to this! I am SAT.

I would like them all to be together. I don't think that's going to happen, but I want this to lean into the salacious raunch and be a full length novel please and thank you. It reminds me of Kelly Andrew’s work and Bardugo’s and that Truant’s short story author from the dark academia collection. Maybe some M. L. Rio too. Either way a vibe and I want more.

Damn, that's a house.

Just be a throuple omfg.

Epitome of New England isn't nice but it is kind.

The way I just clapped. Throuple throuple throuple. I love sin!

I'm sorry what. What do you mean? No, they all have to be together actually. Don't do this to me

No. Fix this shit. Put them back together now.

All the negative reviews for this are like the boys kiss: 😡 And I’m like the boys kiss:🕺😈🥳

Post-reading: So I'm actually gonna need a full book of this yesterday. Like excuse me??? You can't just write chemistry like that and abandon it. Oh, I'm pissed! In the best way because only good writing could make me this instantaneously heated that I'm deprived of more, but what the hell! More. Expeditiously. Change nothing. Expand it, make it darker. Deliver to Sam. I guess I'll be picking up this author’s other work!

Also, the cover is so misleading to this book’s tone and content. I was anticipating some To All the Boys I Loved Before shit from that cutesy graphic. That is so not this book!

Who should read this: Kelly Andrew fans Leigh Bardugo fans M. L. Rio fans Bi romance fans

Ideal reading time: Fall

Do I want to reread this: Yeah!

Would I buy this: Yeah, I actually would, and that's rude because this is only 43 goddamn pages.

Similar books:

• In These Hallowed Halls by Olivie Blake, Kelly Andrew, M. L. Rio, etc.-short story collection, dark academia, social commentary, queer, romance
• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo-dark academia, crime thriller mystery, urban fantasy, romance, social commentary
• The Gravewood-YA dystopian, thriller, romance, family drama, queer
• Boys With Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell-YA dark academia, revenge thriller, paranormal, queer, romance
• Tenderly I am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone-YA gothic, romance, family drama, queer, why choose
• The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw-dark academia, retellings, horror, queer, social commentary

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Working class boy realizes his rich avoidant boyfriend ain't shit.

Pre-reading: I read You've Reached Sam and thought it was fine to bad.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on) Thick of it: Server and rich boy always makes me think of Raven Boys.

Dude, he sucks.

What, like it’s hard?

That's not a good burn.

This is the first one in the collection that actually feels like a complete short story.

Post-reading: A passable little snippet. It has nothing new to add to class commentary. There’s nothing particularly memorable about the prose. It’s not really romantic. You can zip through it without any jarring flaws pulling you out of the story, but once again, you'll probably never think of it again.

Who should read this: YA queer romance fans

Ideal reading time: Anytime

Do I want to reread this: No

Would I buy this: No

Similar books:

• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater-YA magical realism, paranormal, romance, queer
• Sirens and Muses by Antonia Angress-lit fic, academia, queer, romance
• In Tongues by Thomas Grattan-lit fic, queer
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt-dark academia, thriller, ensemble cast, queer, social commentary

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Accurate but insufferable 20-somethings explore New York.

Pre-reading: I’ve never heard of this author.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on) Thick of it: OK, so technically a historical. (We need a new term for not ye old, but already gone past. Vintage? Vintage fiction?)

Oh, this man is insufferable. Maybe they don’t invite you to parties because when someone gives you a courtesy, “how are you,” you answer “metaphorical.”

Do not stand on the New York vents. That poor lady just died an awful death from it.

It's like a worse Raven Boys friend group.

These are such high thoughts, but they’re not saying that he’s high.

You’re not like other boys. I hate this sometimes.

The ensemble kind of reminds me of the Secret History’s cast.

Best of the collection so far, three stars.

Post-reading: I think it’s a good character study. I don’t think any of the characters are particularly likable. I think it does really speak to the shallow performative relationships we’re forming with people nowadays. I would read this as a longer lit fic book. Another one I won’t think of again after this!

Who should read this: Character study fans

Ideal reading time: Winter

Do I want to reread this: No

Would I buy this: No

Similar books:

• Sirens and Muses by Antonia Angress-lit fic, academia, queer, romance
• This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman-lit fic, interconnected short stories, family drama, queer
• Happiness and Love by Zoe Dubno-lit fic, social commentary
• Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly-lit fic, family drama, romance, queer
• In Tongues by Thomas Grattan-lit fic, queer
• My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh-lit fic, social commentary
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater-YA magical realism, paranormal, ensemble cast, queer
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt-dark academia, thriller, ensemble cast, queer, social commentary
• Intermezzo by Sally Rooney-lit fic, family drama, romance, autism, social commentary

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.