TomeFoolery
🏳️⚧️ Discord/GR/SG: TomeFoolery M2Genderquestioning ☆ 🎧 wholesome, happy sapphics ☆ Such a fucking Mood (Re)Reader ☆ ADHD ☆ Anti-Bigotry Killjoy ☆ Everytime I see a butch I wish I was a lesbian
15773 points
4.26 average · 65 reviews
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TLDR: Great story, characters, world building, narration, BDSM, depicts world's depravities without overwhelming.
The story is good, drawing you in immediately with the 'what next?' factor and thrilling scenes balanced with quieter moments of expression and reflection without exposition. The story chugs along steadily, events happen due to sensible reasons in a sensible order, there are no plot holes, no unnecessary drama, no dubious decision making, and no third-act breakup.
The story also exhibits bursts of very enjoyable and surprising cleverness, using them to further flesh out characters, their capabilities, and mental fortitude. All characters are well-realized and distinct, in personalities and appearance. I really felt each of them being different but very believably real people. There are no pushovers.
The world-building is intriguing, detailed, and great. There are a variety of supernatural beings; there are vampires and werewolves, but also mentions of sirens, and faery, but the emphasis is on fiends (demons), and they immediately piqued my interest and did not disappoint. The rules of the universe make sense and everything is well explained when it comes up. Small lingering but-what-about-isms are answered in subsequent books.
Scenes depicting the depravity of our world are very well-written and finely balanced. I truly felt everything, just enough to be enraged, heartbroken and horrified, but eases off so that I would not breakdown into tears, overwhelmed with crippling sadness. I can be easily and heavily triggered by the slightest of misconduct and abuse, incapacitating me for hours, sometimes days, and this is the single biggest criterion for me when choosing a book, series, or movie.
Allie Shae's narration is hands down INCREDIBLE. On par with or maybe even better than Angela Dawe, Lori Prince, Abby Craden, at least in these stories! She brings the situations, characters, and emotions ALIVE!
AND THE SEX SCENES. OH GOD THE SEX SCENES!!! It's fully consensual, and BDSM so well-written, I could see, feel, and understand how and why these can be so much fun!! The romance is healthy and sweet.
The only thing I disliked was the somewhat slower progress of the story because the sex scenes, once they start, are somewhat clumped together. Eventually they space out again.
I have relistened to it several times within a few months.
This is now one of my favorite series and I have read all other books including the cis-het ones which are also great!
In Kiss Of Seduction, the story is premised around themes of sex-trafficking, with flashes of slavery, effectively communicating their horrors and detestability.
I cried out for Eve, Amanda, Natalya, and felt anger, pain, and disgust for everyone turned from people into property by human greed and depravity.
Natalya and Eve's love for each other is so powerful, so pure, so all in, and so well written!!! I was shook!! Natalya's patience and compassion, and Eve's courage and determination shine through at every opportunity!
One of the sweetest stories. The love and friendships feel real. The estrangement is not some stupid roll your eyes plot device; the reasons behind them are maddenning, frustrating, infuriating and really gives the feel for the kind of minefields queer people are forced to naviagte in ordinary situations. All the characters are lovely; Poppy's mom is a hilarious standout and the story is well-supported by friends and families. The angst, the yearning, the pain are all real and deep but they are kept light with humour and banter. A standout is that forgiveness comes after real labor to make amends.
Usually I really don't look forward to flashbacks. They my least favorite story-telling device; I like things to happen in the present, with the past conveyed via thoughts and dialogues.
I especially dread flashbacks in romances - they inevitably leads to the heartbreak and I hate heartbreaks.
The ONLY time I have ever eagerly awaited flashbacks are in 'On The Same Page by Haley Cass'. However, Poppy Jenkins' flashbacks were quite nice.
Easily, one of my all time favorites. This was my first Clare Ashton and I am looking forward to her other works. I really hope they come out with an excellent audiobook soon; the story, characters, and banter will all gain another dimension of immersion with the right narrator.
You are driving your new convertible with the top down on a two week vacation in gorgeous scenery and weather. You pick up a few hitch hikers along the way. They are all awesome. The conversations are amazing. You are friends for life. The car gets a flat tire. The car has a spare. Your new friends change it and you all are on your way again. You and one hitch hiker are perfect for each other and fall in love. There is great coffee at hand.
Queerly Beloved: The Joy Of Sensible Love Starter Pack
A list of happy, healthy, queer romances: the people are generally nice and sensible, the occasional PITA are few, definitely not evil, and put in their place sooner rather than later; problems are solved with a calm and clear head, communication gaps are few and short. If you need a balm for your spirit, want to experience the joy of love for a bit, here's your list.
🔗my notations & suggested reading order
All but 2 are sapphic ; there are 2 Gay romances in this list: The Charm Offensive and 10 Things That Never Happened
Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains, #1)
Rawnie Sabor
The Lay of You
Corrie MacKay
I was avoiding reading this one.
I can't take anything even mildly bad and hence avoid any book with even the possibility of anything bad, such as SA, abuse, bullying, boundary violations, stalking, and so on.
🔗This post on Reddit 🔗 has convinced me to take the leap. The book seems to be amazing and something I'll love.
Reproducing the post here in full:
""" I just finished reading The Lay of You. I was initially nervous about Dosie's history of sexual abuse. It wasn't as graphic as I had feared, but its presence and shadow are always there. It is such a part of Dosie's character, that even when the abuse hasn't been brought up for dozens of pages, it is still there between the lines. It's like a fossilized impression; a permanent stamp on her soul.
I really liked the dynamic between Dosie and the escort, whose name turns out to be Jennifer Dupont. Dosie is using the escort for sexual therapy bc so much of what has happened to her body has been without her control and consent... and with no pleasure. By hiring Jennifer, Dosie is allowing herself her first sexual experiences with control, consent, and pleasure. It is a means of taking control of her body back... changing her body's narrative.
Helping Dosie affects Jennifer Dupont. Her role in teaching Dosie how to allow her body to feel pleasure and bring her body pleasure is requiring a great deal of empathy and support. It is also requiring touch that isn't sexual. Touch that is reassuring and deeply caring. This is blurring all the professional boundaries for Jennifer. It is also prying something open inside her that she is desperate to keep closed and untouched.
Some adjectives to describe the reader experience... It was emotional and sexy. It was desperate, feral, tender, patient, devastating, elating, grounding, free falling, fulfilling...
Quote from book: "She'd [Dosie] spent the night doing the one thing she knew she excelled at: worship. What she lacked in know-how, she made up for in devotion until Jennifer's pleasure had infiltrated all her senses." """
What do you all think?
Who would make your list of best girlfriends?
Book list from all the replies
Galvanized by the recent Lesbian Visibility Week, I wanted to express my love for my favorite Sapphics in fiction and wax poetic about why they are the best sapphic partner ever! I read sapphic romances almost exclusively, and I want to know the favorites of other perusers of sapphic romances.
Of course, they don't have to be lesbians or cis. Anyone who qualifies for the sapphic romance label is eligible!
It doesn't have to be a pure romance either! Romance + {Sci-fi, Fantasy, whatever} works just as well.
Just so long as you are willing to write WHY they are amazing!
This may necessitate mild spoilers, but please refrain from giving up the golden egg in your response!
And please, Book Name + Author Name so others can find the books without ambiguity!
Feel free to gush over in up to 15 entries!
I will start (OH MY GOD I WILL BE HERE ALL DAY!!!)
Caroline Parker
When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass
She was the first character ever, among all the sapphic romances I have listened to (which I began in Oct 2022) that left me in awe.
She is so caring, compassionate, considerate, competent, generous and loving - if someone sat down to design the best person, they couldn't do much better than Caroline!! She supports her family selflessly. She supports Hannah in every way possible: as a lawyer, a woman, a friend, turning every difficult day of Hannah's into something good and memorable. Despite her thinking Hannah is straight and she will not get anything more than friendship.
I was floating, and I have listened to this book soooo many times! All so I can feel Caroline's love for Hannah.
Stephanie Renshaw and Rae Coleman
The Roommate Arrangement By Jae
DO you know how many times I have re-listened to this book! Rhetorical question; I will NEVER stop re-listening to this book!
Steph and Rae care so much for each other, not because of any deep attraction, but simply because they are such good people who care deeply about others. The way Steph helps Rae -- invisibly when in public; helping Rae get out of her shell and the way Rae makes all Steph's bad days good. It is like watching a ping-pong of caring.
Regan Gallagher
The Snowball Effect by Haley Cass
Haley Cass herself wrote the glowing praise for the miracle that is Regan at the end of the book; and I feel exactly the same! Paraphrasing some of it because redundant.
Regan is someone who tries and tries and tries and never let anyone or anything stop her from caring and supporting the people she cares about, and the people they care about! She seemingly effortlessly brings people together despite their history and hurt, puts people at ease and makes them feel safe to be themselves and finds the good in everyone. And she does it all in a light-hearted manner and seamlessly, naturally, never letting anyone feel like she did anything special for them at all. Yet no one can mistreat her or take her affections for granted. She is strong and courageous and speaks up in the face of wrong and did not let the world's opinions break her. Regan is often loud, and she uses her loudness to help people.
Samantha Thompson
Who'd Have Thought by G Benson
Sam! Oh Sam! Sam is honest, clear, direct, non-manipulative, and despite the poker face and flat tone, wears her heart on her sleeve, and expresses her feelings without reservation. She is compassionate and conscientious. Generous of heart and spirit!
Shelby Sutton
Chasing a Brighter Blue by Gerri Hill
Shelby! Shelby is soft and warm and kind and sweet and has steel in her spine. She listened to Regan so patiently and lovingly, and alternative perspective of such wisdom. She makes re-listening to this book again and again so rewarding...!!!
Daria Fitzgerald
Just As You Are by Camille Kellog
Daria cares. That's who she is. She is honest and straight-forward. She helps not just people important to her, but everyone around who ought to be helped. Whether it is recommending deserving people to help further their careers, taking steps on behalf of those who are too unsure of themselves to do it for themselves, fighting tooth and nail to save a magazine, forgiving people for the mistakes they make, visiting and helping injured near-strangers at their home, without being showy or flashy. Daria is quiet, and helps people quietly.
Riley Foster
Love Next Door by Rachael Sommers
Riley naturally slips into the role of a friend to both Kim and her son. She is so easy-going and reassuring in an understated way. She is not shy of taking digs at problematic parents, upended her whole life to look after her sister, and has shaped a happy life despite all the struggles. She appreciates the same in Kim.
Luna
Witching Moon by Poppy Woods
Despite being a celestial, Luna gets the humanity in Alandra and stands up to Alandra's parents for her. She is kind, and senses Alandra's power when no one else does. She is ready to die for Alandra. Also, her attempts to adjust in the modern world are funny.
Leslie Raymond
A Wish Upon a Star By Jeannie Levig
I could feel how caring Leslie was as I listened to the book. It also highlighted to me that the un-thanked job of cooking and cleaning is a vital and straight-forward way to taking care of people. Leslie intuitively recognizes and addresses the needs of the other MCs autistic child, looks after the other MC when the latter is ill, and does it all like it is no big deal. She is rock solid support, good company. calm, and collected, and not afraid of acknowledging and addressing her mistakes.
Sydney MacKenzie
Broken Beyond Repair By Emily Banting
Sydney takes care of Beatrice in every way, befriends Beatrice's child, helping both of them feel seen and cared for, and helping cement their bond. She protects Beatrice against her asshole ex-husband. She is also not afraid of getting physical to protect Beatrice! I love her ability to physically confront and defeat a threat by using their over-confidence against them.
Winter Sullivan
Just a Touch Away by Jae
Winter shows up uninvited but needed. There's an assertiveness to her care—she doesn't wait to be asked, she goes. Winter was willing to give up a multi-million dollar inheritance to protect Hannah's interest. When Hannah leaves to attend to her mother's injury, Winter tracks Hannah down to the hospital and offers her some much needed support, cleans the blood in the house so Hannah's family doesn't come back to a blood soaked house, and consciously moves past the hurt of bad parenting to build a healthy relationship with Hannah.
Rosalyn Thorn
Poppy Jenkins by Clare Ashton
Rosalyn made a huge mistake. She recognized and acknowledged it. She apologized and begged forgiveness. Then she made amends. Lots of amends. Silently, quietly, without letting anyone know. As much as humanly possible it is to make amends, Rosalyn made amends. As much as anyone can earn forgiveness, Rosalyn earned forgiveness. She did the work. Rosalyn helped Poppy without anyone knowing. Rosalyn fought to help the town that ostracized and mistreated her, simply because the town was important to Poppy. Rosalyn stood up to bullies and criminals hurting Poppy, hurting Poppy's beloved town, found the problems plaguing them and used her brains and gumption to correct them. In return, she continued getting scorn and brickbats, even from Poppy. Rosalyn did not let that stop her. Rosalyn persevered. Roslyn made amends.
Angela Norwood
Green Eyed Monster by Rawnie Sabor
Angela! Impatient, blunt, irritable, kind, smart, clever, brave, caring, irreverent, iconoclastic, EFFICIENT Angela! Who can think on her feet, under intense pressure, and has no qualms about facing danger head-on!
Do you have a book that you’ve been eyeing, but haven’t followed through on reading?
Drop a book you’re considering reading and let others reply with a gif that matches that book’s vibes/mood/theme - spoiler free though!
Maybe you’ll get some extra motivation to read it, or maybe you’ll get that sign that it’s not for you!
Happy reading, Boundlings! Wishing everyone a lovely upcoming weekend 🩷☀️🌿
TomeFoolery commented...
Some people like it some don't. If you can borrow it from the library then reading a few chapters to decide is the way to go, IMO.
Don't forget to tell yourself that this is a 'trial read' and give yourself permission to DnF.
this book is a mess. i’m so sorry, i tried to like it, i tried to focus on the positives but there are almost none.
reading this reminded me of my time reading ‘if on a winter’s night a traveller’. if you know me, you know i hate ‘if on a winter’s night a traveller’. the story felt like short snapshots of a bigger picture that never felt complete and there was almost no fluency between them. the characters felt flat with no personalities or meanings. all of gilda’s love interests felt out of place and underdeveloped. this read as a story a student might submit as an english project. i found myself skimming through the last 20% of the novel because i just couldn’t care less.
and don’t get me started on the weird relationship portrayals… calling someone your family just to sleep with them afterwards is WEIRD and ICKY idc if this is vampires: I DONT LIKE IT. the whole gilda & julian plot felt so yucky i almost dnf-ed the book. gilda & bird’s relationship also made me uncomfortable because THAT WOMAN LITERALLY RAISED YOU FROM CHILDHOOD WHY ARE YOU HAVING ROMANTIC RELATIONS?? i was flabbergasted, truly. idk i might be called too woke but idc.
the only part i liked: watching the language changes through different decades. that’s all.
TomeFoolery commented...
The Book of Blood and Roses
Annie Summerlee
if this sucks i’m gonna be so mad
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TomeFoolery commented...