Ruby Landers

I realize it's been more than a day, and I still don't have as much to say about this book as I wish I did.

First of, this was a refreshing change from the Grace Notes trilogy, as this is not written entirely the same way as the Grace Notes trilogy. Although it did take some getting used to, since this novel actually takes place in Australia and includes some Aussie phrasing lol.

This was a really fantastic read. I usually don't enjoy an enemies-to-lovers trope because I typically find it show more exhausting. Ollie and Lara felt less like enemies though, and more "misunderstood opposite archetypes who hate each other because of the pressures of societal misogyny" which I think is why I loved it so much.

Which actually brings me to my next point, I LOVE the way Lara's past is addressed in this novel, the way so much of the town blames her for something that was done TO her, she was LITERALLY the victim, yet she's blamed for it. But I love that she turns all that around on its head for her to support her community.

Also, love the very clear disdain Lara has for police, like, me too girl.

All in all, a really interesting queer feminist read that I can't recommend enough. Ruby Landers has definitely done it again. show less

I love this book more than the first one and here's why:

Sure, the storytelling itself isn't quite as interesting or as well played out as Falls From Grace, but I find these characters far more dynamic, far more interesting, and far more relatable in this one.

Even though I find Cassidy absolutely insufferable most of the time, I adore her character development and I see a lot of my own hometown in her.

Lane, however, might be my absolute favorite character written a book. As a transmasc show more non-binary person myself, who is on testosterone and is considering top surgery, Lane is INCREDIBLY relatable and some of the most accurate queer representation I have seen in a novel. I also SO RARELY see transmasc non-binary characters, most of them are written as femme-presenting, and I RARELY see any non-binary characters medically transition.

Ruby Landers REALLY knows how to write queer characters and queer representation. Not only is Lane's experience with starting T written so accurately, but even the trans struggle of CHASERS is touched on. And the spicy scene at the end, the visual that Lane particularly enjoys?? Absolutely CAN RELATE.

I absolutely cannot get enough of this author and I cannot wait to read more. I feel so fucking REPRESENTED in a way I never have before. show less

I decided to crack this one open around 2 am last night, just as a filler for my reading streak on Fable (yes, I know it was past midnight, but my day doesn't end until my head hits a pillow). I had absolutely no intention on actually reading this novel, I just wanted to get a chapter in so I could keep my streak.

I then spent the next 6 hours, wide awake, poring over my Kindle, absolutely TEARING through the pages of this book, completely unable to put it down. I cannot recall the last show more time I finished a book in one sitting, much less stayed up all night reading a book to completion!

Every single character in this novel is dynamic and very interesting, and the author doesn't shy away from being descriptive with them. In fact, one of my favorite things about this book was just how descriptive the author was with everything. The settings, the people, the feelings, the spicy scene at the end; I ADORE a descriptive novel, and I'm not someone who can even visualize things in my head very well when I'm reading. The characters are also VERY diverse, including a selection of queer folks from all walks of life.

This is a long, SLOW burn of a romance, and I mean like, incredibly slow. Like...90% of the book slow. Which, I absolutely LOVED, and honestly was totally worth the wait and the read. It gave the characters a lot of room to grow without relying on the romance to move the character development along. And the intimate, spicy scene at the end was ABSOLUTELY worth the wait as well.

I found myself falling in love with Savannah at almost exactly the same rate Brynn did, wanting to learn more and more about this absolutely CAPTIVATING woman with each page. And the more I learned, the more I loved pretty much everything about her. She is an incredibly powerful and compelling character, having had a fairly tumultuous childhood, dealt with a toxic relationship for years, and now, a single mom; yet at the end of it all she holds herself up STRONG. Brynn's relatability as a character, with her complex history and her somewhat aimless future might have been what drew me in to this novel at first; but it was Savannah's empathy, passion, and sheer LOVE for her child that truly kept me reading, and the ACHE for a reunion of the two is what got me through to the end of this novel.

Some notes from my journal while I was reading

I love that this book addresses the stereotype of country music being all "dumb hick" music. Country music has a rich, complex history, full of plights of the oppressed and the working class. Country music lead way to folk music, and both were BIG parts of the anti-fascist, anti-capitalist, pro-union culture, ESPECIALLY in the Appalachians.

One of the things that I love most about Savannah is how her upbringing has impacted the way she handles her finances, it's lovely to see a (moderately) rich artist (even if she is only fiction) actually do things for their community with their fortune.

Love Brynn's parents' character development, even if it was brief, it sure was cathartic.

The subtle blurb about the misuse of the word queerbaiting was a REALLY nice touch, I wish that was talked about more often EVERY WHERE.

The spice at the end approaches quick, fast, and in a HURRY, but in the best way possible. It doesn't feel rushed, despite us hurtling towards it full speed. The haste isn't coming from the author, it's coming from the characters. It's not rushed, its URGENT. And you can feel it.

TL;DR - I stayed up ALL NIGHT reading this book, and I think it might be my new favorite. show less

This one definitely doesn't hit the same as Falls From Grace, and that's okay!
This is a shorter read, coming in at 69 (hehe) pages on my Kindle, so I definitely wasn't expecting it to feel anything like the long warm, inviting, and slow burn of Falls From Grace. This is still a bit of a "slow" burn of a romance, but it felt entirely too rushed near the end.
I also don't find the characters all that compelling or interesting or even dynamic. They feel a little more flat and formulaic than our show more two female MCs from Falls From Grace. And if I'm being totally honest, I found Maggie's initial consistent self-deprication slightly insufferable.

I still feel this deserves four stars though, as I did enjoy seeing this little romance blossom, and Ruby Landers SURE knows how to write a spicy scene.

I just think her full length novels are better, because I need more of her writing style show less