Lorelie Brown (1979–2023)

I'm really torn on the rating of this one. I think it's better than just three stars and it's the characters and the inclusion of and handling of anorexia bumped it to a pretty solid 3.5 for me. I debated on whether I should round up or down - since Goodreads seems determined to never allow for .5 stars - and while there were a few things that really pulled me out of the story on numerous occasions, the strength of my emotional connection with the characters pushed me to round up.

I thought show more that Rachel felt like a genuine and complex character and, even though the book is told in first person POV, I was comfortable with my level of understanding of Pari, too. For me, the most compelling part of the book was the way Rachel's anorexia was handled. I don't know anyone - at least I don't think I do - who has suffered with the illness but I feel like I've gained some insight into the condition and a bit of what it must be like. I thought the author did a great job of keeping it in the forefront but never in any sort of preachy way that may have felt forced or contrived.

So what were these things that pulled me out of the story and prevented me from giving it a solid 4 stars or more? Well, the first person POV used with present tense was the first thing. It didn't mess me up all the time and I mostly got used to it but everyone once in a while - YANK! - right out. But probably the biggest thing was some of the word choices. There were times when phrases or passages seemed like they had the wrong words mixed in. One example was something along the lines of Rachel noticing that Pari was tired and the phrase "she could tell by the weariness of her cheeks" was used. Or words really close to that - I don't have the book open in front of me but it was the weariness of her cheeks. That pulled me out of the story so badly that I had to text a friend to make sure it wasn't just me because I don't know how cheeks can look weary. There were a few places where I felt like the author was trying to make a passage feel more poetic but the actual words didn't do it for me and I spent more time wondering what words would have made it flow better or make more sense than I did being immersed in the scene. Things like that.

I was typing up the last sentence of this little review when I remembered that I wish so hard that there had been another chapter or three between the last chapter and the epilogue. How wonderful would it have been to experience what they went through to get to that epilogue? I'm not the sort of person who needs everything all wrapped up with a bow but damn, what a bunch of important things to not address. At least that's how I feel about it.

So after reading all this you may be wondering why I still rounded up... It's the story, the characters, and how I felt while reading it. Also I didn't see any typos so that's a bonus. I'll stick by the 4 stars because I had a very hard time putting it down and I think I'm going to miss Rachel and Pari. And Pari's mom. That doesn't happen very often for me anymore. show less

When it's well done, fake dating/marriage trope stories are my jam, and Far From Home was a really cute and enjoyable read. It was short, so it didn't drag things out past my realm of belief, and the connection between the characters was very sensory-laden as well as dialogue-supported. I enjoyed Pari's family and how much Pari supported Rachel even before they admitted it was no longer a pretend relationship. Will recommend to my friends who enjoy f/f romance.

From the back cover synopsis:



I had doubts before the Big Day—doesn’t everyone?—but I didn’t expect to find my fiancée banging the caterer’s assistant right before the ceremony. Especially because he’s a guy. And we’re lesbians. The proper sort of Southern Californian lesbians who invest in hedge funds and wear bedazzled wedding dresses and wouldn’t be caught dead in a Subaru.


But then I became a runaway bride, headed straight for Belladonna Ink to get the kind of tattoo I show more always wanted and my ex always called trashy. She didn’t approve of a lot of things I did. I think maybe she didn’t approve of who I am.



The “I” here is Tansy.



In Tansy, Brown has created one of the most achingly vulnerable and moving courageous characters ever. She is broken in so many ways because of the wholly abusive relationship with the cheating ex with whom she has been from the time she was a freshman. Yet she is brave enough to set out to reclaim herself and tentatively start a relationship with Cai, her tattoo artist. Tansy is a character that touches you and brings out a fierce sense of protectiveness.

Read the full review @ https://www.bestlesficreviews.com/2019/01/her-hometown-girl-by-lorelie-brown.htm... show less

This is shorter than I generally like novels to be (and I would have enjoyed reading more of this one! but without the extra pages adding some Dramatic Angst Twist onto the end, of course), and I'm super suspicious of first-person narration. But I'm really charmed and also moved by the relationships brought to life here--perhaps more by the growing relationship between the insecure (and ill) California-surfer-girl narrator and her romantic interest's dosa-cooking wedding-planning Indian show more mother than by the one between the two lead characters, even. And the first-person approach is carried off successfully, I think.

Content warning for disordered eating and related thoughts. show less