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Really Cute People
A little domestic bliss never hurt anyone…right?
Charlie Dee is headed for burnout. They’ve been burned before, both by their bio family and the now-defunct queer collective they once called home. So when they’re asked to take a work trip outside the city, they jump at the chance. Sure, it’s additional work with no additional pay, but it’s also an excuse to get out of town—and out of their own head.
That dream is shattered when Charlie opens the door to their supposedly private rental. There’s a bird on the loose, circling the living room as it’s chased by a cat, who is chased by a small child. The girl’s parents, Hayden and Buffy, only manage to add to the chaos. They promise to leave first thing in the morning, but when a massive snowstorm rolls in, this overnight trip becomes a weeklong affair.
Reluctantly charmed by this unfiltered—if forced—look at a loving, healthy family, Charlie begins to develop feelings for both Hayden and Buffy. And they both seem to be flirting back. But when a potential promotion lures Charlie back to the city, all three will have to decide where they go from here—and what it means to truly feel at home.
Charlie Dee is headed for burnout. They’ve been burned before, both by their bio family and the now-defunct queer collective they once called home. So when they’re asked to take a work trip outside the city, they jump at the chance. Sure, it’s additional work with no additional pay, but it’s also an excuse to get out of town—and out of their own head.
That dream is shattered when Charlie opens the door to their supposedly private rental. There’s a bird on the loose, circling the living room as it’s chased by a cat, who is chased by a small child. The girl’s parents, Hayden and Buffy, only manage to add to the chaos. They promise to leave first thing in the morning, but when a massive snowstorm rolls in, this overnight trip becomes a weeklong affair.
Reluctantly charmed by this unfiltered—if forced—look at a loving, healthy family, Charlie begins to develop feelings for both Hayden and Buffy. And they both seem to be flirting back. But when a potential promotion lures Charlie back to the city, all three will have to decide where they go from here—and what it means to truly feel at home.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2024
27 people are currently reading
5456 people want to read
About the author
Markus Harwood-Jones
7 books80 followersMarkus Harwood-Jones (he/they) is a proudly queer and trans space-case who has been writing since he can remember. Markus specializes in writing young-adult fiction and has a soft-spot for sappy love stories. He lives in downtown Toronto with his husband, their platonic co-parent, and their extra-cute kiddo. Markus is an aspiring TikTokker with 125k+ followers. He and can be found on social media under the handle @MarkusBones.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
March 23, 2024
This book is such a breath of fresh air, and so comforting. It's such a great, polyamorous spin on the love triangle, with the forced proximity trope added into the mix. If you love "snowed in" stories, I'd highly recommend this! It's especially great if you've ever dealt with burnout - it feels like a hug.
February 5, 2024
Really Cute People was an enjoyable read. The character growth throughout this story is something really special.
I was not expecting the open door spicy scenes!!🍆
If this cover ever gets a remake I think Rainbow deserves her turn in the spotlight. What a kid!!🌈
My thanks to Harlequin Books and Harlequin Publicity Team for this gifted copy.
I was not expecting the open door spicy scenes!!🍆
If this cover ever gets a remake I think Rainbow deserves her turn in the spotlight. What a kid!!🌈
My thanks to Harlequin Books and Harlequin Publicity Team for this gifted copy.
January 11, 2025
What I liked: A nonbinary protagonist whose pronouns are they/them and I liked the way pronouns were handled - not in your face or telling and not showing in a preachy way but respectfully asking. (I'm nonbinary myself and I often find the way this is handled to be kind of performative.) Charlie Dee struck me as agender but this was never explicitly stated, but I love that rep. I liked the found family and the fact that this was not romanticized; found families can have problems too. The love interests were all bisexual and polyamorous and we end in a throuple.
What I didn't like: This was so cozy that I just got bored. Everyone was a flat, one-dimensional, unlikable character in dysfunctional relationships. Charlie Dee, unhappy in their job but devoted to the cause of a helpline database, never got any character development. All I knew was that they liked animals, had a cat, was an introvert, was a passionate programmer, wasn't close with their family for unexplained reasons and was annoyingly self-absorbed. I didn't get to know their personality or interests.
They go on an unpaid work trip and get snowed in in a charming small town with some charming queer Hallmark scenes, like finding queer acceptance at a church. At their AirBnB there is a mixup and their hosts are staying too. But sparks fly between Charlie and the couple, who has a cute kid. Charlie imagines that they can recreate the queer collective that they used to live with before it broke up after drama they instigated. Until they realize that they were hanging onto a fantasy and the reality behind the curtain was that they were all selfish, dramatic people who never even appeared to liked them very much.
So, this book was meant to be a queer Hallmark snowed in forced proximity queer cup of comforting joy, and for some people it will be that. But it missed the mark for me. I didn't see the spark in the romance, the sex scenes were kind of rushed into at the very end, and I was just bored by the characters. Your queer/gender identity and your diagnoses are not a personality! /pet peeve with character development in a lot of queer lit. I was also annoyed by the message; I wanted Charlie to break free of their miserable job and find themself, as someone other than a triad in a throuple or the workhorse in another queer found family.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I didn't like: This was so cozy that I just got bored. Everyone was a flat, one-dimensional, unlikable character in dysfunctional relationships. Charlie Dee, unhappy in their job but devoted to the cause of a helpline database, never got any character development. All I knew was that they liked animals, had a cat, was an introvert, was a passionate programmer, wasn't close with their family for unexplained reasons and was annoyingly self-absorbed. I didn't get to know their personality or interests.
They go on an unpaid work trip and get snowed in in a charming small town with some charming queer Hallmark scenes, like finding queer acceptance at a church. At their AirBnB there is a mixup and their hosts are staying too. But sparks fly between Charlie and the couple, who has a cute kid. Charlie imagines that they can recreate the queer collective that they used to live with before it broke up after drama they instigated. Until they realize that they were hanging onto a fantasy and the reality behind the curtain was that they were all selfish, dramatic people who never even appeared to liked them very much.
So, this book was meant to be a queer Hallmark snowed in forced proximity queer cup of comforting joy, and for some people it will be that. But it missed the mark for me. I didn't see the spark in the romance, the sex scenes were kind of rushed into at the very end, and I was just bored by the characters. Your queer/gender identity and your diagnoses are not a personality! /pet peeve with character development in a lot of queer lit. I was also annoyed by the message; I wanted Charlie to break free of their miserable job and find themself, as someone other than a triad in a throuple or the workhorse in another queer found family.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 9, 2024
First, repeat after me — I will not invite my boss or manager to our union organizing meetings, no matter how cool or chill they seem.
Do not do what Charlie and their coworkers do.
Really Cute People was just that: really cute. This story very much channeled sweet and thoughtful modern polycules and added some tried-and-true romance tropes for this throuple, such as insta love, forced proximity, and snowed-in.
Charlie is a non-binary person starting to experience major burnout in life, and they are bitter about their seemingly perfect queer houseshare/found family falling to pieces when the landlord decided to give the housemates the boot, and the good vibes company they work for has taken a downturn. Through romance situations, Charlie ends up at Buffy and Hayden's house, their Airbnb, for a work trip, and also Buffy is one of Charlie's artist and activist heroes who seemingly disappeared from the planet several years ago. Like Charlie has Buffy's TED talks memorized and her artist's endeavors cataloged. Thankfully, Harwood-Jones keeps the fan gushing to a minimum, but I certainly raised my eyebrow a bit.
Buffy and Hayden have a small child, and the day-to-day family machinations have clearly grated on their marriage. Really Cute People could have been a marriage in trouble book, but Harwood-Jones doesn't actually take the plot there. But the storyline itself does give "get a third and solve your marriage" energy. Which, friends, that won't solve your marriage problems. I wanted more of Buffy and Hayden sorting through their shit with each other. However, given the narration is solely from Charlie's POV, we have limited access to that, and Charlie seems enamored by their marriage.
Do not do what Charlie and their coworkers do.
Really Cute People was just that: really cute. This story very much channeled sweet and thoughtful modern polycules and added some tried-and-true romance tropes for this throuple, such as insta love, forced proximity, and snowed-in.
Charlie is a non-binary person starting to experience major burnout in life, and they are bitter about their seemingly perfect queer houseshare/found family falling to pieces when the landlord decided to give the housemates the boot, and the good vibes company they work for has taken a downturn. Through romance situations, Charlie ends up at Buffy and Hayden's house, their Airbnb, for a work trip, and also Buffy is one of Charlie's artist and activist heroes who seemingly disappeared from the planet several years ago. Like Charlie has Buffy's TED talks memorized and her artist's endeavors cataloged. Thankfully, Harwood-Jones keeps the fan gushing to a minimum, but I certainly raised my eyebrow a bit.
Buffy and Hayden have a small child, and the day-to-day family machinations have clearly grated on their marriage. Really Cute People could have been a marriage in trouble book, but Harwood-Jones doesn't actually take the plot there. But the storyline itself does give "get a third and solve your marriage" energy. Which, friends, that won't solve your marriage problems. I wanted more of Buffy and Hayden sorting through their shit with each other. However, given the narration is solely from Charlie's POV, we have limited access to that, and Charlie seems enamored by their marriage.
March 20, 2024
3.5 stars (rounded up)!
"Really Cute People" by Markus Harwood-Jones was, well, really cute and extremely unique! Some readers might be turned off by the insta-love of it all, but it really didn't bother me. It does start very, very slowly at first, but once the main character, Charlie, meets the other characters, Buffy and Hayden, things start moving quickly and spicily. I enjoyed all of the characters in this story, particularly Buffy. Buffy's dynamic with Hayden was both alluring and extremely collaborative. And not to mention, sexy! Once the three of them are snowed in for a whirlwind weekend, their relationship quickly becomes intimate. I think this book also boasts an engaging, interesting glance at polyamory. I'm not sure I have read many (if any) books where the characters are polyamorous, but I sure appreciate the representation. I think this story works so well because all of the characters are likable despite their flaws. I also like the commentary on both burnout and found family. I appreciate the open-door spice in such a representative queer story! This was a great, fast read that could have benefitted from a little bit of tightening up in its earlier chapters.
Thank you to NetGalley, Markus Harwood-Jones, Harlequin - Romance, and Carina Adores for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Really Cute People" by Markus Harwood-Jones was, well, really cute and extremely unique! Some readers might be turned off by the insta-love of it all, but it really didn't bother me. It does start very, very slowly at first, but once the main character, Charlie, meets the other characters, Buffy and Hayden, things start moving quickly and spicily. I enjoyed all of the characters in this story, particularly Buffy. Buffy's dynamic with Hayden was both alluring and extremely collaborative. And not to mention, sexy! Once the three of them are snowed in for a whirlwind weekend, their relationship quickly becomes intimate. I think this book also boasts an engaging, interesting glance at polyamory. I'm not sure I have read many (if any) books where the characters are polyamorous, but I sure appreciate the representation. I think this story works so well because all of the characters are likable despite their flaws. I also like the commentary on both burnout and found family. I appreciate the open-door spice in such a representative queer story! This was a great, fast read that could have benefitted from a little bit of tightening up in its earlier chapters.
Thank you to NetGalley, Markus Harwood-Jones, Harlequin - Romance, and Carina Adores for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
December 25, 2023
4 out of 5 stars
Rep: Non-binary queer main character, Black bi love interest, trans queer love interest, non-binary/trans/queer/BIPOC side characters
Content warnings: Friend group breakup, eviction, Canadian housing crisis, burnout, brief mentions of homophobia, couple arguments, on-page sex
This was very sweet! I adored all the queer joy, found family, and excellent spice. While I appreciated the character development, it did feel a bit sudden — Charlie went from self-absorbed and grumpy to optimistic and almost magical kind of out of the blue. I’m also not sure how viable this romance would be in real life; it felt like Charlie was solving all of Buffy and Hayden’s marital problems for them. However, I am not poly, so it’s not my place to speak to the accuracy of that. All in all, this was a delightful little romp and I’d love to enter its world myself!
**HUGE thank you to Carina Adores for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**
Rep: Non-binary queer main character, Black bi love interest, trans queer love interest, non-binary/trans/queer/BIPOC side characters
Content warnings: Friend group breakup, eviction, Canadian housing crisis, burnout, brief mentions of homophobia, couple arguments, on-page sex
This was very sweet! I adored all the queer joy, found family, and excellent spice. While I appreciated the character development, it did feel a bit sudden — Charlie went from self-absorbed and grumpy to optimistic and almost magical kind of out of the blue. I’m also not sure how viable this romance would be in real life; it felt like Charlie was solving all of Buffy and Hayden’s marital problems for them. However, I am not poly, so it’s not my place to speak to the accuracy of that. All in all, this was a delightful little romp and I’d love to enter its world myself!
**HUGE thank you to Carina Adores for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**
January 26, 2024
REALLY CUTE PEOPLE by Markus Harwood-Jones was fun! And REALLY CUTE! 😜
This one has all the found family vibes, a queer polyamorous romance, crazy pets, an adorable kiddo, and is a super charming and relatable story of being burned out and wishing for a “normal” family - but also realizing what it truly mean to feel “at home.” It’s got small-town feels, and a fun snowed-in force proximity trope - and I really enjoyed it.
It took a bit for me to get into this one at first - the first half was really slow, and I would have much preferred more of the second half antics.... because the second half more than made up for the slow start and I can't wait to read what Markus writes next!
Add this one to your TBR and keep being cute my friends!
This one has all the found family vibes, a queer polyamorous romance, crazy pets, an adorable kiddo, and is a super charming and relatable story of being burned out and wishing for a “normal” family - but also realizing what it truly mean to feel “at home.” It’s got small-town feels, and a fun snowed-in force proximity trope - and I really enjoyed it.
It took a bit for me to get into this one at first - the first half was really slow, and I would have much preferred more of the second half antics.... because the second half more than made up for the slow start and I can't wait to read what Markus writes next!
Add this one to your TBR and keep being cute my friends!
March 13, 2024
A fantastic queer polyromance set in small town Ontario that sees a big city office worker, Charlie, burnout and sent into the country for work only to get snowed in and stuck rooming with one of his gay idols and her trans husband and daughter. I absolutely loved the diverse queer rep in this book, the found family and the way different types of families and sexualities is completely normalized. We need more books like this one!! Really cute people was REALLY CUTE with a huge amount of heart!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for an early digital copy in exchange for my hoenst review! This was also good on audio too.
Steam level: a few open door scenes
Steam level: a few open door scenes
September 5, 2024
While I’m glad more polyamorous romance is being published, this was aggressively fine, even the steam irked me at some points. (I think I just really hate “nectar” being used as a euphemism.) I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and the first half didn’t have that much romance: it was really just Charlie getting to know Hayden and Buffy as people (but in a friendly, not romantic, way), and feeling some basic physical attraction for them as they occasionally flirt. I would’ve also liked to know both love interests more outside of the triad dynamic, there weren’t many differences in Hayden and Buffy’s relationships with Charlie. Especially because most of that (“)characterization(“) was done at the beginning, and once Hayden and Buffy established they were polyamorous, them and Charlie became more of a unit. I think seeing that, and waiting until later to see how all of them create their own relationship as a trio, would have been more satisfying.
I know that Charlie’s fan gushing was mostly done at the beginning, but I was uncomfortable with the sort-of-parasocial admiration they had towards Buffy. It doesn’t help that there’s one of those clichéd “the love interest isn’t just this one thing, I’m learning they’re all of these things and I love them all!!” moments but specifically with them thinking of Buffy.
I thought some parts were cute, such as Charlie’s moments with Rainbow, but not much else. The story was light (and meta, for that one line said by Frances), but I couldn’t help attributing that to Charlie’s rose-tinted outlook on their new polyamorous relationship, and most of the other characters in the story. (Which is sort of funny, considering how most of their other internal monologues are dripping with millennial cynicism.)
Also, another reviewer pointed this out, but don’t let your boss in on your union-organizing meetings, “no matter how ‘cool’ or ‘chill’ they seem”. The last chapter made me cringe haha.
If I didn’t have a convoluted reason to be reading this, I would have DNF’ed it, or maybe never picked it up at all. (The summary’s already unbelievable, and the cover art…doesn’t exactly draw me in…)
I know that Charlie’s fan gushing was mostly done at the beginning, but I was uncomfortable with the sort-of-parasocial admiration they had towards Buffy. It doesn’t help that there’s one of those clichéd “the love interest isn’t just this one thing, I’m learning they’re all of these things and I love them all!!” moments but specifically with them thinking of Buffy.
I thought some parts were cute, such as Charlie’s moments with Rainbow, but not much else. The story was light (and meta, for that one line said by Frances), but I couldn’t help attributing that to Charlie’s rose-tinted outlook on their new polyamorous relationship, and most of the other characters in the story. (Which is sort of funny, considering how most of their other internal monologues are dripping with millennial cynicism.)
Also, another reviewer pointed this out, but don’t let your boss in on your union-organizing meetings, “no matter how ‘cool’ or ‘chill’ they seem”. The last chapter made me cringe haha.
If I didn’t have a convoluted reason to be reading this, I would have DNF’ed it, or maybe never picked it up at all. (The summary’s already unbelievable, and the cover art…doesn’t exactly draw me in…)
November 26, 2023
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Canadian queers ftw. Really Cute People was such a fun story. Charlie Dee is our NB protagonist whose life is in upheaval. They agree to go on a work trip/holiday and end up staying at a rental house en route. But the rental isn’t as private as expected. As the weather closes in, Charlie finds themselves snowed in with a young family - Buffy (an idol of theirs), her trans husband Hayden, and their small child who can’t seem to decide on what name she wants to stick with just yet.
The plot moved much faster than I expected and the story pretty much takes place over the course of the weekend they are snowed in together. It’s a whirlwind of a romance, but it remains fairly light and fun throughout - though the author does touch on some harder topics like burnout and the Canadian housing/rental crisis. I would have preferred a more drawn out story so that I could leave Really Cute People thinking that these people were going to remain together, but we do get a very nice spicy scene and the promise of something more. Besides, people don’t always have to remain together, sometimes they can have a good time and move on or keep things lighter than ‘till death do us part.’
Overall, I really appreciated this story, it challenged my ideas of a romance structure, and left me rooting for the characters and with a sense of fun and longing for those long snow days where I didn’t have to dig myself out to get to work lol.
*I received an eARC from Harlequin - Romance, Carina Adores & NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*
Canadian queers ftw. Really Cute People was such a fun story. Charlie Dee is our NB protagonist whose life is in upheaval. They agree to go on a work trip/holiday and end up staying at a rental house en route. But the rental isn’t as private as expected. As the weather closes in, Charlie finds themselves snowed in with a young family - Buffy (an idol of theirs), her trans husband Hayden, and their small child who can’t seem to decide on what name she wants to stick with just yet.
The plot moved much faster than I expected and the story pretty much takes place over the course of the weekend they are snowed in together. It’s a whirlwind of a romance, but it remains fairly light and fun throughout - though the author does touch on some harder topics like burnout and the Canadian housing/rental crisis. I would have preferred a more drawn out story so that I could leave Really Cute People thinking that these people were going to remain together, but we do get a very nice spicy scene and the promise of something more. Besides, people don’t always have to remain together, sometimes they can have a good time and move on or keep things lighter than ‘till death do us part.’
Overall, I really appreciated this story, it challenged my ideas of a romance structure, and left me rooting for the characters and with a sense of fun and longing for those long snow days where I didn’t have to dig myself out to get to work lol.
*I received an eARC from Harlequin - Romance, Carina Adores & NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*
March 27, 2024
Really cute people was a really cute story. I always love seeing positive polyamorous representation as well as having two trans main characters. Heck to the yeah!
Another thing I especially appreciate about this book is that we have a non-binary main character who's assigned gender is never told and honestly you can't guess either and it is such a breath of fresh air.
I also kind of live for queer adult burnout stories because it feels so relatable to me right now. I really liked Charlie's slice of life adventure and seeing them geek out about one of their favorite activists and then living with them in a snowed in situation was super fun. This one has a lot of tropes in it but they're all done super well. Overall I really really liked it.
Nonbinary MC, Black Bisexual LI, Fat Trans Man LI, multiple secondary queer characters. Honestly everyone's basically queer.
Another thing I especially appreciate about this book is that we have a non-binary main character who's assigned gender is never told and honestly you can't guess either and it is such a breath of fresh air.
I also kind of live for queer adult burnout stories because it feels so relatable to me right now. I really liked Charlie's slice of life adventure and seeing them geek out about one of their favorite activists and then living with them in a snowed in situation was super fun. This one has a lot of tropes in it but they're all done super well. Overall I really really liked it.
Nonbinary MC, Black Bisexual LI, Fat Trans Man LI, multiple secondary queer characters. Honestly everyone's basically queer.
April 2, 2024
this book was so charming and felt so relatable--like all the descriptions of the house are all the things in places where i have lived, and i love a sweet queer polyam story. ALSO it turns out that what i previously thought was my favorite romance novel ending (running a queer bar) is only my second-favorite ending (not to spoil this ending, but it is NOT running a queer bar). loved it so much.
January 2, 2026
SUPER low stakes and totally rosy-coloured glasses queer spice and sappy sweetness. Good lessons on the slow slog of unlearning codependency.
I will say that I immediately disliked that the protagonist has a parasocial relationship with one of the other main characters who becomes a love interest.
I will say that I immediately disliked that the protagonist has a parasocial relationship with one of the other main characters who becomes a love interest.
June 29, 2025
cheesy but sweet.
April 28, 2024
DNF at 47%.
I wanted to like this and it sounded so cute the synopsis but I think it was just too slow for me and not the vibe I’m feeling at this time.
I was thinking it’d be more romance and it’s not. I don’t know that’s just what I was thinking after reading the synopsis and maybe it does get more romance like further in but I just got bored.
I wanted to like this and it sounded so cute the synopsis but I think it was just too slow for me and not the vibe I’m feeling at this time.
I was thinking it’d be more romance and it’s not. I don’t know that’s just what I was thinking after reading the synopsis and maybe it does get more romance like further in but I just got bored.
January 22, 2025
can i be so honest? i wanted to love this book. i am DESPERATE for good polyamorous/non-monogamous romance novels, especially queer ones, and i had such high hopes for this book b/c of that. unfortunately, i felt let down at every turn, and i promise you, i gave the book SO many chances to impress me!!
the book's biggest sin is the way it deals with the main couple and their relationship with the MC. you should basically just call this "How Not To Do Queer Polyamory (Yes, Even When You Think You're All Cute, Harmless Queer Activists)" which can be said for a LOT of polyam romance books, but this one grates on me even more b/c it makes a mention of their bad behavior as a sort of after-thought, hand-waving away their incredibly dysfunctional communication patterns with both each other and the main character--and hey, if the book was ABOUT that, and DEALT with that, i think i would've really found that engaging! if the book had said, "here are the ways in which charlie idolizes buffy + buffy's and hayden's relationship, dehumanizing everyone in the process" and "here are the ways in which buffy and hayden treat charlie like free child labor, a fun addition to their family but not a whole person on their own" (but also tbh, IS charlie a whole person on their own?? none of the characters felt three dimensional at ALL so that might even be a moot point!!)--well, then maybe we'd have an engaging and thoughtful drama about couple's privilege, unicorn hunting, and parasocial relationships! instead, we have a romance novel that wants you to believe so, so badly that there are no red or even orange flags in this couple's relationship and life, despite the incredible evidence to the contrary. (also, the book seems to believe polyamory is just picket-fence monogamy with a third added in, but that's another conversation!)
i just. guys. i cannot stress enough that the book doesn't even bring up polyamory until SEVENTY PERCENT of the way through. charlie spends a CRAZY amount of time thinking that the couple is cheating on each other with him, which is ?????!? ABSOLUTELY WILD?!???, and the infuriating explanation they give for that when questioned is, "but we each thought the other person had told you we're polyamorous! uh-oh, how silly of us to get that mixed up!" like oh my fucking goddd you guys have a child together you CANNOT be doing this and bringing a third into it this way!!!
also they have absolutely no boundaries despite claiming that they are so thoughtful and mindful of other's feelings, and they even make a comment about "understanding the power dynamics" with him living in their house for a week -- okay so you understood that but not why it was so fucking weird to allow him to get so close to and involved with your child's life and your marriage within the span of like ?!? a week?!? HELLO???
anyway this book really got to me in a way no book has in a LONG time. i am so tired.
the book's biggest sin is the way it deals with the main couple and their relationship with the MC. you should basically just call this "How Not To Do Queer Polyamory (Yes, Even When You Think You're All Cute, Harmless Queer Activists)" which can be said for a LOT of polyam romance books, but this one grates on me even more b/c it makes a mention of their bad behavior as a sort of after-thought, hand-waving away their incredibly dysfunctional communication patterns with both each other and the main character--and hey, if the book was ABOUT that, and DEALT with that, i think i would've really found that engaging! if the book had said, "here are the ways in which charlie idolizes buffy + buffy's and hayden's relationship, dehumanizing everyone in the process" and "here are the ways in which buffy and hayden treat charlie like free child labor, a fun addition to their family but not a whole person on their own" (but also tbh, IS charlie a whole person on their own?? none of the characters felt three dimensional at ALL so that might even be a moot point!!)--well, then maybe we'd have an engaging and thoughtful drama about couple's privilege, unicorn hunting, and parasocial relationships! instead, we have a romance novel that wants you to believe so, so badly that there are no red or even orange flags in this couple's relationship and life, despite the incredible evidence to the contrary. (also, the book seems to believe polyamory is just picket-fence monogamy with a third added in, but that's another conversation!)
i just. guys. i cannot stress enough that the book doesn't even bring up polyamory until SEVENTY PERCENT of the way through. charlie spends a CRAZY amount of time thinking that the couple is cheating on each other with him, which is ?????!? ABSOLUTELY WILD?!???, and the infuriating explanation they give for that when questioned is, "but we each thought the other person had told you we're polyamorous! uh-oh, how silly of us to get that mixed up!" like oh my fucking goddd you guys have a child together you CANNOT be doing this and bringing a third into it this way!!!
also they have absolutely no boundaries despite claiming that they are so thoughtful and mindful of other's feelings, and they even make a comment about "understanding the power dynamics" with him living in their house for a week -- okay so you understood that but not why it was so fucking weird to allow him to get so close to and involved with your child's life and your marriage within the span of like ?!? a week?!? HELLO???
anyway this book really got to me in a way no book has in a LONG time. i am so tired.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2023
Charlie likes to keep to themselves at work. And they're still feeling burnt from the breakup of their queer collective from last year. But then their boss sends them out of town for the weekend, Charlie ends up stranded in a small town that feels more like a queer utopia. But when they start catching feelings for both the husband and the wife of the home they're staying at, they just aren't sure what to do. Full of queer joy and found family, Really Cute People was a fun read.
February 22, 2024
I was already on the verge of bursting into tears. Charlie's responsible queer who never is quite sure where they fit in was just SO relatable and lovely and just SO MUCH. And then I hit "If someplace is where you're really supposed to go, you'll end up back there. Until then, there's no harm in taking a break to make sure it's what works for you." and I just started full-on sobbing. Apparently this was exactly the book that I needed to read at this point in my life. <333333
(Friends, the romance is great, the found family is A++, and if you've ever attempted to live in a communal queer situation, the breakup of Hillside is just to give you ALL of the flashbacks in ways both good and bad. But mostly I just need you all to know that I NEEDED CHARLIE TO BE HAPPY, BECAUSE READING ABOUT THEM WAS KINDA LIKE READING ABOUT MYSELF. And then they WERE and it was a little bit healing, I'm not even going to lie.)
(This is a review of a free advanced copy of this book that I was given in exchange for an honest review.)
(Friends, the romance is great, the found family is A++, and if you've ever attempted to live in a communal queer situation, the breakup of Hillside is just to give you ALL of the flashbacks in ways both good and bad. But mostly I just need you all to know that I NEEDED CHARLIE TO BE HAPPY, BECAUSE READING ABOUT THEM WAS KINDA LIKE READING ABOUT MYSELF. And then they WERE and it was a little bit healing, I'm not even going to lie.)
(This is a review of a free advanced copy of this book that I was given in exchange for an honest review.)
December 24, 2023
This was interesting. It took me a while to get through it, and honestly, I almost stopped multiple times in the first 3 chapters. The setup of Charlie’s life—with all their mourning and moaning over their lackluster life—got old real fast. But I’m a completionist at heart, so I started skimming, hoping it would get better. And it did, eventually. Unfortunately, that was well past the halfway point in the book. I liked the resolutions in the story and did get to the point where I was reading more than skimming, but I never felt the need to stop and really pay close attention to all the words. I think this could have been better if so much time hadn’t been spent on all the negative leading up to the happier times.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 3, 2024
3.5
This was a good read but a little underwhelming, I guess? It really felt like the focus was more on Charlie’s job woes. Or the quirky “whoops everything in this house is in a silly place!” thing. Or pet and child shenanigans. It felt like if I were watching Birdemic, but rather than the pressing issue of the birds, it was still focusing on stock options and solar panels until there was about twenty minutes left of the movie. It had its moments, and I loved the queer community in it, but my overall impression ran more to “that was certainly a book that I read!”
This was a good read but a little underwhelming, I guess? It really felt like the focus was more on Charlie’s job woes. Or the quirky “whoops everything in this house is in a silly place!” thing. Or pet and child shenanigans. It felt like if I were watching Birdemic, but rather than the pressing issue of the birds, it was still focusing on stock options and solar panels until there was about twenty minutes left of the movie. It had its moments, and I loved the queer community in it, but my overall impression ran more to “that was certainly a book that I read!”
April 29, 2024
I went into this with high expectations because I love the concept (and I am saying this as someone who usually doesn't find romance novels appealing). A queer, poly forced proximity chosen family situation? Count me in.
While I had a good time, I found myself disappointed.
The beginning is painfully slow and already had me kind of annoyed. Once the pace picked up and the character dynamics had a moment to shine, I actually found myself rooting for them... just to get annoyed because the characters (and specifically the main character) are incredibly frustrating.
The miscommunication in this was point blank stupid – there were one or two little things where I was like "sure, that's realistic" but for other parts, the majority of them, I was just frustrated because the adult characters were either acting like fucking children incapable of talking or alternatively the miscommunication just straight up didn't make sense. A lot of it also stems from Buffy and Hayden not really being treated as seperate entities which I found very annoying as well. "Oh I thought the other one already talked to you / texted you / whatever!" is fine once but more than that? No. Just no.
The fight with Mako was also incredibly frustrating because of how petty and dumb it was. At least there was an apology?
On a similar note, the way Charlie's old friend group is treated by the book is so one dimensional; the scenes of Charlie and Mako talking about them sounded like weird High School Drama. And I get it, not every character can be fleshed out but at least make the conflict more interesting.
Buffy and Hayden were basically cardboard with glitter on them with how bland they were, Rainbow was basically a prop. Mako was probably the character I enjoyed the most but in parts they didn't feel fleshed out either. The rest of the characters are just kind of there to move the plot along. I think the cast was too big and the author didn't really know what to with them.
I did like that the animals weren't completely forgotten about after the first chapter though.
The individual chunks of the story also didn't really feel connected which I think was in parts because of the pacing and in parts because stuff was skipped over.
The writing style is pretty standard for the genre – certainly cheesy but that is to be expected. The dialogue had good and bad moments; especially the child and the more romantic parts I found incredibly awkward but there were also some nice and natural feeling parts. I think it suffered because the author was trying to write stuff in they couldn't write in otherwise – which fit the characters and vibe they were going for but ended up feeling a lot like thrown together buzz words because they didn't really fit in with the writing style. Once again, the problem was finding a connection between different things the author tried to bring together.
I enjoyed some of the humour though so that's a plus?
Also, on that note – The spice was horribly awkward and I wish it had been fade to black. And so much of it in a row was just straight up painful because I hated every second of reading it. The sexting especially had me cringing hard.
This all sounds very negative so I do want to highlight that I had a good time reading this for the most part – not the best thing in the world and definetly more suited to someone who likes more tropey writing than I usually do but I was invested and enjoyed it. Had my expectations been lower the gripes I had with this probably wouldn't have hit as hard but by god I was frustrated – which you may enjoy, maybe you love miscommunication, what do I know. Maybe wanting to rip your hair out because the characters just wouldn't open their damn mouths has its perks and I'm just too unromantic to appreciate them. Or so I hear.
While I had a good time, I found myself disappointed.
The beginning is painfully slow and already had me kind of annoyed. Once the pace picked up and the character dynamics had a moment to shine, I actually found myself rooting for them... just to get annoyed because the characters (and specifically the main character) are incredibly frustrating.
The miscommunication in this was point blank stupid – there were one or two little things where I was like "sure, that's realistic" but for other parts, the majority of them, I was just frustrated because the adult characters were either acting like fucking children incapable of talking or alternatively the miscommunication just straight up didn't make sense. A lot of it also stems from Buffy and Hayden not really being treated as seperate entities which I found very annoying as well. "Oh I thought the other one already talked to you / texted you / whatever!" is fine once but more than that? No. Just no.
The fight with Mako was also incredibly frustrating because of how petty and dumb it was. At least there was an apology?
On a similar note, the way Charlie's old friend group is treated by the book is so one dimensional; the scenes of Charlie and Mako talking about them sounded like weird High School Drama. And I get it, not every character can be fleshed out but at least make the conflict more interesting.
Buffy and Hayden were basically cardboard with glitter on them with how bland they were, Rainbow was basically a prop. Mako was probably the character I enjoyed the most but in parts they didn't feel fleshed out either. The rest of the characters are just kind of there to move the plot along. I think the cast was too big and the author didn't really know what to with them.
I did like that the animals weren't completely forgotten about after the first chapter though.
The individual chunks of the story also didn't really feel connected which I think was in parts because of the pacing and in parts because stuff was skipped over.
The writing style is pretty standard for the genre – certainly cheesy but that is to be expected. The dialogue had good and bad moments; especially the child and the more romantic parts I found incredibly awkward but there were also some nice and natural feeling parts. I think it suffered because the author was trying to write stuff in they couldn't write in otherwise – which fit the characters and vibe they were going for but ended up feeling a lot like thrown together buzz words because they didn't really fit in with the writing style. Once again, the problem was finding a connection between different things the author tried to bring together.
I enjoyed some of the humour though so that's a plus?
Also, on that note – The spice was horribly awkward and I wish it had been fade to black. And so much of it in a row was just straight up painful because I hated every second of reading it. The sexting especially had me cringing hard.
This all sounds very negative so I do want to highlight that I had a good time reading this for the most part – not the best thing in the world and definetly more suited to someone who likes more tropey writing than I usually do but I was invested and enjoyed it. Had my expectations been lower the gripes I had with this probably wouldn't have hit as hard but by god I was frustrated – which you may enjoy, maybe you love miscommunication, what do I know. Maybe wanting to rip your hair out because the characters just wouldn't open their damn mouths has its perks and I'm just too unromantic to appreciate them. Or so I hear.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2025
I can typically handle the miscommunication trope but this got under my skin bad. Hayden and Buffy absolutely should have handled things better from start to finish and their lack of communication was not cute, despite how hard the book tries to present it as such.
Outside the glaring red flags—which are annoyingly played off as quirky and silly—the rest of the book is flat and empty. None of the characters jump off the page and Elmridge feels incredibly empty. The key to a cozy novel is that the characters and the setting need to do heavy lifting in order to make up for the fact that, often, little to nothing happens plot-wise. That doesn’t happen here. Everything is surface level. Which I may have been more willing to overlook but, once again, the utter lack of adult conversations is so frustrating!
Outside the glaring red flags—which are annoyingly played off as quirky and silly—the rest of the book is flat and empty. None of the characters jump off the page and Elmridge feels incredibly empty. The key to a cozy novel is that the characters and the setting need to do heavy lifting in order to make up for the fact that, often, little to nothing happens plot-wise. That doesn’t happen here. Everything is surface level. Which I may have been more willing to overlook but, once again, the utter lack of adult conversations is so frustrating!
October 28, 2024
This book was everything I didn’t know I needed! Really Cute People manages to pull off the perfect mix of humor, heart, and heavy feels, all wrapped up in a cozy forced-proximity, snowed-in setting that makes the whole story feel like a warm blanket on a cold night. ❄️
The representation of polyamory was incredible—refreshingly honest, realistic, and beautifully messy in all the best ways. Charlie, Hayden, and Buffy’s dynamic felt so real, from the awkward beginnings to the undeniable chemistry and the way each person genuinely respected and valued each other. The banter? Chef's kiss. 😙👌 It was witty, funny, and so well-timed that it made the characters jump right off the page.
There’s also such depth in the mental health portrayal, especially with Buffy’s journey as a parent balancing her own struggles. It felt so real and validating. And the way this book explores the shifting nature of friendships, along with the importance of finding a home where you feel loved and seen, hit so close to home.
If you're looking for a heartfelt queer romance with a unique perspective on family, love, and what it means to find yourself again, Really Cute People is absolutely worth the read. Just prepare for a total emotional rollercoaster—and trust me, it’s worth every second. 🌈💖
The representation of polyamory was incredible—refreshingly honest, realistic, and beautifully messy in all the best ways. Charlie, Hayden, and Buffy’s dynamic felt so real, from the awkward beginnings to the undeniable chemistry and the way each person genuinely respected and valued each other. The banter? Chef's kiss. 😙👌 It was witty, funny, and so well-timed that it made the characters jump right off the page.
There’s also such depth in the mental health portrayal, especially with Buffy’s journey as a parent balancing her own struggles. It felt so real and validating. And the way this book explores the shifting nature of friendships, along with the importance of finding a home where you feel loved and seen, hit so close to home.
If you're looking for a heartfelt queer romance with a unique perspective on family, love, and what it means to find yourself again, Really Cute People is absolutely worth the read. Just prepare for a total emotional rollercoaster—and trust me, it’s worth every second. 🌈💖
March 26, 2024
ARC was provided by Edelweiss and the publisher.
I also had access to a copy of the audio via Hoopla.
I really liked the story that was presented in this. I liked the forced proximity trope. The backstory that was going on was interesting. And the relationship set up between a married queer woman and a trans-man and the non-binary main character was a fresh take on forming a healthy, queer, poly relationship. It was nice to read a romance that felt like new story telling.
Where I wanted more from the story was from the intimacy and the intimate moments ... the tension and the build up to the romantic relationship was great but when the intimate moments happened on page, they felt way too rushed.
I also had access to a copy of the audio via Hoopla.
I really liked the story that was presented in this. I liked the forced proximity trope. The backstory that was going on was interesting. And the relationship set up between a married queer woman and a trans-man and the non-binary main character was a fresh take on forming a healthy, queer, poly relationship. It was nice to read a romance that felt like new story telling.
Where I wanted more from the story was from the intimacy and the intimate moments ... the tension and the build up to the romantic relationship was great but when the intimate moments happened on page, they felt way too rushed.
January 14, 2025
4.5
SO MUCH FUN.
omg I loved this so much.
This book just single-handedly got me interested in the romance genre. I loved that it was a poly couple with a kid, and how everyone felt mature. I feel like this showed me a way life could exist in a way I had never considered before. All the characters were so chill and also so realistic and kindhearted and wish they existed in real life so I could be friends with them and join their poly couple and live with their dog and bird and cat. I was obsessed with the fact that they were trapped in a snowy small town because I read this while in a snowy small town. Yay great read I think this should be way more popular! Exactly what i wanted out of a romance book. Rating this 5 stars to boost the rating on goodreads lmao cuz I want ppl to read it!
SO MUCH FUN.
omg I loved this so much.
This book just single-handedly got me interested in the romance genre. I loved that it was a poly couple with a kid, and how everyone felt mature. I feel like this showed me a way life could exist in a way I had never considered before. All the characters were so chill and also so realistic and kindhearted and wish they existed in real life so I could be friends with them and join their poly couple and live with their dog and bird and cat. I was obsessed with the fact that they were trapped in a snowy small town because I read this while in a snowy small town. Yay great read I think this should be way more popular! Exactly what i wanted out of a romance book. Rating this 5 stars to boost the rating on goodreads lmao cuz I want ppl to read it!
June 5, 2024
Probably like a 3.5* read rounded up because there's so much in here that feels fresh and new even as told through some tried-and-true romance tropes. For all the books (romance and otherwise) I've read that involve a character building a found family, I'm not sure I've ever read one that gets into what happens when that family falls apart. And then what might come next. Some of the romantic relationship development felt rushed and the comedy a bit repetitive, but i really appreciate where that found family and work/burnout storylines went.
March 1, 2024
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways for the ARC!
This was cute and I enjoyed the found family dynamics, but it’s not a new favorite or anything. There were also quite a few grammatical errors and the amount of times a comma was used when there didn’t need to be one were driving me crazy, but hopefully those are issues that will be solved before publication
This was cute and I enjoyed the found family dynamics, but it’s not a new favorite or anything. There were also quite a few grammatical errors and the amount of times a comma was used when there didn’t need to be one were driving me crazy, but hopefully those are issues that will be solved before publication
August 19, 2024
extremely cute!!
September 5, 2024
ok cute!!! 3.5 stars. usually not one for romance novels but a non-binary main character? with a super queer poly love triangle situation? got me kicking my feet back and forth
Read
October 12, 2024DNF but I might come back to this in the winter.
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