Luscious Love

by Katerina Bakolias

This romance, set amongst Mina’s first summer job, explores new love, body image and the frustrations of working in retail. Centering around first love, cultural expectations, and class, Luscious love is the story of a girl realizing she needs to accept the love she deserves, and take the leap of faith before it’s too late. Committed to amplifying female voices Author Katerina Bakolias highlights the traps we fall into when we have low self-worth. In her debut novel Luscious Love, Bakolias crafts a narrative where her main character must allow herself to be loved, learn to love herself and stand up against a boss that's all too willing to take advantage of her low self esteem.

184 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2024

About the author

Katerina Bakolias (she/her) is a queer, Greek-Canadian, playwright, and screenwriter. With a passion for entertaining, she aspires to write stories that resonate with a queer female audience who enjoy comedy and drama. Her debut short film Roomies premiered at the 2020 FIN Film Festival and is now featured on CBC Gem. Additionally, her play Til Death Do Us Part delighted Nova Scotian audiences at its premiere in May 2022. Recognized for her talents Katerina received the RBC Chrysalis Emerging Artist Award in 2020. Committed to amplifying female voices, she actively creates new and compelling works across the realms of theatre, film and now literature. She lives in Nova Scotia.
Follow her on Instagram @katerinabakolias

Reviews

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent job of creating not only thoroughly believable/realistic characters, but also covering topics addressing self-image, sexuality, familial and societal norms, planning for the future and just existing in the moment

[Jen Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

It just wasn't my vibe. Story was cute, but....eh

[Linden Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’ll fall in love with Mina, the most likeable and most realistic YA heroine I’ve met in a long time. Everyone will recognize a part of themselves in Mina as she navigates family expectations, an intense working environment, first love, and self doubt and anxiety. I hope we’ll see more of Mina (perhaps a series?!)

[Maria O · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did the First Chapter Get You Hooked? Somewhat
Would You Recommend This Book? No

I’m sure I have bad karma or something when it comes to short books. At the moment, all the short books I’ve read have felt so long! Now I was looking through some books and just spotted this by chance. I saw the cover and said this probably will have something to do with body image. To some extent I nailed that part. Also, this book has lgbt if that’s something you like. No, I didn’t read the synopsis, but I should have. I’ll just be blunt… I didn’t like this book. The only star it gets is because the author touched up on body image a bit. It wasn’t my type of book. I just didn’t care for Mina or, honestly, the story.
Mina’s older siblings, Alexandra and Dimitri, seem to have put the standards so high up that Mina feels so overwhelmed by her family’s and society’s expectations. Follow Mina in her daily life as she has conflicts about her body image, love, and family expectations.