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Confession #1
Loving Lee: Confession: Book One
When the quiet audio tech meets the magnetic new drag queen, their fling feels inevitable. But far more than their hearts could break.
Considering he never expected to make it to adulthood, the life Lee Jones has cobbled together is surprisingly fine. His audio tech job at a gay bar is steady, and his chosen family—Tara, Sunny, and Blanche—is ride-or-die. Deep down, he wishes anyone wanted him for more than a casual fling, but he’ll take what he can get.
Picking up the pieces of his old life after giving up on chasing fame in New York, Antonio Flores settles for performing drag at Confession for the sake of stability. Fresh out of rehab is a terrible time to be crushing on anyone, but the charming beefcake in the booth is irresistible!
But the stagnant equilibrium of Lee’s family crumbles as their emotional rock falls for Antonio. The tough but fragile Tara falters when Lee’s newfound happiness doesn't include her. Without Lee to rein in her impulses, Sunny pushes the soft-hearted Blanche into a clandestine relationship that threatens their friendship.
Lee helps keep his demons at bay, but Antonio’s bad habits could yet-again sabotage the best part of his life. As his family falls apart and the fairytale stops being easy, Lee sees the end of their relationship in every minor conflict. Is their relationship worth jeopardizing everything good in their lives?
Considering he never expected to make it to adulthood, the life Lee Jones has cobbled together is surprisingly fine. His audio tech job at a gay bar is steady, and his chosen family—Tara, Sunny, and Blanche—is ride-or-die. Deep down, he wishes anyone wanted him for more than a casual fling, but he’ll take what he can get.
Picking up the pieces of his old life after giving up on chasing fame in New York, Antonio Flores settles for performing drag at Confession for the sake of stability. Fresh out of rehab is a terrible time to be crushing on anyone, but the charming beefcake in the booth is irresistible!
But the stagnant equilibrium of Lee’s family crumbles as their emotional rock falls for Antonio. The tough but fragile Tara falters when Lee’s newfound happiness doesn't include her. Without Lee to rein in her impulses, Sunny pushes the soft-hearted Blanche into a clandestine relationship that threatens their friendship.
Lee helps keep his demons at bay, but Antonio’s bad habits could yet-again sabotage the best part of his life. As his family falls apart and the fairytale stops being easy, Lee sees the end of their relationship in every minor conflict. Is their relationship worth jeopardizing everything good in their lives?
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2024
17 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Cozy DuBois
8 books10 followersCozy Dubois (they/them) thought writing fiction was a long-lost hobby. A longtime lover of romance novels, Cozy has renewed their love for writing by telling stories for and about LGBTQ+ people. They hope to bring more books into the world that represent the complex and entangled relationships between friends, lovers, and chosen family found in the queer community they love.
Based in Minneapolis, they enjoy life with their partner, two hound dogs, a regal queen of a cat, dozens of houseplants, and a garden that has seen better days. Find them with a beverage in hand on a patio anytime the temp is above freezing or planning their next vacation when it's not.
Based in Minneapolis, they enjoy life with their partner, two hound dogs, a regal queen of a cat, dozens of houseplants, and a garden that has seen better days. Find them with a beverage in hand on a patio anytime the temp is above freezing or planning their next vacation when it's not.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 1, 2025
Came for the aromantic representation, stayed for the authentic characters
I saw this book on a queer book list a while ago, and after I saw it had aromanticism listed as one of the featured identities, I was compelled to read it. Romance isn't a genre I read often, but I like queer stories, so I gave it a try.
I'm so glad I did. The characters have such an authentic feel to them. They're all so lovable but have flaws and trauma which makes them three-dimensional. Every conversation the characters had felt very realistic. I especially liked how the author handled the communication between the characters. The writing style was also enjoyable. I'm not a native speaker and my English isn't that good, but I had an easy time reading this, yet the writing style didn't seem trivial to me at all.
My favourite characters were both Lee and Antonio. I really liked their whole dynamic. As an aromantic, I also appreciate how Antonio's aromantic spectrum identity was handled. While my experience is different to his, it felt nice to see some representation, and I'm sure I some of people on the aromantic spectrum can relate to him. Overall, I enjoyed the diverse queer representation this book has. For many of the characters, their queerness is pretty important to them, but all of them have plenty of other interests and things that shaped them, so they never feel one-dimensional.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book. The characters feel very real, and when I finished this book, I was sad that I couldn't keep witnessing them living their lives. However, I just learned that there's a sequel!
I saw this book on a queer book list a while ago, and after I saw it had aromanticism listed as one of the featured identities, I was compelled to read it. Romance isn't a genre I read often, but I like queer stories, so I gave it a try.
I'm so glad I did. The characters have such an authentic feel to them. They're all so lovable but have flaws and trauma which makes them three-dimensional. Every conversation the characters had felt very realistic. I especially liked how the author handled the communication between the characters. The writing style was also enjoyable. I'm not a native speaker and my English isn't that good, but I had an easy time reading this, yet the writing style didn't seem trivial to me at all.
My favourite characters were both Lee and Antonio. I really liked their whole dynamic. As an aromantic, I also appreciate how Antonio's aromantic spectrum identity was handled. While my experience is different to his, it felt nice to see some representation, and I'm sure I some of people on the aromantic spectrum can relate to him. Overall, I enjoyed the diverse queer representation this book has. For many of the characters, their queerness is pretty important to them, but all of them have plenty of other interests and things that shaped them, so they never feel one-dimensional.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book. The characters feel very real, and when I finished this book, I was sad that I couldn't keep witnessing them living their lives. However, I just learned that there's a sequel!
June 29, 2025
This is not a romance, and yet it is. At first I was thrown by having 6 POVs, but it all works. Everyone in Lee's found family has stuff to deal with, as does Antonio and his friends. I loved getting to see how they cope and take care of each other, and how they were able to talk things through like adults. Past trauma lingers, yet they all try to grow. Healthy relationships and educational insights often make for boring reading, but here it just works. Can't wait for Tara's book!
The writing doesn't really warrant 5 stars, but this just really got to me.
The writing doesn't really warrant 5 stars, but this just really got to me.
September 11, 2024
*I received an ARC of this book, the review and all the thoughts are my own.
*This review does not contain any spoilers
*Please read the content warnings of this book and take them very seriously.
Pairing - MM, MF, FF, FX
Genre- Romance
HEA/HFN - Yes
POV - Five
*Review*
'Loving Lee' is the journey that Lee, a quiet audio tech, takes when he meets Antonio, the newest (to him) drag queen at their work place, the gay bar named Confessions. Lee is used to being the overlooked one everywhere he goes. He firmly believes that him and Antonio can only ever have a fling, which is only encouraged by Antonio's reputation of being a heartbreaker. Antonio on the other hand is dealing with his own demons and wants to be better person for himself and everyone around him. This book is focused on their love story and their struggles.
The book also has POVs from 3 other characters, who are Lee's best friends and his found family. Tara, who struggles with her own trauma and defence mechanisms. Blanche, who took them in and became the parent Lee and Tara needed when they were teenagers and homeless. And, Sunny, a naive software engineer with hearts in her eyes for Blanche, knowing fully well that this is a bad idea.
The chapters written from Blanche's POV feel at a different pace than all the other characters, which although seems odd at first, is very quickly understood that it is a reflection on Blanche's mental health.
It's a fast paced book with a lot of fun moments.
The next book in the series is Sunny's love story, which I am extremely excited for. This naive, empathetic woman deserves her own HEA.
P.S. I follow the Montessori method, so my reviews are based on completion without ratings. If I didn’t like a book, I probably wouldn’t finish it and hence won’t review it.
*This review does not contain any spoilers
*Please read the content warnings of this book and take them very seriously.
Pairing - MM, MF, FF, FX
Genre- Romance
HEA/HFN - Yes
POV - Five
*Review*
'Loving Lee' is the journey that Lee, a quiet audio tech, takes when he meets Antonio, the newest (to him) drag queen at their work place, the gay bar named Confessions. Lee is used to being the overlooked one everywhere he goes. He firmly believes that him and Antonio can only ever have a fling, which is only encouraged by Antonio's reputation of being a heartbreaker. Antonio on the other hand is dealing with his own demons and wants to be better person for himself and everyone around him. This book is focused on their love story and their struggles.
The book also has POVs from 3 other characters, who are Lee's best friends and his found family. Tara, who struggles with her own trauma and defence mechanisms. Blanche, who took them in and became the parent Lee and Tara needed when they were teenagers and homeless. And, Sunny, a naive software engineer with hearts in her eyes for Blanche, knowing fully well that this is a bad idea.
The chapters written from Blanche's POV feel at a different pace than all the other characters, which although seems odd at first, is very quickly understood that it is a reflection on Blanche's mental health.
It's a fast paced book with a lot of fun moments.
The next book in the series is Sunny's love story, which I am extremely excited for. This naive, empathetic woman deserves her own HEA.
P.S. I follow the Montessori method, so my reviews are based on completion without ratings. If I didn’t like a book, I probably wouldn’t finish it and hence won’t review it.
December 15, 2024
Do you ever read a book and then find yourself wondering, in real life, what the characters are up to, as if they're your real friends? That's how I felt every step of Loving Lee.
This book is so real, so relatable, so much the way it feels when you get together with those friends who are more like family and spend hours catching up on each other's lives. Reading this feels like you've become the fourth roommate with Lee, Tara, and Blanche. Like you're the new bartender at Confessions who just happens to fit right in with the crew who's been here for years. Like Tonio's mom makes you come to every family gathering.
The relationships are so authentic. The characters' insecurities had me saying "omg bestie, SAME" at so many different points.
Also I will say up front that I am not typically a spice fan, and this book really has some of that! But the spicy scenes in this book also have that authenticity that makes them feel accessible to readers like me who have some discomfort around those types of scenes. (Cut to me, telling my friend who was working on writing a spicy scene that was hot but not over the top, "OMG I HAVE A GREAT BOOK FOR YOU TO REFERENCE" haha.)
Anyway. Pick this book up if you like found family stories, if you want to read a book with all types of queer representation, if you want a fairytale-romance feel for a couple working through real challenges in healthy ways. It's sooooo good and you won't be disappointed.
This book is so real, so relatable, so much the way it feels when you get together with those friends who are more like family and spend hours catching up on each other's lives. Reading this feels like you've become the fourth roommate with Lee, Tara, and Blanche. Like you're the new bartender at Confessions who just happens to fit right in with the crew who's been here for years. Like Tonio's mom makes you come to every family gathering.
The relationships are so authentic. The characters' insecurities had me saying "omg bestie, SAME" at so many different points.
Also I will say up front that I am not typically a spice fan, and this book really has some of that! But the spicy scenes in this book also have that authenticity that makes them feel accessible to readers like me who have some discomfort around those types of scenes. (Cut to me, telling my friend who was working on writing a spicy scene that was hot but not over the top, "OMG I HAVE A GREAT BOOK FOR YOU TO REFERENCE" haha.)
Anyway. Pick this book up if you like found family stories, if you want to read a book with all types of queer representation, if you want a fairytale-romance feel for a couple working through real challenges in healthy ways. It's sooooo good and you won't be disappointed.
January 9, 2025
This book was so super sweet, that I will be thinking about it for a very long time. The whole thing was just so REAL. The feelings they felt, and the issues they felt, all of it made me think that I could call them up to talk to them even though they aren't real.
While this book follows a whole group of friends, (including said friends' povs), the main focus is on Lee and Antonio. Both of them are insecure in different ways. Antonio because he is newly sober and trying to navigate life after spending most of it messed up, and Lee because of the trauma he faced when he was younger. Neither of them think its even possible that the other likes them for real.
This is such a great read and I am so glad that I received the ARC of the next book, Love on the Sunny Side, which focuses on Sunny! I'm also so impressed by the fact that these characters TALK to each other. There is adult conversations when things go wrong or someone gets upset. Its so mature. (Can you tell the miscommunication trope is one of my least favorite?)
Read this if you like:
* Queer relationships
* Multi-racial representation
* Sweet Romance
* Multiple characters in addition to the MCs
* Music
* Mental Health Rep
* COMMUNICATION
Favorite Character: Lee. He's so freaking sweet. I love the growth he goes through.
Favorite Quote: "Demons in your head sounded interesting" - Blanche
While this book follows a whole group of friends, (including said friends' povs), the main focus is on Lee and Antonio. Both of them are insecure in different ways. Antonio because he is newly sober and trying to navigate life after spending most of it messed up, and Lee because of the trauma he faced when he was younger. Neither of them think its even possible that the other likes them for real.
This is such a great read and I am so glad that I received the ARC of the next book, Love on the Sunny Side, which focuses on Sunny! I'm also so impressed by the fact that these characters TALK to each other. There is adult conversations when things go wrong or someone gets upset. Its so mature. (Can you tell the miscommunication trope is one of my least favorite?)
Read this if you like:
* Queer relationships
* Multi-racial representation
* Sweet Romance
* Multiple characters in addition to the MCs
* Music
* Mental Health Rep
* COMMUNICATION
Favorite Character: Lee. He's so freaking sweet. I love the growth he goes through.
Favorite Quote: "Demons in your head sounded interesting" - Blanche
January 30, 2025
This is a fun read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cozy lives up to their name by delivering slice of life queer romances, dating dramas, a little whump!, falling in love, and you feel like you the reader are in safe hands because Cozy is delivering happy endings and resolutions. 💘
For anyone who wants to read an ensemble queer cast of diverse LGBTQ+ and BIPOC characters, this is a must read! There is a core main cast, and while the central relationship is Lee and Antonio, there are other characters having their own relationships too and this all felt balanced out and interesting. The cast are lively and engaging.
There are some warnings to look out for, such as past abuses and unpacking those life traumas. The author does a good job of warning for these in the first pages of the book, so again you the reader are in good hands.
This was a joyful read and I'd definitely recommend it. I could easily see this being the new hip LGBT+ series, books and streaming. I'd certainly watch it! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️💕
Cozy lives up to their name by delivering slice of life queer romances, dating dramas, a little whump!, falling in love, and you feel like you the reader are in safe hands because Cozy is delivering happy endings and resolutions. 💘
For anyone who wants to read an ensemble queer cast of diverse LGBTQ+ and BIPOC characters, this is a must read! There is a core main cast, and while the central relationship is Lee and Antonio, there are other characters having their own relationships too and this all felt balanced out and interesting. The cast are lively and engaging.
There are some warnings to look out for, such as past abuses and unpacking those life traumas. The author does a good job of warning for these in the first pages of the book, so again you the reader are in good hands.
This was a joyful read and I'd definitely recommend it. I could easily see this being the new hip LGBT+ series, books and streaming. I'd certainly watch it! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️💕
May 29, 2025
Oh My God! I can't express how much I love this book. I didn't know I needed this until I started reading it. The representation and diversity is unmatched. I learned a lot while reading this book and I've been a part of the community since 2005. But I've never had community the way the characters in this book do. The way they support and rally around each other is unmatched. I think that's what makes it feel so real. This didn't feel like a fiction novel; it felt like an autobiography or a documentary.
The way the characters and their arcs were handled was really well done. There are a lot of perspectives in this story, and all of them felt needed. It was like the first season of a show that focused on Lee and Antonio but also gave great attention to the supporting cast. Their growth was slow and realistic and set up to allow us to root for them.
I'm running to read the next book in the series, and I know I'm going to be really sad when the series is done.
The way the characters and their arcs were handled was really well done. There are a lot of perspectives in this story, and all of them felt needed. It was like the first season of a show that focused on Lee and Antonio but also gave great attention to the supporting cast. Their growth was slow and realistic and set up to allow us to root for them.
I'm running to read the next book in the series, and I know I'm going to be really sad when the series is done.
September 20, 2024
There's a lot to say about Loving Lee and Cozy's writing. Loving Lee has made me feel every emotion. I cried with some of the characters and I was pushed to my edge as a reader because these stories touched me personally. They write real characters - fully fleshed out, and so powerful. I'm attached to every character, even Sunny. Even though all of them are deeply flawed and real, I'm rooting for them to find the happiness they so deserve.
I want this book added to curriculums because it tells real queer stories unapologetically. Yes there is a lot of spice, so it's queer, Dionysian romance at its finest. Cozy writes consent very well and makes sure to write all queer identities into their cast masterfully.
There's also so much depth and soul in Confessions. Cozy has sat and detailed every part of this world and these characters, and it shows. I feel like their writing style reminds me of some 20th century author in a great American novel. The prose is honest, straightforward, and evocative. Someday I am going to come back and see over a thousand reviews on Loving Lee because it's that good.
I want this book added to curriculums because it tells real queer stories unapologetically. Yes there is a lot of spice, so it's queer, Dionysian romance at its finest. Cozy writes consent very well and makes sure to write all queer identities into their cast masterfully.
There's also so much depth and soul in Confessions. Cozy has sat and detailed every part of this world and these characters, and it shows. I feel like their writing style reminds me of some 20th century author in a great American novel. The prose is honest, straightforward, and evocative. Someday I am going to come back and see over a thousand reviews on Loving Lee because it's that good.
September 23, 2024
I took a chance on this book, I don’t usually read mimetic romance, but I was delightfully surprised!! It’s full of vibrant, relatable characters. It’s got the bitterness of heartbreak and rejection, it’s got the sweet rush of crushes and flirting, the lonely ache of looking for The One. It’s got real bodies. It’s got snark. It’s got tantalizing spice.
This isn’t your garden variety rose-colored glasses romance: Dubois skillfully writes about the realities of navigating consent and boundaries, working through trauma, recovering from substance abuse and EDs, and trying to find oneself amidst the rubble of past mistakes… It feels so real. I am looking forward to reading the next one!!
This isn’t your garden variety rose-colored glasses romance: Dubois skillfully writes about the realities of navigating consent and boundaries, working through trauma, recovering from substance abuse and EDs, and trying to find oneself amidst the rubble of past mistakes… It feels so real. I am looking forward to reading the next one!!
November 24, 2025
Unique and amazing!
That's the best way I can describe this book. It was unique because we basically get the besties' POVs as well, which already gets you halfway hooked on the following books in the series--because you can't help but love the "side" characters as much as the "main" ones. And amazing because of several things: stellar writing, deeply layered characters, incredible dynamics between said characters, and the overall warm feeling it left me with once I was done.
Cannot recommend enough!
That's the best way I can describe this book. It was unique because we basically get the besties' POVs as well, which already gets you halfway hooked on the following books in the series--because you can't help but love the "side" characters as much as the "main" ones. And amazing because of several things: stellar writing, deeply layered characters, incredible dynamics between said characters, and the overall warm feeling it left me with once I was done.
Cannot recommend enough!
December 26, 2024
It took me a while to finally read this book but now that I’ve read it, let me not start with how good this book is. I felt the magnetic connection between Lee and Antonio and their relationship was one thing that drew me in and the way the Lee friends, I will call them his family supported each other, that’s top notch and amazing.
February 6, 2025
I could not put this down--it felt like these characters were real! Mind the content warnings, because it also felt like their traumas were real, but even with all the trauma the end result is so so sweet.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews