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As the Sun Comes Up
Wake up and smell the sunrise...
When competent, capable, and drop-dead gorgeous bed & breakfast owner Cricket Sterling asks friend-of-a-friend Moriah Becker if she can crash on her couch for a night, Moriah doesn’t hesitate to say yes, even despite her secret crush on the other woman. But, when the awards ceremony Cricket is being honored at gets pushed three days, Moriah starts to panic. With her post-pandemic agoraphobia, OCD, and odd hours, she knows she’s difficult to live with, and the idea of having someone in her space for that long nearly sends her into a tailspin.
However, Cricket is considerate and accommodating, excitable and passionate, and Moriah finds herself oddly at peace—and falling deeper than ever. It feels inevitable when they crash into each other, spending one sizzling night together—and then another—and Moriah has to reconsider her own mental walls. Were they built to keep people out, or only ever to keep herself inside?
When competent, capable, and drop-dead gorgeous bed & breakfast owner Cricket Sterling asks friend-of-a-friend Moriah Becker if she can crash on her couch for a night, Moriah doesn’t hesitate to say yes, even despite her secret crush on the other woman. But, when the awards ceremony Cricket is being honored at gets pushed three days, Moriah starts to panic. With her post-pandemic agoraphobia, OCD, and odd hours, she knows she’s difficult to live with, and the idea of having someone in her space for that long nearly sends her into a tailspin.
However, Cricket is considerate and accommodating, excitable and passionate, and Moriah finds herself oddly at peace—and falling deeper than ever. It feels inevitable when they crash into each other, spending one sizzling night together—and then another—and Moriah has to reconsider her own mental walls. Were they built to keep people out, or only ever to keep herself inside?
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2024
23 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Olive J. Kelley
10 books89 followersOlive J. Kelley (they/them) is a mid-twenties non-binary, autistic lesbian who writes hopepunk, realistic romance for queer and disabled adults. When they're not writing, they can be found playing video games, watching TV, or working as a barista. They have a bachelor's degree in creative writing and currently live in Louisville, Kentucky with their wife, dog, and three cats, 3/4 of which are named after Star Wars characters.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 29, 2024
AS THE SUN COMES UP is a beautiful reminder that you are worthy of a love story, even if your head may tell you otherwise. Meeting Moriah and Cricket feels like catching up with old friends, from the very first page. Their story feels like drawing hearts on a window left fogged up by a storm. Absolutely lovely work, I enjoyed every moment.
December 25, 2024
I haven’t felt this heartwarming from a book in a while. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this one — I absolutely love it!
April 11, 2025
4 Stars
An intimate peek into Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Nicely written, engrossing and revealing. The story is short but the necessary information is served up by the author. The story was concise but meaty. It was enough romantic, enough emotional, enough practical. I wouldn’t mind reading more of this kind of story.
An intimate peek into Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Nicely written, engrossing and revealing. The story is short but the necessary information is served up by the author. The story was concise but meaty. It was enough romantic, enough emotional, enough practical. I wouldn’t mind reading more of this kind of story.
December 12, 2024
once again, i am filled with joy over one of Olive J. Kelley's romances, and once again, i may cry happy tears over them (and relate far too much to the characters). if you want a novella that will wriggle its way into your heart and warm you from the inside out, grab a copy of As the Sun Comes Up, as well as its predecessor. you won't regret it.
October 2, 2024
When a friend of a friend asks Moriah if she can spend the night, Moriah doesn’t hesitate. When that one night turns into a week, the two of them quickly get to know each other and a bond forms.
This was a cutesy novella. I definitely recommend to read the first book, as someone who didn’t read book one first, it can be confusing. Without the prior background, it feels instalovey and so incredibly fast. I had no idea that Moriah is an innkeeper until I went back to read the synopsis. There also was no conversation about preferences or consent before things
started going, if you know what I mean. Take that as you will.
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC of this book.
This was a cutesy novella. I definitely recommend to read the first book, as someone who didn’t read book one first, it can be confusing. Without the prior background, it feels instalovey and so incredibly fast. I had no idea that Moriah is an innkeeper until I went back to read the synopsis. There also was no conversation about preferences or consent before things
started going, if you know what I mean. Take that as you will.
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC of this book.
December 24, 2024
only read this because it was free
November 12, 2024
🪵Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
🥵Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌈Review: i freaking loved Moriah and Cricket!! I was intrigued by both of them in the first book and fell in love with them together in this book. It was sweet, relatable, there was so much patience and understanding between them. I loved how cricket never pushed Mo past her comfort but became a safe place and person for her. Mo was relatable, in think the author captured her conditions well, especially the intrusive thoughts, that resonated a lot with me. I loved the ending!! The romance whilst fast paced (keep in mind it’s a novella that takes place over a few days) it didn’t feel rushed and I thought the details were just enough, I was engaged the whole time. Also the delicious smut was an absolute bonus. I love that the FMCs both had different body shapes and how they were described.
🥵Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌈Review: i freaking loved Moriah and Cricket!! I was intrigued by both of them in the first book and fell in love with them together in this book. It was sweet, relatable, there was so much patience and understanding between them. I loved how cricket never pushed Mo past her comfort but became a safe place and person for her. Mo was relatable, in think the author captured her conditions well, especially the intrusive thoughts, that resonated a lot with me. I loved the ending!! The romance whilst fast paced (keep in mind it’s a novella that takes place over a few days) it didn’t feel rushed and I thought the details were just enough, I was engaged the whole time. Also the delicious smut was an absolute bonus. I love that the FMCs both had different body shapes and how they were described.
July 13, 2025
☀️ This was the sweetest addition to my Sapphic September reads! I loved these characters and their dynamic!
☀️ This was short but this didn’t take away from the story, if anything, it added to it!
☀️ I really loved how this tied into Kelley’s other book ‘As the Light Goes Out’ (which I loved as well! See my last review) but this didn’t take away from these characters story, it enhanced it.
☀️ Kelley’s writing style is an absolute delight to read! I will definitely be picking up anything else they write.
☀️ This book will be released on 30th September 2024 so please preorder if you are keen to read it!
☀️ This was short but this didn’t take away from the story, if anything, it added to it!
☀️ I really loved how this tied into Kelley’s other book ‘As the Light Goes Out’ (which I loved as well! See my last review) but this didn’t take away from these characters story, it enhanced it.
☀️ Kelley’s writing style is an absolute delight to read! I will definitely be picking up anything else they write.
☀️ This book will be released on 30th September 2024 so please preorder if you are keen to read it!
November 13, 2024
4.2 stars
Reading this book was a nice journey to go on, and it didn't even feel like a book really(considering it's a novella) but it just felt like a perfectly warm sunny day. Some of the refrences to warmth in the book were spot on and it influenced how I just described it honestly 😅 The epilouge did feel a little out of place but still worked for the story. Overall a good book and a day's read 🫶🏽
Reading this book was a nice journey to go on, and it didn't even feel like a book really(considering it's a novella) but it just felt like a perfectly warm sunny day. Some of the refrences to warmth in the book were spot on and it influenced how I just described it honestly 😅 The epilouge did feel a little out of place but still worked for the story. Overall a good book and a day's read 🫶🏽
April 3, 2025
3.5
I didn’t love this quite as much as As the Light Goes Out, but I still really enjoyed this. It’s another queer cozy contemporary romance, but this one deals very heavily with Moriah’s agoraphobia and OCD so it felt a bit darker than the previous.
I didn’t love this quite as much as As the Light Goes Out, but I still really enjoyed this. It’s another queer cozy contemporary romance, but this one deals very heavily with Moriah’s agoraphobia and OCD so it felt a bit darker than the previous.
September 15, 2024
Kelley's latest is a superb and gentle romance about loving oneself as you learn to love someone else. With a love story that doesn't shy away from topics of grief, anxiety, and the difficulty of inviting someone in within your boundaries that presents these topics without judgement, AS THE SUN COMES UP felt like all the warmth and hope of a new day after a long night.
September 1, 2024
AS THE SUN COMES UP is a romance as comforting as a strong cup of coffee during an autumnal sunrise. This story of reclaiming one's own sense of sharing space loves women as much as they love each other.
October 4, 2024
A sapphic romance that's as sweet as maple syrup
As The Sun Comes Up was the perfect bite sized romance for a crisp fall day. I loved the portrayal of mental health struggles and two people coming together despite that and healing together.
As The Sun Comes Up was the perfect bite sized romance for a crisp fall day. I loved the portrayal of mental health struggles and two people coming together despite that and healing together.
September 23, 2024
read an arc of this and it’s sooooo good. love the integration of Judaism and OCD. Super sweet novella for high holidays!!!
September 26, 2024
Read the ARC for this book and I absolutely loved it. I immediately fell in love with both Moriah and Cricket, and they’re definitely two of my favorite characters written by Kelley. For one thing, I could really relate to Moriah because I also have OCD, and it was amazing to see that rep by my favorite author!
This is now one of my favorite books, and probably my favorite one of Kelley’s!
This is now one of my favorite books, and probably my favorite one of Kelley’s!
December 9, 2024
cute and short and sweet
January 7, 2025
This is a great little novella. I really liked the OCD rep.
April 18, 2025
Moriah's flat makes me long to have my own place that i can decorate and make cozy. I mean come on she has cat furniture that looks like houseplants??
May 16, 2025
This was very cute and wholesome and shows, that you don't habe to change to be deserving of love. Sadly, the ending felt quite sudden, but was still very beautiful
October 6, 2024
A sweet sapphic story, that wonderfully portrays the struggles of OCD and far-from-perfect characters meeting each other. Cricket helps Moriah come out of her shell and try new things, while they both explore the tender blooming of curiosity and passion for each other.
Despite the crush they both had for each other at the beginning, it did feel very rushed and insta-love, especially considering how the novella only spans a few days.
Despite the crush they both had for each other at the beginning, it did feel very rushed and insta-love, especially considering how the novella only spans a few days.
September 26, 2024
Finally I can carve a snippet of time to review this lovely read! A short, sweet, comforting novella that sparkles with sapphic queer joy, masterfully combining both themes of mental illness and trauma with intimate window-steaming scenes. Kelley's style shines as usual in the concrete details of their narrative and the tender hearts of their incredibly nuanced characters.
December 28, 2025
My Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐
There is something about this author’s writing that just really sticks with you in the best kind of way. This is a bit like a bite sized piece of coziness and sunshine. This is the kind of book you should read when you feel anxious because it will both calm you and validate your feelings. It had the perfect amount of pining without any of the insta love that normally throws me off.
As someone who has OCD myself, I found Moriah’s story so relatable and a little healing. I think this would have been a four star read if the pacing had been slightly better and I hadn’t read the first book and compared this one to it because it didn’t have the same atmospheric feel to it the first book did.
I would recommend it if you want a short, moving and anxiety reducing love story.
❤ Sapphic romance
❤ Anxiety and OCD rep
❤ Sweet and cosy
❤ Quick read
❤ Roomies for the week
Amount of spice: 🔥🔥
Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Open door & explicit
There is something about this author’s writing that just really sticks with you in the best kind of way. This is a bit like a bite sized piece of coziness and sunshine. This is the kind of book you should read when you feel anxious because it will both calm you and validate your feelings. It had the perfect amount of pining without any of the insta love that normally throws me off.
As someone who has OCD myself, I found Moriah’s story so relatable and a little healing. I think this would have been a four star read if the pacing had been slightly better and I hadn’t read the first book and compared this one to it because it didn’t have the same atmospheric feel to it the first book did.
I would recommend it if you want a short, moving and anxiety reducing love story.
❤ Sapphic romance
❤ Anxiety and OCD rep
❤ Sweet and cosy
❤ Quick read
❤ Roomies for the week
Amount of spice: 🔥🔥
Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Open door & explicit
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews