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Birds and Butterflies #3
Nightingale
London, 1990
Sharon Goldblatt
My best friend Danny is sick. Really sick. We know what it is, we know how he got it, but we don't know how to make him better. Even the doctors and nurses don't know. Although that doesn't stop one particular nurse on his ward from acting like she knows it all. She's bold, brash and bloody infuriating when she dismisses my questions and concerns at every turn. But I'm determined to do whatever I can to save Danny from AIDS. Because my family rejected me long ago and my social life consists of reading too many superhero comic books, so Danny is all I have. I'm a 27-year-old lesbian who has never kissed a woman and he's all I have. And more than that, I'm all he has. So Florence F*cking Nightingale better keep out of my way if she knows what's good for her.
Kate Xiao Hong Chiu
People think I'm crazy for loving my job. My husband divorced me because of it and even some nursing friends keep their distance, but these are not my problems. My sole focus is treating my patients or rather making them as comfortable as possible. Which is why I don't take lightly to people getting in the way of my job, like this Sharon woman who thinks she knows better than me because she read a few articles. Does it matter that I keep wondering if the shaved sides of her head feel like velvet? No. Is it interesting that she seems to love Lady Phantom comics as much as me? Just a coincidence. Do I wonder what her body would feel like pressed up to mine? Yes, but that's irrelevant. I have a job to do, and when there aren't many of us willing to do it, I'm not going to let anyone stop me from doing it. People's lives literally depend on me so Sharon Goldblatt and her honey-brown eyes can take a running jump... and not into my bed no matter how good that would be.
Nightingale is a frenemies to lovers, grumpy/grumpy sapphic romance with lesbian and bisexual rep, a Jewish MC and a British Chinese MC, and butch/femme representation.
Sharon Goldblatt
My best friend Danny is sick. Really sick. We know what it is, we know how he got it, but we don't know how to make him better. Even the doctors and nurses don't know. Although that doesn't stop one particular nurse on his ward from acting like she knows it all. She's bold, brash and bloody infuriating when she dismisses my questions and concerns at every turn. But I'm determined to do whatever I can to save Danny from AIDS. Because my family rejected me long ago and my social life consists of reading too many superhero comic books, so Danny is all I have. I'm a 27-year-old lesbian who has never kissed a woman and he's all I have. And more than that, I'm all he has. So Florence F*cking Nightingale better keep out of my way if she knows what's good for her.
Kate Xiao Hong Chiu
People think I'm crazy for loving my job. My husband divorced me because of it and even some nursing friends keep their distance, but these are not my problems. My sole focus is treating my patients or rather making them as comfortable as possible. Which is why I don't take lightly to people getting in the way of my job, like this Sharon woman who thinks she knows better than me because she read a few articles. Does it matter that I keep wondering if the shaved sides of her head feel like velvet? No. Is it interesting that she seems to love Lady Phantom comics as much as me? Just a coincidence. Do I wonder what her body would feel like pressed up to mine? Yes, but that's irrelevant. I have a job to do, and when there aren't many of us willing to do it, I'm not going to let anyone stop me from doing it. People's lives literally depend on me so Sharon Goldblatt and her honey-brown eyes can take a running jump... and not into my bed no matter how good that would be.
Nightingale is a frenemies to lovers, grumpy/grumpy sapphic romance with lesbian and bisexual rep, a Jewish MC and a British Chinese MC, and butch/femme representation.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2025
40 people are currently reading
532 people want to read
About the author
Frances M. Thompson
31 books207 followersFrances M. Thompson writes stories about bisexual disaster heroes usually getting the HEAs they deserve in her spicy contemporary romance... but sometimes getting into a lot of trouble in her suspense thrillers.
Frances loves chatting with her readers and the best places to do so is in her Facebook Readers' Group or on Instagram.
Originally from London, UK, but now based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Frances is the author of the contemporary (and steamy!) romances, Five Sunsets, The Moon Also Rises, and Let Love Rule, sapphic romances Hummingbird and Butterflies, three short story collections (Shy Feet Short Stories Inspired by Travel, London Eyes Short Stories, and Nine Women: Short Stories), a collection of poetry called Lover Mother Other, and the London Killing series of fast-paced urban thrillers, including The Wait and The Weaker Sex.
To find out about Frances' upcoming books first, sign up to her newsletter.
You can find copies of her books (and more!) in her shop.
Frances also works as a freelance writer and blogger. You can read her (oft-neglected) blog, As the Bird flies. She is also the creator of WriteNOW Cards, positive affirmations cards designed to help writers build and enjoy a writing practice they love.
Follow Frances on href="https://www.instagram.com/FrancesMTho... or on TikTok @francesmthompson.
Frances loves chatting with her readers and the best places to do so is in her Facebook Readers' Group or on Instagram.
Originally from London, UK, but now based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Frances is the author of the contemporary (and steamy!) romances, Five Sunsets, The Moon Also Rises, and Let Love Rule, sapphic romances Hummingbird and Butterflies, three short story collections (Shy Feet Short Stories Inspired by Travel, London Eyes Short Stories, and Nine Women: Short Stories), a collection of poetry called Lover Mother Other, and the London Killing series of fast-paced urban thrillers, including The Wait and The Weaker Sex.
To find out about Frances' upcoming books first, sign up to her newsletter.
You can find copies of her books (and more!) in her shop.
Frances also works as a freelance writer and blogger. You can read her (oft-neglected) blog, As the Bird flies. She is also the creator of WriteNOW Cards, positive affirmations cards designed to help writers build and enjoy a writing practice they love.
Follow Frances on href="https://www.instagram.com/FrancesMTho... or on TikTok @francesmthompson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 7, 2025
I really wanted to love this book, especially after seeing some glowing ARC reviews, but unfortunately, it just didn’t click for me. That said, there’s a lot it does right. The diverse cast of characters was fantastic, and I really appreciated having two main characters who broke away from the typical sapphic romance tropes—Kate, a bisexual Chinese woman, and Sharon, a plus-size Jewish woman. Their representation felt fresh and authentic. Some of the side characters were standouts too—Danny in particular was a highlight.
I also really liked how the book tackled the AIDS epidemic in the UK in the 90s; it’s clear the author put a lot of care and research into that aspect, and it added real depth to the story.
But where it lost me was the romance. Their meet-cute was charming enough—a misunderstanding leading to instant dislike, setting the stage for enemies-to-lovers vibes—but I never fully bought into their connection. I wanted to, but it felt like there was a lot more telling than showing, and at times it read a bit formulaic, like the author was ticking off beats in a romance template rather than letting the relationship develop naturally.
There’s definitely a lot to appreciate here, and I can see why others have loved it—it just didn’t quite work for me, sadly.
I also really liked how the book tackled the AIDS epidemic in the UK in the 90s; it’s clear the author put a lot of care and research into that aspect, and it added real depth to the story.
But where it lost me was the romance. Their meet-cute was charming enough—a misunderstanding leading to instant dislike, setting the stage for enemies-to-lovers vibes—but I never fully bought into their connection. I wanted to, but it felt like there was a lot more telling than showing, and at times it read a bit formulaic, like the author was ticking off beats in a romance template rather than letting the relationship develop naturally.
There’s definitely a lot to appreciate here, and I can see why others have loved it—it just didn’t quite work for me, sadly.
March 31, 2025
What a beautifully written book! It follows Sharon and her best friend Danny in 1990s London, depicting the ups and downs of their lives and portraying the enduring power of love and friendship, even during life's most challenging times in their lives.
When Sharon and Kate first met, they bumped heads and dont see eye to eye, but as they got to know each other, their relationship blossomed into a beautiful love story, emerging from a difficult period in Sharon's life.
The book deeply moved me. It broke my heart, but the ending was incredibly beautiful and heartwarming. Just be sure to have tissues nearby. You'll need them.
I absolutely recommend this book if you are looking for love, steamy scenes, and a story that is guaranteed to evoke a lot of ugly crying.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
When Sharon and Kate first met, they bumped heads and dont see eye to eye, but as they got to know each other, their relationship blossomed into a beautiful love story, emerging from a difficult period in Sharon's life.
The book deeply moved me. It broke my heart, but the ending was incredibly beautiful and heartwarming. Just be sure to have tissues nearby. You'll need them.
I absolutely recommend this book if you are looking for love, steamy scenes, and a story that is guaranteed to evoke a lot of ugly crying.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
April 11, 2025
Frankie Thompson, what have you done to me?
Nightingale gave this little old GenX lady the book I never knew I needed. And what I would have given to have this book back in 1992 when I was struggling so much to come out of the closet? Everything, I would have given everything. Even though this book has an amazing HEA, it’s bittersweet and poignant knowing that whole generation of queer men are gone and that they weren’t given the dignity they deserved when they were suffering. But Kate and Sharon? Damn, they gave everything, to their patients and friends, and most of all to each other.
This book is moving and funny and sad and smoking hot at the same time. It’s beautifully written. It’s just everything.
Nightingale gave this little old GenX lady the book I never knew I needed. And what I would have given to have this book back in 1992 when I was struggling so much to come out of the closet? Everything, I would have given everything. Even though this book has an amazing HEA, it’s bittersweet and poignant knowing that whole generation of queer men are gone and that they weren’t given the dignity they deserved when they were suffering. But Kate and Sharon? Damn, they gave everything, to their patients and friends, and most of all to each other.
This book is moving and funny and sad and smoking hot at the same time. It’s beautifully written. It’s just everything.
June 9, 2025
If you read one book for Pride Month, let it be this one. Frances M. Thompson's Nightingale is such an important, beautiful story. It juxtaposes the horrors of the AIDs crisis with two women finally embracing their identities to find love and comfort with each other, it is SO PERFECT. While the story is understandably full of angst and I cried off and on through the entire book, the romance is incredibly sweet and heartwarming. And it also tells the incredibly important story of the role queer women had in caring for queer men dying during the AIDS epidemic - a historical moment that really needs more attention.
Nightingale is set in early 1990s London. Sharon and her best friend Danny live together, and she is devasted when he starts showing signs of AIDS. When he's hospitalized, she almost immediately gets on the bad side of his nurse, Kate. They clash constantly for a while, but eventually their animosity cools when they realize that they have quite a few things in common. I LOVED Kate. She's strong and assertive, sacrificing her marriage, time, and sometimes her own emotional well-being to work with AIDS patients. Eventually she makes it her mission to help shy, repressed Sharon come out of her shell, and I loved reading about them feeling each other out through the steamy slow burn. While Sharon's sexuality is outwardly obvious, she's incredibly uncomfortable actually living as a lesbian. I love how both women affirm each other, and as Danny's health declines, become incredible sources for support and for finding joy in their lives, even just for a moment.
Though it's pretty obvious from the very beginning that the book is going to end on a sad note, there IS a HEA for the FMCs. One of the most sweet and hopeful epilogues I've ever read, it's just perfect. Y'all, this book is going down as one the top sapphic novels I have EVER read, you'd better believe I'll be yapping about it all over the place. Highly recommend, PLEASE read it, it's so important and so worth reading.
Nightingale is set in early 1990s London. Sharon and her best friend Danny live together, and she is devasted when he starts showing signs of AIDS. When he's hospitalized, she almost immediately gets on the bad side of his nurse, Kate. They clash constantly for a while, but eventually their animosity cools when they realize that they have quite a few things in common. I LOVED Kate. She's strong and assertive, sacrificing her marriage, time, and sometimes her own emotional well-being to work with AIDS patients. Eventually she makes it her mission to help shy, repressed Sharon come out of her shell, and I loved reading about them feeling each other out through the steamy slow burn. While Sharon's sexuality is outwardly obvious, she's incredibly uncomfortable actually living as a lesbian. I love how both women affirm each other, and as Danny's health declines, become incredible sources for support and for finding joy in their lives, even just for a moment.
Though it's pretty obvious from the very beginning that the book is going to end on a sad note, there IS a HEA for the FMCs. One of the most sweet and hopeful epilogues I've ever read, it's just perfect. Y'all, this book is going down as one the top sapphic novels I have EVER read, you'd better believe I'll be yapping about it all over the place. Highly recommend, PLEASE read it, it's so important and so worth reading.
May 7, 2025
4 Stars
Being able to work with the heavy topic of looming death, lust and romance and making it work is beyond amazing.
The heart wrenching side of the story in contrast with a tentative blooming lust/love “something” between the MCs was crafted so beautifully, it was seamless.
Hands down to the setting. The AIDS hospital, the patients, the symptoms, the ward, the entirety of the place was surreal it was like walking through the halls myself.
Nightingale (very unfortunate that the real person is rubbish, unfortunately her name is synonymous to nursing ugh) by Frances Thompson was well written and very much worth reading. Highly recommend.
Being able to work with the heavy topic of looming death, lust and romance and making it work is beyond amazing.
The heart wrenching side of the story in contrast with a tentative blooming lust/love “something” between the MCs was crafted so beautifully, it was seamless.
Hands down to the setting. The AIDS hospital, the patients, the symptoms, the ward, the entirety of the place was surreal it was like walking through the halls myself.
Nightingale (very unfortunate that the real person is rubbish, unfortunately her name is synonymous to nursing ugh) by Frances Thompson was well written and very much worth reading. Highly recommend.
April 20, 2025
Very well written and not overly emotionally heavy considering how heavy the main theme is.
Read
March 7, 2025My first sapphic heartbreaker and it won't be my last .
But seriously, I really have done my best to put broken hearts back together by the end and I hope you feel that by the time you read the last page.
Come for the feels and the history lesson (it's all about why L comes first in LGBTQIA+) and stay for the bickering banter, the spice (SO GOOD if I do say so myself) and 80s & 90s nostalgia.
But seriously, I really have done my best to put broken hearts back together by the end and I hope you feel that by the time you read the last page.
Come for the feels and the history lesson (it's all about why L comes first in LGBTQIA+) and stay for the bickering banter, the spice (SO GOOD if I do say so myself) and 80s & 90s nostalgia.
November 29, 2025
3.50🏥
Honestly I think I would've rated this story higher if the “romance” was a smaller portion of the story, and I say this because while we did get the intimacy (lots of) between Kate and Sharon. We didn't get much of the romance between them which I wish we did get more of because it would’ve made their blooming love— even though it did feel beautiful— in the midst of this mourning feel more impactful to me. There was lots of things in here that literally had me tear up and break down and in the nooks and crannies, there was such aching and beautiful things about this story, especially with it dealing with sexuality and the AIDS epidemic. I also really love the how the identities of our characters are shown through out!
Things I Highlighted
I look relaxed and happy and alive. I look… pretty.
"You look so beautiful," I tell her before I can stop myself. She opens her eyes and looks startled stop moving my fingers.
Has anybody ever called you beautiful before?" I ask
Sharon shakes her head
“Well, that's a fucking disgrace,"
"I love you, Sharon Goldblatt," Kate says with a straight back and a firm stare on me. "I really do."
"And I love you. Chiu Xiao Hong Kate, Florence Fuoking Nightingale,"I squeeze her hand. "I love the human you are, not the superhero you sometimes become, although l love her too."
"She did it for you," I tell him. "Sharon told you your mum was coming so you'd hold on a bit longer. She loves you so, so much."
"I know." he looks at me again, and any spark I saw earlier has long gone. "And I want to hold on.
He takes in a slow and very difficult breath. "But I... I don't think I can anymore
She grips my wrists, stalling my movements. "I should have danced with him," she says again but this time, it's only for me to hear
"I know," I say. "I know.
"Why didn't I dance with him?"
Thirty two years of dancing for. No. With Danny on this day and many, many, many other days during that time. I still wish I’d danced with him while he was alive. It's the biggest regret of my life. But I will continue to dance with him, with Kate , for the rest of my life. That's a promise I made to him that havent broken and never vill.
Honestly I think I would've rated this story higher if the “romance” was a smaller portion of the story, and I say this because while we did get the intimacy (lots of) between Kate and Sharon. We didn't get much of the romance between them which I wish we did get more of because it would’ve made their blooming love— even though it did feel beautiful— in the midst of this mourning feel more impactful to me. There was lots of things in here that literally had me tear up and break down and in the nooks and crannies, there was such aching and beautiful things about this story, especially with it dealing with sexuality and the AIDS epidemic. I also really love the how the identities of our characters are shown through out!
Things I Highlighted
I look relaxed and happy and alive. I look… pretty.
"You look so beautiful," I tell her before I can stop myself. She opens her eyes and looks startled stop moving my fingers.
Has anybody ever called you beautiful before?" I ask
Sharon shakes her head
“Well, that's a fucking disgrace,"
"I love you, Sharon Goldblatt," Kate says with a straight back and a firm stare on me. "I really do."
"And I love you. Chiu Xiao Hong Kate, Florence Fuoking Nightingale,"I squeeze her hand. "I love the human you are, not the superhero you sometimes become, although l love her too."
"She did it for you," I tell him. "Sharon told you your mum was coming so you'd hold on a bit longer. She loves you so, so much."
"I know." he looks at me again, and any spark I saw earlier has long gone. "And I want to hold on.
He takes in a slow and very difficult breath. "But I... I don't think I can anymore
She grips my wrists, stalling my movements. "I should have danced with him," she says again but this time, it's only for me to hear
"I know," I say. "I know.
"Why didn't I dance with him?"
Thirty two years of dancing for. No. With Danny on this day and many, many, many other days during that time. I still wish I’d danced with him while he was alive. It's the biggest regret of my life. But I will continue to dance with him, with Kate , for the rest of my life. That's a promise I made to him that havent broken and never vill.
April 22, 2025
Thank you to the author, Frances M. Thompson for the free ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this review is being left voluntarily.
✨ Sapphic Historical Romance
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 4/5 Spice Level
✨ Set in the 1990s
Rep: masc lesbian MC, bi MC, bi SC, Jewish MC, Chinese MC
> micro-tropes and content warnings after review
This may be one of my top books for the year. Nightingale is a romance that has so much depth beyond the romance. A good portion of the book is set in the AIDS ward of a hospital. Despite that being a heavy, nuanced topic, there was a good balance with the romance. I didn’t feel like I was being dragged down the entire time. I think that is one of the beautiful things about this book. As much as I loved Sharon and Kate’s love story. I also loved Danny. I loved that he felt like a whole, complete person and though none of the story is told from his POV, he feels like the third main character.
I felt so much while reading this book. I really connected with the characters and their story. I think at the beginning, I already knew what was going to happen, I could see it coming, but the journey there felt just right. The way it was supposed to be. I appreciate how the author handled the difficult topics within. They were handled with such care, and it came out in the writing.
I’m not going to lie. I sobbed at the end. Just absolutely bawling. I’ve never shed more than a tear while reading, so it caught me off-guard. I was so invested though, and my crying at the end felt cathartic in a way. Point is: I highly recommend this book and hope it gets the love I truly believe it deserves.
> beware potential spoilers below
Micro-tropes
✨ Comic book nerds
✨ “Good girl”
✨ Public s*x
✨ Fr they can’t keep their hands off each other
Content Warnings
> may not be all inclusive
homophobia/queerphobia/biphobia, medical symptoms/hospital treatments (incl. cancer, vomiting, cardiac arrest, bed-wetting, loss of vision, needles and blood), parental abandonment (discussion), off-page de*th (grandparent), anti-Asian racism, antisemitism, on-page de*ths of characters, discussions of the HIV virus/AIDS, funeral scene at a crematorium (cremation is not included), explicit s*xual content
✨ Sapphic Historical Romance
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 4/5 Spice Level
✨ Set in the 1990s
Rep: masc lesbian MC, bi MC, bi SC, Jewish MC, Chinese MC
> micro-tropes and content warnings after review
This may be one of my top books for the year. Nightingale is a romance that has so much depth beyond the romance. A good portion of the book is set in the AIDS ward of a hospital. Despite that being a heavy, nuanced topic, there was a good balance with the romance. I didn’t feel like I was being dragged down the entire time. I think that is one of the beautiful things about this book. As much as I loved Sharon and Kate’s love story. I also loved Danny. I loved that he felt like a whole, complete person and though none of the story is told from his POV, he feels like the third main character.
I felt so much while reading this book. I really connected with the characters and their story. I think at the beginning, I already knew what was going to happen, I could see it coming, but the journey there felt just right. The way it was supposed to be. I appreciate how the author handled the difficult topics within. They were handled with such care, and it came out in the writing.
I’m not going to lie. I sobbed at the end. Just absolutely bawling. I’ve never shed more than a tear while reading, so it caught me off-guard. I was so invested though, and my crying at the end felt cathartic in a way. Point is: I highly recommend this book and hope it gets the love I truly believe it deserves.
> beware potential spoilers below
Micro-tropes
✨ Comic book nerds
✨ “Good girl”
✨ Public s*x
✨ Fr they can’t keep their hands off each other
Content Warnings
> may not be all inclusive
homophobia/queerphobia/biphobia, medical symptoms/hospital treatments (incl. cancer, vomiting, cardiac arrest, bed-wetting, loss of vision, needles and blood), parental abandonment (discussion), off-page de*th (grandparent), anti-Asian racism, antisemitism, on-page de*ths of characters, discussions of the HIV virus/AIDS, funeral scene at a crematorium (cremation is not included), explicit s*xual content
May 15, 2025
S.O.B.B.I.N.G.
May 18, 2025
Beautifully written sapphic story around the heartbreakingly real AIDS crisis. The setting, the characters, all made my heart swell and break - at times simultaneously.
Thank you for the ARC read!
Thank you for the ARC read!
August 8, 2025
🩶
Nightingale by Frances M. Thompson
🥀Frenemies to lovers
🥀Butch/femme
🥀Set in London in 1990
🥀Heartbreaking and heart healing
Just finished and I’m sobbing 😭
This story was gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking but also so good. It follows Kate, the nurse manager of an AIDS ward, and Sharon, the best friend of Danny, one of Kate’s patients. Set in London in 1990 during the AIDS crisis, it dives into how devastating things were and how people coped. From patients to friends, family, and hospital staff.
It was a sad story, not gonna lie. But it was also funny, joyful, and full of love. Frances did an amazing job capturing what that time was like! You can tell she really did her research.
Sharon and Kate talk so much shit to each other for most of the book but I loved it. Super entertaining. And Danny was such a literal sunshine in human form despite everything he was going through.
I cried a couple of times 😭 (couldn’t help it) but there were also happy tears. I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for something real and raw, but also funny and so hot. Because one thing about Frances… she’s gonna bring the spice!!
Nightingale by Frances M. Thompson
🥀Frenemies to lovers
🥀Butch/femme
🥀Set in London in 1990
🥀Heartbreaking and heart healing
Just finished and I’m sobbing 😭
This story was gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking but also so good. It follows Kate, the nurse manager of an AIDS ward, and Sharon, the best friend of Danny, one of Kate’s patients. Set in London in 1990 during the AIDS crisis, it dives into how devastating things were and how people coped. From patients to friends, family, and hospital staff.
It was a sad story, not gonna lie. But it was also funny, joyful, and full of love. Frances did an amazing job capturing what that time was like! You can tell she really did her research.
Sharon and Kate talk so much shit to each other for most of the book but I loved it. Super entertaining. And Danny was such a literal sunshine in human form despite everything he was going through.
I cried a couple of times 😭 (couldn’t help it) but there were also happy tears. I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for something real and raw, but also funny and so hot. Because one thing about Frances… she’s gonna bring the spice!!
December 12, 2025
4,25/5
Alright, this was good.I didn't expected this honestly. I hated this book at the beginning, more specifically I hated Sharon,and I couldn't understand how will they even get together, I didn't want them to get together. Obviously this changed.
I cried ,I loved books that make me do that.Kate is literally my dream woman,like she had me giggling, kicking my feet at work and blushing, and made my heart melt in every way.
Alright, this was good.I didn't expected this honestly. I hated this book at the beginning, more specifically I hated Sharon,and I couldn't understand how will they even get together, I didn't want them to get together. Obviously this changed.
I cried ,I loved books that make me do that.Kate is literally my dream woman,like she had me giggling, kicking my feet at work and blushing, and made my heart melt in every way.
April 8, 2025
“nightingale” is one of those rare books that leaves you quiet when you finish, not because it lacked anything to say—but because it said so much. set in 1990s london, during the height of the aids crisis, it’s a powerful and deeply moving tribute to a part of queer history that often goes untold, especially when it comes to the women who stood by their friends, their communities, and each other.
at its heart, this story follows sharon goldblatt, a 27-year-old jewish lesbian with a big heart and a fierce loyalty to her best friend danny, who is dying from aids. and danny—danny is unforgettable. through him, the book honors the very real lives lost, the suffering endured, and the cruel silence that surrounded it all. his story broke my heart in ways i can’t fully express. to imagine everything he had to go through—what so many people like him had to go through—while being rejected and ignored by the world, it’s devastating. and it’s necessary to remember.
opposite sharon is kate chiu, a british chinese nurse who lives and breathes her work with a dedication that’s both admirable and, at times, isolating. her brusque, no-nonsense demeanor hides a deep well of compassion, and watching her slowly let sharon in was one of the most beautiful aspects of the book.
i’ll admit, it took me a while to shift my focus to their romance because i was so emotionally invested in danny’s journey. but sharon and kate’s relationship grew in a way that felt honest and respectful to the time they were living in. it never overshadowed the grief or the pain—it simply existed alongside it, a small, steady light. and somehow, through all the grief, their story still bloomed into one of the most stunning sapphic romances i’ve ever read. their connection—grumpy/grumpy, fierce, tender, and rooted in mutual care—was everything.
what frances m. thompson does so masterfully is give us two characters who feel full and real. sharon, with her stubbornness and vulnerability, her comic books and quiet strength. kate, with her quiet heroism and guarded tenderness. together, they are a force—not just for each other, but for the people around them. their love story is proof that even in the darkest times, connection, care, and even joy can still find a way in.
nightingale is not a light read, but it is an essential one. it carries its heavy themes with immense respect and transparency, never veering into sensationalism, never shying away from truth. it’s a beautiful, bittersweet homage to the queer community of the ’90s, and especially to the women—so often overlooked—who showed up, stayed, and loved fiercely.
this book will stay with me for a long time. and more than that, it’s inspired me to seek out more stories from this era. because these stories deserve to be seen, remembered, and honored—for every person who lived, loved, and fought through it.
thank you, frances, for the e-arc.
at its heart, this story follows sharon goldblatt, a 27-year-old jewish lesbian with a big heart and a fierce loyalty to her best friend danny, who is dying from aids. and danny—danny is unforgettable. through him, the book honors the very real lives lost, the suffering endured, and the cruel silence that surrounded it all. his story broke my heart in ways i can’t fully express. to imagine everything he had to go through—what so many people like him had to go through—while being rejected and ignored by the world, it’s devastating. and it’s necessary to remember.
opposite sharon is kate chiu, a british chinese nurse who lives and breathes her work with a dedication that’s both admirable and, at times, isolating. her brusque, no-nonsense demeanor hides a deep well of compassion, and watching her slowly let sharon in was one of the most beautiful aspects of the book.
i’ll admit, it took me a while to shift my focus to their romance because i was so emotionally invested in danny’s journey. but sharon and kate’s relationship grew in a way that felt honest and respectful to the time they were living in. it never overshadowed the grief or the pain—it simply existed alongside it, a small, steady light. and somehow, through all the grief, their story still bloomed into one of the most stunning sapphic romances i’ve ever read. their connection—grumpy/grumpy, fierce, tender, and rooted in mutual care—was everything.
what frances m. thompson does so masterfully is give us two characters who feel full and real. sharon, with her stubbornness and vulnerability, her comic books and quiet strength. kate, with her quiet heroism and guarded tenderness. together, they are a force—not just for each other, but for the people around them. their love story is proof that even in the darkest times, connection, care, and even joy can still find a way in.
nightingale is not a light read, but it is an essential one. it carries its heavy themes with immense respect and transparency, never veering into sensationalism, never shying away from truth. it’s a beautiful, bittersweet homage to the queer community of the ’90s, and especially to the women—so often overlooked—who showed up, stayed, and loved fiercely.
this book will stay with me for a long time. and more than that, it’s inspired me to seek out more stories from this era. because these stories deserve to be seen, remembered, and honored—for every person who lived, loved, and fought through it.
thank you, frances, for the e-arc.
April 27, 2025
🌟Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💧Drip-o-Meter: 💦💦💦💦
💗Something I Loved: The. Entire. Freaking. Thing. Truly. I adored this book. Nightingale follows three queer 20-somethings—Kate, Sharon, and Danny—as they navigate friendship and love, along with life and death, at the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1990s London. Told from the perspectives of Kate (compassionate, no-nonsense, bisexual, AIDS ward nurse), and Sharon (fiercely loyal, stubborn, self-conscious, butch (virgin) lesbian), who meet when Sharon’s best friend Danny is admitted to Kate’s ward, this book tells the story of the queer men who lost their lives to AIDS and the queer women who cared for them. It was heart wrenchingly beautiful, and while still technically a romance, it was also so much more. Through these characters stories, Thompson was able to highlight the stigma that gay people faced during that period of time, the fear of being true to yourself when surrounded by homophobia, and the vibrant glory of what it means to be queer. Nightingale was a beautiful tribute to the queer community and in a time when it feels like we are only moving backwards, it was a great reminder of how far we’ve actually come.
🫤Something I Would Have Changed: Not a thing (although there were a couple of things I questioned the absence of in this story, I was pleased to see Thompson address them in her authors note so be sure to read that too).
🥰Favorite Moment: The night Kate and Sharon meet their favorite comic book author (the whole comic in general was also one of my favorite things). Or the disco on the AIDS ward. Or dancing with Danny. There are so many perfect moments that I literally couldn’t begin to choose but let’s call those my top three.
🌶️Spiciest Scene: Chapters 20-21 maybe? But I was also quite partial to chapter 29. Really all of the spice was top notch and there was a healthy heaping of it.
📚Standalone vs. Series: Book 3 of 4 in the #BirdsandButterflies series. I can say with certainty that they don’t need to be read in order as this is the only one I’ve read… so far.
📖Would I Recommend: A whole box of tissues later…. yeah, I most definitely would. It was everything I wanted and more and although it did destroy me a little bit, it also filled me with hope. These characters were so full (as in developed but also “of life”), the subject matter so clearly well researched, and the story wholly realistic without ever feeling overdramatized. And while it wasn’t always the easiest story to read (or stomach), it was also incredibly beautiful, respectfully written, and will be one I think about for a very very long time. Just read it is what I’m getting at.
💬Tropes: Sapphic, Grumpy x Grumpy, Frenemies to Lovers, 80s/90s Nostalgia, Comic Book Nerds, Terminal Illness
💧Drip-o-Meter: 💦💦💦💦
💗Something I Loved: The. Entire. Freaking. Thing. Truly. I adored this book. Nightingale follows three queer 20-somethings—Kate, Sharon, and Danny—as they navigate friendship and love, along with life and death, at the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1990s London. Told from the perspectives of Kate (compassionate, no-nonsense, bisexual, AIDS ward nurse), and Sharon (fiercely loyal, stubborn, self-conscious, butch (virgin) lesbian), who meet when Sharon’s best friend Danny is admitted to Kate’s ward, this book tells the story of the queer men who lost their lives to AIDS and the queer women who cared for them. It was heart wrenchingly beautiful, and while still technically a romance, it was also so much more. Through these characters stories, Thompson was able to highlight the stigma that gay people faced during that period of time, the fear of being true to yourself when surrounded by homophobia, and the vibrant glory of what it means to be queer. Nightingale was a beautiful tribute to the queer community and in a time when it feels like we are only moving backwards, it was a great reminder of how far we’ve actually come.
🫤Something I Would Have Changed: Not a thing (although there were a couple of things I questioned the absence of in this story, I was pleased to see Thompson address them in her authors note so be sure to read that too).
🥰Favorite Moment: The night Kate and Sharon meet their favorite comic book author (the whole comic in general was also one of my favorite things). Or the disco on the AIDS ward. Or dancing with Danny. There are so many perfect moments that I literally couldn’t begin to choose but let’s call those my top three.
🌶️Spiciest Scene: Chapters 20-21 maybe? But I was also quite partial to chapter 29. Really all of the spice was top notch and there was a healthy heaping of it.
📚Standalone vs. Series: Book 3 of 4 in the #BirdsandButterflies series. I can say with certainty that they don’t need to be read in order as this is the only one I’ve read… so far.
📖Would I Recommend: A whole box of tissues later…. yeah, I most definitely would. It was everything I wanted and more and although it did destroy me a little bit, it also filled me with hope. These characters were so full (as in developed but also “of life”), the subject matter so clearly well researched, and the story wholly realistic without ever feeling overdramatized. And while it wasn’t always the easiest story to read (or stomach), it was also incredibly beautiful, respectfully written, and will be one I think about for a very very long time. Just read it is what I’m getting at.
💬Tropes: Sapphic, Grumpy x Grumpy, Frenemies to Lovers, 80s/90s Nostalgia, Comic Book Nerds, Terminal Illness
March 12, 2025
It definitely broke my tender little heart, but as promised, it was mended in the end.
Nevertheless, it remains a heartbreaking and heartwarming story with a lot of depth and very grumpy, ironic and sarcastic characters. I loved it!
That's my way of communicating, so I would have loved to be in there with them.
I would have particularly enjoyed watching the witty, hostile exchanges between Sharon and Kate with Danny and a portion of popcorn.
We would have had a really good time.
Danny's story and the reality that comes with his illness are of course sad.
This isn't discussed as often anymore, nor is the image the queer community has suffered.
The brave heroes of such hospitals, or rather, all heroes in the form of nurses, doctors and any staff who help and support people in need, have their wonderful homage her.
It is well deserved!
They are absolutely irreplaceable in our world! Kate Chiu is such a heroine in the 90s, who isn't afraid of her patients or HIV/AIDS and tries to explain it to the world around her.
She loses a lot personally because of it and her role as a ward's charge nurse always takes a front seat in her life.
Danny and his best friend Sharon come across this nurse in the hospital and what follows is hilarious, extremely nerve-wracking and also, in its own way, so wonderfully warm and loving.
Sharon and Danny lost their families because of their sexuality and are now each other's chosen family.
The battle against this cursed virus is tragic and Sharon only slowly comes to understand that she is losing the only person she is still allowed to love. Who needs Florent, Fu*****, Nightingale as a nurse?! Insanely funny and super hot too!
You simply have to read it!
Thanks so much Frances M. Thompson for the ARC of this brilliant love story!
Nevertheless, it remains a heartbreaking and heartwarming story with a lot of depth and very grumpy, ironic and sarcastic characters. I loved it!
That's my way of communicating, so I would have loved to be in there with them.
I would have particularly enjoyed watching the witty, hostile exchanges between Sharon and Kate with Danny and a portion of popcorn.
We would have had a really good time.
Danny's story and the reality that comes with his illness are of course sad.
This isn't discussed as often anymore, nor is the image the queer community has suffered.
The brave heroes of such hospitals, or rather, all heroes in the form of nurses, doctors and any staff who help and support people in need, have their wonderful homage her.
It is well deserved!
They are absolutely irreplaceable in our world! Kate Chiu is such a heroine in the 90s, who isn't afraid of her patients or HIV/AIDS and tries to explain it to the world around her.
She loses a lot personally because of it and her role as a ward's charge nurse always takes a front seat in her life.
Danny and his best friend Sharon come across this nurse in the hospital and what follows is hilarious, extremely nerve-wracking and also, in its own way, so wonderfully warm and loving.
Sharon and Danny lost their families because of their sexuality and are now each other's chosen family.
The battle against this cursed virus is tragic and Sharon only slowly comes to understand that she is losing the only person she is still allowed to love. Who needs Florent, Fu*****, Nightingale as a nurse?! Insanely funny and super hot too!
You simply have to read it!
Thanks so much Frances M. Thompson for the ARC of this brilliant love story!
April 14, 2025
Well this book made me cry in public. I should have seen it coming - I did see it coming, you couldn't not, it's a story set on an AIDS ward with frank descriptions of what different stages of the illness looks like and depressingly true representations of how homophobic people reacted to the crisis - but still I was so absorbed I felt I had to read on and find out what happened next. Hence me crying ugly tears on a train getting side eyed by the business commuters around me.
I was initially a bit sceptical of a spicy romance set around one of the greatest tragedies in queer history, but I was wrong - of course people can and do find romance everywhere, and why shouldn't that include some exploratory action (which in its own way was a source of healing: there's layers of hurt going on here). And yes, we absolutely should be singing the praises of queer women who stepped up and looked after the sick while others were locking them out. It's an important part of our history that doesn't get enough acknowledgement and it was lovely seeing it here.
I loved how rounded out these MCs were, and that their point of connection went beyond Danny on the ward. We've cultural food as expressions of love and a shared love of a comic book which comes up in the most adorable ways throughout the story. It made their romance feel a lot more realistic, and a lot more likely to succeed in the long run. I've mixed feelings about the end of the book - I don't know was it the conclusion I needed (trying to be vague here), but I suppose it provided closure after all the hurt. It doesn't stop me from thinking this book was very sad, but also very, very good.
Check out those cws before diving in - parts of this story are very painful.
I read an advance copy of this book. My thoughts are very much my own.
I was initially a bit sceptical of a spicy romance set around one of the greatest tragedies in queer history, but I was wrong - of course people can and do find romance everywhere, and why shouldn't that include some exploratory action (which in its own way was a source of healing: there's layers of hurt going on here). And yes, we absolutely should be singing the praises of queer women who stepped up and looked after the sick while others were locking them out. It's an important part of our history that doesn't get enough acknowledgement and it was lovely seeing it here.
I loved how rounded out these MCs were, and that their point of connection went beyond Danny on the ward. We've cultural food as expressions of love and a shared love of a comic book which comes up in the most adorable ways throughout the story. It made their romance feel a lot more realistic, and a lot more likely to succeed in the long run. I've mixed feelings about the end of the book - I don't know was it the conclusion I needed (trying to be vague here), but I suppose it provided closure after all the hurt. It doesn't stop me from thinking this book was very sad, but also very, very good.
Check out those cws before diving in - parts of this story are very painful.
I read an advance copy of this book. My thoughts are very much my own.
April 7, 2025
CW: AIDS crisis, death of loved ones, graphic sexual content, homophobia, lesbophobia, palliative care, graphic medical content, familial estrangement
🌟 Dislike to friends to lovers
🌟 Historical romance (1980s)
🌈 Sapphic romance
🌈 Bi FMC
🌈 Lesbian FMC
This was the most beautiful book I have read this year. I can say with confidence this will be my book of the year. It's going to take me weeks to recover. I've been crying for hours.
A stunning exploration of the depths of found family, the despair within the community during the AIDS crisis, and new love blossoming in dark times, Nightingale is probably one of the most heart wrenching books I've read in a long time. Frances Thompson never ceases to blow me away with each passing release. I could take out shares in Kleenex at this point.
Beautiful character work in both her MCs and supporting cast just rips me apart and puts me together every single time. Character development is never lacking, and my heart is just wrapped up in each and every story.
From AIDS, to cancer, to infertility, each book approaches such heavy topics with such sensitivity and care and the handling of each topic is so gentle, but hits so hard and Nightingale didn't break the pattern.
I beg that if you've stumbled across this review that you go and read this book. Take heed of the CWs.
Infact, just go read the whole backlist. If you have any respect or love for the romance genre, particularly queer stories, you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you don't.
🌟 Dislike to friends to lovers
🌟 Historical romance (1980s)
🌈 Sapphic romance
🌈 Bi FMC
🌈 Lesbian FMC
This was the most beautiful book I have read this year. I can say with confidence this will be my book of the year. It's going to take me weeks to recover. I've been crying for hours.
A stunning exploration of the depths of found family, the despair within the community during the AIDS crisis, and new love blossoming in dark times, Nightingale is probably one of the most heart wrenching books I've read in a long time. Frances Thompson never ceases to blow me away with each passing release. I could take out shares in Kleenex at this point.
Beautiful character work in both her MCs and supporting cast just rips me apart and puts me together every single time. Character development is never lacking, and my heart is just wrapped up in each and every story.
From AIDS, to cancer, to infertility, each book approaches such heavy topics with such sensitivity and care and the handling of each topic is so gentle, but hits so hard and Nightingale didn't break the pattern.
I beg that if you've stumbled across this review that you go and read this book. Take heed of the CWs.
Infact, just go read the whole backlist. If you have any respect or love for the romance genre, particularly queer stories, you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you don't.
April 5, 2025
“It’s the saddest, most life-affirming place I’ve ever been, and that’s kind of… beautiful.”
Nightingale made me feel all sorts of emotions. Even though it deals with several complicated subjects (bi/homophobia, AIDS, grief, parental rejection, …), it’s always written with a lot of kindness and tenderness. That love story between these two women, as they are taking care of all of these condemned men was particularly beautiful. The confort they give to each other, and to all of their “boys” keeps us on an edge, holding our breath, with a knot in the throat all along.
This book is a dance with Death, a dance with Love, a dance with Life. It shatters the heart as much as it mends it. Not all heroes wear capes, but some do… sometimes (I absolutely loved the comic book store scene!!).
The historic part was intense, but so was my attachment to Kate, Sharon and Dany. They’re all strong in their own way, and seeing them struggle, fail, be courageous but also on the verge of breaking, then growing to overcome their internalized prejudices was insanely beautiful. I shared their losses, their griefs, their hopes. Nightingale is a beautiful (and hot) romance, but it is so much more. It’s a long and chaotic journey, but it’s so worth it (and worth the tissues!), and it will remain with me for a (very) long time.
Thank you to the author for the eARC. My opinions are my own.
Nightingale made me feel all sorts of emotions. Even though it deals with several complicated subjects (bi/homophobia, AIDS, grief, parental rejection, …), it’s always written with a lot of kindness and tenderness. That love story between these two women, as they are taking care of all of these condemned men was particularly beautiful. The confort they give to each other, and to all of their “boys” keeps us on an edge, holding our breath, with a knot in the throat all along.
This book is a dance with Death, a dance with Love, a dance with Life. It shatters the heart as much as it mends it. Not all heroes wear capes, but some do… sometimes (I absolutely loved the comic book store scene!!).
The historic part was intense, but so was my attachment to Kate, Sharon and Dany. They’re all strong in their own way, and seeing them struggle, fail, be courageous but also on the verge of breaking, then growing to overcome their internalized prejudices was insanely beautiful. I shared their losses, their griefs, their hopes. Nightingale is a beautiful (and hot) romance, but it is so much more. It’s a long and chaotic journey, but it’s so worth it (and worth the tissues!), and it will remain with me for a (very) long time.
Thank you to the author for the eARC. My opinions are my own.
May 7, 2025
A Heartbreaking & Heartwarming Tribute!
This writer takes us through many of life’s challenges and this book will do it again. AIDS in 1980’s through to the 90’s was a shocking change to how society lived. I was already in my twenties so I remember it clearly. I live in the United States and I am aware of many other countries including the UK that were suffering through it. The stories that were put out caused such a panic and most were not willing to learn. Frankie Thompson took the bad of that time and churned a good with a lovely and sweet story of being gay, loving a bisexual and falling in love with a nurse from the hospital in The Princess Diana Ward. The story takes us through Sharon’s love for her best friend, her only family who is diagnosed with AIDS. Her best friend, Danny, who is a partying bisexual was not taking care of himself as he led Sharon to believe. Now he is already in the lesions step, reality has hit them both. At the helm is Ward Nurse Manager Kate Chiu, a strong, tough and hard nurse with the administration but a silent softy with her patients. The story is told from Sharon’s point of view and Kate’s perspective. As each try to navigate around each other during Danny’s stay. What develops between all three and some of the other men on the ward brings a smile in a very tough situation. Great Read!
This writer takes us through many of life’s challenges and this book will do it again. AIDS in 1980’s through to the 90’s was a shocking change to how society lived. I was already in my twenties so I remember it clearly. I live in the United States and I am aware of many other countries including the UK that were suffering through it. The stories that were put out caused such a panic and most were not willing to learn. Frankie Thompson took the bad of that time and churned a good with a lovely and sweet story of being gay, loving a bisexual and falling in love with a nurse from the hospital in The Princess Diana Ward. The story takes us through Sharon’s love for her best friend, her only family who is diagnosed with AIDS. Her best friend, Danny, who is a partying bisexual was not taking care of himself as he led Sharon to believe. Now he is already in the lesions step, reality has hit them both. At the helm is Ward Nurse Manager Kate Chiu, a strong, tough and hard nurse with the administration but a silent softy with her patients. The story is told from Sharon’s point of view and Kate’s perspective. As each try to navigate around each other during Danny’s stay. What develops between all three and some of the other men on the ward brings a smile in a very tough situation. Great Read!
June 23, 2025
This is the first book that I have read from this author and I was impressed. This kept me interested. Ms. Thompson can be a little long winded at times, but readers will not be deterred. This story takes place in the early 90's when the AIDS epidemic was in full swing. Yes, this is a sad book. Well, at least some parts are sad. Danny is living with AIDS. He can no longer stick his head in the sand. He is in the Princess Diana ward of the hospital with other patients diagnosed with this disease. It is hard to hear about Danny's health failing. That is not all this book is about.
Danny's house mate and best friend is Sharon Goldblatt. Sharon is a butch lesbian that is deep in the closet. So deep that she has never even kissed a woman. She is ready to stick by him through this disease. She makes sure she visits him every day he is in the hospital. One nurse just rubs Sharon the wrong way for some reason. Florence Nightingale of the Princess Diana ward, Kate Xiao Hong Chiu, is a divorced bisexual that is ostracized for her willingness to work with AIDS patients. These two come together in an unlikely situation with circumstances that most relationship cannot withstand. Though sad, this love story still shines. Readers see Kate and Sharon's relationship from the very beginning. I really enjoyed this book. Though heartbreaking, I could not put it down.
Danny's house mate and best friend is Sharon Goldblatt. Sharon is a butch lesbian that is deep in the closet. So deep that she has never even kissed a woman. She is ready to stick by him through this disease. She makes sure she visits him every day he is in the hospital. One nurse just rubs Sharon the wrong way for some reason. Florence Nightingale of the Princess Diana ward, Kate Xiao Hong Chiu, is a divorced bisexual that is ostracized for her willingness to work with AIDS patients. These two come together in an unlikely situation with circumstances that most relationship cannot withstand. Though sad, this love story still shines. Readers see Kate and Sharon's relationship from the very beginning. I really enjoyed this book. Though heartbreaking, I could not put it down.
March 31, 2025
This book is one of those unforgettable reads, a book that you hold to you for years to come. To be able to see someone of my size, who has body dysmorphia because of it and have someone who is completely opposite love them unapologetically, desire their body. It truly made me appreciate the beauty of my body. For a fat body to be described as ‘lush and generous… that begs to be touched and squeezed and grabbed and held’. This book was not only healing but eye opening. I never realised how much I took my generation for granted, for not having to deal with the struggles through the AIDS epidemic, and my ignorance for not learning more about it. Being able to experience this story was a privilege, feeling as if I was truly there. Danny was such a beautiful character, and was built beautifully. The complexity of this book held me in its tight grip to the point I didn’t want to let go, and didn’t until I finished it. When diving into something new, surrounding such a real topic I was concerned I wouldn’t grasp it as much as other books, but this novel took me by the heart and never let go. Thank you Frances for writing such a wonderful and empowering story that begs to be heard. So go and read it now.
March 18, 2025
I knew immediately this would tear my heart to pieces, and I still couldn’t stop myself charging full speed ahead.
I have no memory of applying for this ARC, it just seemed to appear in my inbox as if by magic… And so after a quick peek at the synopsis I thought I was in for a sweet romance set in the midst of the AIDS crisis, sad but nothing I haven’t read before… I wasn’t prepared.
I didn’t love the style or find it particularly easy to get into, but it was simple and allowed the meaning and plot to take precedence. It still flows nicely and more importantly has so, so much emotion.
This book just does such a great job at balancing just the right amount of romance/life with AIDS sort of looming in the background. It makes the characters and story come alive.
An impressive feat that really puts you in the shoes of people at that time, truly connecting you with the story.
It’s heartbreaking and yet opened my eyes to the true tragedies of this epidemic. By making us care about these characters and watch their normal lives alongside this awful virus it truly makes you realise what it was like to go through, without any of the answers or hope we now have.
I have no memory of applying for this ARC, it just seemed to appear in my inbox as if by magic… And so after a quick peek at the synopsis I thought I was in for a sweet romance set in the midst of the AIDS crisis, sad but nothing I haven’t read before… I wasn’t prepared.
I didn’t love the style or find it particularly easy to get into, but it was simple and allowed the meaning and plot to take precedence. It still flows nicely and more importantly has so, so much emotion.
This book just does such a great job at balancing just the right amount of romance/life with AIDS sort of looming in the background. It makes the characters and story come alive.
An impressive feat that really puts you in the shoes of people at that time, truly connecting you with the story.
It’s heartbreaking and yet opened my eyes to the true tragedies of this epidemic. By making us care about these characters and watch their normal lives alongside this awful virus it truly makes you realise what it was like to go through, without any of the answers or hope we now have.
March 13, 2025
Thank you for this eArc... it really tugged at my heartstrings. The author warns of the heavy topics in this story - and she was absolutely right. It breaks your heart and then slowly heals you through the very end.
In a time when AlDS was becoming an epidemic and homophobia was common, a nurse and a patient's bff meet and immediately clash. Nurse Kate and friend Sharon can't seem to get along until they find they have a comicbook hero in common. Their dynamic is funny - loved the banter between these characters. However, life is much more complicated because Sharon's friend Danny has AIDS and is in Kate's hospital ward. As they spend more time together, they realize that there's a lot more happening between them than they think, and when they give into their attraction - it is scorching!🔥🔥🔥 Even more so as they partner up to bring joy, hope, and comfort to those who need it - and to each other, as well.
In a time when AlDS was becoming an epidemic and homophobia was common, a nurse and a patient's bff meet and immediately clash. Nurse Kate and friend Sharon can't seem to get along until they find they have a comicbook hero in common. Their dynamic is funny - loved the banter between these characters. However, life is much more complicated because Sharon's friend Danny has AIDS and is in Kate's hospital ward. As they spend more time together, they realize that there's a lot more happening between them than they think, and when they give into their attraction - it is scorching!🔥🔥🔥 Even more so as they partner up to bring joy, hope, and comfort to those who need it - and to each other, as well.
March 20, 2025
It is a bittersweet romance with heavy historic topics such as AIDS epidemic and the heartbreakingly painful death from it. I am usually not a historic romance fan, but this book totally captured my heart. Two very different young women in the 90s finding love in the least expected place and their story feels realistic and what moved me the most is their generous love for all the AIDS patients that were condemned by the society. It is a very emotional read, a mixture of happy and sad, at times frustratingly slow burn love but the ending is great and full of hope.
April 9, 2025
Let me wipe my tears…this book was amazing. So many emotions. These MCs were incredible and real. Sharon’s growth and belief in herself and her loyalty and compassion was incredible and relatable. Kate was a superstar but still human and it shaped her character wonderfully. Their banter was awesome. Their chemistry and connection was perfect. I am so thankful to have been able to read their story and fall in love with not only Sharon and Kate but also Danny and the rest of the quirky cast of characters throughout the story. Highly recommend!!
May 13, 2025
What a beautiful and meaningful recount of friendship and the dynamics of love and chosen family. Having lived through, and experienced, the Aids epidemic of the 80s and 90s, I can honestly say that this is one of the best recounts I have read. The author has captured the disbelief, terror and uncertainty of the generation of queer folk that lived through it with such a candid honesty. And the romance that develops under such trying times is written with pure heart breaking honesty. There will be tears but there will also be plenty of warm smiles.
May 11, 2025
so good!!
I cried many times in this book. I think more so than I ever have before for any other book. It is very touching and beautiful. Very well written and a beautiful love story not only romantically but also platonically. Danny reminds me of my best friend I think that’s why it was very tear jerking because I can’t imagine if it had been him like this and I had to deal with it.
I cried many times in this book. I think more so than I ever have before for any other book. It is very touching and beautiful. Very well written and a beautiful love story not only romantically but also platonically. Danny reminds me of my best friend I think that’s why it was very tear jerking because I can’t imagine if it had been him like this and I had to deal with it.
April 5, 2025
I signed up for the ARC knowing this would absolutely break my heart. It's a beautiful and heartbreaking and heart mending story of found family and found self. It's just so well done. It's a close subject matter to me and it was done so well. Pre-ordered the physical because this most definitely needs to be on my bookshelves.
May 2, 2025
So much more than 5 start
First time reading Frances’s books and this one just made my heart break ❤️🩹 and mend at the end of Kate and Sharon’s story. Falling in love in a place and time of such heartbreaking moments makes perfect sense. Pleas read this book! I’m gonna look up more of Frances’ books right now!!
First time reading Frances’s books and this one just made my heart break ❤️🩹 and mend at the end of Kate and Sharon’s story. Falling in love in a place and time of such heartbreaking moments makes perfect sense. Pleas read this book! I’m gonna look up more of Frances’ books right now!!
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