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Looking For Trouble
In this quirky lesbian romantic mystery, a reporter and a party volunteer who can’t stand each other join forces to find the truth behind an ice queen derailing Australia’s weirdest election.
Nancy is sick of living in the share house from hell, getting dumped by women who aren’t that into her, and being stuck in dead-end jobs. It’s time to chase her dream to become a political journalist, get her own funky inner-city Melbourne place, and meet Ms Right.
Instead, she meets cranky George, a butch, tattooed bus driver and party volunteer who’s dodging a vengeful ex-girlfriend. George thinks Nancy is stuck up; Nancy thinks George is the rudest woman she’s ever met.
The warring pair is caught up in the crazy election campaign of Clara West, a maverick running on the bizarre promise to shut down the internet. Rich, sexy, and dangerous, Clara will stop at nothing in the pursuit of power.
Nancy and George must learn to trust each other and act fast if they want to stay alive.
Nancy is sick of living in the share house from hell, getting dumped by women who aren’t that into her, and being stuck in dead-end jobs. It’s time to chase her dream to become a political journalist, get her own funky inner-city Melbourne place, and meet Ms Right.
Instead, she meets cranky George, a butch, tattooed bus driver and party volunteer who’s dodging a vengeful ex-girlfriend. George thinks Nancy is stuck up; Nancy thinks George is the rudest woman she’s ever met.
The warring pair is caught up in the crazy election campaign of Clara West, a maverick running on the bizarre promise to shut down the internet. Rich, sexy, and dangerous, Clara will stop at nothing in the pursuit of power.
Nancy and George must learn to trust each other and act fast if they want to stay alive.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published August 16, 2021
20 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Jess Lea
13 books56 followersJess writes lesbian fiction. Her novels, 'A Curious Woman', 'A Curious Visit', 'A Curious Journey', and 'Looking for Trouble', and her collection of short stories, 'The Taste of Her', are available from Ylva Publishing. You can also read her short stories in the collections 'Don't Be Shy', 'Laid Bare', 'First Kisses', 'Meet Cute', and 'Tales of the Grimoire'. https://www.ylva-publishing.com/autho... You can contact Jess at jessleacontact@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 25, 2021
Australian politics.
I got curious about the author and found out she has written one mystery romance and a handful of erotic short stories before this so I read her bio. Lea used to be an academic and she loves vintage crime fiction among other things, so I guess that explains this story.
This book is labelled as a quirky romantic mystery but the romance isn't the main draw. The story is set against the backdrop of an Australian by-election. Nancy is a political science academic who wants to write an article about it and she gets caught in a web of mystery with her new found ally, George who campaigns for the Labour Party. There's murder and there are villians in the story and the mystery storyline is pretty well written. It gets a little drawn out once or twice but is generally interesting enough for me to want to follow through until the end.
Nancy and George are a mismatched pair and there is animosity between them when they first meet. They disregard the sparks between them at first but the mutual attraction soon becomes too hard to ignore. The main characters are lovable and they add a bit of fun of the story so that's great.
This is a pretty good and light-hearted mystery for people who like this genre. You don't need to follow Australian politics to understand it so that's convenient too.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I got curious about the author and found out she has written one mystery romance and a handful of erotic short stories before this so I read her bio. Lea used to be an academic and she loves vintage crime fiction among other things, so I guess that explains this story.
This book is labelled as a quirky romantic mystery but the romance isn't the main draw. The story is set against the backdrop of an Australian by-election. Nancy is a political science academic who wants to write an article about it and she gets caught in a web of mystery with her new found ally, George who campaigns for the Labour Party. There's murder and there are villians in the story and the mystery storyline is pretty well written. It gets a little drawn out once or twice but is generally interesting enough for me to want to follow through until the end.
Nancy and George are a mismatched pair and there is animosity between them when they first meet. They disregard the sparks between them at first but the mutual attraction soon becomes too hard to ignore. The main characters are lovable and they add a bit of fun of the story so that's great.
This is a pretty good and light-hearted mystery for people who like this genre. You don't need to follow Australian politics to understand it so that's convenient too.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2022
A very fun read
I haven't read much by Jess Lea but this was my cup of tea. Looking for Trouble: a quirky romantic mystery is exactly that, equal parts eccentric humour, political intrigue and sweet romance.
Nancy has a PhD in Political Science but she's stuck with low-paid jobs, in a terrible shared house and no girlfriend. She wants to become a political journalist and what a better idea than covering the Melbourne by-election?
Enter George, a butch bus driver and party volunteer, who's trying to avoid a vengeful ex. Their first meeting doesn't end up well but when they get caught up in the middle of a crazy political campaign, they will have to learn to trust each other to stay alive.
This is a butch/femme opposites attract story. Political intrigue novels are my jam, even more if they mix it with humour. Jess Lea is an Australian writer and this story reflects that in the language, customs and geographical setting. If you are used to reading American novels some expressions might sound odd but the sense of humour is fantastic. It's quirky, smart a d sardonic:
"...she’s been contracted to write a book about the submerged queer sub-narratives of reality television in the noughties.”
“Is that what people write books about now?” George looked surprised. “Last time I was in a bookshop, it was all bondage, vampires, and colouring books for grownups. Guess that was a while ago.”
I liked that the author uses humour as a way of criticising the political landscape: from candidates who want to free pets from "slavery" to politicians who promise to shut the Internet down, they all have in common the greed for power and no ethics in their fight to achieve it. If I had read this novel some years ago, I would have thought that it was taking it a step too far but lately reality has a way to overpower fiction.
The intrigue aspects of the book are very well developed, this is a long-ish book and there are a few twists and turns. Some events are expected but some others aren't. The author keeps the reader guessing who is more corrupt and has the least moral principles.
I think that picking Cat Gould as the narrator was a very smart choice. As a native Australian, she's got the perfect accent and pronunciation. Her delivery of jokes and funny moments is spot on as well as her voices for the different characters. Her performance definitely increased my enjoyment of the story.
If you like political intrigue, a smart sense of humor and quirky characters, this book is for you. 4.5 stars.
Length: 11 hours, 50 minutes
Available in Scribd
I haven't read much by Jess Lea but this was my cup of tea. Looking for Trouble: a quirky romantic mystery is exactly that, equal parts eccentric humour, political intrigue and sweet romance.
Nancy has a PhD in Political Science but she's stuck with low-paid jobs, in a terrible shared house and no girlfriend. She wants to become a political journalist and what a better idea than covering the Melbourne by-election?
Enter George, a butch bus driver and party volunteer, who's trying to avoid a vengeful ex. Their first meeting doesn't end up well but when they get caught up in the middle of a crazy political campaign, they will have to learn to trust each other to stay alive.
This is a butch/femme opposites attract story. Political intrigue novels are my jam, even more if they mix it with humour. Jess Lea is an Australian writer and this story reflects that in the language, customs and geographical setting. If you are used to reading American novels some expressions might sound odd but the sense of humour is fantastic. It's quirky, smart a d sardonic:
"...she’s been contracted to write a book about the submerged queer sub-narratives of reality television in the noughties.”
“Is that what people write books about now?” George looked surprised. “Last time I was in a bookshop, it was all bondage, vampires, and colouring books for grownups. Guess that was a while ago.”
I liked that the author uses humour as a way of criticising the political landscape: from candidates who want to free pets from "slavery" to politicians who promise to shut the Internet down, they all have in common the greed for power and no ethics in their fight to achieve it. If I had read this novel some years ago, I would have thought that it was taking it a step too far but lately reality has a way to overpower fiction.
The intrigue aspects of the book are very well developed, this is a long-ish book and there are a few twists and turns. Some events are expected but some others aren't. The author keeps the reader guessing who is more corrupt and has the least moral principles.
I think that picking Cat Gould as the narrator was a very smart choice. As a native Australian, she's got the perfect accent and pronunciation. Her delivery of jokes and funny moments is spot on as well as her voices for the different characters. Her performance definitely increased my enjoyment of the story.
If you like political intrigue, a smart sense of humor and quirky characters, this book is for you. 4.5 stars.
Length: 11 hours, 50 minutes
Available in Scribd
September 6, 2021
A story of politically minded misfits is what this is. Nancy is barely getting by. She’s an academic in political science and is working as a tutor at a university. She meets George, a volunteer for the Labor Party while walking home. There’s a by-election going on as their MP has recently died and though George doesn’t care for the candidate, she’s loyal to her party.
Nancy and George have a fiery, contemptuous first meeting and things don’t get much better afterwards. When Nancy decides to write an article on the election to give her an edge for an interview, she and George are stuck working together when Nancy’s life is put in danger.
First off, this was an average read for me. My main issue was that it wasn’t until almost half way through that I really got interested in the story. And also, I wasn’t a fan of the third point of view, that to me, didn’t add much beyond adding to the “wacky, quirky” feel of the book. “Looking for Trouble” is more of a humorous mystery than a romance, then it loses its humor when murder happens.
This is filled with a lot of characters, most of them are shady in some way. There are the political hopefuls making promises and taking advantage of things like online bullying and murder. Then we have the overzealous campaign volunteers that are loyal to their candidates and will do anything to help them get a step-up, whether legal and/or ethical or not. No one is to be trusted as they all have their own agenda.
While there are dark things happening, Lea writes this as more of a parody that shouldn’t be taken too seriously. However, a lot of the humor just didn’t work for me but it seems to have worked better for others. Please read other reviews to get more positive feedback as I’m the odd one out here.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Nancy and George have a fiery, contemptuous first meeting and things don’t get much better afterwards. When Nancy decides to write an article on the election to give her an edge for an interview, she and George are stuck working together when Nancy’s life is put in danger.
First off, this was an average read for me. My main issue was that it wasn’t until almost half way through that I really got interested in the story. And also, I wasn’t a fan of the third point of view, that to me, didn’t add much beyond adding to the “wacky, quirky” feel of the book. “Looking for Trouble” is more of a humorous mystery than a romance, then it loses its humor when murder happens.
This is filled with a lot of characters, most of them are shady in some way. There are the political hopefuls making promises and taking advantage of things like online bullying and murder. Then we have the overzealous campaign volunteers that are loyal to their candidates and will do anything to help them get a step-up, whether legal and/or ethical or not. No one is to be trusted as they all have their own agenda.
While there are dark things happening, Lea writes this as more of a parody that shouldn’t be taken too seriously. However, a lot of the humor just didn’t work for me but it seems to have worked better for others. Please read other reviews to get more positive feedback as I’m the odd one out here.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2021
This is an entertaining read if you like a bit of political intrigue mixed in with an age gap, opposites attract, butch-femme romance. The plot revolves around an inner city by-election in Melbourne which brings wannabe political reporter Nancy face to face with tough as nails and long suffering campaign volunteer, George. Nancy is hoping to land some job security and the chance to finally move out of her share house by covering the election for Conspirator magazine. George has been a devoted Labour party volunteer for years, or rather devoted to the last guy. This new candidate,using all the gimmicks politicians use to raise their profile (are flash mobs still a thing?) is grating on her last nerve. Cue the crazy antics of fringe party candidates, social media attacks and ridiculous proposals hoping to gain votes. Nancy and George are forced to work together when the election turns deadly.
After suffering through the last American presidential election (and I’m not even American) I am pretty much politicians averse so seeing the same smear campaigns and less than honest secondary characters popping up in this by-election I wasn’t sure I would like this read. Not to worry because Lea does a great job of poking fun at present day campaign tactics and using broad caricatures to laugh at these politicians we are forced to endure. I enjoyed Nancy’s inner monologue and frustration with her career plans and could relate to George’s inability to tolerate the young devoted campaigners worshiping their candidates. Their romance takes a backseat to solving the long game in this cozy mystery.
A humourous look at the darker side of politics.
A copy of this book was received with thanks from the publisher for review.
After suffering through the last American presidential election (and I’m not even American) I am pretty much politicians averse so seeing the same smear campaigns and less than honest secondary characters popping up in this by-election I wasn’t sure I would like this read. Not to worry because Lea does a great job of poking fun at present day campaign tactics and using broad caricatures to laugh at these politicians we are forced to endure. I enjoyed Nancy’s inner monologue and frustration with her career plans and could relate to George’s inability to tolerate the young devoted campaigners worshiping their candidates. Their romance takes a backseat to solving the long game in this cozy mystery.
A humourous look at the darker side of politics.
A copy of this book was received with thanks from the publisher for review.
November 20, 2021
This wasn’t for me. I got into it because of the fun cover and the title referencing an quirky mystery.
All the quirk in this one is completely missed by me, the mystery is not a real mystery in my opinion, more political intrigue maybe. And the romance? Is it a romance even? Two characters do get together, but I wouldn’t call it a romance.
Maybe it was too quirky for me to get it all? I really didn’t enjoy this much, I was put off by both main characters and the story couldn’t hold my attention either.
I’m sure it’ll work for other people so do please check other reviews
All the quirk in this one is completely missed by me, the mystery is not a real mystery in my opinion, more political intrigue maybe. And the romance? Is it a romance even? Two characters do get together, but I wouldn’t call it a romance.
Maybe it was too quirky for me to get it all? I really didn’t enjoy this much, I was put off by both main characters and the story couldn’t hold my attention either.
I’m sure it’ll work for other people so do please check other reviews
March 17, 2022
The latest offering from Ms. Lea (great book cover by the way) is steeped in political drama with a dash of humour, a sprinkling of romance and murder. I read slowly, back and forth, absorbing language and descriptions. Leads Nancy and George are so different -oil and water best describes them. Nancy, serious in outlook, stuck with room mates from hell, struggling to find her feet as an academic while writing articles for a politically biased newspaper to make ends meet. George, scrappy butch, driver, steadfast in her political beliefs and a volunteer for the local Labour Party in the upcoming by-election. After various clashes, they find common ground investigating the deaths of two men (one was the incumbent politician and the other the main candidate in the by-election). Backroom dealings, blackmail, deceit and drug use permeate this sometimes gritty, rollercoaster plot with a varied supporting cast of dingbats, overzealous volunteers and characters that made my skin crawl plus identity theft. I felt for Nancy floundering for a bit before "finding her backbone" and George caught between a past error in judgement and the future she could have with Nancy as their affections grow.
Easily recommend another suspense twister from the author. I should note that IMHO the ending left room for a sequel but perhaps that's my over active imagination ;)
I rec'd a copy through Ylva Publishing and this is a totally unbiased and voluntary review.
Easily recommend another suspense twister from the author. I should note that IMHO the ending left room for a sequel but perhaps that's my over active imagination ;)
I rec'd a copy through Ylva Publishing and this is a totally unbiased and voluntary review.
August 11, 2021
George is an active member of the Labour Party handing out political leaflets at a commuter station. Nancy is a very hung over political science teacher who is heading home. The two meet and it is aggravation at first sight.
As I do not want to spoil the roller coaster ride of the story by giving anymore plot descriptions, I will stop here. It is too much of a fun ride to spoil.
Looking for Trouble can be best described as a political farce wrapped up in murder and topped with an opposites attract romance.
When not writing steamy erotic stories, Jess Lea captures your imagination with quirky odd ball stories such as this one. Her main characters are definitely unique and loveable. The supporting characters are a wild bunch of caricatures of political wannabes. The storyline involves instances of murder and physical violence yet it is handled with a light touch by Lea. The reader never feels the weight of these actions and focuses more on solving the who done it.
I really enjoyed reading Looking for Trouble. For all its hints of dark sides this was what I considered a light, fun read.
I was given a free ARC from Ylva Publishing for my honest review.
As I do not want to spoil the roller coaster ride of the story by giving anymore plot descriptions, I will stop here. It is too much of a fun ride to spoil.
Looking for Trouble can be best described as a political farce wrapped up in murder and topped with an opposites attract romance.
When not writing steamy erotic stories, Jess Lea captures your imagination with quirky odd ball stories such as this one. Her main characters are definitely unique and loveable. The supporting characters are a wild bunch of caricatures of political wannabes. The storyline involves instances of murder and physical violence yet it is handled with a light touch by Lea. The reader never feels the weight of these actions and focuses more on solving the who done it.
I really enjoyed reading Looking for Trouble. For all its hints of dark sides this was what I considered a light, fun read.
I was given a free ARC from Ylva Publishing for my honest review.
September 1, 2021
All fun and games!
Nancy is chasing her dreams of a career in political journalism when she meets George, who is volunteering for a political party and dodging her ex. At first, Nancy and George aren’t seeing eye-to-eye but when they find themselves fully caught up in the craziness of Clara West’s election campaign, they have to learn to work together and get along if they are both going to achieve all they are trying to.
A wonderfully comedic enemies to lovers romance, with great humour, dramatic moments, and all the madness you’d expect where politics are involved. It was almost scandalous at times, with Clara being quite the mad politician with policies to match that were frankly scary and somewhat stupid, but I loved her character because she was a driving force for Nancy and George, polar opposites, to be pushed together.
The tension and drama between Nancy and George was exciting to start. I really didn’t think they were ever going to start getting along, and the conversations and interactions they had were certainly entertaining, as were the general events going on in their lives. When they started working together it was brilliant and they were somewhat an unstoppable and underestimated team.
I really enjoyed the story and hope there will be more from Nancy and George in future because I adore their dynamic. They work so well, never fail to entertain, and they really get into some situation which are hilarious. I was laughing at many a moment during the story, a few I was gasping at and when Clara was talking I was somewhat horrified, but loved the reactions her craziness evoked from Nancy and George so I am not complaining. Jess Lea has such a unique writing style that I really enjoy, so I am excited to read what she writes next.
Nancy is chasing her dreams of a career in political journalism when she meets George, who is volunteering for a political party and dodging her ex. At first, Nancy and George aren’t seeing eye-to-eye but when they find themselves fully caught up in the craziness of Clara West’s election campaign, they have to learn to work together and get along if they are both going to achieve all they are trying to.
A wonderfully comedic enemies to lovers romance, with great humour, dramatic moments, and all the madness you’d expect where politics are involved. It was almost scandalous at times, with Clara being quite the mad politician with policies to match that were frankly scary and somewhat stupid, but I loved her character because she was a driving force for Nancy and George, polar opposites, to be pushed together.
The tension and drama between Nancy and George was exciting to start. I really didn’t think they were ever going to start getting along, and the conversations and interactions they had were certainly entertaining, as were the general events going on in their lives. When they started working together it was brilliant and they were somewhat an unstoppable and underestimated team.
I really enjoyed the story and hope there will be more from Nancy and George in future because I adore their dynamic. They work so well, never fail to entertain, and they really get into some situation which are hilarious. I was laughing at many a moment during the story, a few I was gasping at and when Clara was talking I was somewhat horrified, but loved the reactions her craziness evoked from Nancy and George so I am not complaining. Jess Lea has such a unique writing style that I really enjoy, so I am excited to read what she writes next.
August 24, 2021
Jess Lea chose the perfect title for her newest novel. Looking for Trouble is exactly what the two main characters in this story are doing, and on the few occasions where they are not looking for trouble, it seems to find them anyway.
This book has it all. We have a budding romance between two very different people (George and Nancy) who seem to fall for each other in spite of themselves. There is a wacked-out by-election for a local Melbourne seat in Parliament. The story has mystery, intrigue and murder connected with this election. There is also an overabundance of bad guys, mostly involving the election. Some are zany, some are just misunderstood, but a few are quite sinister and dangerous.
I read this book almost nonstop for several reasons. I really wanted to see how this crazy election would turn out. It was as wild as some of our U.S. elections. The murder mystery had more twists and turns than a roller coaster ride with several side mysteries happening within it. And I had to read and see if George and Nancy would ever figure out they were falling in love…and admit it when they did.
To say that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel would be an understatement. I loved every page of this book, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
This book has it all. We have a budding romance between two very different people (George and Nancy) who seem to fall for each other in spite of themselves. There is a wacked-out by-election for a local Melbourne seat in Parliament. The story has mystery, intrigue and murder connected with this election. There is also an overabundance of bad guys, mostly involving the election. Some are zany, some are just misunderstood, but a few are quite sinister and dangerous.
I read this book almost nonstop for several reasons. I really wanted to see how this crazy election would turn out. It was as wild as some of our U.S. elections. The murder mystery had more twists and turns than a roller coaster ride with several side mysteries happening within it. And I had to read and see if George and Nancy would ever figure out they were falling in love…and admit it when they did.
To say that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel would be an understatement. I loved every page of this book, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
January 21, 2022
3.5, not quite 4 stars. This was a freebie some time ago, I enjoy the settings of both this authors books being in Australia, with quirky characters and local flare that I could relate to. This was no exception.
However, I felt like it was 2 hours longer than it should have been. The last two hours really dragged for me and I took a fair few breaks to finish, which is unlike me.
It's not that the storyline is boring - I think the mystery and "whodunnit" aspects with all the potential "perps" was well done, and kept me guessing. But I think with so much horribleness being the focus - it just got me down.
Every other page there are social media posts of ridiculousness, dramatic threats on someone's life, (or infact real threats) and outrageous claims being made via the news media... Which is exactly why I very much limit my actual time spent on social media and the news media, and try not to get myself involved in such controversies.
The negativity and ridiculous commentary just gets to me on a personal level that I could not shake. Maybe because I have unfortunately been outed and doxed before by a supposed 'feminist' group with similar personalized threats with outrageous commentary I could never address without it getting twisted around.
While there are points when both Nancy and George have discussions on how wrong it is, it just never feels enough and there's this overhanging feeling of 'there's nothing anyone can do, and it will never change' which was not uplifting.
There's some whacky antics and zany characters, which could go either way with annoying or entertaining me for the sake of humor.
Bottom line was I did really love George and her cranky older self. I have an affinity for grumpy characters and their sunshiney counterparts. In this case Nancy isn't necessarily sunshiney, she is just tenacious and wanting something more in life and not willing to accept the shit people sling at her, and I appreciate that a LOT! I also appreciate George's own support and care of her!
I guess I just wish it was more about those two characters. I wanted to know more about George and her history, being a butch more gruff lesbian in her 40's and having witnessed her neighbourhood change and even the Queer world changing across those years. Her history sounded far more interesting than political and media bullshit. Nancy was endearing, but like a dog with a bone for this 'case' and I just wanted more couple time for them to really actually get to know eachother and discuss their differences and similarities, and potential future.
There was elements of this sprinkled in, but never fully fleshed out enough, in my mind. Add to that a black moment and information kept secret, I'm not sure I would recommend it. VERY Well written, don't get me wrong - but just the storyline itself was rough to get through.
However, I felt like it was 2 hours longer than it should have been. The last two hours really dragged for me and I took a fair few breaks to finish, which is unlike me.
It's not that the storyline is boring - I think the mystery and "whodunnit" aspects with all the potential "perps" was well done, and kept me guessing. But I think with so much horribleness being the focus - it just got me down.
Every other page there are social media posts of ridiculousness, dramatic threats on someone's life, (or infact real threats) and outrageous claims being made via the news media... Which is exactly why I very much limit my actual time spent on social media and the news media, and try not to get myself involved in such controversies.
The negativity and ridiculous commentary just gets to me on a personal level that I could not shake. Maybe because I have unfortunately been outed and doxed before by a supposed 'feminist' group with similar personalized threats with outrageous commentary I could never address without it getting twisted around.
While there are points when both Nancy and George have discussions on how wrong it is, it just never feels enough and there's this overhanging feeling of 'there's nothing anyone can do, and it will never change' which was not uplifting.
There's some whacky antics and zany characters, which could go either way with annoying or entertaining me for the sake of humor.
Bottom line was I did really love George and her cranky older self. I have an affinity for grumpy characters and their sunshiney counterparts. In this case Nancy isn't necessarily sunshiney, she is just tenacious and wanting something more in life and not willing to accept the shit people sling at her, and I appreciate that a LOT! I also appreciate George's own support and care of her!
I guess I just wish it was more about those two characters. I wanted to know more about George and her history, being a butch more gruff lesbian in her 40's and having witnessed her neighbourhood change and even the Queer world changing across those years. Her history sounded far more interesting than political and media bullshit. Nancy was endearing, but like a dog with a bone for this 'case' and I just wanted more couple time for them to really actually get to know eachother and discuss their differences and similarities, and potential future.
There was elements of this sprinkled in, but never fully fleshed out enough, in my mind. Add to that a black moment and information kept secret, I'm not sure I would recommend it. VERY Well written, don't get me wrong - but just the storyline itself was rough to get through.
April 23, 2023
Jess Lea is one of those iconic Australian authors whose books hold an air of mystery and live up to the quirky expectations readers have come to expect from her words. Looking For Trouble is set in the world of journalists and politicians, a common theme for Lea, and one she seems to know well.
Nancy is struggling to build the life she wants fast enough. When she meets George, she is thrust into the chaos that is the local election only to discover corruption, lies, and even murder. George reluctantly builds a friendship with Nancy, and as the two women struggle to understand what is going on behind the scenes, the chemistry builds between them into a force they can’t ignore.
Jess Lea’s writing intertwines a compelling story with humour and down-to-earth, relatable characters. Her true Aussie settings highlight the plight of the everyday person, and the mystery as it slowly unwinds is always clever and creative. Looking for Trouble will keep you intrigued until the very end, so be sure to check it out.
Nancy is struggling to build the life she wants fast enough. When she meets George, she is thrust into the chaos that is the local election only to discover corruption, lies, and even murder. George reluctantly builds a friendship with Nancy, and as the two women struggle to understand what is going on behind the scenes, the chemistry builds between them into a force they can’t ignore.
Jess Lea’s writing intertwines a compelling story with humour and down-to-earth, relatable characters. Her true Aussie settings highlight the plight of the everyday person, and the mystery as it slowly unwinds is always clever and creative. Looking for Trouble will keep you intrigued until the very end, so be sure to check it out.
August 15, 2021
This novel was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the mystery and the romance as well. There are so many twists and turns! I thought I knew who did what, but I was wrong many times, which made this even more intriguing to read.
George is unapologetically butch – she is who she is. She works as a driver but work is hard to come by, so she has a lot of time to volunteer for her party’s candidate, even though she doesn’t really like him all that much, with people much younger than she is. Just from that, I knew how George felt. Who hasn’t been there, with younger people who think you’re a fossil?
Nancy meets George on the campaign trail. A grad student, Nancy is younger, more feminine and looking for work. Neither woman liked the other upon meeting. I liked how Lea fleshed out both women over the course of the book, through their actions, thoughts, worries and situations. The details like the rock garden or the share house made both characters come to life. Nancy thinking about the dirty floor at an inopportune time definitely kept my attention on her.
The Australian politics fascinated me. It was interesting to think about how mandatory voting and mandatory ranked choice by voters and candidates could affect how the election turns out. What happens if you must vote and no one appeals to you? And the slang! That kept me on my toes. Some I could guess from context but other terms I had to look up. (I also looked up photos of the flora and fauna.) I really enjoyed the immersion in Australia.
The mystery was very intriguing. I had guesses about who was doing what, and most of the time I was wrong. I did not figure it out until the end. I followed the red herrings right along with the amateur sleuths, George and Nancy. I enjoyed Lea’s last book, A Curious Woman, but this was even better.
I received an ARC for a review.
George is unapologetically butch – she is who she is. She works as a driver but work is hard to come by, so she has a lot of time to volunteer for her party’s candidate, even though she doesn’t really like him all that much, with people much younger than she is. Just from that, I knew how George felt. Who hasn’t been there, with younger people who think you’re a fossil?
Nancy meets George on the campaign trail. A grad student, Nancy is younger, more feminine and looking for work. Neither woman liked the other upon meeting. I liked how Lea fleshed out both women over the course of the book, through their actions, thoughts, worries and situations. The details like the rock garden or the share house made both characters come to life. Nancy thinking about the dirty floor at an inopportune time definitely kept my attention on her.
The Australian politics fascinated me. It was interesting to think about how mandatory voting and mandatory ranked choice by voters and candidates could affect how the election turns out. What happens if you must vote and no one appeals to you? And the slang! That kept me on my toes. Some I could guess from context but other terms I had to look up. (I also looked up photos of the flora and fauna.) I really enjoyed the immersion in Australia.
The mystery was very intriguing. I had guesses about who was doing what, and most of the time I was wrong. I did not figure it out until the end. I followed the red herrings right along with the amateur sleuths, George and Nancy. I enjoyed Lea’s last book, A Curious Woman, but this was even better.
I received an ARC for a review.
August 10, 2021
A farce, a romance and a murder mystery all wrapped up in political intrigue. In an Australian setting. And written by a talented author whose quirky style is right up my alley.
Reading this book, I was in literary heaven. While recognising that it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it was such a joy to read. I felt like I was in on all the jokes and instantly recognised the local political landscape of an inner-city by-election.
The Melbourne suburb of Northvale and the dying country town of Warren may be fictional, but Lea accurately portrays the characteristics that apply to so many inner-city suburbs in both Melbourne and Sydney, and to so many small towns throughout Australia.
Some of the characters in the book may be caricatures (did I mention the book is a bit of a farce?) but they are also uncannily reflective of the characters you might meet in those settings. Especially if you ever lived in a shared household while at university.
Our protagonists, Nancy and George (whose names bring to mind the amateur sleuths of an Enid Blyton or Carolyn Keene mystery) are flawed and likeable. They seem to have little in common but they are nevertheless a lovely pairing.
The main villain of the piece is great. She’s a sociopath (and not the only one in the novel) but she’s also a charming, interesting and sometimes sympathetic character in the vein of Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley.
There are a couple of mysteries running through the text, and although I guessed the answer to one of them, I was clueless as to the second. Like a good Agatha Christie mystery, there were plenty of possibilities to choose from.
I absolutely loved this book and can’t praise it highly enough. It is quirky and it certainly does not fit in the usual type of book seen in lesbian fiction, so it probably won’t be to everyone’s taste. It just happens to suit mine perfectly.
Note: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reading this book, I was in literary heaven. While recognising that it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it was such a joy to read. I felt like I was in on all the jokes and instantly recognised the local political landscape of an inner-city by-election.
The Melbourne suburb of Northvale and the dying country town of Warren may be fictional, but Lea accurately portrays the characteristics that apply to so many inner-city suburbs in both Melbourne and Sydney, and to so many small towns throughout Australia.
Some of the characters in the book may be caricatures (did I mention the book is a bit of a farce?) but they are also uncannily reflective of the characters you might meet in those settings. Especially if you ever lived in a shared household while at university.
Our protagonists, Nancy and George (whose names bring to mind the amateur sleuths of an Enid Blyton or Carolyn Keene mystery) are flawed and likeable. They seem to have little in common but they are nevertheless a lovely pairing.
The main villain of the piece is great. She’s a sociopath (and not the only one in the novel) but she’s also a charming, interesting and sometimes sympathetic character in the vein of Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley.
There are a couple of mysteries running through the text, and although I guessed the answer to one of them, I was clueless as to the second. Like a good Agatha Christie mystery, there were plenty of possibilities to choose from.
I absolutely loved this book and can’t praise it highly enough. It is quirky and it certainly does not fit in the usual type of book seen in lesbian fiction, so it probably won’t be to everyone’s taste. It just happens to suit mine perfectly.
Note: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2021
This is quite an entertaining read. Yes, the storyline is a serious one, but it's also amusing in places which made me smile.
It's a murder mystery set in a by election with candidates that would make your toes curl. Then along comes an independent who stirs the plot and pot. She is scary, hilarious and outrageous. It all adds up to a quirky, highly entertaining story.
I'll admit this may not be everybody's idea of a good story. But I found it fun and entertaining. Yes, I got the jokes and laughed out loud. And I thought one of the candidates followers a little over the top, I also found somethings funny. Although I do disagree with any social media bullying. Which I thought the author handled well.
Yes. I would recommend this book. But you need to approach it with a light heart and open mind.
Enjoy!
March 26, 2025
3.5 Stars
Enjoyable read. The mystery was layered and not easy to figure out. A Jess Lea signature writing - an odd pair plus whodunnit!
Enjoyable read. The mystery was layered and not easy to figure out. A Jess Lea signature writing - an odd pair plus whodunnit!
January 28, 2022
Just didn't work for me - a red flag was how little I was reading a day - gave up at 30%, read last 10% & felt I hadn't missed a lot. Characters were well rounded and should have pulled the story though. They didn't for me. Sorry. It wasn't real.
September 2, 2021
3.75 Stars. Looking for Trouble is a lot like Jess Lea's first book in it's tone and style. It's a quirky romantic mystery (I didn't realize that was part of the title!) with a hint of political commentary in it. Lea's personalities can be very over the top and that might put some people off, but I think it works for this type of story. It's revolves around the election of a smallish Australian city in which the candidates are all all little off -one blames everything on the youths, another has created a cult of personality, another is a super environmentalist, and finally the other wants to abolish the internet. I mean the set up is so bizarre, but it works for me on a level. People might not like that these candidates are pretty much just one note characters, and the internet abolishing candidate is set up as the big bad (seriously, she's absolutely horrible), but I don't mind it because they're there to highlight how much of a circus a local election can be. I enjoyed the two leads, George and Nancy. Both women are disillusioned with their lives, and are thrown together when Nancy is tasked to follow the election as a political reporter for a magazine.
I enjoyed the interplay between the leads because they are both strong personalities and are just genuinely nice. George does lean a little into the 'angry at the world' butch (she doesn't brood, I don't think, its more like she's just angry like ninety percent of the time), but with good reason. Her friend and the primer who's seat was made vacant after his suicide, was effectively pushed to it because of media coverage and his own party leaving him out to dry. We find out that it was not a huge deal, but because of rampant tribalism and other factors, his secret got blown out of proportion. It was sad, and George has every right to be angry with the world, especially since her party is being taken over by someone who feels like a cult leader.
I won't go too far into it, but I thought this book was better than her first book. It's themes are much clearer, and I could tell that the personalities at play are completely intentional. I think folks may not like the pacing as it can drag in spots, but I though it did a pretty good job of building the twists that happen near the end of the book. Also, it has a very ambiguous ending, which was fun, because wow Clara West (the 'internet must be abolished candidate') is so awful that I was like of course this happened because this is Clara. But because of the ending, I have a feeling people won't like the book. I did, and thought it worked for the most part. I'd say give it a go, but with the warning that it doesn't really follow most romantic mystery formulas.
*I received this ARC from Ylva in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed the interplay between the leads because they are both strong personalities and are just genuinely nice. George does lean a little into the 'angry at the world' butch (she doesn't brood, I don't think, its more like she's just angry like ninety percent of the time), but with good reason. Her friend and the primer who's seat was made vacant after his suicide, was effectively pushed to it because of media coverage and his own party leaving him out to dry. We find out that it was not a huge deal, but because of rampant tribalism and other factors, his secret got blown out of proportion. It was sad, and George has every right to be angry with the world, especially since her party is being taken over by someone who feels like a cult leader.
I won't go too far into it, but I thought this book was better than her first book. It's themes are much clearer, and I could tell that the personalities at play are completely intentional. I think folks may not like the pacing as it can drag in spots, but I though it did a pretty good job of building the twists that happen near the end of the book. Also, it has a very ambiguous ending, which was fun, because wow Clara West (the 'internet must be abolished candidate') is so awful that I was like of course this happened because this is Clara. But because of the ending, I have a feeling people won't like the book. I did, and thought it worked for the most part. I'd say give it a go, but with the warning that it doesn't really follow most romantic mystery formulas.
*I received this ARC from Ylva in exchange for my honest review.
April 21, 2025
Puh, also von dem Buch habe ich etwas ganz anderes erwartet. Ich schätze, ich habe mich vom Cover mit den fröhlichen Farben und dem Untertitel "Eine Liebesgeschichte mit Überraschungen" total irre leiten lassen. Das Buch ist für mich absolut keine Liebesgeschichte, eher mehr ein Politikdrama, in dem zwei Frauen, die sich zunächst nicht leiden können, auf einander treffen.
In dem Buch geht es um einen Wahlkampf in einer australischen Kleinstadt. George unerstützt im Wahlkampf eine Partei und verteilt fleißig Flyer. Dabei trifft sie auf Nancy und die beiden können sich überhaupt nicht leiden. Durch verschiedene Zufälle treffen sie immer wieder aufeinander, vor allem als sich eine neue Kandidatin, Clara West, in den Wahlkampf einsteigt. Sie ist sehr provokativ in ihren Forderungen und Äußerungen. Nancy und George geraten da viele Erpressungen, Dramen und unfassbare Machenschaften ein. Wie kommen sie da nur wieder heraus?
Die Romanze zwischen George und Nancy findet eher am Rande statt. Im Vordergrund steht eindeutig die Politik und es hat auch deutliche Krimianteile mit deutlichem Gewaltanteil. Den Krimianteil im Buch würde ich als spannend bezeichnen, teilweise sehr vorhersehbar, aber an sich ganz in Ordnung. Die Liebesgeschichte hat mich leider so gar nicht in den Bann gezogen, vielleicht auch deswegen, weil diesem Part einfach wenig Zeit gegeben wurde. Es gab für mich kein Kribbeln oder Funken, keine aufbauenende Spannung, was wirklich sehr schade war, da die beiden Charakteren wirklich großes Potential hatten.
Ich kann den Roman nur bedingt empfehlen. Wenn ihr eine Liebesgeschichte lesen wollt, dann solltet ihr lieber zu einem anderen Buch greifen. Wenn ihr einen Krimifall in der Politik lesen wollt, dann seid ihr hier an der richtigen Stelle. Von mir gibt es 3 Sterne.
Vielen Dank für das Bereitstellen eines Rezensionsexemplar über Netgalley.
In dem Buch geht es um einen Wahlkampf in einer australischen Kleinstadt. George unerstützt im Wahlkampf eine Partei und verteilt fleißig Flyer. Dabei trifft sie auf Nancy und die beiden können sich überhaupt nicht leiden. Durch verschiedene Zufälle treffen sie immer wieder aufeinander, vor allem als sich eine neue Kandidatin, Clara West, in den Wahlkampf einsteigt. Sie ist sehr provokativ in ihren Forderungen und Äußerungen. Nancy und George geraten da viele Erpressungen, Dramen und unfassbare Machenschaften ein. Wie kommen sie da nur wieder heraus?
Die Romanze zwischen George und Nancy findet eher am Rande statt. Im Vordergrund steht eindeutig die Politik und es hat auch deutliche Krimianteile mit deutlichem Gewaltanteil. Den Krimianteil im Buch würde ich als spannend bezeichnen, teilweise sehr vorhersehbar, aber an sich ganz in Ordnung. Die Liebesgeschichte hat mich leider so gar nicht in den Bann gezogen, vielleicht auch deswegen, weil diesem Part einfach wenig Zeit gegeben wurde. Es gab für mich kein Kribbeln oder Funken, keine aufbauenende Spannung, was wirklich sehr schade war, da die beiden Charakteren wirklich großes Potential hatten.
Ich kann den Roman nur bedingt empfehlen. Wenn ihr eine Liebesgeschichte lesen wollt, dann solltet ihr lieber zu einem anderen Buch greifen. Wenn ihr einen Krimifall in der Politik lesen wollt, dann seid ihr hier an der richtigen Stelle. Von mir gibt es 3 Sterne.
Vielen Dank für das Bereitstellen eines Rezensionsexemplar über Netgalley.
April 3, 2025
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
a politically minded book... and one i struggled with as all thinks with politics i struggle with... i cant help it ... it bores me...
but i wanted to know this storyline so i struggled on....
george is a character that i did enjoy reading about... she is a party activist, bus driver and grumpy butch woman who is also trying to dodge an ex girlfriend... who has become a bit of a nightmare
nancy has dreams that will get her away from her rut of a life... so with an idea of how to make those changes in her life and with her quirky idea about writing about the local elections for a renowned paper she embarks on her adventure only to bump into george... grumpy george who takes one look at nancy and decides is stuck up
as their lives get entwinned with the elections and the abuse that follows both george and nancy find themselves more and more pushed together realising that if they dont work together one of them could end up in serious trouble
as lovable as george was i still struggled with this book... politics bore me.. take that out of the equations and this book was entertaining both george and nancy were very good characters and so was the baddie but it was the politics that did my head in...
a politically minded book... and one i struggled with as all thinks with politics i struggle with... i cant help it ... it bores me...
but i wanted to know this storyline so i struggled on....
george is a character that i did enjoy reading about... she is a party activist, bus driver and grumpy butch woman who is also trying to dodge an ex girlfriend... who has become a bit of a nightmare
nancy has dreams that will get her away from her rut of a life... so with an idea of how to make those changes in her life and with her quirky idea about writing about the local elections for a renowned paper she embarks on her adventure only to bump into george... grumpy george who takes one look at nancy and decides is stuck up
as their lives get entwinned with the elections and the abuse that follows both george and nancy find themselves more and more pushed together realising that if they dont work together one of them could end up in serious trouble
as lovable as george was i still struggled with this book... politics bore me.. take that out of the equations and this book was entertaining both george and nancy were very good characters and so was the baddie but it was the politics that did my head in...
August 18, 2021
A very different story. I enjoyed the happenings in Australian politics...
rarely a subject for the broader audience. This one hit the spot.
When I started it I was not to impressed but it grew on me.
It is a change from the normal WLW stories.
rarely a subject for the broader audience. This one hit the spot.
When I started it I was not to impressed but it grew on me.
It is a change from the normal WLW stories.
May 17, 2022
Great story
Very interesting and enjoyable.
Makes you think about how politics actually work, and if the internet is more good or bad for us.
Very interesting and enjoyable.
Makes you think about how politics actually work, and if the internet is more good or bad for us.
August 23, 2021
""My name," she said, "is Clara West. And if you vote for me, I will shut down your internet.""
That's not even nearly the funniest or most absurd line in this utterly brilliant book. Jess Lea has struck gold yet again and has somehow combined a large ginger cat called alternately Orange Arsehole Cat or Jinx; a spectacularly vengeful ex; a chicken drumstick costume; actual chickens (silkie bantams to be precise); llamas; blackmail; death threats etc. Just your standard by-election really!
George and Nancy first meet when they have a shouting match/argument while George is campaigning for the Labor candidate at a train station and Nancy is trying to get her severely hungover self home. Despite an initial physical attraction, which they are certainly not going to acknowledge, George the boots on the ground party activist cannot stand PhD in Political Science thinks she's so clever Nancy, and despite George saving Nancy from being shoved in front of a train - the animosity is very much mutual.
This encounter prompts Nancy to write an article about the by-election and she finds herself drawn into a web of intrigue and danger with 'blunt instrument' George her only ally. Jess Lea excels at creating mysteries that are both believable and cutting edge satire (I'd highly recommend A Curious Woman, and her main characters have real depth. The supporting cast are well drawn and are a deep well of comedy, absurdity and malice for the novel. One candidates son is described as, "a young man wearing a vintage Nick Cave T-shirt and a toothbrush moustache which Nancy thought could best be described as a bold experiment.", while an encounter with an animal rights activist is described: "Nancy wouldn’t have thought it was possible to sweep away imperiously while wearing a poncho and a fuzzy beret, but somehow Ruth managed it."
As well as the humour and political intrigue there is some very sweet romance in "Looking for Trouble", I very quickly became a touch smitten with George and her no nonsense attitude and commendable loyalty. (Also with her grumbling about of her younger party volunteers because they, "use weird words and grow stupid hair". I work with teenagers - I feel you George, 100%). With Nancy, however, she allows herself to be a bit softer, leading Nancy to think: "It was alarming to be that interesting to someone. It was wonderful." This for me is one of the most beautiful and romantic lines I've read in a very long time because that's it, isn't it?
That's not even nearly the funniest or most absurd line in this utterly brilliant book. Jess Lea has struck gold yet again and has somehow combined a large ginger cat called alternately Orange Arsehole Cat or Jinx; a spectacularly vengeful ex; a chicken drumstick costume; actual chickens (silkie bantams to be precise); llamas; blackmail; death threats etc. Just your standard by-election really!
George and Nancy first meet when they have a shouting match/argument while George is campaigning for the Labor candidate at a train station and Nancy is trying to get her severely hungover self home. Despite an initial physical attraction, which they are certainly not going to acknowledge, George the boots on the ground party activist cannot stand PhD in Political Science thinks she's so clever Nancy, and despite George saving Nancy from being shoved in front of a train - the animosity is very much mutual.
This encounter prompts Nancy to write an article about the by-election and she finds herself drawn into a web of intrigue and danger with 'blunt instrument' George her only ally. Jess Lea excels at creating mysteries that are both believable and cutting edge satire (I'd highly recommend A Curious Woman, and her main characters have real depth. The supporting cast are well drawn and are a deep well of comedy, absurdity and malice for the novel. One candidates son is described as, "a young man wearing a vintage Nick Cave T-shirt and a toothbrush moustache which Nancy thought could best be described as a bold experiment.", while an encounter with an animal rights activist is described: "Nancy wouldn’t have thought it was possible to sweep away imperiously while wearing a poncho and a fuzzy beret, but somehow Ruth managed it."
As well as the humour and political intrigue there is some very sweet romance in "Looking for Trouble", I very quickly became a touch smitten with George and her no nonsense attitude and commendable loyalty. (Also with her grumbling about of her younger party volunteers because they, "use weird words and grow stupid hair". I work with teenagers - I feel you George, 100%). With Nancy, however, she allows herself to be a bit softer, leading Nancy to think: "It was alarming to be that interesting to someone. It was wonderful." This for me is one of the most beautiful and romantic lines I've read in a very long time because that's it, isn't it?
September 16, 2021
Looking For Trouble: A Quirky Romantic Mystery is a fairly decent mystery with lots of twists, turns and political hoopla. In between all of these is an okay romance of two strong characters intent on trying to solve this mystery.
What I loved about this novel:-
1) The cover is quirky, just like the novel. Throughout the novel, I tried to figure out which MC was depicted in the dress and which one was in the pants
2) The twists and turns in the novel made for an interesting read
3) Each MC is quirky and strong
What I didn’t like about the novel:-
1) The chemistry between the MCs wasn’t strong. There was a lot of waffling
2) Parts of the book dragged on
3) I did not like how the mystery was resolved
What I loved about this novel:-
1) The cover is quirky, just like the novel. Throughout the novel, I tried to figure out which MC was depicted in the dress and which one was in the pants
2) The twists and turns in the novel made for an interesting read
3) Each MC is quirky and strong
What I didn’t like about the novel:-
1) The chemistry between the MCs wasn’t strong. There was a lot of waffling
2) Parts of the book dragged on
3) I did not like how the mystery was resolved
September 18, 2023
This is a romantic mystery with quirky and funny characters and mesmerizing story. The dogged and intelligent Political Science Ph.D reporter and the rough and tumble bus driver with golden heart make a great and highly amusing couple. The satire of local election drama is fun and believable and I can relate to the current state of American politics. This book makes me laugh out loud and smile and sometimes a little worried about the risky encounters the naive couple faced. Overall, very enjoyable read!
August 20, 2021
This was a really fun and engaging read. It was plot driven, with a quirky cast of characters. I didn't know what was going to happen and was surprised numerous times. I liked George and Nancy individually and together. Highly recommended
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 8, 2021
ARC REVIEW
an excellent murder mystery, I especially like mysteries where I’m guessing until the end and this one had me guessing and guessing.... FANTASTIC!!
The characters were great too and the story extremely believable, politics is a dangerous business 😊
an excellent murder mystery, I especially like mysteries where I’m guessing until the end and this one had me guessing and guessing.... FANTASTIC!!
The characters were great too and the story extremely believable, politics is a dangerous business 😊
September 8, 2024
(3.75 Stars)
This has gotta be one of the most bizarre contemporary romances I've ever read, but it was kinda awesome? It definitely has romance as a more secondary main plot but it was weaved in pretty well with the political drama.
Every character was just so weird and almost caricatures of the types of people they were inspired by but somehow the author rode the line nicely so that it felt like a lot but never 'too much'. I really liked George in particular as it's not often we get these kinds of butch characters in romance books, she was funny, brash and charming and I do wish we got a litttttle more romance.
This is definitely one worth picking up if you want a romance with slightly older characters and like the idea of a local political conspiracy as the backdrop for a story!
Thank you to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This has gotta be one of the most bizarre contemporary romances I've ever read, but it was kinda awesome? It definitely has romance as a more secondary main plot but it was weaved in pretty well with the political drama.
Every character was just so weird and almost caricatures of the types of people they were inspired by but somehow the author rode the line nicely so that it felt like a lot but never 'too much'. I really liked George in particular as it's not often we get these kinds of butch characters in romance books, she was funny, brash and charming and I do wish we got a litttttle more romance.
This is definitely one worth picking up if you want a romance with slightly older characters and like the idea of a local political conspiracy as the backdrop for a story!
Thank you to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2021
Did not finish, here’s why:
Clara, the antagonist/villainess extraordinaire, is (unintentionally? Maybe?) the main character in this story—at least in the first third of the book—and that doesn’t work for me. Not from a romance novel standpoint or even a mystery/thriller standpoint. In the latter genres, peeks into the villains mind are useful for building the tension and setting up the plot. But not this many peeks, good grief. Everybody’s talking about Clara and what she’s doing, including the leads, and as if that’s not enough, we have to be inside her mind every other page.
I’m annoyed because it’s taking away the fun, from the romance and the investigation of the mystery, too. How am I going to look forward to connecting all the dots if half of the questions are answered by the doer herself?
I mean, it’s possible that she’s just a distraction and the actual shadowy villain remained shadowy until a reveal in the end, but if that is the case, why am I being forced to read pages and pages of her POV when I could be reading about George?? I really love the characters aside from Clara and maybe that’s why I’m upset lmao because now I have to give up on this book.
TL; DR: the vibes are off. I’ll try again some time in the future. Maybe.
Edit: upped the rating from 2 to 3 stars, because the writing is good and I love George and her character building. Today I was reading something else when I remembered George as a kid in a bakery, not allowed to touch anything. And I was like “damn, that story was good”. So I’ve decided that even though my reading experience was frustrating, the story deserves more praise.
Clara, the antagonist/villainess extraordinaire, is (unintentionally? Maybe?) the main character in this story—at least in the first third of the book—and that doesn’t work for me. Not from a romance novel standpoint or even a mystery/thriller standpoint. In the latter genres, peeks into the villains mind are useful for building the tension and setting up the plot. But not this many peeks, good grief. Everybody’s talking about Clara and what she’s doing, including the leads, and as if that’s not enough, we have to be inside her mind every other page.
I’m annoyed because it’s taking away the fun, from the romance and the investigation of the mystery, too. How am I going to look forward to connecting all the dots if half of the questions are answered by the doer herself?
I mean, it’s possible that she’s just a distraction and the actual shadowy villain remained shadowy until a reveal in the end, but if that is the case, why am I being forced to read pages and pages of her POV when I could be reading about George?? I really love the characters aside from Clara and maybe that’s why I’m upset lmao because now I have to give up on this book.
TL; DR: the vibes are off. I’ll try again some time in the future. Maybe.
Edit: upped the rating from 2 to 3 stars, because the writing is good and I love George and her character building. Today I was reading something else when I remembered George as a kid in a bakery, not allowed to touch anything. And I was like “damn, that story was good”. So I’ve decided that even though my reading experience was frustrating, the story deserves more praise.
September 9, 2021
4.4 stars: I had a terrific time reading this "quirky romantic mystery." It's a fine balance between mystery and romance, dry humour, and reflection. It had me hooked and very entertained all throughout the story; my brain coming up with all sorts of theories, trying to solve the mystery that is Clara West. Clara West. I have so many things to say about her story arc—alas, spoilers prevent me from sharing my thoughts. Suffice it to say: I really thought her character was incredibly well-written for a mystery book.
All in all, this has been an utterly enjoyable read! Strongly recommended for mystery lovers like me!
All in all, this has been an utterly enjoyable read! Strongly recommended for mystery lovers like me!
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