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Unexpected Attachments: A Queer Circus Romance

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Myla just got out of a relationship and is trying to pick up the pieces of her life. Somewhere along the way this relationship made her feel smaller and weaker than she was, like her circus art and her queer identity weren’t valid. Her current problem is staying in her own house, which feels too loud and too big by herself so in a desperate attempt to feel less alone she asks a visiting artist Dani to move in with her.

Dani is looking for a more permanent place to stay so they can continue performing with Cirque Callisto. It was honestly perfect timing that Myla wanted someone to move in with her and Dani was more than excited to say yes. The only problem is Dani has a huge crush on Myla which is only made worse now that they live and work together.

Not only do they need to navigate being roommates, but Dani and Myla are also asked to collaborate on an aerial piece together. As feelings start to get stronger and stronger the two of them must figure out how to go from strangers to friends to maybe more than that without ruining their living and work situation.

When Dani gets asked to take a permanent role in a show far away, it seems like everything Myla and Dani built together is ready to fall apart.

Can the two of them make it work despite everything standing in their way? Read their story today and find out!

This book is intended for mature readers and contains scenes not suitable for all. Reader discretion is advised.

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2025

4 people are currently reading
18 people want to read

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Madison Nicole

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5 stars
14 (43%)
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11 (34%)
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3 (9%)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Heather.
742 reviews12 followers
May 29, 2025
4.5⭐️ Another wonderful sapphic cirque story! Reading these just makes me want to see a show and do classes like yesterday!
I loved Dani and Myla! I felt like they were a great compliment to each other, balancing their anxieties, support, performances and relationship. A bit of a slow burn as Myla is fresh out of a stagnant relationship and embracing her queer identity. Dani just maybe has a bit of a crush even before they become roommates, but hey it’ll be fine. Right?
We got to read some of their chemistry in the first book and it shined through throughout this book with ease and heat.
Looking forward to more. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Emma.
21 reviews
May 29, 2025
“unexpected” is right, because i did not expect it to be this flat
i really wanted to like this one. circus setting? queer love story? sounds like fun. but unexpected attachments felt like reading a romance where the romance didn’t show up and the characters forgot to bring their personalities. myla and dani were just... blank spaces. no charm, no quirks, no spark absolutely nothing. it was like watching cardboard fall in love. we’re told they’re into each other, but there’s no buildup, no tension, not even a decent conversation to root for. one second they’re strangers, and the next it’s “the moment i told dani they could move in” ??? when did that happen??? for us, they basically haven’t even said hi yet.
the pacing? chaos. stuff happens but you’re never shown anything. it skips every emotional beat like it’s in a rush to get to the ending but forgets to include any of the actual story.
and then there was this quote:
“sometimes being an adult means ending things.”
and yeah. at that point i wanted to end the book. and i was only on chapter five 😭
also. they avoided each other the whole time… but then suddenly have an onlyfans-style photoshoot together??? be serious.
and myla?? she might be the most uncommunicative main character i’ve ever read. not in a cute, closed-off way. in a “her friends had to literally hold her down to make her talk to her partner like a grown adult” way. i’m sorry but HOW.
the romance felt completely forced, the characters had more chemistry with everyone else, and i just didn’t care. at all. i kept hoping it would get better, but it stayed stuck in “meh” the whole way through.
not recommended. i wish i could give this one to someone who doesn’t read, because at least then they wouldn’t be disappointed.
Profile Image for anni.
4 reviews
May 29, 2025
this book had such a lovely concept.
i loved that they were roommates from the start it seemed like that could really heal myla from her breakup..it just wasn’t executed the right way.

we didn’t see any interaction between dani and myla.
they never had anything to do with each other and suddenly (we don’t know how or why) myla asked dani to move in with her?? I WAS JUST SO CONFUSED 😭

the pacing of the book felt more like a mind-map than a real story we were missing so many chunks of important scenes between them?? i could never really get a connection to any of the characters.

even though the end felt kinda rushed through i still thought that it was cute that they finally told eachother the L word and it was a real sweet ending i just wish i got to see more of their personalities.
sadly i can’t give it a better review, i really wanted to love it
Profile Image for Chelsea Pitsos.
111 reviews2 followers
May 30, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ — had fun with this one, although the pacing felt a bit rushed and I would’ve liked to see things develop more thoroughly. This however, didn’t hinder how much I have enjoyed exploring this very sweet found family! Definitely loving the representation in this series!

Received this as an eARC, and so thankful to have had a chance to see Dani and Myla’s relationship grow!
Profile Image for Tristin.
182 reviews31 followers
May 30, 2025

Thank you to author Madison Nicole for providing me with a digital ARC of Unexpected Attachments. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I returned to the world of Cirque Callisto with high hopes, especially after the glimpses of Dani and Myla’s chemistry in Tangled Encounters. The setup had all the elements I tend to enjoy: forced proximity, emotional healing, and two characters navigating how to build something meaningful out of a difficult past. While there were moments of warmth and tenderness, the execution didn’t fully deliver the emotional depth I was hoping for.

The premise begins strong. Myla, reeling from a breakup, invites Dani to move in as a roommate. Their budding friendship and eventual romantic tension should have been a foundation for something emotionally rich. But instead of watching this pivotal decision unfold, it is brushed off with Myla forgetting how she asked Dani to move in. That narrative choice removed what could have been a powerful and grounding moment for their connection. From there, I often felt that the characters were telling me about their closeness rather than showing it in a way that felt earned.

Dani is clearly meant to be a stabilizing force for Myla, but I struggled to connect with her as a character. We are told she is kind and supportive, but outside of being emotionally supportive and helping out around the house (which are kind of the basics of being a good roommate), we don’t see enough connection that makes the foundational friendship feel real. Myla’s emotional journey is centered around healing from her toxic ex, but her lack of communication dominates the plot in a way that often felt more frustrating than compelling. That said, the spice scenes between them were well written and thoughtful, which added a softness to their dynamic that I appreciated.

One of the highlights of this book is the supporting cast. The broader Cirque community remains one of the most compelling aspects of the series. I loved their presence and the way they helped to flesh out the world with vibrance and personality. Their continued involvement made the story feel connected and grounded, even when I struggled to connect with the main relationship.

I want to acknowledge that part of my disappointment may come from how much I had been looking forward to this story. Anticipation creates high expectations, and when those expectations aren't met, it can color the experience. There is a solid foundation here, and I still believe the Cirque Callisto series has more to offer in future installments. I hope to see more emotional depth and character complexity next time around.

Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok @mythicalreadsreviewer for more reviews!

Profile Image for Finding Sky Reads.
238 reviews18 followers
May 30, 2025
Things I loved:

• Sapphic Romance—Enby/Female

• Pansexual and Queer Rep

• Forced proximity and one bed

• Found family within circus

• They get pets!!


Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥


Review:

I was so excited to start this one and have been impatiently waiting to know more about Dani and Myla because we were teased with little snippets of their connection in the first book, but now we get to see it in full bloom, and it was great.


Firstly, wow! I didn't expect to relate so much to Myla and her experience with her ex! I swear we dated similar people, and honestly, I'm proud of both of us for realizing we deserved better and for moving on. I was utterly cheering when the Callisto family came in to help kick the trash to the curb. I loved seeing Myla find her self-worth and her voice and stand up for herself in all ways. She truly deserved better, and boy, did she find it with Dani, our wonderfully talented performer and musically gifted enby.


I really enjoyed seeing Myla and Dani go from coworkers to roommates to friends to dating to lovers. They truly went through all the stages together, and I felt like it was natural and well-paced. I loved watching crushes turn into lust, turn into genuine care for each other, and then into more. To see Myla feel safe enough to explore her sexuality and open enough to trying new experiences with Dani was really well done, and I loved the way they communicated through that scene. The intimacy between them only continued getting better the closer they got and the more comfortable they were together.


Myla struggling to communicate and discuss some heavy topics felt realistic to her character and some of the trauma she went through with her ex. I like that there was some conflict to work through before their happy ending together. The author did a great job in showcasing that they were willing to put in the effort and truly support each other, and so the ending couldn't have been better.  I truly loved it.


ALSO, GUYS, THEY GOT PETS TOGETHER. HOW STINKING CUTE. I LOVED THE BB'S!!



✨️
Profile Image for Maggie Maiville.
9 reviews
June 15, 2025
I love the setting of the circus in this series. I have a friend who does circus and we did a spinning pole class for her bachelorette party. I had so much fun, despite being terrible, and everyone was so nice to me. The positive energy I experienced in real life truly comes through in these novels. I feel it. I feel this group, I’ve met these people. There is real queer joy in the Cirque Callisto books and I will likely read them all.

Myla and Dani: they are so dang sweet together. They gave me a toothache, but in a good way. Myla is exploring her queer identity for the first time while Dani just has a crush on her from the beginning. The way Dani says “yes and” to everything Myla wants or needs made my heart feel some kind of way. They make her breakfast! They agree to get pets!

I see why other readers might be annoyed by Myla but I found her hesitancy and difficulty with communicating to be realistic. This is how we do things in my big Midwestern family: avoid everything uncomfortable.

This was an easy read, with not super high stakes. It was exactly what I needed right now.

I really loved getting to see the “kicking Jake out” scene again from a different POV. 10/10

I was given an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Zoe.
72 reviews7 followers
June 22, 2025
An absolutely heartwarming, queer, friends to lovers novel. I'm always so hesitant when I read romances because I feel that I'm always waiting for "the bad thing" to happen, where the couple goes through hell. Not here, and I'm so grateful.
Madi writes with the perfect amount of conflict without causing excessive stress and the couple stays strong throughout - no massive fallout. Madi writes fantastic characters with depth and love and a variety of relationship representation.

FMC was in a poor relationship with a shitty man but with endless support from her friends, she dumps his ass. She's a boss bitch who owns her own home and is thriving as part of Cirque as an aerial artist.
NBMC has been trying to find their place as a musician and artist but has yet to follow their dreams. After an available position opens up in a sought after Cirque, they hurry to take it.
The two end up as roommates, close friends, and soon a deep and romantic relationship begins. The two have a wholesome, respectful, and deeply caring relationship that is a great example.
Profile Image for Beth.
462 reviews10 followers
June 5, 2025
I'm still struggling a bit on how to rate this. It was a quick easy read and there were some great characters. The circus family is lovable and there are some fun characters. Fuck Jake though.

Not much seems to happen in this book but they also manage to move super quick. I didn't really feel the chemistry or tension between them. I think it feels off because we don't actually get to see much of Myla & Dani interacting. We're told they are falling for each other but I wanted to see it. The pacing is off and it just felt like we missed every major development in the relationship and were told about it after the fact.

I also struggled with Myla. She felt a bit immature (how she reacted in vegas) and was a bit annoying with her constant lack of communication even with her friends. They did make a cute couple in the end though and the BBs were adorable.

I read an arc
Profile Image for Alix.
70 reviews
May 29, 2025
So firstly, thank you, Madison, for the ARC!

Secondly, I freaking loved loved this story. I couldn’t stop kicking my feet and giggling at how cute Dani and Mayla were together and just how perfect they were for each other. 

I loved the growth that Mayla had from being in a crappy relationship with a guy that did not appreciate her to finding friendship with Dani to then falling in love with them! 👩‍🍳💋 And then Dani finding their place with Cirque Callisto and finding their people and partner after going from place to place. They found somewhere that they can just be themselves, and that was just fantastic to see.

Everything about this book was just so relatable and made love each character and root so hard for them to be happy and get their happily ever after. 5 stars, without a doubt!
Profile Image for Verity.
24 reviews
May 30, 2025
Thank you Madison Nicole for the opportunity to read and review this book early in exchange for an unbiased review.

Sexy fun in the silks. Cirque Callisto is bringing the high-flying escapades once again as Dani & Myla start their relationship adventure.

Dani has spent the last year helping their widower brother care for his daughter but now it’s time to find their own place. Myla is newly single and needs a roommate to help fill the silent void in her home. It’s the perfect situation–Dani is caring, sexy, and a perfect guide to help Myla figure out what she truly wants. She just has to learn how to ask for it. And when things get tough the entire cast of characters steps up to support them in the challenge to their new relationship.

Sexy, emotionally mature, and a really fun read.
Profile Image for fhmltn.
191 reviews3 followers
June 6, 2025
i was very lucky to have received an e-ARC of this from the author. i rushed to read the first book in the series so i could jump into this one right away, and i’m glad i did. while these are standalones, there is a spoiler in book one that actually makes this story more comforting if you already know it.

i really loved this pairing. the story did a great job of normalising consent and setting healthy boundaries, which was refreshing to see. that said, i did wish we had more time with the couple actually together on the page.

even so, this was another beautiful found family story, just like the first book. the representation throughout was brilliant and genuinely thoughtful. a warm and affirming read.

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✖️
Profile Image for Renée (FatedBookReviews).
169 reviews10 followers
Read
August 15, 2025
Our two MCs are on different, but similar life paths:

Dani: getting back on their feet after loss with a deep yearning to find what fulfills their soul, joins a circus with a very queer-centric cast and is looking for belonging in a new city.

Myla: struggling with a profound sense of self-worth, finally cuts it off with her long-time partner and makes moves to be with found family

These two together? Fireworks.

If you're looking for a unique storyline in a contemporary setting full of queer joy, this series is going to be for you!

You'll enjoy if you like the following:

🎪 Found Family
➰ Circus performers
🎪 Forced Proximity
➰ They fall first
🎪 One bed

Thank you so much to Madison for the ARC
21 reviews
July 23, 2025
Thank you for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

This is the second book in the Cirque Callisto series I've enjoyed. It has found family, neurodivergence rep, and good spice. Despite the pace of this story feeling a bit rushed, I like the crew of characters and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Rinne.
127 reviews2 followers
July 4, 2025
📚 Unexpected Attachments by Madison Nicole
📖Pages: 259
📗 Genre: queer contemporary romance
⭐3/5
🔥3/5
💥 Read Dates: 05/25/25 through 05/29/25


Synopsis: Myla just got out of a relationship and is trying to pick up the pieces of her life. Somewhere along the way this relationship made her feel smaller and weaker than she was, like her circus art and her queer identity weren’t valid. Her current problem is staying in her own house, which feels too loud and too big by herself so in a desperate attempt to feel less alone she asks a visiting artist Dani to move in with her.

Dani is looking for a more permanent place to stay so they can continue performing with Cirque Callisto. It was honestly perfect timing that Myla wanted someone to move in with her and Dani was more than excited to say yes. The only problem is Dani has a huge crush on Myla which is only made worse now that they live and work together.

Not only do they need to navigate being roommates, but Dani and Myla are also asked to collaborate on an aerial piece together. As feelings start to get stronger and stronger the two of them must figure out how to go from strangers to friends to maybe more than that without ruining their living and work situation.


Review: Well, I would like to start this review off by saying HAPPY BOOK RELEASE DAY!! Secondly, I want to advise you guys that I was given an ARC of this title by the author but as per usual all my thoughts are my own!

The start of this book really hit hard, it reminded me of being stuck in a very similar shit situation, and I really related to Myla as she navigated her feelings about standing up for herself, and feeling like she was at fault when she wasn't. It's very real, and very relatable.

If you're looking for a fun & fast read to pass the time, this is your book! Myla and Dani have a very unique dynamic, and additionally it was really wonderful to see some Enby representation. You don't see that as much as you should in books, but Madison did a good job of portraying an Enby character!

I do wish we had gotten more "circus" in this book, we mostly see rehearsals, but they're also mostly yapping in the rehearsals... I want to see the fun tricks!

To sum it up: good representation, covers some pretty real scenarios, and I would like some more circus 🎪 😊
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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