What do you think?
Rate this book
Lake Lovelace #3
Roller Girl
Recently divorced Tina Durham is trying to be self-sufficient, but her personal-training career is floundering, her closest friends are swept up in new relationships, and her washing machine has just flooded her kitchen. It’s enough to make a girl cry.
Instead, she calls a plumbing service, and Joanne “Joe Mama” Delario comes to the rescue. Joe is sweet, funny, and good at fixing things. She also sees something special in Tina and invites her to try out for the roller derby team she coaches.
Derby offers Tina an outlet for her frustrations, a chance to excel, and the female friendships she’s never had before. And as Tina starts to thrive at derby, the tension between her and Joe cranks up. Despite their player/coach relationship, they give in to their mutual attraction. Sex in secret is hot, but Tina can’t help but want more.
With work still on the rocks and her relationship in the closet, Tina is forced to reevaluate her life. Can she be content with a secret lover? Or with being dependent on someone else again? It’s time for Tina to tackle her fears, both on and off the track.
Instead, she calls a plumbing service, and Joanne “Joe Mama” Delario comes to the rescue. Joe is sweet, funny, and good at fixing things. She also sees something special in Tina and invites her to try out for the roller derby team she coaches.
Derby offers Tina an outlet for her frustrations, a chance to excel, and the female friendships she’s never had before. And as Tina starts to thrive at derby, the tension between her and Joe cranks up. Despite their player/coach relationship, they give in to their mutual attraction. Sex in secret is hot, but Tina can’t help but want more.
With work still on the rocks and her relationship in the closet, Tina is forced to reevaluate her life. Can she be content with a secret lover? Or with being dependent on someone else again? It’s time for Tina to tackle her fears, both on and off the track.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2016
45 people are currently reading
1917 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa North
42 books522 followersAuthor of over a dozen novels, novellas, and short stories, Vanessa North delights in giving happy-ever-afters to characters who don’t think they deserve them. Relentless curiosity led her to take up knitting and run a few marathons “just to see if she could.” She started writing for the same reason. Her very patient husband pretends not to notice when her hobbies take over the house. Living and writing in Northwest Georgia, she finds her attempts to keep a quiet home are frequently thwarted by twin boy-children and a very, very large dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
Read
July 22, 2016Roller Girl is the third story in the Lake Lovelace universe, and it is an F/F sports romance with a trans woman as the MC. It is a stand alone category-length novel, and it runs concurrently to Rough Road in the Lake Lovelace chronology. You do not need to read Rough Road or Double Up to understand what's going on, but characters from the other stories do appear in this one. :)
Writing this book and visiting Lake Lovelace again was a treat for me--I hope you enjoy it!
as always, happy reading!
xoxo
V
Writing this book and visiting Lake Lovelace again was a treat for me--I hope you enjoy it!
as always, happy reading!
xoxo
V
Read
October 16, 2016A really fun f/f about two players on a roller derby team. I don't usually do sports romance at all and roller derby sounds terrifying, but I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. And the female friendships in it were just brilliant. So satisfying to read books about women getting on.
Tina and Joe were both lovely characters, though Tina occasionally came across as a bit of a mouthpiece for trans issues. Which...I sort of feel this is down to where we are as a society more than anything else, in the same way as post 70s you got a wave of romance novels in which the heroines had to justify/discuss their feminism on page. Won't it be nice when rights and acceptance just go without saying. I thought her backstory worked really well, and the day-to-day parts were vividly drawn. It just occasionally tipped into tell not show, for me.
Tina being trans isn't remotely an issue in the relationship. The conflict is entirely based around Joe's reluctance to tell her teammates that she's having a relationship with one of the team, due to a bad breakup ruining a previous team. For me, that wasn't enough structurally, especially since it just isn't a massive deal when they do finally tell people. I felt it needed a bit more oomph and some sort of internal conflict to get us to the temporary breakup--that, or give up on the conflict and let the whole thing be a totally feelgood joyous splash around in female friendships and relationships, because honestly, we don't see nearly enough of that and it was a thorough-going delight to read.
Tina and Joe were both lovely characters, though Tina occasionally came across as a bit of a mouthpiece for trans issues. Which...I sort of feel this is down to where we are as a society more than anything else, in the same way as post 70s you got a wave of romance novels in which the heroines had to justify/discuss their feminism on page. Won't it be nice when rights and acceptance just go without saying. I thought her backstory worked really well, and the day-to-day parts were vividly drawn. It just occasionally tipped into tell not show, for me.
Tina being trans isn't remotely an issue in the relationship. The conflict is entirely based around Joe's reluctance to tell her teammates that she's having a relationship with one of the team, due to a bad breakup ruining a previous team. For me, that wasn't enough structurally, especially since it just isn't a massive deal when they do finally tell people. I felt it needed a bit more oomph and some sort of internal conflict to get us to the temporary breakup--that, or give up on the conflict and let the whole thing be a totally feelgood joyous splash around in female friendships and relationships, because honestly, we don't see nearly enough of that and it was a thorough-going delight to read.
mm-read
April 11, 2018Rating & Review removed
August 12, 2021
2.5 Stars for Roller Girl (audiobook) by Vanessa North read by Ashley Lauren Rogers.
This story was a little disappointing. The instant love seemed a little bit too convenient for me. And it seemed a little odd that a former pro athlete that’s bigger and stronger and is able to pick up this new sport in a matter of days was never challenged by any of the opposing teams. Particularly in a contact sport.
Then there is the narration. The narrator was ok but the editing was horrible. There was a throat clearing that should have been edited out and more than a dozen repeats of the last bit of dialogue. It really felt like the producers didn’t care.
This story was a little disappointing. The instant love seemed a little bit too convenient for me. And it seemed a little odd that a former pro athlete that’s bigger and stronger and is able to pick up this new sport in a matter of days was never challenged by any of the opposing teams. Particularly in a contact sport.
Then there is the narration. The narrator was ok but the editing was horrible. There was a throat clearing that should have been edited out and more than a dozen repeats of the last bit of dialogue. It really felt like the producers didn’t care.
Read
March 16, 2018Review Removed
January 7, 2022
A lovely sapphic romance, with a sports theme of Roller Derby.
Our MC is Tina, a trans woman struggling slightly in the aftermath of a divorce where she was previously the more passive partner, allowing her wife to handle everything. She is also dealing with the end of a professional wake-boarding career, and being a personal trainer for other young up and coming sports professionals.
When her place floods, she meets a plumber Joe who comes by the fix it, a cute soft butch and the two attracted instantly. Joe wants Tina to try out for her Roller Derby team. There Tina finds lots of queer-friendly female comradery, and something more in the relationship with Joe. Both are sexy and sizzling together once they get there. Trying to deny the attraction is futile.
I loved the friendship of the women and the acceptance and support of each other. There was a bit of angst with the relationship, as is typical - but it all works out. A really lovely story.
Our MC is Tina, a trans woman struggling slightly in the aftermath of a divorce where she was previously the more passive partner, allowing her wife to handle everything. She is also dealing with the end of a professional wake-boarding career, and being a personal trainer for other young up and coming sports professionals.
When her place floods, she meets a plumber Joe who comes by the fix it, a cute soft butch and the two attracted instantly. Joe wants Tina to try out for her Roller Derby team. There Tina finds lots of queer-friendly female comradery, and something more in the relationship with Joe. Both are sexy and sizzling together once they get there. Trying to deny the attraction is futile.
I loved the friendship of the women and the acceptance and support of each other. There was a bit of angst with the relationship, as is typical - but it all works out. A really lovely story.
February 6, 2017
I picked this one up for 2017 Diversity Bingo. One of the challenges is to read a romance with a trans main character. Many people are reading If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo, but I read that (and loved it!) last year and I wanted to read something else rather than reread that.
This one was recommended by someone on Twitter, and it certainly fits the bill.
Tina is MTF and recently divorced. Her ex-wife took care of all the house-y stuff, so when her washing machine breaks down and floods the house, she's on struggle street. Then a cute female plumber shows up to fix the problem and sparks fly between them. Sparks and a little recruitment to a roller derby team.
I liked that there's no trans-phobic asshattery in this book. In fact, there's no homophobia at all. Tina's derby team are all incredibly supportive. The one straight girl and her husband turn out to be among the most supportive characters for Tina when she's struggling with relationship dramas and work dramas. The TV crew that interview Tina about her pre-transition past as a wakeborder and her new passion for roller derby check her pronouns before starting the interview and assure her that they won't use her dead name. So all of that stuff was great.
The relationship between Tina and Joe felt...a little rushed at times? And there didn't seem to be that much chemistry between them, to be honest. But that might just be me. (Also, the whole "Noooo, we can't be together because we're on the same derby team" thing was...kind of silly and self-imposed?? It kind of felt like it was just there to include tension...)
Where this one fell a little flat for me was the derby side of things. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that roller derby was included here. But it felt...too fast? Like, Tina hasn't skated since she was a kid. And yet at the age of 38, she can strap on a pair of skates and complete obstacle course and time trials on her first night of derby training?? I'm not saying it's impossible. I just...I have a handful of friends who are ex-derby girls, and they went through at LEAST six months of training before they were allowed to scrimmage with anyone who wasn't fresh meat. And yet Tina seems to be playing pivot and jammer within a month of strapping on her skates, which...yeah. It just seemed fast.
Yes, apparently I'm the girl who reads occasionally steamy romance novels and critiques the sport elements of the story.
Anyway. There was an interaction between Tina and a non-binary kid that made me tear up, but that was definitely the most feelsy/adorable moment of the book for me.
This one was recommended by someone on Twitter, and it certainly fits the bill.
Tina is MTF and recently divorced. Her ex-wife took care of all the house-y stuff, so when her washing machine breaks down and floods the house, she's on struggle street. Then a cute female plumber shows up to fix the problem and sparks fly between them. Sparks and a little recruitment to a roller derby team.
I liked that there's no trans-phobic asshattery in this book. In fact, there's no homophobia at all. Tina's derby team are all incredibly supportive. The one straight girl and her husband turn out to be among the most supportive characters for Tina when she's struggling with relationship dramas and work dramas. The TV crew that interview Tina about her pre-transition past as a wakeborder and her new passion for roller derby check her pronouns before starting the interview and assure her that they won't use her dead name. So all of that stuff was great.
The relationship between Tina and Joe felt...a little rushed at times? And there didn't seem to be that much chemistry between them, to be honest. But that might just be me. (Also, the whole "Noooo, we can't be together because we're on the same derby team" thing was...kind of silly and self-imposed?? It kind of felt like it was just there to include tension...)
Where this one fell a little flat for me was the derby side of things. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that roller derby was included here. But it felt...too fast? Like, Tina hasn't skated since she was a kid. And yet at the age of 38, she can strap on a pair of skates and complete obstacle course and time trials on her first night of derby training?? I'm not saying it's impossible. I just...I have a handful of friends who are ex-derby girls, and they went through at LEAST six months of training before they were allowed to scrimmage with anyone who wasn't fresh meat. And yet Tina seems to be playing pivot and jammer within a month of strapping on her skates, which...yeah. It just seemed fast.
Yes, apparently I'm the girl who reads occasionally steamy romance novels and critiques the sport elements of the story.
Anyway. There was an interaction between Tina and a non-binary kid that made me tear up, but that was definitely the most feelsy/adorable moment of the book for me.
May 22, 2016
I should probably start this review out with the fact I received an ARC…I think that’s protocol. I actually wasn’t told I need to review it in order to get it so…well there is that. Probably because the author & this series has been hit or miss for me so far. I honestly don’t know what would possess her to give me a free book but I got one…
I’ll start with the con for me which is this is a nice book…which I’ve said time and time again V.N. does not lure me in with her nice books. Blueberry boys I first refused to read and then refused to review because of its niceness. Double Up while a win for everyone else received my 2 stars under duress… This book for me lost a star because in all honesty it was full of people who I seriously couldn’t dislike….not a one, no despicable side characters, no evil ex’s or eye rolling angst. My only other gripe was this seemed short.
Positives, the book is f/f but untraditional in its approach. If you remember Tina this is her love story after divorce and transitioning. While I do think it’s part of the story it’s not entirely the focus nor is it the most captivating element of the story. Which I liked. No instead the book’s strength comes from the fact that it was more about Tina and her ability to form solid female relationships that were both friendships and romantic. The friendship aspect was the best part, you had no backstabbing females, and you had no one take issue with who Tina had been prior to being Tina while playing semi-competitively in an all-female roller derby league. There also wasn’t the…awkward portrayal of Tina embarking on her first (I think it was her first) sexual relationship after transitioning. There was no, keep the lights off, don’t touch me here element that for some reason I had braced myself for. I liked the point in time we meet Tina whatever hardships she went through to be who she was meant to be were in the past and she left them there. The Tina I saw was a woman comfortable in herself and looking forward to her future. I liked that while she was initially excited about the prospect of a new relationship she was not willing to compromise on something subpar. She believed she deserved better.
The dynamic of how women interact as friends and lovers was what made this book my favorite in the series. The simplicity in which Tina and Joe’s relationship progressed, stagnated, stalled and then rebounded felt truthful. I liked that unlike the prior f/f I’d attempted to read there was no weird power dynamic where one presented as the alpha while the other was all maiden in distress.
I’ll start with the con for me which is this is a nice book…which I’ve said time and time again V.N. does not lure me in with her nice books. Blueberry boys I first refused to read and then refused to review because of its niceness. Double Up while a win for everyone else received my 2 stars under duress… This book for me lost a star because in all honesty it was full of people who I seriously couldn’t dislike….not a one, no despicable side characters, no evil ex’s or eye rolling angst. My only other gripe was this seemed short.
Positives, the book is f/f but untraditional in its approach. If you remember Tina this is her love story after divorce and transitioning. While I do think it’s part of the story it’s not entirely the focus nor is it the most captivating element of the story. Which I liked. No instead the book’s strength comes from the fact that it was more about Tina and her ability to form solid female relationships that were both friendships and romantic. The friendship aspect was the best part, you had no backstabbing females, and you had no one take issue with who Tina had been prior to being Tina while playing semi-competitively in an all-female roller derby league. There also wasn’t the…awkward portrayal of Tina embarking on her first (I think it was her first) sexual relationship after transitioning. There was no, keep the lights off, don’t touch me here element that for some reason I had braced myself for. I liked the point in time we meet Tina whatever hardships she went through to be who she was meant to be were in the past and she left them there. The Tina I saw was a woman comfortable in herself and looking forward to her future. I liked that while she was initially excited about the prospect of a new relationship she was not willing to compromise on something subpar. She believed she deserved better.
The dynamic of how women interact as friends and lovers was what made this book my favorite in the series. The simplicity in which Tina and Joe’s relationship progressed, stagnated, stalled and then rebounded felt truthful. I liked that unlike the prior f/f I’d attempted to read there was no weird power dynamic where one presented as the alpha while the other was all maiden in distress.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2016
Review originally appeared on The Lesbrary. To me, Roller Girl by Vanessa North is a roller derby book that includes a lesbian romance, rather than being a roller derby romance; there was a lot more going on in the book besides the relationship between Tina and her girlfriend–a lot that in my opinion enhanced the book and broadened its appeal. I’m no derby girl, but the game shines through the book–its appeal to Tina in the beginning, her anticipation as she auditions, the friendships she forms during practice–and I think that this element would please anyone who wants to read a women’s sports book, romance fan or no. In fact, I learned a lot about the game from the book, and I can understand a little more of the conversation–and starry-eyed face–of my college roommate who joined her local team just around the time the book came out.
My favorite relationship in the book was actually between Tina and her straight, married “derby wife” Lauren, an affirming platonic friendship that I truly felt and radiated off the page, but the romance between Tina and Joe was at least believable and hot. The sex scenes between them were definitely sizzling.
There are a ton of other awesome platonic interactions between LGBT folks in the book. Tina has a bunch of close male friends (from her former career in wakeboarding, which she used to fund her transition) who are all paired off with each other — they’re apparently main characters in North’s previous books, but I haven’t read them and never felt like I had missed essential details. And of course there are other f/f couples and women-attracted women both in Tina’s derby team and in the teams they play. Also, what would a sports book be without one of those “the not-sports part of televised Olympics coverage” heartwarming moments? Tina winds up getting to be a trans role model for a trans kid in one scene, and that was beautiful. So if you are specifically looking for this, especially given how important a part of our real lives our intra-umbrella friendships are and how if we reflect that in our literature it gets accused of being unrealistic, this book is a perfect fit.
I’m not sure how plausible it is for there to be turmoil over the idea of a player dating the coach in a situation made of 100% adults and it’s not a matter of employment, but by the time the relationship was revealed, North sort of fixed my skepticism by making it more about friend drama than “I can’t date one of my players”, which is totally understandable and realistic and made a lot more sense to me. Never believe that friend drama ends at high school, folks. My mom is a boomer and recently navigated some drama over where to have the bluegrass jam.
I am pleased to report that I have no idea what Tina’s deadname is, and that the team tells her from the beginning that if anyone tries to be transmisogynist — it’s a women’s team, so she was concerned — they’ll shut it down.
Since it takes place in Central Florida, I would have appreciated something that felt like home–I’ve read books that reference Publix subs, for example–but I’m at least happy that North didn’t get anything wrong about the region.
My favorite relationship in the book was actually between Tina and her straight, married “derby wife” Lauren, an affirming platonic friendship that I truly felt and radiated off the page, but the romance between Tina and Joe was at least believable and hot. The sex scenes between them were definitely sizzling.
There are a ton of other awesome platonic interactions between LGBT folks in the book. Tina has a bunch of close male friends (from her former career in wakeboarding, which she used to fund her transition) who are all paired off with each other — they’re apparently main characters in North’s previous books, but I haven’t read them and never felt like I had missed essential details. And of course there are other f/f couples and women-attracted women both in Tina’s derby team and in the teams they play. Also, what would a sports book be without one of those “the not-sports part of televised Olympics coverage” heartwarming moments? Tina winds up getting to be a trans role model for a trans kid in one scene, and that was beautiful. So if you are specifically looking for this, especially given how important a part of our real lives our intra-umbrella friendships are and how if we reflect that in our literature it gets accused of being unrealistic, this book is a perfect fit.
I’m not sure how plausible it is for there to be turmoil over the idea of a player dating the coach in a situation made of 100% adults and it’s not a matter of employment, but by the time the relationship was revealed, North sort of fixed my skepticism by making it more about friend drama than “I can’t date one of my players”, which is totally understandable and realistic and made a lot more sense to me. Never believe that friend drama ends at high school, folks. My mom is a boomer and recently navigated some drama over where to have the bluegrass jam.
I am pleased to report that I have no idea what Tina’s deadname is, and that the team tells her from the beginning that if anyone tries to be transmisogynist — it’s a women’s team, so she was concerned — they’ll shut it down.
Since it takes place in Central Florida, I would have appreciated something that felt like home–I’ve read books that reference Publix subs, for example–but I’m at least happy that North didn’t get anything wrong about the region.
Read
February 17, 2018this
this is happening to me
this is happening to me
Read
April 20, 2017This was super cute - roller derby + f/f + a trans MC + some super-solid dirty talk = like, how can you NOT
I really need to go back and read the earlier books in this series, but also fingers crossed that Vanessa North's got more f/f coming up!
I really need to go back and read the earlier books in this series, but also fingers crossed that Vanessa North's got more f/f coming up!
July 14, 2017
3.5 stars
Overall this was a good read. I zipped through it. (Actually finished 2 days ago.)
I liked the derby stuff and the romance, although it was a bit quick. The relationship really needed more development. The sex scenes were good, but more emotion and chemistry would have given them weight.
I was surprised Joe had no questions or shyness or anything about being with a trans woman. I mean, surely the plumbing works a little differently than with a cis woman? It was nice to read a positive trans romance though. Joe and Tina were sweet together.
My biggest issue is that the story was too easy. There was conflict, don't get me wrong, but it was weak at best. It didn't inspire strong feelings in me. At all. Even the way trans issues were handled was so hunky dory as to be unbelievable. It was shiny little fairy tale. I need some angst now.
The thing I liked the most was the derby theme and the women's friendships. That was very nice to read. The descriptions of the game were easy to follow and interesting to me. I want to catch a live derby match soon.
*Side note: The scene with the trans or genderqueer child was super sweet. However, it made me realize how awkward the they/them terms are. The scene was a little hard to follow. There really needs to be a better gender neutral pronoun.
Overall this was a good read. I zipped through it. (Actually finished 2 days ago.)
I liked the derby stuff and the romance, although it was a bit quick. The relationship really needed more development. The sex scenes were good, but more emotion and chemistry would have given them weight.
I was surprised Joe had no questions or shyness or anything about being with a trans woman. I mean, surely the plumbing works a little differently than with a cis woman? It was nice to read a positive trans romance though. Joe and Tina were sweet together.
My biggest issue is that the story was too easy. There was conflict, don't get me wrong, but it was weak at best. It didn't inspire strong feelings in me. At all. Even the way trans issues were handled was so hunky dory as to be unbelievable. It was shiny little fairy tale. I need some angst now.
The thing I liked the most was the derby theme and the women's friendships. That was very nice to read. The descriptions of the game were easy to follow and interesting to me. I want to catch a live derby match soon.
*Side note: The scene with the trans or genderqueer child was super sweet. However, it made me realize how awkward the they/them terms are. The scene was a little hard to follow. There really needs to be a better gender neutral pronoun.
Read
July 29, 2016How did this novel manage to be so so sweet without tipping into saccharine?! Lovely characters, really varied human portrayals, where no one is cardboard cutout in either direction are only part of what makes this book a total balm to the soul.
The real bonus: the deftness with which North interweaves gender realities and politics within the narrative so naturally, that it becomes part of the plot. That she manages to undertake queer politics without an ounce of sanctimoniousness is a true measure of North's writing.
My only tiny little quibble is I wanted a little more of Tina's inner life. She's such a compelling character, and her arc so relatable that I wished I could go a little deeper into her head. She is full of heart, as are all the characters in this wonderful series.
This novel will be on my comfort reads list for good now!
Recommended.
The real bonus: the deftness with which North interweaves gender realities and politics within the narrative so naturally, that it becomes part of the plot. That she manages to undertake queer politics without an ounce of sanctimoniousness is a true measure of North's writing.
My only tiny little quibble is I wanted a little more of Tina's inner life. She's such a compelling character, and her arc so relatable that I wished I could go a little deeper into her head. She is full of heart, as are all the characters in this wonderful series.
This novel will be on my comfort reads list for good now!
Recommended.
Read
March 11, 2018review and rating removed
December 8, 2016
Actual rating is 3.6
Given that Vanessa North wrote this novel, I had a feeling that I was going to like it. North has a tendency to write characters who are sweet and complex (regardless of their gender and/or orientation.) Somehow, she manages to keep them from becoming too perfect or boring.
This is one book I’d kept my eye on since it was first published this year. I ended up enjoying it a lot.
What I liked
+ Tina
Tina is the kind of character that I want to hang out with. I connected with her from the get go (not knowing anything about her background since I’ve yet to read the other books in the series.)
One of the things that made me give props to North was that she moved Tina’s character arc past the path of her transition and coming out. Instead, the plot focuses on Tina rebuilding her life, learning a bit about how strong she can be, and falling in love along the way.
+ QUEERS EVERYWHERE
Yes, there were gay dudes, lesbians, unicorns (LOL!), transgender people, and even a character who was genderqueer.
A secondary storyline had to do with representation. The way that it's written, though, points out exactly why seeing yourself represented in sports, the media, etc is SO important. I legit teared up because it was so subtly done and incredibly powerful at the same time.
+ Found family from a female perspective
It’s true that we meet Tina’s male friends (who starred in their own books.) However, a huge chunk of the found family angle is comprised of Tina meeting and bonding with other women (both queer and not.)
Even better was how North sidestepped the generic "twist" of having one female character feel/act jealous about Tina. TBH, like in the other North books I’ve read, most of the characters are likable.
So we get to see Tina clicking with the derby team really well. And then, she becomes close friends with a (to me) unexpected person. I loved seeing that friendship blossom. Mainly because it felt v. much like one that would happen in real life/offline.
+The sex
It was hot and dirty. (wipes brow)
What I didn’t like
- Too short
FTR, yes, this is something of a recurring gripe I have with North’s books. In part, because I dig the stories and the characters. Also, rather than having Tina tell us how certain things got resolved, I’d have liked to actually see them happening.
Basically, expanding the last two chapter into, say, four would’ve bumped my overall rating for this novel.
- The conflict
So, Tina and Joe have mad chemistry to the point that my glasses were fogging up even if all they were doing was looking at each other. They’re both v. appealing individually and as a couple. And then, something like three chapter in, the ~conflict~ pops up. Thing was, the more serious Tina and Joe got about each other, the harder I rolled my eyes whenever ~conflict~ shimmied on the page.
Now, I’m not in the habit of reading sports romances so I can admit that I didn’t understand the SRS BIZNESS about a coach and a team member hooking up. Not because I wasn’t taking roller derby seriously (it’s a pretty hardcore sport, actually), but because there were other team members romancing each other.
Since those other team members weren’t hiding their hooking up, seeing Joe wave the "but I’m your coach" flag was the weakest subterfuge, imo.
Eventually, yes, we’re shown why Joe was anxious about revealing her relationship with Tina. Still, a lot of it was on Joe so I ended up kinda wanting to tell Tina to snap out of it. Getting in bed with Joe was greatness, but that kind of forced!down-low was annoying af.
Thankfully, Tina did put her foot down. I wanted to give her a high-five for not becoming a total doormat.
TL;DR: A pretty fun F/F book that has sweet characters. Although it is the third book in the series, reading the previous two novels isn’t necessary. I deffo rec it if you're in the mood for a non-tragic queer women romance.
Given that Vanessa North wrote this novel, I had a feeling that I was going to like it. North has a tendency to write characters who are sweet and complex (regardless of their gender and/or orientation.) Somehow, she manages to keep them from becoming too perfect or boring.
This is one book I’d kept my eye on since it was first published this year. I ended up enjoying it a lot.
What I liked
+ Tina
Tina is the kind of character that I want to hang out with. I connected with her from the get go (not knowing anything about her background since I’ve yet to read the other books in the series.)
One of the things that made me give props to North was that she moved Tina’s character arc past the path of her transition and coming out. Instead, the plot focuses on Tina rebuilding her life, learning a bit about how strong she can be, and falling in love along the way.
+ QUEERS EVERYWHERE
Yes, there were gay dudes, lesbians, unicorns (LOL!), transgender people, and even a character who was genderqueer.
A secondary storyline had to do with representation. The way that it's written, though, points out exactly why seeing yourself represented in sports, the media, etc is SO important. I legit teared up because it was so subtly done and incredibly powerful at the same time.
+ Found family from a female perspective
It’s true that we meet Tina’s male friends (who starred in their own books.) However, a huge chunk of the found family angle is comprised of Tina meeting and bonding with other women (both queer and not.)
Even better was how North sidestepped the generic "twist" of having one female character feel/act jealous about Tina. TBH, like in the other North books I’ve read, most of the characters are likable.
So we get to see Tina clicking with the derby team really well. And then, she becomes close friends with a (to me) unexpected person. I loved seeing that friendship blossom. Mainly because it felt v. much like one that would happen in real life/offline.
+The sex
It was hot and dirty. (wipes brow)
What I didn’t like
- Too short
FTR, yes, this is something of a recurring gripe I have with North’s books. In part, because I dig the stories and the characters. Also, rather than having Tina tell us how certain things got resolved, I’d have liked to actually see them happening.
Basically, expanding the last two chapter into, say, four would’ve bumped my overall rating for this novel.
- The conflict
So, Tina and Joe have mad chemistry to the point that my glasses were fogging up even if all they were doing was looking at each other. They’re both v. appealing individually and as a couple. And then, something like three chapter in, the ~conflict~ pops up. Thing was, the more serious Tina and Joe got about each other, the harder I rolled my eyes whenever ~conflict~ shimmied on the page.
Now, I’m not in the habit of reading sports romances so I can admit that I didn’t understand the SRS BIZNESS about a coach and a team member hooking up. Not because I wasn’t taking roller derby seriously (it’s a pretty hardcore sport, actually), but because there were other team members romancing each other.
Since those other team members weren’t hiding their hooking up, seeing Joe wave the "but I’m your coach" flag was the weakest subterfuge, imo.
Eventually, yes, we’re shown why Joe was anxious about revealing her relationship with Tina. Still, a lot of it was on Joe so I ended up kinda wanting to tell Tina to snap out of it. Getting in bed with Joe was greatness, but that kind of forced!down-low was annoying af.
Thankfully, Tina did put her foot down. I wanted to give her a high-five for not becoming a total doormat.
TL;DR: A pretty fun F/F book that has sweet characters. Although it is the third book in the series, reading the previous two novels isn’t necessary. I deffo rec it if you're in the mood for a non-tragic queer women romance.
June 24, 2016
5 Roller Derby Stars!!!!!
To start, a little fangirling... Vanessa North has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Roller Girl is a prime example of just why that is. Her stories so truthful and the writing so real. She’s on my one-click list… the one where I one-click the pre-order, no matter if I get a review copy. I’m giddy for her, if you can’t tell.
I loved the first two books in the Lake Lovelace series. In each of those books, I got to know Tina a little bit. I knew a little bit about her story, but not enough. I always wondered about her, what happened in her marriage. I knew the divorce impacted her tremendously, so I was really interested to know more and get to know her better.
I feel like I know her now, like Tina just became a part of my life. She’s so strong, omigod so strong. She doesn’t even realize how strong and brave she is, making me love her even more. There are moments in the story when I was so lost in her and what was happening that I didn’t realize I was smiling, or crying, or both. She’s so easy to like, so easy to love, it’s no wonder Joe is immediately taken with her. I really like Joe a lot. Joe is important to the story, not just because she’s fast becoming Tina’s friend, lover and girlfriend, but because she helps Tina along the way to really coming into her own. It's not a bad thing that Joe and Tina together are scorching hot. These two women are exquisite together.
I love all the other characters in the series, how their friendship is so important. Often times in a series, you’ll get those recurring characters that have their own things going on, and yeah, I want to catch up with them. Sometimes though, it can pull me out of the main plot. This is another area where Vanessa excels. Never do I feel like I’m back in someone else’s book.
The main love for me in this book is this… The relationship with Joe is not the main focus. Tina being a trans woman is not the main focus. Tina learning, loving, and playing Roller Derby is not the main focus. Tina, she is the main focus. Just Tina…. All of what makes Tina a person. This is Tina’s story, and it is full of wonderful moments, hard choices, brave decisions, tender and kind encounters, and finding something in herself that has always been there, but she never realized she had. This is a beautifully told story about a woman who finds something in her that’s important. Tina matters.
Something else Tina learns… people need her. They need her, probably even more than she thinks she needs them. She makes people believe, she gives them courage, she helps them find that thing within themselves that pushes them to excel. SHE does this and brushes it off as part of her job, yet she’s doing it all the time. Tina has a huge heart, filled with love and understanding.
Roller Girl is a fantastic book. I honestly can’t recommend this book enough. Read it. You’ll love it, I just know it. Tina will win your heart just as she’s won mine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Riptide for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
To start, a little fangirling... Vanessa North has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Roller Girl is a prime example of just why that is. Her stories so truthful and the writing so real. She’s on my one-click list… the one where I one-click the pre-order, no matter if I get a review copy. I’m giddy for her, if you can’t tell.
I loved the first two books in the Lake Lovelace series. In each of those books, I got to know Tina a little bit. I knew a little bit about her story, but not enough. I always wondered about her, what happened in her marriage. I knew the divorce impacted her tremendously, so I was really interested to know more and get to know her better.
I feel like I know her now, like Tina just became a part of my life. She’s so strong, omigod so strong. She doesn’t even realize how strong and brave she is, making me love her even more. There are moments in the story when I was so lost in her and what was happening that I didn’t realize I was smiling, or crying, or both. She’s so easy to like, so easy to love, it’s no wonder Joe is immediately taken with her. I really like Joe a lot. Joe is important to the story, not just because she’s fast becoming Tina’s friend, lover and girlfriend, but because she helps Tina along the way to really coming into her own. It's not a bad thing that Joe and Tina together are scorching hot. These two women are exquisite together.
I love all the other characters in the series, how their friendship is so important. Often times in a series, you’ll get those recurring characters that have their own things going on, and yeah, I want to catch up with them. Sometimes though, it can pull me out of the main plot. This is another area where Vanessa excels. Never do I feel like I’m back in someone else’s book.
The main love for me in this book is this… The relationship with Joe is not the main focus. Tina being a trans woman is not the main focus. Tina learning, loving, and playing Roller Derby is not the main focus. Tina, she is the main focus. Just Tina…. All of what makes Tina a person. This is Tina’s story, and it is full of wonderful moments, hard choices, brave decisions, tender and kind encounters, and finding something in herself that has always been there, but she never realized she had. This is a beautifully told story about a woman who finds something in her that’s important. Tina matters.
Something else Tina learns… people need her. They need her, probably even more than she thinks she needs them. She makes people believe, she gives them courage, she helps them find that thing within themselves that pushes them to excel. SHE does this and brushes it off as part of her job, yet she’s doing it all the time. Tina has a huge heart, filled with love and understanding.
Roller Girl is a fantastic book. I honestly can’t recommend this book enough. Read it. You’ll love it, I just know it. Tina will win your heart just as she’s won mine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Riptide for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 15, 2016
Tina Durham is recently divorced and is currently trying to find a way of taking care of herself. She meets plumber Joanne "Joe Mama" Delario when her washing machine needs fixing. All goes well and Tina is invited to a date, sort of. Turns out that Joe had ulterior motives and invites Tina to try out for her roller derby team that she coaches.
Tina sees it as a chance to develop female friendships that she never had before. Meanwhile, her relationship with Joe becomes more than just the player and the coach which they keep it hidden from the rest of the team.
I enjoyed most if not all the characters in Roller Girl. Both main characters were likable as well as the supporting characters. I especially liked the friendship dynamic between Tina and Lauren.
I thought that the first time Tina and Joe were intimate was dealt okay, especially since Joe was the first after Tina's ex-wife. Maybe more could've been written about Tina's transition and dysphoria. I thought the reason that put a wrench in their relationship was weak and predictable.
In all, it was a good light read.
Review also posted here:
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tina sees it as a chance to develop female friendships that she never had before. Meanwhile, her relationship with Joe becomes more than just the player and the coach which they keep it hidden from the rest of the team.
I enjoyed most if not all the characters in Roller Girl. Both main characters were likable as well as the supporting characters. I especially liked the friendship dynamic between Tina and Lauren.
I thought that the first time Tina and Joe were intimate was dealt okay, especially since Joe was the first after Tina's ex-wife. Maybe more could've been written about Tina's transition and dysphoria. I thought the reason that put a wrench in their relationship was weak and predictable.
In all, it was a good light read.
Review also posted here:
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2016
This was a fun, light read. I liked the main characters but wasn't necessarily sold on their deep connection (deep sexual attraction, sure). It was really easy to relate to Tina's character, who is trans, and her part was very well written. Joe's character was not as well defined, and there were times I didn't like her, but she was definitely a cutie. I also enjoyed the roller derby aspect, which was both fun and functional. I would probably categorize this as a HFN and not an HEA. Overall it was a sweet story that's easy on the heartstrings.
July 19, 2018
Where this book falls on the motor revvin’ scale:
Sweet: This book could be read by Puritans without blushing.
--->Sensual: A few pages of sexy time, but mostly story.
Hot: NSFW but safe enough for the bus if you hide the cover.
Erotic: Oh my.
Short and poignant little book. I cried a lot, not because it was sad, but because it was sweet. Gender issues really get to me sometimes. I want people to be happy, and there's so much unhappiness when it comes to sexual and gender identity. I think this book could be empowering for someone struggling with insecurity. I wanted to join a badass lady team and feel accepted and love my body. A secondary character, Lauren's husband (Chase?) has a short but powerful story arc that left me weeping silently on the train to work. "It's something we can do together," he says, smiling to his wife and the reader in a beaming example of learning to accept someone for who they are.
It didn't get 5 stars because I thought Tina was pretty unreasonable sometimes. She got very angry a couple of times and I wanted to be like, "Girl, chill." Other characters tell us of her characteristics, (you're so nice and funny!) but I never actually felt like we saw those characteristics.
Sweet: This book could be read by Puritans without blushing.
--->Sensual: A few pages of sexy time, but mostly story.
Hot: NSFW but safe enough for the bus if you hide the cover.
Erotic: Oh my.
Short and poignant little book. I cried a lot, not because it was sad, but because it was sweet. Gender issues really get to me sometimes. I want people to be happy, and there's so much unhappiness when it comes to sexual and gender identity. I think this book could be empowering for someone struggling with insecurity. I wanted to join a badass lady team and feel accepted and love my body. A secondary character, Lauren's husband (Chase?) has a short but powerful story arc that left me weeping silently on the train to work. "It's something we can do together," he says, smiling to his wife and the reader in a beaming example of learning to accept someone for who they are.
It didn't get 5 stars because I thought Tina was pretty unreasonable sometimes. She got very angry a couple of times and I wanted to be like, "Girl, chill." Other characters tell us of her characteristics, (you're so nice and funny!) but I never actually felt like we saw those characteristics.
July 1, 2016
Well, that was nice and sweet but I expected more. I wanted more intensity and depth and while it was all positive and heart-warming, it also left me feeling meh and disconnected.
Full review:
This is my first f/f romance, rather trans f/f romance and I liked a lot of things about this story but there were also some elements that did not work very well for me.
I generally enjoy Ms North's writing, the way she builds this ordinary, often sweet, life for her characters is a bright light in the midst of many romances where the characters are often victims of abuse, violence and their happy ending is a hard won one and bittersweet. I found these elements made a very pleasant and entertaining mix in Blueberry Boys which is my favourite book by Ms North. We have these elements here too but here they seemed overabundant and the sweetness was borderline cheesy at times.
I was excited to try f/f romance for the first time and I did enjoy the way the relationship between Tina and Joe developed. It read as real and believable and I was glad that things between them worked out without any major/over-the-top drama. At the same time I have to admit that Joe's resistance to having a relationship with Tina because they were both in the same roller derby team (Actually, Joe was the coach and she invited Tina to join which didn't happen until later in the story, mind you) was too much, it felt like a convenient excuse and not a real obstacle.
While I enjoyed reading about Tina forging a new life on her own after her divorce, I would have liked to see more of her past, her transition, everything that happened to her to bring her to place where she was at the moment. It felt like an important element of her character was missing from the story.
I didn't get really involved in the roller derby as a sport/hobby but this didn't bother me too much. It ave me enough sense of the community and camaraderie among the different women in story, and it was nice seeing women supporting each other for a change. At the same time, there were subplots and elements related to team's dynamics which I was interested in but there were just glossed over and not explored in the depth they deserved.
While I very much like and appreciate the inclusion of characters with different sexuality, at times it read as preachy and the message for celebration of diversity seemed superimposed on the story/characters and not an intrinsic element of it.
Having said that, I still think it's a nice, sweet f/f romance. It's well-written, engaging and positive, if a bit too sweet for my taste. I think it touches upon important issues of sexuality and identity and building relationships and I wish they were explored in more depth and detail.
Full review:
This is my first f/f romance, rather trans f/f romance and I liked a lot of things about this story but there were also some elements that did not work very well for me.
I generally enjoy Ms North's writing, the way she builds this ordinary, often sweet, life for her characters is a bright light in the midst of many romances where the characters are often victims of abuse, violence and their happy ending is a hard won one and bittersweet. I found these elements made a very pleasant and entertaining mix in Blueberry Boys which is my favourite book by Ms North. We have these elements here too but here they seemed overabundant and the sweetness was borderline cheesy at times.
I was excited to try f/f romance for the first time and I did enjoy the way the relationship between Tina and Joe developed. It read as real and believable and I was glad that things between them worked out without any major/over-the-top drama. At the same time I have to admit that Joe's resistance to having a relationship with Tina because they were both in the same roller derby team (Actually, Joe was the coach and she invited Tina to join which didn't happen until later in the story, mind you) was too much, it felt like a convenient excuse and not a real obstacle.
While I enjoyed reading about Tina forging a new life on her own after her divorce, I would have liked to see more of her past, her transition, everything that happened to her to bring her to place where she was at the moment. It felt like an important element of her character was missing from the story.
I didn't get really involved in the roller derby as a sport/hobby but this didn't bother me too much. It ave me enough sense of the community and camaraderie among the different women in story, and it was nice seeing women supporting each other for a change. At the same time, there were subplots and elements related to team's dynamics which I was interested in but there were just glossed over and not explored in the depth they deserved.
While I very much like and appreciate the inclusion of characters with different sexuality, at times it read as preachy and the message for celebration of diversity seemed superimposed on the story/characters and not an intrinsic element of it.
Having said that, I still think it's a nice, sweet f/f romance. It's well-written, engaging and positive, if a bit too sweet for my taste. I think it touches upon important issues of sexuality and identity and building relationships and I wish they were explored in more depth and detail.
June 25, 2016
Tina Durham is recently divorced and learning to deal with the details of life on her own. She is also trying to negotiate the world as a woman, having recently transitioned.
Tina was a professional wave rider and whilst she keeps fit as a professional trainer, she misses the wild ride of competitive sport.
When her washing machine floods, the plumber she calls turns out to be a sexy woman who asks her out on a date. And to add to her appeal, Joe (Joanne) is also the coach of a local roller derby team, and she invites Tina to try out. Tina loves the physicality of the roller derby, and the relationship between Tina and Joe develops around Tina’s practicing and trying out for the team.
Tina is quite well written. There are some complexities with her uncertainty about being on her own and negotiating day to day interactions, but there is a confidence too, borne from her experience as an elite athlete. It’s an interesting combination. Joe is less well written, and she comes across as a bit stereotypical and a bit paper thin as a character. Their relationship is also a little thin, but the sex scenes are steamy and quite explicit.
The more successful scenes in the book are the ones about roller derby. This is the heart of the book and obviously a passion of the author. This is where the book and the characters really come to life. I found the romance much less successful than the story of the derby, and I would have liked to have seen more of that in the book.
This book is fairly light, and would be great for those who want to read about a successful trans woman and roller derby.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
Tina was a professional wave rider and whilst she keeps fit as a professional trainer, she misses the wild ride of competitive sport.
When her washing machine floods, the plumber she calls turns out to be a sexy woman who asks her out on a date. And to add to her appeal, Joe (Joanne) is also the coach of a local roller derby team, and she invites Tina to try out. Tina loves the physicality of the roller derby, and the relationship between Tina and Joe develops around Tina’s practicing and trying out for the team.
Tina is quite well written. There are some complexities with her uncertainty about being on her own and negotiating day to day interactions, but there is a confidence too, borne from her experience as an elite athlete. It’s an interesting combination. Joe is less well written, and she comes across as a bit stereotypical and a bit paper thin as a character. Their relationship is also a little thin, but the sex scenes are steamy and quite explicit.
The more successful scenes in the book are the ones about roller derby. This is the heart of the book and obviously a passion of the author. This is where the book and the characters really come to life. I found the romance much less successful than the story of the derby, and I would have liked to have seen more of that in the book.
This book is fairly light, and would be great for those who want to read about a successful trans woman and roller derby.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
August 4, 2016
Pleasantly surprised. Oh, I knew the writing would be good. Its Vanessa North and I have yet to be disappointed. The hoopla over the subject matter? Just that, hoopla. I could go on and on but look to other reviews if you want to pick apart ever little thing.
My biggest complaint? It was too short.
I'm a gal that's not afraid to take chances, especially in my reading. Always with an open mind and a look to quality writing. Yes, we have a trans individual, Tina, who falls in love with Jo and oh my God, she's a GIRL. Well, that's certainly not my reading norm but I wanted to hear Tina's story. As usual, Vanessa North's writing is so remarkable that the whole question of identity and plumbing is inconsequential.
Tina identifies as female and she is a Lesbian. Jo is female and also a Lesbian. Do they kiss and do things to each other's clitoris that any woman with one could appreciate or any man could get off of picturing these two woman together? You betcha! The sex was hot and the dirty talk even hotter. I know, I know, for my homosexual friends the whole squishy girl part thing might seem a little too wet for your liking but if you look past that, see how these two women fall in love, their lovemaking is quite beautiful.
You'll also learn something new and that's Roller Derby. Far out. It never overwhelms or drags the story down. Believe me, I have a wandering eye and if it wanders in my reading, I might as well close the book and call it a day. It didn't happen here.
It's all about the characters folks. Solid writing. Take a chance. Recommended.
My biggest complaint? It was too short.
I'm a gal that's not afraid to take chances, especially in my reading. Always with an open mind and a look to quality writing. Yes, we have a trans individual, Tina, who falls in love with Jo and oh my God, she's a GIRL. Well, that's certainly not my reading norm but I wanted to hear Tina's story. As usual, Vanessa North's writing is so remarkable that the whole question of identity and plumbing is inconsequential.
Tina identifies as female and she is a Lesbian. Jo is female and also a Lesbian. Do they kiss and do things to each other's clitoris that any woman with one could appreciate or any man could get off of picturing these two woman together? You betcha! The sex was hot and the dirty talk even hotter. I know, I know, for my homosexual friends the whole squishy girl part thing might seem a little too wet for your liking but if you look past that, see how these two women fall in love, their lovemaking is quite beautiful.
You'll also learn something new and that's Roller Derby. Far out. It never overwhelms or drags the story down. Believe me, I have a wandering eye and if it wanders in my reading, I might as well close the book and call it a day. It didn't happen here.
It's all about the characters folks. Solid writing. Take a chance. Recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2021
I'm a big fan of this one! Setting aside the "I'm reading this because I'm desperate for trans rep" books and the non-romance books, there's really only about 4 books on my trans heroines list, all from cis contemporary romance authors who usually write cis characters.
Of those four, Vanessa North takes the biggest risk in putting the camera squarely behind her trans heroine's eyes, and she does a fantastic job of portraying navigating the early days of reinventing herself and recovering from a marriage that had grown comfortable some ways even if it stopped working in others.
Also it's a f/f book and as a woman married to a woman I'm partial.
I've seen criticism that this has a bit of an afterschool special quality to the trans rep, which I can agree with, but I think it represents an accurate estimate of where the general audience is! If anything I applaud Vanessa North for taking on the topic of trans athletes fearlessly.
Of those four, Vanessa North takes the biggest risk in putting the camera squarely behind her trans heroine's eyes, and she does a fantastic job of portraying navigating the early days of reinventing herself and recovering from a marriage that had grown comfortable some ways even if it stopped working in others.
Also it's a f/f book and as a woman married to a woman I'm partial.
I've seen criticism that this has a bit of an afterschool special quality to the trans rep, which I can agree with, but I think it represents an accurate estimate of where the general audience is! If anything I applaud Vanessa North for taking on the topic of trans athletes fearlessly.
Read
June 9, 2016This book made me really happy. The romance is both sweet and sexy and Tina is a fantastic heroine who I've been rooting for throughout the entire Lake Lovelace series. But more than anything else, this book made me miss my girlfriends, my best friends. It's a book that values female friendships and the community of women, and everything about watching Tina find derby and her crew made me happy. These women are funny and fierce and caretaking. They fight sometimes, but they also support each other, all the while appreciating and including the men in their lives. This is one of those books where you just want to step inside it so you can hang out with everyone. :)
Plus, the sex is smokin' hot. Also, a parking lot make out session that made me fan myself. Whooee. ;)
Plus, the sex is smokin' hot. Also, a parking lot make out session that made me fan myself. Whooee. ;)
July 24, 2016
Ahhhhhhhh *keeps shouting because this book was so awesome* You guys need to definitely get this book tomorrow like...
- It has roller derby THAT SAYS ENOUGH AND BECAUSE OF THAT YOU NEED TO BUY IT
- But if you need more bullet points to convince you okay
- MC is a trans woman who is too cute too pure for this world + she has a dog name Elvis okay that's adorable
- GIRL POWER
- Joe is Tina's coach and dayum things get so romantic and sweet and hot and *SJDHSJDSHJ*
- I got so happy to see characters from the other books because I HAVE MISSED THEM AND OH MY GOD I need to read Eddie's book asap *heart eyes*
Review soon on the blog.
- It has roller derby THAT SAYS ENOUGH AND BECAUSE OF THAT YOU NEED TO BUY IT
- But if you need more bullet points to convince you okay
- MC is a trans woman who is too cute too pure for this world + she has a dog name Elvis okay that's adorable
- GIRL POWER
- Joe is Tina's coach and dayum things get so romantic and sweet and hot and *SJDHSJDSHJ*
- I got so happy to see characters from the other books because I HAVE MISSED THEM AND OH MY GOD I need to read Eddie's book asap *heart eyes*
Review soon on the blog.
June 1, 2016
Book Lovers, I am a lover of Vanessa North!
Really love this story, I really loved the characters new and old. Very well developed, I loved the authors writing style. I enjoyed the story, and I found myself wanting re read the whole series from the beginning. Another great book that makes you feel happy when reading, Roller Girl by Vanessa North was great ride!
Oohh and the girl on girl, was kinda hot too! Love is Love People!
Arc from Net-galley through the publisher
PNR Book Lover Reviews
Really love this story, I really loved the characters new and old. Very well developed, I loved the authors writing style. I enjoyed the story, and I found myself wanting re read the whole series from the beginning. Another great book that makes you feel happy when reading, Roller Girl by Vanessa North was great ride!
Oohh and the girl on girl, was kinda hot too! Love is Love People!
Arc from Net-galley through the publisher
PNR Book Lover Reviews
April 19, 2017
Thank you Netgalley and Riptide Publishing for my e-ARC of Roller Girl!
Roller Girl is a story with heart. It’s a story that’ll make you smile and feel all warm and fluffy inside. What I love the most about this book is how well done it is, this lesbian romance is about so much more than just love (which all in itself is absolutely amazing). Roller Girl is about companionship, friendship and women supporting other women.
What I love about this book is that it’s so positive. Tina Durham, the main character, is a trans woman and throughout the book we see a lot of what she has gone through and everyone around her is supportive, kind and sees her as an inspiration. Tina is such a lovely person, through and through, who just tries to navigate her life after a divorce. Tina cares so deeply for others and only wants to stand on her own two feet while at the same time be a part of something bigger than herself. A derby team. A group of women who work together, support each other and always have each other’s backs. Tina is a lovely addition to the team, and has a positive impact on everyone around her. She inspires others and helps others, without even realizing it.
However, in the end, this is a lesbian romance and wow does this book deliver. This romance is sexy, sweet and totally ship worthy. This book will make you go crazy with feels one minute because of something really cute, and the next minute you’ll hope for everything to work out the way you want it to. Read Roller Girl and let all the precious moments fill your heart. You’ll not regret a second of it.
Original thoughts:
This book was so damn amazing, I loved all of it. The roller derby theme, the super hot and sexy ship, please we need a thousand more books like this. It's filled with accepting people, and with a trans mc and the story being a lesbian romance it couldn't have been better. I recommend it to everyone who wants a short fluffy read. Review to come.
Roller Girl is a story with heart. It’s a story that’ll make you smile and feel all warm and fluffy inside. What I love the most about this book is how well done it is, this lesbian romance is about so much more than just love (which all in itself is absolutely amazing). Roller Girl is about companionship, friendship and women supporting other women.
"Wearing the team shirt makes me feel like part of something larger than myself- an “us,” where I’ve been thinking of the other girls as “them.”"
What I love about this book is that it’s so positive. Tina Durham, the main character, is a trans woman and throughout the book we see a lot of what she has gone through and everyone around her is supportive, kind and sees her as an inspiration. Tina is such a lovely person, through and through, who just tries to navigate her life after a divorce. Tina cares so deeply for others and only wants to stand on her own two feet while at the same time be a part of something bigger than herself. A derby team. A group of women who work together, support each other and always have each other’s backs. Tina is a lovely addition to the team, and has a positive impact on everyone around her. She inspires others and helps others, without even realizing it.
“You worry that you need people too much, but the way I see it, other people need you- to motivate them, to show them where to find their courage. Yes, they still have to put in the work, but they want to because you believe they can.”
However, in the end, this is a lesbian romance and wow does this book deliver. This romance is sexy, sweet and totally ship worthy. This book will make you go crazy with feels one minute because of something really cute, and the next minute you’ll hope for everything to work out the way you want it to. Read Roller Girl and let all the precious moments fill your heart. You’ll not regret a second of it.
"Something in her smile feels like a hello, and a blessing, and a hug all at once."
Original thoughts:
This book was so damn amazing, I loved all of it. The roller derby theme, the super hot and sexy ship, please we need a thousand more books like this. It's filled with accepting people, and with a trans mc and the story being a lesbian romance it couldn't have been better. I recommend it to everyone who wants a short fluffy read. Review to come.
August 7, 2016
It's a really cute f/f romance, and for me, it's in line with the rest of the books in this series. It's good solid work, but the romance was a bit underdeveloped, I felt. But the fact that the narrator is a trans woman and she gets to find both women friends, and find a woman lover is FUCKING LOVELY, AND I LOVE THIS BOOK FOR THAT.
The book is centred around a team sport for women, it's also a wonderful story of friendship between women, and women supporting and lifting each other up. The trans part of the story is treated pretty fucking decently. It's a happy little romance; some of the world's shittyness is mentioned, but the plot does not revolve only being trans, queer or coming out as either.
I have to include a trigger warning for a scene with misgendering.
The book is centred around a team sport for women, it's also a wonderful story of friendship between women, and women supporting and lifting each other up. The trans part of the story is treated pretty fucking decently. It's a happy little romance; some of the world's shittyness is mentioned, but the plot does not revolve only being trans, queer or coming out as either.
I have to include a trigger warning for a scene with misgendering.
July 24, 2022
Otra de esas novelas de chicas que leí en 2018, otro fracaso. No ayuda que se relate en presente y primera persona. Para mí eso solo funciona si estás en la cabeza de alguien interesante o divertida, u original, y no es el caso. La narradora es Tina Durham, que se une al equipo de roller derby que entrena Joanne «Joe Mama» Delario. Buena parte de la novela se refiere a este deporte, lo cual me interesaba menos que cero. Ni los personajes ni la trama me atrajeron mucho. Tampoco me resultó particularmente bien desarrollada la parte romántica. Supones que se enamoran porque lo dicen ahí, sobre el papel, pero vamos, que tensión amorosa, cero patatero.
Lo único que salva un poco a esta novela son detalles, como las escenas eróticas, que me parecieron muy bien contadas, o cómo Tina se anima a hablar de la experiencia de una mujer trans, realmente fue conmovedor y sonaba todo muy auténtico. Casi salva la novela por esto. Pero no.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
Lo único que salva un poco a esta novela son detalles, como las escenas eróticas, que me parecieron muy bien contadas, o cómo Tina se anima a hablar de la experiencia de una mujer trans, realmente fue conmovedor y sonaba todo muy auténtico. Casi salva la novela por esto. Pero no.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
November 14, 2016
This is a lovely quick easy read and I enjoyed the book a lot.
The romance is sweet and relatable. Good pacing and just enough of drama.
I love the protagonist Tina and her puppy Elvis. Tina is a transgender former wakeboarder and now she's a personal trainer and roller girl-in-training. She's amazing person and I'm glad I got to meet her.
The whole sport thing was exciting but even after finishing the book I haven't really understand how roller derby works (shame on me). The book is full of wonderful secondary characters. My fave is Lauren, she's a mother of two boys, a wife and a kickass roller girl;)
I realized I need more f/f romance in my life. I'm not reading a lot of it.
The romance is sweet and relatable. Good pacing and just enough of drama.
I love the protagonist Tina and her puppy Elvis. Tina is a transgender former wakeboarder and now she's a personal trainer and roller girl-in-training. She's amazing person and I'm glad I got to meet her.
The whole sport thing was exciting but even after finishing the book I haven't really understand how roller derby works (shame on me). The book is full of wonderful secondary characters. My fave is Lauren, she's a mother of two boys, a wife and a kickass roller girl;)
I realized I need more f/f romance in my life. I'm not reading a lot of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews