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Storm Season
The great outdoors isnt so great for Sydney it-Girl Lien Hong. its too dark, too quiet, and shes certain a giant spider is going to sneak into the tent shes sharing with friends on her way to a New South Wales music festival. To make matters worse, shes been separated from her companions and taken a bad fall. With a storm approaching, her rescue comes in the form of a striking wilderness ranger named Claudia Sokolov, whose isolated cabin, soulful voice, and collection of guitars belie a complicated history. While they wait out the weather, the women find an undeniable connection--one that puts them both on new trajectories that last long after the storm has cleared.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2017
16 people are currently reading
1017 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
January 15, 2019
Trapped-in-a-cabin stories really appeal to me because the characters are forced to get to know one another without any outside interference for a limited period. Usually there's lots of dialogue too, although there could have been more in Storm Season. This isn't like most books with this theme though.
Set in Australia, Lien and three of her friends are off to a music festival where they will be camping while they attend. Lien has coordinated all of her outfits and accessories - which include a one-piece retro safari suit and pith helmet. She's a music and fashion writer with her finger on the pulse of social media marketing. A massive thunder storm and her being in the wrong place at the wrong time causes her to be rescued by reclusive Ranger Claudie. They manage to get to the safety of Claudie's cabin but they're not going anywhere soon.
Being trapped in a cabin is really only a small part of the story which was quite refreshing. There are great characters and an interesting story line. Good read.
Set in Australia, Lien and three of her friends are off to a music festival where they will be camping while they attend. Lien has coordinated all of her outfits and accessories - which include a one-piece retro safari suit and pith helmet. She's a music and fashion writer with her finger on the pulse of social media marketing. A massive thunder storm and her being in the wrong place at the wrong time causes her to be rescued by reclusive Ranger Claudie. They manage to get to the safety of Claudie's cabin but they're not going anywhere soon.
Being trapped in a cabin is really only a small part of the story which was quite refreshing. There are great characters and an interesting story line. Good read.
July 8, 2017
The writing in this book is gorgeous and atmospheric, and the third person present tense had me gripped all the way through. The pacing is careful, yet not slow, deftly guiding us through Lien and Claudie’s growth. Storm Season is a character driven story, and a satisfying one at that, because I never found myself longing for more to the plot.
Full review: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/storm...
Full review: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/storm...
September 19, 2017
If the cover doesn’t pull you in (because I freaking love this cover) then I hope my review does because it needs to be put at the top of your must-read list…
This book completely took me by surprise. It was recommended by a fellow friend and bibliophile with a ‘must read asap’ tag and I’m immensely glad I listened.
Lien is Sydney’s newest fashion and music blogger. She’s everywhere and people are listening. Destined for the big time and always attached to her social media platform, which means she isn’t enamoured about her upcoming camping trip with her best friends.
After a hop, skip and rather large stumble during a heavy storm while camping, Lien is rescued by Park Ranger, Claudia. At the peak of the storm, Claudia and Lien are trapped in Claudia’s Cabin in the woods until they can get through the storm damage.
Claudia is a ‘lone’ ranger excuse the pun. She enjoys her solitude but after a little digging Lien realises all isn’t what it’s seems and they have a lot more in common than you are led to first believe.
I throughly enjoyed this novel and can’t rave about it enough. Firstly the romance between Claudia and Lien is exciting but simple at the same time. You know they have this romantic spark and sexual chemistry but they also just fit. Once you unravel the mystery that’s Claudia, you realise she’s actually perfect for Lien and her true soul mate. Even the detailed and high quality sex scenes where still sensual and loving even when they dance on the line of kinky.
I also love Beau, Lien best friend and confidante. He’s struggling with his own romance as he’s trying to woo, Annie (also a friend of Lien) while treading new waters as a trans man. I actually would love to read his story because I feel like there is something special there and Beau’s connection with Annie gave me butterflies a few times.
Lastly I loved when Henson described the mundane in the book and made it sensual or exciting, it gave the reader the feeling of being there with the protagonists and experiencing the atmosphere and the journey. For example this is one of her simpler quotes but you’ll get my drift…
“The current pop tune is sweet and catchy with a mournful undertone.”
All in all a fantastic novel that will jump straight onto my favourite shelf and will be rereading it again soon.
5 stars
This book completely took me by surprise. It was recommended by a fellow friend and bibliophile with a ‘must read asap’ tag and I’m immensely glad I listened.
Lien is Sydney’s newest fashion and music blogger. She’s everywhere and people are listening. Destined for the big time and always attached to her social media platform, which means she isn’t enamoured about her upcoming camping trip with her best friends.
After a hop, skip and rather large stumble during a heavy storm while camping, Lien is rescued by Park Ranger, Claudia. At the peak of the storm, Claudia and Lien are trapped in Claudia’s Cabin in the woods until they can get through the storm damage.
Claudia is a ‘lone’ ranger excuse the pun. She enjoys her solitude but after a little digging Lien realises all isn’t what it’s seems and they have a lot more in common than you are led to first believe.
I throughly enjoyed this novel and can’t rave about it enough. Firstly the romance between Claudia and Lien is exciting but simple at the same time. You know they have this romantic spark and sexual chemistry but they also just fit. Once you unravel the mystery that’s Claudia, you realise she’s actually perfect for Lien and her true soul mate. Even the detailed and high quality sex scenes where still sensual and loving even when they dance on the line of kinky.
I also love Beau, Lien best friend and confidante. He’s struggling with his own romance as he’s trying to woo, Annie (also a friend of Lien) while treading new waters as a trans man. I actually would love to read his story because I feel like there is something special there and Beau’s connection with Annie gave me butterflies a few times.
Lastly I loved when Henson described the mundane in the book and made it sensual or exciting, it gave the reader the feeling of being there with the protagonists and experiencing the atmosphere and the journey. For example this is one of her simpler quotes but you’ll get my drift…
“The current pop tune is sweet and catchy with a mournful undertone.”
All in all a fantastic novel that will jump straight onto my favourite shelf and will be rereading it again soon.
5 stars
February 27, 2017
5 Stars
I have been so eagerly waiting for this novel for months. Henson’s previous novel, Into the Blue is a deep favorite of mine – both because she made me fall for the characters so easily, but because I am absolutely in love with her craft.
Storm Season is a gorgeous work of art. Here we have a plot that could easily devolve into a series of cliché tropes. Rather, Henson takes these themes and tropes: women who seem to be opposites at first glance; stranded in a cabin during a storm; the transformative power of particular human interactions, and makes them unique and believable and fresh.
Henson’s writing style is deceptively simple. She often employs short sentences, descriptions in what could easily be staccato or disjointed moment. Rather, she uses this skillfully to draw the reader in. It has the effect of stripping a layer of separation between the story and the reader. We are drawn into an intimacy with the story, whether it’s a description of the Australian bush or of two women falling for each other.
When we meet them, Claudie and Lien appear to be complete opposites. Henson takes us through discovering them, and them discovering themselves and each other, skillfully enough that we slide into the realization that these women are similar in so many ways, that perhaps circumstance foiled them in particular ways when we met them, but at their hearts, they are beautifully compatible.
I don’t want to spoil the turn the story takes in it’s second half, but know that it is executed perfectly. By this point in the story, Henson has taken us beyond simply longing for Claudie and Lien to be together. We’re rooting for them as individuals who are growing just as much.
As with Henson’s previous novel, this book has a lovely diverse cast that is obviously thoughtfully included for the sake of story. These clearly would be Lien and Claudie’s people. This is a representation of a slice of life, and it easily, without fanfare, reflects diversity in life. Love it.
Also, someone please donate money to my “I must go to Australia right now”, fund. Because a lifelong wish because an intense, burning need while reading this book. I fell in love with the landscape and people in this book. One day, hopefully, I’ll get to do it in real life. For now, I’ll revisit this book over and over, savoring every word.
I have been so eagerly waiting for this novel for months. Henson’s previous novel, Into the Blue is a deep favorite of mine – both because she made me fall for the characters so easily, but because I am absolutely in love with her craft.
Storm Season is a gorgeous work of art. Here we have a plot that could easily devolve into a series of cliché tropes. Rather, Henson takes these themes and tropes: women who seem to be opposites at first glance; stranded in a cabin during a storm; the transformative power of particular human interactions, and makes them unique and believable and fresh.
Henson’s writing style is deceptively simple. She often employs short sentences, descriptions in what could easily be staccato or disjointed moment. Rather, she uses this skillfully to draw the reader in. It has the effect of stripping a layer of separation between the story and the reader. We are drawn into an intimacy with the story, whether it’s a description of the Australian bush or of two women falling for each other.
When we meet them, Claudie and Lien appear to be complete opposites. Henson takes us through discovering them, and them discovering themselves and each other, skillfully enough that we slide into the realization that these women are similar in so many ways, that perhaps circumstance foiled them in particular ways when we met them, but at their hearts, they are beautifully compatible.
I don’t want to spoil the turn the story takes in it’s second half, but know that it is executed perfectly. By this point in the story, Henson has taken us beyond simply longing for Claudie and Lien to be together. We’re rooting for them as individuals who are growing just as much.
As with Henson’s previous novel, this book has a lovely diverse cast that is obviously thoughtfully included for the sake of story. These clearly would be Lien and Claudie’s people. This is a representation of a slice of life, and it easily, without fanfare, reflects diversity in life. Love it.
Also, someone please donate money to my “I must go to Australia right now”, fund. Because a lifelong wish because an intense, burning need while reading this book. I fell in love with the landscape and people in this book. One day, hopefully, I’ll get to do it in real life. For now, I’ll revisit this book over and over, savoring every word.
February 19, 2017
CUTE F/F ROMANCE SET IN THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH AND SYDNEY? WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE
PROPER RTC
PROPER RTC
February 7, 2017
Pene Henson’s “Storm Season” is a gorgeous and lush romance set in Australia with a thoroughly likeable and diverse cast of characters.
Lien is a city girl. She lives in inner Sydney, blogs about fashion and bands, and is a social media queen. Claudie was a city girl, the lead in the latest hot band, Grand Echo. But that’s now behind her and she lives a hermit’s life in a cabin in the woods in one of the National Parks in northern New South Wales.
Lien’s housemate, Beau, drags her out for a couple of weeks of camping on their way to a music festival. On the first night, Lien wanders off, gets hurt and is rescued by Claudie. As is the way with storms in that part of the world, the rain comes down, the creeks come up, and everyone’s trapped, including Lien who is now stuck with Claudie.
Superficially, this is an opposites attract type of story. The city girl decrying the ruination of her vintage safari suit and lack of access to Instagram; the country girl going out to fix the leaking roof and the generator and longing for solitude. But during their enforced stay the two women establish not just a common ground, but a common landscape between them. Sure, Lien is hopeless and helpless in the bush, but she taps into the solitude and makes it a part of her. Sure, Claudie left the city, but she was raised there and it’s still there, just pushed to one side.
The romance is slow burn and gentle, in contrast to the ferocity of the outside weather. I liked that it wasn’t smooth sailing, the little irritations of two such different personalities are aired, at least on the pages.
Of course, the creeks eventually subside, Lien packs up her safari suit and unsuitable white tennis shoes and trots off to the music festival. But the echo of her presence is there in Claudie’s subsequent decisions. The book took a turn I wasn’t expecting when
The story is written in third person present tense, often with very short sentences that far from being choppy, add layers to atmosphere. The Australian bush is described with love, and as a rural living Aussie, I particularly appreciated this. I love it when a background is a part of the story.
The pacing mirrored the setting: soft and slow when the women are trapped in the cabin, but faster and more frenetic when they rejoin the rest of the world.
I also appreciated that the writer stayed away from the clichés and stereotypes of city vs rural. There was no fun poked at Lien in unsuitable clothes and discomfort in her surroundings, except from Lien herself.
Supporting characters were wonderful and ranged through the spectrum of race and gender. Beau is trans, Claudie’s parents are Polish (I think), Lien is from Hong Kong, Ranger Shelley is Bundjalung. There’s gay and lesbian couples. This is a good reflection of the makeup of Australia’s population, and is portrayed without it being an issue for anyone. That is particularly welcome in the current political climate.
I very much enjoyed housemate Beau and Lien’s best friend Annie. I read that the author is considering a short story about those two and I would very much like to read it.
I have nothing critical to say about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Lien and Claudie and I look forward to more from this writer.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
Lien is a city girl. She lives in inner Sydney, blogs about fashion and bands, and is a social media queen. Claudie was a city girl, the lead in the latest hot band, Grand Echo. But that’s now behind her and she lives a hermit’s life in a cabin in the woods in one of the National Parks in northern New South Wales.
Lien’s housemate, Beau, drags her out for a couple of weeks of camping on their way to a music festival. On the first night, Lien wanders off, gets hurt and is rescued by Claudie. As is the way with storms in that part of the world, the rain comes down, the creeks come up, and everyone’s trapped, including Lien who is now stuck with Claudie.
Superficially, this is an opposites attract type of story. The city girl decrying the ruination of her vintage safari suit and lack of access to Instagram; the country girl going out to fix the leaking roof and the generator and longing for solitude. But during their enforced stay the two women establish not just a common ground, but a common landscape between them. Sure, Lien is hopeless and helpless in the bush, but she taps into the solitude and makes it a part of her. Sure, Claudie left the city, but she was raised there and it’s still there, just pushed to one side.
The romance is slow burn and gentle, in contrast to the ferocity of the outside weather. I liked that it wasn’t smooth sailing, the little irritations of two such different personalities are aired, at least on the pages.
Of course, the creeks eventually subside, Lien packs up her safari suit and unsuitable white tennis shoes and trots off to the music festival. But the echo of her presence is there in Claudie’s subsequent decisions. The book took a turn I wasn’t expecting when
The story is written in third person present tense, often with very short sentences that far from being choppy, add layers to atmosphere. The Australian bush is described with love, and as a rural living Aussie, I particularly appreciated this. I love it when a background is a part of the story.
The pacing mirrored the setting: soft and slow when the women are trapped in the cabin, but faster and more frenetic when they rejoin the rest of the world.
I also appreciated that the writer stayed away from the clichés and stereotypes of city vs rural. There was no fun poked at Lien in unsuitable clothes and discomfort in her surroundings, except from Lien herself.
Supporting characters were wonderful and ranged through the spectrum of race and gender. Beau is trans, Claudie’s parents are Polish (I think), Lien is from Hong Kong, Ranger Shelley is Bundjalung. There’s gay and lesbian couples. This is a good reflection of the makeup of Australia’s population, and is portrayed without it being an issue for anyone. That is particularly welcome in the current political climate.
I very much enjoyed housemate Beau and Lien’s best friend Annie. I read that the author is considering a short story about those two and I would very much like to read it.
I have nothing critical to say about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Lien and Claudie and I look forward to more from this writer.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
January 2, 2017
Storm Season is as gorgeous, lush, and steamy as the cover promises. It's easy to fall for the young and charming Lien, whose vivaciousness leaps out at you from the first page. Claudia is her perfect foil - the strong and silent park ranger with hidden depths and a rock star past. Though both women have a love of music in common, their lives are so dramatically different that there seems to be no hope for the future. Like Lien, I was loathe to leave the bubble of the isolated cabin.
Luckily, the return to Sydney does not mean the end of Lien and Claudia's story. I had been sure that the four days the women spent stormed in would be the peak of the novel, but as Claudia begins to rebuild her life, and Lien to refocus her goals, the scenes in the city became some of my favourite.
As with her first book, Into the Blue, Henson's strength lies in being able to craft the perfect turn of phrase to capture an exact mood or feeling. These gems are scattered throughout, and shine in the book's small moments of intimacy. Claudia's transition from lone ranger back to rock star could have been clumsy, but instead she glides near effortlessly between both worlds, a testament to Henson's ability to create multi-dimensional characters who feel achingly real.
Though undeniably a romance (and a blisteringly hot one at that) Storm Season is a story about self-reflection and discovery, and the courage it takes to reshape your life. I devoured it in one sitting, and am already anticipating a re-read. All emotion and heart and nerve, Storm Season was the perfect book to begin 2017 with.
Luckily, the return to Sydney does not mean the end of Lien and Claudia's story. I had been sure that the four days the women spent stormed in would be the peak of the novel, but as Claudia begins to rebuild her life, and Lien to refocus her goals, the scenes in the city became some of my favourite.
As with her first book, Into the Blue, Henson's strength lies in being able to craft the perfect turn of phrase to capture an exact mood or feeling. These gems are scattered throughout, and shine in the book's small moments of intimacy. Claudia's transition from lone ranger back to rock star could have been clumsy, but instead she glides near effortlessly between both worlds, a testament to Henson's ability to create multi-dimensional characters who feel achingly real.
Though undeniably a romance (and a blisteringly hot one at that) Storm Season is a story about self-reflection and discovery, and the courage it takes to reshape your life. I devoured it in one sitting, and am already anticipating a re-read. All emotion and heart and nerve, Storm Season was the perfect book to begin 2017 with.
July 16, 2017
Lovely written book. I agree with previous reviewers who used words like - lush, gorgeous and atmospheric. The author has a talent of describing the locales - whether it be the Australian bush during torrential rains and later the beauty when the weather clears and Claudine's modest cabin to the streets of Sydney and the excitement of the small clubs and the music scene. I also liked that the characters are a mix of ethnicities, it is brought up but not a big deal (Lien and her friend Annie is of Chinese descent) and her roommate and bestie, Beau is a trans guy. Beau being trans is mentioned only a couple of times and from then on he's just Beau who wants to date Annie.
I'm looking forward to reading her next book.
I'm looking forward to reading her next book.
May 25, 2017
in my opinion, what makes a romance good is a) the people involved are also friends and b) you're shown /why/ they like each other and fit together. this novel does these things beautifully. it's also a good romance because the character development for the characters isn't only about their relationship, but the relationship is part of a cohesive whole. also, there's fisting, which i was not prepared to encounter in a published and printed book lmao. i was on a tram at the time... i highly recommend storm season to anyone looking for a happy f/f romance, but maybe read it in private unless you have a carefully cultivated "reading smut in public" poker face.
February 4, 2017
Like Pene Henson's gorgeous Into the Blue, Storm Season is both a sweet, swoon-worthy romance and fundamentally about the families we make and the people we find who keep us honest and whole -- or try, anyway -- no matter what life throws our way. I loved the diversity of this entire cast and the earnest if at times misguided thoughtfulness of its ambitious main character, Lien, as she tries to figure out what to do with all these FEELINGS. Also this made me desperately want to visit NSW and Sydney and lurk my way through both the vast wilderness and what sounds like a tremendously fun city.
February 10, 2017
Storm Season by Pene Henson is just as stunning on the inside as the cover is on the outside. Coming from Interlude Press, I wouldn't really expect anything less. IP books have always had the most gorgeous covers, and from the number of books I've read from this publisher, the words inside more than do them justice! A lush setting, gorgeous imagery, and well-developed, multi-faceted characters made reading Storm Season quite an enjoyable experience.
Lien Hong is a city girl through and through. She's all about fashion and music and food and hanging out with her friends. She's also utterly endearing if not a bit flighty and self-centered, but as a young woman in her mid-twenties, not really unexpected. What she is NOT is an outdoor kind of girl, and is definitely not looking forward to the camping trip her friends are dragging her to. I found myself smiling, and perhaps rolling my eyes a bit, while she packed, making sure she had her fashionable boots and her pith helmet, not to mention her lemon yellow cardigan because goodness knows, you can't ever look too good in the middle of the rain forest, right? What happens once Lien and her friends make it to their campsite might be predictable seeing as how Lien winds up lost in the middle of a rainstorm only to be rescued by the sexy and beautiful park ranger, Claudia. However, what happens once the two are secluded in Claudie's--as she's known--cabin to wait out the storm is anything but cliche'.
I loved both of these characters. Lien is irreverent and sweet; Claudie is a bit more pragmatic but no less likable. The push and pull of these two opposite people was quite the treat to watch play out for sure. Once the two make it back to civilization, their differences become readily apparent, but Lien's attraction to Claudie won't let her move on. Claudie's back story tugged at my heartstrings, and the more we got to really know her, the more I loved her. Much less quiet than the quirky and effervescent Lien, these two really are the perfect complement to one another. The romance is beautifully written, nothing overly done or in your face, just easy and sweet. Henson's writing is effortless, it flows like a meandering, bubbling stream, gently rolling its way down a slope. There is no over the top dramatics in Storm Season, which I SO much appreciated, but there is a realness to all the characters in the book. And let's not fail to mention the utter smorgasbord of secondary characters. A broad range of ethnicities and sexualities but none felt trite or cliche'd.
This is a gorgeous book that I'm so glad I read. Pene Henson's writing style is evocative and gripping and I found myself completely engrossed from the first page until the end. I loved the music and the fashion and the whole sense of Sydney and Lien's neighborhood. Storm Season is a delight for all your senses and I highly recommend you pick this one up immediately and immerse yourself in the lushness of Henson's words.
*this review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com*
Lien Hong is a city girl through and through. She's all about fashion and music and food and hanging out with her friends. She's also utterly endearing if not a bit flighty and self-centered, but as a young woman in her mid-twenties, not really unexpected. What she is NOT is an outdoor kind of girl, and is definitely not looking forward to the camping trip her friends are dragging her to. I found myself smiling, and perhaps rolling my eyes a bit, while she packed, making sure she had her fashionable boots and her pith helmet, not to mention her lemon yellow cardigan because goodness knows, you can't ever look too good in the middle of the rain forest, right? What happens once Lien and her friends make it to their campsite might be predictable seeing as how Lien winds up lost in the middle of a rainstorm only to be rescued by the sexy and beautiful park ranger, Claudia. However, what happens once the two are secluded in Claudie's--as she's known--cabin to wait out the storm is anything but cliche'.
I loved both of these characters. Lien is irreverent and sweet; Claudie is a bit more pragmatic but no less likable. The push and pull of these two opposite people was quite the treat to watch play out for sure. Once the two make it back to civilization, their differences become readily apparent, but Lien's attraction to Claudie won't let her move on. Claudie's back story tugged at my heartstrings, and the more we got to really know her, the more I loved her. Much less quiet than the quirky and effervescent Lien, these two really are the perfect complement to one another. The romance is beautifully written, nothing overly done or in your face, just easy and sweet. Henson's writing is effortless, it flows like a meandering, bubbling stream, gently rolling its way down a slope. There is no over the top dramatics in Storm Season, which I SO much appreciated, but there is a realness to all the characters in the book. And let's not fail to mention the utter smorgasbord of secondary characters. A broad range of ethnicities and sexualities but none felt trite or cliche'd.
This is a gorgeous book that I'm so glad I read. Pene Henson's writing style is evocative and gripping and I found myself completely engrossed from the first page until the end. I loved the music and the fashion and the whole sense of Sydney and Lien's neighborhood. Storm Season is a delight for all your senses and I highly recommend you pick this one up immediately and immerse yourself in the lushness of Henson's words.
*this review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com*
February 24, 2017
Very happy review to come. :)
February 7, 2017
Original review on Molly Lolly
Four and a half stars!
This story was wonderful. I truly enjoyed how everything unfolded slowly and carefully. I liked slowly getting to know Claudie and Lien. I really enjoyed seeing how they may have been forced together for a few days but they took their time getting to know each other and stumble into bed. The way they both handled themselves when they were friends and figuring out their own lives before hey could have one together was wonderful.
Lien at first came off very shallow and as someone I wasn’t sure I was going to like. You could tell pretty quickly though there was more layers to Lien and she was aware of how she came off and wasn’t as happy as she appeared to be. Watching Lien evolve over the course of the story was lovely. By the end I was cheering her on and waiting to see if she makes it. I was so happy to see how she succeeds by the end of the epilogue.
Claudie was someone I liked immediately. I could tell there was more to her than we see on the surface at first. When we learn about her past and why she’s working as a park ranger, I just loved her that much more. I was glad we got to see Claudie’s path to happiness as well. Watching her overcome her anxiety and fears as she stepped back into the world that she ran from was fabulous. The epilogue truly shows how Claudie is doing what she loved and is successful at it.
Together, Lien and Claudie have so many obstacles to overcome before they can take a shot at being together. I truly enjoyed how the story was about their overall journey, not just their romance specifically. I got more invested in each of them individually and as a couple because of how much I could connect with them. The storytelling is wonderful and I couldn’t put the book down because I wanted to keep reading. Ms. Henson has a strong voice that I enjoy and I hope she continues to write so I can continue to read.
Four and a half stars!
This story was wonderful. I truly enjoyed how everything unfolded slowly and carefully. I liked slowly getting to know Claudie and Lien. I really enjoyed seeing how they may have been forced together for a few days but they took their time getting to know each other and stumble into bed. The way they both handled themselves when they were friends and figuring out their own lives before hey could have one together was wonderful.
Lien at first came off very shallow and as someone I wasn’t sure I was going to like. You could tell pretty quickly though there was more layers to Lien and she was aware of how she came off and wasn’t as happy as she appeared to be. Watching Lien evolve over the course of the story was lovely. By the end I was cheering her on and waiting to see if she makes it. I was so happy to see how she succeeds by the end of the epilogue.
Claudie was someone I liked immediately. I could tell there was more to her than we see on the surface at first. When we learn about her past and why she’s working as a park ranger, I just loved her that much more. I was glad we got to see Claudie’s path to happiness as well. Watching her overcome her anxiety and fears as she stepped back into the world that she ran from was fabulous. The epilogue truly shows how Claudie is doing what she loved and is successful at it.
Together, Lien and Claudie have so many obstacles to overcome before they can take a shot at being together. I truly enjoyed how the story was about their overall journey, not just their romance specifically. I got more invested in each of them individually and as a couple because of how much I could connect with them. The storytelling is wonderful and I couldn’t put the book down because I wanted to keep reading. Ms. Henson has a strong voice that I enjoy and I hope she continues to write so I can continue to read.
July 5, 2017
Oh my heart! I almost didn't survive reading this.
City girl Lien Hong falls down a ravine while camping and is almost swept away by a storm when the mysterious (yet dashingly handsome) park ranger Claudie rescues her. Now Lien and Claudie are trapped in Claudie’s cabin by the storm. And can their burgeoning connection survive once the floodwaters recede and life goes back to normal?
Wow. Henson crafted a romantic, big-hearted story that swept me off my feet. It’s got so much space in it, for everyone. Populated with all kinds of queer and diverse characters, everyone is welcome and gets their part of the story, without judgement or stereotypes. There are no villains and no one making stupid choices for the sake of plot or timing.
And the love story! It starts off hot and sexy and then smolders to a slow burn that almost killed me. I kept thinking, how would Henson pull it off? I believed Lien and Claudie were too different, separated by too much. Henson uses tropes like opposites attract and forced proximity to bring her characters together, but then she allows them to breathe– gives them space to develop and grow into each other in a way that feels so natural. Even when the pacing got a bit slow, I still enjoyed myself
City girl Lien Hong falls down a ravine while camping and is almost swept away by a storm when the mysterious (yet dashingly handsome) park ranger Claudie rescues her. Now Lien and Claudie are trapped in Claudie’s cabin by the storm. And can their burgeoning connection survive once the floodwaters recede and life goes back to normal?
Wow. Henson crafted a romantic, big-hearted story that swept me off my feet. It’s got so much space in it, for everyone. Populated with all kinds of queer and diverse characters, everyone is welcome and gets their part of the story, without judgement or stereotypes. There are no villains and no one making stupid choices for the sake of plot or timing.
And the love story! It starts off hot and sexy and then smolders to a slow burn that almost killed me. I kept thinking, how would Henson pull it off? I believed Lien and Claudie were too different, separated by too much. Henson uses tropes like opposites attract and forced proximity to bring her characters together, but then she allows them to breathe– gives them space to develop and grow into each other in a way that feels so natural. Even when the pacing got a bit slow, I still enjoyed myself
September 12, 2021
1/10
dnf 51%
Ah, another one for the dnf pile.
I feel like it just isn’t for me. So much sex going on when I can’t even feel a simple attraction between the MCs. Even if they did have chemistry I didn’t like them at all and thought they we’re too annoying. I actually found all the characters irritating. The story feels too much like a p*rn novel where an author adds some kind of backstory and stupid unneeded arguments so it “wouldn’t” feel too two dimensional. I find it similar to the film Room in Rome. One of the worst wlw movies for sure. Sadly, the vibes of those two match perfectly.
There is just too much plain f*cking for my taste and nothing else interesting is going on so I just finally gave up on it.
dnf 51%
Ah, another one for the dnf pile.
I feel like it just isn’t for me. So much sex going on when I can’t even feel a simple attraction between the MCs. Even if they did have chemistry I didn’t like them at all and thought they we’re too annoying. I actually found all the characters irritating. The story feels too much like a p*rn novel where an author adds some kind of backstory and stupid unneeded arguments so it “wouldn’t” feel too two dimensional. I find it similar to the film Room in Rome. One of the worst wlw movies for sure. Sadly, the vibes of those two match perfectly.
There is just too much plain f*cking for my taste and nothing else interesting is going on so I just finally gave up on it.
January 16, 2021
Enjoyed this. The pacing was a bit slow for me, and the conflict didn't have the kind of depth I wanted it to. But it was certainly a completely enjoyable read.
April 12, 2017
OK, so first off I want to state that if I could have figured out how to print this review upside down, I would have done it, since the narrative in Storm Season takes place in Australia, and I am just that corny.
Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, I can get on with the real business of telling you about this book. Storm Season tells the story of a woman (Lien) who lives in Sidney but goes camping in the relative wilds with her small cadre of friends, gets distracted while taking photographs, and falls down a hole. Or ravine. Chasm. Some nature-y pit. That’s not the point, and neither is my absolute ignorance of outdoorsy stuff. In this way, actually, I am very like Lien—she’s a city girl to her core, and part of the reason she falls is her insistence on wearing inappropriate-but-fashionable shoes. (She’s a journalist who covers fashion and music. In this way, I am nothing like Lien, because nobody should ever read what I have to say about what to wear. It would be wrong.)
The point is she bangs her ankle bad enough that she can’t get out of the pit or move around much, and she’s rescued by a park ranger (Claudie), who—due to flooding—can’t get her back to her campsite and takes her, instead, to stay with her at her own cabin until the roads and driveable again.
So the two women are forced by circumstance to spend a handful of days together, alone with each other, in a cabin in the wilderness, while kookaburras…make whatever noise they usually do… outside the windows. A few things happen here: first, Lien discovers that Claudie is that Claudie, an ex-indie rock darling, and she’s fascinated. (Why did Claudie quit the band and stop performing to hide in a cabin and be a park ranger? Lien’s Spidey—no, Clark Kent—senses are tingling for the story.) Second, Lien discovers that Claudie, while her polar opposite in most ways (Claudie’s fashion sense seems to be about the practical and bush-ready), is fascinating. And attractive. And, well, stuff happens, and it’s everything you’d hope from a trapped-in-a-cabin-with-a-love-interest narrative.
Eventually, as all storms seem to do, the storm passes, the roads clear, and Claudie can take Lien
back to her campsite and her friends. But since Claudie lives in the bush and Lien lives in Sidney, taking her back means letting her go, and paradise is, indeed, Mr. Milton, apparently lost. Of course, that can’t be how it ends, can it? (Hint: it can’t.)
Storm Season is a romance and, like a good real romance, it’s part mystery and part adventure, but with a good soundtrack (if you could hear Claudie’s music, at least). It’s got the inward spiraling focus of strangers-to-friends-to-lovers intensity, without ever feeling claustrophobic. Both characters have connections outside their world together, and there are narratives outside their love story which come to matter (intrigue among Lien’s friends, the story of why Claudie quit making music).
It strikes me that this is a novel about trying to get away but then trying to find your way back. Lien absconds to the bush for a vacay, but hurts herself and can’t get home again. Claudie leaves music, leaves hope, leaves love, but Lien shows her she must figure out a way back into those things. I don’t want to give away more of the novel, but much of its plot and character development are about this going-away-and-returning.
In fact, this kind of form—a run away from the norm, and then a return, slightly different, but still familiar—has a long history in art. In music, it might be the fugue (a form whose name translates as “flight”). In psychology, too, it’s a “fugue state.” In nature, it’s the echo. In literature, I can’t help but think of Boccaccio’s Decameron (great for those who want dirty short stories), in which the unifying tale is one of a handful of friends who escape to the country to avoid the ravages of the Plague, and pass the time telling stories. It’s also the history of the topsy-turvey festival (most notably nowadays, Carnavale in Rio or Mardi Gras in New Orleans) in which revelers turn every societal norm on its head (traditionally paupers dress like kings, men dress as women, fish fly, etc., but nowadays it translates into breaking from “good” behavior and getting drunk and running around half-naked while you’re having sex and cussing a lot, I imagine), but for only a limited amount of time to let off the pressure of being normal, like a steam valve that lets the pot go on cooking.
Storm Season is in this tradition, albeit with a lot less naked running around and more intelligence and feeling. What’s interesting is that it not only revels in the topsey-turvey love-affair-in-a-remote-cabin narrative, but also explores the flip side, what happens when Carnavale is over and somebody has to sweep the streets, when Lien must go back to Sydney and Claudie must stay in her remote cabin and paradise goes slipping away, or falls, maybe, into one of those chasms.
Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, I can get on with the real business of telling you about this book. Storm Season tells the story of a woman (Lien) who lives in Sidney but goes camping in the relative wilds with her small cadre of friends, gets distracted while taking photographs, and falls down a hole. Or ravine. Chasm. Some nature-y pit. That’s not the point, and neither is my absolute ignorance of outdoorsy stuff. In this way, actually, I am very like Lien—she’s a city girl to her core, and part of the reason she falls is her insistence on wearing inappropriate-but-fashionable shoes. (She’s a journalist who covers fashion and music. In this way, I am nothing like Lien, because nobody should ever read what I have to say about what to wear. It would be wrong.)
The point is she bangs her ankle bad enough that she can’t get out of the pit or move around much, and she’s rescued by a park ranger (Claudie), who—due to flooding—can’t get her back to her campsite and takes her, instead, to stay with her at her own cabin until the roads and driveable again.
So the two women are forced by circumstance to spend a handful of days together, alone with each other, in a cabin in the wilderness, while kookaburras…make whatever noise they usually do… outside the windows. A few things happen here: first, Lien discovers that Claudie is that Claudie, an ex-indie rock darling, and she’s fascinated. (Why did Claudie quit the band and stop performing to hide in a cabin and be a park ranger? Lien’s Spidey—no, Clark Kent—senses are tingling for the story.) Second, Lien discovers that Claudie, while her polar opposite in most ways (Claudie’s fashion sense seems to be about the practical and bush-ready), is fascinating. And attractive. And, well, stuff happens, and it’s everything you’d hope from a trapped-in-a-cabin-with-a-love-interest narrative.
Eventually, as all storms seem to do, the storm passes, the roads clear, and Claudie can take Lien
back to her campsite and her friends. But since Claudie lives in the bush and Lien lives in Sidney, taking her back means letting her go, and paradise is, indeed, Mr. Milton, apparently lost. Of course, that can’t be how it ends, can it? (Hint: it can’t.)
Storm Season is a romance and, like a good real romance, it’s part mystery and part adventure, but with a good soundtrack (if you could hear Claudie’s music, at least). It’s got the inward spiraling focus of strangers-to-friends-to-lovers intensity, without ever feeling claustrophobic. Both characters have connections outside their world together, and there are narratives outside their love story which come to matter (intrigue among Lien’s friends, the story of why Claudie quit making music).
It strikes me that this is a novel about trying to get away but then trying to find your way back. Lien absconds to the bush for a vacay, but hurts herself and can’t get home again. Claudie leaves music, leaves hope, leaves love, but Lien shows her she must figure out a way back into those things. I don’t want to give away more of the novel, but much of its plot and character development are about this going-away-and-returning.
In fact, this kind of form—a run away from the norm, and then a return, slightly different, but still familiar—has a long history in art. In music, it might be the fugue (a form whose name translates as “flight”). In psychology, too, it’s a “fugue state.” In nature, it’s the echo. In literature, I can’t help but think of Boccaccio’s Decameron (great for those who want dirty short stories), in which the unifying tale is one of a handful of friends who escape to the country to avoid the ravages of the Plague, and pass the time telling stories. It’s also the history of the topsy-turvey festival (most notably nowadays, Carnavale in Rio or Mardi Gras in New Orleans) in which revelers turn every societal norm on its head (traditionally paupers dress like kings, men dress as women, fish fly, etc., but nowadays it translates into breaking from “good” behavior and getting drunk and running around half-naked while you’re having sex and cussing a lot, I imagine), but for only a limited amount of time to let off the pressure of being normal, like a steam valve that lets the pot go on cooking.
Storm Season is in this tradition, albeit with a lot less naked running around and more intelligence and feeling. What’s interesting is that it not only revels in the topsey-turvey love-affair-in-a-remote-cabin narrative, but also explores the flip side, what happens when Carnavale is over and somebody has to sweep the streets, when Lien must go back to Sydney and Claudie must stay in her remote cabin and paradise goes slipping away, or falls, maybe, into one of those chasms.
February 4, 2019
I know what you did last summer... And it was disturbing.
SPOILER ALERT!
As english is not my mother tongue I won't be judging writing's quality. But it is not the writing that made this book so irritating for me. The author tried to make characters look more realistic adding a ton of tiny details insted of focusing on the way they react to stuff. It surprised me how lightly Claudie (and most of readers here on Good Reads) took the news about Lien already seeing someone. And if you put together stuff we learn about Claudie and her background, her ex cheating on her with her best friend and her running from everything into a solitary cabin, her clearly having trust issues and afraid of being close to anyone, it really stops making ANY sence. Why include poor Nic if the whole story doesn't affect the plot at all? And then, when the women meet at the city again, Lien had broken up with Nic, nobody ever brings her up. Like, if you want to date someone who's been seeing someone else last time you talked about it, wouldn't you probably want to ask her if she's currently single?
So, for the last 40 pages I didn't care about Lien, Claudie, the band, ect. I just really wanted to get it over with.
SPOILER ALERT!
As english is not my mother tongue I won't be judging writing's quality. But it is not the writing that made this book so irritating for me. The author tried to make characters look more realistic adding a ton of tiny details insted of focusing on the way they react to stuff. It surprised me how lightly Claudie (and most of readers here on Good Reads) took the news about Lien already seeing someone. And if you put together stuff we learn about Claudie and her background, her ex cheating on her with her best friend and her running from everything into a solitary cabin, her clearly having trust issues and afraid of being close to anyone, it really stops making ANY sence. Why include poor Nic if the whole story doesn't affect the plot at all? And then, when the women meet at the city again, Lien had broken up with Nic, nobody ever brings her up. Like, if you want to date someone who's been seeing someone else last time you talked about it, wouldn't you probably want to ask her if she's currently single?
So, for the last 40 pages I didn't care about Lien, Claudie, the band, ect. I just really wanted to get it over with.
January 10, 2019
Rep: lesbian Chinese-Australian mc, lesbian li, trans male side character
July 13, 2017
Damn Pene (I think I'm so clever and funny, don't mind me), what a book.
Storm Season is the first book written by Henson that I read and even though it took me a long while to start reading it, it did not disappoint. The two women, Lien and Claudie, are almost total opposites, but a heavy storm and their shared love for music brings them closer in different ways.
To be honest, the 'no strings attatched' thing they had going on in the beginning threw me a bit off guard (especially since Lien has a no-relationship with a woman named Nic), but they found each other afterwards. I mean, they were basically forced to spend a couple of days together with barely any contact with the outside world, that is how you start to bond.
Claudie's background made sense. Claudie wanted it all, and she got it. At least, that's what she thought. Whereas I agree with her that Lien had no business and no authority to sneak into Claudie's past, everyone could see that Lien did it because she was genuinely interested and cared for Claudie.
One thing I loved is that even though Lien and Claudie are very different, they don't shame each other for their interests and those interests don't change over the course of the book. Lien is the city it-girl fashionista who is obsessed with the bands, club scene, and her social media. She has a lot of followers and she pleases them with her online content. Claudie, on the other hand, prefers the quiet life in a cabin in the woods, and even when she moves back to the city, she takes her own time to explore parts of it and she still isn't too keen on the fast world that is the Earth, thanks to technology and internet.
Like I said, both of them know their differences and they don't try to change each other. Claudie isn't one of those people who roll their eyes at the excessive social media use or tries to tell Lien to "put the phone down and pick up a book for real amusement". Sure, she thinks that Lien is a bit unpractical, but that's because she's worried about her well-being, not because she thinks she's a dumb city girl. Lien doesn't make fun of Claudie for basically leaving the thrill of a city behind. She's not poking fun at her for wanting to be alone or she doesn't call her a recluse or a hermit. Sure, she thinks Claudie should embrace social media, but that's to launch her career.
And that's what I love about them. And after their time together, that behaviour doesn't change. Okay, they both toned it down a little bit, but that's it. Unfortunately, this is also the biggest obstacle. Claudie thinks they're too different and they might not fit together. Lien disagrees.
In the end, they work it out and all is well. I am a sucker for happy endings.
Storm Season is the first book written by Henson that I read and even though it took me a long while to start reading it, it did not disappoint. The two women, Lien and Claudie, are almost total opposites, but a heavy storm and their shared love for music brings them closer in different ways.
To be honest, the 'no strings attatched' thing they had going on in the beginning threw me a bit off guard (especially since Lien has a no-relationship with a woman named Nic), but they found each other afterwards. I mean, they were basically forced to spend a couple of days together with barely any contact with the outside world, that is how you start to bond.
Claudie's background made sense. Claudie wanted it all, and she got it. At least, that's what she thought. Whereas I agree with her that Lien had no business and no authority to sneak into Claudie's past, everyone could see that Lien did it because she was genuinely interested and cared for Claudie.
One thing I loved is that even though Lien and Claudie are very different, they don't shame each other for their interests and those interests don't change over the course of the book. Lien is the city it-girl fashionista who is obsessed with the bands, club scene, and her social media. She has a lot of followers and she pleases them with her online content. Claudie, on the other hand, prefers the quiet life in a cabin in the woods, and even when she moves back to the city, she takes her own time to explore parts of it and she still isn't too keen on the fast world that is the Earth, thanks to technology and internet.
Like I said, both of them know their differences and they don't try to change each other. Claudie isn't one of those people who roll their eyes at the excessive social media use or tries to tell Lien to "put the phone down and pick up a book for real amusement". Sure, she thinks that Lien is a bit unpractical, but that's because she's worried about her well-being, not because she thinks she's a dumb city girl. Lien doesn't make fun of Claudie for basically leaving the thrill of a city behind. She's not poking fun at her for wanting to be alone or she doesn't call her a recluse or a hermit. Sure, she thinks Claudie should embrace social media, but that's to launch her career.
And that's what I love about them. And after their time together, that behaviour doesn't change. Okay, they both toned it down a little bit, but that's it. Unfortunately, this is also the biggest obstacle. Claudie thinks they're too different and they might not fit together. Lien disagrees.
In the end, they work it out and all is well. I am a sucker for happy endings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2017
I'll start by saying that Lien made me roll my eyes and crack up more than once reading the first few pages of this book - a fashionista, I am not, so someone agonising over the right clothing choices to take camping? *Gigglesnort* Girl, just take sturdy shoes, a fold-up rain coat, clothes that protect you against thistles and brambles and whatnot and don't show stains, bug-repellent, a water bottle that doesn't leak, and trail mix and energy bars for when you get hungry. Who's out there to see what you're wearing, anyway? Hardly anyone. You think they're going to notice your outfit's colour-coordinated? Ha!
So Lien and I wouldn't be kindred spirits right from the off, yet just like Claudie in the book, I fell under her spell bit by bit. She's a breath of fresh air. I like her enjoyment in life and her tenacity. The way she bounces back and doesn't give up, but adapts to her new reality.
And Claudie, oh, how I loved learning about her bit by bit, our mystery woman, and I loved seeing her slowly unfold her petals after years of hiding them. Yes, Claudie, listen to Lien. Venture back into the music world. It's your birthright and your destiny. And yes, I get that you don't like the way Lien has treated Nic. I don't, either. But do give Lien another chance. It'll be worth it.
I love how this author took an old trope (two strangers stranded in an isolated cabin) and turned it into a fresh, enjoyable and interesting story. Highly recommended.
Also: can I just say that cover art is stunning? Beautifully done!
So Lien and I wouldn't be kindred spirits right from the off, yet just like Claudie in the book, I fell under her spell bit by bit. She's a breath of fresh air. I like her enjoyment in life and her tenacity. The way she bounces back and doesn't give up, but adapts to her new reality.
And Claudie, oh, how I loved learning about her bit by bit, our mystery woman, and I loved seeing her slowly unfold her petals after years of hiding them. Yes, Claudie, listen to Lien. Venture back into the music world. It's your birthright and your destiny. And yes, I get that you don't like the way Lien has treated Nic. I don't, either. But do give Lien another chance. It'll be worth it.
I love how this author took an old trope (two strangers stranded in an isolated cabin) and turned it into a fresh, enjoyable and interesting story. Highly recommended.
Also: can I just say that cover art is stunning? Beautifully done!
November 14, 2018
Read as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018, to fill 24) A book with a weather element in the title.
After reading Into the Blue, I immediately knew I was going to read Henson's other work, and she did not disappoint with this novel.
If you've ever wanted a book that's just... so queer, look no further.
There's so much in this book that a lot of authors shy away from, and it's so refreshing to read a YA romance without all the fucking cliché. Queer main character who is allowed to care about the fact that she's queer without it being the only thing about her? Check. The best friend character being trans without any bullshit about what genitals he has and his story isn't a tragedy? Check. Female characters who have body hair??? Fucking check. I love it. Henson isn't afraid to write it, even when it's not conventional, and I applaud that. This book is great and wholesome and you should read it
After reading Into the Blue, I immediately knew I was going to read Henson's other work, and she did not disappoint with this novel.
If you've ever wanted a book that's just... so queer, look no further.
There's so much in this book that a lot of authors shy away from, and it's so refreshing to read a YA romance without all the fucking cliché. Queer main character who is allowed to care about the fact that she's queer without it being the only thing about her? Check. The best friend character being trans without any bullshit about what genitals he has and his story isn't a tragedy? Check. Female characters who have body hair??? Fucking check. I love it. Henson isn't afraid to write it, even when it's not conventional, and I applaud that. This book is great and wholesome and you should read it
March 18, 2019
in terms of rep, this is an f/f romance with a bi Chinese-Australian mc, her best friend being trans boy and a lesbian li, all elements I find great
the execution left me disappointed .. the mc is aware the person she is casually seeing believes they are serious but still hooks up with the love interest almost immediately; the words “she isn’t my girlfriend” are said but that still rubs me the wrong way
the characters are implied/said to be in their late 20s, early 30s but to me they read like teenagers ..
no chemistry, lots of pining, first half went by very fast, while the last half felt incredibly slow
so, ya
2/5
Ps. There weren’t any other written 2 star reviews so I read some 3 star ones that also had nothing good to say?? This is really a whole other discussion in itself but uh IT’S OKAY TO RATE THINGS BELOW 3 STARS (HONESTLY)
the execution left me disappointed .. the mc is aware the person she is casually seeing believes they are serious but still hooks up with the love interest almost immediately; the words “she isn’t my girlfriend” are said but that still rubs me the wrong way
the characters are implied/said to be in their late 20s, early 30s but to me they read like teenagers ..
no chemistry, lots of pining, first half went by very fast, while the last half felt incredibly slow
so, ya
2/5
Ps. There weren’t any other written 2 star reviews so I read some 3 star ones that also had nothing good to say?? This is really a whole other discussion in itself but uh IT’S OKAY TO RATE THINGS BELOW 3 STARS (HONESTLY)
September 23, 2017
I liked it. I don't really have much to say.
It was a great way to escape. Felt short, though.
It didn't make me stop everything else I was doing, but I still enjoyed it. I didn't have much of an idea as to what everyone looked like though. I went off of a general idea based on family background and last names.
It was a new perspective of youth and what they're into. I can honestly say the relationships and interactions felt unique to what I usually read.
Both women showed vulnerability, which is rare to read. It was like two normal people, nothing over the top, and I found that charming.
It was a great way to escape. Felt short, though.
It didn't make me stop everything else I was doing, but I still enjoyed it. I didn't have much of an idea as to what everyone looked like though. I went off of a general idea based on family background and last names.
It was a new perspective of youth and what they're into. I can honestly say the relationships and interactions felt unique to what I usually read.
Both women showed vulnerability, which is rare to read. It was like two normal people, nothing over the top, and I found that charming.
dnf
March 25, 2019DNF @ 30%. I can't catch a break :/ This started SO WELL, but then I felt absolutely no chemistry between the leads. Plus, this apparently has a cheating aspect which is a no-go for me (just because you say "she's not my girlfriend" doesn't mean you're not hurting her when you know she feels that way about you. I hate seeing people be cavalier about the feelings of others). There are also annoyingly inconsistent details (one moment Claudie says to Lein "you should rest you knee" and then a couple of pages later, out of nowhere, she pressures Lein into cooking dinner.. which requires standing..?) which always bugs me.
July 15, 2017
Oh my goodness. The scenery, that Henson makes so easy to picture! The whole cast of characters!! The dialogues!!!
From start to finish, this book was a delight, and I wish I could see more of the whole gang's adventures in Sidney :)
What I love particularly about Pene Henson's style (which I discovered in Into the Blue but was confirmed here) is how powerful her visuals are. I've never been to Australia, I have never been in a remote cabin with a leaking roof, but somehow, thanks to her words and her pace and her general talent, I was there with her characters.
From start to finish, this book was a delight, and I wish I could see more of the whole gang's adventures in Sidney :)
What I love particularly about Pene Henson's style (which I discovered in Into the Blue but was confirmed here) is how powerful her visuals are. I've never been to Australia, I have never been in a remote cabin with a leaking roof, but somehow, thanks to her words and her pace and her general talent, I was there with her characters.
August 30, 2018
A very sweet and easy read. I am a fan of the "forced proximity" trope in romance novels, and I thought that this one was lovely and original as far as the set up for the meet-cute and the lives of all the characters. As with Into the Blue, it took me a bit to get used to the tense that Pene Henson writes it, but it certainly moves the plot along at a nice clip. I felt like the characters in this book definitely fed into each other's happiness in a realistic way - nothing felt too angsty or strained.
April 21, 2024
4/5���️ | loved this so much! Pene Henson’s writing is lovely and poetic, i could so clearly picture every scene. i instantly fell in love with Lien and Claudie, and their chemistry is something else. never read such detailed long spicy scenes but oooof they’re good. the first half was really good but the second half fell a little flat. really wanted the heat and romance to continue or build, but it didn’t. but i still really enjoyed this book!! props for subtle queer representation and snippets of Australian and Aboriginal cultures.
November 8, 2017
I can't remember when I read this, but I remember being kind of annoyed with it. I really wanted a romance novel, and it kept trying to break out of the romance novel mold, but not being very successful at it. I was disappointed by the characters and by the way the author handled the passage of time. I also really wanted more sparks between the characters. I definitely didn't see them being together at all, and didn't understand how they ended up together. :(
May 30, 2020
Disappointed overall. Great casual representation in many ways, but the characters were pretty poorly fleshed out and the story was very superficial, little to no atmosphere except for when they were at the cabin. I thought it would be identity-affirming reading, and maybe it was in a very basic, seeing-yourself-in-some-shape-or-form way, but it wasn’t quite what I wanted or needed.
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