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Like Her #1
Femme Like Her
Nailah Grant only dates studs, races her Camaro for therapy, and believes in leaving her exes in the past where they belong.
But, with a layoff looming and her retired parents about to take a life-changing step Nailah isn’t ready for, her world becomes far from stable. Enter Scottie, the only femme she’s ever allowed close enough to touch her heart. They say trouble comes in threes, and this femme is one with a capital T.
Scottie is an ex though, and somebody Nailah never should have been with in the first place. Yet, when the foundations of her life collapse, Scottie is the one Nailah finds herself clinging to. Just as things settle into a semblance of something Nailah could only dream about, a shattering secret from Scottie’s past threatens to destroy everything the two women have built together.
Will Nailah stay the course with Scottie, or allow her fears to ruin her chance at a real and passionate love?
But, with a layoff looming and her retired parents about to take a life-changing step Nailah isn’t ready for, her world becomes far from stable. Enter Scottie, the only femme she’s ever allowed close enough to touch her heart. They say trouble comes in threes, and this femme is one with a capital T.
Scottie is an ex though, and somebody Nailah never should have been with in the first place. Yet, when the foundations of her life collapse, Scottie is the one Nailah finds herself clinging to. Just as things settle into a semblance of something Nailah could only dream about, a shattering secret from Scottie’s past threatens to destroy everything the two women have built together.
Will Nailah stay the course with Scottie, or allow her fears to ruin her chance at a real and passionate love?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2020
70 people are currently reading
718 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Zedde
59 books412 followersJamaican-born Fiona Zedde is the author of several novellas and novels of lesBiQueer love and desire, including the Lambda Literary Award finalists, Bliss and Every Dark Desire. She loves French pastries, English cars, Jamaican food, and currently lives in Spain.
Her novel, Dangerous Pleasures, received a Publishers Weekly starred review and won an About.com Readers' Choice Award for Best Lesbian Novel/Memoir. Her latest book, Just Like Her, is out now. Find out more about her catalog of 30+ books at www.FionaZedde.com.
Her novel, Dangerous Pleasures, received a Publishers Weekly starred review and won an About.com Readers' Choice Award for Best Lesbian Novel/Memoir. Her latest book, Just Like Her, is out now. Find out more about her catalog of 30+ books at www.FionaZedde.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
May 31, 2021
3.5 Stars
In “Femme Like Her” Nailah is a femme who only dates studs. She was hurt years ago by another femme and has sworn them off. Out with her best friend she meets Scottie who makes her interest known. However, Scottie is femme and Nailah doesn’t want to give her a chance. Scottie is very persistent and won’t let Nailah’s reluctance get in her way.
I’m not one to really like these kinds of labels but I knew what I was getting into when I decided to read this and kept an open mind.
This started off pretty slow for me. In the sense that I was confused for about the first 25% as to why Nailah is so against dating another femme and some of the choices she and Scottie make. But I pushed through and ended up enjoying this quite a bit.
Nailiah is a pretty likable character. She’s not perfect and that’s part of why I liked her. She can be prejudiced and judgmental but when others point this out, she listens and grows. Scottie wasn’t nearly as likable to me at first. I think it’s more of a personality issue for me though. From other reviews, people seem to love her but I found her to be off-putting, however, she did grow on me.
This starts off hot and heavy and they’re chemistry is off the charts. But after a miscommunication where Scottie disappears for a while, things slow down and they start over in getting to know one another. The story really takes off here because Zedde lets you see beyond the surface and labels. This is told in Nailah’s first person point of view and I wish we had more from Scottie. She remains pretty mysterious throughout the story until right before the end.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me and this was the first I’ve read of Zedde and I’d certainly read more.
In “Femme Like Her” Nailah is a femme who only dates studs. She was hurt years ago by another femme and has sworn them off. Out with her best friend she meets Scottie who makes her interest known. However, Scottie is femme and Nailah doesn’t want to give her a chance. Scottie is very persistent and won’t let Nailah’s reluctance get in her way.
I’m not one to really like these kinds of labels but I knew what I was getting into when I decided to read this and kept an open mind.
This started off pretty slow for me. In the sense that I was confused for about the first 25% as to why Nailah is so against dating another femme and some of the choices she and Scottie make. But I pushed through and ended up enjoying this quite a bit.
Nailiah is a pretty likable character. She’s not perfect and that’s part of why I liked her. She can be prejudiced and judgmental but when others point this out, she listens and grows. Scottie wasn’t nearly as likable to me at first. I think it’s more of a personality issue for me though. From other reviews, people seem to love her but I found her to be off-putting, however, she did grow on me.
This starts off hot and heavy and they’re chemistry is off the charts. But after a miscommunication where Scottie disappears for a while, things slow down and they start over in getting to know one another. The story really takes off here because Zedde lets you see beyond the surface and labels. This is told in Nailah’s first person point of view and I wish we had more from Scottie. She remains pretty mysterious throughout the story until right before the end.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me and this was the first I’ve read of Zedde and I’d certainly read more.
December 18, 2020
I could read Fiona Zedde’s books just for the chemistry between her characters. It’s hot and irresistible, heavy and exciting.
Femme Like Her is told in first person from Nailah’s point of view. Nailah doesn’t do femmes. She got hurt once and now she has rules. Scottie doesn’t care and wants Nailah anyway. Pretty fast, Nailah succumbs to the fires Scottie ignites in all her parts. Then Scottie disappears on her. On the work front, Nailah is waiting to be made redundant after the company she works for was bought by a competitor and her parents worry that she’s not proactive enough in looking for a new job. They have the same attitude towards her love life, which leads to this sentence I liked a lot: “My adult existence is not validated by the orgasms I share with another person”.
This novel shoots off at top speed then slows down into uncertainty. Nailah runs from a bad experience. Scottie has her own past to deal with. They both have trust issues but in different ways. The awesome chemistry makes the romance plausible, but I would have liked more dialogue between the two women. The getting-to-know-each-other is more tell than show and even though I enjoyed reading Nailah and Scottie’s story, I was left feeling confused. And while the conflict made sense, the resolution was rushed.
One thing I loved however (on top of the chemistry) is that Nailah is a very lovable character but she’s also flawed, and Zedde doesn’t let her get away with it. She doesn’t write her flawed in an endearing way, she writes her in a you-can-do-better way. Nailah gets called out on it, by her best friend Pauline, by Scottie and, most brilliantly, by her mother, who is also perfectly supportive and encouraging. Nailah’s relationship with her family is probably the part I enjoyed the most. Also, I don’t often comment on covers, but this one is remarkable.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Femme Like Her is told in first person from Nailah’s point of view. Nailah doesn’t do femmes. She got hurt once and now she has rules. Scottie doesn’t care and wants Nailah anyway. Pretty fast, Nailah succumbs to the fires Scottie ignites in all her parts. Then Scottie disappears on her. On the work front, Nailah is waiting to be made redundant after the company she works for was bought by a competitor and her parents worry that she’s not proactive enough in looking for a new job. They have the same attitude towards her love life, which leads to this sentence I liked a lot: “My adult existence is not validated by the orgasms I share with another person”.
This novel shoots off at top speed then slows down into uncertainty. Nailah runs from a bad experience. Scottie has her own past to deal with. They both have trust issues but in different ways. The awesome chemistry makes the romance plausible, but I would have liked more dialogue between the two women. The getting-to-know-each-other is more tell than show and even though I enjoyed reading Nailah and Scottie’s story, I was left feeling confused. And while the conflict made sense, the resolution was rushed.
One thing I loved however (on top of the chemistry) is that Nailah is a very lovable character but she’s also flawed, and Zedde doesn’t let her get away with it. She doesn’t write her flawed in an endearing way, she writes her in a you-can-do-better way. Nailah gets called out on it, by her best friend Pauline, by Scottie and, most brilliantly, by her mother, who is also perfectly supportive and encouraging. Nailah’s relationship with her family is probably the part I enjoyed the most. Also, I don’t often comment on covers, but this one is remarkable.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 16, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up
This was really good! I'm not always a fan of romances that get hot and heavy right away so I was nervous, but Femme Like Her is an excellent, thoughtfully crafted romance. Told from a single perspective, it follows Nailah who only dates studs (Black, masc-presenting lesbians) after being hurt by a femme. But Scottie blows her away and they have instant chemistry, despite what Nailah thinks she wants.
I loved the relationship between Nailah and Scottie, and how the author set them both up for arcs of character growth through the course of the book. And this wasn't afraid to tackle thorny issues, like assumptions that a lesbian couple should always be one feminine person and one masculine person. Or biphobia among lesbians. Or the homophobia and violence towards queer people that occurs in Jamaica. It's a steamy romance, but also an emotionally vulnerable one and I loved it. I will definitely read more from this author.
This was really good! I'm not always a fan of romances that get hot and heavy right away so I was nervous, but Femme Like Her is an excellent, thoughtfully crafted romance. Told from a single perspective, it follows Nailah who only dates studs (Black, masc-presenting lesbians) after being hurt by a femme. But Scottie blows her away and they have instant chemistry, despite what Nailah thinks she wants.
I loved the relationship between Nailah and Scottie, and how the author set them both up for arcs of character growth through the course of the book. And this wasn't afraid to tackle thorny issues, like assumptions that a lesbian couple should always be one feminine person and one masculine person. Or biphobia among lesbians. Or the homophobia and violence towards queer people that occurs in Jamaica. It's a steamy romance, but also an emotionally vulnerable one and I loved it. I will definitely read more from this author.
July 4, 2021
Wow. Just wow. This Black F/F romance was so sexy and also so deeply emotional, I was truly blown away. I hadn’t read any Fiona Zedde before and obviously I was living my life wrong. Nailah, a lesbian femme, meets Scottie, a bi gal who is also femme, and sparks fly immediately. But Nailah doesn’t date femmes. So why can’t she get Scottie out of her mind?
What I love and respect so much about this book is how Zedde carefully sets Nailah up to grow, by allowing her to have a set of beliefs about herself and queerness and specifically lesbianism that are very much rooted in both her cultural surroundings and some personal experiences that hurt her deeply. She’s not right, but you can 100% see where her thought processes came from and it’s not the knee-jerk “oh I had a bad experience so now I have this patently ludicrous rule” that I often see in romance.
In many ways, this isn’t a book that asks “can these two people get together?” so much as “can Nailah deal with her pain enough to truly see and accept Scottie, so they can be together?” Watching her make mistakes is so painful at times, but watching her grow and heal is so profoundly satisfying. Scottie is a fascinating character even though the book is from Nailah’s POV alone. Actually I would love to read a companion novel where their relationship is told from Scottie’s POV; I think it would be amazing to see what she’s going through as a mirror image of Nailah’s experience, even though I already know the events between them.
Note: There is a brief bit later in the book where the lesbian main character expresses concern about the supposed risks of dating a bi woman, even though her friend sets her straight (no pun intended). If this had happened early in the book I might have DNFed, because even though I *know* this attitude still exists and I’m sure it’s useful for some readers to see this in fiction, I’m tired of non-bi main characters who have to “get over” their biphobia in order to date a bi person. But I was so bonded with Nailah at that point that I could sit with it, especially because she is working through so much overall about attraction, identity, and vulnerability.
What I love and respect so much about this book is how Zedde carefully sets Nailah up to grow, by allowing her to have a set of beliefs about herself and queerness and specifically lesbianism that are very much rooted in both her cultural surroundings and some personal experiences that hurt her deeply. She’s not right, but you can 100% see where her thought processes came from and it’s not the knee-jerk “oh I had a bad experience so now I have this patently ludicrous rule” that I often see in romance.
In many ways, this isn’t a book that asks “can these two people get together?” so much as “can Nailah deal with her pain enough to truly see and accept Scottie, so they can be together?” Watching her make mistakes is so painful at times, but watching her grow and heal is so profoundly satisfying. Scottie is a fascinating character even though the book is from Nailah’s POV alone. Actually I would love to read a companion novel where their relationship is told from Scottie’s POV; I think it would be amazing to see what she’s going through as a mirror image of Nailah’s experience, even though I already know the events between them.
Note: There is a brief bit later in the book where the lesbian main character expresses concern about the supposed risks of dating a bi woman, even though her friend sets her straight (no pun intended). If this had happened early in the book I might have DNFed, because even though I *know* this attitude still exists and I’m sure it’s useful for some readers to see this in fiction, I’m tired of non-bi main characters who have to “get over” their biphobia in order to date a bi person. But I was so bonded with Nailah at that point that I could sit with it, especially because she is working through so much overall about attraction, identity, and vulnerability.
December 21, 2020
I have to admit this wasn’t what I was expecting from my first opportunity to read a Zedde work. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing - I was just a little surprised. It was somehow sweeter than I anticipated, despite the obvious steam and some hard topics.
Nailah isn’t in to femmes. She’s been telling herself this for years. Scottie, a femme, spots Nailah in a crowded bar she’s been dragged to and goes after what she wants.
The book starts steamy, then quietens down to the point where I was beginning to wonder where Zedde was taking us in the narrative. Once things heat up again the chemistry between Nailah and Scottie is very apparent. There’s an inevitable conflict that lies in lack of communication and some growing that needs to be done.
I liked all of the characters in this book. Both MCs are well written. Nailah’s best friend Pauline is crazy but good at the same time. The ex’s and the hangers on were at least somewhat interesting and the parents were great. No character in this narrative is perfect, they’re all treated to good and bad moments (mostly) and whilst in many respects I enjoyed that it almost felt a little overplayed - no group of people is so fully individually self aware in that regard - but it’s nice to dream.
Despite my surprise as to the heart of the book, I did enjoy this and would give it a high three stars. The book is written from Nailah’s point of view, which was interesting but I wanted to know more about Scottie’s thoughts and feelings too.
There’s a lot of potential for more stories from Nailah and Scottie and I’d happily read another instalment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nailah isn’t in to femmes. She’s been telling herself this for years. Scottie, a femme, spots Nailah in a crowded bar she’s been dragged to and goes after what she wants.
The book starts steamy, then quietens down to the point where I was beginning to wonder where Zedde was taking us in the narrative. Once things heat up again the chemistry between Nailah and Scottie is very apparent. There’s an inevitable conflict that lies in lack of communication and some growing that needs to be done.
I liked all of the characters in this book. Both MCs are well written. Nailah’s best friend Pauline is crazy but good at the same time. The ex’s and the hangers on were at least somewhat interesting and the parents were great. No character in this narrative is perfect, they’re all treated to good and bad moments (mostly) and whilst in many respects I enjoyed that it almost felt a little overplayed - no group of people is so fully individually self aware in that regard - but it’s nice to dream.
Despite my surprise as to the heart of the book, I did enjoy this and would give it a high three stars. The book is written from Nailah’s point of view, which was interesting but I wanted to know more about Scottie’s thoughts and feelings too.
There’s a lot of potential for more stories from Nailah and Scottie and I’d happily read another instalment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 12, 2021
I am a character reader, especially with romance novels. If I’m going to enjoy a book, it better have well-developed characters with lots of great chemistry. Luckily, I’ve read enough of Fiona Zedde’s stories to know I would love the inhabitants of her latest book, Femme Like Her, and I did love both the people in it and the story.
This tale is told in First Person POV through the eyes of Nailah Grant, the central figure in the story. Nailah is going through a few life changes when she meets Scottie in a bar. The chemistry is definitely there, but Scottie is a fellow femme, and Nailah doesn’t date femmes. Scottie doesn’t seem to take no for an answer though, and thus begins a steamy love story. But can this romance survive the problems that appear almost from the beginning of their budding relationship?
I connected with Nailah immediately, but it took a little longer to understand Scottie, mainly because we only see her through Nailah’s eyes. Both women have tons of personality and are obviously attracted to each other, but they also have issues that could derail their romance. This provides the perfect amount of angst to the overall story. There is also the theme of femme and butch characters, and the possible different pairings. I’ve never really cared that much about whether a person is butch or femme, but it is discussed in the novel, and does affect the two main characters.
I must mention the absolutely stunning cover of this book. I was interested in reading this story because of the author, but the cover would have caught my interest even without the author’s name. It is a striking cover, and the artist should be proud.
I thoroughly enjoyed this steamy romance novel, and can recommend it to all who enjoy a great love story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the author for an honest review.
This tale is told in First Person POV through the eyes of Nailah Grant, the central figure in the story. Nailah is going through a few life changes when she meets Scottie in a bar. The chemistry is definitely there, but Scottie is a fellow femme, and Nailah doesn’t date femmes. Scottie doesn’t seem to take no for an answer though, and thus begins a steamy love story. But can this romance survive the problems that appear almost from the beginning of their budding relationship?
I connected with Nailah immediately, but it took a little longer to understand Scottie, mainly because we only see her through Nailah’s eyes. Both women have tons of personality and are obviously attracted to each other, but they also have issues that could derail their romance. This provides the perfect amount of angst to the overall story. There is also the theme of femme and butch characters, and the possible different pairings. I’ve never really cared that much about whether a person is butch or femme, but it is discussed in the novel, and does affect the two main characters.
I must mention the absolutely stunning cover of this book. I was interested in reading this story because of the author, but the cover would have caught my interest even without the author’s name. It is a striking cover, and the artist should be proud.
I thoroughly enjoyed this steamy romance novel, and can recommend it to all who enjoy a great love story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the author for an honest review.
October 1, 2021
Ok I’m prefacing this review with a general statement that I enjoyed this book, but I did have some issues with it too.
I read The Magical Femme: A Lesbian Short Story, a few months ago and knew that I wanted to read the full-length, follow-on novel featuring Scotty and Nailah. In the The Magical Femme, even though it was a short story, it packed a lot of chemistry and heat between these two characters. Although its also there initially in the full-length, it fizzles out pretty quickly due to some random drama that I found difficult to believe.
What follows from this is a re-establishment of their sexual relationship with a bit of dating but not a lot of communicating. Then, more drama hits and at this point I was scratching my head at why there was more added here when the last bit wasn’t sufficiently resolved yet between the characters.
I was hopeful that the conclusion would supply some answers but it was a bit lacklustre. There was still very little clear communication between the mains but it was ‘resolved’ for them both. Before we hit the conclusion, I was looking at the time left of my audiobook at one point where their conflict still wasn’t resolved and I just knew that the conclusion wouldn’t be adequately concluded in such a short period of time left. Little did I know that that short period of time also included a sample of another of Zedde’s novel so it was actually shorter. There are still a few unresolved plot lines for me (mainly surrounding Scotty’s ex and Pauline), which is always disappointing when you get to the end of a novel.
On the flip side though, I still enjoyed this novel due to the characters and racial diversity. It was great reading about a Jamaican family and their cultural differences, plus each character was interesting to read.
I read The Magical Femme: A Lesbian Short Story, a few months ago and knew that I wanted to read the full-length, follow-on novel featuring Scotty and Nailah. In the The Magical Femme, even though it was a short story, it packed a lot of chemistry and heat between these two characters. Although its also there initially in the full-length, it fizzles out pretty quickly due to some random drama that I found difficult to believe.
What follows from this is a re-establishment of their sexual relationship with a bit of dating but not a lot of communicating. Then, more drama hits and at this point I was scratching my head at why there was more added here when the last bit wasn’t sufficiently resolved yet between the characters.
I was hopeful that the conclusion would supply some answers but it was a bit lacklustre. There was still very little clear communication between the mains but it was ‘resolved’ for them both. Before we hit the conclusion, I was looking at the time left of my audiobook at one point where their conflict still wasn’t resolved and I just knew that the conclusion wouldn’t be adequately concluded in such a short period of time left. Little did I know that that short period of time also included a sample of another of Zedde’s novel so it was actually shorter. There are still a few unresolved plot lines for me (mainly surrounding Scotty’s ex and Pauline), which is always disappointing when you get to the end of a novel.
On the flip side though, I still enjoyed this novel due to the characters and racial diversity. It was great reading about a Jamaican family and their cultural differences, plus each character was interesting to read.
February 13, 2021
It’s not that I don’t want to fall into her— I do. God, I do. But this is scary, just how fast she brought me back to how things were between us in the beginning. Charmed and surprised. Turned on. Ready to follow wherever she leads.
3.5 stars. After a little bit of a rollercoaster with this one, I ended up really really liking and appreciating it. It takes some turns that I didn't expect it to, and doesn't always follow the script as far as typical romances go. It also made me feel super seen in a way I just don't ever get in romances.
After a bad experience years ago, Nailah has made up her mind never to date another femme like her, until bold, brazen, feminine Scottie breezes into her life. It's an interesting premise, though I did get a little impatient with it. Not that there's anything wrong with having a preference, but when it was revealed WHY Nailah had made that rule for herself, it just wasn't totally convincing? IDK if I missed something while reading, but the way I understood it, it all seemed a little overblown.
The book's strengths, for me, lay elsewhere. I loved having a protagonist from the Caribbean; it's always a delight to see that representation and recognise the details that the author is careful to put in. This is my first book by Zedde, but I'm going to make sure it's not the last, because I loved every bit of Jamaica we got. I loved her writing, which was descriptive and lush, simple and down-to-earth by turns. The steam, when we got it, was at 110%. The romance was just as good. I started off not being terribly convinced of their attraction/connection, but then they shared a few moments that were relatively simple but had me swooning all over anyway. (Swimming! Late night phone calls that become early morning phone calls! That time up against the door! 🥺) I fucking loved Scottie; every single thing about her. I definitely liked her more than Nailah, our protagonist, but after Nailah did her growing and learning, I liked her a lot too.
What I love best about the book is that it touches on a part of motherhood that you just don't see books do; not in this way, and definitely not romance books. It meant a lot to see it because it's so close to my own views, and the character that held those views was misunderstood at first, but never vilified or castigated by the text for it. I'm being deliberately vague to avoid spoilers, but it just made me so damned happy (though the topic itself isn't what I'd call cheerful).
I had my other nitpicks. Like I said, the plot wasn't always convincing. The shenanigans with Pauline's gfs were kinda irritating to me. Sometimes the way other women were described made me narrow my eyes, but it was never malicious (except one comment about ~crazy~ dark-skinned women that made me want to fight). A little bit of gender essentialism.
Still, very solid, and very enjoyable. I'd definitely rec it!
☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.
November 25, 2022
There is a scene in this I can't get over. Two older secondary characters (parents) want MC Nailah to bring them some ice cream, and their flavours of choice are Rum Raisin and.....wait for it......Grape Nut. Grape Nut ice cream, people. Now, WTF, for one. And two, I'm not convinced this exists, and if it does, WHY. It should be a crime against humanity because the cereal is so atrocious. So I did some in-depth research (aka: contacting my one friend in Atlanta) and asked her, and between her and her husband, they agreed they had never heard of it. So, with all that research done, I call BS.
I can't get over it, guys.
Decent enough story, though, much better than my first experience with this author.
I can't get over it, guys.
Decent enough story, though, much better than my first experience with this author.
December 15, 2020
Let's start with the cover: it's dark, mysterious and beautiful.
The fire in this book burns quick and hot and then cools down very quickly. It seemed like one day paradise was there, and the next day it was unexpectedly closed. This made Nailah have very conflicted feelings and Scottie something to explain. But this is not where the push-pull ends...
Because of the way Nailah's ex reacts to these two femmes being together I had an '80's repressing feel while reading those particular scenes. Top that with some crazy-ass lesbians making an appearance in this book and I was glad I have a fairly normal life with normal friends, haha. These types of characters always make me feel funny in a bad way: creepy. I know they exist (crazy-stalkerish-people), but I just rather pretend they don't ;) Pauline as a secondary character is great in her weirdness, but she is a little crazy herself for getting involved with the wrong girls all the time.
The love scenes are hot, Zedde knows how to write them and I loved the power exchange in them. It is subtle and makes you want more.
I liked the characters in this book, especially the way Scottie confidently approaches Nailah over and over. Very slowly we are fed the knowledge we need to know why Nailah reacts to Scottie the way she does. Up until almost the end, Scottie stays a mysterious character to me. It made me stay very involved. Also, this book confronted me with myself. Like Nailah, I had my judgement ready: fool that I am. I'm not going to spoil that part by saying too much, but this part makes the character development complete. People are flawed, also the people in this book: very well done. A great balance between reality, drama and love.
Check out this and other reviews at https://lesfic.home.blog/
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The fire in this book burns quick and hot and then cools down very quickly. It seemed like one day paradise was there, and the next day it was unexpectedly closed. This made Nailah have very conflicted feelings and Scottie something to explain. But this is not where the push-pull ends...
Because of the way Nailah's ex reacts to these two femmes being together I had an '80's repressing feel while reading those particular scenes. Top that with some crazy-ass lesbians making an appearance in this book and I was glad I have a fairly normal life with normal friends, haha. These types of characters always make me feel funny in a bad way: creepy. I know they exist (crazy-stalkerish-people), but I just rather pretend they don't ;) Pauline as a secondary character is great in her weirdness, but she is a little crazy herself for getting involved with the wrong girls all the time.
The love scenes are hot, Zedde knows how to write them and I loved the power exchange in them. It is subtle and makes you want more.
I liked the characters in this book, especially the way Scottie confidently approaches Nailah over and over. Very slowly we are fed the knowledge we need to know why Nailah reacts to Scottie the way she does. Up until almost the end, Scottie stays a mysterious character to me. It made me stay very involved. Also, this book confronted me with myself. Like Nailah, I had my judgement ready: fool that I am. I'm not going to spoil that part by saying too much, but this part makes the character development complete. People are flawed, also the people in this book: very well done. A great balance between reality, drama and love.
Check out this and other reviews at https://lesfic.home.blog/
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2020
It's Fiona Zedde so all I can say is, it was awesome and you need to read it. But seriously, really enjoyed this book and the characters. The writing was simple but beautiful and there were moments where I got lost in the moment she was describing. I really liked the main characters and found Nailah very relatable. The love interest Scottie was delicious and quite frankly I would love a book from her point of view. Overall, well worth the wait.
December 10, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters were well developed and flawed. Their journey to change and see if they can be what they need in each other is well written. Nailah has been hurt so badly in the past that shaped what she thought she should want in a partner. Scottie knows how to treat a partner and uses her appeal to get what she wants. When they meet, the chemistry is off the charts but, as happens, life and their pasts quickly get in the way. Both must discover if they can trust and open themselves up after unintentionally hurting the other. The journey is worth the read.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 14, 2020
Zedde has crafted a delicious novel of how refusing to change perspective can cause you to lose a good thing. The novel is set in Atlanta and tells the story of
Nailah and Scottie. The two meet in a bar and have a steamy encounter that upends Nailah’s world. After a period of separation their paths cross again in an unlikely location. The book charts their path toward forming a relationship that forces them to open themselves up to reveal their tender parts after a blast from Scottie’s past tears them apart.
The book keeps the reader’s attention and I love how Nailah’s family and friends support and challenge her. A great reading experience
Nailah and Scottie. The two meet in a bar and have a steamy encounter that upends Nailah’s world. After a period of separation their paths cross again in an unlikely location. The book charts their path toward forming a relationship that forces them to open themselves up to reveal their tender parts after a blast from Scottie’s past tears them apart.
The book keeps the reader’s attention and I love how Nailah’s family and friends support and challenge her. A great reading experience
December 22, 2020
Yes I loved Femme Like Her by Fiona Zedde and I do recommend it for people of any sexuality, despite the subtitle “a lesbian romance.” With her deft hand Fiona tells the story of a romance between two femmes, but how strong is this identity in each? One femme’s name is Scottie, which sounds quite butch, and there is something else revealed about her that makes you wonder. This word comes from the idea of butch/ femme roles but it is also about gender performance. I really enjoyed this light look at the subject, the natural setting and the depiction of desire and sexuality.
The story is well structured with a sex scene at the very beginning that draws you in. While focused on certain problems in the match, it is contextualizad in Nailah’s, the main character’s world of work and family. Her parents are wonderful characters and the brother’s wedding scene is very well done and well used. Following the feelings and thoughts of Nailah and the sex scenes themselves were some of my favorite parts of reading this fun book, which I think would appeal to people of any sexuality. Besides, we are so varied anyway, aren’t we? Thank you Fiona for another great book!
The story is well structured with a sex scene at the very beginning that draws you in. While focused on certain problems in the match, it is contextualizad in Nailah’s, the main character’s world of work and family. Her parents are wonderful characters and the brother’s wedding scene is very well done and well used. Following the feelings and thoughts of Nailah and the sex scenes themselves were some of my favorite parts of reading this fun book, which I think would appeal to people of any sexuality. Besides, we are so varied anyway, aren’t we? Thank you Fiona for another great book!
January 9, 2021
I’ve long been a fan of Fiona Zedde's work and this latest book is definitely one of her best. (The spectacular Mercy books are among my favourites books overall).
Nailah Grant is a fabulous character, in some respects she’s totally together, but in other ways she’s a mess of avoidance strategies and evasion. This contrasts well with Scottie’s confidence and her references to fairy tales: ““Fairy tales are scary things. Lurking witches, men with sharp objects ready to prick you, curses waiting to land on any woman unfortunate enough to be extraordinary in any way. No thanks to all of that.”” Rather than going with the flow like Nailah, Scottie knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go out an get it. This attitude leads to them meeting and dating, (despite Nailah's initial misgivings), and searing hot sex. Fiona Zedde is one of the best writers of erotic fiction going and in "Femme Like Her", she has reached new heights.
The chemistry between Scottie and Nailah is off the charts, but nothing comes easy and when Scottie runs off mid-date heartbreak ensues. Nailah and her excellent but ever so slightly dramatic best friend Pauline get into quite a few scrapes involving drag racing, exes, mistaken identities, and of course brunch. To Nailah's horror, Scottie keeps popping up and despite her best intentions she finds herself being pulled back in by the power of their attraction.
Reading "Femme Like Her" has sent me back to reading other Fiona Zedde novels, and I can't wait for her next release. This is an awesome book and I can highly recommend it to anyone.
Nailah Grant is a fabulous character, in some respects she’s totally together, but in other ways she’s a mess of avoidance strategies and evasion. This contrasts well with Scottie’s confidence and her references to fairy tales: ““Fairy tales are scary things. Lurking witches, men with sharp objects ready to prick you, curses waiting to land on any woman unfortunate enough to be extraordinary in any way. No thanks to all of that.”” Rather than going with the flow like Nailah, Scottie knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go out an get it. This attitude leads to them meeting and dating, (despite Nailah's initial misgivings), and searing hot sex. Fiona Zedde is one of the best writers of erotic fiction going and in "Femme Like Her", she has reached new heights.
The chemistry between Scottie and Nailah is off the charts, but nothing comes easy and when Scottie runs off mid-date heartbreak ensues. Nailah and her excellent but ever so slightly dramatic best friend Pauline get into quite a few scrapes involving drag racing, exes, mistaken identities, and of course brunch. To Nailah's horror, Scottie keeps popping up and despite her best intentions she finds herself being pulled back in by the power of their attraction.
Reading "Femme Like Her" has sent me back to reading other Fiona Zedde novels, and I can't wait for her next release. This is an awesome book and I can highly recommend it to anyone.
March 17, 2021
Frustrating but nice sex scenes.
At first I really enjoyed the book and I really loved a dominant Scottie but I hate when I feel like a character is being attacked when she didn’t even do anything wrong. Nailiah was ghosted by Scottie for months and they only reconnected because they randomly met again. Scottie barely made any attempts to apologize and didn’t even explain WHY she dipped on her till the very end of the book. How is Nailiah so terrible for believing in Scotties ex over her, when she doesn’t go into her personal life with her AT ALL and Lied about having a kid in the first place? Nailiah is so “terrible” because she’s shocked that Scottie doesn’t want to be a mother and lied about having a kid? I can’t wrap my mind around how they all switched the blame onto her because she was shocked. Her mother, her “best friend” and the liar Scottie got on her ass like she was the worst person in the world when Scottie only sent some damn edible arrangements for an apology when she ghosted and made her doubt her in the first place?I get at the end she admitted she could of did better but the blame of the whole situation was still on Nailiah. And don’t let me get started on Pauline. She’s one of the worst friends ever. I was wishing Nailiah to tell Scottie and Pauline to fuck off.
At first I really enjoyed the book and I really loved a dominant Scottie but I hate when I feel like a character is being attacked when she didn’t even do anything wrong. Nailiah was ghosted by Scottie for months and they only reconnected because they randomly met again. Scottie barely made any attempts to apologize and didn’t even explain WHY she dipped on her till the very end of the book. How is Nailiah so terrible for believing in Scotties ex over her, when she doesn’t go into her personal life with her AT ALL and Lied about having a kid in the first place? Nailiah is so “terrible” because she’s shocked that Scottie doesn’t want to be a mother and lied about having a kid? I can’t wrap my mind around how they all switched the blame onto her because she was shocked. Her mother, her “best friend” and the liar Scottie got on her ass like she was the worst person in the world when Scottie only sent some damn edible arrangements for an apology when she ghosted and made her doubt her in the first place?I get at the end she admitted she could of did better but the blame of the whole situation was still on Nailiah. And don’t let me get started on Pauline. She’s one of the worst friends ever. I was wishing Nailiah to tell Scottie and Pauline to fuck off.
May 16, 2021
Good story, but didn't overwhelm me. Plenty of angst with clever twist at end, but a Brick wall ending when we all - characters and readers - deserved better.
June 17, 2021
Another solid writing by Zedde, 4.5.
I love not reading blurbs or reviews so I had no idea what was going on until I read it.
I love not reading blurbs or reviews so I had no idea what was going on until I read it.
Read
August 21, 2022DNF @ 25%
That first chapter's sex scene was so cringe to me that I should have stopped there. But I persisted. And was let down.
Unfortunately this one was not for me.
That first chapter's sex scene was so cringe to me that I should have stopped there. But I persisted. And was let down.
Unfortunately this one was not for me.
March 11, 2022
• Femme Like Her: A Lesbian Romance
• Nailah Grant
• Scottie
• Narrator:Mari
Nailah Grant is at the end of the rope and has decided
she’s done with femmes. After her ex, she steers clear.
She had a great job that she loves, but they are bought out by another company.
Scottie is beautiful and very up front about wanted Nailah.
She is confidant and alluring. Nailah just can’t resist her.
Nailah and Scottie meet at a new hot restaurant in Atlanta.
They watch each other for a bit and then Scottie takes a chance. Nailah’s best friend give’s out her number. Scottie and Naliah speak every night. They agree to go out on a date, but something is off with Scottie, who bolts in the middle of the date. She goes silent on Naliah.
Their paths cross a few times. Naliah doesn’t want to give Scottie another chance. A secret from Scottie past comes out and may end up coming between them. When the truth comes out the story starts to unravel.
The Narrator Mari is simply amazing.
I highly recommend this book. 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I won a copy of the Audio book a special thank you to the Author!!!
• Nailah Grant
• Scottie
• Narrator:Mari
Nailah Grant is at the end of the rope and has decided
she’s done with femmes. After her ex, she steers clear.
She had a great job that she loves, but they are bought out by another company.
Scottie is beautiful and very up front about wanted Nailah.
She is confidant and alluring. Nailah just can’t resist her.
Nailah and Scottie meet at a new hot restaurant in Atlanta.
They watch each other for a bit and then Scottie takes a chance. Nailah’s best friend give’s out her number. Scottie and Naliah speak every night. They agree to go out on a date, but something is off with Scottie, who bolts in the middle of the date. She goes silent on Naliah.
Their paths cross a few times. Naliah doesn’t want to give Scottie another chance. A secret from Scottie past comes out and may end up coming between them. When the truth comes out the story starts to unravel.
The Narrator Mari is simply amazing.
I highly recommend this book. 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I won a copy of the Audio book a special thank you to the Author!!!
October 15, 2024
Actual Rating: 2.75 stars
I went this entire book thinking I’d read a few chapters before, only to realize I read the whole thing! Not sure when/how, but this is part of why I need to be more diligent about tracking even “silly” books on Goodreads.
Fiona Zedde’s Femme Like Her is the opposite of a slow burn—we are thrown into courtship from like the third page, and sex scenes from the third chapter! I don’t think I was even clear on the names of the characters before they got down to business, but either way, I was along for the ride! Speaking of their names, I later realized that the main couple are called Naima and Nailah. To be fair, this happens a lot IRL. I know multiple people who have dated someone with their exact name, nickname, or something super close to it. BUT, for a romance novel, it felt unnecessarily annoying/confusing!!!
I did appreciate Zedde’s focus on the “unstated rules in [the Black sapphic] community” that “butch-femme couples are the only acceptable couples” (34). It may have been depicted in some unrealistic ways (e.g. the Raven character), but overall, this portrait of intracommunal stigma was refreshing. I loved how Naima and Scottie’s relationship was shaped not just by what the characters thought about each other, but what they believed their friends, exes, and frenemies might think about them being together. This sort of lesbian peer pressure is rarely used as a plot device in romance novels, but it gave some texture to this couple’s journey. I’m excited to see how Fiona Zedde continues this topic in Book 2, Stud Like Her.
In terms of closing recommendations, I would primarily recommend Femme Like Her to devoted readers of Black sapphic romance. If you’ve exhausted the 20-ish books I can think of in this category, and you still want more, there is nothing keeping you from reading this one, too. However, if you’re just getting started, there are stronger options to start with. For similar levels of smut but better character development, I’d recommend D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia Higgins, Mechanics of Love by Meka James, or even Small Town Secrets by Katrina Jackson.
I went this entire book thinking I’d read a few chapters before, only to realize I read the whole thing! Not sure when/how, but this is part of why I need to be more diligent about tracking even “silly” books on Goodreads.
Fiona Zedde’s Femme Like Her is the opposite of a slow burn—we are thrown into courtship from like the third page, and sex scenes from the third chapter! I don’t think I was even clear on the names of the characters before they got down to business, but either way, I was along for the ride! Speaking of their names, I later realized that the main couple are called Naima and Nailah. To be fair, this happens a lot IRL. I know multiple people who have dated someone with their exact name, nickname, or something super close to it. BUT, for a romance novel, it felt unnecessarily annoying/confusing!!!
I did appreciate Zedde’s focus on the “unstated rules in [the Black sapphic] community” that “butch-femme couples are the only acceptable couples” (34). It may have been depicted in some unrealistic ways (e.g. the Raven character), but overall, this portrait of intracommunal stigma was refreshing. I loved how Naima and Scottie’s relationship was shaped not just by what the characters thought about each other, but what they believed their friends, exes, and frenemies might think about them being together. This sort of lesbian peer pressure is rarely used as a plot device in romance novels, but it gave some texture to this couple’s journey. I’m excited to see how Fiona Zedde continues this topic in Book 2, Stud Like Her.
In terms of closing recommendations, I would primarily recommend Femme Like Her to devoted readers of Black sapphic romance. If you’ve exhausted the 20-ish books I can think of in this category, and you still want more, there is nothing keeping you from reading this one, too. However, if you’re just getting started, there are stronger options to start with. For similar levels of smut but better character development, I’d recommend D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia Higgins, Mechanics of Love by Meka James, or even Small Town Secrets by Katrina Jackson.
October 11, 2024
4 ⭐️s || 🎧
scottie the hottie with the body. oof, i love me a dom femme real real bad. the chemistry between nailah & scottie was like that first bite of food after you been gardening... delicious, mm, mm, mmmmm. 😋
i loved nailah's dynamics with her family, glad we didn't have to experience the traumatic parts of "coming out" especially as an ethnically diverse queer person.
pauline was funny & i have a visual of at least 3-4 people i know who embody her energy, LOL. the way she was READING nailah's ass for the FILTHHHH 😂😂 my only beef with her was bringing the bitch who crashed into earl to the wedding? like oop, girl your brain had to be absent from class that morning. don't make me mad!!!! but the way she took up for bisexual/pansexual women! 🫰🏽🫰🏽🫰🏽 3 mf snaps & encouraging nailah not to allow her past to keep her from being happy in the future. love dat. she wasn't perfect but she very much cared & didn't hesitate to be honest. very humanly complex & i lived for it.
but... nailah's FIRST MISTAKE was listening to a man at face value.. 😐 like girl... you a lesbian? act like you know some & you been here before!! she was making me anxious like girl before you dive off the deep end, talk to the woman. she clearly wants to explain herself!
i was very upset with way nailah responded to the truth bc what that man did to scottie is literally a form of 🍇 called stealthing & he deserved nothing but violence!!! especially after she specifically stated she was not READY for children like i got so angry from hearing that & the way nailah acted would have sent me into psychosis...
in the end i was still so pleased with the ending. nailah's parents are some real ones 🥇 i wanted more of nailottie.
scottie the hottie with the body. oof, i love me a dom femme real real bad. the chemistry between nailah & scottie was like that first bite of food after you been gardening... delicious, mm, mm, mmmmm. 😋
i loved nailah's dynamics with her family, glad we didn't have to experience the traumatic parts of "coming out" especially as an ethnically diverse queer person.
pauline was funny & i have a visual of at least 3-4 people i know who embody her energy, LOL. the way she was READING nailah's ass for the FILTHHHH 😂😂 my only beef with her was bringing the bitch who crashed into earl to the wedding? like oop, girl your brain had to be absent from class that morning. don't make me mad!!!! but the way she took up for bisexual/pansexual women! 🫰🏽🫰🏽🫰🏽 3 mf snaps & encouraging nailah not to allow her past to keep her from being happy in the future. love dat. she wasn't perfect but she very much cared & didn't hesitate to be honest. very humanly complex & i lived for it.
but... nailah's FIRST MISTAKE was listening to a man at face value.. 😐 like girl... you a lesbian? act like you know some & you been here before!! she was making me anxious like girl before you dive off the deep end, talk to the woman. she clearly wants to explain herself!
i was very upset with way nailah responded to the truth bc what that man did to scottie is literally a form of 🍇 called stealthing & he deserved nothing but violence!!! especially after she specifically stated she was not READY for children like i got so angry from hearing that & the way nailah acted would have sent me into psychosis...
in the end i was still so pleased with the ending. nailah's parents are some real ones 🥇 i wanted more of nailottie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2020
This is a great read about Nailah, who is a femme who only dates studs. She meets Scottie who is a femme and it changes how she views relationships. This book is a little slow moving at the start, sowing the seeds of background, but stick with it as it gets much better and has a great ending. Would highly recommend
January 29, 2021
This was my first read of the year. I have many a Fiona Zedde romance and this one was good but not her best. For some reason the ending of the romance bothered me. Anyway it was overall still a good read. 3.75 stars
February 6, 2022
Overall: 4/5
Spice level: 2.5/5
Tropes: sapphic, femme 4 femme, fling to forever
This was a new to me author. I'm always looking for more FF stories so I took a chance.
I did enjoy the story, though there were some details/things I wish would've been included. The whole story was from Nailah's POV but I wish Naima's (Scottie) would've also been written. There was also the small detail of Nailah's age. I don’t remember it being explicitly stated, though Naima's is. Not a big deal, just something I thought about. Also, the characters never make declarations of love, at least not outwardly to each other. They just "like" each other.
There was chemistry, definitely. And I liked Scottie's bold personality. The way she took charge and went for what she wanted.
The spice level was moderate at best. I hoped for more.
I also enjoyed the small details included from Nailah's Jamaican background.
I also wish there would've been more to the ending or an epilogue included.
Overall, it was a decent read and I'll continue to the next book.
Spice level: 2.5/5
Tropes: sapphic, femme 4 femme, fling to forever
This was a new to me author. I'm always looking for more FF stories so I took a chance.
I did enjoy the story, though there were some details/things I wish would've been included. The whole story was from Nailah's POV but I wish Naima's (Scottie) would've also been written. There was also the small detail of Nailah's age. I don’t remember it being explicitly stated, though Naima's is. Not a big deal, just something I thought about. Also, the characters never make declarations of love, at least not outwardly to each other. They just "like" each other.
There was chemistry, definitely. And I liked Scottie's bold personality. The way she took charge and went for what she wanted.
The spice level was moderate at best. I hoped for more.
I also enjoyed the small details included from Nailah's Jamaican background.
I also wish there would've been more to the ending or an epilogue included.
Overall, it was a decent read and I'll continue to the next book.
February 2, 2021
4 steamy stars (came out Dec 8, 2020)
**ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.**
#NetGalley #FemmeLikeHer
Pros: Black f/f love, Black bisexual femme MC with dom-energy, Black lesbian femme MC, off-the-charts chemistry between the MCs, steamy sex scenes that had me feeling all kinds of things, supportive families, discussion of queer acceptance (or lack thereof) in Jamaican culture
Cons: Misunderstanding trope, overhanging work drama that was never integral to the plot or resolved, use of words like "crazy" to describe women acting violently in a relationship
Similar vibes: None that I know! This is the best BIPOC f/f romance I think I've ever read.
TW: near car crash x 2, talk of abortion, unwanted impregnation, emotional abuse in a relationship
Video link: [when filmed]
**ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.**
#NetGalley #FemmeLikeHer
Pros: Black f/f love, Black bisexual femme MC with dom-energy, Black lesbian femme MC, off-the-charts chemistry between the MCs, steamy sex scenes that had me feeling all kinds of things, supportive families, discussion of queer acceptance (or lack thereof) in Jamaican culture
Cons: Misunderstanding trope, overhanging work drama that was never integral to the plot or resolved, use of words like "crazy" to describe women acting violently in a relationship
Similar vibes: None that I know! This is the best BIPOC f/f romance I think I've ever read.
TW: near car crash x 2, talk of abortion, unwanted impregnation, emotional abuse in a relationship
Video link: [when filmed]
April 5, 2021
Femme Like Her is an emotional and romantic WLW novel following Nailah Grant and her relationships with her family and a woman named Scottie.
This book was pretty good, I enjoyed it the whole way throughout. It wasn't amazing and at times the settings seemed to be a bit unrealistic but I can look past that when I enjoy the overall story. It did start off really slow but did pick up speed a couple chapters in and the ending was great. I really enjoyed how the characters were all flawed and made mistakes throughout the novel and the people around them called them out when they messed up. It was really refreshing to read people written in that way as opposed to to perfect characters.
3/5 stars for this book, a slow start but a great ending and great characters. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this copy to review.
This book was pretty good, I enjoyed it the whole way throughout. It wasn't amazing and at times the settings seemed to be a bit unrealistic but I can look past that when I enjoy the overall story. It did start off really slow but did pick up speed a couple chapters in and the ending was great. I really enjoyed how the characters were all flawed and made mistakes throughout the novel and the people around them called them out when they messed up. It was really refreshing to read people written in that way as opposed to to perfect characters.
3/5 stars for this book, a slow start but a great ending and great characters. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this copy to review.
January 7, 2021
4.5 stars
This is a very enjoyable story, with interesting character growth.
Nailah, after a bad experience, had set rules about no dating femmes. But when she found herself complying with Scottie’s advances, she is surprised to be reacting to another femme this way. Scottie knows what she wants and won’t take no for answer. Will Nailah break her own rules or will let the possibility of something promising allure her?
I enjoyed the book very much, starts very explosive and hot, then slows down, to pick up again further on. It's well-paced, until a bit before the end. There's a bit of drama, could be thought as unnecessary from Nailah at times, I so wanted to slap some sense on her, almost by the end of the book though. But it is part of life, and Nailah is a flawed character, that needed to grow. Something Ms Zedde did very well is the development of the character, both characters.
On in all, I liked the development of the story, as well as the characters. Both have trust issues, and as usual, they need a lot of dialogue that comes a bit out of time, as happens in real life. But that is something that allows them to grow as individuals. I liked the main characters and the secondary characters as well, although the friend, Pauline drove me crazy at times. She's a bit too much, but a good friend to Nailah, regardless. Nailah's father is great and I love her mother's words about her way of acceptance, this is a very beautiful scene.
There are a couple of things that are the reason why I am not giving it 5 stars. First, I don't like are the acronyms, drives me crazy having to look at them instead of keep reading. Second, it was so good but I feel like it ended too soon, the ending is a bit rushed and also left me needing an epilogue.
The chemistry between Nailah and Scottie is very strong and palpable. I like very much the way their story is written and developed.
This is a good read and I’d like to recommend it.
I received an ARC copy of the book from the author and voluntarily leaving my review.
This is a very enjoyable story, with interesting character growth.
Nailah, after a bad experience, had set rules about no dating femmes. But when she found herself complying with Scottie’s advances, she is surprised to be reacting to another femme this way. Scottie knows what she wants and won’t take no for answer. Will Nailah break her own rules or will let the possibility of something promising allure her?
I enjoyed the book very much, starts very explosive and hot, then slows down, to pick up again further on. It's well-paced, until a bit before the end. There's a bit of drama, could be thought as unnecessary from Nailah at times, I so wanted to slap some sense on her, almost by the end of the book though. But it is part of life, and Nailah is a flawed character, that needed to grow. Something Ms Zedde did very well is the development of the character, both characters.
On in all, I liked the development of the story, as well as the characters. Both have trust issues, and as usual, they need a lot of dialogue that comes a bit out of time, as happens in real life. But that is something that allows them to grow as individuals. I liked the main characters and the secondary characters as well, although the friend, Pauline drove me crazy at times. She's a bit too much, but a good friend to Nailah, regardless. Nailah's father is great and I love her mother's words about her way of acceptance, this is a very beautiful scene.
There are a couple of things that are the reason why I am not giving it 5 stars. First, I don't like are the acronyms, drives me crazy having to look at them instead of keep reading. Second, it was so good but I feel like it ended too soon, the ending is a bit rushed and also left me needing an epilogue.
The chemistry between Nailah and Scottie is very strong and palpable. I like very much the way their story is written and developed.
This is a good read and I’d like to recommend it.
I received an ARC copy of the book from the author and voluntarily leaving my review.
January 13, 2021
Fiona Zedde will always be one of my all time favorite writers. Her characters in this book have such authentic depth, and she depicts them in a humanistic, vulnerable way. Reading this story was quite a journey of discovery, forgiveness, acceptance and wholehearted love; and it was one that did not disappoint. I will definitely reread it just to experience the ins and outs of these fruitful relationships that Fiona has crafted so well. Being in love and having hope for the future with someone truly special, despite life’s unexpected curveballs, is definitely rawly felt here. It was as if I was living through these characters eyes. I highly recommend you take a dive into their lives and enjoy it for yourself!!
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