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Voice Out #2

Finding Me

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Sometimes all you need is a bit of make-up, a pinch of glitter and a man who knows what to do with them...

Brady:

Glitter and make-up ruled my life. Running the cafe I owned and volunteering at Voice Out always had me on my feet, running from one place to the other. It was the life I'd decided to build for myself and I loved every minute of it. 

Sure, I'd have loved to have someone to come home to, but between work and the things I was looking for in my partner, the pickings were pretty slim and I'd pretty much given up hope of ever finding the one.

Until I met Charlie.

Charlie:

Uprooting my life and moving to a new city right after my father died probably hadn't been the best idea. But the thought of spending another moment living a half-life had been too depressing and so I found myself completely alone in a strange city with no idea what came next.

There was a huge part of myself I'd kept hidden from everyone just so I wouldn't lose the most important thing to me: my family. But after my father's sudden death, I knew life was too short to keep hiding. Problem was, I had no clue how to go about finding myself.

Until I met Brady.

Out and proud Brady meets Charlie, who is just starting to peek out of the closet, in this story of self-discovery, sweet kisses and make-up tutorials.

Finding Me is the second book in the Voice Out series. Though each book in the series is a standalone, do check out the series if you like found families, friends-to-lovers relationships and characters who adore their furry companions.

Trigger Warning: A character experiences body dysphoria, though they have a strong support system to help them through it.

167 pages, ebook

First published August 7, 2020

18 people are currently reading
67 people want to read

About the author

Stella Rainbow

54 books273 followers
Stella Rainbow is the pen name of a twenty something woman from India. Her heart is too full of rainbow colored stories to be limited by the lack of awareness in her home country.

Stella spends her days cuddling up with her cat, typing out new stories, daydreaming and reading all the books she can get her hands on.

She loves talking to her readers and other book lovers, so don't hesitate in contacting her on any of her socials or emailing her at authorstellarainbow@gmail.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for True Loveislovereview.
2,840 reviews1 follower
July 31, 2020
Brady is an energetic and vibrant personality, full of positive vibes. He owns a café and volunteer at the local LGBTQ non-profit called Voice Out.

Charlie made a new start, in a new town and a new apartment. They are looking for help. They wants to find likeminded people and karma brought them in Brady’s café. Charlie identified themself as non-binary, gender-fluid, and doesn’t quite know how to handle it. Brady, our sweet kind, sparkling Brady is glad to help. With everything, with pronouncing, with makeup, with clothes, with three colored bracelets so Charlie can show what gender they are at that moment. Charlie is in awe of how Brady helps them on every level.
Brady is in awe with Charlie, by their kind spirit and... their cooking skills ha!
Watching Charlie bloom and watching Charlie and Brady get closer and closer was a wonderful sight.

“I’m not jealous, babe. I’m territorial. Jealous are all these people who want you but can’t have you. Territorial is me protecting what’s mine.”

It’s overall a friendly and gentle story, we meet people from the whole awesome spectrum.
The story is all about, be who you are, take your time, everything at your pace, you are beautiful in every way. Reach out for help when needed, you are not alone. There are people out there who can and want to help you!
Voice Out was fiercely protective and I loved that hard! Blessings for Mamma D!
When Mamma D showed here skills I cried my eyes out, very emotional moment!
Overall a sweet story with a sharp painful event, it’s energetically written, with a good plot.
Profile Image for Vaughn.
142 reviews5 followers
July 6, 2022
"And it was hard to explain. That they didn't want to be a man, but that they had never felt quite right as a girl. That they only started to feel really okay when they understood they could be their own thing. That they could exist in a space that was all their own, that they could shift and adjust until it felt right. They had settled on nonbinary feeling right for them, even though they knew others like them had their own names that felt right to their own experiences. And that was comforting too. That each person could choose what brought them closer to belonging, the power in that. Knowing that one day, people might discover even better words for it. That there was only ever freedom in continuing to find new names for who we were, who we could be." ~Anita Kelly, Love & Other Disasters ~

I absolutely adored this book!! Everything about it!! It was such a well rounded, wonderful story! I loved Charlie and Brady they were perfect for one another. The mix up in the coffee shop at the beginning was adorable and it just got better from there. I was absorbed in the story and could not put it down.
The author taught me a lot about a perspective from a non-binary point of view, I understand that not everyone is the same nor will they face the same challenges but it was an experience going through the emotions with Charlie and how they felt through certain moments. Also, Brady was an amazing support for Charlie. Brady's personality is one of my favorites. I want to read more books about toppy badass twinks that aren't really twinks but have the look. I really could gush about this book forever. It's definitely a 10+++☆☆☆ read. I can't wait for Jo's story!
Stella Rainbow you are a new author to me but definitely a new favorite. I love the way you write and tell the story! So good!!
1,025 reviews14 followers
Read
September 25, 2022
Watching the Sunrise by Stella Rainbow was a heart wrenching read... In the best way possible. You know you've found a really good book when it can make you laugh, cry, be happy and angry all throughout the span of the book. I love, love, loved the characters.

Brady was awesome, he's quirky and supportive and understanding. He has his insecurities, yes, but he's also comfortable being himself.

I also loved Charlie. I haven't read too many books that has a gender fluid character, I really enjoyed reading about something I knew nothing about before this. Charlie is just trying to figure out who they are now that they finally have the opportunity and support to do so. They are so sweet and adorable, I wish I could reach into the book and hug them.

The detail and time Stella put into this book is outstanding. I learned something knew reading about Charlie and Brady. All of the characters added so much love and humor to this story. It was well thought out and really well written.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn something and who wants to see love conquer all.

There are some scenes where there is assault due to homophobia, so if that is something that triggers you proceed with caution.

*I received an early copy of this book and this is my honest review.*
Profile Image for Janet Hunt.
3,537 reviews46 followers
June 29, 2022
Watching the Sunrise was excellent. Charlie is new to town; they want a fresh start. They stumble upon Brady’s café. I loved the non-judgmental and unconditional love that Charlie and Brady shared. Charlie was multi-dimensional and complex. Brady was a perfect for form him. I loved how open and understanding Brady was for Charlie. The story had such a positive spin on a topic you don’t read much about. Overall, an excellent story! Well written with nice pacing.
Profile Image for Sarah.
7 reviews
July 29, 2020
A very well deserved 4.5 stars!

First, my absolute favorite thing about both the book/series and the author, is her dedication to branching out and giving some much-needed love and representation to all the lesser mentioned members of the queer community. You can find quite a bit of F/F, M/M, and even Poly type romance books out there these days. Many of these may even cover the Bisexual and/or Pansexual communities, but that is usually where it stops. I can think of one author who does quite a bit of fictional romance writing about those in the Transsexual community, but there are still so many more people under-represented, or not represented at all within the literary community, (especially as main characters). I’ve always felt that being able to see yourself and identify with a character of a book or story was not only validating in a way, but also made me personally feel just a little less alone in the world. That is something everyone needs regardless of race, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. Being able to see that you’re not the only one thinking and feeling a certain way, and that it isn’t wrong or weird can be a powerful thing to someone who needs to hear it.

The Book!

Finding Me is Stella Rainbow’s second book ever, and it is also the second installment of her Voice Out series. Of course, as with all new authors, there are still some kinks in the editing process to work out. This is why I gave this book at 4.5 instead of a 5. However, this in no way detracted from the story or characters for me.

The Voices Out series is centered around people associated with the Non-Profit, (or Non-Government Organization, NGO as it’s referred to in the book) called Voice Out. It has a colorful, loveable, and ever-growing cast of characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. You’ll want to know all of their stories before long, I know I do! The first book, Finding You, (which as an aside, was also an amazing story worth checking out, DO IT!) follows the story of Scott and Luke, and while they, (and others) do make an appearance, you do not need to read the first book to read this one and follow along.

In this book, Brady is an out and proud, bossy twink, with a heart of gold. He knows exactly who he is, what he wants, and he isn’t the least bit shy about going after it. Charles is slowly exploring who they are as A Male At Birth (AMAB), Non-Binary (NB), person and what they need/want out of both life and love. Charles isn’t quite sure how to go about this daunting journey of self-discovery at first. Luckily for them, they find a much-needed friend, advocate, and guide in the confident Brady.

Following Charlie on this journey to not only self-discovery, but also self-love, is an emotional roller coaster in the absolute best way. Watching how the crew at Voice Out rally around to help and support Charlie is both inspiring and heartwarming. Of course, this IS a romance book, so you just know there will be a sweet love story between our two Main Characters. The love story evolves organically and does not feel forced. The sex is also not only touching and sweet, but also hot and steamy as well. (Two enthusiastic thumbs up!)

You will love following these two sweet men and you’ll quickly become addicted to learning about all the members of Voice Out. I am looking forward to not only the next installment in this series, but also anything else Stella Rainbow puts out. She has tremendous creativity, as well as a desire to really connect her characters with her readers and that shines through in each story so far.

I did receive an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews.
2,698 reviews139 followers
August 10, 2020
4.5 Stars

Finding Me is a fabulous read by Stella Rainbow. The second book in the Voice Out series, it is easily a standalone.

I can't praise these characters enough. Brady and Charlie are amazing together. Their meet cute is sweet as Charlie has been "stalking" Brady at the coffee shop. Despite being off put by the young man, Brody immediately opens to him and takes him under his wing.

Oh Charlie, sweet, sweet Charlie. They are confused, trying to find someone who understands and can guide them in being non-binary. They know how they feel, they just aren't sure what it all means.

Enter Brody. Brody isn't non-binary, but he knows people who are. Brody himself is gender bending, so he's able to teach some things to Charlie as well.

Their story is a completely feel good romance. There's plenty of insecurity, doubts, and first times. There's also homophobia, and people who don't understand Charlie.

There are plenty of favorite moments of mine in this book. But if I had to pick one, I think I would choose the name moment. It's a game changer for Charlie, and sets the tone for everything moving forward. The reader can immediately sense that Brody will help guide the young Charlie.

The writing is stellar, with characters who are lovable and charming. There are plenty of secondary characters to warm your heart as well, including Mamma D. The author truly excels in illustrating the importance of being true to oneself, and taking the time to figure out what that means for each person.

Finding Me is the perfect choice when you're looking for a tender romance with a non-binary main character. This Stella Rainbow read will leave you satisfied, and with all the feels. This is the perfect inspirational read for anyone looking for guidance along their own way. I love it all!
Profile Image for Layla .
1,468 reviews75 followers
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July 26, 2020
***Highly Recommend****

For fans of #FriendsToLovers #FemmeMen

4. 25 stars!

Finding Me, The follow up to Stella Rainbow's debut Novel, Finding You was a step in the right direction.
Stella is tackling some very intense issues from the LGBTQ community from the get-go, and for that I applaud her. She took some tropes that have been largely discussed in books, and breathed some new life into them.

Why read this book...

1. Brady...
Stella brought out the big guns people! A twinkish, femme, smaller top. He is fierce, and loyal and sweet and strong. He makes the perfect partner. Can we say #HellsYeah!

2. Charlie...
The NB, AMAB sweetheart of a person tugs at your heartstrings. They truly go through a transformation from Charles, the man, who is so uncomfortable in his own skin, to Charlie, the NB person, who "finds themselves" and embraces their uniqueness.
Also, they are a big-ol' bottom! #SoHot

3. The Relationship Progression..
These guys progress from friends to lovers in the most seamless way. Brady is there for Charlie every way. The clothes, the makeup, the advice... it all cemented the fact that they belong to each other in every way. #WeBelongTogether

4. The Secondary Characters...
Stella is building up a great circle of friends for her characters. Scott and Luke make an appearance, in addition to Mama D and whole lot of new characters,some of which need their own book!
*cough Jo cough* #FoundFamily

5. The Love Scenes...
Stella gave us some really HAWT scenes dude! Brady and Cahrlie were sweet, sexy and sensual together. The sex only added to their relationship and the love scenes never felt forced. #Brava!

#HappyReading

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an Honest Review
Profile Image for Shweta.
228 reviews11 followers
July 30, 2020
4.5 stars
A heart-warming tale of self-discovery, finding friendship, family, happiness and  true love.


'Finding Me' is the story of Brady-an eclectic personality who strikes up a friendship with Charlie- a lost and misguided soul, who is trying their best to come to terms with their genderfluid identity after years of repressing their true self for the sake of family. 

Brady and his found family at Voice out, immediately welcome Charlie into their lovely community and Charlie truly blossoms under Brady's TLC. 
I personally loved how the author highlighted the easy going nature of their friendship in the initial chapters, with the simmering attraction and chemistry humming beneath the surface. And when they do confess their liking towards each other, their romance is tots adorable to read. 
|"I smiled at them, my heart warming because for the first time I felt like someone had finally seen the real me. “Well, I guess we’re perfect for each other then, aren’t we?”|

The writing flows well and it was so very lovely to read Charlie's journey towards finding themself, discovering the facets of Brady's personality in the process as well as the all accepting love and warmth that all the side characters displayed.

Highly recommend if you are looking for a lovely tale of self discovery with some swoon worthy romance. The perfect read for a cozy afternoon.
ARC received in exchange of honest review
Profile Image for Megan.
1,469 reviews29 followers
August 17, 2020
Brady's spark and loyalty was engaging when we first met him in Finding You and here we get to see him get his happily ever after with the person who fits all of him. Luckily Charlie is just as wonderful and a great match because they have their own journey to travel and it's not always on an upward slope. Together they navigate change, acceptance, and love in a way that was full of challenge and tenderness. This was such a wonderfully sweet story with an insightful look into how difficult some personal evolutions can be.

Charlie was shy, vulnerable, and so very curious. Their openness served them well at the same time as giving the reader a glimpse into the ups and downs of accepting your true self after hiding away for decades. The body dysmorphia was especially interesting in a way that a cis female like myself wouldn't truly be aware of had I not found a story like this. Not liking myself or being dissatisfied with my body's appearance has nothing on what Charlie and many other non-binary individuals have to face and I absolutely appreciated how this topic was described and handled. Following that up with Brady's fierceness in the face of hurtful family members showed a lighter and positive outcome for bringing family together despite all the hurt.

Brady's constant encouragement and support was invaluable to Charlie and their dynamic really worked for me. This was a much lighter story in comparison to Finding You, but its subject matter was completely different and held a different intensity. The Voice Out community is full of love and brightness in a world that doesn't accept all humans in their variety of flavors. I'm a fan of this series and am eager for more.
173 reviews
August 11, 2020
5 STARS AMAZING

Brady! Such as sweet and bossy top! I loved Brady since meeting him in Finding You. He is so sure of himself and the perfect person to be able to help Charlie navigate their new path. Oh! And we cannot forget the love of GLITTER



Charlie is absolutely magnificent and I'm pretty sure they own a piece of my heart that I'll never get back! The journey that they have to go to to feel comfortable in their own skin was heartbreaking, but so beautiful.

Watching Brady help Charlie sew their self together and be everything that they possibly could be was inspiring.

This book is wonderfully written! The amount of growth Stella Rainbow was able to convey for both characters leaves you captivated and wanting more pages to magically appear even after "The End." I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this book and be introduced to Stella. I cannot wait for book #3 of the Voice out series.
8 reviews
August 9, 2020
One of the few stories I’ve read that address non-binary and gender fluid people. Brady is happy with his life, his bakery and his volunteer work at Voice Out. He meets Charlie when he confronts him for stalking him at his bakery. He soon realizes Charlie isn’t stalking him, but they do need a friend;.

After the unexpected death of their father, Charlie realizes life is too short not to be who they really are. With Brady’s help Charlie becomes more comfortable with who they are.

You will enjoy the journey Charlie goes on to find and fully accept who they are.

There was some wording that seemed off and mistakes that made it through the editing process, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Profile Image for Maureen.
3,670 reviews39 followers
August 12, 2020
This is a wonderful story dealing with gender awareness, but also a difficult one. I've been trying learn more on this subject so this came along at a good time, I'm still struggling to understand some, like the difference between Bi and Pan. Charles is struggling, he calls himself non-binary but doesn't know how to deal with it. Meeting Brady was the best thing that could happen to Charles/Charlie.
I did learn an awful lot with this book, AMAB, assigned male at birth, poly gender, and more. I don’t like the term non-binary, it sounds cold and clinical, gender-fluid is a Much gentler term. So many other terms appeared here, there is so much to learn and understand. This is book two of a series, book one was amazing, dealing with a horrific past, this one was so beautifully showing us another side of life.
Profile Image for Traci S.
1,982 reviews12 followers
June 28, 2022
I enjoyed Charlie and Brady’s love story. My favorite thing about this book are the wonderfully complicated and well developed characters, Charlie and Brady are both unique and definitely easy to root for. Brady is so compassionate and caring and he is super endearing in his determination to help and later love Charlie how they deserve. I also loved the colorful side characters who bring so much depth to the story, especially Mama D. I wish everyone had a hero and champion like Mama D in their corner. There are some hurtful and painful moments in Charlie and Brady’s journey but also a lot of love, great friendships, and a beautiful happy ending. ❤️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
9 reviews1 follower
July 6, 2022
Would highly recommend
This is such a beautiful written story about Charlie discovering themself. Charlie is drawn to Brady with the way he dresses. Hoping he's gender fluid like himself , but Brady is pansexual . Charlie asks Brady if he could help him on his journey which he agrees to . As Charlie's journey progresses their relationship changes along with a growing family .
There are highs and lows in this book but with a happy ending
I received an arc copy in return to write a honest review
I found it hard writing this review as I was so engrossed in the story and the characters, and did not want to give too much away . Hopefully learnt more about the subject . So looking forward to more of her work.
Profile Image for E.Muddle.
1,394 reviews21 followers
August 9, 2020
This is a well-written and inspirational contemporary romance that includes all the sweetness, unconditional love, and friendship goals you could possibly need. Brady becomes a sparkling light in Charlie's life when they meet, and his pure-hearted kindness and understanding are exactly what Charlie needs to finally flourish on the journey to self-discovery. Their relationship isn't rushed and feels very organic, and the intimate scenes are refreshingly tender and hot, adding depth to their feelings. I am loving this world, and the amazing group of friends we get to meet who all deserve their own HEAs (hopefully soon)!
Profile Image for Nicole van Dongen.
386 reviews6 followers
July 7, 2022
Stella did a fantastic job with a rainbow spectrum of queer characters in this book. I loved that Brady was not afraid to dress as Twinkie as he wanted or wear makeup and heels, and then always be the dominant in their relationship. Charlie was such a well written character. I loved their personal growth, and their relationship with their brother was icing on the cake. There was almost no angst or antagonist in this book. Until about 90% this was a lovely personal growth romance, and the twist at the end gave the characters the ouch they needed to make the final decisions in the relationship. I will definitely be reading the remainder of this series.
Profile Image for Samantha.
440 reviews
August 7, 2020
So this is my first read from this author and I had no clue what I was going to find when I opened this story. I was completely amazed by the story it sucked me and and whilst I’ve never read anything where the main characters are gender fluid and/or pansexual I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this story and the route it took for Charlie to fully accept and grow into themselves after meeting the fabulous Brady. This couples relationship grows along with them and they are both beautifully written characters. I cannot wait to see where else this cast of characters will takes us
Profile Image for Nessa.
244 reviews6 followers
August 8, 2020
A little dry, a little boring, and overall did not call to me. Does not mean it’s not right for someone, just not me. I enjoyed it enough to finish it. I’ve always held this belief that there is no such thing as a bad book, just a book that you didn’t connect with.

Brady and Charlie have a quick meeting at Voice Out before their friendship develops at a fast pace. And the story makes its fast developments from there. They have their special moments and their “I love you”s were worth the wait. They come together in the end and it’s sweet.

This book is a solid 3-stars for me.
Profile Image for Patti.
989 reviews7 followers
August 9, 2020
Brady thought he had everything he needed and wanted. A successful cafe and his friends and volunteering at Voice Out. Then Charlie stumbled into his cafe. Charlie captivated him. It began as a friend helping out, giving advice. Charlie had always been so far in the closet because of their father. After their father died, they could finally express their sexuality. Brady and Voice Out were just what they needed. Slow burn romance. I loved it.
355 reviews
July 7, 2022
Being themselves

I’m loving the diversity of characters in Voice Out, showcasing the rainbow spectrum and the different ways it expresses. Brady and Charlie have such a sweet and tender romance. Brady does a fantastic job of supporting Charlie and bringing them out of their shell so they can finally feel right in their skin. The story is very thoughtfully told, but beware of triggers for homophobia and off page assault.
Profile Image for Amos24601.
1,286 reviews44 followers
August 17, 2020
So cute

What an adorable read. Charlie and Brady were such a cute couple. I loved that Brady was the one taking the lead here. We don’t get too many stories where the little guy is the “alpha.” Charlie was wonderful. They was just trying to figure who they were and Brady was there to help every step of the way.

An enjoyable read from beginning to end.
1,469 reviews8 followers
August 18, 2020
Charlie has moved away from their family to be able to be their true selves. Brady is living his life the way he wants. As these two become friends with a very cute and hilarious first meeting, Charlie becomes who they truly are with Brady's support. Everything isn't always good or easy but the emotions between the two of them will have you tearing up. Thoroughly loved this story.
Profile Image for Belinda Zamora.
2,627 reviews8 followers
August 18, 2020
Slice of life romance

I really enjoyed this story.
Charlie and Brady really touched me.
Their strength lay in their willingness to work amid their struggles.
Not allowing fear of the unknown or other's opinions of them live a life less than.
To make changes, accepting themselves and loving one another.
280 reviews1 follower
August 19, 2020
Brady is happy with his bakery. Charlie has moved away from his family to be his true self. They meet at Brady's bakery and become friends. Soon their relationship evolves into more then friendship. This story has an amazing group of friends we are introduced to that makes this story come together. I definitely recommend this sweet book!
Profile Image for Mandy Tunstill.
511 reviews10 followers
September 23, 2020
Brilliant what a beautiful story of finding yourself never read one of gender fluid before and Charlie is such a cutie and so unsure of themselves until they meet Brady who's pansexual but so positive and gorgeous loves wearing make-up but they are drawn to each other straight away and he helps Charlie be the person they are meant to be Fantastic recommend highly.
1,453 reviews9 followers
July 1, 2022
This is the second story in this series but it can be read as a stand-alone. The characters are so real and well thought out. I absolutely loved Charlie and Brady. Brady was the perfect person to help Charlie with how they felt. I also loved getting to see Mama D again. They are such a fascinating character. I really enjoyed this story.
Profile Image for Danyelle Williams.
957 reviews8 followers
August 11, 2020
Real life story

I really enjoyed the self discovery aspect of this book. You will easily fall in love with Charlie and Brady. The story felt very real life which I really enjoyed. Everyone should be entitled to express the person they are without fearing what others think.
Profile Image for Carly.
140 reviews3 followers
August 14, 2020
*slight spoiler* “Hey, Charlie. I’m Brady and I’m going to accompany you on a kick-ass ride of self-discovery,” This pretty much sums up the entire book, it’s a story of Charlie discovering who he really is with the help of a new friend (and eventual partner) named Brady.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tara.
92 reviews1 follower
August 19, 2020
Really liked Charlie and Brady's relationship. Charlie is gender fluid and Brady helps them discover themselves and feel comfortable in their skin. A sweet and caring relationship with a HEA ending.
2 reviews
August 25, 2020
My first Stella book and I am hooked. I love her writing and how well the characters were developed. They stole a piece of my heart I cannot wait for book 3.

Brady is bossy and Charlie is sweet they mix together well for a perfect story that I was sad ended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

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