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I Heart Sapphfic Pride Collection #2
The Glow Up
A coveted summer internship takes a small-town girl to the Windy City, where she’s totally out of her element – and learning who she is for the first time.
Jo’s dreams have always been too big for her small-town Montana life. When she lands a competitive internship in Chicago, her conservative parents worry about letting her go. But it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, sure to change her world.
Hazel is a city girl to the core, absorbing all the culture Chicago has to offer in her quest to make beautiful queer art. When a gorgeous girl in a prairie dress stumbles in front of her scooter during the city’s Pride Parade, it’s almost vehicular manslaughter at first sight – but Hazel acts in the nick of time and winds up with a clueless baby gay in her lap.
Meeting Hazel and her friends unveils a world Jo never imagined, as well as parts of herself she’s long kept hidden. But first loves are doomed to end, and the summer won’t last forever. Jo’s parents expect her to return to her life in Montana, sacrificing the new family she’s found with Hazel. Can she go home again?
What begins as a traffic accident evolves into a smoldering attraction in this romance full of pride, found family and the glow-up of a lifetime.
This book is part of the I Heart SapphFic Pride Collection, which contains eight standalone books from some of the top authors in sapphic fiction today. Each one promises a Pride theme and a happy ending. The collection was organized by I Heart SapphFic, which is a website for authors and readers of sapphic fiction to stay up to date on all the latest sapphic fiction news.
Jo’s dreams have always been too big for her small-town Montana life. When she lands a competitive internship in Chicago, her conservative parents worry about letting her go. But it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, sure to change her world.
Hazel is a city girl to the core, absorbing all the culture Chicago has to offer in her quest to make beautiful queer art. When a gorgeous girl in a prairie dress stumbles in front of her scooter during the city’s Pride Parade, it’s almost vehicular manslaughter at first sight – but Hazel acts in the nick of time and winds up with a clueless baby gay in her lap.
Meeting Hazel and her friends unveils a world Jo never imagined, as well as parts of herself she’s long kept hidden. But first loves are doomed to end, and the summer won’t last forever. Jo’s parents expect her to return to her life in Montana, sacrificing the new family she’s found with Hazel. Can she go home again?
What begins as a traffic accident evolves into a smoldering attraction in this romance full of pride, found family and the glow-up of a lifetime.
This book is part of the I Heart SapphFic Pride Collection, which contains eight standalone books from some of the top authors in sapphic fiction today. Each one promises a Pride theme and a happy ending. The collection was organized by I Heart SapphFic, which is a website for authors and readers of sapphic fiction to stay up to date on all the latest sapphic fiction news.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2022
218 people are currently reading
810 people want to read
About the author
Cara Malone
68 books479 followersI write stories that explore the thrills – and challenges – of falling in love as a woman-loving woman, including the bestselling Lakeside Hospital medical romance series and Rainbow Award honorable mention The Rules of Love.
My books are for you if you’re a fan of contemporary romance, if you love strong women who aren’t afraid to be vulnerable, and if you like a little heat with your sapphic love stories.
Grab a free copy of Mind Games on my website, CaraMalone.com
My books are for you if you’re a fan of contemporary romance, if you love strong women who aren’t afraid to be vulnerable, and if you like a little heat with your sapphic love stories.
Grab a free copy of Mind Games on my website, CaraMalone.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
June 11, 2022
Cute first love.
This is a toaster-oven story about two young women meeting at a Pride Parade, developing feelings for each other and deciding to give each other a chance. They have some issues to sort out to make a long-term relationship work, but it's overall a light and easy story to follow and I appreciate the good feeling that this first-love type of cute, low angst book gives me.
The characters are relatively young, Jo is 21 and Hazel is 22, and so there's an element of coming of age as well, as they have to deal with parents and figure out the direction they want to take in life, particularly in relation to their careers. For one of the characters, it's also about coming to terms with her sexuality, though that was sorted out pretty easily.
This is a toaster-oven story about two young women meeting at a Pride Parade, developing feelings for each other and deciding to give each other a chance. They have some issues to sort out to make a long-term relationship work, but it's overall a light and easy story to follow and I appreciate the good feeling that this first-love type of cute, low angst book gives me.
The characters are relatively young, Jo is 21 and Hazel is 22, and so there's an element of coming of age as well, as they have to deal with parents and figure out the direction they want to take in life, particularly in relation to their careers. For one of the characters, it's also about coming to terms with her sexuality, though that was sorted out pretty easily.
June 24, 2022
➥ 1 Star *:･ﾟ✧
"I'm not like other girls" 😻. Before writing this review, it was just "👎" and I think that's a pretty accurate depiction of my feelings regarding this book. If you don't think it's shit, (like I do) it's the epitome of mediocrity. The characters were flat, the dialogue and writing was juvenile and terrible, the romance was sparkless, the steam was terribly written and there was a breakup in the middle of the book. I'm not talking about a 3rd act conflict near the end (which shouldn't happen in novellas anyway), but the girls were happy and in love (somewhat) by 40% and the rest of the book is them getting back together.
I feel like the cover is gaslighting me because it's kind of cute, but this book really was...not as cute. These girls meet because Hazel nearly runs over Jo at a pride parade but instead somehow manages to pick her up from the street and pull her onto her lap during a pride parade. Don't ask my how that's possible because I don't even think it is. Then Hazel asks Jo out for a drink and Jo is like "no, i'm straight sorry lolz". But she forgot her purse so Hazel goes on a mission to get it back to her.
Just because Those Who Wait is one of my favourite sapphic books, let's compare a little. Something that I adored about Those Who Wait was the girls inner monologues. How they thought of eachother; so admiring and loving and tender. Whereas here, this is what we read.
Am I seriously reading about a character that is dying to see this girl's nipples. Who thought this was a good idea? Rather, how does one sit down and write things like this and think "Hmmm yes! That sounds fab. They'll love it." Anyway, it was awful.
Regarding the romance, the perfect word for it is bland. They went out to eat, then they went out to dance, then they went back to Hazel's apartment and made out and Jo had gay panic. That is the romance. That's it. Just going places together. This lacked so many things; angst, tension, tender moments, hot moments. Just beyond disappointing. For example, this is the dirty talk.
Am I missing something. How am I supposed to like this book, I don't understand. I was trying to be optimistic because at least this book had some steam but it was just so bland and boring. None of it was enjoyable or new or hot at all.
What's worse you say? The modern pop culture references. Not only was Tiktok mentioned a handful of times, one of them being that a side character gets together with a "sapphic booktoker" 💀. But no, part of the romance was Hazel taking Jo. To the book store. To buy lesbian erotica and talk about how it's "spicy". You should have seen the horror on my face, I got so much second hand embarassement. Is this the author's some sort of self-insert fantasy? I don't understand.
And there's more, because apparently the fmc uses the books to learn stuff which is so cringy, I cannot believe the author chose to write that in.
Moving past that, like I mentioned in my description of Jo, this book was so incredibly American. There is so much emphasis on moving from some rural city to moving to Chicago and how she's actually a country girl at heart and shit. I just could not stand it.
At the beginning, Hazel and some other girl started talking like men and I nearly passed out because why.
Maybe I'm being too harsh but why are they talking like that. As if they're just trying to like 'get one of those'. Idk, it's weird to me and not endearing.
I've got to go but I'll finish my review in a bit, because there is actually more to complain about lmao.
“You look great,” Hazel said, pushing off the wall. “You’ve got a very hippie girl vibe.”
“That’s probably a bad thing for this city, right?”
“Not at all,” she said. “There are so many cookie-cutter women here, you can tell they all got their outfits from the same five popular shops, or the same Pinterest boards. I like a girl with an independent streak.”
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
"I'm not like other girls" 😻. Before writing this review, it was just "👎" and I think that's a pretty accurate depiction of my feelings regarding this book. If you don't think it's shit, (like I do) it's the epitome of mediocrity. The characters were flat, the dialogue and writing was juvenile and terrible, the romance was sparkless, the steam was terribly written and there was a breakup in the middle of the book. I'm not talking about a 3rd act conflict near the end (which shouldn't happen in novellas anyway), but the girls were happy and in love (somewhat) by 40% and the rest of the book is them getting back together.
➥ Josephine (h) make the fact that she's 'not a city girl' her whole personality. She also interns at a place because she wants to change the world. Ok. She's also the one who starts off thinking she's straight. She was very annoying, very immature and her character was extremely shallow.
➥ Hazel (h) was also annoying in the sense that her inner monologue was wack. The dialogue in this book was just so bad that I couldn't like any character. Anyway, she's a city girl and is quirky because he dad is rich and has a business that she could just take over and become rich with, but no 😞😞 she wants to be an artist 🥺🥺. It's just so dumb and stereotypical lmao. Hazel was meant to be the charming one but I genuinely have no feelings about this character.
I feel like the cover is gaslighting me because it's kind of cute, but this book really was...not as cute. These girls meet because Hazel nearly runs over Jo at a pride parade but instead somehow manages to pick her up from the street and pull her onto her lap during a pride parade. Don't ask my how that's possible because I don't even think it is. Then Hazel asks Jo out for a drink and Jo is like "no, i'm straight sorry lolz". But she forgot her purse so Hazel goes on a mission to get it back to her.
Just because Those Who Wait is one of my favourite sapphic books, let's compare a little. Something that I adored about Those Who Wait was the girls inner monologues. How they thought of eachother; so admiring and loving and tender. Whereas here, this is what we read.
And then the fourth door she knocked on opened. And Jo was standing there, a cotton robe wrapped around her curvy body and damp hair wetting her shoulders.
Don’t look at her nipples, don’t look at her nipples…
It was an almost insurmountable task. They were pebbled, the only hard thing in the landscape of smooth, soft cotton on her body. Thankfully, the look of stunned surprise on Jo’s face helped keep Hazel’s eyes occupied.
Am I seriously reading about a character that is dying to see this girl's nipples. Who thought this was a good idea? Rather, how does one sit down and write things like this and think "Hmmm yes! That sounds fab. They'll love it." Anyway, it was awful.
Regarding the romance, the perfect word for it is bland. They went out to eat, then they went out to dance, then they went back to Hazel's apartment and made out and Jo had gay panic. That is the romance. That's it. Just going places together. This lacked so many things; angst, tension, tender moments, hot moments. Just beyond disappointing. For example, this is the dirty talk.
“You have a pretty pussy,” Jo said, taking her time letting her eyes crawl over Hazel’s folds.
“So do you,” Hazel said. “Delicious too.”
Am I missing something. How am I supposed to like this book, I don't understand. I was trying to be optimistic because at least this book had some steam but it was just so bland and boring. None of it was enjoyable or new or hot at all.
What's worse you say? The modern pop culture references. Not only was Tiktok mentioned a handful of times, one of them being that a side character gets together with a "sapphic booktoker" 💀. But no, part of the romance was Hazel taking Jo. To the book store. To buy lesbian erotica and talk about how it's "spicy". You should have seen the horror on my face, I got so much second hand embarassement. Is this the author's some sort of self-insert fantasy? I don't understand.
"I have some favorite indie authors I think you might like too, if you’re open to something a little more… spicy.” Hazel said.
Jo’s cheeks turned the color of the flower petals in her cup. “Spicy?” She practically choked on the word.
Hazel laughed. “Or we can skip that for now.”
“Well, I didn’t say that, exactly,” Jo answered with a bashful smile.
And there's more, because apparently the fmc uses the books to learn stuff which is so cringy, I cannot believe the author chose to write that in.
“I read a few naughty books that came into my possession,” Jo said,
turning to her. “They gave me a few ideas." 💀
Moving past that, like I mentioned in my description of Jo, this book was so incredibly American. There is so much emphasis on moving from some rural city to moving to Chicago and how she's actually a country girl at heart and shit. I just could not stand it.
At the beginning, Hazel and some other girl started talking like men and I nearly passed out because why.
“Hey,” one of the other riders, a forty-something woman named Daphne that Hazel had gotten to know during set-up, came over and interrupted her musings. “Wanna get a drink?”
“Yeah, sure,” Hazel said. “Did you see the extra rider I ended up with?”
“Yes, that was some James Bond shit you pulled, scooping her out of the street… She was cute, too. Wish she fell in front of my bike. You get her number?” Hazel shook her head, and Daphne tutted at her. “What a waste.”
Maybe I'm being too harsh but why are they talking like that. As if they're just trying to like 'get one of those'. Idk, it's weird to me and not endearing.
I've got to go but I'll finish my review in a bit, because there is actually more to complain about lmao.
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
June 6, 2022
I was excited about this series, but I appear to be a major grump or something. I keep being mostly disappointed. With exceptions. Like this book here.
1st positive: Multiple POVs, yay!
2nd positive: no obvious sexual harassment (looking at you HOWL - not talking about the stuff in the backroom pre-hiring, no, talking about a boss who point blank told their employee to take their shirt off, and when the employee said no, the boss ripped the shirt. This is supposed to be fun?)
3rd positive: Sorry about 2, it got away from me.
Right, so. I've read two previous books by this author, avg rating of 3.77, and one short story - rated 4.97 out of 5. So naturally . . . loved this one best of all in this series so far. I keep debating with myself if I should push it to the 5+ shelf or keep it on the 5 star shelf.
As noted, this book involves multiple POV, two in this case. Jo (native of Montana) & Hazel (native of Chicago). Both around 21/22, both recent college graduates.
Book opens with Jo in Chicago to be an intern with a well respected foundation type place. As a communications person. Hazel is in Chicago . . . because she lives there. Hazel is an artist and she's attempting to figure out how to reach the goals she wants to reach, though isn't sure yet how to get there (involves being successful painter). Though knows doesn't want a graphic design job that would suck her soul from her body.
The two meet as the book description notes how they meet. Jo ends up in Hazel's lap. How'd she get there? Well . . .. Jo was given something like a $1000 to pay for everything for a summer, so free things are best. And the zoo is free, and Jo's destination when she got distracted by something that sounded like a parade. Parades tend to be free . . . so off to a parade she went. Crowded parade. Pushy parade. And oops, now she's in the middle of the road and a scooter just flew past her. And several are heading right for her: before she can move or blink, she's been swooped up and is now sitting on the lap of one of the scooter drivers. That being Hazel.
So, naturally, once they are in a position for the two to talk off the scooter . . . . Jo has disappeared into the crowd. No worries. The purse strap broke, Hazel has it, she tracks down Jo.
Great characters/characterization. Love the interaction.
I noted before that Hazel is an artist: reminds me of another artist in this series, especially the part wherein there are these super graphic paintings of nude women all over the place. Just a vague thought I had.
Rating: 5+
June 6 2022
1st positive: Multiple POVs, yay!
2nd positive: no obvious sexual harassment (looking at you HOWL - not talking about the stuff in the backroom pre-hiring, no, talking about a boss who point blank told their employee to take their shirt off, and when the employee said no, the boss ripped the shirt. This is supposed to be fun?)
3rd positive: Sorry about 2, it got away from me.
Right, so. I've read two previous books by this author, avg rating of 3.77, and one short story - rated 4.97 out of 5. So naturally . . . loved this one best of all in this series so far. I keep debating with myself if I should push it to the 5+ shelf or keep it on the 5 star shelf.
As noted, this book involves multiple POV, two in this case. Jo (native of Montana) & Hazel (native of Chicago). Both around 21/22, both recent college graduates.
Book opens with Jo in Chicago to be an intern with a well respected foundation type place. As a communications person. Hazel is in Chicago . . . because she lives there. Hazel is an artist and she's attempting to figure out how to reach the goals she wants to reach, though isn't sure yet how to get there (involves being successful painter). Though knows doesn't want a graphic design job that would suck her soul from her body.
The two meet as the book description notes how they meet. Jo ends up in Hazel's lap. How'd she get there? Well . . .. Jo was given something like a $1000 to pay for everything for a summer, so free things are best. And the zoo is free, and Jo's destination when she got distracted by something that sounded like a parade. Parades tend to be free . . . so off to a parade she went. Crowded parade. Pushy parade. And oops, now she's in the middle of the road and a scooter just flew past her. And several are heading right for her: before she can move or blink, she's been swooped up and is now sitting on the lap of one of the scooter drivers. That being Hazel.
So, naturally, once they are in a position for the two to talk off the scooter . . . . Jo has disappeared into the crowd. No worries. The purse strap broke, Hazel has it, she tracks down Jo.
Great characters/characterization. Love the interaction.
I noted before that Hazel is an artist: reminds me of another artist in this series, especially the part wherein there are these super graphic paintings of nude women all over the place. Just a vague thought I had.
Rating: 5+
June 6 2022
June 4, 2022
Part of the I Heart SapphFic Pride Collection.
A Pride Parade and Vespa scooters make for an interesting connection when city girl Hazel saves small town lass Jo from being hit by a scooter. An aspiring artist finds her muse in a marketing intern. The realization and acceptance of feelings, blossoming romance, growth in confidence and widening of possibilities all eventually lead to a HEA. Another easy, sweet story from Ms. Malone - perfect for Pride Month. Loved the book cover.
A Pride Parade and Vespa scooters make for an interesting connection when city girl Hazel saves small town lass Jo from being hit by a scooter. An aspiring artist finds her muse in a marketing intern. The realization and acceptance of feelings, blossoming romance, growth in confidence and widening of possibilities all eventually lead to a HEA. Another easy, sweet story from Ms. Malone - perfect for Pride Month. Loved the book cover.
August 16, 2022
Good story on an even keel that kept me entertained.
June 7, 2022
This was a very cute story. If only we were all as lucky as Jo and Hazel to meet our person and have it stick.
June 8, 2022
Loved it
Super cute and enjoyable. Would def recommend. It was funny, sweet and lighthearted. Very much enjoyed the quick read. Another winner from the author.
Super cute and enjoyable. Would def recommend. It was funny, sweet and lighthearted. Very much enjoyed the quick read. Another winner from the author.
June 3, 2022
Another good novella on the I Heart Sapphfic Pride Collection.
I think I’ve never read this author before and I like the writing style.
We get to meet Jo and Hazel in this novella, they have alternating first person POV chapters. I like this in a book, mostly. In this one I do feel like we get a better picture of Jo than we do of Hazel, and it’s a bit of a shame. They are a fun and sweet pairing who just happen upon each other, and whatever happens next in life. Maybe all a bit too much of a coincidence, but for a pride collection novella it is fine.
I think I’ve never read this author before and I like the writing style.
We get to meet Jo and Hazel in this novella, they have alternating first person POV chapters. I like this in a book, mostly. In this one I do feel like we get a better picture of Jo than we do of Hazel, and it’s a bit of a shame. They are a fun and sweet pairing who just happen upon each other, and whatever happens next in life. Maybe all a bit too much of a coincidence, but for a pride collection novella it is fine.
June 11, 2022
Very cute story! My only wish is that it had been longer.
July 14, 2025
When city girl Hazel knocks country bumpkin Jo off her feet with her vespa at a pride parade in Chicago, things happen. Two young MCs come to find their calling in the big city and love. A touch cheesy towards the end, but overall a good one. 3.5 stars.
June 1, 2022
Jo literally falls into Hazel’s lap at the Chicago Pride Parade. It truly is like a Cinderella story as Hazel tracks Jo down to return her purse. As they start to hang out together Jo is realizing something about herself. Hazel feels Jo is her muse and starts a new series of paintings. A sweet story of discovery and first love.
June 5, 2022
Most of the time, I'm totally sure I'm aro and not greyro, but then I read a story like this, and I'm like "wait I want an artist girlfriend to live with in a cool city too."
Not really though, I don't wanna live with anyone except my cat, the idea of another human in my home all the time sounds God awful. Even if she's a cute femme artist who comes from money.
But yes, this was almost criminally adorable, and such a lovely Pride month read. So many queer stories are about pain and angst, and those are certainly valuable too, but sometimes you just want something fun and light where the only angst is due to having to spend a few weeks apart. I liked both characters and appreciate that we got some decent backstory for both of them, even in a relatively short book. Jo's newfound awareness of her sexuality makes a lot of sense in her case, and I liked that Hazel wasn't pushy with her, but also wasn't super shy. And I liked that while things did work out with a nice HEA, it wasn't in a totally predictable way. I enjoyed the side characters too and would definitely read a book about Mick or Daphne.
I did wish it were just a bit longer so that we could have gotten more about Jo's new career path, but otherwise this was just a very sweet and enjoyable quick read. Also lesbians are great. That's just a fact. We're awesome.
Not really though, I don't wanna live with anyone except my cat, the idea of another human in my home all the time sounds God awful. Even if she's a cute femme artist who comes from money.
But yes, this was almost criminally adorable, and such a lovely Pride month read. So many queer stories are about pain and angst, and those are certainly valuable too, but sometimes you just want something fun and light where the only angst is due to having to spend a few weeks apart. I liked both characters and appreciate that we got some decent backstory for both of them, even in a relatively short book. Jo's newfound awareness of her sexuality makes a lot of sense in her case, and I liked that Hazel wasn't pushy with her, but also wasn't super shy. And I liked that while things did work out with a nice HEA, it wasn't in a totally predictable way. I enjoyed the side characters too and would definitely read a book about Mick or Daphne.
I did wish it were just a bit longer so that we could have gotten more about Jo's new career path, but otherwise this was just a very sweet and enjoyable quick read. Also lesbians are great. That's just a fact. We're awesome.
June 10, 2022
Excellent.
I loved The Glow Up. AAAHHH. To be young and in love. To be out and proud. It does the heart good to remember that things can work out in the end.
I loved The Glow Up. AAAHHH. To be young and in love. To be out and proud. It does the heart good to remember that things can work out in the end.
February 6, 2024
It was ok, a little clunky, but then the phrase ‘tight little hole’ was used in a sex scene and I had to tap out. Dnf.
July 19, 2022
The second of eight stand alone books from top authors that were released in June to celebrate Pride. Cara Malone writes a first love story set in Chicago. Josephine arrives from a very small town in Montana for a summer internship at a major non-profit. She is a little overwhelmed at the big city but is loves it and enjoys her work in communications. While watching the Pride parade she is literally swept off her feet y Hazel who is riding a Vespa. Hazel comes from money but is supporting herself while trying to get an art career going.
Both girls are young, just finishing college and in ways they come off as immature. Jo has literally never been on a date with any gender but she is realizing she may not be straight. Hazel’s immaturity shows in her behavior to her mentor who is trying to help her be realistic about supporting herself while trying to be an artist. I liked both women but they seem more stereotypes without depth of character. It is an okay read but I didn’t enjoy it as much as other books I’ve read by the author.
Both girls are young, just finishing college and in ways they come off as immature. Jo has literally never been on a date with any gender but she is realizing she may not be straight. Hazel’s immaturity shows in her behavior to her mentor who is trying to help her be realistic about supporting herself while trying to be an artist. I liked both women but they seem more stereotypes without depth of character. It is an okay read but I didn’t enjoy it as much as other books I’ve read by the author.
August 13, 2024
I'm late to the game, as this was on my TBR shelves. A cute coming out love story. Josephine (Jo) moves from a small town in Montana to Chicago for an intern job at a nonprofit. She's on a tight budget and finds free things to do when on her way to the Zoo, she's inticed by a parade. A Pride Parade. When she gets pushed into the way ofa Vespa ridden by Hazel. Hazel wraps her arm around Jo and pulls her on her lap.
This is how the two women meet, Jo just figuring out who she is, thanks to her attraction to Hazel. A lovely, low angst love story! 5 stars!
This is how the two women meet, Jo just figuring out who she is, thanks to her attraction to Hazel. A lovely, low angst love story! 5 stars!
May 28, 2022
As usual from Ms Malone, this is a lovely read. No aghast, just a lovely story of two women falling in love. Jo has come from a small town in Montana, to the big city of Chicago. Whilst there she stumbles into the Pride parade and gets rescued from being run over, by Hazel. It’s love at first sight for them both and what follows is the story of their relationship. Very easy reading, just a very enjoyable feel good book.
June 13, 2022
Good book
A lovingly story of coming out and how to stay with the person you love. Jo a grad student is trying to get hired after her inter is up. Wanting to move from your small town in Montana to the big city of Chicago. Instead of going to the zoo she wonder I to a Pride parade and got sweep off her feet. Learning the feelings she has after meeting Hazel she wants nothing more than to stay and be with her. They figured things out a what a proposal to end the story.
A lovingly story of coming out and how to stay with the person you love. Jo a grad student is trying to get hired after her inter is up. Wanting to move from your small town in Montana to the big city of Chicago. Instead of going to the zoo she wonder I to a Pride parade and got sweep off her feet. Learning the feelings she has after meeting Hazel she wants nothing more than to stay and be with her. They figured things out a what a proposal to end the story.
August 9, 2023
Sweet, funny and adorable
April 20, 2025
Cute story
It was light, easy and just purely adorable book. The story was pretty uncomplicated and quick to read. I really liked the way Hazel and Jo meet up for the first time - very original. I am sure I will be reading something more by Cara Malone in the future.
It was light, easy and just purely adorable book. The story was pretty uncomplicated and quick to read. I really liked the way Hazel and Jo meet up for the first time - very original. I am sure I will be reading something more by Cara Malone in the future.
May 27, 2022
Brand new graduate from Montana State, Josephine has earned a communications internship with the Marlowe Foundation in Chicago. Hazel, a graduate art student working at a coffee shop, is from a very wealthy family whose father wants her to take over the family foundation, but Hazel is determined to be true to her artistic self. How Hazel literally sweeps Jo off her feet is a very cute beginning to their relationship.
Hazel is out and proud, but Jo is just figuring things out. I love that there was a palpable attraction. Hazel pursued her hard but was extremely patient throughout this story and when Jo committed, well, there was no doubt they belonged together. I also love that Jo's family was accepting. There still are so many books today where the parents aren't and it's heartbreaking just like real life. I do, however, feel hope for a more positive acceptance by all of us.
Cara writes with compassion, love and quirkiness. Her characters are really nice people, people you'd like as friends. In this book, there is such a warm ending that should make everyone reading feel hopeful for a more inclusive future!
Hazel is out and proud, but Jo is just figuring things out. I love that there was a palpable attraction. Hazel pursued her hard but was extremely patient throughout this story and when Jo committed, well, there was no doubt they belonged together. I also love that Jo's family was accepting. There still are so many books today where the parents aren't and it's heartbreaking just like real life. I do, however, feel hope for a more positive acceptance by all of us.
Cara writes with compassion, love and quirkiness. Her characters are really nice people, people you'd like as friends. In this book, there is such a warm ending that should make everyone reading feel hopeful for a more inclusive future!
June 7, 2022
Easy out
Straight recent college grad Josephine leaves her small Montana town for a prestigious internship in Chicago and returns as “Jo,” gay and head over heels in love with Hazel, a struggling artist. Jo and Hazel’s meet cute occurs when Jo literally stumbles into Chicago’s Pride Festival, luckily to be swept up by Hazel, riding in the parade on her Vespa. At the end of the route, Jo dashes away, discovering too late she’s lost her purse, which proves to be Hazel’s Cinderella’s slipper. Losing her keys, bank card and I.D., the angst Jo feels fades immediately when Hazel returns her purse and the two connect for dinner and begin living a fairy tale love story and share their professional goals for their futures. It’s not a tale with suspense or obstacles to overcome — either personally or professionally; it’s an upbeat, positive coming out story with all the celebratory, unifying feel of a Pride Festival.
Straight recent college grad Josephine leaves her small Montana town for a prestigious internship in Chicago and returns as “Jo,” gay and head over heels in love with Hazel, a struggling artist. Jo and Hazel’s meet cute occurs when Jo literally stumbles into Chicago’s Pride Festival, luckily to be swept up by Hazel, riding in the parade on her Vespa. At the end of the route, Jo dashes away, discovering too late she’s lost her purse, which proves to be Hazel’s Cinderella’s slipper. Losing her keys, bank card and I.D., the angst Jo feels fades immediately when Hazel returns her purse and the two connect for dinner and begin living a fairy tale love story and share their professional goals for their futures. It’s not a tale with suspense or obstacles to overcome — either personally or professionally; it’s an upbeat, positive coming out story with all the celebratory, unifying feel of a Pride Festival.
June 21, 2022
CW brief mention of the AIDS epidemic
🌈 Lesbian FMCs
🌈 NB side characters
⭐ Chance meeting
⭐ Friends to lovers
Ugggggghhh this was so unbelievably adorable!!!!
Our two FMCs meet accidentally at a Prdie parade (accidental in that one of our FMCs didn't even mean to be there 😂) and there begins our little Cinderella story of Hazel hunting down Jo and finding face to face with a "straight" woman who's clearly not straight no matter what she tells herself 😂
It wasn't quite instalove, but quick enough to work at novella length, and the two of them were just so cute together 😭
Yet another example of someone finding themselves, exploring and accepting their own sexuality, no trauma, no drama, just a sweet and fluffy love story for when you need something wholesome and happy to warm your heart.
🌈 Lesbian FMCs
🌈 NB side characters
⭐ Chance meeting
⭐ Friends to lovers
Ugggggghhh this was so unbelievably adorable!!!!
Our two FMCs meet accidentally at a Prdie parade (accidental in that one of our FMCs didn't even mean to be there 😂) and there begins our little Cinderella story of Hazel hunting down Jo and finding face to face with a "straight" woman who's clearly not straight no matter what she tells herself 😂
It wasn't quite instalove, but quick enough to work at novella length, and the two of them were just so cute together 😭
Yet another example of someone finding themselves, exploring and accepting their own sexuality, no trauma, no drama, just a sweet and fluffy love story for when you need something wholesome and happy to warm your heart.
July 2, 2022
What better way to start my blog back up than with one of my favorite author’s books from the I Heart SapphFic Pride Collection. The Glow up by Cara Malone a happy break from all that has been going on in the world.
The Glow Up is a cute new adult romance that will have you hooked from the beginning. Jo falls right into Hazel’s lap in the middle of the Chicago Pride Parade and leads her on a Cinderellaesque hunt. Jo quickly discovers she is interested in women and Hazel in particular.
I enjoyed how the book focused more on the happy parts of the girl’s lives instead of being super angsty. I consider this book to be super low angst while still keeping enough drama to keep you wanting more.
I would recommend The Glow Up to anyone who likes New Adult romance as well as low angst romance.
The Glow Up is a cute new adult romance that will have you hooked from the beginning. Jo falls right into Hazel’s lap in the middle of the Chicago Pride Parade and leads her on a Cinderellaesque hunt. Jo quickly discovers she is interested in women and Hazel in particular.
I enjoyed how the book focused more on the happy parts of the girl’s lives instead of being super angsty. I consider this book to be super low angst while still keeping enough drama to keep you wanting more.
I would recommend The Glow Up to anyone who likes New Adult romance as well as low angst romance.
June 6, 2022
The L Line
Jo Bloom came to Chicago for a summer internship and a dream of working for a charity to help make the world a little bit better. When she almost gets run over by a Vespa during the Gay Pride Parade she finds herself setting on the driver’s lap to ride safely to the end. This starts the journey of finding herself and becoming Hazel’s muse. Hazel is an artist whose looking for her place in the art world. A story of coming out and finding the love of your life. Great series.
Jo Bloom came to Chicago for a summer internship and a dream of working for a charity to help make the world a little bit better. When she almost gets run over by a Vespa during the Gay Pride Parade she finds herself setting on the driver’s lap to ride safely to the end. This starts the journey of finding herself and becoming Hazel’s muse. Hazel is an artist whose looking for her place in the art world. A story of coming out and finding the love of your life. Great series.
April 16, 2023
A Delightful Book!
I’ve just recently completed a few novels that were darker, harsher, more painful and The Glow Up popped into view at the perfect moment. This is a story of self discovery, and a gentle yet steadily growing bond of love between Jo and Hazel. And as Jo discovers herself, Hazel is wise enough to let Jo find her own pace for coming out and for how and when they would deepen their relationship. This is a gentle book of love and patience. Read it when that’s what you need and it will not disappoint.
I’ve just recently completed a few novels that were darker, harsher, more painful and The Glow Up popped into view at the perfect moment. This is a story of self discovery, and a gentle yet steadily growing bond of love between Jo and Hazel. And as Jo discovers herself, Hazel is wise enough to let Jo find her own pace for coming out and for how and when they would deepen their relationship. This is a gentle book of love and patience. Read it when that’s what you need and it will not disappoint.
June 17, 2022
I 🥰 This Story!
Pride Book 2 was so good. It was sweet, it was loving and it was filled with so much support. This is a perfect coming out story. No angst. This is Cara Malone at her best. The story of Hazel and Jo had the proper first kiss that didn’t have someone running away but had Jo running towards to figure herself out. I love when you find love and hold on regardless of what is going on. Great Job!
Pride Book 2 was so good. It was sweet, it was loving and it was filled with so much support. This is a perfect coming out story. No angst. This is Cara Malone at her best. The story of Hazel and Jo had the proper first kiss that didn’t have someone running away but had Jo running towards to figure herself out. I love when you find love and hold on regardless of what is going on. Great Job!
June 19, 2022
The best kind of Glow Up
I recently finished reading Cara Malone’s Fox County Forensics series and was excited that she participated in the Sapphic Pride Collection. She once again came through with another winner and a great book two in the collection.
If you love a good romance story with some sexy bits then you must read this book! Absolutely enjoyable and I loved every second of it.
I recently finished reading Cara Malone’s Fox County Forensics series and was excited that she participated in the Sapphic Pride Collection. She once again came through with another winner and a great book two in the collection.
If you love a good romance story with some sexy bits then you must read this book! Absolutely enjoyable and I loved every second of it.
July 18, 2022
Love arrives in unexpected moments …
Wonderful story of Hazel and Jo’s journey to a life together. The secondary characters were strong and well developed. I especially loved Jo’s parents and brother. A very good read. I also loved the references to our history including the AIDS epidemic and the enormous loss, pain, and impact it had on our community. I enthusiastically and unequivocally recommend this and any other works by Cara Malone. Thank you Peace
Wonderful story of Hazel and Jo’s journey to a life together. The secondary characters were strong and well developed. I especially loved Jo’s parents and brother. A very good read. I also loved the references to our history including the AIDS epidemic and the enormous loss, pain, and impact it had on our community. I enthusiastically and unequivocally recommend this and any other works by Cara Malone. Thank you Peace
January 4, 2024
A lovely story. Jo is a communications intern, and Hazel is a struggling artist. They meet at a Gay Pride parade, which Jo accidentally becomes part of, thinking she is not gay. The first kiss between Jo and Hazel is just so gentle, wonderful. The story moves so smoothly, it becomes a ‘can’t put down’ book. There is a lot of love in their story, and very little angst. I especially love the epilogue. Lovely.
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