Cleo > Recent Status Updates

I’m reading my 3rd buzzy, Sapphic holiday romance this winter and they’re starting to blend together.

I was a bit skeptical, but I’m actually learning A LOT from this choose your own adventure graphic novel / lesson in how to fight autocrats. And I am feeling slightly less scared and stuck.

The edition I have is titled “What will YOU do if Trump wins?” and it includes updated storylines with Trump trying to overthrow a Harrison victory.

I was a bit skeptical, but I’m actually learning A LOT from this choose your own adventure graphic novel / lesson in how to fight autocrats. And I am feeling slightly less scared and stuck.

The edition I have is titled “What will YOU do if Trump wins?” and it includes updated storylines with Trump trying to overthrow a Harrison victory.

Hello GR friends! I’ve recently created an account on The StoryGraph (and exported my books from GR to SG)! I’m planning to stay on GoodReads as well, for the social element, at least right now - but I’m hoping to find some of my GR friends on StoryGraph as well.

If you’re also on StoryGraph, please follow / friend me at cleo_reads or let me know your profile name so I can follow / friend you.

I’m not sure how far I’m going to be able to get in this one. Being in Paris’ anxiety ridden brain is not a very comfortable read so far.

Right now this reads much more like a coming of age story. There is a romance but at the moment I think Tariq deserves better and Paris needs therapy and maybe medication before attempting a relationship. Poor guy.

Just no. I’m reading this for a hard to find book bingo square (defense attorney) and I’m not sure I’m going to be able to finish. Another GR reviewer said it’s both overtly and inadvertently racist and I think that’s right. Plus the plot makes no sense.

I bought this primarily for the Aster Glenn Gray story. It's the last story but I read it first. It's cute but I wanted to like it more than I did. It's an epistolary short story - a couple separated for the summer writes letters delivered by a flying cat. Aster Glenn Gray tends to write deceptively simple books, but if there are hidden depths to this one, I missed it.

Still looking forward to the other stories.

I’m liking this more than book 2 - almost as much as book 1.

I'm rocking this year's Ripped Bodice Summer Romance Bingo! I've read books for 23 out of 25 squares - all LGBTQ+ books.

May not get to what I've planned for the last 2:

Cover with Large Piece of Jewelry: Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner or Dance with the Devil by Megan Derr (original cover)?

Accidentally in the Wilderness: Warm Heart by Amy Lane?

Ugh. I want to like this mm space opera but I’m having trouble just rolling with the improbable plot, inconsistent character development and weak world building.

I’ve read 2 out the 5 stories. The two queer ones (of course). The Cat Sebastian is still my favorite so far.

This was my first Adriana Herrera. I had trouble connecting to the h/h - too much blustering and posturing for my taste. But once they both admitted their feelings I enjoyed it.

Just read the Cat Sebastian story and it's worth the price of the whole anthology.

Friends to lovers / 2nd chance romance set in 1959 at an elite New England boarding school. It's kind of like if the boys from A Separate Peace acted on all that UST and then it ended badly and they reunite 15 years later as adults. So, so good.

Murderbot! I had trouble getting into it at first but now I am ALL IN.

I’ve read 3 of the 6 stories and I’m not sure the theme works for a romance anthology, at least not for me. Selling one’s soul just doesn’t make for a very even or consensual relationship.

I enjoyed Ginn Hale’s story. Worth the price of the anthology. Set in a alt regency type world where demons or “prodigals” were saved centuries ago and now are oppressed. Rich world building. Lovely romance.

Yeah. Not sure I'm going to be able finish this. The hero's just a little too convinced that he knows what the heroine wants better than she does. I don't find that cute or sexy. I'm sort of waiting for him to have a big fall. We'll see if I last long enough to see if it happens.

This is not exactly the book I expected from the title and the blurb but I am glad I’m reading it.

This is a fantastic, useful book. I’m learning a lot. And it’s also stressing me out ;)

It gives really practical, evidence based suggestions - and wow, is there a lot I need / want to change about how I live my life.

I'm reading this for a queer book group and I'm not sure what I think so far. I love that I'm reading a fantasy with a bi heroine set in a world where LGB identities are accepted as no big deal. But I'm not loving the writing style, which is a little awkward and choppy. And right now the MC / narrator is sunk deep in grief and addiction and it's hard to be with.

So far this is very much like Queer Sex in the City or lesbian chick lit. Still not sure if I like it or not, but it's compelling reading. Still very grateful to not be 28 - 30 years old and a corporate lawyer in NYC. Still hopeful Katie will come out as bi.

Library hold finally came through. Very excited to read a mainstream lesbian novel, but cautious too, especially since I’m not a big fan of lit-fic.

Not sure what I think so far - mostly that I’m glad I’m not a twenty-something corporate lawyer living in NY.

Enjoying my new non-fiction commuter read so far.

I don’t know if I’m going to finish this. So far I don’t care about any of the characters.

The writing style does remind me a little of Santino Hassell - it may work for SH fans in search of other authors.