I wanted to care more about Crest/Ross and Sean than I did, but the ending definitely tugged at my heartstrings. I especially appreciated the diversity of the cast straight people are the anomaly and like L.A., the book is peopled with real people in all colors, shapes and sizes, and it’s mostly NBFD. Sometimes the merperson lingo or oceanic references were a little too much, and sometimes, Crest’s/Ross’s dissing of human consumption and environmental concerns struck a didactic note (though I am by no means in disagreement with Crest/Ross’s assessments. I’m lumping this into magical realism rather than fantasy, but the worldbuilding for under the water and in the Blue was nicely done, simple and complete. There was consent in the sexual scenes, but also snapping towels and ass-smacking and a violent outburst from another student. Although well-plotted using Sean’s film-making interests and Crest’s time constraints to lay out an agenda, there was a LOT of drama: characters yelling and screaming for emphasis or to TELL us emotion instead of conveying and revealing through action. The writing was a little disappointing overall. Rules, of course, were made to be broken, amirite?Īn accidental reveal at the Hollywood Walk of Fame results in a surprising plot twist that I didn’t see coming–well done on author Jason June, it’s difficult to pull a fast one on someone who has been reading YA romance for 35 years. Of course, there are rules: no human can find out Crest/Ross’s true nature, and if they return to the sea before the month is up, they will have to remain on land forever. When Crest, who goes by Ross on land, runs into recently (unceremoniously) dumped Sean, it seems their mission is to help Sean win back his ex, and Crest/Ross becomes a willing participant. Merperson Crest is on a coming-of-age journey on land to help a human and earn his return to the sea - if they choose to return after experiencing the wonders of twenty-first century Los Angeles. I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #WitchaGonnaDo from #NetGalley The voice –and language–are youthful and may not appeal to all romance readers. Powergrabs (and attempts to prevent them) ensue. Tilda is an anomoly in her gifted family, and she keeps getting matched with hot, sauve Gil, who figures out pretty quickly she isn’t non-magickal, she is in fact, an amplifier. Witcha Gonna Do is a classic enemies to lovers romance. I’m surprised I have not pursued more books in this vein: charming magical realism romance like The Charmed List, which I really enjoyed for its more complete, and better-paced world-building. I fell in love with Cate Tiernan’s Sweep series as a young adult librarian about twenty years ago (I might or might not but definitely do still have a three-in-one compendium of the first volumes–ICYMI, the series is concerned with a magical teen who doesn’t know her heritage who gets caught up in a love triangle with two other powerful witches). I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #TwelveMonthsAndADay from #NetGalley.įlynn, Avery. Fans of Josie Silver will devour this beautiful and poignant tale of what happens to love after loss, and rejoice in how love changes and goes on and clears the way for future love. There are few surprises but this is a highly compelling story. When Rasmas makes a comeback with his band to share music he wrote for Jay, it is Roisin who is hired to be the interviewer and then documentarian. Roisin and Rasmas share their thoughts and lives in ways they have not been able to in grief groups or with friends, mostly through email. The pacing is slow in a deliberate and unhurried sense, giving plenty of space for character and plot to develop. The writing is so gorgeous–evocative, emotional, sensory. As someone open to the idea of spirit lingering, I completely bought into life after death as Young presented it. The living one between musician Rasmas and videographer Roisin is gently and strategically nudged along by the ghostly Nico and Jay, whose presences are felt so strongly because they are literally still there, calling on help when Rasmas falls into a depressive episode, holding Roisin close in bed as she grieves. More of a narrative with romantic elements, Twelve Months and a Day tells the story of two recently widowed people - and their recently deceased partners, who come together in their confusion and sorrow and develop friendships.
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