Short AF Book Review | On Starlit Shores

  Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "On Starlit Shores" by Bex Glendining. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"In this YA urban fantasy graphic novel, Alex must return to the town where she was born to unravel the magical mysteries her late grandmother left behind.

Alex Wilson hasn't been back to Indigo Harbor, the seaside village where she grew up, in years. In fact, she can barely remember anything about it. But when her grandmother dies unexpectedly, Alex will have to return to her childhood home to say goodbye.

Accompanied by her best friend, Grim, Alex travels back to her hometown and begins cleaning out her grandmother's house, but the longer they stay, the stranger things get. Indigo harbour isn't your average town - there are falling stars, witches running tea shops, and a name that comes up again and again: Elizabeth. Who was this woman, and how did she know Alex's grandmother?

As she explores the town and sorts through her grandmother's belongings, Alex reconnects with her past and tries with increasing desperation to uncover the greatest secret of all, the identity of the mysterious Elizabeth. Tackling grief, acceptance, and how to honor a loved one's life, Bex Glendining has crafted a beautiful and moving graphic novel perfect for the readers who loved The Dark Matter of Mona Star, Girl From the Sea, and the Magic Fish"

So the reason I wanted to read this is because y'all know I love graphic novels, and this one showed up in the queer liberation library's graphic novel section and the cover caught my attention. Friends, I cried through every single page of this book. This graphic novel is a beautiful story of loss, the worryment of forgetting the people you've loved and lost, and how grief can be absolutely devestating but also beautiful, especially through the memories of others. I lost my own Oma in June of last year, and honestly, so much of this book reminded me of how it felt to lose her. To wish that I'd gone to see her more, to wish that I'd of gotten more time with her, just something I feel that everyone who is close with the people they've lost feels. So as you can imagine, by the end of this book I was a blubbering mess. The artwork was stunning, and somber, and just all in all the perfect fit for the story. The message this graphic novel was trying to portray shone through loud and bright. I definitely would recommend this graphic novel to absolutely everyone and anyone, but please also have a packet of tissues sat next to you whilst you read.

I gave this book a 5/5 star rating on Goodreads!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | The Lamb

Hi friends!  So today I'm going to be doing a review on "The Lamb" by Lucy Rose. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"A folk tale. A horror story. A love story. An enchantment.

Margot and Mama have lived in the forest since Margot can remember. When Margot isn't at school, they spend quiet days together in their cottage, waiting for strangers to knock on their door. Strays, Mama calls them. Mama loves the strays. She feeds them wine, keeps them warm. Then she satisfies her burning appetite by picking apart their bodies.

But Mama's want is stronger than her hunger sometimes, and when a white - toothed stray named Eden turns up in the heart of a snowstorm, little Margot must confront the shifting dynamics of her family, untangle her own desires and make a bid for freedom.

With this tender coming - of - age tale, debut novelist Lucy Rose explores how women swallow their anger, desire and animal instincts - and wrings the relationship between mother and daughter until blood drips from it."

So the reason I wanted to read this is because it has been all over booktok and the moment I found out it was sapphic I knew I had to get my hands on it. Friends, I don't know how I could ever possibly describe this book. This was a rollercoaster of a story that was beautiful, heartbreaking and absolutely terrifying. I was really caught with my feelings reading this book because obviously I could see everything that was horrifying happening within the story, but also how beautiful and flowery the "romance" in the very same book is described. There were so many moments in this book that truly caught me off guard. Everything about this book was made to keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. The language used, the shortness of the chapters, the way we saw the outside world compared to Margot's actual home. I adore when horror isn't just about jump scares, and making you feel terrified. I adore when horror truly makes you think and feel, and "The Lamb" certainly does do that. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a flowery, beautiful, horrifying queer story to read. I can't wait to see what Lucy writes next.

I gave this book a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads.

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Skip: A Graphic Novel

  Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Skip!: A Graphic Novel" by Sarah Burgess. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"Jay often feels like they are a nobody. Beah, on the other hand, is fierce, charming, athletic - and OBSESSED with the street skipping art, Double Dutch. When the two meet, sparks fly, in this colourful slice - of - life graphic novel about the wonder of platonic friendship and finding your identity.

Jay is always scribbling poetry in their notebook. When they come across Skip, a Double Dutch team, they befriend the members - and decide to join, too. For the first time ever, Jay has a place to belong - and friends to cconfide in.

But Jay's friendship with their new bestie Beah is intense, both in and out of Double Dutch. As Beah and Jay help each other grow into the people they will become, it challenges their friendship and their own identities.

This charming 'slice of life' graphic novel is about accepting yourself, navigating 'first love' friendship, and finding your own voice. It's rendered in debut author - illustrator Sarah Burgess's gorgeous art style ribboned with playful humor and sports drama."

So the reason I wanted to read this is because it was featured in the Queer Liberation Library's graphic novel section, and as y'all know I love a good queer graphic novel. Friends, this graphic novel was so stinking cute. I loved every minute of reading it and ended up finishing it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. The artwork in this was gorgeous, and colourful and so fun to read and look at. I loved how diverse the cast of characters within the friendship group was and seeing them truly find themselves within one another. I love how much this graphic novel focused on the power of friendship and how true friends will always come together when it really matters. I love how much it also focused on how hard it can be to find yourself as a teenager, and that it's absolutely okay to not know. This was honestly just such a cute and easy read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who just wants a quick, fun read.

I gave this book a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads.

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | This Is How You Lose The Time War

 Hi friends!  So today I'm going to be doing a review on "This Is How You Lose The Time War" by Amal El - Mohtar & Max Gladstone. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the commandment finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading. Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future.

Except the discovery of their bond would mean death for each of them. There's still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war."

So the reason I wanted to read this is obviously because y'all know I love queer literature and this is by far one of booktok's favourite sapphic books. I'm not going to lie friends, I was a little 50/50 with this one. I've not read a lot of science fiction due to usually not being interested in it, and also because it honestly confuses me at times. I think that's how I felt about most of this book, confused. I didn't really understand what was going on with the war, how the time travel worked or anything like that. That did not, however, stop me from caring about our main characters and their letters between each other. This book is short, and the chapters are very short, and honestly the letters were the main thing that kept me reading. I did not care about anything else that was going on in the book other than the letters, and what was happening between the main characters. Was this story, beautiful and heartbreaking? Absolutely. Did that mean I understood what was happening through most of it outside of the romance. Absolutely not. Now all of that is absolutely a me problem, and not an issue with the writing. However, would I recommend this to anyone who doesn't necessarily like sci - fi? Probably not. But that didn't make me love the ending as a whole any less.

I gave this book a 3/5 star rating on Goodreads.

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | According To Plan | ARC Received By Netgalley

 Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "According To Plan" by Christen Randall This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"From USA TODAY bestselling author Christen Randall comes a cozy, feel - good queer romance about self - discovery, finding your person, and carving out a space for yourself in unexpected places - perfect for fans of Heartstopper, Felix Ever After, and Julie Murphy.

As editor in chief of their school's literary magazine, Mal Flowers expected senior year fall to be full of cozzy sweaters, good coffee, and copyediting. They just want to stick to The Plan to graduate and get out of their small Midwestern town - a place where, as a broke, fat, queer person with ADHD, they've never really fit in. But when budget cuts result in the lit mag's cancellation, Mal is suddenly scrambling to fill the hole in their college application.

That is, until Emerson Pike - who also has ADHD but is loud, confident, and Mal's complete opposite - suggests the staff go rogue and create a zine instead. Which would be cool, except that making and selling contraband isn't exactly what Mal envisioned as the extracurricular activity on their college application. A zine would be unofficial, unapproved, and definitely not in The Plan.

But a zine is also a good way to spend more time with Emerson, whose playful banter and bad jokes Mal can't seem to get enough of. And maybe, with a group of new friends, the back of the charming coffee shop where Emerson works could be somewhere Mal does belong. Because breaking the rules with Emerson - and flirting with her over coffee - is fun.

Maybe The Plan isn't the only way to find happiness, but can Mal let go of something they've depended on for so long?"

I received this book as an ARC on Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is because as you all know, "The No - Girlfriend Rule", my favourite book, the book that initially was my gateway into reading queer stories, is by the same author. So the moment I saw that they were writing a new book I knew I had to get my hands on it. Friends, I really enjoyed every single minute of reading this book. The one thing that Christen does well is make sure that almost everyone has someone they can relate to in their books. The diversity in their stories is honestly something all authors should aspire to. I feel like every time I'm reading a story by them I'm included and spending time within the friendship groups that has been formed. I love that they seem to use their own experiences and emotions to write from, and it makes it so much easier to empathise with each and every one of their characters. I love that their characters prove you can be loveable and flawed at the same time, and it doesn't have to be one way or another. If Christen keeps writing this way they're forever going to be on my auto - buy list. I definitely would recommend this to anyone and everyone who just wants a cute, cozy, queer romance. 

I gave this a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads!

This book comes out on the 12th February 2026!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Tourist Season

  Hi friends!  So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Tourist Season" by Brynne Weaver. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"From No.1 New York Times bestselling author Brynne Weaver comes a wickedly delicious new series where dark romantic comedy meets thrilling suspense - and where falling in love can be a killer.

Welcome to Cape Carnage! Visit Once, Stay Forever.

You can hide in the farthest reaches of the deepest hell, and I will still drag you out. Even the devil can't save you from me.

Cape Carnage is a seaside town of colourful houses, quirky shops, and an unusually high body count. But with tourists come trouble, and Harper Starling won't let anyone ruin her picture - perfect home. A skilled gardener with killer instincts, Harper protects her sanctuary at any cost - especially for her aging mentor with a fading memory. Troublesome tourists don't check out of Carnage. They compost beneath Harper's award - winning flowerbeds.

But Notal Rhodes isn't your average tourist. Devilishly handsome, disarmingly charming, and skilled with a blade. Nolan is relentless in the pursuit of revenge. On every anniversary of the hit - and - run accident that fractured his life, Nolan slays another target. And he's saved the best for the undeniably beautiful Harper Starling. The problem? Harper isn't the monster he expected. And she won't go down without a fight.

When an amateur true crime investigator comes to Cape Carnage on the trail of a long - lost serial killer, Harper and Nolan strike an uneasy truce. If Nolan helps Harper protect her town, she'll keep quiet about his hunting habits... for now. But their alliance soon spirals into obsession, one that threatens to shatter every secret in Carnage - including their fragile love.

Tourist Season is a darkly funny, slow burn enemies - to - lovers romance where destruction and desire are balanced on the edge of a blade - and where love is the most dangerous battleground of all."

So the reason I wanted to read this is because I recently finished The Ruinous Love Trilogy by the same author and wanted to read her new series. Friends, Brynne has only gone and done it again. This book was hilarious, heartbreaking, and just left me wanting more. I loved every single minute of reading this book. The wittiness and banter I expect from Brynne's books was there, this book was definitely a lot spicier than the previous series, but honestly, even though I'm not the biggest fan of spice it wasn't that off - putting. I feel like it all melded well within the story and even added to it at times in a way that possibly couldn't have been achieved without it. My favourite thing always about Brynne's characters is the sarcasm that runs through them, and friends, this book was no different. The enemies to lovers trope was strong in this one, and definitely added to the humour throughout the book. She also managed to throw my favourite trope of found family in this book and I don't know whether what our main character had been through or what she is currently going through hurt more. The cliffhanger this book left us on was something I truly was not expecting, and I am so excited for Harvest Season to come out. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. Please, as always, check the trigger warnings before you read!

I gave this book a 4/5 rating on Goodreads.

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Carmilla

 Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"In an isolated castle deep in the Austrian forest, Laura leads a solitary life with only her ailing father for company. Until one moonlit night, a horse - drawn carriage crashes into view, carrying an unexpected guest - the beautiful Carmilla. So begins a feverish friendship between Laura and her mysterious, entrancing companion.

But as Carmilla becomes increasingly strange and volatile, prone to eerie nocturnal wanderings, Laura finds herself tormented by nightmares and growing weaker by the day... Pre - dating Dracula by twenty - six years, Carmilla is the original vampire story, steeped in sexual tension and gothic romance."

So the reason I wanted to read this is because as everyone knows this is one of the first published sapphic horrors, so you know my gay ass had to sit down and read it. Friends, two things I did not expect, one: that this book was written by a man. Two: I wasn't expecting the level of queerness for the timeframe it was written in. I never want to hear another person say "queer people did not exist back in my day" ever again. This book was so flowery and even though I can imagine that this book was a lot scarier back when it was written I was low key rooting for Carmilla and Laura. Now, do I feel like the author meant to have written it in a way that was meant to make me feel as such? Absolutely not. I can very much acknowledge that me being a lesbian seeing this as a heartbreaking love story vs the possibility that it was a man writing a lesbian woman as a monster as some form of metaphor can very much contradict itself. However, I'd much rather the former to be the truth. I definitely would recommend giving this one a read, but obviously keep in mind you could interpret this book in a very different way. Which I guess is what I love about reading in general.

I gave this book a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads.

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!