Overall Vibe: yearning.
Final Count: 4 (plus some fics)
Love Song (4 stars)
format: audio
I knew three things. Off Campus was coming to screens soon. I did not like The Charlie Method despite being excited about the why choose. And I still had not read Love Song. I knew what I had to do, Garrett and Logan were waiting for me (because yes I read this more for the parents, we're old friends.) I definitely was slow to warm up to this story, and it's characters. I think that once you're in it, it's a really fun time but if I hadn't been a huge Off Campus fan and came with that nostalgia... I probably would not have enjoyed it as much. This was the closest we've gotten to the original Elle Kennedy flavor since The Play (yes I'm excluding The Dare, iykyk that one just didn't feel like it was in the same family as the rest).
Ride with Me (3.5 stars)
format: audio
I love Simone Soltani, and I love F1. Simone is one of the F! romance writers who you can truly tell deeply understands the sport, the politics, and the social context that she's working within. (I had the chance to meet her earlier in May and can confirm that she's a fellow true F! girlie.) I used to be a bigger marriage of convenience fan before it started to feel played out and less believable, and in the past year I've had TWO exceptions. Play Along by Liz Tomforde... and this. The YEARNING from him? The girl boss vibes from her? Idk man I ate it up it was super fun. I loved every chnace we got to be in the paddock, and I loved the FIA politics, I felt well-served and content.
Smash or Pass (5 stars)
format: physical
It's YA sapphic sports romance AND autistic rep in women? And it...nailed both. From the moment I opened this book, I felt read to FILTH and so fucking giggly about it all. Birdie nails the way young autistic women create rules, either consciously or subconsciously, to live and mask by. She also nailed how allowing ourselves to be seen, and seeing others' soft underbellies, gives us the space and conifdence to let those masks drop. Being young is HARD (being grown is hard too) and in my experience, being yourself out loud, quirks and all, not only inspires others to do the same, but creates more genuine connections. And the romance? So soft and warm but also so real. You watch a genuine friendship be built, before she ever realizes that she wants it to be more, and it felt so, so right.
I Kissed Her First (5 stars)
format: physical
I think I have a niche favorite genre. Let's call it "Gaylor Agenda". Popstar who's secretly queer and gets to have fun runaway romance with her cook from PTown who has two dads? Guys, I should have known this would be addictive. My favorite read last year was Gaylor Agenda But Documentary Filmmaker edition. The tour aspect was so gooey, I loved getting to feel the runaway travel vibe with all the destinations, posed against the rigidity of Luna's career, schedule, public persona, and "relationship" with another (male) singer. I want to read it again, immediately. I want a sequel. I WANTTTTT I YEARNNNNN
Bonus:
Reputation (CaitVi Taylor Swift/PWHL au fic) by a_pottymouthed_parrot on Ao3
because I love Taylor Swift-esque sapphic stories. And sapphic sports romance. and CaitVi.
