Fangirl, Volume 2: The Manga

Fangirl, Volume 2: The Manga 

Beautifully adapted (by Sam Maggs) manga, illustrated by Gabi Nam, inspired by Rainbow Rowell's "Fangirl". 

Which, going into the meta-fan-hole again, is a book about a fan-girl in a famous (HP-style) fandom, writing an ultra popular fanfic before the final canon-book is published that will end the Simon Snow series forever. The one by Gemma T. Leslie. Not the one by Rainbow Rowell (which will also end forever soon). As she (Cath--the fan-girl in "Fangirl") struggles with her first year of college, of being away from home, of making friends, of writing fanfic with having a top-notch-writing-prof who doesn't believe in fanfic (idiots). All the while finding herself, finding friends, and finding love.

Annnnyway. This very second volume (2/4) covers from when Cath receives the 911 text from her twin-y Wren to the party at Levi's house. Just to give you a non-spoils incite on how this book runs alongside the original Rowell text.

Here's to stopping myself from rereading Carry On. Again. Because I've been thinking about it lately, but I need to control myself, I need to read some of the already downloaded/already purchased TBR piles.

BUT, if I do cave, it's because I need more Snowbaz in my life (always). I mean, that's the whole premise with Cath (Simon and Baz are the one thing that is untouchable, something that never fails to make her happy and calm and scream more than anything/anyone--same, girl, same). Annnnd those two fools (sorry Bazzy, but when it comes to Simon, you're head-over-heels-stupid) are the reason we know have our very own, real-life Simon Snow series (because Rainbow couldn't get them out of her head either--I mean, who can).

[[[A good portion of this post was copy & pasted & repurposed from another post. 1: because it was written pretty damn well, if I do say so myself. 2: it was easier that way. 3: I'm not sure how may times I can write and rewrite that same raving/praising/loving thoughts about Fangirl/Carry On/Simon & Baz/Rainbow without repeating myself, hence, repeating myself.]]]

#fangirl #fangirlmagna #rainbowrowell #sammaggs #gabinam #magicath #carryon #carryonsimon #simonsnow #snowbaz #bazpitch #tyrannusbasiltongrimmpitch #anywaythewindblows #waywardson #watford #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Swiped By My Dad's Best Friend (Thrust Into Love series #1)

I don't know how I missed the Thrust Into Love series when I binged D.J. Jamison's books a few months ago. Literally, don't know. But it came up in an email I got recently through D.J. (and #BookFunnel) promoting Pride Month, so here we are. The first book is titled "Swiped By My Dad's Best Friend."

["Cooper Rutledge: frat boy, general screwup, and...Daddy's boy?

On the surface, I don't take things too seriously.
Not my poor grades, or my hookups, or my inability to find my purpose.
But that was before.

Before the daddy of my wet dreams swiped right on my pic.
Before he turned out to be my father's best friend.
Before I convinced him to indulge in one night of pleasure with no strings.

I didn't count on how magical it would be.
I didn't know that when he spanked me and offered words of praise, my soul would drink it up.
I didn't realize how right Daddy kink would feel.

One night could ever be enough.
Because I do care. Too much.
And when life sends me into an emotional tailspin, Trace steps up to support me---proving he cares too.

Everything has gotten very real, very fast.
But are we ready for the fallout?
I can't let anyone, not even my father, come between me and Trace.

I've finally found my Daddy, and I'll fight to keep him."]

Star crossed lovers meets age gap. This book was sooooo damn spicy and sooooo fucking sweet, it was like those spice covered fruit desserts you see online.

I literally hate myself for somehow missing this book before. It. Was. That. Good. Sooooooo goooooood! I-would-have-binged-this-in-one-night-if-it-wasn’t-for-work good.

They just Clicked. From that first (re)meeting, it just worked for them. The chemistry, the friendship. It was perfect.

I cannot wait for the rest of the series.

#swipedbymydadsbestfriend #matchedbymyrival #tappedbymyroommate #sextedbysanta #thrustintolove #djjamison #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Platonic Rulebook (Divorced Men's Club #2)

The Divorced Men's Club series just came out with its latest edition: "The Platonic Rulebook." And I'm all here for it. One: because the series is fire. Two: because the ever-talented Saxon James is fire.

["Griff:
Walking away from my marriage was my idea of a fresh start.
My kid is in college, my ex-wife and I are on good terms … but being single in my forties is a world different to being single in my teens.
I’m thankful for my best friend, Heath. He’s got my back like he always does and is ready to take me out and show me how the bachelor life is done.
He was never supposed to show me literally.
After we wake up in bed together, I can’t stop looking at him differently, and one thing becomes abundantly clear.
I talk a big talk about wanting to be single, but my platonic rule book has gone out the window.

Heath:
When my best friend comes to me for help post-divorce, I’m only too happy to impart my wisdom to him.
After all, Griffin isn’t my type, but even I can tell he’s a complete lumbersnack. Good with his hands, kind eyes, and a killer smile. All the guys and gals are gonna eat him alive.
But the more time we spend together, the less “not my type” he becomes. I’m the one who can’t get enough of him.
Neither of us is interested in a relationship, so what’s a little fun between friends?
We both know the score."]

They knew the score, but risked everything anyway, even after saying it wouldn’t/couldn’t happen (or wouldn’t/couldn’t happen again). 

It was sparks everywhere. Immediate inferno, even before any actual Steam happened on the page. Just the chemistry of their pining was Hot.

Not to mention they were already platonically in love, so it really wasn’t that hard to remove the platonically and ad a romantically. Because even though they tried to pretend it wasn’t, it was soooo much more than just a one-off. It was Them. And absolutely noooo oooonnnne was shocked at the relationship change (spoiler alert I suppose).

Suuuuuuuch a great book!!!! And so many hints at the next book. 

#makinghimmine #roommatearrangement #platonicrulebook #divorcedmensclub #divorcedmensclubseries #saxonjames #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Project Hero

Another amazing author, another amazing book. Here is Briar Prescott's "Project Hero."

["What if you accidentally fell in love with the right guy?

Andy:
If my life was a movie, I would be the sidekick. Not an especially promising start when my plan is to finally let my best friend know I have a crush on him. No worries, though. I have a plan. I just need a complete makeover. Change everything about myself so that when Falcon returns from his summer vacation, he can finally see I’m the love of his life. I totally know what I’m doing here.
Well, not really.
If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn’t look like every nerd cliché wrapped into one awkward package.
In short, I’m screwed.
But then Law Anderson enters the picture…

Law:
It’s all very simple. I need somebody to tutor my hockey team, and Andy needs somebody to help him with his crush. Sounds like a match made in heaven.
Only the more time I spend with Andy, the more I like this quirky guy who makes me laugh, and pretty soon I’m the one who’s tutoring Andy in way more than we initially agreed upon.
It’s fine.
I have it all under control.
But as weeks pass and the chemistry between us turns explosive, I’m starting to think that I might be in way over my head with Andy.
If only I could make Andy realize that he doesn’t need to change himself for love. If only I could make Andy see that he just needs to be with somebody who has considered him perfect all along…"]

This book!!! D: It was soooooo daaaaaammmmn gooooood!!

Andy was indeed awkward and nerdy-as-fuck, but Law found it fascinating and charming and cute. He never made Andy feel out of place or bad about himself. And Andy made Law smile and feel happy again for the first time in a while.

They completed each other. They were fast friends with fast trust and faster chemistry. Their wit was entertaining and the sparks were flying off the page. I loved them. So. Much.

#projecthero #briarprescott #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Nothing Serious

I don't know how I missed "Nothing Serious" when I binged Jay Northcote's books a few months ago. Literally, don't know. But it came up in an email I got recently through #BookFunnel promoting Pride Month, so here we are.

["What happens when “nothing serious” turns into something more complicated?

Mark O’Brien is finally being honest with himself. His relationship with Rachel is over and he’s moving out of the home they’ve shared for six years. They get along, but he can’t fix a relationship when the person he’s with is the wrong gender.

Jamie Robertson, one of the removal men, is huge and ridiculously gorgeous, and Mark is smitten at first sight. When a cardboard box splits, revealing items of a personal nature that Mark never wanted anybody to see, he’s mortified. But it sparks the start of a beautiful friendship with benefits.

As Jamie initiates Mark into the joys of gay sex, the two men get increasingly close and “nothing serious” turns into something rather important to both of them. But communication isn’t their strong point. Will either man ever find the courage to be honest about his feelings?"]

Short, a little angsty (see the above mentioned lack of communication), and really, really, really sweet.

I do always love when everyone around them know they have Feelings for each other before they do. Cheesy but classic.

A recommended read for sure. :)

#nothingseries #jaynorthcote #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Inconvenient Love (Better With You series #4)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Who needs to read stuff they have on their TBR shelves and/or the stuff already downloaded onto their kindle when they can browse Goodreads for another new author/series? Guilty on all charges. Here's Briar Prescott's "The Inconvenient Love" from the Better With You series.

["Max:
He's funny, smart, dorky... and all grown up.
Isac. My best friend's little brother. He kissed me when he was nineteen and told me he loved me. I shut him down, telling him he was too young and didn’t know what he was saying. That damn kiss is coming back to haunt me now. The softness of his lips and the hopeful look in his eyes—I remember it all too clearly, and it’s getting almost impossible to tell myself I don’t want a repeat of that kiss...

Isac:
You can only make a complete ass of yourself in front of a guy so many times. Luckily for me, I'm not the same pathetic, starry-eyed kid anymore. Max and I are better off as friends.
Now, if only I could figure out why he's looking at me so intently. And why he kissed me. And why we're suddenly doing all sorts of other things friends don't generally do..."]

God this series!!! D: This book was soooooo damn good!! The prologue(s) was a portion of the epilogue from the last book; the last book that gave us a preview of Max and Isac's relationship, Isac's crush, and Max's freak-out over Isac moving away. Which was just the very tip of the iceberg. 

Max was...hopeless. His attraction (and attraction-related confusion) was immediate upon Isac's return. Isac came back telling himself he was over Max (ha) and almost immediately regressed. And like proper idiots not-yet-in-love-but-definitely-in-lust in your classic spicy rom-com, they didn't take long to fall into something.

This book was a very, very cute ending to the series. Definitely on my way to read some more of Briar's books.

#thehappylist #thedatingexperiment #theunderdog #theinconvenientlove #briarprescott #betterforyou #betterforyouseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Underdog (Better With You series #3)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Who needs to read stuff they have on their TBR shelves and/or the stuff already downloaded onto their kindle when they can browse Goodreads for another new author/series? Guilty on all charges. Here's Briar Prescott's "The Underdog" from the Better With You series.

["Anders:
There once was a guy who told a little white lie. That didn’t turn out so well. I would know. I’m the guy.
Once upon a time, I told my brother and sister that my dream was to do a triathlon. I never expected them to sign me up for one! Now I’m forced to deal with my very cantankerous personal trainer. Wells Montgomery is an angry, rude, judgmental bastard. Frankly, I’m surprised the chip on his shoulder hasn’t crushed him yet.
But the more time I spend with him, the more I realize that the anger is just a facade that conceals a man who is more than a little lost.
The more time I spend with him, the more I start to think that maybe somebody should find him.
The more time I spend with him, the more I start to think that maybe, just maybe, that person could be me?

Wells:
There once was a guy who flew unimaginably high. That didn’t turn out so well. I would know. I’m the guy.
A year ago I was on top of the world. It only took a handful of seconds for my life to irreversibly change course. Needless to say, I’m not happy. Neither am I happy when my dad and one of my so-called friends trick me into becoming a personal trainer for some guy who wants to do a triathlon. Now I need to get this Anders Kelly to fire me.
It’s a good plan, if only Anders wasn’t so unbelievably stubborn. And too nice for his own good. Annoyingly fun. Irritatingly kind. His faults just keep piling up.
But the more time I spend with him, the harder it becomes to keep my distance.
The more time I spend with him, the more I start to see the possibilities life still offers.
The more time I spend with him, the more I start to think that maybe, just maybe, Anders might not be an unattainable dream after all."]

These two were soooooooo cute! I mean, the first couple of chapters, they didn't...get along very well. But they were both stubborn, Anders was determined to be positive, and Wells was determined to be an ass. After they got over themselves and go to know each other, they were Best Friends. 

An awkward but classic trope or two later, and they were in love. Spoiler. Alert. Then again, I think that last part is obvious, given the genre. ;)

Seriously, this series keeps surprising me. I wasn't expecting to love this one was much as I did (to be brutally honest), but it was soooooo sweet and fluffy and body positve.

Speaking of body positivity, I love how this book talked disability. A lot of books tackle the mental disability side (as well as gender/sexual differences, class differences, race differences, etc), but not a lot of books tackle physical disability. And this book did it beautifully (in my fully physically abled-body opinion).

#thehappylist #thedatingexperiment #theunderdog #theinconvenientlove #briarprescott #betterforyou #betterforyouseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks