Out on the Ice – Kelly Farmer

Aug 25, 2020Oct 14, 2020 ~ lgbtqreader85 ~ Leave a comment

Like many I was attracted to this book by the cover and I’m glad I decided to chance it. Farmer as a first time author does a good job of bringing something enjoyable to the genre. Caro is a retired professional ice hockey player, now running a hockey centre for girls in Chicago. She brings Amy, a current pro player, to coach at the centre for the summer.

Sports crossed with lesbian romance is one of my favourite genres so I was really looking forward to this book. It’s a bit different to many of these types I’ve books I’ve read recently, in that no real sporting action actually happens. Any time spent on the ice is minor with a focus on the coaching when it does happen. When Amy is with her professional team the on ice action is alluded to but not ‘seen’. In that respect this book is about relationships, and not just the romantic kind, so even if you’re not a hockey fan, or even a sports fan you can appreciate the narrative.

I found one of the most significant parts of the narrative to be the character growth of both MCs. The development of the relationship between Amy and Caro was strong and I liked the development of Caro throughout the book. I also appreciated the discussions about bisexual erasure and internalised homophobia.

The beginning started off a bit samey for me. I felt like I was going through many similar filler type scenes and I was wondering when it was really going to get started. However once it does it moves along at a nice pace. The secondary characters are for the most part are interesting and worthwhile in the storyline – and there’s even one that would make a great character for a sequel should Farmer feel inclined.

I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of wlw romances or sports romances in general.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Queers Who Don’t Quit – Edited by G. Benson

Aug 7, 2020Oct 14, 2020 ~ lgbtqreader85 ~ Leave a comment

I always find anthologies tough to review and this one is no exception. There were a number of stories I really enjoyed, and a few that were misses for me. The representation this collection of stories gives to the LGBTQIA+ community is amazing, variable and well thought out. The story lengths are vary variable – there are some great stories that were over way too soon. I struggled to get into the first half of the book and thought I was on my way to a three star review – but there are some hidden gems in the second half.

I appreciated the range of genres – especially as it forced me out of my comfort zone a few times and now has me considering some genres I would not normally have thought about reading. I particularly enjoyed Punchline by G Benson, First Day Back by A.P. Raymond and Some Things Are More Important by Addy Long. This Is What You Get by Evie Riojas, Werewolf Blues by Eve Morton, The Path To Truth by Aila Alvina Boyd and First Cute by Elna Holst also deserve a mention. I will definitely be exploring the work of all these authors further.

The wide range of representation, both of the community and the genres means there is something for everyone in this collection and I would definitely recommend giving this collection a read.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

One Golden Summer – Clare Lydon, T.B. Markinson

Jul 14, 2020Oct 14, 2020 ~ lgbtqreader85 ~ Leave a comment

Strangely considering both authors popularity, I’ve only read one book by Markinson before, and before this hadn’t explored any Lydon work. I will definitely be reading more books by both authors. I think one of the biggest compliments I can pay the book is that you can’t tell it’s written by more than one author – it flows so freely.

I often find I don’t enjoy books set in the UK – they often feel like they’re written for a foreign audience perspective of life here, but I loved this book. The descriptions of British small town life and our coastal towns rings very true. The scenery, town and British life are almost a character in themselves, really helping to make the book in my opinion.

I wanted the MCs to be together from the moment they met, and found myself frustrated with both characters that they couldn’t quite get it right at times. However I think it’s a mark of how well the book and the characters are written that I felt this way. The secondary characters in the book are also well written, relevant and contribute to the story.

If you’re looking for a good summer read in all the current madness you won’t go wrong this with one.

Coach M – Q. Kelly

Jun 30, 2020Oct 14, 2020 ~ lgbtqreader85 ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been thinking about this book a lot since I read it and found I needed to come back and write a review. This contains spoilers about both this book and the first in the series – Coach Z.

I read a biography of Q.Kelly and it said she likes to write in the grey of life – it’s an extremely appropriate way of describing this series of books. None of the characters are horrible, none of them are heroes, they’re just people dealing with hard things and situations.

I was originally attracted to the book because of my love of sports and lesbians crossed with basketball was right up my street. However it was the characters that had me reading both books back to back and still awake trying to finish them at 4am in the morning.

Coach M skips forwards five years from the ending of Coach Z, where we found the burgeoning relationship between Melissa and Andi ending due to alcoholism. Five years later and Andi is returning to coach the Ravens again, in the process coming face to face with Melissa again after no contact since the end of Coach Z.

The basketball descriptions in the book are great, and I loved how it accurately represents that sport is often a way of life for some. I thought Andi was great as a character, but for me it was the depiction of Melissa in Coach M that really spoke to me. Melissa is written as someone coming to terms with lots of things that people in the LGBTQ+ community often experience and then struggle with reconciling when they meet ‘the one’.

I was also really happy that whilst there is a happyish ending to the book, it didn’t break from its style and have an amazing unrealistic HEA. There is happiness and resolution – but everything isn’t tied into a happy bow just because the book ends.

I would love a third part of this series, continuing Melissa and Andi’s life together.