#FamilyIssues

3¾⭐️/5

When including body self-image issues into a story, there’s a fine line between presenting sympathy and actively body shaming. That line’s going to be different for every reader, based on their own life experiences. For me, this story was well over that line — I just couldn’t get past how often one MC just has body image denigration completely take over her internal narrative pages at a time. Others may find this very true to their own experiences, but for me it was too much.

Tags: #Awakening #CinnamonRollMC #ConfrontingHomophobia #DualPOV #FamilyIssues #FirstPersonPOV #FriendsToLovers #HalfUnavailable #MoneySolvesNothing #MyKidsBeforeMe #RichPoor #SexWork

4½⭐️/5

What starts off as something of a wacky romcom ends up pretty serious by the end. That’s not bad — just surprising.

Tags: #DualPOV #FamilyIssues #JoinMyFamily #LoveAtFirstSight #LoveTriangle #NuisanceEx #RichPoor #RomCom #ThirdPersonPOV

CW: on-page slow decline of a parent due to dementia and other health issues. Xe Sands’ emotional narration makes this brutal.

Tags: #Awakening #BackHomeAgain #BondThroughBadTimes #FamilyIssues #FamilyIssues #JoinMyFamily #NuisanceEx #SecondChance #SingleParent #SmallTown #ThirdPersonPOV

4¼⭐️/5

My only complaint here is just my usual personal dislike of “oh, but I would only complicate their life, but I could never actually say that out loud” self-confidence and miscommunication issues. Beyond that, this was nice, and well-rounded-out. I did appreciate the casual inclusion of one of the MCs being part of an open relationship, and it being portrayed positively and supportively.

Tags: #CommitmentIssues #DualPOV #FamilyIssues #JoinMyFamily #PersonNextDoor #RivalsToLovers #SmallTown #ThirdPersonPOV

4¼⭐️/5

For me, there’s a fine line when basing tension on self-confidence issues. Too little self-confidence plus too much drama means I’ll end up just rolling my eyes through the inevitable misunderstandings and scenes with two people talking but not actually communicating. Too much self-confidence and I’ll just end up rolling my eyes at how cheesy, entitled, and het it all feels. This story walks up to that line, and then Riverdances back and forth across it.

I very much appreciated the “what if suddenly someone was nice to you and had your back” themes. We definitely need more of those in romance.

Tags: #BiPanSexualMC #DualPOV #FakeRelationship #FamilyIssues #MarriageOfConvenience #MoneySolvesNothing #NuisanceEx #RichPoor #SecretShame #ThirdPersonPOV