#RichPoor

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

2¾⭐️/5

Kellogg has done a solid job updating the "place in society" theme to the queer community and gender presentation. Liz's narrative shows her struggles to find (and afford) clothes which match her gender identity. Some are too femme and she feels constrained, while others are too masc and like she's putting on a costume. Relatable!

Having said that, it’s still Pride & Prejudice. It’s still about people being mean to each other and not actually talking, let alone communicating. And, IMO, the big 80% drama in this one goes a direction I find exasperating, and sends exactly the wrong message to the reader, shaming the wrong people.

Tags: #BIPOC #Misunderstandings #NuisanceEx #Retelling #RichPoor #RivalsToLovers #SecretsAndBetrayal #SinglePOV #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