Such a thrilling and wholesome completion of this suspenseful, witty and addictive series with a new take on werewolves. Truly loved it! 

The Big Bad Wolf series has such a different take of shifter romances, it’s very refreshing and intriguing. It’s almost difficult to put this book in a genre. It’s partly urban fantasy, partly contemporary mystery and partly a swooning mm romance story. I really enjoyed the way the werewolves were part of the society, but also had their own fascinating culture. The world building was so rich with all werewolf folklore and intricate pack systems. Charlie Adhara also managed to show the struggle to hide in plain sight and the fear for and consequences of discovery so well and make it relatable.

I also really enjoyed the different mystery plots in all books. In this last one, the mystery was such a complex and thrilling one involving the WIP and rebels, Eli being hunted by his past, new surprising family revelations and Cooper’s former partner and lover meddling with his life again. There’s also a huge twist on the alpha myth and on Cooper’s involvement in the werewolf society that was so intriguing and unexpected, definitely ending this series on a high note on the mystery aspect as well!

But the things I love most about this series are the characters and the swooning romance. Park and Cooper have my heart forever! They are both such complex and special characters, and the character and relationship growth they go through, especially Cooper, is beautiful. The love progression is so well done and the chemistry between Park and Cooper is just perfect. I love Cooper’s sarcastic humor and the witty banter between him and Park.

All in all, the Big Bad Wolf series is a highly recommended unique series, full of action, family drama, werewolves and a smoking hot romance, that I’m already planning to reread soon. (But might there be a spin-off of this series in the making though? There’s certainly an opening for it…)

​Rating:
4.5 stars rounding up to 5

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Charlie Adhara

This series just keep getting better and better by each book! Really loved getting to meet the whole Park family and see Cooper interact with them and finally getting to understand where Oliver is coming from and why he’s keeping so many secrets. Fast-paced, great romance and relationship struggle/developments and a really thrilling mystery!

In this third book in the Big Bad Wolf series, the story takes Cooper and Park to Park’s family compound for his grandfather’s memorial. Meeting your in-laws for the first time is always awkward, but imagining them not knowing that your golden boy is dating a human when they kind of hate humans… and cats, which he of course brings with him. And on top of that, said human is an agent in the organization that hunts down werewolf suspected of crimes. To say it doesn’t really go well is an understatement. Especially sine Park has left Cooper mostly in the dark about all these issues. But Cooper deals with it all in his characteristic prickly way that I have come to love throughout this series.

This book was the best one yet in this amazing series! The mystery was as thrilling as ever and I loved all the werewolf parts, the romance and the general character developments.

Rating:
4.5 stars rounding up to 5

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Charlie Adhara

I absolutely adore the Hockey Ever After series! This third book is independent of the previous ones (there are some cameo appearances but no real plot crossover) but I’d still recommend you to read all of the books in the series, simply because they’re absolutely worth it! They are all such wonderful and sweet mm hockey rivals to lovers romances, with the perfect amount of steam and lovable characters with an absolutely sizzling chemistry!

In this third book, we get to meet the two hockey players Grady and Max, who are longtime rivals from different teams. Even though Grady is normally the quiet, sensible one, Max has a way of getting under his skin to make him see red and they have been in uncountable fights over the years. But when they hook up by accident, they have a surprisingly good time together. Soon they keep meeting up for more, with the fighting on the ice as foreplay…

I truly rooted for both Grady and Max, and I really appreciated the slow burn from loathing each other to slowly beginning to open up and getting to know each other with all their vulnerability and insecurities, and from there on letting the attraction take them even further. The enemies-to-lovers trope is my absolute favorite one, but lately I’ve read a lot of books where the enemies-part has been over way too fast and I’ve felt a bit deluded from the blurbs, but not here! Here, the trope was perfectly executed! I loved the witty banter, the burning attraction and the love/hate relationship. I read most of this book with a smile on my face, Grady and Max were just so adorable and fun together.

I also rooted for many of the secondary characters, with the supportive (but teasing) team mates and family members, and it was so wholesome to see glimpses of the characters from the first two books again.

All in all, this was such a heartwarming slowburn romance and a truly sweet and addictive reading experience!

Thank you to Gay Book Promotions for the free review copy and blog tour invitation! All opinions are my own and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Rating:
4.5 stars rounding up to 5

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Ashlyn Kane
Morgan James

This was such an adorable, cute and heartwarming read dealing with first love, chronic depression and the perks and drawbacks of superpowers, all wrapped up in an amazingly realistic (yes, despite the superpower thing), honest and relatable way. I read it all with a smile and with so much happiness, sympathy and hope for the two main characters and their love story.

The story is set in high school and told in different POVs from the two main characters; the football star Caleb, who struggles with more than anyone could ever guess, and the supersmart misfit Adam, who is suffering from chronic depression and loneliness.

Caleb is generally quiet and kind, not the stereotype jock, but lately he’s been overwhelmed by anxiety and rage and somehow ended up in fights. When he’s forced to go to therapy, he finds out that there’s more to the world than he’d ever known and that not only are there people with superpowers (atypicals) but he’s one of them, being an empath who can feel everyone else’s feelings. The only person that makes him calm, whose feelings fits his own, is the quiet nerdy boy Adam.

​Adam on his side is struggling with his high school situation. He’s chronically depressed, not good at social interactions and gets bullied a lot. He’s also secretly crushing on Caleb, but would never dare to hope that he would even notice him, even less that his feelings could be reciprocated.

This might sound like a sad story, but I promise that it wasn’t! It was a story that made me happy, that gave me hope and all the fluffy warm feelings. I loved Caleb and Adam’s love story and how relatable it was with all the cringy parts, the doubts and miscommunications, and how Adam wasn’t magically cured from depression just by falling in love. Lauren Shippen really dealt with the depression aspect amazingly, never diminishing it but always describing it in a hopeful and real way, showing how Caleb couldn’t save Adam from the depression itself but easing it and joining him in the ocean of feelings and letting himself drown in Adam’s blue feelings until he was finding his way out of the water again. The connection between Caleb and Adam was simply beautiful and heartwarming!

It’s quite and intense and different book, but I adored it so much and all the feelings it gave me. I truly took the two main characters to my heart and rooted for their struggles and their romance. I haven’t listened to The Bright Sessions podcast, but I never felt like I missed anything from that to understand the story of the characters. But I definitely need to start listen to the podcast to get more of Caleb and Adam! They are amazing, supportive, kind and have such great humor, I loved their banter and sarcasm.

A minor thing was that the ending felt a bit rushed and open. I would have preferred to give more closure, but that’s just my personal preference.

All in all, this was a beautiful, heartwarming and wonderful read that I recommend for anyone who enjoys a story that makes you smile that is spiced with superpower, queer romance and flirting through playlists.

Rating:
5 stars

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Lauren Shippen

​This was such a beautiful and heartfelt story about love and queerness against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis. It told the important story about the LGBTQ movement in New York in 1990, the homophobia and mistreatment at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but most of all it told a gripping coming of age story and a story about first love and finding the courage to be true to who you are.

When You Call My Name reminded me a lot of one of my absolute favorite books, Like A Love Story by Abdi Nazemian, which is truly high praise, but it still had a very distinct own voice and story. It follows the two gay teens Adam and Ben as they both go through life-changing moments.

Adam lives with his supportive and openminded parents (really loved them!) in Greenwhich when he’s asked out on his first date by a cute customer at the movie rental store where he works. Over the weeks when they meet up each Saturday he falls in love with Callum, but feels that Callum never fully lets him in. Not until he figures out that Callum has AIDS and will never fulfill his director dreams. But Adam refuses to give up on Callum and in the shadow of death, their love story blossoms.

Fashion-lover Ben used to live upstate with his mother, but when she found out about his sexuality she kicked him out. When we meet him, he’s moving in with his older brother in downtown New York and gets to meet his brother’s girlfriend, a fashion photographer who invites him into her exciting life. But Ben will soon find out that even in New York, the world is full of close-minded and homophobic persons.

In a chance meeting near the hospital where Callum is being treated, Ben and Adam meet, and a lifelong friendship with a promise of something more, starts to grow.

I absolute adored this book! The characters were amazing, so lovable and unique, and the story was so gripping and heartfelt. It was also something of a love letter to New York and a homage to the music, artists, fashion icons and super models of the 1990s, which gave me such wonderful nostalgia. From the very first page, the story just pulled me in and I couldn’t put it down until I found out what would happen with all the characters who completely stole my heart.

The topic was heavy at times, with all the sickness, the fear of dying, the homophobia and violence and parental rejection, but it was nevertheless a beautiful love story and a story full of hope. It was also a story about friendship and how meeting the right person at the right moment in time can heal a broken heart and give you the courage to be true to who you are and learning to love and be proud despite all discrimination and cruelty around you.

And the author’s note at the end… it truly brought tears to my eyes and gave the story added closure.

“They say that memories fade with time but I don’t believe that’s true. You carry them with you like stones in your pocket. Sometimes when it’s quiet you take them out and roll them between your fingers. Then you put them back in your pocket, safe again. You don’t leave them behind.”

I will definitely carry Adam, Callum and Ben like stones in my pocket from now on.

Rating:
5 stars

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Tucker Shaw

​This was such a beautiful, wholesome and emotional story about finding your path in life. Tanner and Sebastian, you have my heart. Thank you to everyone who urged me to read this amazing book, I just wish I’d followed your advice sooner!

Autoboyography follows the bisexual teen Tanner, who finds himself back into the closet when moving with his family from California to Utah and its influential Mormon community. All Tanner wants is to graduate and clear out of Utah, but then his best friend Auddy nudges him into taking a prestigious book-writing seminar. But one of the mentors at the seminar is the Mormon prodigy Sebastian Brother, and the second Tanner notices him, he knows he’s in trouble. But more so, when the feelings seem to be reciprocated, their relationship will cause even more trouble for Sebastian.

I absolutely loved following Tanner and Sebastian on their heartfelt journey on finding each other and finding out about each other, finding the courage to take a chance on love even though the consequences and finding out how or if it would be possible to be a part of the Mormon community for Sebastian while being true to himself.

Sebastian was just such a loveable and amazing character that completely stole my heart. I also rooted for Tanner, but there were times when he came across as a bit selfish and I had some issues with the way he treated his best friend Auddy. There were especially two situations that didn’t sit well with me (I don’t want to give any spoilers away so I’m not going into detail about them). The story also dragged a bit in the middle. So for this, I will give it 4.5 stars and not 5, even though I loved everything else about it and will never be able to forget Sebastian and Tanner and their life-changing love story.

Rating:
4.5 stars rounding up to 5

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Christina Lauren

​Such a beautiful little gem of a book! It truly warmed my heart and gave me such hope – no matter how broken you are, there is always a second chance to love!

There Is A Light is a heartwarming story set in Edinburgh following two very broken men in the 1980s and how they find each other and eventually, dare to open up to each other. I love second chance romances and this was certainly an emotional ride with second, third and fourth chances…

Jamie is a charmer, who might seem carefree, but who has problems with drinking, making bad decisions, chronically being late and messing everything up. But now he’s starting over, moving to a new city to be closer to his childhood best friend.
Jude is the opposite. He’s overstressed and depressed and has to convince himself every morning that he wants to live, even though he’s not sure that is true.

When Jamie gets a job at Jude’s family bookstore, Jamie immediately falls for Jude, but can they find a way of living and loving in their messy lives and not be too much or too little to each other.

This was such an emotional, realistic and heartfelt story with complex, messy and imperfect main characters, who nevertheless completely stole my heart. I just wished for them both to find happiness and to take a chance on love.

I also loved the side characters, with Jude’s feisty aunt, and Jamie’s best friend, the kickass, kind and amazing transgender woman Billie, and the LGBTQ representation throughout the whole story. And the pop culture references truly made my day! I loved the music references and the way Jamie held on to children’s fiction.

All in all, this was an emotional read, dealing with mental health and alcoholism in a realistic way, but it was also a book that was full of humor, hope, love and friendship and the important message to never give up on love or life. It’s a story that lives up to its name and truly shows that there always is a light even in the darkest moments!

Rating:
5 stars

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Ban Gilmartin

I absolutely loved this boyband enemies-to-lovers romance! It was such an adorable and heartwarming, but also emotional and poignant, story with amazing fleshed-out and complex characters that completely stole my heart. I binged it all in just a few hours, that’s how addictive it was!

The three best friends David, Chance and Eli started the boyband Darkhearts together when they were young teens. But eventually the three of them fought more and more, and when lead singer Chance started to steal all the spotlight, David left the band. Of course, shortly thereafter the band got its big break. Now, two years later, David is left living an ordinary Seattle high school life, while Darkhearts is touring the world as the hottest teen pop act. But then Eli dies, and David and Chance reconnect, trying to overcome their old conflict in Eli’s honor.

This was such an amazing book! It didn’t shy away from ugly feelings such as bitterness, jealousy and betrayal, nor the dark sides of fame, but it was also a heartwarming, sweet and adorable story about friendship, forgiveness and finding love where you least expect it.

​I rooted so for both the main characters, David and Chance, but also the wonderful side characters. All characters were so relatable, complex and lovable, and James L. Sutter did an amazing job capturing all their suppressed feelings and secrets. Especially David’s insecurity and his fear of rejection that always made him walk away before getting hurt whenever things got though. The journey of self-discovery and character growth that David did throughout this story was remarkable. My heart ached for him, even when he was not on his best behavior or made the most stupid choices.

I also really enjoyed the insights to the music industry and how the not-so-great sides of fame were portrayed, with the feeling of being trapped, of everyone knowing of you but no one really knowing (or wanting to know) the real you and how you must always second-guess everyone’s motives. The way Chance’s and David’s different views of the world and their separate realities collided were so well done. And don’t get me started on the romance… it was so wholesome seeing Chance and David slowly understanding their feelings for each other and their chemistry was amazing.

All in all, Darkhearts was an addictive, emotional, poignant and sweet queer teen story about friendship, first love and fame that was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Thank you Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this gem! All opinions are my own and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Rating:
5 shining stars

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James L. Sutter

​My poor heart… What an epic conclusion to an epic series. I just want to start this series all over again, not at all ready to leave these beloved characters yet. I really don’t know how to explain how much I love these characters and their love for each other, the world building and the magical, poetically writing. All I know is that this is a series that hit me straight in the heart and will stay there forever. It will be one of my comfort books that I know I’ll reread it many times onwards.

“We must be the gayest werewolf pack ever.”

Yes, this pack sure is. And the most wonderful one. With characters I love. And who love each other. And who make fun of each other. And who tells each other everything. And nothing. And with Carter realizing that his forever love is a dude and he’s never been with a dude, but how hard can it be… he’s brothers seemed to figured it all out. Right?

I absolutely adore T J Klune’s wit and humor, and all his characters. They will all have a special place in my heart. And I know that I will return to this series and read it again. Very soon. But for now, all I want to say is that I couldn’t have been happier with the way this story was concluded and how all lose ends were tied up and the happy wholesomeness after all.

It was warm like a summer day. It was candy cones and pinecones, it was epic and awesome, it was dirt and leaves and rain, it was grass and lake water and sunshine.

I truly love this epic saga about love and friendship, pack and mates. It’s nothing less than a masterpiece. If you haven’t started reading it yet, you should. Please give yourself the gift of experiencing the magical and heartfelt world of Green Greek and get to fall in love with Ox, Joe, Gordo, Mark, Kelly, Robbie, Carter, Gavin, Rico, Bambi, Chris, Tanner, Will, Jessie, Dominique and Elizabeth you too!


Rating:
​5 epic stars

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T.J. Klune

​This second book in the epic Green Greeks series is darker and even more heartwrenching, but also maybe even more gripping and addictive, than the first. This is both a second chance romance and a urban fantasy story about survival, destiny calling and epic fights with werewolfs and witches.

In the first book, we got to learn all of the characters and see Ox and Joe fall in love. In this book, the story is told from Gordo’s POV and we get to know about his past with a terrible childhood with an abusive father, more about the witch dynasty Livingstone and how it’s been interwoven with the Bennetts for such a long time. We also get to see how the Bennetts loved him but also used him and left him behind, and how his heart got broken by Mark. and what happened when he followed Joe, Carter and Kelly to hunt for Richard Collins and how being without the pack and the longing for their loved ones breaks them down. And we get to see and feel all his feelings of sadness, longing, betrayal, heartbreak and yet, neverending love for Mark.

Since the POV this time is the grown-up Gordo the story feels more of an adult one than a YA like the first book did. It’s also darker, with evil wolf hunters and more of a build-up towards the fight that can’t be avoided.

But there’s also love. So much love. And how it’s never too late to put the pieces back together. And pack. And fun. And hunting the moon and howling.

PackWitchBrotherLove

And new amazing characters like the badass Bambi and the formation of Team Human. I love the secondary characters and all their banter! And how Carter is being followed by the big timber wolf everywhere (and I mean everywhere…) and who may or may not turn out to be his big epic love. The last one of the Bennett brothers to join Team Gay? And of course, there’s Mystical Moon Magic and mates and epic love making. I really do love T J Klune’s wit and humor!

Once again, I was completely blown away by this magical, beautiful and so poetically written series. I binged all of these 400 pages in just one day, so hooked I just couldn’t bear to put it down until the end (when I immediately continued with Heartsong…). I didn’t think it would be possible to reach the same epicness as Wolfsong, but T J Klune sure pulled it off!

Rating:
​5 stars

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T.J. Klune