Non-Actionable Puffery

Here's yesterday's answer:

6. A book where you were dubious about the premise but loved the work

Enemies to Lovers by Aster Glenn Gray

Honestly, I expected Enemies to Lovers to be unbearably corny. The summary begins like this: "Handcuffed together. Only one bed. Which will win: Megan and Sarah's sizzling sexual attraction, or their compulsion to correct each other’s atrocious fandom opinions?" Books about fandom are often pretty bad (think Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl), so I read Enemies to Lovers out of almost morbid curiosity.

Folks, it's good. Really good. It offers a nuanced and realistic picture of fandom drama, including a culture clash between journal fandom and Tumblr norms, and the characters are impressively well developed for such a short book. Gray plays with familiar tropes in a delightful way to create what is in some ways a love letter to fandom – a love letter that does us all the courtesy of taking fan culture seriously rather than making it a punchline.

(I also reviewed this book here back in August.)

The remaining questions: ( Read more... )

My first review of a Kalikoi Press book! (Also posted on Amazon.) I received an advance copy of this book to give an honest review.

A Fox in the Orchard by Layne Baker
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

A Fox in the Orchard is short and sweet, a lovely way to spend a lunch break (or an evening, depending on how fast you read). ( Read more... )