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spuriousdiphthongs's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Classism, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, and Biphobia
Minor: Miscarriage and Vomit
jackiehorne's review against another edition
3.0
After Poppy, a early twenty-something bisexual millennial who has been shamed and controlled by her overbearing doctor mother for being an underachiever (because she dropped out of college and doesn't embody thin girl norms) discovers that a drunken one-night stand with her pot-head ex has led to an unexpected pregnancy, she decides that she wants to keep the baby. And joins a stitch 'n bitch knitting/crocheting group. And falls for one of its members, a barista who also volunteers at the local Planned Parenthood clinic guiding clients past antiabortion protestors.
Told in Poppy's first person, single POV, the story is cheery and light, with the depth of a category romance rather than a longer novel. I found the story pleasant, if a bit unsatisfying, for the following reasons:
1. Since Poppy's mother isn't ever on page until about 2/3 into the book (because Poppy is an avoider rather than a confronter), we never really see Poppy struggling with mom's overbearing ways, we're just told that she does. S0 Poppy's conflict doesn't feel as compelling as it might have if we'd been shown rather than just told about her mother's ways. And when Poppy finally stands up for herself to her mother, she does so in a multi-page monologue without mom interrupting once, which makes the resolution of her conflict feel unduly tension-free and too easily achieved.
2. The romance is also rather underwhelming, in part because of the single POV (so we don't see what's going in inside Rhianna's head); in part because Rhiannon and Poppy aren't shown together interacting all that much; and in part because Rhiannon (due to backstory trauma) is wary of commitment.
3. The book's message—it's OK to make do, to not be a super-achiever—is surely welcome in our age of career and personal life overreach. But I still couldn't help feeling some sympathy for Poppy's mother and her view that Poppy was pretty immature. This isn't a book that dwells on the difficult, though; the reader is asked to cheer Poppy on without reservation. There's no discussion at all of what Poppy's going to do with her baby when it's time to go back to work, or how she's going to pay for daycare, or what she's going to do if the baby has trouble sleeping through the night if she's all alone, all practical things this GenXer couldn't help but worry about...
Told in Poppy's first person, single POV, the story is cheery and light, with the depth of a category romance rather than a longer novel. I found the story pleasant, if a bit unsatisfying, for the following reasons:
1. Since Poppy's mother isn't ever on page until about 2/3 into the book (because Poppy is an avoider rather than a confronter), we never really see Poppy struggling with mom's overbearing ways, we're just told that she does. S0 Poppy's conflict doesn't feel as compelling as it might have if we'd been shown rather than just told about her mother's ways. And when Poppy finally stands up for herself to her mother, she does so in a multi-page monologue without mom interrupting once, which makes the resolution of her conflict feel unduly tension-free and too easily achieved.
2. The romance is also rather underwhelming, in part because of the single POV (so we don't see what's going in inside Rhianna's head); in part because Rhiannon and Poppy aren't shown together interacting all that much; and in part because Rhiannon (due to backstory trauma) is wary of commitment.
3. The book's message—it's OK to make do, to not be a super-achiever—is surely welcome in our age of career and personal life overreach. But I still couldn't help feeling some sympathy for Poppy's mother and her view that Poppy was pretty immature. This isn't a book that dwells on the difficult, though; the reader is asked to cheer Poppy on without reservation. There's no discussion at all of what Poppy's going to do with her baby when it's time to go back to work, or how she's going to pay for daycare, or what she's going to do if the baby has trouble sleeping through the night if she's all alone, all practical things this GenXer couldn't help but worry about...
finchthearcher's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Miscarriage, Body shaming, Medical content, and Biphobia
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death, Eating disorder, and Drug use
gingerbread_void's review
4.0
I am always looking for more unique saphic books and this book definitely fit that bill. Having a fat, bi main character and a lesbain love interest was really great. I did like this book over all as well there were just a few little things I would change.
The romance just went to fast for me. I felt like Bell was trying to hard to make a romance fit into the frame of the pregnancy and thus everything felt just a little to rushed for me.
I also didn't really love the main character. I really thought I would connect with her as a fat queer woman but I just didn't. To be fair though that is more something to do with me and I am sure most readers will love her and connect with her in a way I just couldn't.
This is definitely an adorable saphic romance and I am definitely going to be recommending this to me friends. If you are in the market for a sweet saphic romance look no further as Hettie Bell has you covered.
The romance just went to fast for me. I felt like Bell was trying to hard to make a romance fit into the frame of the pregnancy and thus everything felt just a little to rushed for me.
I also didn't really love the main character. I really thought I would connect with her as a fat queer woman but I just didn't. To be fair though that is more something to do with me and I am sure most readers will love her and connect with her in a way I just couldn't.
This is definitely an adorable saphic romance and I am definitely going to be recommending this to me friends. If you are in the market for a sweet saphic romance look no further as Hettie Bell has you covered.
balletbookworm's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
Ok, so from a strictly Romance Novel standpoint, I don't think this book works. I didn't feel like the romance between Poppy and Rhi - while it had good bones and some really good scenes together - was not foregrounded in the story. Rhiannon is off page too much for this book to go full Romance Novel, in my opinion (FYI, for those who have preferences about POV this book is 100% 1st Person narration from Poppy, we never have Rhi's perspective). So the marketing for this book may not work like it should.
However, Poppy's story as a woman who learns to set boundaries and believe in herself as a fat, bisexual woman who is going to be a new mother and stand up to her own horrible, gaslighting mother is a really good story. The opening scenes at Planned Parenthood where Poppy meets Rhiannon (who is her clinic escort) and then sees the PP nurse for her appointment are wonderfully, truthfully, and very lovingly written. This book takes us from the day Poppy's pregnancy is confirmed through a few weeks after her baby is born - so we get a bildungsroman as Poppy starts to figure out her shit. So that part is really good, but it's not a Romance Novel, in my opinion.
Ok, so from a strictly Romance Novel standpoint, I don't think this book works. I didn't feel like the romance between Poppy and Rhi - while it had good bones and some really good scenes together - was not foregrounded in the story. Rhiannon is off page too much for this book to go full Romance Novel, in my opinion (FYI, for those who have preferences about POV this book is 100% 1st Person narration from Poppy, we never have Rhi's perspective). So the marketing for this book may not work like it should.
However, Poppy's story as a woman who learns to set boundaries and believe in herself as a fat, bisexual woman who is going to be a new mother and stand up to her own horrible, gaslighting mother is a really good story. The opening scenes at Planned Parenthood where Poppy meets Rhiannon (who is her clinic escort) and then sees the PP nurse for her appointment are wonderfully, truthfully, and very lovingly written. This book takes us from the day Poppy's pregnancy is confirmed through a few weeks after her baby is born - so we get a bildungsroman as Poppy starts to figure out her shit. So that part is really good, but it's not a Romance Novel, in my opinion.
jugglingpup's review
4.0
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
This book hit so many buttons for me. There was the fat MC, the butch love interest who was doting, fiber arts, and complicated relationships. The only way that this book could be more me is if there was a gay cowboy.
Poppy is unapologetically fat. This is something I need in my romance. Give me different body types. Give me characters that aren’t dieting. Give me characters that are mostly ok with their bodies, but when they are bullied they still have some issues. Give me real humans. Poppy was the best MC for this. She was flawed and she was learning to love herself. Poppy was also emotionally reactive in a very toxic way, which made me cringe more than once. She was not bringing healthy communication to the relationship at all, but was never really called out for it.
The love interest! She is butch, she feels like she has to take care of everyone (but not herself), she is queer with floral shirts and ties. She is one of those mostly perfect love interest where her only flaw is that she is emotionally stunted, she really could read as a gay cowboy without any real editing. I wish she was a bit more fleshed out, I needed to understand why she was doing what she was doing. I wanted to know her as well as I knew Poppy. Though to be fair, some of Poppy’s behaviors were also seemingly out of nowhere and didn’t fit her character.
Fiber arts are my thing. I cross stitch, weave, basket weave, loom knit, needle felt, loom knitting, and shuttle tatting. I am well aware of the issues within the yarn community. Bell must be a fiber arts person. There are so many details and layers to the drama in the knitting group that it felt so incredibly real. There was the yarn snobbery, the knitting over crochet, the praising of even the most basic of projects done by a man, and the lack of anyone who did anything except knit (and the one crochet person who is tolerated). This is so very much my experiences with fiber groups. It was a lot less toxic though, so it came across as funny and quirky instead of elitist and bullying. I have to say that the stitching details were my favorite by far.
The relationship was complicated by a backstory that was revealed over time (though I did not like how it was handled) and the pregnancy. It was a more complex relationship than I was expecting. It was far from perfect. There were issues with communication, but not miscommunications. It was more like two flawed people who aren’t used to being able to rely on someone else trying to relearn how to be in a relationship. I really liked the relationship dynamics and how the complications played out.
I really liked this book. It was unique, funny, and I could read it during this book slump. I just wish there was more character development and that jealousy was not seen as a sign of love. I needed a bit less toxic. One of the best F/F romances I have ever read though!
I got an ARC of this book.
This book hit so many buttons for me. There was the fat MC, the butch love interest who was doting, fiber arts, and complicated relationships. The only way that this book could be more me is if there was a gay cowboy.
Poppy is unapologetically fat. This is something I need in my romance. Give me different body types. Give me characters that aren’t dieting. Give me characters that are mostly ok with their bodies, but when they are bullied they still have some issues. Give me real humans. Poppy was the best MC for this. She was flawed and she was learning to love herself. Poppy was also emotionally reactive in a very toxic way, which made me cringe more than once. She was not bringing healthy communication to the relationship at all, but was never really called out for it.
The love interest! She is butch, she feels like she has to take care of everyone (but not herself), she is queer with floral shirts and ties. She is one of those mostly perfect love interest where her only flaw is that she is emotionally stunted, she really could read as a gay cowboy without any real editing. I wish she was a bit more fleshed out, I needed to understand why she was doing what she was doing. I wanted to know her as well as I knew Poppy. Though to be fair, some of Poppy’s behaviors were also seemingly out of nowhere and didn’t fit her character.
Fiber arts are my thing. I cross stitch, weave, basket weave, loom knit, needle felt, loom knitting, and shuttle tatting. I am well aware of the issues within the yarn community. Bell must be a fiber arts person. There are so many details and layers to the drama in the knitting group that it felt so incredibly real. There was the yarn snobbery, the knitting over crochet, the praising of even the most basic of projects done by a man, and the lack of anyone who did anything except knit (and the one crochet person who is tolerated). This is so very much my experiences with fiber groups. It was a lot less toxic though, so it came across as funny and quirky instead of elitist and bullying. I have to say that the stitching details were my favorite by far.
The relationship was complicated by a backstory that was revealed over time (though I did not like how it was handled) and the pregnancy. It was a more complex relationship than I was expecting. It was far from perfect. There were issues with communication, but not miscommunications. It was more like two flawed people who aren’t used to being able to rely on someone else trying to relearn how to be in a relationship. I really liked the relationship dynamics and how the complications played out.
I really liked this book. It was unique, funny, and I could read it during this book slump. I just wish there was more character development and that jealousy was not seen as a sign of love. I needed a bit less toxic. One of the best F/F romances I have ever read though!
accidentalspaceexplorer's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I really liked the first half of the book (although I wished it took longer for Rhiannon and Poppy to start dating) but it really went downhill in the second half. I hated how Rhiannon acted, I thought Poppy's speech to her mom was overdone (although deserved), I didn't like the timing of the resolution, etc. The only thing I liked at the end was the resolution with Poppy's sister. So ultimately I'm pretty disappointed with it.
pn_hinton's review
4.0
I was lucky enough to snag an e-ARC of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found the tone refreshing yet believable for how someone Poppy's age would react to the situation they found themselves in. I also appreciated the inclusion of the internal debate she went through in deciding whether or not she was going to keep the baby and how it was portrayed in a way that it is ultimately up to the person carrying the baby what they wish to do.
I agree with the other reviews that the romance between Rhiannon and Poppy seemed a bit rushed and, in some ways, to come out of nowhere. We knew the attraction was there, at least on Poppy's side, but besides the casual flirting there was no indicator that Rhiannon felt the same way. That said, there were also multiple conflicts in the story, which I felt was more believable especially given how fast paced their romantic relationship was.
Also Poppy's internal struggle, while believable, also seemed to become a bit of a crutch to add more unnecessary drama to the story. She also had a bad habit of lashing out at all the wrong people and the pregnancy hormone excuse can only be used for so many before it's gets a bit tedious. She always apologized because she recognized that it wasn't fair but it still happened a lot. The only one she never apologized too (rightfully) was her mom who...whew that woman was a piece of work. For someone who thought she knew everything about everything, she was sure quick to add more stressors to her pregnant daughter's life which anyone who has every had a baby will tell you is a big effing no-no.
Overall, this was a sweet romance about learning to be comfortable with your own choices, realizing your family can be found and not the one you're born into, but also realizing that sometimes you can forgive family for past hurts (not her mom btw that was still unresolved at the end). I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a quick sweet romance read.
I agree with the other reviews that the romance between Rhiannon and Poppy seemed a bit rushed and, in some ways, to come out of nowhere. We knew the attraction was there, at least on Poppy's side, but besides the casual flirting there was no indicator that Rhiannon felt the same way. That said, there were also multiple conflicts in the story, which I felt was more believable especially given how fast paced their romantic relationship was.
Also Poppy's internal struggle, while believable, also seemed to become a bit of a crutch to add more unnecessary drama to the story. She also had a bad habit of lashing out at all the wrong people and the pregnancy hormone excuse can only be used for so many before it's gets a bit tedious. She always apologized because she recognized that it wasn't fair but it still happened a lot. The only one she never apologized too (rightfully) was her mom who...whew that woman was a piece of work. For someone who thought she knew everything about everything, she was sure quick to add more stressors to her pregnant daughter's life which anyone who has every had a baby will tell you is a big effing no-no.
Overall, this was a sweet romance about learning to be comfortable with your own choices, realizing your family can be found and not the one you're born into, but also realizing that sometimes you can forgive family for past hurts (not her mom btw that was still unresolved at the end). I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a quick sweet romance read.
priamoon's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Biphobia, Body shaming, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Fatphobia
cedardleland's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0