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the_vegan_bookworm's review
fast-paced
4.0
This was a really short story without a lot of plot, but the love and support of a queer found family really shone through. It was really comforting to envision that kind of unconditional support in difficult times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Toxic relationship
hissingpotatoes's review
3.0
A comforting couple of scenes set over the course of a single afternoon/evening focusing on the support of found family during a time of physical and emotional pain.
jugglingpup's review
5.0
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I got an ARC of this book.
You know what I love about Xan West? Their ability to create world of found family where it is encouraged to be yourself. I just love this series. West always includes trigger warnings that was very specific, down to the chapter that they appear in for common triggers. There is a guide about pronouns in the beginning. There is also a guide for reviewers at the back that explains pronouns for the author (THANK YOU, I always worry that I am assuming a pronoun when I am reviewing and I really want to respect people) and how the gender of the characters are not spoilers. The respect for the trans characters and the effort to educate are really appreciated. I never have to worry about being triggered when it comes to the trans characters.
This is not a romance in the classic sense. The book starts with a break-up. The rest of the book is responding to that break-up. This is a love letter to found families. Found families are so incredibly important for so many people. Trans people in general seem to have a higher need for found family. By the end of West’s books, I always wish I was part of the family. The way they bond with each other, the way they support each other, I just want my life to be so full of love like the characters have.
This story feels a bit different than previous stories by West. West’s voice has changed a bit between the last release and this one. I love seeing authors grow and change, especially when that change is good. I am so impressed by West. I can’t wait to see if this voice change is more permanent or just for this story.
This is just such a feel good story, despite how it starts. Being able to see a character comes back into their own and really take themselves as a priority when they have been hiding who they are for so long just warmed my heart.
I got an ARC of this book.
You know what I love about Xan West? Their ability to create world of found family where it is encouraged to be yourself. I just love this series. West always includes trigger warnings that was very specific, down to the chapter that they appear in for common triggers. There is a guide about pronouns in the beginning. There is also a guide for reviewers at the back that explains pronouns for the author (THANK YOU, I always worry that I am assuming a pronoun when I am reviewing and I really want to respect people) and how the gender of the characters are not spoilers. The respect for the trans characters and the effort to educate are really appreciated. I never have to worry about being triggered when it comes to the trans characters.
This is not a romance in the classic sense. The book starts with a break-up. The rest of the book is responding to that break-up. This is a love letter to found families. Found families are so incredibly important for so many people. Trans people in general seem to have a higher need for found family. By the end of West’s books, I always wish I was part of the family. The way they bond with each other, the way they support each other, I just want my life to be so full of love like the characters have.
This story feels a bit different than previous stories by West. West’s voice has changed a bit between the last release and this one. I love seeing authors grow and change, especially when that change is good. I am so impressed by West. I can’t wait to see if this voice change is more permanent or just for this story.
This is just such a feel good story, despite how it starts. Being able to see a character comes back into their own and really take themselves as a priority when they have been hiding who they are for so long just warmed my heart.
wardenred's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
She tried to picture them filling the space with their sounds and their bodies and the smells of potluck, but the apartment felt so damn empty. Like there was a gaping hole Mara had left. She could see gaps in the bookcase, empty places on the walls. Everywhere, things would be missing, all these tiny holes reminding her she’d been dumped.
A lovely, aptly named short story about a queer found family coming together to support one of theirs through a sudden break-up. There's something about Xan West's style that always resonates with me so deeply. On the surface, it's rather simplistic, with a lot of repetitiveness and telling instead of showing, but it takes but a couple of pages to get completely engrossed in all the kindness and humanity hidden in each word. Despite the sadness of the situation at the heart of the story, it's so entirely hopeful and warm and full of friendship and love. Pretty much the definition of slice of life and found family. I want more of the same! Maybe I should re-read Their Troublesome Crush soon—I did have to dig out my copy anyway to double-check I was remembering correctly who everyone was.
I do wish there was a bit more... ambiguity? Complexity? To the break-up itself, rather than straightforwardly painting it as a situation where the MC is better off alone anyway, just as long as she can sort out the practical/financial matters. But at the same time, the story depicts the immediate aftermath of the break-up and it kind of makes sense for the character to focus on those aspects to pull through. Though I guess if I didn't remember Judith from the full-length novel, I might have felt differently on whether it makes sense or not, so there is that.
However, given that I did remember Judith well enough, it was easy to overlook this and just bask in the vibe of supportiveness and chosen family love. Also, I just want to note that the story contains the most relatable depiction of dealing with a stress-induced migraine ever, as well as the most relatable depiction of that viscerally scary and healing experience of being seen and cared for. Big kudos for those.
I'm sad that Xan West is no longer with us to deliver more stories about these wonderful fictional people in that wonderful unique style. But I'm grateful that I can read and re-read the books they had written.
sophie_sciuto's review
5.0
a short story that once again touched me, similiar to other xan west novels i've read
araleith's review
5.0
This book reminded me it's okay to stim and wear things I like and to hold onto my found family. It was what I needed on a hard, shattery feeling day.
annas_sweets_and_stories's review
4.0
I really love this series and this one, like Their Troublesome Crush is honestly a safe space in book form, and I mean that in the best possible way. I'm glad we got a short with Judith and hope for more in this series.
rep: bisexual, fat, jewish, autistic, nonbinary, chronic pain
rep: bisexual, fat, jewish, autistic, nonbinary, chronic pain