Reviews

Top to Bottom by Delphine Dryden

hhushaw's review

4.0

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This was different than any of the usual books that I read, but I loved it. It was so different that I couldn't put the book down. The author took me on a journey, especially as I don't know much about BDSM, but I could feel the connection between the characters and their story. This was a great read if your looking for a different type of romance, enjoy.

ninetalevixen's review

3.0

I appreciate the representation, though I don't totally agree with the way it's presented: sexuality isn't defined by your current partner, so it's not accurate to say a character is "sometimes bisexual but mostly lesbian"; it's also mentioned that there's some tension because the bisexual lead is also a switch (including one instance, although challenged in-text, where the other alludes to her finally "admitting her true identity" or something like that), which is never really resolved. The plot also wraps up too quickly and neatly, which makes it difficult to invest in the characters or their story.

content warnings:

Spoiler

explicit sexual content, graphic BDSM, precanon loss of loved ones

rep:

Spoiler

homoromantic demisexual MC, bisexual switch MC, F/F main romance, minor M/M relationships, past polyam relationship

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CONVERSION: 8.4 / 15 = 3 stars

Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 6 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 4 / 10
Setting: 7 / 10

bethifer's review

4.0

I've been looking for a book like this. Sweet and romantic, satisfyingly kinky, surprisingly poignant. Quite pleased, I hope for more!

peachtale's review

emotional funny inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I feel like the blurb here makes you think that a lot of this book is in Dru's side of things, it's not, most of it in fact is from Amie's.  Which would be fine,  except she's not that engaging as a character, we learn about the issues she had when she was younger and thrown out of her religious family's home when she was still a teenager and how that issue hasn't left, which of course it wouldn't because she was made to go through so much from her family to make her straight.  The only issue is, aside from the few moments Amie thought about her family, there wasn't really much to make that a real conflict in her life currently.  Not saying that it wasn't part of the plot but it felt a bit weak, considering that she has been going to therapy - although that had only been brought up a few times within the book and I kind of felt that maybe it should have been made clearer if she was still going? Surely she should be because such family rejection at a young age would mess with your head?

Then we have Dru, a woman who moved on from Amie, who got further involved in the BDSM club scene, and who went through her own trauma when she lived on the other side of the country from Amie.  Although I do wish we got to know more about Padma and Trip, that we learned more about who they were with people and how well Dru connected with them, the conflict between them all and how Dru and Trip deal with the aftermath.

Then we also have the saboteur, which kind of felt like a weak conflict compared to Dru and Amie getting together again, or at least possibly getting together again.  The tension that it was meant to create seemed a bit weak and lacklustre as it was clear to the reader who was behind it, and honestly it just didn't need to be there, the conflict between Dru and Amie and their own personal baggage's would have made this book engaging and interesting on it's own without something that just seemed to be misplaced and not really fit in with the whole concept that the book was going for.

However it is a good book with plenty of kink, erotica and f/f main characters, it also shows how a good partner would make sure to question the other about what they are wanting from a scene, what they want done to them, do's and don't's and it's not just the bottom/sub who is asked but the top/dominant too.  It's a delightful, quick read if you want to read something that isn't too heavy but also has a bit of kink with two women leads.