My Goodreads Reviews Part 58
- Bernard Jan
- Jul 28
- 4 min read
Three months of waiting for my new book recommendations? I think it was worth it! At least, in 90 percent of the LGBTQ+ romance, horror and thriller books I have reviewed on Goodreads and am sharing here.
Pride High: Book 2 – Orange, Half Way Home, Glitterland (Spires #1), The Gravity of Us, Honey, Moon, In Too Deep (A Texas Beach Town Romance Book 1), Something Like Daybreak, After the Rain, Bird Box, One More Spin: A Gay for You Romance (One More Chance #2)
Young loves, heartbreaks and friendships are nothing less intense than in Red book. Love Orange and can’t wait to read Yellow!
Between Lord of the Flies and The Maze Runner there is Half Way Home. Need I say more?
I love the London Calling series by Alexis Hall, but the Essex accent was too big a challenge for me in Glitterland. It ruined the fluency of my reading, while, at the same time, it better characterized Darian. What a paradox!
First, I was attracted to its cover, then to the title. For months I watched it online until I stumbled on it in my bookstore, but didn’t buy it. The next two or three times I didn’t buy it either. But then I gave in and bought The Gravity of Us paperback despite my decision not to buy more physical books.
I didn’t regret it. I almost forgot the smell of the printed book, that sweet sensation of holding a paper in your hands and reading such a charming, loveable, and romantic teen story. The space exploration trope made me worried because I am not in that mode (I was a huge fan in my early teen years, though), but it wasn’t a distraction and humanity and love conquered in the end. Just like Phil Stamper conquered my reading heart.
With Honey, Moon Kent Holland set his ladder high. Very high.
Because I liked its cover and the good summer vibe it sent me, I began reading Kent Holland and getting to know him as a writer with this book. I can’t tell if that was a mistake, for I didn’t know what to expect from this young author, and I was confused when the first thing I found in the book was Honey, Moon Synopsis, which was an unusual thing. I skimmed through it because I don’t like to know in advance what’s going to happen. I said to myself, Ooohkay, and then continued to Take Action, Author’s Note, and Content Guidance. Another Okay to myself, but the author had my attention by then.
Staying true to himself, Kent Holland surprised me again with his first pages written in more narrative tone and character-driven storytelling. This is not something I expected from a typical mm romance with a few steamy sex scenes. However, I also didn’t expect the lyrical beauty and the strength of his writing, which is a fine mixture of literary and contemporary fiction.
This book is everything I hoped to get from Kent Holland, and much more. It is everything a love story needs to stay imprinted in your memory: emotion, beauty, angst, heartache, healing, passion, break-up, reconciliation, forgiveness, intensity, authenticity, relatability, and, of course, love. It has maturity and depth many gay romance books fail to reach because Holland knows that beauty is more than skin deep. Meaning no offence to other gay romance stories I’ve read and loved, Honey, Moon launched me straight into emotional and visually happy state I haven’t experienced so intensely since reading The Sea Ain’t Mine Alone by C.L. Beaumont, Out of Time, Into You by Jay Bell, or Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman.
Honey, Moon is a gay romance that shines like a twinkling stardust. Read Kent Holland. He’s got talent. This boy knows how to write!
Utterly charming! Sweet. Adorable. I love that sense of freedom!
Ugh, I’m sorry, Jay. This one didn’t click with me. I didn’t feel good reading about reincarnation and the afterlife; it is not something I like in this series. I only read the first two books so far, but this short story somehow waters the whole concept down, makes it less real and authentic. Maybe it’s just my misconception, dunno.
Anger and rage are emotions that accompanied me most during After the Rain reading journey. I can’t stand and will never understand people who need to poke their noses into other people’s life, intruding their intimacy and moralizing how we should live. If only they knew how insignificant they were. How their opinions were unimportant.
Luckily, a tiny bunch of annoying, irritating, and mean characters didn’t spoil my reading and enjoying this story. I knew things would end or the universe would implode otherwise. Besides, as the book title hinted, after the rain, hail, and storm, the sun will shine over the rainbow and justice will be done.
I’m glad I discovered a new talented voice in mm romance genre, who is also a great cover designer.
A few years ago, I watched a Bird Box movie and loved it. Today, after I finished reading Bird Box, I can only say it met—and exceeded—all my expectations. I loved it and that’s all I need to say.
In his Preface, the author said that writing One More Spin was his favorite memory from writing any piece of fiction, even two years after writing One More Shot, and that no other novel was more transformative in his life. I believe him. There is something, or there is a lot in the story of Holden and Michael, and reading it was without a doubt both a charming and a steamy experience.
Happy reading!
BJ
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