Hero
Heat Factor: Coming like a fire tornado
Character Chemistry: They are so hot for each other and it’s fabulous
Plot: Gender-swapped Phantom of the Opera, with an HEA for the Phantom
Overall: I am utterly delighted
Heartstopper, #3
Reviews of Heartstopper #1 and #2
Heat Factor: Sleepovers are now forbidden at Charlie’s house, but they do go on a field trip to Paris… (and talk about how they’re not ready yet)
Character Chemistry: Silly teenager flirting
Plot: Acknowledging oneself is one kind of scary, but coming out is a whole other kind
Overall: The sweetness remains! But there’s also a lot of giggling.
Trade Season, Book #2
Review of Trade Season, Book #1
Heat Factor: awkward sex → “you should leave” → slow burn → spectacular sex
Character Chemistry: They are so awkward with each other, but they’re also the only one who really understands what the other is going through, and they’re so sweet to each other
Plot: Brody and Sea’s attempt at casual fails horribly, but somebody caught them smooching on camera so now the whole internet knows they’re gay. In order to contain the fallout raining down on their careers, their agents negotiate a six month fake relationship
Overall: The perfection of this fake relationship is that, when they would normally just walk away, they have to stick around and talk things through and UGH MY HEART
Heartstopper, Book #2
Review of Heartstopper, Book #1
Heat Factor: So much making out. (Ah, the high school nostalgia)
Character Chemistry: Sweetness overload. These boys are so kind.
Plot: Charlie kissed Nick and now he thinks their friendship is over, but Nick is realizing that those feelings he’s been having mean something, so now it’s time to navigate a secret relationship
Overall: My high school first love nostalgia trip continues but with much sweeter and more nurturing kids.
Decades: A Journey of African American Romance, Book #3
Heat Factor: Some cursory details.
Character Chemistry: They seem to have a chemical attraction that supersedes all of Miles’ bad behavior.
Plot: Miles woos Leigh, plus they write a song together.
Overall: The music details were fun, but that’s the only nice thing I can say.
Heat Factor: Nothing too involved – it’s kinda lavender
Character Chemistry: Ugh
Plot: Miles abandons Leigh then changes his mind 3 years later and that’s just supposed to be fine
Overall: DNF at 45%
The Smut Report 