m/m romance Archives - Hsinju’s Lit Log

ARCs, Book Reviews, Fiction

THE EXTRAORDINARIES by TJ Klune | ARC Review

22nd April 2020
THE EXTRAORDINARIES (The Extraordinaries #1) by TJ Klune
- Publisher: Tor Teen, 2020
- Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBTQ+
- Format: Ebook (eARC)
- Page Count: 400 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Click on the cover for my review on Goodreads.

When I started reading The Extraordinaries, I did not have any expectations. The opening of the story was a fanfic chapter by Nick, and I did not really appreciate it nor realise Shadow Star and Pyro Storm were real in the book. But as I read on into the main story, it was surprisingly enjoyable and gave me a few laughs. The book was the kind of YA fantasy with queer main characters I needed back in my teens.
Read More

No Comments
Book Reviews, Fiction

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

24th September 2018
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren, read by Deacon Lee & Kyle Mason
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio, 2017
- Genre: Young Adult, LGBTQ+
- Format: Audiobook
- Length: 9h 19m (407 pages)
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Autoboyography is a very cute and sweet story between a bisexual high school senior, Tanner, and a Mormon Brother, Sebastian. It is the sort of book that provides hope for readers, especially young and queer ones, but, sadly, does not reflect the real world. The overall story is a dream too good to be true. Maybe that is part of the reason why it was enjoyable: you get things you don’t get out of life. Deacon did a great job at narrating, too, even though he didn’t sound much like a high schooler. He gave this story a calmness that makes it even more soothing to listen to. Also, I finished the book in two days. That is approximately two sittings, which is weirdly fast for me.
Read More

No Comments
Book Reviews, Fiction

Starting from Scratch by Jay Northcote

12th June 2018
Starting from Scratch (Housemates #5) by Jay Northcote
- Publisher: Jaybird Press, 2017
- Genre: Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: Ebook
- Page Count: 196 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
accurate trans portrayal, hot sex, awesome people

Most people were obsessed with genitals. Gay guys were all about the dick and straight guys were all about tits and pussy. It was something you took for granted, a fact of life, until you realised you were trans and then suddenly began to see gender through a totally different lens. Definitions of masculinity and femininity became more flexible, less rigid, and not so focused on body parts.

This is my first attempt to read a sort-of-erotic M/M romance fiction, and also a first novel with a trans lead.
Read More

1 Comment
Book Reviews, Fiction

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

20th April 2018
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Creekwood #1, Simonverse #1) by Becky Albertalli, read by Michael Crouch
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd, 2017
- Genre: Young Adult, LGBTQ+
- Format: Audiobook
- Length: 6h 44m (303 pages)
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
From: hourtohour.notetonote@gmail.com
To: bluegreen118@gmail.com
Blue,
…
Love,
Jacques

I figured since I love Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, this book might be something of the same sort. According to Becky, Stephen’s book was part of her inspiration.
Read More

No Comments