just a lil scamp out here reviewing media
Like many romance readers I’ve been caught up in the hockey romance craze. And like anyone with good sense I’ve been watching the PWHL since the league was announced. Add in this being the first winter Olympics since I started watching hockey and I’ve been searching far and wide for a sapphic hockey romance. Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochran met my expectations and then some! 4/5 stars for everyone watches women’s sports
As part of the Paperback Pals Summer 2025 Seasonal Readathon I decided to pick up a bunch of middle grade books – primarily graphic novels. I dropped recommendation requests in a couple of bookish discords and quickly had more recommendations than I knew what to do with. Here is a rundown of the three graphic novels that came in first at my local library branch. Expect more group in the future!
Camp Midnight by Steven T. Seagle and Jason Adam Katzenstein
I was surprised I was able to find this title as it appears to be out of print anywhere except amazon (booo), but luckily my library had a copy. The art style is expressive and atmospheric and the message of the comic is cute and comes through loud and clear. 3.5/5 stars
I was immediately won over by an adorable three legged dog and was not disappointed by the continuation of cute animals throughout the books. Love an older queer mentor, love found family, love queer love and finding one’s self. Run, don’t walk. 5/5 stars
Ghost Roast by Shawnelle Gibbs, Shawneé Gibbs, and Emily Cannon
More cute animals! Historical hotties! Embarrassing but loving parents. 4/5 stars
We’re about halfway through summer and I thought I’d check in on my tbr for the rest of the season:
– Drama! by A. J. Truman
– Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochran
– Melt with You by Jennifer Dugan
– Poolside by Taylor E. Weston
– Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
– Evening the Score by Lexi LaFleur Brown
– I Punched an Alien and Now We’re in Couple’s Therapy by Kimberly Lemming
– Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert
– Transcendent by Laverne Cox
– A reread of all the five Hunger Games novels by Suzanne Collins
What’s remaining on your tbr?
I was lucky enough to see A. J. Truman on a panel at Sports Romance Con 2026 and to meet him later. The panel was affirming and had me both in tears and peals of laughter. At the signing A. J. was kind and gracious with his time and so when my local queer romance bookclub was looking for someone’s work to kick things off with he felt like a natural choice. We decided to go with Ancient History based on the fact it gives us an excuse to make skittle-themed cocktails and mocktails.
SUMMARY: Amos and Hutch were secret boyfriends with a plan to come out in the description so not a spoiler until Hutch let Amos down and they went they’re separate ways. A decade later they’re both teaching at the same high school they attended and sparks still fly. What will happen when they’re assigned the same lunch duty?
I was almost immediately endeared to this story as someone who had a lot of confusing not-quite-crushes in high school. (I was once late to a dance with one crush because I was busy watching the then new Grey’s Anatomy TiVo with another.) Both main characters are compelling and well-motivated. Amos has a strong group of friends around him. Hutch and his father’s relationships is charming. The whole community is well fleshed out and had me reaching for the rest of the series after finishing up this novel.
4.5 starts and 3 chili peppers!
What’s your favorite second-chance romance?
I had a delightful, nostalgic time reading A Shore Thing by Emily Shacklette! The novel follows dual timelines in 2009 and 2026 with its main characters Juliette and Wesley. I would have been in my late teens in 2009 and while I was living in the wide, open spaces of the midwest media like MTV, VH1, and myspace kept me solidly up-to-date with the emo trends that Juliette and Wesley loved in this novel.
The book has spicy scenes a plenty that are up to Shacklette’s standard excellence. The scenes were varied and emotionally intense. The intimate moments were always moving the plot forward and me fanning my face.
This is the third book I’ve read by Shacklette and each has been fun and unique. I’ve enjoyed her general contemporary and sports romances. Like all her books I’ve read this one has great queer representation. Grab an iced Wawa coffee, a breakfast sandwich, and straighten your bangs with this 4.5 star read!
Squeaking in with a reading of Heartstopper Volumes One through Five right before the sixth and final volume comes out. This week’s assignment is watching the show as well. Extremely sweet and heartfelt.
What to expect from special edition of The Brotherly Shove by Emily Shackelette:
Two messy queers falling in love after a seven-year-long argument? Sign me up!
Learning how to deal with your baggage and trust other people? Hell yeah!
A road trip? Go for it guys!
An adorable dog? Are you kidding?! This is heaven!
Star Shipped is my first book by Cat Sebastian and I am so glad I decided to pick it up. I listened to it on audio and found the narrator skilled and emotive. Excited to read another!
Hedgehog Harry 