Hedgehog Harry

just a lil scamp out here reviewing media

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  • December Wrap Up

    Books

    1.Anderson In Bloom by Jennifer Dugan [review link] Second chance Sapphic romance between two former child costars. 4 stars. Out in March 2026.

    2. Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much by Cynthia Erivo [audiobook] A memoir by the star of stage and screen. As with most memoirs read by the author, I strongly recommend the audiobook. Released November 2025.

    3. The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi [2020] The novel focuses on the lead up and fallout of the central event in the narrative and how various characters cope. I read this title as part of the 2025 Trans Rights Readathon Challenge.

    4. Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby [2022] Gadsby is probably my favorite comedian. My sibling very kindly took me along to see her touring Douglas in Chicago. The memoir gives more context to Gadsby’s art by putting it solidly in conversation with the news – particularly events affecting LGBT+ communities – worldwide, in Australia, and in Tasmania specifically.

    5. Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation by Tania Israel [2024]. What it says on the tin. Read for work.

    6. A Single Season: A Nashville Notes Novel by Katie Daniels. Full review.

    7. Qeer Life, Queer Love. 3 edited by Matt Bates, Sarah Beal, Kate Beal, and Karen McLeod [2025]. Full review.

    8. Role Model by Rachel Reid [2021]. Grumpy player with a terrible reputation meets a sunshiney social media mananger. What could happen?

    9. Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid [2019]. If you don’t know the plot by now I’m honestly impressed.

    10. Tough Guy by Rachel Reid [2020]. Enforcer rekindles sparks with high school crush. Super sweet and sexy.

    11. Common Goal by Rachel Reid [2020]. Two background characters get their due in the age gap romance.

  • Queer Life, Queer Love 3 [Book Review]

    In the last five years I have become better about not hopping on every anthology kickstarter that I came across. Past anthologies were mostly in the science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction genres. Queer Life, Queer Love 3 is solidly in the literary fiction genre with entries including fiction, poetry, memoir, and flash fiction. Overall, I enjoyed the anthology and recommend reading it at a leisurely pace. I felt my own reading was rather rushed and that doing so did not serve the anthology.

  • A Single Season: A Nashville Notes Novel [BOOK REVIEW]

    A Single Season by Katie Daniels

    Despite several years of playing softball (left field), I do not remember much of the rhyme or rules of the sport or its close sibling baseball. A Single Season does not necessitate a working understanding of the sport as it is very comprehensive in its explanations. I enjoyed the found family feeling of a sports team as I almost always do in a sports book. Nashville was a vibrant setting for the novel. And the character’s were quipy without being inauthentic or stilted. That said, it could have used more kissing. Otherwise I had a fun time with this novel.

  • Top 10 Media 2025

  • 26 by End of 26 [Book Challenge]

    26 books and/or series I am challenging myself to read and review by the end of 2026:

    1. Two Left Feet: A Novel by Kallie Emblidge
    2. Thirty Love by Tom Vellner
    3. Fated Skates: A Novel by Victoria Schade
    4. An Accident of Dragons (Tales of Summer #1) by Cheri Radke
    5. The Duke by Anna Cowan
    6. How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days: Tales from Hawthorne Cottage by Jessie Sylva
    7. You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings
    8. Nemesis Mine by Amy Archer
    9. In the Middle of a Better World by Grant Chemidlin
    10. Playing for Keeps by Alexandria Bellefleur
    11. The Mischief & Matchmaking series by Emma R. Alban
      • Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend
      • You’re the Problem, It’s You
      • Like in Love with You
    12. For Want of a Dragon by Wendy Day
    13. A Terrible Intimacy: Interracial Life in the Slaveholding South by Melvin Ely
    14. Breakout Year by KD Casey
    15. Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
    16. Where There’s Room for Us by Hayley Kiyoko
    17. Spellbound by Georgia Leighton
    18. Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline
    19. Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
    20. The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez
    21. The Austentatious series by Lindz McLeod
      • The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet
      • The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley
    22. A Gentleman’s Gentleman and A Lady for All Seasons by T J Alexander
    23. Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian
    24. We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune
    25. So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color by Caro De Robertis
    26. The Winner Bakes All series by Alexis Hall
      • Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake [Read]
      • Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble [Read]
      • Audrey Lane Stirs the Pot

    At the end of 2026 I will check in and see how it went!

  • Anderson in Bloom [BOOK REVIEW]

    I was immediately drawn to the cover of Anderson in Bloom a novel by Jennifer Dugan. It is depicted in a striking style reminiscent of older comic books and shows two women embracing in front of double glass doors and surrounded by flowers. I was also drawn in by the description of the book.

    The book is penned as “a hilariously sexy enemies-to-lovers, second-chance rom-com about a reclusive former child star turned florist whose quiet life is turned upside down when her annoyingly hot ex (and former costar) shows up in town, with plans to write a tell-all memoir” (Avon and Harper Voyager). As a consistent reader of memoirs in general, and as someone with a fascination for memoirs of media folks my age, I was intrigued.

    I was not disappointed in the writing style, character growth, or promise of a second chance celebrity romance. I loved the focus on the language of flowers, which feels rare in a contemporary romance – it’s something I might expect in a historical however. The complexity of the central relationship was rewarding in its resolution, which (no spoilers) refuses simplicity itself.

    While I was overall happy with the novel, I feel selling it as a rom-com is somewhat disingenuous. The novel has comedic moments and is often funny, however, the humor is frequently dark and the themes of the novel itself are darker than I would expect in a rom-com. This isn’t a flaw in the novel, but in my opinion, it is in the marketing. I understand the author has little control over the marketing, but feel it is important to let readers expecting a rom-com know what they are in for. I would still heartily recommend the novel and enjoyed the experience of reading it greatly.

    I received an advanced readers copy of Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan from the publisher via Netgalley n exchange of a fair review.

  • 10 Before the End

    As the end of 2025 draws near, I’ve been eyeing my TBR (to be read list) and reading goals. I met my number goal (trying for 52) but still have some reading challenge categories and advanced reader copy obligations. To motivate myself I’m joining the 10 Before the End trend and making a TBR for the end of the year. I do not expect to read all ten books but I hope to gain some momentum.

    10. An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole is a historical romance that has been on my TBR for years. I love Cole’s writing, particularly her thrillers, and I’ve been saving this backlist title for a rainy (or currently here snowy) day. I have it on my list to fulfil the Reading Glasses challenge “The Oldest Book on Your TBR.”

    9. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross is another pick for the Reading Glasses challenge. This young adult book about two wartime newspaper reporters in a fantasy world will meet the requirement of the “Epistolary Novel” for the challenge. It is also part of a buddy read I am doing with two friends and I am woefully behind (one of them has read all three books in the universe already).

    8. That Lesbian Vampire Pirate Story by Raven Belasco is an arc that was published (checks watch) in July and archived in November. My bad. Nonetheless, I intend to read and review it as I promised to.

    7. A Single Season by Kate Daniels is another arc which came out in November. This novel is a gay baseball romance, which leads to my next read.

    6. The Prospects by KT Hoffman is a gay baseball romance featuring rivals to lovers – the second of said troupe on this list. This book came onto my radar when it was recommended by Alex at pucksandpaperbacks. I read a few pages back in October and am excited to continue reading.

    5. Bitter Honey by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström was provided to me by the publisher as an audiobook for review. It is a decade and country spanning story about a mother and daughter relationship. I do not often do fiction on audiobook so it will be an interesting ride.

    4. Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby is so far an excellent audiobook. I started it back in October and have been slowly listening to chapters on my commute or while doing chores. As an ongoing fan of Gadsby’s comedy it is interesting to learn more about her background and how she contextualizes it within the history of Tasmania.

    3. Queer Life, Queer Love 3 edited by Karen McLeod, Matt Bates, Kate Beal, and Sarah Beal is an anthology that includes fiction, poetry, memoirs, and essays and was provided to me by the publisher for review. I have not read either of the previous anthologies but it does not seem like that will be a hinderance based on the review copy.

    2. Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid is the second book in the Game Changers series and the third rivals to lovers book on this list. I started the series in preparation for the TV series of the same name on Crave/HBO. I got a little stalled and am now reading it concurrently with the show itself. And, yes, I am weak and got merch already.

    1. Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn is this month’s pick for the Hot Takes book club at HEA Book Boutique. It’s my first Meghan Quinn and I am going into it with no knowledge accept that it is a holiday book and I’m okay knowing that little. I love reading along with the group at Hot Takes and am actually headed there this evening for the discussion of November’s book If It Makes You Happy by Julia Olivia which I reviewed here.

    That’s my 10 Before the End! Comment with what you have left to read this month or link your favorite 10 Before the End video. Happy Reading!

  • If It Makes You Happy [BOOK REVIEW]

    I am part of what is probably too many book clubs. One at the local romance bookstore HEA Book Boutique, one with the Reading Smut podcast, and soon one more group lead by Alex at pucksandpaperbacks on his bindery and patreon. That’s not even including the buddy reads I often do with small groups or individual friends. Needless to say, I have a book club problem – and I have no intention of slowing down.

    All that aside, the purpose of this post is to talk about If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia which was the November pick for the Hot Takes book club at HEA Book Boutique. First I’ll explain how the book is selected, then I’ll dive into my review.

    Hot Takes uses tried and true tiktok method of selecting a book. The group is given a prompt. Every member is has the opportunity to enter a title into a hat, or whatever hat like object is available, and adds their entry. Then Jenn, the owner of HEA, draws slips until one is left and the final slip is chosen for the following month. It’s a bit slap-dash but it has worked so far. Highlights, in my opinion, have included Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, North is the Night by Emily Rath, Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood. and most recently If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia. I’m told Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon was great and had a fun magic system, but I need to finish reading it.

    If It Makes You Happy was sold to me as a Gilmore Girls-like novel. While I did not watch Gilmore Girls with regularity or all the way through, I did enjoy what I saw, and so I was tentatively excited for ITMYH (we’re abbreviating going forward for the sake of my fingers). I think the comparison is apt in terms of complicated family relationships being played out across generations, quippy dialogue, walk and talks, and quirky small town vibes.

    Michelle, not Shelly, sometimes Shellfish is prickly, sharply funny, and cripplingly insecure. Cliff is a single dad bakery owner and I was immediately sold on him based on the way he interacted with his kids. Michelle and Cliff both have wounds from previous relationships. If only they could find a friend turned romantic partner to help them learn to accept themselves! It is a romance novel folks – who can say what will happen.

    The town of Copper Run is charming (local artist Winston decorates the town square and his home for every holiday) and filled with charming, unique characters including Cliff’s family and Michelle’s grouchy, expressive dog Rocket. The characters face everyday obstacles and approach them in everyday rom-com ways. I found myself easily slipping into the charm of the novel and found it a satisfying, comforting read.

    Last thought: 1997 as a period setting made me feel decrepit.

  • Who is Hedgehog Harry?

    I am a 30-something-year-old trans man living in an unending cornfield in the midwestern United States. This blog is a space for me to review media and explore writing for fun. I intend to post reviews of arcs, new releases, and backlists of books, in addition to reviews of other media. Along with blogging, someday I hope to restart podcasting. More on that in the future. I’m here to have a silly time and not take myself to seriously.