Vibe Summary: Heated Rivalry Hangover.

Final Count: 5 books

Heated Rivalry REREAD (5 stars)

format: physical

I plan on doing a full series review, so we won't get too crazy here with any of the series books. Reading the book (of course) added to my appreciation of the show, and it was so different reading it after so many years and post-getting to watch it play out. Jacob Tierney really showed so much love and respect to the source material, and it's evident in reading it. I still think the book adds so much, getting to be within their minds and emotions... I melt for my boys. Rating was 1000% impacted by me being in the midst of hyperfixation but I never claimed to be an unbiased reviewer- my bias is excitable neurodivergence.

Tough Guy (4.5 stars)

format: physical

I can and will fight anyone who says this isn't worth the read or is the "worst" of the series. The first two books of the series carry a very specific portrayal of queer men and this lets us step outside of normative masculinity, dig into mental health within the sports industry, and (most important to me) the COMMUNITY. The real stars are Fabian's friend group reminding us that we are a community for a reason. This book felt QueerTM in a way the first two didn't as much (esp HR).

Common Goal (4.5 stars)

format: physical

I'm not into age gaps- but I once again had to make an exception for these two. I loved getting to explore queer community more again (I'm a gay bar truther) and getting a love story that felt like it's core was authenticity. This chased authenticity in self, in pursuits of study and career, and in how we show up to relationships. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous.

*reading vlogs for all 3 books are up on my TikTok, I plan to compile them and add them here soon

Tryst Six Venom (4.5 stars)

format: audio

My early days of Booktok were FILLED with videos and skits I made about the Devil's Night series- it still holds such a dear place in my heart. I put off reading this for the longest time because I was worried Penelope Douglas would let me down with her sapphic entry... she did not. This had all the bubbling tension and heat of Devil's Night, with the sapphic yearning that cut the edge perfectly. Despite everything about this story feeling sharp, fast paced, and heavy, there is still a softness and care in the intimacy of Clay and Liv (not just physically) that made the sapphic pairing believable.

I don't know how Pen identifies and it doesn't matter to me- but I read a sapphic book last year from an author who traditionally writes straight pairings it read as so false and textbook to me that I was SO icked out. As someone who identifies as a lesbian and is staunchly in the sapphic community of NYC, that book felt like having my own community straight-splained to me. Penelope not only didn't do that, but gave me a story that captured the desperate fight and passion and hurt that growing up a queer woman can be filled with, perfectly fitting into her trademark sticky darkness that I eat up. Also- lesbian high school rivalry tension where the rivalry is borderline foreplay. I had a clear craving.

God of Fury REREAD (4.75 stars)

format: audio

This was in fact because of the HR hangover as well. Duh. Russian Bratva hair with questionable tattoos seducing (and fighting with) (and secretly sleeping with/dating/living in undefined sin with) a neurodivergent golden boy who takes way too long to realize that sleeping with a man MAY in fact mean you're not straight? I could go on and on with the hyper specific crossovers. They are AUs of each other. These are such different stories and yet... it hit the spot didn't it? I missed Niko and Bran so much. If Rina Kent said she would give us only one sequel to any of the couples from Legacy of Gods series I would have no hesitation in committing crimes to make sure it was NikoBran. UGHHHHHHH

February is already looking like an incredible month with two mind-blowing reads down, but in the meantime read gay, do crime my loves !!