#if you'll have me

[eunnieboo]

cute aggression

[pianta]

momo from @eunnieboo's 'if you'll have me'! 💗

[richincolor]

There are four books coming out tomorrow, plus one we missed earlier this month. Which of these have caught your eye?

Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra Wednesday Books

One girl. One boy. A promise broken. A magic stolen. Irinya has wanted to be a flower hunter ever since her mother disappeared into the mysterious mist of the Rann salt flats one night. Now seventeen, Irinya uses her knowledge of magical flowers to help her caravan survive in the harsh desert. When her handsome hunting partner and childhood friend finds a priceless silver spider lily--said to be able to tear down kingdoms and defeat an entire army--Irinya knows this is their chance for a better life. Until Irinya is tricked by an attractive imposter. Irinya's fight to recover the priceless flower and to fix what she's done takes her on a dangerous journey, one she's not sure she'll survive. She has no choice but to endure it if she hopes to return home and mend the broken heart of the boy she's left behind.

If You'll Have Me by Eunnie Viking

Momo Gardner is the kind of friend who’s always ready to lend a helping hand. She’s introverted, sensitive, and maybe a little too trusting, but she likes to believe the best in people. PG, on the other hand, is a bit of a lone wolf, despite her reputation for being a flirt and a player. Underneath all that cool mystery, she’s actually quick to smile, and when she falls for someone, she falls hard. An unexpected meet-cute brings the two together, kicking off the beginning of an awkward yet endearing courtship—but with their drastically different personalities, Momo’s overprotective friend, and PG’s past coming back to haunt her, Momo and PG’s romance is put to the test.

A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli Union Square & Co.

What if you could avenge your own murder? A brilliant young woman gets a second chance at life in this debut YA tale of vengeance, court intrigue, and romance, inspired by classic Chinese tropes. Mingshin outsmarted three princes to help the man she loved become king. But she doesn’t see Ren’s betrayal coming, not until she’s lying in a pool of her own blood on the palace steps. As she’s dying, Mingshin makes a desperate plea to the gods to turn back time and give her a chance to make things right. Mingshin wakes up two years earlier, her prayer granted, and swears two things: Ren will never become king, and she will never fall in love again. But the timeline in this life has changed: a dignitary gifted with dark magic is threatening her kingdom’s peace, and Ren’s thirst for power runs deeper than Mingshin could have imagined. She finds herself allying with Jieh, another contender for the throne. Mingshin knows better than anyone not to give her heart to a prince. But in the viper’s nest of the royal court, she and Jieh prove a phenomenal team. Can Mingshin avert the catastrophe of her past by once again learning to trust…and maybe even love?

All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology edited by Circe Moskowitz Amberjack Publishing

Welcome to the Dark. We are all familiar with tropes of the horror genre: slasher and victims, demon and the possessed. Bloody screams, haunted visions, and the peddler of wares we aren’t sure we can trust. In this young adult horror anthology, fans of Jordan Peele, Lovecraft Country, and Horror Noire will get a little bit of everything they love—and a lot of what they fear—through a twisted blend of horror lenses, from the thoughtful to the terrifying. From haunted, hungry Victorian mansions, temporal monster–infested asylums, and ravaging zombie apocalypses, to southern gothic hoodoo practitioners and cursed patriarchs in search of Black Excellence, All These Sunken Souls features the chilling creations of acclaimed bestsellers and hot new talents, with stories from Kalynn Bayron, Donyae Coles, Ryan Douglass, Sami Ellis, Brent Lambert, Ashia Monet, Circe Moskowitz, Joel Rochester, Liselle Sambury, and Joelle Wellington.

The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert Balzer + Bray

The Blackwoods. Everyone knows their name. Blossom Blackwood burst onto the silver screen in 1962, and in the decades that followed, she would become one of the most celebrated actors of our time—and the matriarch of the most famous Black family in Hollywood. To her great-granddaughters, Hollis and Ardith, she has always just been Bebe. And when she passes away, it changes everything. Hollis Blackwood was never interested in fame. Still, she’s surrounded by it, whether at home with her family or at the prestigious Dupree Academy among Los Angeles’ elite. When private photos of Hollis are leaked in the wake of Blossom’s death, she is thrust into the spotlight she’s long avoided—and finds that trust may be a luxury even she can’t afford. Ardith Blackwood has always lived in the public eye. A television star since childhood, she was perhaps closer with Blossom than anyone—especially after Ardith’s mother died in a drug overdose. Ever since, she has worked to be everything her family, her church, and the public want her to be. But as a family secret comes to light and the pressures from all sides begin to mount, she wonders what is left beneath the face she shows the world. Weaving together the narratives of Hollis, Ardith, and Blossom, award-winning author Brandy Colbert tells an unforgettable story set in an America where everything is personal, and nothing is private.

[slaughter-books]

Day 30: JOMPBPC: Read In November

My November, 2023 reading wrap-up! 💜

[maxalotlxl]

If You'll Have Me by Eunnie

5 Stars

Simply picked this up because the art was adorable. But so was the story. Exactly what I needed, something sweet and simple after all the heavier stories I've read recently.

A cute story about two people, an awkward introvert that hasn't had a romantic/sexual relationship before and a popular extrovert who is labelled as someone who only has casual flings. Their blooming friendship where they become close despite the whispering of those around them. The issues that arise from not communicating their feelings clearly. And overall ending with them being beautifully together in a serious and fluffy romantic relationship where they understand and respect each others thoughts, feelings and boundaries.

I desperately want more cute a fluffy quick reads like this to bring up my mood on bad days. Recommendations are always welcomed!

[sfsolstice]

not all is meant to last, but i have finally screamed into the ether, for the universe, with its omniscient ears, to hear this conviction:

i choose you! i choose you! even if it is only for now, as not all is meant to last, and even if it is just for now, the world will need to rip

this very moment from my calloused hands, stained with the blood of hearts cut by these desperate talons, but now— finally— i choose my own fate;

not all may be meant to last, but i refuse to spill any more of your blood, done by my hand; i choose now, i choose you— and i will fist fight god for the taste

of this very moment, with you.

[blossom-hwa]

✍️ Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to other writers you know. Let's spread some self-love!

shawNAAA it's so good to hear from you <3 thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk about myself because I will do it any chance I get :D

A Yellow Scarf in Winter - I think this is probably the best thing I've ever written. This story was the first time I really felt like I succeeded in achieving my goals with a story - writing emotion is something I really try to do correctly, and because music has always made me feel so deeply, I wanted to be able to capture the subtle emotion of one of my favorite pieces in this work. I'm very happy with how it turned out, and honestly, I just love this story even more every time I rewrite it (it's gone through over four iterations at this point).

the things we lost along the way - this story...ugh. I have so many feelings about it, both good and bad (mostly because I'm trying to expand it now and I love it but I hate it 🥲). But it genuinely means so much to me. As I was writing my second or third iteration of this story (the latest one that was posted), I was working through grief in a way I'd never had to before, and I think this story carried it through in a really beautiful but heartbreaking way. I'm very proud of this story, and I look forward to posting a new version of it in the near future :)

If You'll Have Me - sometimes stories just bounce out of me and this was one of them. My summer 2022 baby <3 Bridgerton got me FUCKED UP for regency era aus (s3 is about to do it again) and I loved the result. It was just so much fun to write and I was very happy with the result :D

Look at the Butterflies - I'm not convinced I know where this story came from, but as ursa said...my love language is safe spaces, and this is just a manifestation of it. I've outed myself but eh. Whatever. The poem that inspired it was beautiful too <3

Swing! - man...this was the fucking HEIGHT of my marvel fixation and I still have no regrets. I love mark and my mc....my babies....this story was like the first time I felt like I really wrote actual 3D characters?? man I just love mark and mc so much they're my literal babies <3

Honorable mentions: Worn-Out Soles / Light the Pyres / Purple Sky / Forever, and Always

[scarlxtleaves]

Why was she like this?? On one hand it was quite entertaining because yeah Akira could use the chuckle, but really he just wanted to vent a little but might have chickened out half way and simply asked the question instead. Hearing about the relationship she has with her mother, it wasn’t really something ideal like the dramas one would see on television or read in manga..however, there was still a relationship there.

Akira has gone four months into his probation and not ONCE has he gotten a single call or even a text from either his father or his mother. Nothing from his father would be something he understood, but nothing from his mother? She had always been the sentimental soul in his household. She was the one Akira had been closest to and ever since his assault charges it was as if he did not exist anymore. There was always an awkward silence in the house after his official sentencing and before moving out into Tokyo.

Hell, Sojiro might have hit the nail on the head when he said he’s gotten himself and them into so much trouble that they figured it’d be easier to simply dump him on his lap..that alone filled his heart with some sadness and left a void that the friends he’s made slowly began to fill. So, in order to NOT make the moment an awkward one Akira does what he does OH so best these days, he wears his mask.

So, that mask he wore consists of a smile that turned into a smirk. “Tch, bad bitch. I guess in certain circumstances I can say that’s true.” He tops her coffee free of charge, she had entertained his question so one good deed deserves another after all. “When my shift’s over, want to go hit the batting cages?”

continue from here / @zorkaya

[haveyoureadthiscomic-poll]

[charliespringsleftconverse]

When I tell you it is a NEED to have an If You’ll Have Me inspired wallpaper. I just need something that screeeeeeaaaams sapphic 💕💕💕

[sunflauw]

I just read the cutest most beautiful graphic novel ever I wanna cry

[eunnieboo]

photo opp ✨

[glorioustragedykid]

I dreamed that everyone on Twitter was mad at this new Sonic game about alternate universes because it had an adult Maria on it and she looked like this:

[semper-legens]

6. If You'll Have Me, by Eunnie

Owned: No, library Page count: 330 My summary: Momo is handling college well…enough. But when her path crosses that of the mysterious PG, she finds herself sucked into her new friend's life. Momo's looking for something more permanent, while PG has a reputation as a ladykiller. But when they scratch the surface, they find that the other has depths they did not imagine… My rating: 3/5 My commentary:

This was cute! I'm afraid I'm not gonna have much more than this to say. The art is a lovely, bright, rounded style, the characters and story are adorable, with enough reality underneath to create something both engaging and sweet at the same time. It's not dark and edgy or anything like that, but there's enough depth and enough bite to it to keep interest and stop it from being too saccharine. The characters are realistic for young women in college figuring themselves out and dealing with all of the bullshit that being in your early twenties can bring. I think part of the reason I'm finding this one hard to talk about is because it's fundamentally a romance story, and romance isn't usually my genre, but that's not the book's fault by any means. I read it because it looked interesting enough, and it was exactly what I was expecting from it! That's not a bad thing at all.

Momo is one of those perfectionist young women, trying to be all things to all people and sacrificing her own needs on the altar of everyone else's desires, regardless of if those people actually need her to help them out. PG, on the other hand, is mysterious and aloof, but she doesn't seem to be trying to be. She's been hurt before, she's been used before, and she's just trying her best with her relationship with Momo, not realising how much Momo's putting herself out for PG. Their assumptions about and impressions of each other end up hurting each other, without them really knowing what's going on because they're not in each other's heads, which is an interesting detail. It's a very good portrait of what it's like to get too in-your-head about something, and I know I'm guilty of that. But of course, they get together and sort out their issues in the end. Like I said, it's very cute, and I'm glad it's in the library!

Next up, some non-fiction - we're off to Haiti.

[slaughter-books]

Day 3: JOMPBPC: Too Pure For This World

I didn't know what to do for this prompt, so I took a photo of this beautiful graphic novel that I enjoyed reading last month! 💞

[maxalotlxl]

My Top 5 Favourite Reads In 2023

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir This seems like my obvious winner, The Locked Tomb is easily my favourite series at the moment and I want to eat up everything Tamsyn Muir releases from now on. I did actually finish Harrow this year too, and I did really enjoy it but I have an easier time reading characters like Gideon and Nona. The characters in Nona was more my speed than Harrow.

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner Nona was only the obvious winner because it's part of The Locked Tomb Series as individual books Godkiller and Nona is so hard to pick a preferred favourite. I really only picked this book up first because the cover is stunning and you can't blame me, but these characters had me in a chokehold. This is what I want from a reluctant allies to found family story, they were all so wary of each other at the start but found themselves doing the absolute most to protect each other at the end. I am screaming for Sunbringers release early.

Harley Quinn: Reckoning by Rachael Allen Harley my beloved, I can't even remember when my love for this character started I know it started from a purely aesthetic point, I loved her design. I moved into reading the Suicide Squad comics, because I really dislike Joker and wanted a Harley story without him. Then this book happened, Harley back in college (kind of) and still being the chaotic character while actually showcasing this brilliantly smart person. I loved this! The second wasn't a favourite but was still amazing and I can't wait for the thirds release.

The Faithless by C.L. Clark Yes I picked up The Unbroken because Touraine is hot, and yes Touraine and Luca are infuriating characters that make you question why you have such a loyal need to support them. Didn't stop Magic of the Lost become a favourite pretty much immediately, this sequel tops the first for mainly one singular reason, Sabine. Sabine was my self insert, shamelessly thirsting after both of the main characters while playing the dutiful match maker for them both too.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree L&L is the only 4 star read on this list, and this does make me reconsider my rating for that. Originally my 4 star was because despite knowing this was just a cozy read, I do feel the need for some action/drama happening. But this was exactly what I wanted this to be so it really does deserve the 5 stars. I read this with a friend who I play D&D with and we both do like to imagine the future of our characters after adventuring, and this is what that was. Retirement after a long DnD campaign. I do have Bookshops & Bonedust, and while I have started it this time of year is so busy I haven't had the chance to have the cozy atmosphere necessary for this book.

Honourable Mentions

If You'll Have Me by Eunnie Such a cute, fluffy romance between too very different people that are both wanting a romantic relationship but having a hard time to figure out what that actually means for both them. This was exactly what I needed when I was reading it, just unfortunately doesn't quite make the list.

Kill for Me Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh I read this alongside my mother and older sister (eventually the books getting passed onto so many people at work, I have no idea where my copy is anymore), the three of us love a good mystery. We were raised on murder mystery detective shows. I really enjoyed this book and the twists just kept coming. The only reason this isn't in my top 5 was because the others have been in my head a lot more than this one.