Isaiah Roby's Blog: MI Book Reviews, page 20

Finding My Way Out of Darnkess: How I found Self-Love & Acceptance

“As a child, Tony Ferraiolo never felt protected by anyone. He lived in constant fear of being hurt or killed and endured soul-crushing cruelty and mistreatment from the very people who should have loved him the most. In this deeply affecting memoir, Finding My Way Out of The How I Found Self-Love and Acceptance, Ferraiolo fearlessly shares his personal story of triumph over a childhood marred by emotional and sexual abuse. He invites readers into the depths of his darkest and most grueling mome...

Forbidden Puckboy

I was looking forward to this as soon as the Kikishkin brothers were introduced in Bromantic Puckboy, and they did not disappoint!

Easton
You know what’s the worst feeling in the world? Being in love with someone since you were twelve years old, knowing they only see you as a little brother type.
Not even becoming an NHL star has made him realize I’m all grown up now.
All of that changes when I ask my brother’s best friend to ref a charity match and we spend an entire week in each other’s pocke...

Fake Boyfriend Breakaways

Great collection of short stories that add wonderfully to the Fake Boyfriend series with both new and reocurring characters.

I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Content warnings include: sex on-page, break-up, unconsensual kissing; mentions of cheating, sexual relationship where one person is in a higher/superior position regarding their careers.

Individual ratings and reviews:

Rebound:3.5 stars
This is Wyatt and Aron’s story and ties in with events in Trick Pl...

Fears: Tales of Psychological Horror

“Bestselling horror editor Ellen Datlow (Body Shocks) returns with her most eclectic anthology. Here are twenty-one stories of extreme psychological dread from horror icons such as Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen Graham Jones, Priya Sharma, Simon Bestwick, and more. The unsettling tales explore the nature of fear as it stirs in dysfunctional families, toxic friendships, and mismatched lovers, and culminates in relentless stalkers, remorseless killers, and perpetrators of savage rituals.

Your grand...

Swing

“Debut author/illustrator Audrey Meeker playfully explores complicated friendships, gender norms, and navigating other people’s expectations in this charming middle grade graphic novel.

Marcus McCalister wants to fit in. So much so that he’s still playing on a soccer team with his childhood friend Ted, despite not liking soccer―or Ted―all that much.

Izzy Briggs wants to stand out. Being labeled the “weird kid” for her bold fashion choices is the price an aspiring designer must pay for a li...

Temptation at Randy’s

“New beginnings didn’t usually come with a side of temptation.

Arlene

The last thing I would’ve expected when I dared to attend a local munch at my favorite diner was to run into one of my favorite YouTubers. Claude wasn’t part of the munch, as far as I could tell, and they hadn’t posted anything in forever, but they still approached me. Me.

It was a miracle I didn’t lose it right then and there.

Claude

Despite what my friends from LA said, I didn’t regret moving to Boston. It had...

Blindsided

Blindsided is the fourth novel in the loosely connected Fake Boyfriend series – this time without a fake boyfriend. You don’t have to have read the other books in the series, but I recommend them!

MILLER
When Talon left to play pro ball six years ago, the hole in my chest confused me. I focused my heartache into making my own NFL dreams come true, and by the time I was drafted, the longing I had for my best friend was buried deep.
Now he wants everything to be like it was in college, but we ca...

Cat’s Got Your Heart

“Who knew two men could form such a bitter rivalry over adopting a cat?

Jericho Adams is in need of a cat. Doesn’t sound too difficult, even for a reclusive artist like him. People adopt cats all the time. Those people clearly never met Harlan Vardanyan, the world’s surliest pet shop employee.

Harlan’s love for animals is matched only by his disdain for customers. Too much experience tells him they can’t be trusted. When Jericho sets his sights on Dumpling, an aloof-but-lovely young cat, H...

Old Wounds

“Erin and Max are two trans kids who are just trying to get to California. Max is desperate to finally be able to transition, and Erin is longing to understand why she’s on this trip to begin with, after Max suddenly broke up with her two years earlier.

But when they find themselves stranded – and eventually separated – in the creepy woods of rural middle-America, they suddenly have much bigger problems.

First, there’s the creature that, according to legend, feeds on girls, hunting them th...

Deke

Aaaah this was really great!

OLLIE
Word of advice: don’t come out to random guys in public restrooms. Even if they’re charming and adorably nerdy and offer to help.
My family believe I can’t be happy if I’m not out to the world. I have a bitter ex-boyfriend and an unstable NHL career to show for it. A fake boyfriend seems like an easy and quick solution to get my family off my back, and this guy is volunteering. I take him up on it without asking his name.
I really should’ve asked for his name....