You're My Kind

by Clare Lydon

Would you give your first love a second chance?

Justine Thomas and Maddie Kind met at university and were the couple most likely. Everybody said so. That is, until Maddie left without saying goodbye.

Ten years later the pair are reunited at a friend’s funeral, and now Justine can’t shake Maddie from her life. But why is she back? Why did she disappear? And more importantly, is she interested in the whole cake, or just one last slice of Justine?

Strap in for a novel that deals with life’s big topics: love, death & cake.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Contemporary, Fiction, Queer, Audiobook

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 18, 2019

About the author

Clare Lydon is a London-based writer of contemporary lesbian romance. She's a No.1 best-seller on lesbian fiction charts around the globe with five full-length novels to her name, as well as writing the All I Want series, set to continue throughout 2016. If you love romantic comedies, prepare to fall head over heels in love.

If you like books shot through with witty dialogue, 3D characters and sharp observations of modern lesbian life, why not give Clare's books a try?

More at: www.clarelydon.co.uk

Get a copy of my free Christmas novella 'It Had To Be You' by signing up to my mailing list here:

www.clarelydon.co.uk/it-had-to-be-you

Reviews

[Corporate Slave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here goes an unpopular review , sorry dear Clare Lydon :(
For a book to stir emotions, for me it needs to be a bit more than throwing in 3 cancer deaths in a row! I just felt it was forced. You start off the book in a funeral, and end it in a funeral and all talks in between is about cancer and death. I understand that in life this happens but I kind of lost the idea of the book in the middle because even the second chance didn’t make any sense!
For a second here I thought wow is this a Shane story or what ? Because who the hell leaves their girlfriend of 4 years after meeting a loser of a dad that tells you leave your girlfriend cuz ur just like me; not good in relationships! Come on!
I guess things just didn’t make sense to me.

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justine Thomas and Maddie Kind were a couple at university until Maddie left without saying goodbye. Ten years later, they are reunited at a friend's funeral and Maddie wants to make amends for her past behaviour. Justine is not very keen to let Maddie back into her life but both have changed and this new Maddie is kinder, caring and still gorgeous. Will Justine keep her distance or will she give their relationship another try?

'You're my kind' is a second chance romance that starts with a funeral. As anti-climatic that it might sound, the author makes it work more as a celebration of life than sorrow for an irreparable loss. Lydon is a master of lesfic rom-com with a British feel. Only that this time, she combines her usual witty, funny and sarcastic dialogues and situations with a savvy reflexion about life and death. As the author presents a piece of her philosophy of life, the story will make the reader cry, laugh and keep faith in humanity.

The novel is written in first person from the point of view of Justine, which helps to give an air of mystery to Maddie and her puzzling actions of the past. Despite that narrative distance, both characters are realistic and well-rounded and their chemistry is sizzling. Ms. Lydon knows how to write a good sex scene and this was no exception, both scenes reveal deep intimacy. Plus that first kiss was worth the whole read by itself. Hot, hot hot!

The secondary characters, mostly a group of friends, are also multilayered and altogether set the tone for compelling emotions around life, love and death. But, in my opinion, the absolute showstopper is 'Cake Heaven', the cake business featuring all kind of sweet delicacies. Warning: if you have a sweet tooth you might be tempted to run for some cake!

Overall, a great second-chance romance with a British feel and savvy insight about the most important things in life. 5 stars.

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com

[Elske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clare Lydon is one of my favourite authors. I usually like her books and this one was no exception. Nice main and supporting characters and a good storyline. No angst really, which is good for me because I don’t like too much angst. 4 stars and waiting for Lydon’s next book.

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm blaming Diane Warren and Toni Braxton for the unlimited love that I have for second chance romance.

Let's address the troubled lesbian in the room. You'll need to have the shittiest yet legit excuse/s to leave your partner/gf of 4 years without any explanations and no matter what they are, it is still one of the worst thing to do to someone you claim to love. To the other reviewers, I agree with you.

Let's talk about cancer just for a moment. It's the disease that have taken quite a number of my family members including my Mak, a bestie last October and a couple of days ago, a beloved aunt. Does it messed up with my head reading about people dying/suffering from cancer?
Yes, a bit but I do appreciate the positive messages the author convey through it as it's a good reminder to all of us to take the life we have - seize and cherish it with whatever / whoever that makes us happy.

Okay, now to the romance. Ms.Lydon cleverly constuct their first meeting even I could feel the intensity and I love that life still goes on for Justine after Maddie's return and as for Maddie occupying her headspace, that's bound to happen. Maddie takes small yet effective steps to get Justine back in her life even as a friend even though she's hoping for more and Justine unintentionally puts Maddie to work to make that wish come true. It's not her heart that she's worried of as it has always belongs to Maddie. Justine's main worry is whether she'll be able to trust Maddie not to pull the same stunt..again.

The romance does hit me in the feels, I feel Justine's pain and Maddie's struggles, and I applaud Ms.Lydon for her phenomenal job on the supporting characters who are constantly there for the leads.

The business that Justine owns with her bestie is a great addition to the story and the source of some laughter, desire for cakes and craving for vagina cuppies with buttercream filling.

I love this and Ms.Lydon, from now on - you're my go to author.

[Les Rêveur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justine never understood why Maddie, after 3 happy years together, left her without an explanation. Justine has never really gotten over Maddie and still measures up every woman to her and even now, after ten years, she’s the only woman who she has really connected with. So when a mutual friends funeral comes along, she is pretty nervous about seeing her for the first time in ten years. Hoping this is a one-off, she braces herself and needs to get through the day but Maddie has other plans. She’s moved back to the area and she wants, at minimum, a friendship with Justine. But how can Justine ever trust her again?

This story was really fun to read, with a great premise and steady pace I really fell into the story from the get go. Clare Lydon has a way of making British Rom Com stories come to life and she certainly did with this one.

The book is written from Justine’s point of view and she really captures the reader’s attention with her inner battles about Maddie and how much after all these years she still harbors some feelings for her. I would have liked to have Maddie’s point of view as I think it would have added another element to the story and given a bit of contrast in Maddie and Justine’s differing personalities.

The connection between Maddie and Justine was written really nicely and left me really backing these two for a happy ending every time they interacted. I think most readers are going to love Justine but my affections in this book lean more to Maddie. She was a bit broken and had a hard few years. She was a good soul and needed someone to understand her and I love that that person was Justine and really always had been.

The sex scenes in this book were fantastic and left me a little hot under the collar but Clare Lydon knows how to not hold back when she is writing intimacy between protagonists.

I also enjoyed all the secondary characters but Kerry in particular stole my heart. The story wouldn’t have been the same without her contribution to her friend’s life and theirs to hers. She was such an inspirational character to read.

Another heart warming and fun romance from Clare Lydon. 4 stars

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main stumbling block for me - I just can’t get past the fact that Maddie just left Justine, girlfriend of 4 years, high and dry after listening to her loser father that she’s just not relationship material. What!?! No words and a decade later just waltzed in and wants to be friend, if not more. Hmmm 🤔

Verdict - Just an ok read for me...

[Lorraine Rusnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

Love really can conquer all. Clare did a wonderful job of having her characters deal with grief and forgiveness. I love a happy ending 💕

[. (not active on this account stop adding me) · Rating 2 out of 5]

representation: lesbian mc's, f/f romance, bisexual side characters

there's nothing wrong with clare lydon's writing, i've just found the books i've read by her to be pretty boring. i think i'll listen to the audiobooks instead

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I really enjoy about Clare Lydon's books (the few that I have read) is that she knows how to tell a story. I was thinking about that as I wrapped reading this book. I think the missing link in many of the books I have read recently is the authors don't know how to put a story together where it will keep the reader engrossed. Anyway, You're My Kind is one of those books where it tells a story.

This story is about the second chance at love for Justine and Maddie. I must admit, there is likely no way I would have given Maddie a second change, but this is a romance book not real life. The only problems I had with this one was that Maddie made a poor case at why she left the first time and towards the end, Justine became slightly annoying with her neediness to communicate with Maddie. I would have felt better about Justine taking Maddie back if her reasoning was stronger than what she gave. The end did wrap up nicely so I left with a smile on my face.

I give this one 4 stars.

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are certain authors who I just love - and I know, whatever the mood, whatever is going on with my own life, they will remain true, beautiful, tearful and fulfilling. Clare is such an author & for that I bow down and say a heartfelt thank you.

[Heat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. There’s some great storytelling in this one. Nothing crazy happens, just two women and their friends going through life, and that is exciting enough.

[Lisa R Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wrote a good review but it disappeared - I’m not inclined to write it again 😠, so a short version. The audio book was narrated by Nicola Victoria Vincent and she did a great job, it was pleasant to listen to.

Something doesn’t track.

MC Maddie was welcomed back into the lives of people she callously hurt - that’s bullshit. Why would Justine (the women Maddie dated for four years and made future life plans with, leave the relationship without saying ANYTHING to Justine, leaving said women bewildered and heartbroken, staying away, with no contact, for TEN fucking years) let Maddie back in her bed so easily? Why didn’t Justine’s friends (mutual college friends with Maddie, but Justine remained good friends with these people over the 10 years Maddie was absent), knowing how devastated she was after Maddie left, not show more concern for Justines well being at Maddie’s return? Why didn’t this group of mutual friends show a little anger at the way Maddie treated their friend in the first place? It’s like they were telling Justine to suck it up because really, Maddie is a good guy, thereby negating Justine’s feelings. It might be more believable if Justine had a scene where she confronted Maddie about her harsh behavior that left Justine hurt and doubting herself for all those years. Also, it made no sense for Maddie (who was very close to her mother, a happy women by all accounts,) to visit her absent father as a 24 year old, take his advice on relationship behavior and convince her she was not good relationship material because they were related - he is a shit so she will be also! Hadn’t Maddie maintained a loving relationship with Justine for four years? Maddie must have wanted to leave Justine before she talked to her father - otherwise it really doesn’t track.

So maybe not so short.......

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love Love

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adored this second chance romance from Clare Lydon.

Following Justine as she is catapulted into the doom and gloom of a returning ex, and all the feelings that resurface as a result, Justine has to come to terms with Maddie being back in her life, but will she stay this time?

Clare just makes Justine so relatable in this emotional story as she overcomes heartache, and the realisation of what the future could hold for her. I had my moments of doubt, with Justine, as I connected with her over her Maddie dilemma, and thoroughly enjoyed all the highs and lows that Justine encountered in finally coming to terms with what it all meant.

A very enjoyable read that I just loved and really couldn’t put down. I highly recommend this story, it will leave you with all the ‘feels’ you could ever want and need.

[Alexis]

DNF at 30%

I'm fairly bored by the plot and I dont find the character overly memorable. The baking/cake stuff was pretty cool though

[Claire (Book Blog Bird) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn’t a fan of this. There was little plot and such there was was bland. The characters were flat and uninteresting. There was no chemistry between the two MCs to the extent that the main MC had to be all ‘Tell not Show’ about her feelings and this led to a couple of really awkward, unsexy sex scenes. The whole premise of the book was that a decade ago, one of the MCs left the other with no warning or contact. Complete ghosting. But when we find out the reason, it’s a really dumb reason and made me dislike the MC even more for being so clingy and devoted to her flaky girlfriend. In fact, the title of the book should have been She’s Just Not That Into You.

[Maz Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this second chance romance. it had a lot of heart warming moments, that will leaving you feeling sad, but lots of great funny moments as well.
Great read.

[paula ☁️ ·̩͙✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

[ 2.25 / 5 ]

Os voy a ser sincera, yo sabía que este iba a ser el último libro que leyera de esta autora antes incluso de leerlo. Me gustó bastante Change of Heart, pero todo lo que he leído suyo después de eso no ha acabado de calar conmigo, y este libro no ha sido una excepción.

Realmente no es que haya sido una lectura horrible: la trama de second chance se me hacía interesante, los personajes (sobre todo Maddie) me resultaron bastante agradables y me he quedado con un buen sabor de boca en general. Pero, porque tiene que haber un pero, hay cosas que no me han encantado.

Para empezar, la primera mitad se me hizo bastante pesada y me aburría leyendo los detalles de las clases de repostería y en general lo relacionado a eso, puesto que no aportaba demasiado. Habían escenas que se sentían más como relleno que como otra cosa. Tampoco llegaron a importarme demasiado las tramas secundarias.

Lo que creo que más me molestó fue el comportamiento de Justine después de que ella y Maddie se besasen y, bueno, you know. Entiendo demasiado bien lo que es volver a dejar que alguien entre en tu vida después de que las cosas entre vosotros acabasen de forma no muy pacífica. Es algo que viene acompañado de mucha inseguridad e incluso ansiedad, pero es que sentía en algunos momentos que, más que gustarle Maddie, Justine estaba un poco obsesionada con ella. Tienes que entender que la gente tiene su vida, sus cosas que hacer, y no siempre pueden responder a tus mensajes. A pesar de que la misma Maddie dijo que quería que ella fuera su prioridad, no puedes esperar serlo a costa de la salud mental y el bienestar de la otra persona, ni forzarla a abrirse a ti porque quieres estar con ella durante una situación complicada.

Y después queriendo convencerla de quedarse en una casa que a ti te encanta, cuando a la otra persona le puede traer muchos recuerdos dolorosos... well. Cositas.

Me da un poco de cosa decir tajantemente que no voy a volver a leer a Clare Lydon porque la vida da muchas vueltas y nunca digas nunca. Dejémoslo en que no tengo pensado hacerlo en un futuro próximo.

[IndigoIris · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're My Kind is a story about seeing the one who broke your heart after years have passed. I've read several of these stories some are more believable for me than others. The truth is, I've had that happen and well, frankly, I'd probably run the gal over if I ever saw her again... but that's just me. And well, it's a little bit Justine too although while she is really, really distrustful and angry, when she see's the ex, Maddie again all she can say is, "I have to go to the loo." There's much about this story that is heavy but it never felt heavy. It is those heavy things that act as a catalyst in this story.

Lydon is a solid writer and while this isn't especially light the characters are likeable and heavy bits are handled well.

Another good read!

[Ametheyst · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Justine may have loved that kitchen skylight more than she loved Maddie

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this gem on my TBR shelves! A fabulous 2nd chance love story. After 4 years together, and talks of living together, Maddie disappears leaving Justine wondering what she did wrong. Now 10 years later they meet again at their friend Jamey's funeral. Maddie wants to explain why she left to Justine, but she wants nothing to do with her old lover.
However, fate keeps bringing them together. I really enjoyed this story, I've never been disappointed by any of Clare's books! 5 stars!

[Han · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a recommendation, as I was looking for an easy read while my partner was in hospital. I do not tend to read this genre, so please forgive me if the nuances are a bit lost on me. The narrative style is accessible but the over reliance on dialogue and repeated tropes meant that it lacked a bit of substance. That said it was easy to read and I did not dislike it as much as I thought I would.

The biggest issues for me were several problematic plot lines and tropes. I felt that the reasons given for the breakup initially felt unrealistic and inadequate. Additionally, I think the narrative relies too heavily on death and grief as a vehicle for the plot as opposed to developing any real death to the characters or their budding relationship. The second attempt at their relationship just felt rushed and perhaps should have been the focal point of the latter portion of the narrative. Overall I found the book pretty frustrating, as I just did not buy into their second chance - maybe that is just the cynic in me though. It just felt like opportunities were missed to make the characters and their relationship more authentic and relatable. The writer’s style is pretty engaging and it probably worth a read if this is a genre you typically enjoy.

[alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

well this sure did fill some time

[Fabulous Book Fiend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this book was so much fun. In case you can’t tell by the big cake on the cover this book does centre around a baking business so it comes with a warning to have some sweet treats to hand as you’re reading because you will be craving cake from the outset.

This book begins with a group of friends in a similar way to four weddings and a funeral they are all attending an occasion and haven’t all caught up as one in a while, and there begins the similarities that this book has with real life. I loved how real this was. I am so fed up of reading romance novels with zero representation in them, this book literally has every kind of body and every kind of couple and I loved it.



Justine was a very easy character to get along with because she was easy to identify with. She has been hurt in the past and so her guard is up but she is still craving that romantic connection at the same time as business success-hurrah! Maddie is a prickly character and we’re not sure whether we should trust her or not but she really really wants to do the right thing and be there for her friends.



I loved all the business building in this book but I loved the sex and romance more. Honestly this book got me so hot under the collar, it has been far too long since I have read sex scenes this good at the same time as having a strong storyline the carry me through.




I really enjoyed this novel and I will definitely be reading more from Claire Lydon!

[mariana ୨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’m a sucker for second chance romances, it always serves. it’s so good to see hidden feelings that never left, and allowing both to grow to try again and create the best version of their love story.
they were so cute!!! adorable!! and i love how they met each other again during the most sensible moment, the classic hurt/confort trope.
and honestly i’ve read so much second chances book, but this is the first lgbtq second chance book i’ve read.
the ending surprised me so hard!!! IM SO HAPPY FOR THEM!! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! THEYRE GETTING MARRIED!!!!

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what I expected from our lesbian goddess author Clare Lydon. Enchanting, sweeps you off your feet and takes you to a magical lesbian land where you don't ever want to leave. In all seriousness though, I did enjoy the heavy subject matter about grief & loss - that was articulated in a well and thoughtful way.

[Pinkdturtle tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. It’s not that o didn’t like this book, it just felt like something was missing. Good story line (these type are my fav) but it was like flatlining, not to the point I couldn’t finish it.

[TheAvidReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this book though I really love the author. The only thing I loved is the friendships and I wanted more of that. The rest, eh. The second chance romance, eh. Three business, maybe.

[Claire (Jst1MoreChapter) · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.5

It was a nice little book, unfortunately I wasn't feeling the audio that much

[Astrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the more serious tone of this lovely romance. Very well done.