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Because I Said So
Kesa Sapiro had to grow up fast. With her parents gone and a little sister to protect, Kesa has spent over a decade of her life trying to keep a roof over their heads. She’s learned the hard way that love is a luxury and that the price is way too high. When her sister Josie announces she wants to marry a boy she’s known for less than a month, Kesa immediately forbids it.
Shannon Dealan is floored when her son-by-choice says he wants to get married to a girl he’s just met. Shannon has real reason to scrutinize any strangers who come into Paz’s life. She’s not about to let him do anything stupid—and that includes believing in love at first sight. She knows too well there’s no such thing.
Hoping to soften the objections of their jaded, overbearing elders, Josie and Paz arrange for them to meet and discuss the future like civilized adults…but absolutely nothing goes as planned.
Genre: Romance
Editor: Medora MacDougall
Cover Designer: LJ Hill
Shannon Dealan is floored when her son-by-choice says he wants to get married to a girl he’s just met. Shannon has real reason to scrutinize any strangers who come into Paz’s life. She’s not about to let him do anything stupid—and that includes believing in love at first sight. She knows too well there’s no such thing.
Hoping to soften the objections of their jaded, overbearing elders, Josie and Paz arrange for them to meet and discuss the future like civilized adults…but absolutely nothing goes as planned.
Genre: Romance
Editor: Medora MacDougall
Cover Designer: LJ Hill
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
24 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Karin Kallmaker
90 books706 followersKarin Kallmaker has been exclusively devoted to lesbian fiction since the publication of her first novel in 1989. As an author published by the storied Naiad Press, she worked with Barbara Grier and Donna McBride, and has been fortunate to be mentored by a number of editors, including Katherine V. Forrest.
In addition to multiple Lambda Literary Awards, she has been featured as a Stonewall Library and Archives Distinguished Author. Other accolades include the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and other awards for her writing, as well as the selection as a Trailblazer by the Golden Crown Literary Society. She is best known for novels such as Painted Moon, Simply the Best, Touchwood, The Kiss that Counted and Captain of Industry.
The California native is the mother of two and lives with her wife in the Bay Area. You can catch her blogs at Romance and Chocolate: https://kallmaker.com/blog/. Find her on social media by searching for "Kallmaker" - there's only one.
In addition to multiple Lambda Literary Awards, she has been featured as a Stonewall Library and Archives Distinguished Author. Other accolades include the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and other awards for her writing, as well as the selection as a Trailblazer by the Golden Crown Literary Society. She is best known for novels such as Painted Moon, Simply the Best, Touchwood, The Kiss that Counted and Captain of Industry.
The California native is the mother of two and lives with her wife in the Bay Area. You can catch her blogs at Romance and Chocolate: https://kallmaker.com/blog/. Find her on social media by searching for "Kallmaker" - there's only one.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 18, 2019
'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'
**'Some readers read fictions for emotion -- not information...Literature in writing that indulges the taste of some readers is a degraded literature...'
Let me begin by stating that Karin Kallmaker is an acclaimed writer of many excellent books -- having an assortment of diverse characters and premises that sometimes hinge on the culture of American life and values in lesbian genre.
Now with that said, I think that the storytelling in 'BECAUSE I SAID SO' was not as eloquent as was perceived --- an enticing blurb but a frustrating storyline. I also found that close to 70% of the storyline mostly centered around both leading characters' (Kesa & Shannon) internal thoughts and P.O.V.'s while the remaining parts dealt with tidbits of integrated side stories. Some chapters even had a few paragraphs with discussions about life in foster care -- which i rarely see because it's an interesting topic and is a very important issue that should be mention whenever writers get the chance.
What i did liked was the tad bit of emotional depth and development of friendships that the storyline explored on the part of the two family issues about fast marriage, the risk of love and all this madness of young love.
Was there passion or chemistry, I do not think there was but with their (Kesa & Shannon) sparse interactions it bought little sexual activity to anyone's imagination.
Just maybe, to some of her loyal fan base, Karin Kallmaker will be looked at as an extraordinarily deft and humane writer who ended up telling the kind of story that will be enjoyable from beginning to end.
**'Some readers read fictions for emotion -- not information...Literature in writing that indulges the taste of some readers is a degraded literature...'
Let me begin by stating that Karin Kallmaker is an acclaimed writer of many excellent books -- having an assortment of diverse characters and premises that sometimes hinge on the culture of American life and values in lesbian genre.
Now with that said, I think that the storytelling in 'BECAUSE I SAID SO' was not as eloquent as was perceived --- an enticing blurb but a frustrating storyline. I also found that close to 70% of the storyline mostly centered around both leading characters' (Kesa & Shannon) internal thoughts and P.O.V.'s while the remaining parts dealt with tidbits of integrated side stories. Some chapters even had a few paragraphs with discussions about life in foster care -- which i rarely see because it's an interesting topic and is a very important issue that should be mention whenever writers get the chance.
What i did liked was the tad bit of emotional depth and development of friendships that the storyline explored on the part of the two family issues about fast marriage, the risk of love and all this madness of young love.
Was there passion or chemistry, I do not think there was but with their (Kesa & Shannon) sparse interactions it bought little sexual activity to anyone's imagination.
Just maybe, to some of her loyal fan base, Karin Kallmaker will be looked at as an extraordinarily deft and humane writer who ended up telling the kind of story that will be enjoyable from beginning to end.
June 25, 2019
3.5 Stars. I have a lot of respect for Kallmaker. She has had such a long and impressive career that whenever her name comes up I kick myself for not having read more of her back library. I am however happy to make sure to read any new books she puts out. I really enjoyed her last book My Lady Lipstick so I do have to admit I was a little bummed that I didn’t enjoy this book as much.
I do not want to go into any summaries because it would be easy to give too much away. What I do want to talk about is that I didn’t really feel like this book was a romance. I think I would put it more in the family-drama category. This book did have two main women with some potential between them, but this book was really about their families (blood and the kinds you make) and their jobs. There really wasn’t this strong romance thread that ran throughout the book like I expected. This book had two careers that were interesting, a clothing designer and someone who works for the US marshals service. Any time we spent with either character, doing their job, was really interesting. After the job time was done it was all about family dynamic. All the secondary characters were well done and the family storylines shined. I liked this book and was entertained but I can’t say that because some feelings were talked about past the 90% mark that this than qualifies this book as a romance.
I do want to mention for fans of Kallmaker’s book Captain of Industry, Jennifer Lamont does make a few appearances in this book.
Overall I liked this book. I was expecting a really strong romance which I just didn’t get so I’m rating this more as a family-drama. The book is interesting, never boring and the few scenes the mains have together has chemistry, it just wasn’t that magical Kallmaker romance I really enjoy.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
I do not want to go into any summaries because it would be easy to give too much away. What I do want to talk about is that I didn’t really feel like this book was a romance. I think I would put it more in the family-drama category. This book did have two main women with some potential between them, but this book was really about their families (blood and the kinds you make) and their jobs. There really wasn’t this strong romance thread that ran throughout the book like I expected. This book had two careers that were interesting, a clothing designer and someone who works for the US marshals service. Any time we spent with either character, doing their job, was really interesting. After the job time was done it was all about family dynamic. All the secondary characters were well done and the family storylines shined. I liked this book and was entertained but I can’t say that because some feelings were talked about past the 90% mark that this than qualifies this book as a romance.
I do want to mention for fans of Kallmaker’s book Captain of Industry, Jennifer Lamont does make a few appearances in this book.
Overall I liked this book. I was expecting a really strong romance which I just didn’t get so I’m rating this more as a family-drama. The book is interesting, never boring and the few scenes the mains have together has chemistry, it just wasn’t that magical Kallmaker romance I really enjoy.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
June 22, 2019
Another well-written story by Kallmaker, but not as good as her last one, My Lady Lipstick. All elements are there, but the chemistry between the protagonists, Shannon and Kesa, lacks emotions and strength. Shannon is quite irritating and unlikable in her behavior towards Kesa. Because I Said So has an interesting plot and what I always appreciate, a nice dose of diversity, but unfortunately the romance is not convincing.
3 stars
June 22, 2019
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
3 stars
June 22, 2019
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
June 30, 2019
Karin Kallmaker is one of the very well rounded lesbian authors out there. She’s had an amazing career with a lot of incredible books. Unfortunately this one was the least of my favorites.
The story revolves around 2 MCs and their “kids” (not biological). However at a certain point I didn’t understand who are the MCs, is it the 2 women or the 2 kids. My issue is that I couldn’t get more from either stories, so the romance was lost on both accounts.
The problem with authors like Kallmaker is that you go in expecting an earth shattering romance and when you end up with a solid book, you get frustrated. So on this specific book, I rate it as a solid 3 even though sometimes I felt it was a 2.5.
Having said that, I will still be waiting for more novels from the author :)
I received an ARC for an honest review.
The story revolves around 2 MCs and their “kids” (not biological). However at a certain point I didn’t understand who are the MCs, is it the 2 women or the 2 kids. My issue is that I couldn’t get more from either stories, so the romance was lost on both accounts.
The problem with authors like Kallmaker is that you go in expecting an earth shattering romance and when you end up with a solid book, you get frustrated. So on this specific book, I rate it as a solid 3 even though sometimes I felt it was a 2.5.
Having said that, I will still be waiting for more novels from the author :)
I received an ARC for an honest review.
July 2, 2019
This is an interesting mix of second chance love combined with love at first sight. Kesa has worked her fingers to the bone to ensure that her sister stayed with her after her parents both died. When Josie informs her that she is getting married to a young man she’s only known for three weeks, Kesa is unimpressed. Paz’s sort-of guardian, Shannon, is concerned too given that they are both still at college and so young. When Josie and Paz set up a meeting of their respective guardians, neither Kesa nor Shannon expect the surprise they get.
I liked that it was different from my expectations but I found that Kesa and Shannon were missing that fantastic connection that I rely on in Kallmaker’s books. The mains spent most of the book apart from each other while thinking about their own lives and the interaction they did have with each other was fraught with animosity.
It wasn’t until the last five percent that their light-hearted and humorous traits came out and it was jarring and I wished that I had seen that earlier. I also found that I was interested in Kesa’s job and her struggle to make something of herself but Shannon’s job seemed to introduce superfluous characters to the story with no link back to anything. It is still a good read but not one of my favourites by the author.
Book received from Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
I liked that it was different from my expectations but I found that Kesa and Shannon were missing that fantastic connection that I rely on in Kallmaker’s books. The mains spent most of the book apart from each other while thinking about their own lives and the interaction they did have with each other was fraught with animosity.
It wasn’t until the last five percent that their light-hearted and humorous traits came out and it was jarring and I wished that I had seen that earlier. I also found that I was interested in Kesa’s job and her struggle to make something of herself but Shannon’s job seemed to introduce superfluous characters to the story with no link back to anything. It is still a good read but not one of my favourites by the author.
Book received from Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
June 27, 2019
Love hurts.
Kesa is clothing designer who lives with her 19 year-old sister, Josie, that she has taken care of ever since their parents died. Shannon is a US Marshal Analyst that is guardian-like to a 20 year old, Paz. Josie and Paz just met and are already determined to get married. Kesa and Paz try to convince them that love at first sight does not exist and they need to be practical and wait before making such a big decision.
Something I liked about this story were the relationships. Whether it was between sisters, friends, guardians, or customers, every interaction felt rich with connection. I thought the concept of denouncing love at first sight while fighting the fact that it probably has happened was entertaining.
I don't usually care for stories where the main characters are apart for any great length of time. And this story sort of felt like that. The author goes into a lot of detail about their professions. I felt it was too much unnecessary information. I would have edited quite a bit out to help the story not drag as much as it did in places. The book was very repetitive. Go to work. Internal Debate. Go home. Fight with sister. Go to Majhong. Repeat about 5 times. Even every outing was to repeat places. There was some health drama with Kesa's chosen family and I don't understand how that enhanced the story or moved it forward.
Overall, it was just an OK read for me. It was entertaining with bouts of skim reading.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
Kesa is clothing designer who lives with her 19 year-old sister, Josie, that she has taken care of ever since their parents died. Shannon is a US Marshal Analyst that is guardian-like to a 20 year old, Paz. Josie and Paz just met and are already determined to get married. Kesa and Paz try to convince them that love at first sight does not exist and they need to be practical and wait before making such a big decision.
Something I liked about this story were the relationships. Whether it was between sisters, friends, guardians, or customers, every interaction felt rich with connection. I thought the concept of denouncing love at first sight while fighting the fact that it probably has happened was entertaining.
I don't usually care for stories where the main characters are apart for any great length of time. And this story sort of felt like that. The author goes into a lot of detail about their professions. I felt it was too much unnecessary information. I would have edited quite a bit out to help the story not drag as much as it did in places. The book was very repetitive. Go to work. Internal Debate. Go home. Fight with sister. Go to Majhong. Repeat about 5 times. Even every outing was to repeat places. There was some health drama with Kesa's chosen family and I don't understand how that enhanced the story or moved it forward.
Overall, it was just an OK read for me. It was entertaining with bouts of skim reading.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
July 13, 2019
Karin Kallmaker is one of the Grande Dames of lesfic - she's published 29 books over the last 20 years and I've always respected her as an author who invests so much into the lesfic community. Despite her voluminous back catalogue of books, I've only read a few Kallmaker's books and never seemed to find the one that made me fall in love with her books. Could be I picked the wrong ones to start with or it could be that I wasn't in the mood for romances when I did read them. Over the last month I've actually read two of her newest books (My Lady Lipstick and Because I Said So) and I was really happy to find that I enjoyed them quite a bit more than the earlier forays I had made into her published works. I would like to have a little chat with her about titles and covers though as they really don't "sell" the stories and without a reading challenge or request for review, I would have passed right by them otherwise.sh
Because I Said So has a lot going on in it, and Kallmaker has gone outside of some of the familiar lesbian tropes, but there may be been a bit too many things and it detracted from this being a full on romance. In this story, none of the characters are super rich or super successful - they are more real and believable, with Kesa working to make ends meet to support herself and her sister and Shannon as an analyst for the US Marshalls who works behind the scenes and trying to make a difference in small ways. Kesa and Shannon meet when their respective kids (Josie is Kesa's sister who she has raised since she was a child, and Pax is a former foster child that Shannon has been watching out for unofficially for the last number of years) announce that they want to marry (after a month of dating) - obviously, neither Kesa nor Shannon approve and they worry about the young people that they have sacrificed so much for over the years and the potential that this decision will impact their bright futures.
Although the Josie and Pax storyline is the impetus of much of this book, it fell a bit flat for me. If I were Kesa, I would have throttled Josie long ago - she is self-absorbed, unappreciative and completely unrealistic. Pax on the other hand is a bit too even keeled and accepting. The idea that they have met and fallen so deeply in love that they want to marry after a month (you'd think they were lesbians in a lesbian romance) despite the objections of their parental figures was a bit forced and just didn't work for me - Josie's reasoning for marrying was trite and didn't really make much sense - I would have bought an unplanned pregnancy as a better reason for them to push to marry - based on their pasts, I could believe that both of them were determined to have a child raised by two parents in a stable or traditional family.
That being said - Josie and Pax's insistence at a shotgun wedding is the impetus for Kesa and Shannon's meeting and gives them the reasons to interact. Based on the development of their relationship, however, they are a bit of a "people in glass houses" kind of situation. There's a nice and smart kind of twist when Kesa and Shannon meet and it gives the romance a fresh spin. The obvious attraction between the two is tempered by they concern for the "kids". There's a push and pull - the attraction is definitely there with a strong chemistry, but life, regrets, and fear get in the way.
I enjoyed the book and some of the chances that Kallmaker took with it - it had enough different spins that I found it intriguing. This is a good read - but I wouldn't classify it as a romance - more of a family drama with some romantic angst.
Because I Said So has a lot going on in it, and Kallmaker has gone outside of some of the familiar lesbian tropes, but there may be been a bit too many things and it detracted from this being a full on romance. In this story, none of the characters are super rich or super successful - they are more real and believable, with Kesa working to make ends meet to support herself and her sister and Shannon as an analyst for the US Marshalls who works behind the scenes and trying to make a difference in small ways. Kesa and Shannon meet when their respective kids (Josie is Kesa's sister who she has raised since she was a child, and Pax is a former foster child that Shannon has been watching out for unofficially for the last number of years) announce that they want to marry (after a month of dating) - obviously, neither Kesa nor Shannon approve and they worry about the young people that they have sacrificed so much for over the years and the potential that this decision will impact their bright futures.
Although the Josie and Pax storyline is the impetus of much of this book, it fell a bit flat for me. If I were Kesa, I would have throttled Josie long ago - she is self-absorbed, unappreciative and completely unrealistic. Pax on the other hand is a bit too even keeled and accepting. The idea that they have met and fallen so deeply in love that they want to marry after a month (you'd think they were lesbians in a lesbian romance) despite the objections of their parental figures was a bit forced and just didn't work for me - Josie's reasoning for marrying was trite and didn't really make much sense - I would have bought an unplanned pregnancy as a better reason for them to push to marry - based on their pasts, I could believe that both of them were determined to have a child raised by two parents in a stable or traditional family.
That being said - Josie and Pax's insistence at a shotgun wedding is the impetus for Kesa and Shannon's meeting and gives them the reasons to interact. Based on the development of their relationship, however, they are a bit of a "people in glass houses" kind of situation. There's a nice and smart kind of twist when Kesa and Shannon meet and it gives the romance a fresh spin. The obvious attraction between the two is tempered by they concern for the "kids". There's a push and pull - the attraction is definitely there with a strong chemistry, but life, regrets, and fear get in the way.
I enjoyed the book and some of the chances that Kallmaker took with it - it had enough different spins that I found it intriguing. This is a good read - but I wouldn't classify it as a romance - more of a family drama with some romantic angst.
July 27, 2019
Reading the reviews it's safe to say that Because I Said So is not Karin Kallmaker’s best novel. Consensus is that the two mains Kesa Sapiro and Shannon Dealan spend too much time apart for it to be a gripping romance. And I have to agree.
This ‘second chance’ type romance shows us fragments of their 3 days sex binge, 4 years in the past. We also understand pretty quickly that Shannon was the asshole who ghosted Kesa right after the blessed event and without a single explanation. Kallmaker gives us reasons to make Shannon's actions look more sympathetic, but fact is that a simple apology in the beginning of their second encounter would have made a hell of a difference. But I get it, it needs to be dragged out for tension’s sake.
I think the reason this novel didn’t work so well was the very thin and convoluted plot. The pigheaded youngsters (Kesa’s younger sister Josie and Shannon’s ‘foster son’ Paz - both still in school) wanting to marry right now because ‘the world was going to shit’ struck me as weird. No matter what offer was thrown at them (even cohabitation) they were steadfast on that theme.
What redeemed the novel (partly) was Karen Kallmaker’s solid experience as a writer. She adds rich detail to her scenes, both women had interesting professions albeit Kesa’s side was more colorful, there was sooo much food (don’t read this on an empty stomach!), there was a tad of Filipino culture on Kesa’s side (in the form of her Mahjong family). I felt there was more shine to Kesa than to Shannon.
So, Because I Say So may not be her best romance, we are still dealing with the Empress of Lesfic here.
f/f explicit, but not of the ‘in your face’ kind.
Themes: sisters, work work work, mahjong night, food, so much food, witness protection, sorry seems to be the hardest word, the cover art was not really inspired.
3.6 Stars
* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
This ‘second chance’ type romance shows us fragments of their 3 days sex binge, 4 years in the past. We also understand pretty quickly that Shannon was the asshole who ghosted Kesa right after the blessed event and without a single explanation. Kallmaker gives us reasons to make Shannon's actions look more sympathetic, but fact is that a simple apology in the beginning of their second encounter would have made a hell of a difference. But I get it, it needs to be dragged out for tension’s sake.
I think the reason this novel didn’t work so well was the very thin and convoluted plot. The pigheaded youngsters (Kesa’s younger sister Josie and Shannon’s ‘foster son’ Paz - both still in school) wanting to marry right now because ‘the world was going to shit’ struck me as weird. No matter what offer was thrown at them (even cohabitation) they were steadfast on that theme.
What redeemed the novel (partly) was Karen Kallmaker’s solid experience as a writer. She adds rich detail to her scenes, both women had interesting professions albeit Kesa’s side was more colorful, there was sooo much food (don’t read this on an empty stomach!), there was a tad of Filipino culture on Kesa’s side (in the form of her Mahjong family). I felt there was more shine to Kesa than to Shannon.
So, Because I Say So may not be her best romance, we are still dealing with the Empress of Lesfic here.
f/f explicit, but not of the ‘in your face’ kind.
Themes: sisters, work work work, mahjong night, food, so much food, witness protection, sorry seems to be the hardest word, the cover art was not really inspired.
3.6 Stars
* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
June 21, 2019
There’s a reason why Karin Kallmaker has been hailed as the queen of lesbian romance. While this might not be her best book (or at least not my favorite), it definitely more than does the job.
Because I Said So is a second chance romance. Four years after an intense three days that ended for the wrong reasons, Kesa and Shannon meet again as Kesa’s younger sister (whom Kesa has been taking care of since their parents’ death) and Paz, whose unofficial guardian Shannon has been for a few years, plan to marry.
There’s a lot to like in this book, but the best is, as often with Kallmaker, both the characters and their jobs. I know it might sound strange, but the way she seems to research her MCs occupation makes their day to day life feel real. It has impressed me since my first Kallmaker book more than 20 years ago, and it still does. Both MCs and the small community of secondary cast are really good (I wish they existed and invited me to dinner, there’s a lot of food in this book and it all sounds yummy), and I loved the Jennifer Lamont cameo.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Because I Said So is a second chance romance. Four years after an intense three days that ended for the wrong reasons, Kesa and Shannon meet again as Kesa’s younger sister (whom Kesa has been taking care of since their parents’ death) and Paz, whose unofficial guardian Shannon has been for a few years, plan to marry.
There’s a lot to like in this book, but the best is, as often with Kallmaker, both the characters and their jobs. I know it might sound strange, but the way she seems to research her MCs occupation makes their day to day life feel real. It has impressed me since my first Kallmaker book more than 20 years ago, and it still does. Both MCs and the small community of secondary cast are really good (I wish they existed and invited me to dinner, there’s a lot of food in this book and it all sounds yummy), and I loved the Jennifer Lamont cameo.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2019
Because I Said So by Karin Kallmaker is a beautiful, though angst filled love story. As a veteran author with some thirty books to her name, she is obviously skilled in writing great stories, and this book is a great example of her work.
The tale actually has two couples. Josie Sapiro, a nineteen year old college student who has fallen in love with Paz, a twenty year old college student, and even though they have known each other less than a month, they want to get married. When Josie announces this fact to her sister Kesa, who has raised her since a young child, she flatly refuses. Paz gets pretty much the same from his guardian, Shannon Dealan. Josie and Paz come up with a plan to get Kesa and Shannon to meet. Since both are lesbians, they hope that they might become distracted with each other and let Josie and Paz do what they want. However, things don’t go exactly as they hoped.
This is a character/relationship driven novel, you will not find a lot of action or adventure here. For this kind of story, you really need well-defined characters, and Ms. Kallmaker has provided exactly that. These characters have depth. There is also a great deal of chemistry, especially between Kesa and Shannon. Their attraction crackles with electricity from their first meeting to the last page. Josie and Paz present as first loves with all the youthful enthusiasm you expect from this age, including the flashes of immaturity young adults sometime display. The characters make this story, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their tale. If you enjoy a good romance with great characters and a fair bit of angst in the story, then this book is for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
The tale actually has two couples. Josie Sapiro, a nineteen year old college student who has fallen in love with Paz, a twenty year old college student, and even though they have known each other less than a month, they want to get married. When Josie announces this fact to her sister Kesa, who has raised her since a young child, she flatly refuses. Paz gets pretty much the same from his guardian, Shannon Dealan. Josie and Paz come up with a plan to get Kesa and Shannon to meet. Since both are lesbians, they hope that they might become distracted with each other and let Josie and Paz do what they want. However, things don’t go exactly as they hoped.
This is a character/relationship driven novel, you will not find a lot of action or adventure here. For this kind of story, you really need well-defined characters, and Ms. Kallmaker has provided exactly that. These characters have depth. There is also a great deal of chemistry, especially between Kesa and Shannon. Their attraction crackles with electricity from their first meeting to the last page. Josie and Paz present as first loves with all the youthful enthusiasm you expect from this age, including the flashes of immaturity young adults sometime display. The characters make this story, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their tale. If you enjoy a good romance with great characters and a fair bit of angst in the story, then this book is for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
June 21, 2019
The wait is officially OVER! Finally, I have Karin Kallmaker's latest novel, "Because I Said So," in my hands!!! Yup, thanks to Bella/NG's swift response, I got my ARC copy and literally dropped everything (yes, I was in the middle of reading a couple of books before I got "distracted" by this! Soz, authors X & Y!) and breezed through this story in no time at all! Yup, quick read it was but it left me..... hungry! *more later* Needless to say, my excitement about delving into this story ever since Kallmaker's blog post announcing it was definitely warranted. What a refreshing story of romance with layers of unexpected discoveries throughout the book! Not only that, but the characters, including one of the MCs, Kesa, was of mixed race and culture, different socioeconomic background and circumstances, effectively giving the whole romance perspective a fresh new spin, altogether. As if that weren't refreshing enough, the definition of "family" and "parent" was something quite outside-the-box, tbh. I was not expecting to find out how Shannon, the other MC, and Paz were related. Fascinating! Kallmaker being the brilliant tale-spinner that she is, jumped right into describing, portraying, presenting and contrasting all the nuances of cultural, lingual, socio-economic living that entailed with such fervour that I saw them as another supporting character in this biracial romance. I must say, I'd never read anything depicted quite like how Kallmaker constructed in lesfic romance!
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
**I was given, with much thanks and appreciation, an ARC copy by Bella via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
**I was given, with much thanks and appreciation, an ARC copy by Bella via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 28, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ I listened to the audio with Abby Craden narrating. Kisa is a clothing designer working from her apartment. She’s the legal guardian for her younger sister, Josie. Shannon is an analyst for the Federal Marshall’s program. She’s unofficially adopted Dax. Who is in a modified witness protection program. Dax and Josie meet at UCLA and it’s love at first sight and want to get married. Both Kisa and Shannon are dead set against it.
It turns out that 4 years earlier Kisa and Shannon had meet and spent a weekend together. They also had love at first sight but Shannon ends it when decides that she’s had made a rash decision.
A lot of the book is about Kisa and Shannon’s jobs. Not much romance. I still enjoyed it. Kallmaker is a good storyteller.
It turns out that 4 years earlier Kisa and Shannon had meet and spent a weekend together. They also had love at first sight but Shannon ends it when decides that she’s had made a rash decision.
A lot of the book is about Kisa and Shannon’s jobs. Not much romance. I still enjoyed it. Kallmaker is a good storyteller.
July 13, 2019
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I haven’t read Kallmaker for awhile, but I’ve always liked her books. This one didn’t grab me though.
So, we actually have four MCs, Kesa, her sister Josie, Josie’s boyfriend Paz, and his ‘guardian’ Shannon. Josie and Paz have known each other less than a month, are 19 and 20, and want to get married. Kesa and Shannon, rightfully, think this is crazy. The two kids decide that everyone should get together to discuss this, and the rest has to be hidden under a spoiler tag.
So, I will just say this about the book in general and those who want to know can hit the spoiler for the rest. First, this is an ARC, so I don’t know if that’s why the flashbacks weren’t in a different format, but I found them very jarring. I also couldn’t really get a feel for either relationship, more background was given on Kesa/Josie and Shannon/Paz than either of the central couples, and as a result I didn’t connect with either of them. I also didn’t really feel the supposed chemistry between Kesa and Shannon.
There’s also a cameo by another character from a Kallmaker novel (I haven’t read it but it seemed obvious so I looked it up) and I was annoyed by Kesa constantly referring to Jennifer by either her full name or as ‘Lamont’, it was just weird.
The best bits of the book were the mahjong scenes. I also give props for three MCs and several secondary characters of colour. Rare that in lesfic the white character is the minority. That said, this never really got off the ground for me, I’d put it around 2.5 stars, rounded up.
I haven’t read Kallmaker for awhile, but I’ve always liked her books. This one didn’t grab me though.
So, we actually have four MCs, Kesa, her sister Josie, Josie’s boyfriend Paz, and his ‘guardian’ Shannon. Josie and Paz have known each other less than a month, are 19 and 20, and want to get married. Kesa and Shannon, rightfully, think this is crazy. The two kids decide that everyone should get together to discuss this, and the rest has to be hidden under a spoiler tag.
So, I will just say this about the book in general and those who want to know can hit the spoiler for the rest. First, this is an ARC, so I don’t know if that’s why the flashbacks weren’t in a different format, but I found them very jarring. I also couldn’t really get a feel for either relationship, more background was given on Kesa/Josie and Shannon/Paz than either of the central couples, and as a result I didn’t connect with either of them. I also didn’t really feel the supposed chemistry between Kesa and Shannon.
There’s also a cameo by another character from a Kallmaker novel (I haven’t read it but it seemed obvious so I looked it up) and I was annoyed by Kesa constantly referring to Jennifer by either her full name or as ‘Lamont’, it was just weird.
The best bits of the book were the mahjong scenes. I also give props for three MCs and several secondary characters of colour. Rare that in lesfic the white character is the minority. That said, this never really got off the ground for me, I’d put it around 2.5 stars, rounded up.
June 22, 2019
Josie Sapiro has no real memories of her parents because they died when she was only 7 yrs old but she has many memories of her older sister Kasa who took on the responsibility of caring for her younger sister when she herself was only 19 yrs old. Kasa Sapiro had finally started to live her own life, going to college and hopefully having her own home. She wanted nothing more than to study and learn all she would need to know about designing clothes. But with her parents death her dreams were stored away. She did the only thing she knew how to do, sewing and designing clothing wherever she could find it, her only goal then was keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table for her younger sister.
Shannon Dealan was raised by her aunt who’s idea of preparing Shannon for life in the real world was telling her nothing ever really good was possible. But Shammon did break away from her aunt but her life lessons have stayed with her making her scared to even try having a normal relationship. When foster kid Paz came into her life she started to, for the first time, to care for someone else. When Paz had to leave LA Shannon followed, not wanting him to be alone. Luckly Paz was smart and when he was accepted to attend college they moved back to LA.
Now Josie and Paz are planning on being married, which Shannon and Kasa think is a huge mistake. They are too young and both still going to school. Shannon and Kasa don’t feel they are able to make it on their own.
Ms Kallmaker knows how to tell a story. This is a fast paced book with great dialogue and a few twists making this simply another great read. Very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bella Books
Shannon Dealan was raised by her aunt who’s idea of preparing Shannon for life in the real world was telling her nothing ever really good was possible. But Shammon did break away from her aunt but her life lessons have stayed with her making her scared to even try having a normal relationship. When foster kid Paz came into her life she started to, for the first time, to care for someone else. When Paz had to leave LA Shannon followed, not wanting him to be alone. Luckly Paz was smart and when he was accepted to attend college they moved back to LA.
Now Josie and Paz are planning on being married, which Shannon and Kasa think is a huge mistake. They are too young and both still going to school. Shannon and Kasa don’t feel they are able to make it on their own.
Ms Kallmaker knows how to tell a story. This is a fast paced book with great dialogue and a few twists making this simply another great read. Very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bella Books
February 3, 2021
What we liked most about this book is that one of the MCs is Filipino. And it is rather sad when the biggest draw of a romance is the racial diversity in it and not the romance per se.
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
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June 25, 2019I had to sit on this one for a couple of days before I could give my review. The plot of this one was good. Before I go further, this title really annoys me since I finished it. I think a better suited title would have been At First Sight. Anyway, I found that I really liked Kesa and her sister's boyfriend (Paz). I found Shannon and Kesa's sister (Josie) sort of annoying. There were aspects of Shannon that I did like - for example she was very supportive of Paz without outright denying his thoughts to get married. I thought that Kesa and Shannon did have some chemistry but honestly Josie and Paz had more. Also, I wish that Shannon and Kesa could have spent more time getting to know each other. Okay, back to the plot. I really liked this story line. I was even thrown a few curve balls that I didn't anticipate. Overall I just wish that Kesa and Shannon had the chemistry that Josie and Paz had. I can't say that I was ever bored reading this one, but wanted the romance between Shannon and Kesa to be stronger.
I will rate this one 3.25 stars.
This ARC was provided by netgalley and the publisher for a honest review.
I will rate this one 3.25 stars.
This ARC was provided by netgalley and the publisher for a honest review.
June 18, 2019
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. Based on the blurb, I was really looking forward to this book, but I was very disappointed. The constant talking in the characters head got me skipping pages. I wanted to be shown their relationships and their lives and not told. I liked the idea of the instant love and how both characters had experienced it themselves years before. But again I was left wanting to be shown and not told. Overall I was very disappointed.
September 15, 2020
I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I liked Kesa and Shannon and Paz, even Josie grows on me in the end. However, I think the book spent more time on things like the family issues, work for each main character and Kesa’s weekly mahjong games to really get me to love it. I wanted more romance and I didn’t feel that I got that here. I never really understood why they wanted to be together. Maybe I just didn’t see the chemistry? Its still a good book to read, but I read for the romance/chemistry and I didn’t see it here.
August 14, 2019
Somehow this was the first book a read by the legendary Karin Kallmaker. I have a huge backlist to go through!
Designer Kesa has worked hard all her adult life after her parents left their family in financial ruin, creating a business from the ground up while raising her little sister. Her sister, Josie, has fallen in love with a young man, Paz, from her college and has announced their decision to get married after only a few short weeks of dating. Kesa hasn't worked this hard for her little sister to throw it all away, so she sets out to meet with Paz's guardian, Shannon, to settle the matter as adults. But their meeting, and fate, has other plans in store for both families.
I really enjoyed this book - I thought it was really unique! It's amazing to read such a fresh story, interesting jobs that don't pop up much in lesfic, a double love story (Paz and Josie are super cute), and a wild trajectory for Kesa and Shannon's love story. Perhaps it was a little unrealistic, but I loved it. True love will always find a way! I loved all the little glimpses of secondary characters, they brought such flair and warmth to the story. I'm guessing they're cameo's from other books, so I'm exciting to go explore their stories. Stellar writing and amazing dialogue made this little world come to life. I enjoyed every minute of it.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Designer Kesa has worked hard all her adult life after her parents left their family in financial ruin, creating a business from the ground up while raising her little sister. Her sister, Josie, has fallen in love with a young man, Paz, from her college and has announced their decision to get married after only a few short weeks of dating. Kesa hasn't worked this hard for her little sister to throw it all away, so she sets out to meet with Paz's guardian, Shannon, to settle the matter as adults. But their meeting, and fate, has other plans in store for both families.
I really enjoyed this book - I thought it was really unique! It's amazing to read such a fresh story, interesting jobs that don't pop up much in lesfic, a double love story (Paz and Josie are super cute), and a wild trajectory for Kesa and Shannon's love story. Perhaps it was a little unrealistic, but I loved it. True love will always find a way! I loved all the little glimpses of secondary characters, they brought such flair and warmth to the story. I'm guessing they're cameo's from other books, so I'm exciting to go explore their stories. Stellar writing and amazing dialogue made this little world come to life. I enjoyed every minute of it.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Ok how do I say this it was ok read but I found myself being bored with this book.
I love the author I have many of her books but this was not that interesting to me.
I love, love at first sight romance but it was rather told not shown to me.
Kesa been rasing her sister Josie ever sent there parents died when Josie announce that she getting married Kesa is against it she think she too young will ruin her future.
Shannon is some what of guardian to Paz she pull some strings to keep Paz safe when he announce he wants to get married Shannon thinks he joking and when she realize he not she doesn't want to throw away his future.
Josie and Paz decide to have Kesa and Shannon meet without realizing they met before and that they spent three days together until it ended for the wrong reasons Josie and Paz believe since they both lesbians and single they get along.
Kesa and Shannon are two women who been through a lot in life and I like how the author goes in detail with there jobs. I get why Josie and Paz wanted to get married because life too short why wait when you find someone to love.
Ok how do I say this it was ok read but I found myself being bored with this book.
I love the author I have many of her books but this was not that interesting to me.
I love, love at first sight romance but it was rather told not shown to me.
Kesa been rasing her sister Josie ever sent there parents died when Josie announce that she getting married Kesa is against it she think she too young will ruin her future.
Shannon is some what of guardian to Paz she pull some strings to keep Paz safe when he announce he wants to get married Shannon thinks he joking and when she realize he not she doesn't want to throw away his future.
Josie and Paz decide to have Kesa and Shannon meet without realizing they met before and that they spent three days together until it ended for the wrong reasons Josie and Paz believe since they both lesbians and single they get along.
Kesa and Shannon are two women who been through a lot in life and I like how the author goes in detail with there jobs. I get why Josie and Paz wanted to get married because life too short why wait when you find someone to love.
June 24, 2019
I was thrilled to receive the review copy for Karin Kallmaker's latest book. She is one of a handful of lesfic superstars and I know I'll get a quality reading experience and even learn something.
For me the crux of the story was a parallel of two "love at first sight" stories, one between the kids and one between their caregivers. Having the adults discoverer that their kids were getting married and that they had a one-weekend-stand four years ago was a genius plot device.
I loved reading about the Filipino food and the ins and outs of mahjong, and the descriptions of how a couturiere runs her business were fascinating to me as a lifelong seamstress (thanks grandma). One thing I didn't get though was Shannon's case of following someone with multiple aliases and it just ended. I kept wondering if he's going to surface in her life at some point and make trouble?
I also felt like the book ended abruptly, which felt like a setup for a sequel. Did the kids get married? Did the MCs get back together successfully? That was a problem for me but I still feel like the book rates 4 stars for all the great points.
For me the crux of the story was a parallel of two "love at first sight" stories, one between the kids and one between their caregivers. Having the adults discoverer that their kids were getting married and that they had a one-weekend-stand four years ago was a genius plot device.
I loved reading about the Filipino food and the ins and outs of mahjong, and the descriptions of how a couturiere runs her business were fascinating to me as a lifelong seamstress (thanks grandma). One thing I didn't get though was Shannon's case of following someone with multiple aliases and it just ended. I kept wondering if he's going to surface in her life at some point and make trouble?
I also felt like the book ended abruptly, which felt like a setup for a sequel. Did the kids get married? Did the MCs get back together successfully? That was a problem for me but I still feel like the book rates 4 stars for all the great points.
July 4, 2019
When I saw that Karin Kallmaker has a new book, I was immediately extremely interested to get a copy of it. The synopsis itself seemed amazing, like a topic I would definitely love. I have to say, although of course perfectly written like any other Kallmaker's novels, this one won't be going into TOP 5 of her books. I'm quite a fan of her work, but somehow this book, as it progressed, I liked it less and less. It probably is just a personal feelings, and this being said, I have to underline that this book is quite good nevertheless, but for me, there are much better Kallmaker's novels.
September 13, 2019
This book sure put a smile on my face just 'cause Ms. Kallmaker sure is full of surprises. The fact that Kesa was flying the Filipino flag was pretty cool, but then to delve a little further and speak about Mahjong, pinakbet and lumpia... then the mango float!!! Man, it got me reminiscing as well as hungry.
The story was good too. I liked that Kesa and Shannon already had a past although I could kick Shannon in the shins for such poor behaviour. The secondary characters were a treat too, especially Cami and Auntie Ivy. Made me miss my grandmother though. Anyhow, thumbs up all around.
The story was good too. I liked that Kesa and Shannon already had a past although I could kick Shannon in the shins for such poor behaviour. The secondary characters were a treat too, especially Cami and Auntie Ivy. Made me miss my grandmother though. Anyhow, thumbs up all around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2019
This book was a pleasant read, although it was not one of Kallmaker's most memorable stories. The jury is still out on this being a second chance story or a love at first sight story.
July 7, 2022
Karin Kallmaker is one of those authors who leave me in awe of her ability to create such in-depth, character-driven stories. I find it fascinating when an author delves so deeply into the livelihoods of their characters that I find myself wondering throughout how much research time they must have spent learning about the roles these positions entail. Not to mention the Vietnamese cooking, and Mahjong playing.
Kesa, a clothes designer, has spent her adult life raising her sister, Josie, after the death of their parents, and is finally beginning to see a path within her career that will mean no more struggling to pay rent and put food on the table for herself and Josie. Shannon, a US Marshal is a substitute Mum to Paz who she took under her wing as a teenager and has struggled to live a stable life. Josie and Paz bring the two women together in the hopes of receiving their blessings to marry – something neither woman agree to as the young couple has only known each other for a month. They don’t oppose the relationship, only the idea that these ‘kids’ have fallen in love at first sight.
Kesa and Shannon both are doing the best they can with past hurts haunting them, fears of the future, and learning that letting go and taking a step back is sometimes a necessary part of personal growth.
I listened to the audio version of Because I Said So, which has been narrated by the always brilliant Abby Craden. It is quite angsty at times, but there is so much detail, so many emotions, and differing personalities the overall feel of the book is positivity and self-awareness.
Kesa, a clothes designer, has spent her adult life raising her sister, Josie, after the death of their parents, and is finally beginning to see a path within her career that will mean no more struggling to pay rent and put food on the table for herself and Josie. Shannon, a US Marshal is a substitute Mum to Paz who she took under her wing as a teenager and has struggled to live a stable life. Josie and Paz bring the two women together in the hopes of receiving their blessings to marry – something neither woman agree to as the young couple has only known each other for a month. They don’t oppose the relationship, only the idea that these ‘kids’ have fallen in love at first sight.
Kesa and Shannon both are doing the best they can with past hurts haunting them, fears of the future, and learning that letting go and taking a step back is sometimes a necessary part of personal growth.
I listened to the audio version of Because I Said So, which has been narrated by the always brilliant Abby Craden. It is quite angsty at times, but there is so much detail, so many emotions, and differing personalities the overall feel of the book is positivity and self-awareness.
July 18, 2021
3.5 stars
Not Karin Kallmaker's best book but still a solid read. I can't say too much about the plot without spoiling it but this book explores the whole concept of love at first sight in a really interesting way. I liked both Suzanne and Kesa. I think the book would have benefited from them spending more time together. I also think that given the central role sex played in their relationship with sex scenes needed to be a bit longer. Paz and Josie played a big role in this book too and while I really liked Paz I could not stand Josie. She was an ungrateful brat. The other thing that dragged down the book was Suzanne's work plot line. It went nowhere and then at the end is unresolved. Kesa's work plot line was great, though, I loved seeing her grow her small business as a designer. There's a great twist about a third of the way through so I almost gave this book 4 stars instead of 3.5 because good twists are rare in romance novels. But ultimately I was left with a vaguely dissatisfied feeling when I finished it and since romance novels need emotionally satisfying endings I decided this book didn't deserve more than 3.5 stars.
Not Karin Kallmaker's best book but still a solid read. I can't say too much about the plot without spoiling it but this book explores the whole concept of love at first sight in a really interesting way. I liked both Suzanne and Kesa. I think the book would have benefited from them spending more time together. I also think that given the central role sex played in their relationship with sex scenes needed to be a bit longer. Paz and Josie played a big role in this book too and while I really liked Paz I could not stand Josie. She was an ungrateful brat. The other thing that dragged down the book was Suzanne's work plot line. It went nowhere and then at the end is unresolved. Kesa's work plot line was great, though, I loved seeing her grow her small business as a designer. There's a great twist about a third of the way through so I almost gave this book 4 stars instead of 3.5 because good twists are rare in romance novels. But ultimately I was left with a vaguely dissatisfied feeling when I finished it and since romance novels need emotionally satisfying endings I decided this book didn't deserve more than 3.5 stars.
July 18, 2024
Really lovely. I listened to the audiobook version of this, skillfully performed by Abby Craden as always, and after the big reveal, I re-listened to the first hour and a half to catch all the details of tone made richer by the knowledge of history.
I enjoyed the circular way Kallmaker parsed out information in this a great deal, fleshing out the past as we moved through the present. The main characters were my favorite sort of flawed and imperfect, but also doing their best and working hard to make things right. Loved all the details we got here-- on Kesa's Filipino heritage, on the details-- logistical and emotional-- involved in starting a business when you have nothing to fall back on, on the non-flashy day to day of what it means to support the Marshall's service. These characters had depth, and the risks they took were real and all the more meaningful for the depth they had as well.
I enjoyed the circular way Kallmaker parsed out information in this a great deal, fleshing out the past as we moved through the present. The main characters were my favorite sort of flawed and imperfect, but also doing their best and working hard to make things right. Loved all the details we got here-- on Kesa's Filipino heritage, on the details-- logistical and emotional-- involved in starting a business when you have nothing to fall back on, on the non-flashy day to day of what it means to support the Marshall's service. These characters had depth, and the risks they took were real and all the more meaningful for the depth they had as well.
November 13, 2024
It was enlightening reading about the Filipino culture and all the different foods, learning about the lives of a clothing designer and US Marshall Analyst. I very much enjoyed the dialogue and the connections between the four main characters and the secondary characters. The narration by Abby Craden was superb! It just didn't feel too much like a romance book!
August 23, 2020
Would've liked the trust issue to be addressed in more depth. How could one be in a relationship with someone who has behaved badly, takes ages to acknowledge it and does absolutely nothing to earn any trust?
April 2, 2024
This was cute. Kesa's younger sister and Shannon's son-by-choice want to marry, but their too young. Aaaaand, as it turn out, Kesa and Shannon have history themselves! the irony was not lost, but it really did add to the storyline. This would make a quick, easy read if you're looking for one.
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