Anita Kelly

When I first saw this at the library, I passed it by pretty quickly because I thought it looked a little cheesy, a little too lighthearted for what I was in the mood for. But then I noticed that someone I follow on bookstagram rated it really high, so on my next trip to the library, I snagged it. And I’m so glad I did. It was the perfect book to kick off Pride month: “‘ I am more trying to figure out… how I feel about a world that can make [my parents] believe what they believe. That [disowning me as their gay son] was the right thing. And where I fit now, in that world.’ Ben wanted to tell Alexei that he fit… He knew, of course, that even with every corporation in America shooting rainbow confetti out of a cannon every June, things like this still happened all the time” (46).

This book is so much more than I thought at first glance. It’s got heart and humor. It also has the perfect setting to really get to know someone new—hiking the Pacific Crest Trail—which is what brings together Ben and Alexei in this strangers to friends to lovers romance.… (más)

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly
Love & Other Disasters series #3. Contemporary sapphic sports romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series. The couple from the previous book are secondary characters in this book.
Julie Parker coaches a high school basketball team. She has a new student with enough attitude for the whole team. When the new foster parent shows up to support the teen, Julie knows it’s the perfect time to fill the open slot of assistant coach. Julie is a little star stuck by Elle Cochrane as a former WNBA player. As the two work together, sparks fly and soon practice turns to game on.

Depth of characters here include depression, self-labeling, imposter syndrome, adult friendships, and migraines, all of which are over and above being a foster parent of a teen.
I loved the level of communication between these women. Open, heartfelt and not afraid to touch the difficult topics.

I received this book from NetGalley.… (más)

From my TBR subscription.

Cute romance between two guys hiking on the Pacific Coast Trail. It has some nice hiking and birding descriptions but it’s really not about hiking. I read a lot of non fiction about thru hiking and it’s clear that many people who choose that adventure are working through some stuff. These characters are doing that and we see them grappling with the repercussions of coming out and not having a great response from your family and navigating your way out of bad relationship habits and learning to form better ones.

While there are certainly a few spicy scenes this book it’s mostly about love, feelings, and communication and not so much about the sex.

I have another book by this author that I’ll read - those characters are briefly mentioned here.
… (más)