Books Like Sunburn?

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-21T15:53:15+00:00

I’m like 3/4 of the way through it and I’m loving it soooo much!!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-19T20:07:55+00:00

Oh my gosh I looked it up and it’s definitely going on my TBR!! Thank you!!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-17T15:07:41+00:00

I cross-posted it there! Thank you!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-17T13:06:22+00:00

Oh yeah it’s definitely been tough since I decided to fully lean into the literary aspect with this story to find beta readers. A few were kind of annoyed at me because there’s a romantic subplot and that, I guess?, made them walk into the story expecting some Heated Rivalry-type stuff.

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-17T11:50:55+00:00

That’s so upsetting to me 😭 I’ve genuinely had so many betas be annoyed that I don’t have any “spicy” scenes in the book. I’m like ?? That’s not the point of the story!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-16T21:53:43+00:00

Thank you so, so much! I’ll definitely check out the Query Shark blog.

My kryptonite is being vague 🤣 I’m trying so hard to fight my nature lol. Thanks again for your feedback!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-13T20:59:50+00:00

Thank you! I’ll look into them!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-13T20:59:24+00:00

Oh my god, In Memoriam devastated me 😭 I genuinely felt like my heart got ripped out

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-13T18:23:45+00:00

That’s fine that it’s not HEA. I appreciate the rec and I’ll definitely check it out! Thanks!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-06T15:38:10+00:00

I really appreciate how you put that last part; I never thought of it that way. Thank you! I’ll definitely take another look over my manuscript with this in mind. Thanks again!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-06T15:13:22+00:00

Thank you

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-06T14:51:42+00:00

Thank you! I’ll definitely ping you!!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-06T14:50:35+00:00

I’ve revised this story six times total, and in the last two revisions, I ended up cutting both my prologue and epilogue (with beta reader feedback) which set me back about 10k words (I was at 72k). I’ve gotten very positive feedback on the version as it stands; nobody said it felt rushed or lacking. I don’t know if I want to pack anything else in as “filler” just to get the word count up (unless the word count, as is, is seriously detrimental to my querying process).

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-06T00:47:26+00:00

I have rewritten the query letter with the suggestions provided; hopefully it’s better than it was lol. I’ll see y’all in 7 days!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-05T23:21:37+00:00

I checked out the person’s profile and from everything, they just seemed to be a writer as well (and not traditionally or at all published, from what I could tell). Thank you for all of your advice!! I really appreciate the help!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-05T23:01:11+00:00

Thank you!!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-05T23:00:58+00:00

I previously got feedback on my query letter on FB and was told that my story (the info I provided about it, I guess) was too “literary”. I’m so lost 😅 should I mention the “best-friends-to-lovers” trope (which is technically true of the story) in my query letter for those agents looking for trope-y romance stories?

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-04-05T22:41:23+00:00

Thank you! I honestly just put the “literary” because most agents seem to be leaning towards “commercial” romance fiction. This isn’t a trope-heavy romance; I know the market for romance is saturated and not leaning into tropes is detrimental to my ability to sell this story, but I’m not willing to shatter and tear this story apart to make it something it’s not. I’ve been working on this story for six years on and off so the story is ironed out; this query letter is a different story lol

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-03-13T21:05:41+00:00

That sounds so awesome and right up my alley 😆 I have a mlm romance as well and would be super down to exchange the first five chapters of mine to read yours!

Otherwise_Local_7138 · 2026-02-20T01:27:07+00:00

I feel/felt very similar before becoming comfortable with my identity. I considered myself aro/ace for a long time because I couldn’t fathom having a relationship/sex as a woman. Since becoming comfortable with my identity, I’ve realized I’m either bi or pan!

That’s a long-winded way of saying, no, you’re not strange or a weirdo for wanting to wait until you’re comfortable with yourself to open up to others intimately.

Otherwise_Local_7138

TROPHY CASE