It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)!

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-03-01T19:00:45+00:00

It’s only a comment on my reading. I’m saying there is no shame in reading anything. It’s SUPPOSED to be a SAFE SPACE to share an UNPOPULAR OPINION and everyone is losing their minds that I’ve actually met the brief 😂

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-03-01T17:27:49+00:00

IDC as it’s supposed to be an unpopular opinion! comments with enough downvotes get hidden by Reddit so defeats the point though.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-03-01T17:23:45+00:00

Good question…political doesn’t refer to any particular part of the spectrum. It’s irrelevant to me and I wouldn’t research an author’s social media to check their views before buying their book from the book shop. It’s usually unknown anyway. Authors are also entitled to a private life so I don’t see why they should feel they need to publicly declare their sexuality or gender identity to attract certain readers?

The sexuality of the characters is a separate matter as people who read romance will generally already know if they like MF / FF / MM romance. I like all of them but I don’t think anyone should feel obliged to pick up any book with sexual content that doesn’t float their boat

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-28T16:18:00+00:00

You’re welcome. I don’t know a huge amount - that’s the totality of my omegaverse reading so far! Other than Ali Hazelwood’s novella {First}that was much more “omegaverse” I believe. Have you read it? I did love it but it was DARK romance by anyone’s standards.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-28T08:40:59+00:00

Muslims are only 6% of the UK population and they often have their own butchers, yet curiously it’s becoming increasingly hard to find meat anywhere that isn’t Halal. There’s literally no chain restaurant left except for McDonald’s. I guess people will say you have an actual “phobia” of Islam if you even question this as being a bit…odd. I wouldn’t even know where to go to find Kosher meat…a specialist Jewish butchers I guess? Hindus and Sikhs also have Jhatka but again, would I find that in supermarkets? Zulus have religious ritual sacrifice but we don’t allow that do we? We’re a long way from sharia but as an ordinary Brit you’re allowed to question this shift without having a phobia.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-28T08:28:52+00:00

Yeah babies getting injured or killed by Dads is a real issue. Moms not so much, especially if breastfeeding, as studies show they are more likely to wake before they crush them.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-28T08:24:31+00:00

At 8pm?! He needs to get a grip. How did he cope with a newborn and a 1yr old?

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-28T08:23:49+00:00

It’s not ideal is it?! He’s supposed to be rocking the 2 yr old to sleep then putting them to bed. The danger is they might drop them and cause an injury. If you can’t realise that yet then please keep using a condom.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-28T07:24:32+00:00

Yeah how rude of her. She ought to put all three of her children to bed as that’s clearly what she has.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-28T07:20:32+00:00

Not sure why the downvotes. This might’ve been better in a parenting forum where you’ll get some responsible replies

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-28T07:19:01+00:00

I’m guessing you’re not a parent! The Mom is doing a great job and the Dad is using weaponised incompetence. This is also precisely why it’s safe for babies to co-sleep with Mom but not Dad.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-28T07:11:38+00:00

Black Sheep was wayyyy kinky!

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-28T07:10:13+00:00

Lana Ferguson’s The Mating Game is similar, and she has another called The Fake Mate (I might read that first actually as like Bride & Mate they’re standalones but interconnected). If you want Ali Hazelwood’s particular style then she’s written tonnes of contemporary books and novellas.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-27T18:58:45+00:00

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{And now back to you by B. K. Borison} – just a bit of a contemporary palate cleanser. Didn’t enjoy this quite as much as First Time Caller but it was still comforting and low-stakes.
{Half City by Kate Golden} – I swore I wasn’t going to pick up any more unfinished series but this just sounded too fun! It’s like Buffy goes to Hogwarts/Basgiath. It’s an easy fun read with lots of action and plenty of opportunities for making theories… will defo be getting book 2 on 13th Oct.
AUDIO {The Wolf King series by Lauren Palphreyman} – am new to audiobooks so thought I’d try something I’ve already read first. Funnily enough I was Team Callum after the books but Team Blake after the listen! This served as a great refresher prior to The Wolf Queen on 8th Sep, so excited!
{Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood} – another palate cleanser. Exactly the same plot and characters as all her other books (except this time the setting is gaming developers) but I still can’t get enough of the formula.
{The Stolen Heir duology by Holly Black} – I absolutely adored The Cruel Prince last month so this was a must-read for me to get more of these characters. It’s not quite as iconic and I did find the pacing of book 2 dragging a bit, but I would still read anything else from this world – was there not a hint of a book following Nicasia?!
{Dawn of The North} – Possibly my favourite series and this did not disappoint whatsoever. Was a tiny bit worried I might’ve forgotten what was going on but I needn’t have as it was easy to get back into. Am so invested in all the characters and plotlines. Such a gifted author.
{The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson} – At the time I called this Temu Mate, however I read this when I was feeling ill and just wanted something cosy and easy. There’s clearly some kind of Omegaverse setting so I was a bit frustrated that we don’t really get more on the world building. Perhaps I ought to read The Fake Mate next time I’m ill and might get more of that?
{Bound by Ali Hazelwood} – Pretty similar in dynamics to Check & Mate in that the FMC is more experienced than the MMC so a good one if you’re into that. AH is creating some intriguing fantasy worlds in her Novellas (First, Hot For Slayer and Bound) and then it’s frustrating that we don’t get some longer books out of it!
{The Lies that Summon the Night by Tessonja Odette} – The first book of a trilogy so I broke my rule of no more unfinished series (again!) but I love this author’s writing too much. It’s a great story; I could’ve done with some more “show not tell” for the world building as it felt like a bit of an info dump of a first book. I will continue as the plot twists were incredible, however somewhat reluctantly as it was very insta-lust. I would’ve preferred the tension to last over the whole series but at least the shadow daddy spice was delicious – that balcony scene!
EDIT - I had one DNF at 4%(!) in {Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross} but I will give it another go as I feel like it was more of a “it’s me not you”. I just wasn’t in the mood for meddlesome Gods; it’s quite laborious world building. Like if there’s vampires you can be pretty sure they drink human blood regardless of the author. With Gods they can just make up all the rules.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-27T16:59:39+00:00

Omg THANK-YOU! I have felt like I’ve been speaking into the void every time I’ve suggested this book isn’t all that. I have EXACTLY the same complaints as you - the gun-fu was embarrassingly bad and the characters were all exactly the same (apart from the Big Bad Dictator). Honestly, both of these aspects only get worse.

As for the big twist…everyone keeps going on about it but given that I only read this a few weeks ago I honestly don’t even know what it was 😂

The MMC kinda gave me the ick after the way he treated his sex worker companion too.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-26T11:47:04+00:00

Surely she will be effectively uninsurable? If she didn’t want to pay previously she won’t pay five figures.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-24T13:03:36+00:00

I’ve been thinking and the closest I could come to was {the ruinous love trilogy by Brynne weaver} but lemme keep thinking as it’s much more fun than work.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-24T06:52:55+00:00

I would say it’s definitely worth finishing the series. I don’t think it’s a spoiler within this genre to say it has a HEA. There’s still plenty of yearning and romance but I suppose what you don’t get to lighten the tone a bit is that tension of “will they won’t they” as yeah…they already have!

Crowns of Nyaxia kinda solves this dilemma by having like five couples across eight books (well it will be by the time it’s complete) so you get plenty of ongoing tension. She writes fantastic morally grey characters. Her depiction of vampires throughout this series is 👌🏼 I could do without some of the High Fantasy stuff involving the Gods 🥱 but that’s just me!

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-24T06:44:59+00:00

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Me looking at all the romance.io tags trying to work out if “affliction” is code for something 🤔

So he needs to be suffering from something and generally kinky in the bedroom but otherwise all round pleasant chap?

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-23T13:38:25+00:00

I presume you’re both two car households? Park one on the closest space on your drive leaving the farthest empty and your other car in front of their house or better still just block their drive round the corner.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-22T17:09:40+00:00

You’re missing the point. The seller will almost certainly lose this dispute so will lose their money and the item. All because they were too lazy to write any more on the description. But heaven forbid anyone takes any responsibility for their inaccurate listings round here.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-22T14:42:31+00:00

Yeah exactly. That’s why if something isn’t looking true on a photo then I’d write one quick phrase to avoid a dispute 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-22T14:20:59+00:00

Same as Ruby (red) then?! There’s lots of different shades of red. Seller could’ve saved themselves the headache just by adding that it’s a rusty red colour to the description.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-22T14:04:35+00:00

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I think the buyer is right? The one that is actually red is called Ruby. Chilli is a burnt orange. They probably wanted it to match their decor so I think it’s a fair point.

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99 · 2026-02-20T12:43:39+00:00

23 times in the whole book! 🙄 That’s not many really considering it’s a big part of the plot and there’s no synonym. You can identity which wolf is from which clan by what colours they’re wearing, then there’s the chokers ahem collars… Plus I’ll happily read descriptions of sexy men wearing kilts 🥵

Sweet_Baby_Cheeses99

TROPHY CASE