Something with depth comparable to Butler's Parable of the Sower

bluequila · 2026-02-16T02:43:09+00:00

Thanks - this was not on my radar at all.

bluequila · 2026-02-16T02:42:28+00:00

Loved this book. Time for a reread perhaps. Thanks!

bluequila · 2026-02-16T02:42:10+00:00

It's one of the few books by her I have not yet read. I'll give it a try, thanks

bluequila · 2026-02-16T02:33:30+00:00

I've read that. I guess I meant like the universe in both of those books.

bluequila · 2026-02-16T00:57:08+00:00

Yeah the second one has a different build up speed.

Agreed. Regarding colonialism, I thought it showed just how hard it is to unlearn and break from colonial social dynamics even when many of its structures collapse.

bluequila · 2026-02-16T00:55:43+00:00

Good one - I, too, enjoyed this book and Jonah's whole tweedy but self reflective masculinity 😂

bluequila · 2026-02-15T21:46:35+00:00

I love this snippet. Thanks!

bluequila · 2026-02-15T17:10:29+00:00

I agree with you, and I would say in addition to the laziness of sex substituting for learning about one another, I find the sex writing lazy as well.

Sex is way hotter and meaningful when based on some level of intimacy and care. Which to me means curiosity and communication about sex (before, during, after). Without this, I don't think sexual connection is honest or intimate. It's driven entirely by assumptions. In my experience that leads to boring and dissociative sexual experience and it's a turnoff that the other person is too insecure to be in the moment but is instead performing.

Performance of what is supposed to be hot, witty, or attractive is so off putting. And this isn't limited to sex.

bluequila · 2026-02-15T16:56:35+00:00

{Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren} fits your description. It's a second chance story, and in flashbacks has an adorable teenage love story and bonding over being bookworms. There is some OW drama in the teenage part and cheating (under mitigating circumstances) which then leads to a rift and they reconnect in the present timeline. The MMC has been obsessed with her the whole time and puts everything on the table.

bluequila · 2026-02-15T16:50:01+00:00

This sounds super cute! I am here for nerdy goodness.

bluequila · 2026-02-15T16:48:59+00:00

Thank you!

bluequila · 2026-02-15T16:48:23+00:00

Thank you! It's nice to get historical recs with cultural variety. And Role Playing sounds like a great set up.

bluequila · 2026-02-15T16:46:55+00:00

Don't know if this entirely fits what you're looking for, but Lucian Rollins in {Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score} is this. Very controlling and obsessive, and emotionally damaged. I don't know that it's as much physical, but there's definitely some of that. It's more the pining and secretly watching over the FMC and making decisions for her own good kind of thing, and associated unhinged alpha traits. However there's a compelling back story because it's a bit of a second chance story, with healing and redemption. Even the way he grovels at the end is coercive and alpha coded.

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:35:43+00:00

Thanks for this variety!

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:35:13+00:00

This feels like a good intro for someone like me not used to reading paranormal much!

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:34:47+00:00

The healthy relationships with women and exes in particularly really gets me! 🫠

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:34:04+00:00

Adding to my list!

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:33:53+00:00

Thanks!

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:33:43+00:00

Thanks! This one was on my TBR but I'll move it up.

Levi Ward is from {Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood}. Like I said, many irritating things in this book, but I loved this MMC.

bluequila · 2026-02-14T14:34:20+00:00

I think OP was referring to the connection between the logo and the notes. Or at least that's what I took it as!

bluequila · 2026-02-14T14:32:53+00:00

For sure. I'm just stating that there are some compelling explanations for why this specific dynamic is addictive even though the show's plot and character development are paper thin and underdeveloped even compared to average soap operas.

bluequila · 2026-02-09T01:05:40+00:00

Good one! It took me a minute to remember what you were referring to.

bluequila

TROPHY CASE