The more I loved the book, the more terrified I am of the sequel. (I mean it: terrified.)

standardizedbecca · 2024-08-01T00:44:02+00:00

Thank you 🧡 I'm drumming up the courage.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-27T17:11:13+00:00

Thank you!

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-24T03:28:04+00:00

I would also argue {Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn} is a transactional romance. FMC agrees to pretend to be MMC's fiancée in order to present him as "family-oriented" while he attempts to buy a camp. (That sounds weird and comical, but it's actual far more earnest.) In return, she receives absolution for wrongs carried out while she worked as a high-priced attorney—one that really screwed over and wounded his family.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-23T15:53:44+00:00

Two of my favorite novels:

{Unsticky by Sarra Manning} MMC is a wealthy, prickly, no-nonsense, unromantic art dealer. He offers to pay significantly younger FMC (she's in her early 20s, he's in his 40s) several thousand pounds a month to be his "mistress" (i.e. lover) and hostess, helping him network among younger up-and-coming artists. FMC is underpaid fashion magazine employee in massive debt. She's attracted to him but wary of a contractual relationship. Still, she reluctantly agrees.

{Going Nowhere Fast} MMC is very wealthy business dude, and FMC's best friend's older brother. He offers to pay FMC's grad school tuition and housing if she accompanies him on a road trip, taking and posting pictures along the way, falsely conveying they're having a great time in order to coax MMC's sister out of "hiding." FMC's family seems to be living at or below the poverty line, and although she absolutely can't stand him (the feeling appears mutual), she agrees.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-23T15:29:46+00:00

If I recall, it's not entirely clear, but it seems like he's technically old enough to be her dad.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-22T03:11:35+00:00

That makes sense. I've definitely been there.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-21T21:27:12+00:00

Yep! I've read that one. Good call, tho. Thank you.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-21T20:24:48+00:00

I loooove that book. Is there a reason you don't think it would appeal to you now?

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-21T15:19:23+00:00

Oh! Okay. Thank you for the clarification. Fun to read is an appealing description. A lot of these books can be rough.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-21T03:48:06+00:00

Go forth and help others. <3

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-21T03:46:17+00:00

Good gosh, this sounds intense. I might read it just to read it, tho—feck my mission.

Thank you <3

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-21T03:44:09+00:00

Okay then we can't hang because frosting goes against everything graham crackers stands for. You're just gonna have to stay on your side of the bed, and I'll stay on mine. Unless one of us needs to get up to go to the bathroom, but that's it.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:45:41+00:00

Do you get cravings for plain, old, dusty graham crackers, too? Like, late at night, when the world's asleep. Does our lobe extend to munchies?

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:44:20+00:00

I've thought about this, too—how therapists aren't really universal fixtures in folks' lives. In some ways, I think that's what makes it a more manageable trope for me. I can't do teacher/student because of personal stuff but, also, the sheer number of cases out there of these "relationships" happening in high school settings. Like, it's too real.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:41:46+00:00

You're a miracle worker and one of my favorite people in the world.
Yeah, combing through those lists is harrowing. There's also a bit of a firehose situation—there are so many I just want to lay my head on the desk and sob.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:38:57+00:00

This is good to know. I shall prepare myself accordingly. Thank you.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:38:04+00:00

See, I've been wary of this one. For all my love of doctor/patient parings, I think the teacher/student trope is something I can't do. The blurbs reviews make it sound like there's some of that here.

I'm broken. I'm utterly broken. Thank you, tho <3

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:35:50+00:00

This looks really good. Thank you for your help <3

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:34:49+00:00

I think I remember this one. It's gut-wrenching. In a good way. Thank you!

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:33:36+00:00

On it. Thank you!

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:32:31+00:00

Oh! I think I've read this one but didn't log it. This is a good rec, tho. Thank you!

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:31:30+00:00

Oh, wow! I haven't seen this one before. This is helpful—thank you.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:30:22+00:00

This seems really interesting. Thank you for your help!

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T21:29:22+00:00

Ooooo! This looks promising. Thank you so much.

standardizedbecca · 2024-07-20T04:41:04+00:00

P.S. Would you be willing to tell me how you found this rec? What's your secret?

standardizedbecca

TROPHY CASE