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Review of Playing with Myself by Randy Rainbow

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Playing with Myself book coverBlurb

An intimate and light-hearted memoir by viral sensation and three-time Emmy-nominated musical comedian Randy Rainbow that takes readers through his life—the highs, the lows, the lipstick, the pink glasses, and the show tunes.

Randy Rainbow, the man who conquered the Internet with a stylish pair of pink glasses, an inexhaustible knowledge of Broadway musicals, and the most gimlet-eyed view of American politics this side of Mark Twain finally tells all in Playing with Myself, a memoir sure to cause more than a few readers to begin singing one of his greatest hits like “A Spoonful of Clorox” or “Cover Your Freakin’ Face.”

As Randy has said, “There’s so much fake news out there about me. I can’t wait to set the record straight and finally give people a peek behind the green screen.” And set the record straight he does. Playing with Myself is a first-hand account of the journey that led Randy Rainbow from his childhood as the over-imaginative, often misunderstood little boy who carried a purse in the second grade to his first job on Broadway as the host at Hooters and on to the creation of his trademark comedy character. In chapters titled “Pajama Bottoms” (a look back at the days when he wore pajama bottoms on his head to pretend he was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz), “Yes, It’s My Real Name, Shut Up!” (no explanation necessary…) and “Pink Glasses” (a rose-colored homage to his favorite accessory), Playing with Myself is a memoir that answers the question “Can an introverted musical theatre nerd with a MacBook and a dream save the world, one show tune at a time?”

Review

Memoirs are not my preferred genre, but when I heard that Randy Rainbow was releasing a no-holds-barred story of his life, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it, given that I’ve been a fan of his musical political parodies from the beginning.

Like the man himself, this book was so much fun! I enjoyed learning about his childhood, his family, his struggles with depression, his inspiration, his missteps, and his eventual rise to stardom. I was also surprised to learn that Randy Rainbow is his real name – who could have guessed?

I swear Randy Rainbow is the only person who can make the story of one’s childhood enjoyable and enthralling. And if you’re a fan of celebrities, Randy does plenty of name-dropping throughout the pages, and I enjoyed learning about his relationships with various actors, actresses, and musicians.

I loved getting a behind-the-scenes look at his process — how he comes up with ideas for and makes his videos. It also becomes clear that his rise to fame was the result of a lifetime of hard work and preparation. Though there is a serious aspect to the book, especially regarding self-image issues and bullying, overall, it’s humorous, light-hearted, and fun, peppered with witty asides, enjoyable banter, and jokes. I caught myself laughing out loud so many times as I read about his compelling life.

Frequently, I find memoirs to drag in places where I need to slog through them painfully. Not this one. Playing with myself was a hoot from beginning to end! All in all, I found this book utterly delightful, and it gave me a new appreciation for Randy Rainbow. It was a blast getting to know the man behind the pink glasses. If you enjoy his creative video spoofs, you should enjoy this funny yet heartfelt book. It’s a refreshing and entertaining read about one of my favorite people.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a review copy of this book.

This title will be released on April 19th but is available for preorder now.

Purchase Playing with Myself from Amazon

Review of Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor

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Long Story Short book coverBlurb:

Growing up homeschooled in Berkeley, California, Beatrice Quinn is a statistical genius who has dreamed her whole life of discovering new mathematical challenges at a school like Oxford University. She always thought the hardest part would be getting in, not convincing her parents to let her go. But while math has always made sense to Beatrice, making friends is a problem she hasn’t been able to solve, so her parents are worried about sending her halfway across the world. The compromise: the Connecticut Shakespearean Summer Academy and a detailed list of teenage milestones to check off. She has six weeks to show her parents she can pull off the role of “normal” teenager and won’t spend the rest of her life hiding in a library.

Unfortunately, hearts and hormones don’t follow any rules, and there is no equation for teenage interactions. When she’s adopted by a group of eclectic theater kids, and immediately makes an enemy of the popular—and, annoyingly gorgeous—British son of the camp founders, she realizes that relationships are trickier than calculus. With her future on the line, this girl genius stumbles through illicit parties, double dog dares, and more than your fair share of Shakespeare. But before the final curtain falls, will Beatrice realize that there’s more to life than she can find in the pages of a book?

In this sparkling debut from Serena Kaylor, Long Story Short is a YA rom-com about a homeschooled math genius who finds herself out of her element at a theater summer camp and learns that life—and love—can’t be lived by the (text)book.

Review

This story ticked all the right boxes for me: Enemies to Lovers? Check. Takes place at a summer camp? Check. Story revolves around a Shakespeare play? Check.

Long Story Short was a delightful, light-hearted summer romance filled with sweet characters and plenty of fun, witty banter. I also loved the chemistry between Beatrice and Nik and found these two characters incredibly endearing. They’re a couple you can’t help fall in love with: funny, angsty, sweet, determined, flawed, and authentic. I found their interactions funny, awkward, and exactly as confrontational as they need to be. Likewise, the secondary characters were equally impressive, even Shelby, “the mean girl,” who, as we learn, is quite a complicated multi-layered character.

The story itself is unputdownable and addictive, and I read it in only two sittings. It’s a sweet, comforting, and uplifting novel with a certain quirk and charm and just the right amount of angst. Readers who like a little messy yet heartwarming YA romance will definitely get that with Long Story Short. This charming novel leaves you with an ending that’s like a kiss and sweet tuck in goodnight and left me with a huge smile on my face when I finished the final page.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a review copy of this book.

This story will be released on July 26th, 2022 but is available now for preorder.

Purchase Long Story Short from Amazon

Review of First Time for Everything by Henry Fry

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First Time for Everything book coverBlurb

An unflinchingly honest, wickedly funny, and heartfelt debut about a down-on-his-luck gay man working out how he fits into the world, making up for lost time, and opening himself up to life’s possibilities

Danny Scudd is absolutely fine. He always dreamed of escaping the small-town life of his parents’ fish-and-chip shop, moving to London, and becoming a journalist. And, after five years in the city, his career isn’t exactly awful, and his relationship with pretentious Tobbs isn’t exactly unfulfilling. Certainly his limited-edition Dolly Parton vinyls and many (maybe too many) house plants are hitting the spot. But his world is flipped upside down when a visit to the local clinic reveals that Tobbs might not have been exactly faithful. In fact, Tobbs claims they were never operating under the “heteronormative paradigm” of monogamy to begin with. Oh, and Danny’s flatmates are unceremoniously evicting him because they want to start a family. It’s all going quite well.

Newly single and with nowhere to live, Danny is forced to move in with his best friend, Jacob, a flamboyant nonbinary artist whom he’s known since childhood, and their eccentric group of friends living in an East London “commune.” What follows is a colorful voyage of discovery through modern queer life, dating, work, and lots of therapy–all places Danny has always been too afraid to fully explore. Upon realizing just how little he knows about himself and his sexuality, he careens from one questionable decision (and man) to another, relying on his inscrutable new therapist and housemates to help him face the demons he’s spent his entire life trying to repress. Is he really fine, after all?

Review

At first, I thought this story was going to be a quirky book full of wild and zany characters. While there certainly was that aspect to it, it also ended up being a fascinating journey of self-discovery and healing for a young man named Danny Scudd. This book could have been easily titled “The unraveling of Danny Scudd” because that’s what has to happen before our main character can pull himself together: he must totally fall apart.

Through his unraveling, Danny has to deal with internalized homophobia and learn how to live his life without hiding in the background. Up until now, he seemed to prefer being “invisible” and wasn’t one to engage in any confrontation, letting others trample all over him in the process. So in this way, parts of the story were a tad cringey. But though Danny’s journey is undoubtedly bumpy and a bit dark in places, the author portrays it in a heartfelt and humorous way that makes Danny ultimately likable and relatable. Danny’s story is layered with complexities of identity, loss, mental illness, rage, and toxic relationships that were expertly articulated in the voice of our narrator.

Throughout the pages of the book, I enjoyed seeing Danny confront his issues and slowly come to accept his identity and accept his true self. Though he does have a tough time of it — and even transforms into a major jerk at one point — his friends stand by him and guide him back to himself. Speaking of friends, the secondary characters were phenomenal, with my favorite being the larger-than-life Jacob. The clever, witty banter between the characters caused me to cackle out loud on more than one occasion, and they all added an essential element to the narrative.

All in all, I loved this complete whirlwind of a novel. It was a strange, wonderfully weird, immersive book that explores some dark themes but in a unique and fun way. Thus, it’s messy and dark but without ever falling over the edge. First Time for Everything is a poignant portrait of a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance that really resonated with me, and I’m glad this story caught my attention.

This book is scheduled to be released on May 10, 2022 but is available now for Preorder.

Review of Mark of Amulii by Aeron Dusk

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Mark of Amulii book coverBlurb:

Alexander Hunt holds onto two secrets: both could ruin his life, but one could end it.

The sudden move from Calgary, Alberta to the outskirts of Jasper during his senior year leaves Alex isolated in a cabin with bickering parents. He copes by taking daily hikes along the shores of Maligne Lake until he meets a young man named Amulii. He’s huge, unkempt, and speaks broken English, but there’s something else uncanny about him Alex can’t quite place.

What starts as a frightening first encounter escalates the moment Amulii gives Alex a strange gift and reveals there’s something much wilder about him than meets the eye. Unbeknownst to Alex, this sets off a series of devastating events that sends both of them fleeing from an aggressive, well-armed militia in the forest.

As Amulii and Alex escape into the mountains, their bond strengthens as they learn from one another, and what was once distrust evolves into something much deeper. Despite that, there are only two questions burning Alex’s waking thoughts as they traverse the harsh wilds of western Alberta, waiting for salvation: will he be caught and killed, or will he lose the rest of his humanity to Amulii’s mistake?

Content Warning:

This book is NOT erotica but is intended for those over the age of 17. It contains explicit sex and graphic violence. While those themes are not prominent in the story, they pop up from time to time. This is a gay-centric paranormal romance with real biped werewolves. This is NOT A/B/O

Review

I’m a huge fan of werewolf novels, and I really enjoyed this author’s take on the genre. I loved our two main characters, Alex and Amulii, and enjoyed seeing both of them transform (pun intended) and grow throughout the story. This novel was quite a refreshing take on the werewolf mythology, and I thought the world-building in this story was phenomenal, as was the character development. The author gives us a truly fascinating world populated by memorable, well-developed characters.

Perfectly paced, The Mark of Amulii is a fast-paced fantasy adventure, and the action never lets up. Once Alex and Amulii are on the run, the story shifts from a mild romance into an intense, sometimes brutal, no-holds-barred thriller dripping with adrenaline. I found myself swept away in its action-packed wake, almost gasping for breath as the tension tightens like a noose, right up to the thrilling — and utterly shocking — conclusion.

The story is twisty and powerful, as well as moving. Though action-packed, the heart of the story is the romance between Amulii and Alex, and the chemistry and passion between them are fantastic. I enjoyed seeing their barriers break down as they got to know each other and how perfectly they balanced each other out. In addition, the character interaction was top-notch.

All in all, The Mark of Amulii is a razor-sharp novel that combines queer themes with a paranormal element in a clever and twisty way, with plenty of manic action and heart-stopping suspense. Right from the initial scene-setting, the novel builds to a crescendo of thrills, chills, and surprises and does not disappoint. In addition, the author left an intriguing tidbit at the end of the story, opening the way for a possible sequel. I hope there is one because I would love to read more novels that take place in this world.

A huge thank you to the author for providing a review copy of this book.

Purchase The Mark of Amulii from Amazon

Review of Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky

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Never Been Kissed CoverBlurb:

Dear (never-been-quite-over-you) Crush,

It’s been a few years since we were together, but I can’t stop thinking about the time we almost…

Wren Roland has never been kissed, but he wants that movie-perfect ending more than anything. Feeling nostalgic on the eve of his birthday, he sends emails to all the boys he (ahem) loved before he came out. Morning brings the inevitable Oh God What Did I Do?, but he brushes that panic aside. Why stress about it? None of his could-have-beens are actually going to read the emails, much less respond. Right?

Enter Derick Haverford, Wren’s #1 pre-coming-out-crush and his drive-in theater’s new social media intern. Everyone claims he’s coasting on cinematic good looks and his father’s connections, but Wren has always known there’s much more to Derick than meets the eye. Too bad he doesn’t feel the same way about the infamous almost-kiss that once rocked Wren’s world.

Whatever. Wren’s no longer a closeted teenager; he can survive this. But as their hazy summer becomes consumed with a special project that may just save the struggling drive-in for good, Wren and Derick are drawn ever-closer…and maybe, finally, Wren’s dream of a perfect-kiss-before-the-credits is within reach.

Review

I absolutely fell in love with this new adult queer summer romance. This rom-com was so much fun and had me laughing out loud many times! I especially appreciated the fact that the story revolves around a Drive-In (remember those?) where I used to spend a lot of time as a teenager. I also appreciated the demisexual representation in the story, something we don’t often see in romance novels. I loved watching Wren explore his sexuality and figure himself out, all the while waiting for that elusive first kiss.

This book totally entranced me, and I loved the story the author tells here. I always like the trope of the “childhood crush reentering the picture,” and it was exceptionally well done in this story. It warmed my heart to see how patient, compassionate and supportive Derick was toward Wren and thought the chemistry between them was perfect.

All in all, I loved this wonderful, heart-tugger of a love story. Half love story and half identity quest, Timothy Janovsky’s “Never Been Kissed” is 100 percent beautiful. It’s a big, beautiful novel with depth and a huge heart, and the story swept me up from the first page to the last. Derick and Wren are the couple everyone will fall in love with: funny, flawed, endearing, determined, a little bit angsty, and totally real. A sweet, comforting read with just the right amount of angst, and I give this one all the stars.

A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book. Expected publication is May 3, 2022.

Purchase Never Been Kissed from Amazon

Review of The Charmed List by Julie Abe

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57365743Blurb

After spending most of high school as the quiet girl, Ellie Kobata is ready to take some risks and have a life-changing summer, starting with her Anti-Wallflower List—thirteen items she’s going to check off one by one. She’s looking forward to riding rollercoasters, making her art Instagram public (maybe), and going on an epic road-trip with her best friend Lia.

But when number four on Ellie’s list goes horribly wrong—revenge on Jack Yasuda—she’s certain her summer has gone from charmed to cursed. Instead of a road trip with Lia, Ellie finds herself stuck in a car with Jack driving to a magical convention. But as Ellie and Jack travel down the coast of California, number thirteen on her list—fall in love—may be happening without her realizing it.

In The Charmed List, Julie Abe sweeps readers away to a secret magical world, complete with cupcakes and tea with added sparks of joy, and an enchanted cottage where you can dance under the stars.

Review

What a delightful witchy book this was! It was just the kind of story I was looking for. The Charmed List follows our main character Ellie Kobata, a “magic-aware” shy high school student who is a bit of a wallflower and prefers to be “invisible.” She also used to be best friends with Jack Yasuda, but after Jack ghosted her and humiliated her at school, they’ve been enemies ever since.

Ellie is on the verge of leaving on a summer road trip with her best friend, Lia. Determined to no longer remain invisible and let life pass her by, Ellie has also created an ‘anti-wallflower list’ containing 13 items that she wants to complete over the summer, including dancing under the stars and kissing a boy, and getting revenge on Jack Yasuda. However, her vengeance scheme doesn’t go according to plan and instead lands her in plenty of hot water with both their parents. As punishment, Ellie’s and Lia’s trip is canceled, and instead, Ellie and Jack have to travel together to a Magical Convention where both their families will be selling their wares.

They reluctantly agree to bury the hatchet and attempt to get along during the trip. But as the journey progresses (including stops in a Magical Village and at a Magical Hotel), Ellie begins to realize how much she’s missed having Jack in her life. Moreover, her feelings for him may be shifted from enemy to…something more, something different than before.

I tend to enjoy road trip books (especially the forced proximity kind), and this one was super fun. I loved the witchy vibe to this story, rendering it a magical reading experience. The friends-to-lovers aspect was exceptionally well done, and I adored the lovely relationship that developed between Ellie and Jack, evolving into something more than the friendship they once had experienced. It’s also worth mentioning that some hidden secrets and non-evident family dynamics are revealed as we move through the pages.

The Charmed List ended up being such a heartfelt and whimsical story about feeling: feeling love, feeling friendship, feeling magical, leading to the inevitable conclusion that the one reason there are walls around us is that we put them there ourselves. That being said, I loved the characters of both Ellie and Jack and found them to be believable and relatable, and charming. In addition, I thought the world-building was exceptional and enjoyed the easy-to-understand magic system that the author created.

All in all, this book is a delightful friends-to-enemies-to-lover romp that I’m so glad came to my attention. The author’s lush writing gives way to a sweet and endearing tale of love and forgiveness ―all with just a hint of magic—and I loved this book through and through. A wonderful, heart-tugger of a love story for anyone who enjoys a sweet love story with a dash of magical realism thrown in.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for providing a review copy of this novel. Expected publication date is July 5, 2022.

Preorder The Charmed List from Amazon