Get A Life, Chloe Brown

A Bookbug Read for December 2025

I honestly haven’t enjoyed a straight romance novel this much in a long time! What stood out to me immediately was how Talia Hibbert handled such heavy topics, like Chloe’s chronic illness and Red’s history with an abusive relationship, with so much care. Sometimes these things can feel "performative" in fiction, but here they felt completely authentic. Watching Chloe navigate her daily life while Red worked through his own trauma made me really root for them both as individuals before they even became a couple.

One of my favorite things about this book was how it handled conflict. I’m so used to the "huge miscommunication" trope where characters don't talk for months over something silly, but Chloe and Red actually acted like adults. They had their moments of tension, but they took the time to cool off and then actually talked about it. It was so refreshing to see a healthy relationship dynamic where the drama comes from the characters growing together rather than just keeping secrets from each other.

Even though the book deals with some pretty serious themes, it stayed so funny and romantic throughout. Talia Hibbert has such a witty voice, and the banter between Chloe and Red was top-tier. I finished this one feeling so warm and satisfied. It’s definitely one of those rare romances that manages to be incredibly sweet and lighthearted while still respecting the complexity of the characters' real-world struggles. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romance novels, who want solid well-rounded characters.

dividers from here.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

A Bookbug Read for December 2025

I read several historical lesbian books over the summer and was so excited to finally get to this one, especially since it came so highly recommended online. I always love books where you get to see the main character really discover who they are, but watching Lily struggle with her sexuality, her crush on her first white friend, and trying to be a "Good Chinese Girl" honestly made my heart ache. Because I already knew about the San Francisco raids before they were even mentioned (yay gay history!), I spent about 70% of the book with my stomach in total knots, just waiting for the other shoe to drop for them.

I really loved the connection between Lily’s interest in space and Kath’s interest in airplanes; it was such a sweet way to bring them together, and I liked how they navigated the characters at the bar as a team. The scene where Lily finds that sapphic romance novel hit a huge nerve for me. It reminded me so much of when I watched Imagine Me & You for the first time and realized, "holy shit, this is an actually possible thing." I remember wanting to share that feeling with my crush, too.

When Lily came out, her mother’s reaction was so similar to how my own mother reacted that I couldn't stop crying. Honestly, I think I cried through nearly the entire last 20% of the book. I really appreciated that it had a happy ending, though I definitely wish there was a sequel so we could see their lives after high school. This is a book I deeply wish I could have read back when I was a scared, closeted teenager. It left me with that same mix of heavy sadness and hope that stays with you long after you finish.

Heated Rivalry & The Long Game

Baby's First Hockey Romance

I honestly don’t even know where to start with Shane and Ilya. These books really surprised me with how much they affected me, especially since they tackle a decade-long "situationship" with so much honesty. Having been in a similar situation myself for years, I know exactly how badly that kind of uncertainty can break your heart if it’s handled the wrong way. It felt so real to see them stuck in that gray area for so long—the way their physical connection was the only place they could truly be themselves while the rest of the world saw them as rivals. It was agonizing at times, but it made their eventual growth feel so much more earned.

Ilya Rozanov quickly became my favorite character I’ve read in a long time. On the outside, he’s this cocky "Russian villain," but underneath, he’s carrying so much weight. The way Rachel Reid handles mental illness is so graceful; it never felt like a plot device. Seeing Ilya silently deal with the depression that killed his mother while trying to meet his family's expectations was heartbreaking. He fought that battle alone for so long, and watching him finally realize that he didn't want to keep his life a secret anymore—that he deserved to be happy and "out"—was such a powerful moment for his character.

What I loved most, though, was that we finally got a happy ending that didn't follow the "Bury Your Gays" trope. Even twenty years ago, a story like this usually ended in tragedy, so seeing Shane and Ilya get to actually live and be happy together felt like a breath of fresh air. It wasn't just about the romance; it was about Ilya reclaiming his joy and Shane being there to catch him. By the end, I was left with that same mix of love and relief I get from the best stories. I’d definitely recommend these to anyone who wants a queer love story that isn't afraid to be messy and dark, but ultimately chooses happiness.

dividers are from here.

Song of Achilles

Golden Boy, Gentle Boy

I really loved Song of Achilles. What stood out to me most was the contrast between Patroclus and Achilles. Patroclus felt soft and sensitive, while Achilles was brave, brilliant, and blessed by the gods. Watching their relationship grow from their first meeting, through the peaceful years with Chiron, and then into the long war was incredibly beautiful. All the small, quiet moments between them added up into something that felt like a truly powerful love story.

I also really liked how the other characters were written. Odysseus has always been one of my favorite Greek heroes, and I loved how he came across as sharp, funny, and way too smart for everyone around him. Thetis felt like the ultimate helicopter parent, overprotective and only wanting the best for her son, even if she scares absolutely everyone else in the process. I had never read the full story of Achilles before, so I honestly didn't know Patroclus would die first, and it absolutely broke me. Patroclus constantly worrying that Achilles is too perfect for him made their relationship feel even more real, which made that moment hurt even more. In the end, the whole story left me with a mix of love and sadness that stayed with me long after I finished the book.

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This is How You Lose the Time War

Lovers in space

This is How You Lose the Time War really surprised me with how beautiful the writing was. The prose was so poetic, I stopped multiple times to re-read and write down quotes because they were that pretty. A lovely, very dear friend recommended this book to me, and I'm so glad he did. The pacing confused me in places throughout the book, but it all made sense at the end, and I appreciate how the story unfolded. The letters between Blue and Red were my favorite part, they felt intimate and smart, really bringing the story to life.

I also really loved the dynamic between Red and Blue themselves. They start as complete adversaries, but watching them become friends, then even more over time, was very satisfying. Even though the book says they're genderless, I read their relationship as sapphic. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys flowery, poetic prose, readers who want a space story without too much heavy worldbuilding, and anyone who's in the mood for a really good queer love story.

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