ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤwho gave you eyes like that? ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤsaid you could keep them ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤi don’t know how to actㅤㅤㅤㅤ
«charlie knows he loves him. he knows he would choose him if he could. but until now, he hasn’t really let himself consider what choosing dev would mean. a life together. a future. dev in his bed from now until forever. his brain can barely fathom it. he’s always been alone, has always been prepared to be alone, has no idea how you build your world around someone else or with someone else or what that even means. but he knows, in the back of his throat, in the pit of his stomach, in the consistent pumping of his heart that a life with dev would be a glittering something.» ㅤㅤㅤㅤ
4. The Charm Offensive, Alice Cochrun — ★ 4/5 stars ★
Happy Pride! Today is also the one year anniversary of this blog! In honor of the occasion, I updated the web version, so it’s acceptable — or at the very least, tolerable — for those of you who use tumblr web. <3
We also reached 500+ followers this month! Welcome to those of you who are new. My asks are always open, so don’t hesitate to leave me an ask or comment. <3
Keep reading for my unsolicited opinion on what I read this month.
Like the last months, I wasn’t able to use the “Keep reading” feature without it duplicating or outright deleting my reviews, so I apologize in advance for the lengthy post. <3
2. Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
Winter’s Orbit had galactic politics, mystery, and, of course, romance. It had all of my favorite tropes: queer arranged marriage, gruding allies to lovers, only one bed, and forced proximity. Kiem and Taam’s relationship was full of angst and misunderstanding, but contained surprising depth. Although the mystery was not as complex as their relationship, it provided the perfect backdrop for these grudging allies to fall in love.
3. The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
I picked up The Darkness Outside Us for the slow burn enemies to lovers romance — which it delivered! — but I stayed for the spectacular science-fiction thriller. The mystery of their existence forces Ambrose and Kodiak to depend on one another in a brilliant depiction of human fragility, vulnerability, and intimacy. The Darkness Outside Us argues for the need for vulnerability and intimacy (in whatever form it should take, whether it be platonic, romantic, and/or sexual) in order to prevent insanity. It also argues that we should accept the inevitability of death as we must die in order for future generations to live. Ultimately, it is not a romance, thriller, or mystery, but a poignant portrayal of life, death, and the depth of human connection.
4. The Charm Offensive by Alice Cochrun
The Charm Offensive portrayed love after heartbreak, vulnerability, and intimacy. Dev and Charlie’s relationship felt incredibly real, despite the fact that it was set against the backdrop of a heavily-faked reality TV show. I appreciated the sensitive depiction of depression, anxiety, and OCD. I also appreciated the demisexual representation. Altogether, it was a wonderfully wholesome read.
4. The Charm Offensive, Alice Cochrun — ★ 4/5 stars ★
Happy Pride! Today is also the one year anniversary of this blog! In honor of the occasion, I updated the web version, so it’s acceptable — or at the very least, tolerable — for those of you who use tumblr web. <3
We also reached 500+ followers this month! Welcome to those of you who are new. My asks are always open, so don’t hesitate to leave me an ask or comment. <3
Keep reading for my unsolicited opinion on what I read this month.
Like the last months, I wasn’t able to use the “Keep reading” feature without it duplicating or outright deleting my reviews, so I apologize in advance for the lengthy post. <3
2. Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
Winter’s Orbit had galactic politics, mystery, and, of course, romance. It had all of my favorite tropes: queer arranged marriage, gruding allies to lovers, only one bed, and forced proximity. Kiem and Taam’s relationship was full of angst and misunderstanding, but contained surprising depth. Although the mystery was not as complex as their relationship, it provided the perfect backdrop for these grudging allies to fall in love.
3. The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
I picked up The Darkness Outside Us for the slow burn enemies to lovers romance — which it delivered! — but I stayed for the spectacular science-fiction thriller. The mystery of their existence forces Ambrose and Kodiak to depend on one another in a brilliant depiction of human fragility, vulnerability, and intimacy. The Darkness Outside Us argues for the need for vulnerability and intimacy (in whatever form it should take, whether it be platonic, romantic, and/or sexual) in order to prevent insanity. It also argues that we should accept the inevitability of death as we must die in order for future generations to live. Ultimately, it is not a romance, thriller, or mystery, but a poignant portrayal of life, death, and the depth of human connection.
4. The Charm Offensive by Alice Cochrun
The Charm Offensive portrayed love after heartbreak, vulnerability, and intimacy. Dev and Charlie’s relationship felt incredibly real, despite the fact that it was set against the backdrop of a heavily-faked reality TV show. I appreciated the sensitive depiction of depression, anxiety, and OCD. I also appreciated the demisexual representation. Altogether, it was a wonderfully wholesome read.
Books I’ve Read In 2022 - The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star.
Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesn’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off.
As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.
April “Friends to Lovers” Crates are now shipping! What are you most excited about receiving in your April crate?
: Thank you @/wordsandworldsbooks for the photo!
[ID: A photo of our box being held up by a light-skinned hand. In the background is a blurry bookcase arranged in rainbow order. There is a rainbow border. On the top/bottom it says “April crates shipping now!”]
Our Charm Offensive book club is winding down, and it’s time for our chat with the author, Alison Cochrun!
We generally collect some questions ahead of time, and everyone is welcome to leave some even if you weren’t able to read along with everyone! Just comment with your questions for Alison and set your alarms for this Saturday, 4/16, at 3:00PM EST to join Alison and Landice live on Instagram! You’ll be able to ask questions in the chat live, too, if there is time, but it’s best to leave them here beforehand to be sure we get to them!
If you want to read with our May book club, where we’ll be reading Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, come and join our queer book discord!
[ID: The book cover overlaid on white rectangles with a rainbow border. At the top it has our rainbow and says: “Reading Rainbows April Book Club.” In the center it has the same information conveyed in the caption above.]
