TJ Reads (and writes) July 2025

[tjs_whatnot]

Okay, before I drop some reviews, I thought I'd share that I actually wrote something-- or am in the process of writing somebody. I figured since I talked some of you into reading Green Creek with me, that maybe I can get you to read some Green Creek that I wrote/ am writing. ❤️🐺❤️🧙‍♀️❤️

Part One: Choose Me (4970 words) by tjs_whatnot
Chapters: 3/4
Fandom: Green Creek Series - T.J. Klune
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Mark Bennett/Gordo Livingstone
Characters: Mark Bennett, Gordo Livingstone
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Blow Jobs
Series: Part 1 of In the End, It All Comes Down to Choice
Summary:

It's about the choices you make, not the ones forced upon you.
--Ravensong

Fence Vol. 1-3 by C.S. Pacat ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

I'm not even sure how these wound up on my radar, but Hoopla gave me the suggestion and I thought, why not? Sort of a Prince of Tennis vibe so far, except more queer (though, I never finished PoT, so I don't know how much that statement is true.) I'm enjoying the comic book of it all, though it does eat up a lot of my allotted monthly checkouts. Still, I'm curious to see how it all plays out.

A Destiny of Dragons by TJ Klune ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This series is just so ridiculous and I spent as much time falling in love with the characters and feeling all their immense trials in my heart as I do cringing at the truly stunningly stupid conversations they have. It's like a very adult, very juvenile, slightly porny fairytale that I am determined to see to the finish. Two down, three to go (I think).

Unfit to Print by KJ Charles ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

* sigh * Every once in a while, I get to think that Cat Sebastian and KJ Charles are the same people. Thankfully they are two (or maybe one) of my favorite people. They just write such similar people in similar settings falling into (or back into in this case) similar love with each other. It's a delight that I hope I never tire of.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I used to read this series regularly, first to a girl I nannied for and then on my own when I discovered the audiobooks * sigh * Lynn Redgrave❤️ Brendan Fraser ❤️ I really thought they'd be the next Harry Potter and am still mystified that the Fandom is miniscule.

Anyway, I've just discovered that this trilogy now has a fourth book. So, I thought it was a good time for re-listen. I'm loving it almost as much as I always have. ❤️❤️

The Dandelion and the Thistle by Pip Dolyn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This is August's Trans Reading Bookclub pick (That link will take you to its Discord. You can also follow along on Buddy Reads on Storygraph if you'd like.

This was a delightfully healing real world romance book and I really enjoyed it. Both characters were super trauma informed and had past hurts they were dealing with and watching them be there for each other with an almost unrealistic level of compassion and understanding was a delight to read.

This book also had some of the most well explained and detailed spicy scenes I'd ever read in a book about trans characters. I, of course, don't * need * spice in my romances, but I appreciated that this author wasn't shying away from the acts as if they weren't important, or were too much… something.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

JFC. I don't know how this guy does this. Every single book he's written (The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad) makes you laugh, makes you fall in love with broken characters and then rips your heart out of your chest. And at the end you're smiling so achingly and thanking him for the journey. I'm awed!

This was billed as a Big Chill for our times, and it very much was that. (I also urge you to find that and watch it if you haven't). It was just such a testament to the importance of found family, and sustaining friendships through time and space. Also the importance of telling people how they are loved before it's too late.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I feel like I'm still processing this story, and I might continue processing it for a long time to come. I don't love it, but it did haunt me and made me want more, so that's something.

Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was written by the same author that wrote “Iris Kelly Doesn't Date” and that whole series of books, and this book takes place on the movieset of Iris’ queer romcom bestselling book, which was cute and made me glad that was the one book in that series I actually read.

I liked the book well enough-- and the sex was surprisingly scorching-- but it did this thing (and I think the Iris Kelly book did it too), where there is this secret that one-- or both--characters are keeping, that if they just talked, it would be resolved, and they try to talk about it, and then the other character stops them for some reason, and then gets mad later when it's revealed. UGH.

Thankfully, it didn't drag on too long and it was handled better than I was predicting, so that was good.

How to Have a Killer Time in D.C. by Sam Lumley ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Cute. I liked it, but it was a bit too darling for my tastes.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil V.E. Schwab ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Wow. I finally read a Tik-Toxy book before it gets too overhyped! Lol at me being hip and happening…ish. 🤣🤣

This is my first Schwab and I did really like it. Not enough to run out and read everything else they've ever written (unless someone gives me some solid recs 🤣) but still, good storytelling and had me spellbound and intrigued throughout.

Comments

[gingicat]

Oo, a Green Creek story! If it is as emotional as the books I will have to wait for the last chapter.

[tjs_whatnot]

Haha, it is emotional, but is like to think, more healing then achy. But the last chapter (of this part) will be posted soon. ❤️❤️

[profiterole_reads]

Fence is fun! <3

[tjs_whatnot]

It is! I have to figure out what order they're in after the first 3 volumes so I can continue. ❤️❤️

[nonesensed]

Your fics are absolutely on my to-read list, once I'm all caught up with Green Creek! There's a bit of a wait for book 3 at the library, but one day I will get there 😊

I should read more by C. S. Pacat, 'cause I really enjoyed their Captive Prince trilogy, dark as it was. I'm usually not into sports stories, but I might just give Fence a try!

Our Wives Under the Sea was exactly the kind of eerie, deep sea body horror story I was looking for back when I read it, so I really enjoyed it (it being a wIw story likely added to that enjoyment) - but it's definitely a book that leaves you thinking.

Inkheart isn't my personal cup of tea for various worldbuilding reasons, but I agree that it's surprising it didn't take off and get more of a fandom. Maybe there's a larger German fandom about?

[tjs_whatnot]

Your fics are absolutely on my to-read list, once I'm all caught up with Green Creek!

D'awwww! Thanks. And book 3 man, it's... a head trip and I love it! (I'm just finishing another re-listen now). Can't wait to hear your thoughts. ❤️

I definitely have to read some more Pacat. Fence might be a nice reprieve for you as it's not dark at all (at least not yet 🤣).

That's a really good description of Our Wives Under the Sea and I liked it for all those reasons, but IDK, I just wanted... more.

I'm curious about your opinions on Inkheart and if it is based on the first book or the whole series? The first one wasn't my favorite but by the end of Inkdeath, I was hooked... but that was decades ago. Curious to see how it has aged and if I've aged with it.

[nonesensed]

Looking forward to the experience of book 3!

I just realized I own Dark Rise by C. S. Pacat - and that I've been putting off reading it until I've read Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising series, which it's apparently a tribute to. So with that and Fence there's definitely more Pacat in my future 😊

The ending of OWUtS is rather "okay but then what?", so I can definitely see what you mean with "more". Especially more about whatever the surreal organization was that got the whole deep sea mission going!

I'm curious about your opinions on Inkheart and if it is based on the first book or the whole series? The first one wasn't my favorite but by the end of Inkdeath, I was hooked... but that was decades ago. Curious to see how it has aged and if I've aged with it.

I read book 1 and 2 in German from the start of 2023 to the start of 2024, so I have it in fairly recent memory still. I'll start by saying I don't think it's a bad book series, it just really wasn't for me. I enjoyed the parts with Dustfinger, but anything that had to do with Mo and Meggie ended up frustrating me. In book 1, they just keep getting captured and recaptured, and everything that could go wrong goes wrong. I think that's a deliberate choice on the author's part, so I'm not calling this out as a flaw or anything, it's just not my kind of entertainment.

But what really took me out of the series was book 2. Basically, the fact that Inkheart's world is a very clichéd "written by an old white dude"-fantasy world with purely evil people, ugliness = evilness, and sexism and slavery up to here, really took me out of the story. I get why Dustfinger wants to go back there 'cause it's his home - I still really enjoyed his parts of the story - but with Meggie & co just going through lesser and worse hells as they stay there, I really couldn't suspend my disbelief re: their actions and Meggie's supposed love for the book's story and world.

Maybe I missed something (my German isn't super great - reading these books were a chance to practice) or misunderstood how Meggie's magic works, but as I understand it, she has the option to go into any book she can read. And she's read a lot of books! So why oh why does she (and later her family) choose to basically go "You know that border town to Mordor? Let's go there right before Sauron's powers are at their height! That sounds like a great place to move to!" when the sky is the literal limit? How is Inkheart still the place that fascinates Meggie the most when it seems the most basic of basic clichéd fantasy stories? It's a place where women literally aren't allowed to learn to read! How is that not HELL for Meggie and her mother??? Is being a second class citizen living under a monarchy without access to indoor plumbing really worth the chance to spot a fairy or two? Especially when there are soooo many other fantasy books where you can have gender equality and magic!

Sorry for the rant 😅 No hate on the books, this is just my personal pet peeve. I never got to Inkdeath so I have no idea if that'd change my mind or not.