BLURB: June Bana might post nearly daily makeup looks that gain thousands of likes but Real Life June has built a wall behind which she exists with her two cats.
But with messy feelings getting in a way of an early hermit life, June begins to realize that she wants more. She wants model/actress, Sunshine Reincarnated Selena Clarke. It doesn’t hurt that Selena is amazing with cats and quiets down June’s anxiety to bearable levels.
June is given the choice of facing her anxieties about relationships to gain not only a girlfriend but also a better understanding of how far she’d go for love.
But would she take it? Would she leave her comfort zone for something softer?
Contemporary fluffy piece where one homebody and one extrovert make one hell of a love story.
Content warning for a discussion of a passed-away parent in chapter 2, a depiction of a panic attack in chapter 8, mention of anti-ace language used against LI in the past, and usage of gendered slur “bitch” not in a menacing manner.
AMAZON // GUMROAD
~REVIEW~
She gave it a little twirl and Selena put a hand to her heart. “You’re going to end me. You look so good.” “Thank you.” June felt good too.
This book is so aptly named because it really was the cutest and softest book ever right from the beginning! The mutual pining, my word *clutches chest*
Honestly, the fat girls in love book we need and deserve! Both MCs are fat queer girls of colour! (middle eastern pansexual MC + black demisexual LI to be exact!) From the moment Em started talking about this book I was intrigued and so glad to finally start it.
This book delivers on all the squishy, adorable moments that make your heart soar. I’m not even exaggerating here. Little moments like when June’s doing Selena’s makeup or when June came to Selena’s get together and they have some alone time before Selena’s friends arrive and when they went out on that first date!
This book is so full of feel good moments, and it’s low on angst. So fluffyyyy. It’s really two fat girls getting to know each other, navigating their respective crushes on each other, dating and seeing them fall for each other ^_^ There are a lot of quiet moments between the two and it really added to the sweetness of the book.
And their text exchanges are adorable. Every single one of them made me smile.
At no time was any aspect of the plot about losing weight. Selena does mention how nice it was to be able to borrow June’s clothes. This line really stuck with me:
“No, no. I’m just—it’s nice. To be able to borrow someone’s clothes without worrying about the fit.” She thumbed the t-shirt almost lovingly.
And June does showcase a bit of self-consciousness but their weight is never portrayed in a negative way and really as we get June’s POV for all the chapters, except Prologue and Epilogue which belong to Selena, seeing Selena through June’s eyes was just lovely.
We also do get to see June dealing with her anxiety. Aspects of which were so relatable to me. Let me tell you meeting anyone’s friends and going to a party where you only know one person can be really nerve wrecking but I loved how Selena’s friends just embraced June. Also when they agree to be girlfriends and Selena asks if she can go public about it. June admits it’s something she’s anxious about and Selena didn’t press the issue.
The love and care that went into writing this entire book is so very clear to me.
She felt like she could hold Selena’s hand and never worry about her own fingers being too chubby. It felt weird; dating someone who understood her anxieties and insecurities. She had no idea it would be so comforting. Being comfortable with someone wasn’t a concept June had known existed for her. It felt good. So good. To be needed as much as she needed Selena.
Also, June and Selena don’t exist in a vacuum. We get secondary characters who are queer and people of colour too! June’s bestie, Shelby, uses they/them pronouns and I want them to get a book! 🙂 Also June’s mom is bi! More queer parents in books please!
And the cats! June’s cats, Lemon and Mint get some page time too and I loved how they felt like characters in their own right.
And Annnnnd the Epilogue was so perfect and sweet. Having it be in Selena’s POV was awesome and omg the final closing sentence. *squeals*
Also, keep going after The End cuz there’s a bonus scene with June and Selena 🙂
If you want a fluffy, feel good romance book with two fat girls of colour then heyyyyyyy this is just for you!
~RATING~
