Book Review: Hunter’s Hidden Camera by Anthony Auswat

Summary

Hunter seems to have it all: brains, biceps, and a bright future beyond the halls of his oppressive high school. He also has a private obsession that he knows is wrong: secretly recording his older brother, Nash, with a spy cam. It starts as a thrill and morphs into a power trip. But one day, the video footage reveals something so disturbing that it cracks Hunter’s life straight down the middle.

Now he’s trapped in a nightmare where desire leaves fingerprints, loyalty pulls triggers, and the brother he thought he knew might be the most dangerous person in the room. To survive what he’s uncovered, Hunter turns to his best friend, Oscar, who may also be the man Hunter never knew he needed.

When the family you’re born into puts you at risk, the family you choose may be the only thing that keeps you alive.

Hunter’s Hidden Camera is an emotionally charged LGBTQ coming-of-age psychological thriller about hunger, shame, and the brutal cost of exposure.

Review

Very rarely am I am able to read a book in one sitting, not because I don’t want to, but time constraints usually apply. This book was different. I was able to enjoy it from start to finish uninterrupted and I am so glad I did.

What got me most about this novel was not just the thrill ride, but the raw intensity of a main character struggling with his inner demons as well as the situation he finds himself in. He is flawed, yet likeable and certainly redeemable.

As he deals with the terrifying consequences of his actions, Hunter finally faces parts of himself that he tried to keep buried, as well as realising that sometimes the best family is the one you choose for yourself.

If you enjoy fast-paced, darker thrillers with a dash of gay romance thrown in, you will love Hunter’s Hidden Camera as much as I did!

Book Review: Friend Ship by Rebecca James

When Mee Noi agrees to help best friend Sud by appearing with him in his video exam, he would never have thought that they would land roles in a BL series.

Gradually the lines between acting as lovers on-screen and how they feel about each other off-screen begin to blur. Mee Noi and Sud both struggle with these developing feelings and how it might change their friendship if they act upon them.

This book is book 4 in the Boys’ Love series but can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed reading Mee Noi and Sud’s story and recommend you checking it out!

Book Review: Baby Love by Rebecca James

This is Book 3 in the Boys’ Love series, this time featuring Park and Spin who had minor roles in books 1 and 2.

I enjoyed reading how their professional relationship turned to romance. The path was not easy as both had their own personal challenges to face a long the way. The characters were well-developed as were their backstories and family difficulties. This paved the way for a believable relationship to evolve between them.

This is a great addition to the series and I recommend checking it out!

Book Review: Divine Judgment by Mell Eight

When convicted criminal, Ves, is sent to the God of Judgment he expects no positive outcome despite being innocent of the crime he was found guilty of. Yet, Rais offers him another chance as the Head Priest of his temple. Ves accepts this position and with Rais’s help he begins to adapt to life outside of prison.

I really enjoyed this novel. Whilst a little shorter, it has great world building and depth of character as well as a tender and sweet romance, which takes its time to develop into something very meaningful.

Book Review: In Love by Rebecca James

In Love is the continuation and conclusion to Boys’ Love. I enjoyed reading the first novel and was happy that there was a sequel.

In Love follows Rama and Pravat as they try to navigate their new relationship, as well as keep it a secret and separate from their working lives. What I enjoyed most was the dynamic between the two characters and how supportive they are of each other. Both have different challenges to overcome and they do so together, with the help of a varied supporting cast.

I recommend checking this series out if you haven’t already done so!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa

I’m always a bit hesitant to read books featuring cats as I am a huge cat lover and if something happens to the cat it makes me so sad. Apologies, if this counts as a spoiler but the cat is perfectly safe in this novel!

The Cat Who Saved Books is a cosy and heart-warming story of high-schooler Rintaro who is left alone when his Grandfather dies. His Grandfather was the proprietor of a small second hand bookstore. When we meet Rintaro he is preparing to close the store and move in with his Aunt. Then he meets a talking Tabby cat with a peculiar request; that Rintaro  helps him to save books. Together they embark on a journey, however, as the novel progresses Rintaro begins to realise that the books aren’t all that need saving.

The Cat Who Saved Books is a wonderful tale with wisdom between each page. It is a great feel good read, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Book Review: Boys’ Love by Rebecca James

Boys’ Love is the first novel in the Boys’ Love series. It focuses on the professional and personal relationship between new BL actor Rama and his on-screen partner Pravat.

Rama is new to acting and is finding himself under pressure to take an internship at his father’s company. He is standoffish and stoic but immediately has chemistry (both on screen and off) with Pravat.

Pravat faced a lot of backlash for being gay in an industry that prefers their male leads straight, so he finds himself conflicted when he begins developing feelings for Rama.

This is a short, slow-burn novel, which takes its time to get the readers acquainted with both the characters and the BL industry. I really liked the pacing and how you experienced the story from different characters POVs. I am looking forward to reading book 2 in the series.

Book Review: A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

This book was incredibly hard to put down once I had started reading it. The world is dark and gritty, filled with fragile alliances, betrayals around every corner, and vampires! Each character has been wonderfully crafted to suit the setting and the circumstances in which they find themselves. Everyone had an agenda, and who to trust is a constant question.

A Tempest of Tea has everything you want from a great fantasy novel. It ends on a cliff-hanger and I cannot wait to read the concluding novel!

Book Review: The Children of Heaven by Reni Stankova

In this gripping conclusion to the Heaven Trilogy, the stakes could not be higher as the final battle for Heaven looms. Having found the help he was looking for, Dante now has to convince them to join him to save everything that he cares about. Raphael must overcome the sins of his ancestors to finally free the demons and put an end to the war.

I really enjoyed the final book in this trilogy. It kept me wanting to read more from the first page to the last. The end battle is action-packed, raw and emotional. The conclusion for the main characters is fitting and fully satisfying.  

I highly recommend this series. 

Book Review: A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon

This novel was not what I imagined it would be, but in a good way. The unnamed main character is at a desperate point in her life when a woman appears and tells her that she is destined to become a magical girl. Yet the reality is not like you see in manga or anime. The dangers come from unexpected sources and so do the powers.

I loved how unique the protagonist’s powers turned out to be, and also how she developed as a person because of it. The novel was a more realistic insight into the genre and the ending was, again, nothing like I thought it would be but again in a good way.