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Love at Knockdown #1
Get It Right
A butch lesbian parolee. The pretty pansexual nurse who got away. Is this their second chance at a happily ever after?
Finn is finally out of prison, which is great. Having no job, no car, and no place to sleep except her cousin’s couch? Not so great. Plus, her felony theft conviction isn’t doing wonders for her employment prospects, so she can’t afford her migraine meds without the public clinic.
The last thing she ever expected was for the gal who stole her heart to come walking down that clinic’s hallway: Vivi, the manicure-loving nurse who spent two years fighting the prison system to get proper medical care for her patients, including Finn.
Finn could never believe she imagined the attraction and affection between them. But acting on that in prison, especially as nurse and patient, had been a serious No Way. She’s had eight months to get over Vivi, who abruptly left her job without saying goodbye. Finn is over it. Honest! It’s totally and completely fine.
Except Vivi, here and now, doesn’t seem fine. And Finn couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t try to help.
Is fate offering Finn a second chance? Or is finding love as likely as finding a job with health insurance?
GET IT RIGHT is a high-heat butch-femme sapphic romance novella with a guaranteed HEA.
Content warnings are available in the book's front matter and on the author's website.
Cover Artist: Laya Rose
Finn is finally out of prison, which is great. Having no job, no car, and no place to sleep except her cousin’s couch? Not so great. Plus, her felony theft conviction isn’t doing wonders for her employment prospects, so she can’t afford her migraine meds without the public clinic.
The last thing she ever expected was for the gal who stole her heart to come walking down that clinic’s hallway: Vivi, the manicure-loving nurse who spent two years fighting the prison system to get proper medical care for her patients, including Finn.
Finn could never believe she imagined the attraction and affection between them. But acting on that in prison, especially as nurse and patient, had been a serious No Way. She’s had eight months to get over Vivi, who abruptly left her job without saying goodbye. Finn is over it. Honest! It’s totally and completely fine.
Except Vivi, here and now, doesn’t seem fine. And Finn couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t try to help.
Is fate offering Finn a second chance? Or is finding love as likely as finding a job with health insurance?
GET IT RIGHT is a high-heat butch-femme sapphic romance novella with a guaranteed HEA.
Content warnings are available in the book's front matter and on the author's website.
Cover Artist: Laya Rose
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2020
76 people are currently reading
2777 people want to read
About the author
Skye Kilaen
18 books372 followersSkye Kilaen is a bi author who writes contemporary & science fiction romance that is sometimes polyamorous, focusing on sapphic stories, queer M+F, and bi and pan main characters.
She also sends out a monthly newsletter highlighting new & recent self-published and small press queer romances that look particularly promising but might fly under the radar. Sign up on her website, your TBR will thank you!
Skye currently lives in Austin, Texas because it has so many libraries and breakfast tacos.
She also sends out a monthly newsletter highlighting new & recent self-published and small press queer romances that look particularly promising but might fly under the radar. Sign up on her website, your TBR will thank you!
Skye currently lives in Austin, Texas because it has so many libraries and breakfast tacos.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
November 20, 2020
This was a super cute, romance novella. After reading Kilaen’s great WLW fantasy novella Glorious Day, I could not wait to get my hands on her next release. Since this WLW modern romance was a completely different genre than her last, I was really interested to see if this story would also work for me. I’m happy to say that yes, I really enjoyed this sweet novella.
I’m not sure what it is about ex-con storylines, maybe I like a good redemption arc I don’t know, well whatever the reason they just always seem to work for me. It always adds an interesting twist to a potential romance and this story was no exception. I also really liked that Kilaen gave these characters a history. We get to read part of it ourselves, but we know there is plenty more we didn’t see. The reason I really liked this, is that it made the romance more believable for me. This is a novella and there is not a ton of time to develop a romance from day one. If characters have a built in history, quickness doesn’t resemble insta-love but instead it feels more like a believable romance. I like when authors make smart choices for a novella story.
I found both characters to be very likeable and I liked how diverse, from body type to a wide range of LGBTQ+ characters, this novella was. This is the first story that takes place in this city, with other characters getting a chance to star in the following books. I also liked that this was a feel good romance. It’s very low on angst, but still with some conflict to drive the story, plus a bit of a holiday feel too.
I would easily recommend this novella to people looking for cute, low angst, feel good reads. With the light holiday vibe it’s the perfect time of year to read this novella. This is only the second story that Kilaen has written but both have been really good. I think she is an author to watch.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
I’m not sure what it is about ex-con storylines, maybe I like a good redemption arc I don’t know, well whatever the reason they just always seem to work for me. It always adds an interesting twist to a potential romance and this story was no exception. I also really liked that Kilaen gave these characters a history. We get to read part of it ourselves, but we know there is plenty more we didn’t see. The reason I really liked this, is that it made the romance more believable for me. This is a novella and there is not a ton of time to develop a romance from day one. If characters have a built in history, quickness doesn’t resemble insta-love but instead it feels more like a believable romance. I like when authors make smart choices for a novella story.
I found both characters to be very likeable and I liked how diverse, from body type to a wide range of LGBTQ+ characters, this novella was. This is the first story that takes place in this city, with other characters getting a chance to star in the following books. I also liked that this was a feel good romance. It’s very low on angst, but still with some conflict to drive the story, plus a bit of a holiday feel too.
I would easily recommend this novella to people looking for cute, low angst, feel good reads. With the light holiday vibe it’s the perfect time of year to read this novella. This is only the second story that Kilaen has written but both have been really good. I think she is an author to watch.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
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January 17, 2021Release Day! My contemporary F/F romance novella is out today, yay! Finn's a butch lesbian. Vivi's a pan gal who loves nail polish. They fell in love but couldn't act on it, and now they have a second chance.
Thanks so much to ARC readers who have reviewed it. Your time is precious and I am grateful you chose to spend some of it on my story.
Detailed content warnings are available if you need them, head over to my author site: https://skyewritesromance.com/books/g...
Thanks so much to ARC readers who have reviewed it. Your time is precious and I am grateful you chose to spend some of it on my story.
Detailed content warnings are available if you need them, head over to my author site: https://skyewritesromance.com/books/g...
December 29, 2021
What, me finally reading something despite the reading slump of the century?!
This was adorable. We forever support shy, nervous butch girls in this house.
This was adorable. We forever support shy, nervous butch girls in this house.
October 20, 2020
I think I have to start by saying how much I enjoyed reading a story with real diverse characters. One of the mains is a butch lesbian, the other is pan, secondary characters are bisexual, straight, whatever. None of it feels forced, it’s all normal. Which doesn’t mean they aren’t confronted to homophobia and such, but the characters themselves fit very organically in the story. And that, in itself, is exciting.
That’s not all that’s exciting about this novella, however. Get It Right is a very sweet second-chance romance. Finn met Vivi in prison. Finn was doing time for felony theft and Vivi was the nurse making sure inmates were treated correctly. Because of that context, nothing could happen between them. Then Vivi disappeared from Finn’s life. A few months later, Finn gets out on parole, but without a job or income, has to rely on her cousin’s generosity and his stepsister’s couch. She doesn’t want to outstay her welcome but no way is she going back to her parents’. The last person she expects to meet at the clinic where she’s trying to get her migraine medication is Vivi. At first, Vivi doesn’t seem sure about rekindling their friendship (or is it more?) and Finn wants to respect her boundaries. Except Vivi really seems to need a friend (or more?).
Kilaen (whom you may know as a reviewer here on Goodreads) never romanticizes jail nor the difficulties faced by Finn once she gets out. Finn’s conviction is not minimized either and Finn doesn’t try to justify it. Her time in prison is part of who she is now, as much as the migraines she gets. That’s another thing I liked, the way chronic illness and its consequences on one’s daily life are acknowledged.
I loved Finn and Vivi, they’re both sweet in different ways. I even loved their difficulties to communicate, they make a lot of sense in their situation. I also liked the secondary characters a lot, from Hollis (Finn’s cousin) to Nora (Vivi’s sister) and her boyfriend Will. There’s a prequel about these two, and even though I don’t usually enjoy m/f romance, I really want to read it. I also missed Skye Kilaen’s debut, Glorious Day, last summer, so that’s another story to look forward to.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
That’s not all that’s exciting about this novella, however. Get It Right is a very sweet second-chance romance. Finn met Vivi in prison. Finn was doing time for felony theft and Vivi was the nurse making sure inmates were treated correctly. Because of that context, nothing could happen between them. Then Vivi disappeared from Finn’s life. A few months later, Finn gets out on parole, but without a job or income, has to rely on her cousin’s generosity and his stepsister’s couch. She doesn’t want to outstay her welcome but no way is she going back to her parents’. The last person she expects to meet at the clinic where she’s trying to get her migraine medication is Vivi. At first, Vivi doesn’t seem sure about rekindling their friendship (or is it more?) and Finn wants to respect her boundaries. Except Vivi really seems to need a friend (or more?).
Kilaen (whom you may know as a reviewer here on Goodreads) never romanticizes jail nor the difficulties faced by Finn once she gets out. Finn’s conviction is not minimized either and Finn doesn’t try to justify it. Her time in prison is part of who she is now, as much as the migraines she gets. That’s another thing I liked, the way chronic illness and its consequences on one’s daily life are acknowledged.
I loved Finn and Vivi, they’re both sweet in different ways. I even loved their difficulties to communicate, they make a lot of sense in their situation. I also liked the secondary characters a lot, from Hollis (Finn’s cousin) to Nora (Vivi’s sister) and her boyfriend Will. There’s a prequel about these two, and even though I don’t usually enjoy m/f romance, I really want to read it. I also missed Skye Kilaen’s debut, Glorious Day, last summer, so that’s another story to look forward to.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 9, 2020
A super sweet romance. This was a quick but cute read about Finn, the butch ex-con, and Vivi, the pan girl that loves pink and glitter make-up. There is a lot of diversity in this book which all felt very natural and at the beginning of the book is a list with trigger warnings for those who prefer that.
For two years Finn and Vivi worked together as staff and inmate in the prison infirmary, not allowed to show any affection (to Finns great frustration). Finn does not expect to ever see Vivi again after she is released from prison, but the unexpected happens. She runs into Vivi at the local clinic where Vivi now works, but it seems that now perhaps Vivi needs some help.
Obviously, the romance is the star of this novella, but it also shows the difficulty of reentering society after having been in prison in a very careful manner. The daily struggles and the hopeless situations that people can get into because of the system in place. Especially for those who don’t have a safety net of people that can or will help you. Besides her prison history, Finn also deals with chronic migraines, making things even more complicated. That being said this book is not depressing to read, in fact I felt hopeful and was rooting for Finn to get her life on track (with Vivi of course).
The romance between Finn and Vivi was sweet, but a bit quick once they actually get together. They knew each other for quite some time of course, but due to all the restrictions in prison I wondered how well they really knew each other (they didn’t even know the feelings one had towards the other). So, I would have liked them to get to know each other a bit better before the I love you’s came. However, their circumstances are pretty special, so I didn’t mind too much. I could for sure read more about them :-)
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
For two years Finn and Vivi worked together as staff and inmate in the prison infirmary, not allowed to show any affection (to Finns great frustration). Finn does not expect to ever see Vivi again after she is released from prison, but the unexpected happens. She runs into Vivi at the local clinic where Vivi now works, but it seems that now perhaps Vivi needs some help.
Obviously, the romance is the star of this novella, but it also shows the difficulty of reentering society after having been in prison in a very careful manner. The daily struggles and the hopeless situations that people can get into because of the system in place. Especially for those who don’t have a safety net of people that can or will help you. Besides her prison history, Finn also deals with chronic migraines, making things even more complicated. That being said this book is not depressing to read, in fact I felt hopeful and was rooting for Finn to get her life on track (with Vivi of course).
The romance between Finn and Vivi was sweet, but a bit quick once they actually get together. They knew each other for quite some time of course, but due to all the restrictions in prison I wondered how well they really knew each other (they didn’t even know the feelings one had towards the other). So, I would have liked them to get to know each other a bit better before the I love you’s came. However, their circumstances are pretty special, so I didn’t mind too much. I could for sure read more about them :-)
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
April 5, 2023
it felt rushed and fell flat, should’ve DNF
November 1, 2020
4.5/5 Stars
As I’ve already mentioned, I already love Skye Kilaen’s writing, no matter the genre – I’ve equally loved her fantasy/sci-fi bodyguard/princess novella and her fluffy and funny contemporary prequel to this book, Knock Me Down, so of course I was highly anticipating her first contemporary sapphic romance, and I was not let down! This short but sweet novella follows Vivi, a fat, pansexual nurse, and Finn, a butch lesbian who is just out of prison and is trying her hardest to secure a job. The two quickly became close friends when Vivi was working in the prison Finn was being held in, but after she suddenly disappears from Finn’s life, Finn loses all hope of seeing her again. That is, until Finn, newly out on parole, is getting her migraine medication and unexpectedly bumps into Vivi at the clinic. But will sparks fly once again?
Skye Kilaen’s writing always feels like a warm hug from a friend. It feels safe and comfortable and I felt right at home as I dived into this story. Kilaen’s writing is very simple and straight to the point, which worked so well for the oftentimes difficult topics brought up in this book, such as abortion, the prison system and financial insecurity, but always has you rooting for the characters and really feeling for them through their bad times, as well as their good. This book was heartbreaking, funny and sometimes hit so close to home (hello endless job hunting!) yet never felt like the author was trying to go down too many alleys all at once.
Perhaps my favourite part of the book was the characters. Vivi is a fat, pansexual nurse, and is so, so fiercely proud of being all three of those things. As soon as I saw the cover for this book I squealed out loud, as, sadly, it’s not often you get to see fat women on the covers of sapphic romance novels, and I think Skye managed to capture her so brilliantly and so sensitively throughout. Without spoiling anything, Vivi is going through a rather tough time in her life, with some big decisions needing to be made, and she’s always thinking of others opinions and thoughts throughout. She’s a big softie but will also never hesitate to immediately shut down your bigoted and outdated ideas. Throughout the novella, Finn is trying her best to gain some financial stability and freedom after her stint in prison for stealing. Finn is your classic, oblivious lesbian that I’m sure so many of us can relate to (including myself – I didn’t think my girlfriend liked me even when she explicitly asked me out on a date!), and I loved the butch rep! She’s trying her hardest throughout the book to not have to rely on people anymore and I really saw myself in her. The side characters were also great! Of course I was soo happy to see Nora and Will again (you can meet them in Knock Me Down which is out Nov. 1!) and throughout the book I had my fingers crossed that the next book would be following Vivi’s other sister, Allie, and I’m so happy to see that it will be! I also hope we get to see more of Oliver (poor pining baby!) and Dr Choi too!
As I mentioned, the book does deal with some difficult topics, like abortion, the prison system and financial instability, and it did so very respectfully and sensitively. Despite that, I think the one tiny flaw I could find in this novella is that I would’ve liked a tad more plot. We follow Finn trying to find a job again after prison and Vivi and her storyline (I’m trying to not give any spoilers!) and about the two of them coming back together again, but I wanted a little more (although I do love to see a guaranteed HEA).
Overall, I really loved this latest novella from Skye Kilaen and I’m so excited for the sequel and her future works (did someone say a bisexual romance?)! I highly, highly recommend you pick this one up when it’s released on December 1!
Thanks to the author for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review!
As I’ve already mentioned, I already love Skye Kilaen’s writing, no matter the genre – I’ve equally loved her fantasy/sci-fi bodyguard/princess novella and her fluffy and funny contemporary prequel to this book, Knock Me Down, so of course I was highly anticipating her first contemporary sapphic romance, and I was not let down! This short but sweet novella follows Vivi, a fat, pansexual nurse, and Finn, a butch lesbian who is just out of prison and is trying her hardest to secure a job. The two quickly became close friends when Vivi was working in the prison Finn was being held in, but after she suddenly disappears from Finn’s life, Finn loses all hope of seeing her again. That is, until Finn, newly out on parole, is getting her migraine medication and unexpectedly bumps into Vivi at the clinic. But will sparks fly once again?
Skye Kilaen’s writing always feels like a warm hug from a friend. It feels safe and comfortable and I felt right at home as I dived into this story. Kilaen’s writing is very simple and straight to the point, which worked so well for the oftentimes difficult topics brought up in this book, such as abortion, the prison system and financial insecurity, but always has you rooting for the characters and really feeling for them through their bad times, as well as their good. This book was heartbreaking, funny and sometimes hit so close to home (hello endless job hunting!) yet never felt like the author was trying to go down too many alleys all at once.
Perhaps my favourite part of the book was the characters. Vivi is a fat, pansexual nurse, and is so, so fiercely proud of being all three of those things. As soon as I saw the cover for this book I squealed out loud, as, sadly, it’s not often you get to see fat women on the covers of sapphic romance novels, and I think Skye managed to capture her so brilliantly and so sensitively throughout. Without spoiling anything, Vivi is going through a rather tough time in her life, with some big decisions needing to be made, and she’s always thinking of others opinions and thoughts throughout. She’s a big softie but will also never hesitate to immediately shut down your bigoted and outdated ideas. Throughout the novella, Finn is trying her best to gain some financial stability and freedom after her stint in prison for stealing. Finn is your classic, oblivious lesbian that I’m sure so many of us can relate to (including myself – I didn’t think my girlfriend liked me even when she explicitly asked me out on a date!), and I loved the butch rep! She’s trying her hardest throughout the book to not have to rely on people anymore and I really saw myself in her. The side characters were also great! Of course I was soo happy to see Nora and Will again (you can meet them in Knock Me Down which is out Nov. 1!) and throughout the book I had my fingers crossed that the next book would be following Vivi’s other sister, Allie, and I’m so happy to see that it will be! I also hope we get to see more of Oliver (poor pining baby!) and Dr Choi too!
As I mentioned, the book does deal with some difficult topics, like abortion, the prison system and financial instability, and it did so very respectfully and sensitively. Despite that, I think the one tiny flaw I could find in this novella is that I would’ve liked a tad more plot. We follow Finn trying to find a job again after prison and Vivi and her storyline (I’m trying to not give any spoilers!) and about the two of them coming back together again, but I wanted a little more (although I do love to see a guaranteed HEA).
Overall, I really loved this latest novella from Skye Kilaen and I’m so excited for the sequel and her future works (did someone say a bisexual romance?)! I highly, highly recommend you pick this one up when it’s released on December 1!
Thanks to the author for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review!
November 14, 2020
Love it!
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing that drew me to the book was the blurb. It was different from the other f/f romances I've read and indeed I found this book refreshing. First is the fact that the main characters met in prison and while real-life romances and crushes are not uncommon in prison, I have not read one in the f/f romance section yet.
Second, the book start off right smack into what would have been the middle part of most romance books - Both main characters already have some unspoken feelings for each other. Pros and cons. It might have been nice to see Finn and Vivi met and built a friendship. On the other hand, I sometimes find myself impatient with some authors who take their time with relationship buildup. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that I didn't have to read half the book just to get to the parts that make my heart twinge (in a nice way).
As Finn is the primary main character, I find myself understanding her a whole lot more than I did Vivi. Finn is a good kid who made a mistake but did her time for it. Her struggles post-prison are real. The stigma is real. That's why recidivism rate is high everywhere in the world because people just give up and end up back in prison just to survive.
Vivi is like the perfect girl - a guardian angel to Finn in prison and so very sweet. And it is comforting how Finn's criminal past didn't matter to her at all.
Finally, I love how the author approached a sensitive topic like abortion and how Finn gave no opinion, no pressure and no undue influence to Vivi and instead chose to stand by her no matter what.
Beyond being a sweet romance story, I think this book can bring just a little bit of hope to people seeking second chances in life.
I love it and I'm giving it a five stars.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing that drew me to the book was the blurb. It was different from the other f/f romances I've read and indeed I found this book refreshing. First is the fact that the main characters met in prison and while real-life romances and crushes are not uncommon in prison, I have not read one in the f/f romance section yet.
Second, the book start off right smack into what would have been the middle part of most romance books - Both main characters already have some unspoken feelings for each other. Pros and cons. It might have been nice to see Finn and Vivi met and built a friendship. On the other hand, I sometimes find myself impatient with some authors who take their time with relationship buildup. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that I didn't have to read half the book just to get to the parts that make my heart twinge (in a nice way).
As Finn is the primary main character, I find myself understanding her a whole lot more than I did Vivi. Finn is a good kid who made a mistake but did her time for it. Her struggles post-prison are real. The stigma is real. That's why recidivism rate is high everywhere in the world because people just give up and end up back in prison just to survive.
Vivi is like the perfect girl - a guardian angel to Finn in prison and so very sweet. And it is comforting how Finn's criminal past didn't matter to her at all.
Finally, I love how the author approached a sensitive topic like abortion and how Finn gave no opinion, no pressure and no undue influence to Vivi and instead chose to stand by her no matter what.
Beyond being a sweet romance story, I think this book can bring just a little bit of hope to people seeking second chances in life.
I love it and I'm giving it a five stars.
September 20, 2023
This was a pleasant surprise for me. I’m always a little weary of new-to-me authors but this really worked out. Lots of good rep. This is a novella but Kilaen packed it with emotions in this sweet romance.
November 1, 2021
uhhhhh
this would've been so so so much better if this was a full length novel. the fact that they fell in love off page and we didn't see it kinda killed this book for me.
this would've been so so so much better if this was a full length novel. the fact that they fell in love off page and we didn't see it kinda killed this book for me.
January 8, 2022
I liked it but...
This is my first read from the author and while I liked the story I felt it ended with the story not fully told. And while there is a second and third book, I think, in the series, the focus is no longer on Vivi and Finn.
This is my first read from the author and while I liked the story I felt it ended with the story not fully told. And while there is a second and third book, I think, in the series, the focus is no longer on Vivi and Finn.
October 13, 2020
Arc provided by the author in exchange of an honest review
This is a very cute and short contemporary story about a butch girl that just got out of prison and a nurse she had feelings for during her prison days. While the story had a lot of cute moments and did a great job with a fat character and talking in broad terms about the Inhumanitys committed in prison, I felt like the romance lacked chemistry between the characters. I know it's a short story but when they confessed their feelings for each other, it felt too soon for me.
It was a story that made me smile and would recommend if you want something short and sweet.
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This is a very cute and short contemporary story about a butch girl that just got out of prison and a nurse she had feelings for during her prison days. While the story had a lot of cute moments and did a great job with a fat character and talking in broad terms about the Inhumanitys committed in prison, I felt like the romance lacked chemistry between the characters. I know it's a short story but when they confessed their feelings for each other, it felt too soon for me.
It was a story that made me smile and would recommend if you want something short and sweet.
YouTube
January 8, 2021
"girlfriend. a word she’d need to get used to again. well worth it."
hella cute second chance romance story
hella cute second chance romance story
December 6, 2020
Vivi and Finn are already in love with each other when they meet up again. That means the romance is about them figuring out that the strong feelings they already have are entirely mutual, rather than watching feelings develop on one or both sides. This worked well for me, because Get It Right is a novella, so it only has so much space to convince me of their HEA.
Full review (TLR): https://www.thelesbianreview.com/get-...
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Full review (TLR): https://www.thelesbianreview.com/get-...
Full review (SBTB): https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...
August 1, 2020
I received an early copy from the author. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is such a cute, sweet contemporary f/f romance and I highly recommend picking it up when it comes out! Skye does a phenomenal job at sweet and romantic while also having enough tension to keep the story moving. I really enjoyed this and hope many more will as well!!
This is such a cute, sweet contemporary f/f romance and I highly recommend picking it up when it comes out! Skye does a phenomenal job at sweet and romantic while also having enough tension to keep the story moving. I really enjoyed this and hope many more will as well!!
November 1, 2020
Thank you to Skye Kilaen for the ARC!
Wow, I loved this book. It was basically the perfect romance novella. I loved Finn and Vivi so much...especially Finn! Yes, I would have loved to have had more, but the story was not lacking at all and was so dang complete. Kilaen puts so much content and so many feelings into 130 pages. I cannot wait to read more of Kilaen’s stuff — I’ll be reading Glorious Day sometime soon!
Wow, I loved this book. It was basically the perfect romance novella. I loved Finn and Vivi so much...especially Finn! Yes, I would have loved to have had more, but the story was not lacking at all and was so dang complete. Kilaen puts so much content and so many feelings into 130 pages. I cannot wait to read more of Kilaen’s stuff — I’ll be reading Glorious Day sometime soon!
January 14, 2021
I love how Vivi is always really to fight for those who are in need. Finn may have a lot of things working against her but she keeps trying and knowing she has Vivi on her side makes it worth staying positive. This seems like a really great group of characters and I look forward to reading more of their stories.
January 22, 2021
Finn hadn’t known she liked pink so much until Vivi showed up in her life.
This was so cute! The kind of novella where the characters already have history and a deep connection, so it makes telling their story in a short amount of time feasible and believable. And I really liked the premise, with Finn being an ex-con, and the friendship that they'd cultivated during prison being the foundation for their relationship. I loved the chronic illness rep and the commentary on health care and the prison system. I usually don't love when pregnancy and related topics come up in romance (of any kind) but it's inclusion here didn't bug me at all, and made for an interesting plot line. The romance itself was freaking adorable and made me smile a lot. We only get Finn's third person POV, but I didn't mind, as it was swoon city over here.
My biggest problem was that, given that we sort of got dropped into the the middle of their story, from the very beginning there were a million side characters and people being name-dropped that I had to remember, and in a book as short as this, that got old and a little confusing quick. And even for women who've known each other for more than two years, they moved pretty fast. This also did a bit of that 'white ppl making fun of themselves' thing that I honestly find irritating more than anything else (self-deprecation isn't activism!) but it wasn't a lot, thankfully.
A great first read from this author! I look forward to reading more. <3
February 22, 2023
So Sweet!
Finn and Vivi met when Finn was in prison. When Finn gets out and a migraine messes up her day the last person she expected to run into was Vivi. They agree to meet up but something’s not right, and Finn can’t help but wonder if she should explore this second chance she seems to have been given.
I loved this. Not only did it have fantastic representation with sexuality, body image, pasts, but it was an emotionally heart-warming story to remind that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and that just because someone has a past you shouldn’t discard them. Finn I really felt for and when I learnt her story my heart broke. It could be so easy for anyone to find themselves in that position. I admired how she owned her mistakes and just got on with things but also how she remained humble and had the same worries we all do about not being deserving of what she wanted.
Vivi had a lot going on and emotionally it became clear she was drained. Finn had a lot going on too and was feeling the same pressures and yet both of them were still kind and supportive of one another, not judging and just wanting to help. It was such a lovely sentiment and theme that ran throughout the story. Vivi and Finn just clicked, they had a lovely connection and I was rooting for them both whatever happened.
A great story that was realistic, heart-breaking but also heart-warming and really made me believe in the good of strangers and connecting with people because you just never know who you might meet. Really lovely and hopefully Finn and Vivi will pop up again in future stories.
Finn and Vivi met when Finn was in prison. When Finn gets out and a migraine messes up her day the last person she expected to run into was Vivi. They agree to meet up but something’s not right, and Finn can’t help but wonder if she should explore this second chance she seems to have been given.
I loved this. Not only did it have fantastic representation with sexuality, body image, pasts, but it was an emotionally heart-warming story to remind that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and that just because someone has a past you shouldn’t discard them. Finn I really felt for and when I learnt her story my heart broke. It could be so easy for anyone to find themselves in that position. I admired how she owned her mistakes and just got on with things but also how she remained humble and had the same worries we all do about not being deserving of what she wanted.
Vivi had a lot going on and emotionally it became clear she was drained. Finn had a lot going on too and was feeling the same pressures and yet both of them were still kind and supportive of one another, not judging and just wanting to help. It was such a lovely sentiment and theme that ran throughout the story. Vivi and Finn just clicked, they had a lovely connection and I was rooting for them both whatever happened.
A great story that was realistic, heart-breaking but also heart-warming and really made me believe in the good of strangers and connecting with people because you just never know who you might meet. Really lovely and hopefully Finn and Vivi will pop up again in future stories.
February 12, 2021
This story, or should I say writing style, took me a long time to warm to, which is partially why it took me so long to finish.
With that said, something kept me coming back to it, and by the 50% mark, I was more invested. I liked the diversity, but some comments gave me pause. Seriously, how is a butch less butch because she suffers from Migraines? Do Migraines discriminate? Not in my experience. I let it go the first time, but the second time a similar comment was made, I shook my head.
Similarly. I had trouble envisioning a cafe where employees introduce themselves by name followed by pronouns, but again, I appreciate what the author was trying to do.
Both leads are well fleshed out. There's some heat, which I always love, and as partial as I am to the C*&t word, it felt out of place when used during such sensual scenes.
Nitpicking aside, I'm sure many readers will enjoy this story.
With that said, something kept me coming back to it, and by the 50% mark, I was more invested. I liked the diversity, but some comments gave me pause. Seriously, how is a butch less butch because she suffers from Migraines? Do Migraines discriminate? Not in my experience. I let it go the first time, but the second time a similar comment was made, I shook my head.
Similarly. I had trouble envisioning a cafe where employees introduce themselves by name followed by pronouns, but again, I appreciate what the author was trying to do.
Both leads are well fleshed out. There's some heat, which I always love, and as partial as I am to the C*&t word, it felt out of place when used during such sensual scenes.
Nitpicking aside, I'm sure many readers will enjoy this story.
February 5, 2021
I liked this because it was a unique premise. I don't like flashbacks, but I would have liked to have had some from the time in prison. It could have helped me feel the chemistry I felt was missing for the most part. But I did enjoy the story. Challenges with what to do out of prison. How people might view you. Will anyone give you a chance?
November 29, 2020
4.5 stars. This is my first work by Kilaen and I really enjoyed it. The writing is fantastic and I enjoyed meeting all of the characters. I was sad when this one was over - for all the right reasons.
This is a friends/colleagues to lovers story with an added element of power dynamics due to them having previously known each in a prison environment, where Finn was an inmate and Vivi a nurse. There’s a prologue where we need them both in the prison infirmary but the main part of the narrative takes place once Finn is released. I like both of the MCs but I especially loved Finn.
Nearly all of the mentionable characters in the book are queer, in diverse ways and it was great to have a narrative about queer people living their lives - looking for work, running businesses, having relationships, normal family tensions etc. There are some queer related difficulties mentioned and some other difficulties such as trauma from an accident that are also encountered in the storyline, but none are used for drama, all just for expression of ordinary people doing ordinary things.
Judging by the teaser of the second book in the series about one of Vivi’s sisters, we’re going to get more from this world and I sincerely hope we’re going to get the next part of Finn and Vivi’s story. The ending of this is a good place to leave the story, especially if it was always intended to be a novella - but there’s so much more story to tell and I hope one day Kilaen wants to tell it.
I would happily recommend this to any queer romance lovers.
I received an e-ARC directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a friends/colleagues to lovers story with an added element of power dynamics due to them having previously known each in a prison environment, where Finn was an inmate and Vivi a nurse. There’s a prologue where we need them both in the prison infirmary but the main part of the narrative takes place once Finn is released. I like both of the MCs but I especially loved Finn.
Nearly all of the mentionable characters in the book are queer, in diverse ways and it was great to have a narrative about queer people living their lives - looking for work, running businesses, having relationships, normal family tensions etc. There are some queer related difficulties mentioned and some other difficulties such as trauma from an accident that are also encountered in the storyline, but none are used for drama, all just for expression of ordinary people doing ordinary things.
Judging by the teaser of the second book in the series about one of Vivi’s sisters, we’re going to get more from this world and I sincerely hope we’re going to get the next part of Finn and Vivi’s story. The ending of this is a good place to leave the story, especially if it was always intended to be a novella - but there’s so much more story to tell and I hope one day Kilaen wants to tell it.
I would happily recommend this to any queer romance lovers.
I received an e-ARC directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2023
#0.5 knock me down ★★★☆☆
#1 get it right ★★☆☆☆
really not my jam
content/trigger warnings; ableism, prison, delay of medical care, mentions of child abandonment, mentions of death of mother, chronic migraines, discussions of negative prison experiences, mentions of transphobia, difficulty accessing a prescription from a government-funded program, housing insecurity/homelessness, vomiting, queerphobia, mentions of queerphobic rejection by parents, pregnancy, recovery from injuries sustained in a car accident, discussions of abortion, sexual content,
rep; finn (mc) is a butch lesbian with chronic migraines. vivi (li) is pansexual. will (sc) is pansexual.
i don't really like anything about this, but considering there's nothing like, offensive about it, i went with two stars.
i just really didn't connect with the characters. and i didn't find the romance believable or care about it at all. probably because this is a novella about two characters reconnecting after having been friends and in love for two years. but we don't get anything other than a short prologue of one moment from those two years that doesn't show any sign that they're in love with each other. so when they meet up again and very quickly confess their love, it feels like insta love. it's like we were given the second half of their story without the first half.
the love interest is pregnant, and pretty much everything about the character is related to her decision about what to do. and i'm not interested in pregnancy stories whatsoever, they literally erase all interest i have in a story. so i was hoping it would become an abortion story, which are important and needed and underrepresented. but that wasn't the case. so, again, zero interest.
the main character makes a comment about being the "worst butch ever" because she had a migraine so bad she needed help walking.....not sure what that has to do with being butch but alright.
the pansexual love interest talked about how she came out to her family as bi because "to me personally it's close enough" which was disappointing. to me personally. it's just not what i look for in pan rep, because i don't see it as close enough.
i know queer gals love to laugh over their obliviousness, but i don't find it enjoyable or humorous to read about an adult consistently missing what another adult is telling them because they're so focused on their assumptions about what that adult wants.
#1 get it right ★★☆☆☆
really not my jam
content/trigger warnings; ableism, prison, delay of medical care, mentions of child abandonment, mentions of death of mother, chronic migraines, discussions of negative prison experiences, mentions of transphobia, difficulty accessing a prescription from a government-funded program, housing insecurity/homelessness, vomiting, queerphobia, mentions of queerphobic rejection by parents, pregnancy, recovery from injuries sustained in a car accident, discussions of abortion, sexual content,
rep; finn (mc) is a butch lesbian with chronic migraines. vivi (li) is pansexual. will (sc) is pansexual.
i don't really like anything about this, but considering there's nothing like, offensive about it, i went with two stars.
i just really didn't connect with the characters. and i didn't find the romance believable or care about it at all. probably because this is a novella about two characters reconnecting after having been friends and in love for two years. but we don't get anything other than a short prologue of one moment from those two years that doesn't show any sign that they're in love with each other. so when they meet up again and very quickly confess their love, it feels like insta love. it's like we were given the second half of their story without the first half.
the love interest is pregnant, and pretty much everything about the character is related to her decision about what to do. and i'm not interested in pregnancy stories whatsoever, they literally erase all interest i have in a story. so i was hoping it would become an abortion story, which are important and needed and underrepresented. but that wasn't the case. so, again, zero interest.
the main character makes a comment about being the "worst butch ever" because she had a migraine so bad she needed help walking.....not sure what that has to do with being butch but alright.
the pansexual love interest talked about how she came out to her family as bi because "to me personally it's close enough" which was disappointing. to me personally. it's just not what i look for in pan rep, because i don't see it as close enough.
i know queer gals love to laugh over their obliviousness, but i don't find it enjoyable or humorous to read about an adult consistently missing what another adult is telling them because they're so focused on their assumptions about what that adult wants.
Read
December 3, 2020DNF at 40%
I am not rating this book because I quit at 40% since it was not working for me. I went in expecting cute, fluffy story (yes, I am aware one of the MCs just left prison and is bound to be in a rough spot, but still) and what I read felt too heavy for me.
The book has detailed content warnings, including one for surprise pregnancy, but it's not indicated in any way in the blurb, and I was not prepared for it when I picked the book. It's a hard line for me and I just couldn't continue.
I don't want to discourage people from trying this book, I see lot of positive reviews, it just wasn't the right book for me presonally.
I am not rating this book because I quit at 40% since it was not working for me. I went in expecting cute, fluffy story (yes, I am aware one of the MCs just left prison and is bound to be in a rough spot, but still) and what I read felt too heavy for me.
The book has detailed content warnings, including one for surprise pregnancy, but it's not indicated in any way in the blurb, and I was not prepared for it when I picked the book. It's a hard line for me and I just couldn't continue.
I don't want to discourage people from trying this book, I see lot of positive reviews, it just wasn't the right book for me presonally.
July 16, 2025
i was considering giving this book three stars until like the last third of it. it’s so wattpad-y it makes me want die. i wanted a nice “break book” but i was unfortunately disappointed.
also how do have a surprise pregnancy in a LESBIAN ROMANCE??? did not enjoy that. (she kept the baby)
also how do have a surprise pregnancy in a LESBIAN ROMANCE??? did not enjoy that. (she kept the baby)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2022
this was wholesome and cute, and so diverse. a really quick novella, with a lot of representation and two main characters who were adorable.
personally, i didn't vibe with kilaen's writing style as much as others, but i can see why people like it.
i'm a bit of a sucker for ex-cons apparently.
a lot of the social commentary which was great to see and while it was a bit on the nose, they were important topics that added depth to the narrative, of which was spread quite thin.
will probably read the next one in the series.
personally, i didn't vibe with kilaen's writing style as much as others, but i can see why people like it.
i'm a bit of a sucker for ex-cons apparently.
a lot of the social commentary which was great to see and while it was a bit on the nose, they were important topics that added depth to the narrative, of which was spread quite thin.
will probably read the next one in the series.
January 3, 2023
i saw a girl talking about this book on tiktok and decided to read it. i had pretty low expectations since i barely knew anything about it and to say that this book exceeded them is an understatement. i absolutely loved it, it was reallyyy good. i loved finn and vivi’s relationship, i love how it made me feel so many different emotions. i laughed, i literally sobbed, i gay panicked… it was everything.
although once they got together things moved very very fast, i’m a HUGE fan of this one
although once they got together things moved very very fast, i’m a HUGE fan of this one
June 6, 2021
Pansexual lady rep! Set in Austin! A thorough content warnings list right at the front of the book! A super sweet second-chance romance between two women who feel real! I am in, obvs. This book also features a cast of side characters I really appreciated, as well as a look at some of the immense, unjust challenges faced by people released from prison with a felony on their record. I signed up for Kilaen's newsletter so I can read the prequel short story, and I look forward to the next book when it comes out.
December 6, 2020
Super diverse f/f/ read! It was nice, but didn't quite meet my expectations.
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