Bright Green Futures: 2024 by Susan Kaye Quinn, Editor

April 22, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Bright Green Futures: 2024 (Solarpunk Anthology) by Susan Kaye Quinn (Editor)
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

SHORT STORY COLLECTION
The Bright Green Futures: 2024 anthology is a collection of short solarpunk stories from guests of the Bright Green Futures podcast, where we lift up stories to build a better world. These hopeful climate-fiction stories include clicky space centipedes, sentient trees, a flooded future Rio de Janeiro and characters trying to find their place in a climate-impacted world. Each story imagines a way for us to survive the future, together.

Bright Green Futures: 2024 contains six short stories plus a bonus prose-poem.

The Doglady and the Rainstorm by Renan Bernardo
What Kind of Bat is This? by Sarena Ulibarri
Centipede Station by T. K. Rex
A Merger in Corn Country by Danielle Arostegui
Ancestors, Descendants by BrightFlame
The Park of the Beast by T. K. Rex
Coriander by Ana Sun
Good times are on the way.

Joseana was healing from a tragedy in “The Doglady and the Rainstorm.” I loved the world building in her tale and would have happily read something full-length about how this character navigated the extensive flooding in Rio and dealt with her painful memories of the past. Her love of dogs was another nice detail that added depth to the plot and gave her a good reason to face her fears when something unexpected happened.

“Centipede Station” showed what happened when Pebble and Moss woke up from cryosleep much later than they had intended to. The planet they had arrived at didn’t fit their expectations either due to the strange plants and animals they found living there. I enjoyed seeing their reactions to every plot twist as they once again had to adjust their expectations of what their lives would be like. There’s something to be said for characters who are willing to adjust to anything that comes their way, especially given how carefully they’d planned their journey before it began. Yes, I know I’m being a little vague here, but I want other readers to be just as delighted as I was once they figure out what’s going on.

Every homeland evolves over time. As Aster explored the country her great-grandmother left as a child in “Coriander,” I took note of the differences between how it had been a few generations ago versus how it was by the time the protagonist was able to visit. The nostalgia in this piece was strong, but I also liked seeing how the characters had adapted to climate change and the way it affected which types of food were still available for the average person. Science fiction doesn’t talk about food enough for my tastes, so I was quite happy to dive into the topic here.

Bright Green Futures: 2024 (Solarpunk Anthology) overflowed with hope for the future which is exactly what I needed to read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Wrath of the Never Queen by Storm Lomax

April 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Wrath of the Never Queen by Storm Lomax
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Historical, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Lilikoi

A doomed prince with a monstrous curse. A sadistic king with a dark history. And the witch who will be his reckoning.

Gifted witch Shivani has so far avoided the annual Summoning. In her village, women are sent to the King each year and given six months to win the Prince’s heart and break his beastly curse. Anyone who can do so will be named Queen.

No one has succeeded.

Deep in debt and with the promise of a handsome reward, Shivani’s father volunteers her for the Summoning. With her magic stripped, Shivani is taken to the castle and thrust into the deadly challenge against her will.

As she navigates the prince’s terrifying curse and the king’s sadistic whims, she discovers decades-old secrets that could mean her freedom. But leaving wouldn’t save the prince and it wouldn’t free the imprisoned servants. Or Shivani could stay – if she’s shrewd enough to decipher the curse before the executioner’s axe drops.

As in the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, the prince introduces Shivani—an avid reader like Belle– to his immense library. But in a unique twist of the familiar plot, the two main characters scour ancient manuscripts written in “witchtongue” and dragon language, searching for the elusive spell that will break the curse. With intriguing secondary characters and enthralling elements of fantasy, Wrath of the Never Queen is enjoyable and engaging.

I loved the paranormal aspect of this unique version of the beloved fairy tale: the telltale purple light and salty scent of witch magic, the discovery of ancient dragon lore and mystical enchantments, and the thrilling tension of ever-present danger as the story unfolds.

The main characters are compelling and likeable. With her noble, courageous heart, Shivani chooses to remain rather than flee when she finds a hidden passage leading out of the castle. Although she could escape and save her own life, she refuses to abandon the prince and the castle servants who have become her loyal friends. Prince Theo, despite his fearsome outward appearance as the beast, is tender, considerate, and caring. Aunt Meena, Vanya, and Inez enhance the complexity of the intriguing plot.

Despite the appealing elements of fantasy in this novel, there were many inconsistencies in the characters’ actions and language which were implausible and jarring, given the story’s antique medieval setting. Although the main characters engage in formal conversation, polite mannerisms, and eloquent forms of address reserved for royalty, Shivani uses modern obscenities which are culturally inappropriate and offensive within the context of such extremely proper etiquette. The budding romance between Shivani and the prince is depicted as innocent and chaste throughout the work, but one sexually explicit scene stands in stark contrast to the rest of the young adult novel.

With a bit more editing, this novel could really shine to its fullest. Also, rather than its abrupt conclusion with an appendix–the sapphic romance of the siren and the witch, a tale Shivani enjoyed hearing as a child—the ending would have been much more rewarding if that legend had been woven into the novel, explaining the ancient dragon culture associated with the castle and the iconic statue Shivani discovered in her quest to cure the curse.

In spite of its faults, Wrath of the Never Queen is an entertaining fantasy adaptation of the famed fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Behind the Red Wooden Door by Sofia Ulrikson

January 10, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Behind the Red Wooden Door by Sofia Ulrikson
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), LGBTQ, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Some doors, once opened, cannot be closed…

Following the departure of her only friend, Drew starts having strange dreams which feature a mysterious red, wooden door. Hesitant at first to explore this other world that feels as substantial as reality, she nonetheless finds herself drawn to the door upon witnessing a masked stranger with unconventional tendencies entering it alone.

Desperate to rectify her lonesome situation during her time awake, she endeavors to handle the weighty demands of her job and distant father. But when she meets Bonnie, an outgoing girl who reminds her of the best friend who left, Drew begins to wonder about the possibilities of second chances.

Still, the memory of her absent friend continues to haunt her, even in her sleep. As she works to unravel their mysteries, the effects of her dreams on her daily life become ever more apparent―for, as it seems, more than one hidden truth remains to be uncovered.

Once Drew has opened the door, things might not return to the way they used to be…

An emotional and fantastical exploration of mental health and healing, this beautifully written magical realism novel combines the cozy and heartfelt elements so beloved by readers of Lonely Castle in the Mirror and When the Coffee Gets Cold.

Change is possible, but it’s not always simple.

This was a sympathetic portrayal of how depression can sap a person’s energy and make even the smallest tasks feel all but impossible, and I was impressed by how accurate it was. Drew felt stuck in her stressful and low-paid retail position but couldn’t see how she could switch to something better anytime soon. When combined with other life difficulties, this made it hard for her to feel motivated or look for new opportunities. She was the sort of character I wanted to hug and give some genuine encouragement to.

With that being said, I struggled with the slow pacing and repetition. Drew noticed the red door multiple times before deciding if she wanted to open it to see what was inside, and even after that decision was made, she continued to put off making other choices that might have helped her in her journey to discover what that door meant and why it kept appearing in her nightmares. Yes, her depression went a long way in explaining why she behaved this way, but the pacing also made it difficult for me to remain highly interested in what might happen next because she continued agonizing over the same small decisions over and over again. This is something I’m saying as a reader who would have loved to give a higher rating and thought there was plenty of good in her story, too.

While I did see the ending coming in advance, it was still interesting to observe how Drew reacted to it once she figured out what was really going on. This wasn’t the sort of tale that needed a big plot twist in order to make everything work even though I continued to wish for more conflict and action at times. The quietness of it suited both Drew’s personality as well as what had happened earlier on in the storyline. She was the sort of person who would react well to gradually learning something that changed the way she thought about the world.

Behind the Red Wooden Door was thought provoking.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Safe Word Is PINEAPPLE! – Mayor to Manic – My Journey Through Crazy by Gerry Taft

November 4, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Safe Word Is PINEAPPLE! – Mayor to Manic – My Journey Through Crazy by Gerry Taft
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, LGBTQ, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A creepy club. A sketchy fast food restaurant. Ultra wealth and urban poverty. A weird night during a political conference in Vancouver turns author Gerry Taft’s life—and mind—inside out.

Believing he’s about to die, with visions of good and evil conspiring around him, Gerry writes a contract to extend his life. He navigates this sudden psychosis and paranoia by posting about it on social media in real time—and running down the street with his daughter. The Safe Word Is PINEAPPLE! is the true story of an epic meltdown with real world consequences and important lessons.

Part memoir, part social commentary, Gerry uses his lived experience as a framework to discuss—and offer solutions to—the many failings in our society. The Safe Word Is PINEAPPLE! is a call to embrace shared values, have honest conversations, increase personal power, and decrease the pull of polarization.

Everyone needs sympathy sometimes.

Translating what it feels like to have a mental illness to people who have not been through the same thing is difficult. The author went into great detail about his symptoms and how they affected his life which was exactly what I was hoping to see in this book. The more information the general public has about how frightening and lonely this experience can be, the better informed they will be about what’s going on with their loved ones under the same circumstances.

There were some aspects of this memoir that I wish had been better explained. For example, the author described certain people in life as suddenly changing their minds about things they had agreed to. I was never entirely sure how many of these things were misunderstandings versus people genuinely changing their minds or both participants in those conversations coming away with slightly different memories of what happened. Nobody’s memory is perfect, of course, but I would have understood these sections better if more time had been spent teasing out what was truly going on there.

One of the things I appreciated the most about this memoir was how honest Mr. Taft strove to be about what really happened during his mental health crisis in 2023. Sometimes his memory was fuzzy for completely understandable reasons that were probably related to his mental state at the time and certain medications he was taking, but he kept circling back to sharing as many facts about this chapter of his life as he could recall. This was something he did even in cases when it didn’t necessarily paint him in a positive light. His self-awareness and willingness to admit that he was sometimes not very sensitive to other people’s feelings were admirable. Admitting one’s faults isn’t easy, and neither is genuinely trying to fix them!

The Safe Word Is PINEAPPLE! was thought provoking.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Broken Voyage by Lindsey Kinsella

October 31, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Broken Voyage by Lindsey Kinsella
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, LGBTQ
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Stranded in the Arctic, the international crew of an illegal whaler find themselves in a race for survival. Can they survive the cold, the sea, and, most of all, each other?

Pushed to desperation in a bleak world ravaged by climate change, Lora M’Bandi flees her homeland to join a group of unlikely outcasts aboard the whaling ship Livyatan. When an explosion rips through the vessel, the crew become shipwrecked deep inside the Arctic Circle—sabotaged by one of their own. Now, they must trek across the treacherous sea ice to reach dry land before the ice retreats—all the while with a traitor in their midst and fearsome predators stalking their every move.

Who will make it out of this harrowing tale of horror and survival?

The threat of death lurks everywhere in the Arctic.

I enjoyed how much effort the author put into describing the characters’ backstories and explaining how they ended up illegally hunting whales on the Livyatan. This isn’t an occupation I’d generally sympathize with at all, but their reasons for breaking the law made sense once I got to know the characters better and understood how the powers that be let them down at critical moments in their lives. It was refreshing to understand their perspectives and why someone would agree to hunt such rare species.

It would have been helpful if more time was spent developing the mystery portion of the plot. The explosion that destroyed the Livyatan was such a crucial moment in the storyline that I was surprised by how little attention was given to figuring out why it happened. Yes, the characters needed to flee from the sinking ship and find a safe place to stay, but once they were out of the life raft they had plenty of time to think about what just happened and who might have been responsible for it. Having more clues to work with would have been beneficial for me as a reader, and I would have happily chosen a higher rating if they had been provided.

The world building was strong and intriguing. I especially liked how certain plot twists were shared with the audience as clips from news shows or when characters shared the latest headlines with one another. It made those revelations feel even more realistic, especially when certain characters had strong opinions in favor of or against what was happening in the world and I had a chance to compare their reactions with those who lived much closer to those wars, pandemics, droughts, and other critical events. Not everything affected everyone’s daily lives equally even if they were genuinely concerned about what was happening thousands of miles away from home, so it was also nice to have multiple perspectives on some of these moments.

Broken Voyage was a wild ride.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters by edited by Anthony Francis and Liza Olmsted

October 17, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters by edited by Anthony Francis and Liza Olmsted
Publisher: Thinking Ink Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, LGBTQ, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Would neurodiversity be an advantage in an encounter with aliens? Let’s find out!

Heartbroken starships.

Human-sized hamster balls.

Superpowers unleashed by anxiety.

A planet covered in mathematical fidgets.

And we finally learn why aliens abduct cows.

A diverse, hopeful anthology of neurodiversity-themed science fiction short stories, poetry and art by and for neurodivergent people.

Featuring stories, poems and art from Tobias S. Buckell, M. D. Cooper, Ada Hoffmann, Jody Lynn Nye, Cat Rambo, and over forty other contributors, The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters was edited by Anthony Francis, author of the award-winning urban fantasy novel Frost Moon, and Liza Olmsted, editor of the writing inspiration book Your Writing Matters.

The Neurodiversiverse includes themes of autism, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, synesthesia, several kinds of anxiety, avoidant attachment disorder, dissociative disorder, and more.

Aliens are full of surprises.

Bridget was the first human to meet a new alien species who was confused by the concept of giving names to individuals but who needed the help of humanity in order to survive in “Impact.” I was intrigued by the many physiological and cultural differences between Bridget and the eboir (which was the name of this species). This could have easily been expanded into something full length, and yet there were enough details to paint a vivid picture in my mind of what was going on as they became acquainted with each other.

This was a solid collection that I enjoyed reading, but there were a few pieces in it that I wished had been given more time to develop. “Cadre,” which described how Zak adapted to his first job after finishing grad school, was one of them. He was an intelligent character who struggled with certain social conventions. No sooner did he begin to settle in at his new job than this tale ended, and I only wish I could have seen more examples of why it was the perfect position for him. This is a minor criticism of a book I otherwise deeply enjoyed.

As someone who also struggles with making a good first impression in job interviews, I empathized with Ben in “The Interview.” He wanted the ambassador position so badly and yet none of his answers were as polished or convincing as he hoped they would be. His raw honesty made him instantly likeable to me, and I hoped his interviewer could see past the awkward phrasing of some of his responses to the kind, gentle, and refreshingly honest person that was sitting in front of them.

The Neurodiversiverse: Alien Encounters was creative.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Eternal by Mychael Black

October 8, 2024 By 1 Comment


Eternal by Mychael Black
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal, LGBTQ
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Sam McIntosh knows he doesn’t need to be in the closet with his friends, but his family is another matter entirely. He keeps his sex life under wraps and never lets on to anyone that he enjoys any gender. So far, that’s worked just fine — until his father hires a new guy to work on the family farm.

Cole England has far more secrets than the average man, the least of which is his vampiric nature. He’s on the run from hunters sent by his father, and they are closing in on him. The last thing he needs is to fall for the son of the humans who hired him on their farm.

Between Sam’s bigoted family and Cole’s hunters, it’ll be a miracle if they can manage to explore the blazing attraction neither of them can deny.

Sam is in the closet to his family due to their bigoted ways. He’s out and proud with his friends, but his family – no way. This has worked just fine until his family hire Cole to work on their farm. The attraction is instant and Sam struggles to hide his growing desire. Cole has a bunch of his own problems – a vampire on the run from the hunters sent by his father, the last thing he wants is to drag the handsome Sam into his eternity and issues. Can the two men explore their blazing attraction without everything falling down around them?

I enjoyed this quick steamy read. Sam and Cole are well written and very realistic characters. It was quite easy for me to become attached to them both and they are quite relatable. I was pleased with both of their introductions and found their chemistry and instant attraction believable. This set me up very well for my enjoyment of this book, and for them to both have a mutual conflict with Sam’s bigoted parents and the hunters sent by Cole’s father helped solidify their working together as a team – even without the sexual tension and attraction between them.

It’s been quite some time since I’ve read a paranormal story and I found this one to be quite refreshing. There is some world-building which I enjoyed since I don’t recall reading anything similar from this author before. I also thought the slower pace of Sam learning about Cole and his heritage was a good way to ease readers into the various complexities of the authors paranormal world. I was pleased there wasn’t a massive info-dump and it was Sam and Cole chatting and getting to know each other where most of the vampire side of things was explored. I enjoyed this.

Readers who like a strongly paranormal but still steamy erotic story should find this short novel a good blend of the two. I thought it was a well written and fairly refreshing story and would be happy to try more books like this by the author.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Doctor, Doctor by Will Okati

September 12, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Doctor, Doctor by Will Okati
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Love isn’t easy and it’s rarely simple. More often than not it takes practice. Lots of practice.

It Takes Practice (Doctor, Doctor 1)
Dr. Nathan Rey has had a case of broken heart syndrome since his wild, bad-boy lover disappeared. He still can’t forget Fitz, and no one he’s met since could begin to compare. Then Nathan’s nurse elopes overnight and the temp agency sends him, certified and licensed, Fitz himself, with far more than work on his mind. Fitz means to convince Nathan seven years isn’t too long to wait for a second chance at the love of a lifetime.

It Takes Three (Doctor, Doctor 2)
Three med students. Geoff’s wound tight as a cheap watch. Ross is, too, but unless it’s got to do with math or science he’s oblivious. Aurélien’s uber-zen, uber-practical. With exams coming up fast, they’re all in desperate need of some R & R. What better way than getting a little action? Together. Multiple times, and in multiple ways. Once they get started these guys “work” well together. Maybe a little too much so. Aren’t things like this supposed to be hard? In this case, the answer to all their questions is three.

In It Takes Practice. Dr. Nathan Ray is attempting to keep his head above water. Operating an on-call service to those in need and those who are unable to make it into a traditional doctor’s office, he buries himself in work as a way of forgetting his past. That is, until his past unexpectedly shows up on his doorstep one morning.

Nathan thinks he finally has a handle on everything – minus his love life – until he sees that familiar face again. One glance at an older, but still handsome, Fitz nearly knocks him off his feet. Fitz is both different and all too much the same as he’d been back in college, something that confuses and intrigues Nathan. I loved watching Nathan and Fitz rediscover each other, even if Nathan’s determined to get through the day and leave Fitz in the past. Even though I think he knew from that very first moment that he could never manage to do that.

Second chance romances are one of my favorites. It’s so much fun to watch the couple relearn everything they thought they once knew, as well as adjust to their older, more worldly, selves. It Takes Practice hits all of these notes for me in both bittersweet and hilarious moments. This was by far my favorite of the two, and I’d love to know how Nathan and Fitz are doing today.

It Takes Three is a different sort of novel completely. While desperately trying to study for an important upcoming test, Geoff has managed to stress himself out completely. Something that I, unfortunately, can relate to a little too well. However, Geoff’s not alone in his frustrations. Someone else – two, in fact – are right there with him in the stress ball called medical school.

As I mentioned, Geoff’s the one I can relate to the best. Everything to him is a major moment and he acts accordingly. He’s stressed, but unwilling to stop studying for a bit of fun, because the test is a major factor in whether he graduates or not. Aurélien is the complete opposite of Geoff. He’s very mellow and unconcerned with tomorrow, he’s more focused on today. Aurélien is exactly the kind of guy Geoff needs in his life to help balance him out. Ross, by far, was my favorite of the three, mainly because he was unexpected. He appears to not be very bright. Instead, he’s thoughtful and careful with his words and actions, which can often make someone unfairly think you’re less intelligent than you are. The three of them together is a fun-filled bout of sexy times and even some studying. I was definitely rooting for them by the end.

Both stories in Doctor, Doctor, combine romance, humor, and steamy scenes into well-rounded and enjoyable stories about men trying to find their way through life. Medical romances aren’t something I read often, but after these two, hot, short stories, I might need to make an exception and start to seek more out.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Sunhammer and the Infinite Cold: Village Monsters by George L. Soriano

September 11, 2024 By Leave a Comment


The Sunhammer and the Infinite Cold: Village Monsters by George L. Soriano
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The denizens of Nercaza Rajh call themselves Nercazans, and they have a peculiar life cycle. A Nercazan does not die of old age. Upon reaching a certain point in their lives, their bodies are reborn as they return to their youth. This is known as New Star.

It is also possible for them to switch genders during New Star. This is known as New Cycle.

Follow the adventures of two adopted brothers, Zhuri and Malkavek. They are Nercazan Knights who have pledged to help any who summon them. Having gone through New Star and also New Cycle, they are now sisters.

As well as facing monstrous enemies, they must also face the challenges of their new identities in their new bodies.

Nothing lasts forever.

Some of the most memorable scenes were the ones describing the monsters that the protagonists were fighting. Wow, those were some scary beasts! I shuddered as I imagined what it would be like to face one in person and wondered how these sisters were going to fight back against such powerful creatures. They certainly had their work cut out for them, but I was sure Malkavek and Zhuri could figure out a way to tip the scales in their favor.

While I understand that this was the introduction to a new series, I still would have liked to see more world building in it. There were so many different aspects of this world that were not explained well to the audience, especially when it came to how the cycle of reincarnation worked and why Zhuri and Malkavek were remarkably similar to their previous selves in certain ways while being wildly different in other ones. I was also surprised by how others reacted to them in their current female forms and wished I had more information about what the average person knows about reincarnation in this universe.

I adored Zhuri and Malkavek’s sibling bond. They could switch from arguing about something silly in one scene to protecting each other from violent monsters in the next. There’s something special about growing up together and knowing a brother or sister so well that all it takes is one wordless glance to immediately know what they’re thinking. Mr. Soriano did a good job expressing that here.

The Sunhammer and The Infinite Cold: Village Monsters intrigued me.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Uncategorized, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Pass the Salt by Robert Kingett

September 3, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Pass the Salt by Robert Kingett
Publisher: Compassiviste Publishing
Genre: Non-Fiction, LGBTQ, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Online dating is never easy. You’re meeting a complete stranger, and you’re opening yourself up in a way that some of your best friends don’t even get to see. But when Robert Kingett stepped out onto the dating scene, he faced a whole host of additional challenges as gay man living with blindness, cerebral palsy, and a speech impediment.

Pass the Salt details Robert’s time on the dating scene in 2010s Chicago. Get ready to meet the brightest and best from the online dating world, including The Fare Fan, The Smooth Catfish, and the dashing Richard, who’s better company than Robert’s humming fridge. It’s a hilarious and often moving account of his adventures, guaranteed to make you laugh, make you think, and above all, inspire you.

Love is for everyone.

I adored the honesty of this book. Both the negative and positive aspects of the dating experience were described in vivid detail. Many of the men he dated were wonderful human beings who just so happened not to be a good match for Mr. Kingett himself. I also appreciated how the author described his own flaws and how they could also be deal breakers for others. No one is perfect, after all, and it takes maturity to acknowledge one’s own shortcomings.

Some of the most interesting scenes in my opinion were the ones that explored how factors like race and disability affect someone’s experience in the dating scene. Mr. Kingett met a wide variety of men during his years of online dating, and not everyone was looking for the same thing. In certain cases, his prospective partners were looking for boyfriends who fit specific criteria, but other dates were with men who were open to falling in love with all sorts of different people. I enjoyed learning about their reasons for their choices no matter where they fell on the spectrum of which races they were open to dating or whether having a boyfriend who had a disability was something they viewed negatively. There is so much to learn about how other people’s minds work by paying attention to how they think about such things. The author also had his own list of deal breakers that not everyone else in the world would necessarily see in the same way, and it was intriguing to see how his preferences did or did not match up with what his dates were looking for.

There were a few things about the ending that I wish had been explained better. For example, the beginning mentioned that some of the people the author dated are now part of his found family. I would have loved to have more details about their friendships and how they evolved from romantic to platonic connections. Knowing their names was helpful, but as a reader I wished for more information to help me better visualize what life is like these days for them. Obviously, I am not referring to anything that they’re uncomfortable sharing here! It simply didn’t feel quite complete to me when I finished the final paragraph given how emotionally invested I’d become in the author’s journey.

Pass the Salt was a sweet and heartwarming read.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
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