Tag: romance

Review – After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine, vol 2

Posted October 28, 2026 by Nicky in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review – After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine, vol 2

After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine

by Liu Gou Hua

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Light Novels, Romance
Pages: 400
Series: After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine #2
Rating: four-stars
Synopsis:

IS A PROMISE OF PROTECTION ENOUGH?

Jiang Suizhou, a history professor transmigrated into the frail and hated Prince of Jing, has been dealt quite the losing hand. His only bastion of hope? The captured, incapacitated Huo Wujiu, his concubine—and the general whose vengeance will end the Jing dynasty.

But Jiang Suizhou’s not going down with the ship! He joins hands with Huo Wujiu with a promise—protection now for protection in the future—and seeks out a physician to heal Huo Wujiu’s legs. The two men’s bond and trust deepens as they step beyond their mutual obligations to trade blows with Minister Pang, the puppeteer pulling the corrupt court’s strings.

Stained reputations, hidden motivations, and political assassinations abound as Huo Wujiu and Jiang Suizhou fulfill their promise. But is this protection alone enough to keep them both safe…and is it all they seek from one another?

I just had to read the second volume of Liu Gou Hua’s After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine right away, and I wasn’t disappointed — if anything, I think I liked it even more. The slow burn continues, and I’m so glad I could at least get volume three right away as well, even if I have to wait until November (I think) for the last volume.

Volume two features the misunderstandings/miscommunications thickening even more, since people don’t trust each other and don’t know who knows about what. This all pretty much makes sense in context: it’s not a situation where it’d make more sense for people to communicate, because they need to withhold information for safety purposes. There are a couple of cases that could be straightened out sooner, but mostly it all follows logically from the setting and plot. The only one that’s kinda superfluous is Jiang Suizhou’s lie to Meng Qianshan about why he’s interested in Huo Wujiu, but mostly Meng Qianshan’s investment in the relationship as a result of that is just. the. cutest.

I’m finding the slow burn really exquisite, too: the moments where each realises how they’re beginning to feel about the other are lovely, but I also loved the non-romantic scene where they’re celebrating together, Jiang Suizhou gets drunk, and starts telling Huo Wujiu all kinds of stuff, finally sleepily telling him that he’s so glad to be able to talk to him and that he’s been lonely. Just, aaah! So cute.

I’m very curious how this is going to resolve exactly, and how the two of them are going to triumph against their enemies — and whether Jiang Suizhou’s transmigration is ever properly explained, or likely to end?! We don’t know anything about why he transmigrated, really. I really really hope there’s a good happy ending for these two.

And please, a happy ending for the side characters too! Meng Qianshan, Gu Changyun and Xu Du, and even the friend from the Ministry of Rites who likes novels — please, please let them all come out okay.

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)

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Review – Yankee & Carameliser

Posted October 27, 2026 by Nicky in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review – Yankee & Carameliser

Yankee & Carameliser

by Chiuko Umeshibu

Genres: Manga, Romance
Pages: 164
Rating: three-stars
Synopsis:

Take one influencer and one bad boy extraordinaire, whisk in a sprinkling of sweets, a scoop of social media and you get...? Maki and Akito's love story, hot out of the oven! After all, even though Maki might have a bit of a bad rep, the guy must be just as gooey on the inside as the glorious goodies he posts all over social media. So when Akito gets a taste of how dangerously delicious his desserts are, he can't help wanting a taste of the man himself...

Chiuko Umeshibu’s Yankee & Carameliser is pretty cute: a bad boy teenager, Maki, gets caught anonymously posting images of gorgeous desserts by his classmate, Akito. Akito eagerly encourages him to post videos and talk more about how he makes food, drawing him out of his shell, and as they work together on that, Maki quickly falls in love.

There’s a pretty standard misunderstanding bit when Akito runs into Maki coming out of a love hotel with another man; Maki thinks Akito’s relieved when he says he didn’t have sex with the guy because Akito thinks that means he’s not gay (and to be fair, Akito’s sentiments are extremely badly expressed), while Akito simply means that he’s glad that (older) guy didn’t do anything to him that he didn’t end up wanting.

There’s also a bit of homophobia/transphobia in the air, since Maki’s cultivated the bad boy image to look ‘less weird’, after a childhood interest in playing cooking and liking cute things. He blames himself for his parents’ breakup after they caught him wearing lipstick. This is handled relatively lightly and isn’t addressed specifically between Akito and Maki: Akito just keeps being enthusiastic and loving Maki’s baking, thinking he’s cute, and eventually realising that he returns his feelings.

The result is a short-and-sweet love story that doesn’t really dig into the darker stuff implied at its edges. The relationship maybe feels a tiny bit rushed, but the chemistry does genuinely feel real, and Maki’s embarrassment at his growing feelings (and Akito’s returning them) is adorable.

Rating: 3/5 (“liked it”)

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Review – Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs To Die

Posted October 4, 2026 by Nicky in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review – Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs To Die

Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die

by Greer Stothers

Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 383
Rating: one-star
Synopsis:

In this hilarious, off-the-wall queer fantasy romance, a reclusive sorcerer is forced to protect a cowardly knight after a prophecy ties their fates together.

Funny, touching and inventive, this book is perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light and Dreadful.

All his life, Sir Cameron has tried to stay as far away from danger as possible. But when the Church hands down a prophecy to his fellow knights predicting that the only way to defeat their nemesis, the mad sorcerer Merulo, is to kill Sir Cameron, he finds himself in a situation too sticky for even his considerable wiles. Short of ideas, Cameron throws himself on the mercy of the one person who now actually wants him to survive: the mad sorcerer.

Merulo isn't thrilled to be babysitting a spoilt, attention-seeking knight, but fate has tied them together. And transmogrifying Cameron into a vulture is at least a great source of entertainment. Cameron, meanwhile, is on a voyage of self-discovery. It turns out he's really, really into surly sorcerers who lock him up and tell him what to do. Who knew?

As a legion of knights surround their stronghold, led by an angry concussed elf—which definitely isn't in any way Cameron's fault—the sorcerer's poisonous ambitions draw ever closer to fruition. Cameron is quite invested in not dying, but he finds he's also invested in Merulo. And sometimes, supporting the sorcerer you care about means taking an interest in their hobbies. Even if their hobby is trying to kill God.

Even if it might get you killed, too.

I was quite interested in Greer Stothers’ Apparently, Sir Cameron Has To Die from early buzz, though I think the summary I read is not the one on the back cover or the current one on store-fronts: I’d probably have known it almost certainly wasn’t for me if I’d seen it referred to as “hilarious” and “off-the-wall”. That’s really the primary problem with this book for me: I bounced off fairly early on because it’s trying so hard to be funny, and the scatological humour actually isn’t the height of wit that it seems to think it is.

Before we go on, it’s my understanding that I need to point out that I’m writing this review for other readers, not to target Stothers, because apparently they’ve been posting bad reviews on their Tumblr and responding to them. I have found no direct evidence of this myself, but I also haven’t looked for long, and I can definitely tell that Stothers is Very Extremely Tumblr so it doesn’t… surprise me.

I also had some issues with Sir Cameron’s anxiety being treated as a joke and as cowardice. I know that’s the character’s and world’s framing, not the author’s (necessarily), but it just crosses a personal line. Being afraid of dying isn’t cowardice. Wanting to avoid fighting in a war isn’t, in fact, unreasonable (though unless I missed it, I think there was no real explanation there as to why Sir Cameron is a knight at all given he doesn’t want to fight). It was… unpleasant, to read that constantly being viewed as just cowardice, even given the bounds of the setting.

Then there’s everything pointed out in other reviews: weird gender essentialism, unnecessary fetishism about women’s bodies, utter disgust and horror about menstruation, Glenda the cartoon-level bigot who we are forced to spend a fair bit of time with, the “tawny-skinned” female character with her “wild” hair and bulging muscles, attitudes toward disability (and assistive technology)…

And on top of all that, there is zero (zero) chemistry between the characters, even in scenes where the author firmly wants us to believe there is. It’s just awkward and out of the blue.

In fairness, some of this is a “your mileage may vary” sort of thing depending on how you feel about some story/setting choices, some of it is well-intentioned, and I think some of it is just accidental… but the sum of all those parts is not (for me) an enjoyable read, and I definitely understand that it feels like the author is, whether blunderingly or deliberately and with whatever motives, engaging in bigoted stereotypes.

Rating: 1/5 (“didn’t like it”)

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Review – The Wife Comes First, vol 3

Posted September 24, 2026 by Nicky in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review – The Wife Comes First, vol 3

The Wife Comes First

by Lv Ye Qian He

Genres: Fantasy, Light Novels, Romance
Pages: 417
Series: The Wife Comes First #3
Rating: four-stars
Synopsis:

“OVER TWO LIFETIMES, I HAVE ONLY EVER LOVED YOU.”

Welcomed back to the capital with unbelievable rewards, Jing Shao and his princely consort Mu Hanzhang fall into a new routine at home and at court—involving challenging but satisfying duties that Mu Hanzhang takes on with pleasure.

While the two men contend with scheming princes, unexpected visitors, and volatile in-laws, new trouble is brewing. The earlier revenge taken on Mu Hanzhang’s behalf set off a chain reaction that now threatens his father’s clan and his mother’s life. And when a death unearths secrets from the past, Jing Shao may have to use all that he’s gained just to survive the machinations threatening him.

But with his brothers—both blood and sworn—at his side and his wife in his arms, Jing Shao vows that this time, no matter the danger, he’ll find happiness with Mu Hanzhang.

Volume three of Lv Ye Qian He’s The Wife Comes First wraps up the series, bringing Mu Hanzhang and Jing Shao back to the capital and back into the thick of the political plotting. Compared to how slowly the first two books moved, this feels like there are a few time jumps, to give time for all the manoeuvring: it’s not a bad thing, but if you don’t keep track of the weeks/months slipping by in the story, some things seem very sudden!

Mostly, it’s an excellent ending for them, almost tipping into a reprise of Jing Shao’s first attempt… and then, at the last, it’s averted. There are a couple of surprises and twists, one of which (I think all in the extras) I guessed in advance from certain scenes. I can’t really say much about all this since it would be very spoilery at this point.

There are actually a couple of extras, which skewed my perception of how much time was left in the story and made the pacing feel confusing. In themselves, they don’t add a ton (and one is just a silly short from Lil Sunbeam’s point of view), but there’s some cute stuff there.

Sadly, the Right Guardian and Left Guardian don’t follow up on Mu Hanzhang’s veiled hints(?), as far as I can tell…

Anyway, I don’t think this series is super well written, and there are plenty of quibbles with it and needlessly evil concubines, etc, etc (there are some positive female characters, like Ge Ruoyi and Mu Hanzhang’s mother). But I was won over by Jing Shao being a big stupid puppy, and Mu Hanzhang being a clever schemer — for his loved ones’ sake. Definitely one I’m rating on enjoyment more than technical skill, which is worth taking into account.

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)

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Review – The Wife Comes First, vol 2

Posted September 8, 2026 by Nicky in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review – The Wife Comes First, vol 2

The Wife Comes First

by Lv Ye Qian He

Genres: Fantasy, Light Novels, Romance
Pages: 323
Series: The Wife Comes First #2
Rating: four-stars
Synopsis:

On the brink of death, Prince Cheng is stunned to find the one person still by his side: his long-neglected princely consort, Mu Hanzhang. While Prince Cheng pursued power and countless lovers, Mu Hanzhang never wavered in his dedication as his wife, despite the future he lost. Prince Cheng knows he never deserved such loyalty.

But fate isn’t finished with him yet. When he awakens in the past—on the morning after their disastrous wedding night, with all his memories intact—Prince Cheng seizes the chance to set things right. This time, he’ll treasure Mu Hanzhang. This time, the wife will come first, the state second, and the husband last.

Yet winning Mu Hanzhang’s trust is only the first battle. Court conspiracies still run deep, and if they’re not careful, history may repeat itself…starting with a knife in the back.

Volume two of Lv Ye Qian He’s The Wife Comes First picks up directly from the previous volume, and mostly concerns Jing Shao and Mu Hanzhang going to war. Junqing spends a chunk of the story pretending to be just a ‘strategist’, since it usually isn’t permitted for generals to take their wives with them to war, but Jing Shao (great big puppy that he is) wheedles and begs his way into Junqing’s tent, and soon eveeeryone knows who he must be.

There are some really sweet moments between the two of them as they really solidify their relationship and speak honestly to one another about their feelings. I loved it; it’d be easy to introduce drama and a third act breakup, and I think in “Western” fiction that’d happen — but instead we just get to watch the two of them being ridiculously devoted to each other and an absolute power couple.

Also, Junqing gets a baby tiger cub.

There’s a fair bit of politicking and so on, so the plot also advances, hopefully carrying Jing Shao and Junqing past the difficulties that plagued Jing Shao’s past life. I’m kinda eh on the white lie about the previous attempt being a dream that Jing Shao had, but at least he’s found a way to explain some of his foreknowledge to Junqing, instead of leaving him out.

The problematic elements of consent and the treatment of women mostly aren’t carried through in this book, in part because I think only two named female characters show up in the whole thing (Ge Ruoyi and Hao Dadao’s wife). As mentioned, it’s really not the best-written, and I think that can also add to the problem, making the characterisation of a lot of characters flat. I’m here for Jing Shao and Mu Hanzhang (and their tiger cub), so your mileage may vary on how much it bothers you. My rating is definitely reflecting personal enjoyment and the way I raced through the book, not a considered critical response! Possibly if I went with my gut now, I’d lower it to 3/5… but I really had fun while reading it.

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)

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Review – Mistakenly Saving the Villain, vol 3

Posted September 1, 2026 by Nicky in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review – Mistakenly Saving the Villain, vol 3

Mistakenly Saving the Villain

by Feng Yu Nie

Genres: Fantasy, Light Novels, Romance
Pages: 308
Series: Mistakenly Saving the Villain #3
Rating: four-stars
Synopsis:

SOME MISTAKES ARE DESTINY

After a dramatic confrontation with An Long, Song Qingshi and Yue Wuhuan finally begin to speak openly about their feelings. Their relationship deepens—an oasis of tenderness in a world that has offered them little peace.

But shadows remain. Even with treatment, Yue Wuhuan’s illness still festers, and Song Qingshi faces his own sickness: the slow collapse of his cultivation. Worse yet, the system—the mysterious voice that first bound him to this story—is far from satisfied with his failure to save the “right” person.

As the truth behind Song Qingshi’s biggest mistake unravels, so does reality itself. Perhaps he and Yue Wuhuan are nothing more than puppets of fate, destined to be twisted and broken by the heavens. Is anything in the world strong enough to break that cycle?

Volume three of Mistakenly Saving the Villain opens on that horrible cliffhanger, and predictably the two of them solve it in the most stupid possible way, by not talking about it properly and just sort of sliding into a relationship anyway. I say this as someone who basically did that in my own relationship with my now-wife, to be clear: I am affectionately talking about it as the most stupid possible thing.

I love that Song Qingshi is not actually as ignorant of what Yue Wuhuan is thinking and feeling as he sometimes seems, and that he works out what Yue Wuhuan is doing, coaxes him to act on his feelings, and starts helping him distinguish between what is real and what is his trauma/illness. So far it hasn’t much stopped Yue Wuhuan getting worse, because Song Qingshi doesn’t do a good job of boundaries, but… Yue Wuhuan’s unhinged devotion to Qingshi is what we’re here for, right?!

This volume then… goes places. It’s quite the ride, and I have no idea how this is all going to wrap up: the system has reasserted itself (sort of), and we get a glimpse of the bigger picture, a whole bigger tangle that Yue Wuhuan (or whatever he’d like to be called now) and Song Qingshi are part of, which I assume will round things off.

I’m trying not to say too much because a) I’m not sure I’m fully following everything yet and b) I don’t want to spoiler the wild ride for anyone else. But I’m enjoying it a lot and very eager for the last volume in October.

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)

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Review – Fence, vol 7

Posted August 30, 2026 by Nicky in Reviews / 4 Comments

Review – Fence, vol 7

Fence: Challengers

by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad, Joanna LaFuente

Genres: Graphic Novels, Romance
Pages: 112
Series: Fence #7
Rating: four-stars
Synopsis:

EN GARDE!

The beloved sports romance returns from acclaimed writer C.S. Pacat and iconic artist Johanna the Mad, pushing the saga to new competitive heights!

Kings Row are heading into the State Championships as underdog champions, and now have to contend with the best of the best in fencing–including potentially facing Exton themselves. Before they can get there though, they’ll have to get through some of the other top teams, including some old rivals…

I had no idea there was a new volume of C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad’s Fence, but here we are: volume 7, Challengers, which sees Nicholas and Seiji and the rest of Kings’ Row going up against other teams at last. The stakes are high for Nicholas, who wants to be seen by his father at last, and for Seiji, who needs to beat Jesse…

There are a few adorable references to Nicholas and Seiji’s date, sorry, I mean “appointment”, and we also get to watch the whole team grow. It’s cursedly short, is my only complaint! And I could use the slow burn between Nicholas and Seiji ramping up a bit sometime soon, honestly.

“Appointment.” Pft.

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)

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Review – The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga), vol 6

Posted August 28, 2026 by Nicky in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review – The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga), vol 6

The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter

by Kazuki Irodori, Yatsuki Wakutsu

Genres: Fantasy, Manga, Romance
Pages: 176
Series: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga) #6
Rating: four-stars
Synopsis:

It was just a normal day when a workaholic office worker was dragged through a portal to another world. Of course, the first thing he requested was a job—which is how Kondou’s career in the Royal Accounting Department began. Now, as Vice Director, Kondou finds himself out of his depth, embroiled in a plot involving the church’s finances and state secrets, all the while missing his dashing knight captain. But when Aresh returns from a successful expedition only to mysteriously collapse, it might be up to our intrepid bean counter to save the day…

Volume six of Kazuki Irodori’s manga adaptation of The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter contains some really really sweet moments, as Seiichirou discovers that Aresh’s absence makes his own feelings very clear. The fact that Aresh is a big romantic is no surprise, and Seiichirou will always be a pragmatist above all… but the imbalance in their feelings is starting to even out, and there are some super cute scenes.

The plot also continues apace, of course, with Seiichirou targeted by someone from within the church, and Seiichirou’s investigation beginning to reveal that something’s off about all of that.

It’s still apparent that Aresh thinks they’re in a romance novel (not even realising that the attack on Seiichirou is targeted until it comes up as a matter of course in conversation) while Seiichirou is in a fantasy novel with political intrigue, which is also kind of funny. I’ve forgotten exactly how the situation plays out in the church and how it leads into Aresh’s dramatic next actions, from the light novel, but I look forward to getting there in the manga too.

(Still, in the meantime… maybe a little reread.)

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)

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Review – Wooing the Witch Queen

Posted August 24, 2026 by Nicky in Reviews / 8 Comments

Review – Wooing the Witch Queen

Wooing the Witch Queen

by Stephanie Burgis

Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 294
Series: Queens of Villainy #1
Rating: three-stars
Synopsis:

Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.

When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well…

Little does Saskia know that the "wizard" she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, with perilous secrets on his trail and a fast growing yearning for the wicked sorceress, he's in danger from her enemies and her newfound allies, too. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other?

I’ve been meaning to try Stephanie Burgis’ Wooing the Witch Queen since forever, seeing other people’s enthusiasm about the series — and there is indeed a lot to love! The introduction is a little heavy, with Felix fleeing his kingdom due to being essentially a puppet ruler, manipulated and outright abused by the man who actually controls the kingdom… and Saskia’s back story is also a tragic one, with betrayal and the murder of her parents by her uncle behind her before she managed to take her own throne. Despite all that setup, the story has a relatively light touch.

The misunderstanding/mistaken identity thing at the beginning didn’t entirely work for me in that I just wanted Felix to come clean already and avoid the horrible third act breakup I could see coming from a mile off… but ultimately, Burgis subverted my expectations there somewhat. She does have to have Saskia wilfully insist on ignorance on more than one occasion in order to play things out the way she wants to, but it mostly works, and I was relieved that the relationship didn’t have the breakup I’d expected.

I did find the insta-attraction a little bit much, but over time the connection between the two did grow on me, as well, particularly when Felix time after time just supported Saskia and her needs, her right to make decisions and make a different world than her First Minister thinks she should, her right to be a queen.

The warmth felt by Saskia for her staff and they for her is lovely, too. The way that the “evil queen”‘s castle is essentially a big family (or at least a well-run and employee-friendly company) is pretty sweet; I do feel that the fact that they insist on Felix eating and sleeping and having company, things a person needs, isn’t played for as much as it’s worth (though that decision does avoid things getting too heavy). Given his trauma, it’s a hell of a gift to be somewhere that his needs are met in that way.

I’m definitely interested enough to read more, even if I didn’t love Lorelei from what I’ve seen so far; I expect she’ll grow on me when we get to understand her backstory more.

Rating: 3/5 (“liked it”)

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Review – An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating

Posted August 12, 2026 by Nicky in Reviews / 4 Comments

Review – An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating

An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating

by Cecilia Edward

Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 311
Rating: two-stars
Synopsis:

An ancient witch explores the thrills--and perils--of online dating with hilarity and heart in a charming rom-com perfect for fans of cozy fantasy and witchy romance.

Meet Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch who's having trouble finding love in the 17th century. Despite the local matchmaker's efforts and Thorn's arsenal of powerful love potions, she has yet to fall in love. After the disappearance of her sister and the loss of her mother, Thorn was too caught up in...well, life, to focus on dating. Now, she fears she may have missed her chance.

But, when one of her potion brews backfires spectacularly, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future, landing in a bustling city where her once-isolated cottage is now a historical museum. While this unexpected leap through time may seem daunting, modern life does have its perks: indoor plumbing, electric kettles, and the world of online dating. At thirty-nine, the odds may not be perfect, but at least they're not impossible.

With the help of the museum's new curator--and her charming veterinarian brother--Thorn dives headfirst into the 21st-century dating scene. And as she searches for romance, she might also find herself along the way.

I didn’t get on very well with Cecilia Edward’s An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating, and that’s partly just on me and what I like in fiction: it leans quite far to the “romcom” side rather than the fantasy side (there’s a potion for everything, without much cost and without explanation of the mechanics) and the comedy is often rather slapstick and/or about the main character (Thorn) not understanding the modern world. For me, that kind of humour palled quickly.

I really didn’t enjoy her continual insistence on a) needing a man to complete her and make her happy, and b) using love potions to try and achieve that. I didn’t feel like it was getting called out enough a lot of the time, it just felt like it was kinda taken for granted, so I was having difficulty really sympathising with Thorn. To be fair to the story, that aspect does get addressed to some degree, and there are clues it’s going to be — I just got cranky with it because of the other aspects I wasn’t enjoying, I think.

I thought the parts about Thorn’s mother and sister were pretty interesting, though I didn’t really catch on that it was going to be a thing at first (again, I think this is partly because I wasn’t reading with a lot of sympathy). The way it works out is… well, a bit neat, tidy and feel-good, as you’d expect from the genre.

The love interest is a sweet guy: that part (and the mystery about the cats) I did like, including the joke about him being an evil warlock in the cats’ eyes because of the catch-and-release program he participates in to help with stray cats, though I felt it was wrapped up kinda quickly, and like Lily was kinda shortchanged in terms of screen time!

Overall, not for me, though I can see the elements that other people enjoyed.

Rating: 2/5 (“it was okay”)

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