Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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“Ruth decided that the next time she saw Evan Miller, she would wear her best pyjamas.”

A Girl Like Her (Deluxe Edition) by Talia Hibbert

March 12, 2026 by Malin Leave a Comment

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebook Casablanca for this ARC. My opinions are my own. Evan Miller has recently moved to Ravenswood, and while he appreciates his job as a metalworker and many of his co-workers, he’s less of a fan of the boss’s son trying to ingratiate himself with him. Especially once said nepo-baby keeps throwing condescending hints about Evan’s next-door neighbour, Ruth. Ruth Kabbah is shunned by most people in Ravenswood because of events in her past. She barely ever leaves her house, […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: A Girl Like Her, ARC, cbr18, Contemporary Romance, emotional abuse, England, fandom, Malin, NetGalley, neurodivergence, Ravenswood, small town life, Talia Hibbert

Malin's CBR18 Review No:14 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: A Girl Like Her, ARC, cbr18, Contemporary Romance, emotional abuse, England, fandom, Malin, NetGalley, neurodivergence, Ravenswood, small town life, Talia Hibbert ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

“Why do you want my voice?” “Because I’m a sassy sea witch and I’m gonna keep it in a nautilus necklace, then use it to steal your man from right under your nose”

Can't Escape Love by Alyssa Cole

October 11, 2025 by Malin 1 Comment

3.5 stars CBR17 Pie Challenge: Inclusion CBR17 Bingo: Borrow (read through Libby, since I don’t actually own the book) Regina “Reggie” Hobbs is working hard to make her nerdy website, Girls with Glasses, a success, and prove to her over-protective parents that she’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself, even if she’s in a wheelchair. She loves the work, she loves her very capable team, but lately, she’s been struggling with insomnia, and the only thing that seems to soothe her to sleep is […]

Filed Under: Audiobooks, Fiction, Romance Tagged With: Alyssa Cole, audiobook, BIPOC, can't escape love, cbr17, CBR17 Pie Chart Challenge, cbr17bingo, Contemporary Romance, Disability, fandom, Inclusion, Malin, neurodiversity, novella, puzzles, Reluctant Royals

Malin's CBR17 Review No:60 · Genres: Audiobooks, Fiction, Romance · Tags: Alyssa Cole, audiobook, BIPOC, can't escape love, cbr17, CBR17 Pie Chart Challenge, cbr17bingo, Contemporary Romance, Disability, fandom, Inclusion, Malin, neurodiversity, novella, puzzles, Reluctant Royals ·
Rating:
· 1 Comment

Two Manga Focusing on Fan Culture

If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die (Vol 1-2) by Auri Hirao

My Coworker Has a Secret! (Vol 1-2) by Mushiro

January 7, 2024 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

The contrast between these series was interesting, because both deal with idol fandom culture and the impact it has on the fan. Both are also light romantic comedies, but I enjoyed My Coworker Has a Secret! much more. If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die follows Eripiyo, who is a huge fan of Maina. Maina is an idol in an underground idol group and is the least popular, with Eripiyo being her only real fan. The main reason is […]

Filed Under: Graphic Novels/Comic Books Tagged With: Auri Hirao, fandom, idol culture, manga, Mushiro, Romance

GentleRain's CBR16 Review No:9 · Genres: Graphic Novels/Comic Books · Tags: Auri Hirao, fandom, idol culture, manga, Mushiro, Romance ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Some romantic books I read this summer and am reviewing now to reach a double Cannonball

Fangirl, the Manga: Volume 3 by Rainbow Rowell and Gabi Nam

Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha

How the Wallflower Was Won by Eva Leigh

Knockout by Sarah Maclean

December 30, 2023 by Malin Leave a Comment

Fangirl, the Manga: Volume 3 – Rainbow Rowell and Gabi Nam Rating: 4 stars This August saw the release of the third installment of Rainbow Rowell’s manga version of Fangirl, my absolute favourite of her books (did I just buy a fancy tenth-anniversary edition, even though I own it in three other formats, NOT counting the mangas? You betcha). Cath is still struggling at college. Her writing partner Nick steals the story they’ve been working on together and makes her seem unreasonable for being upset […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, History, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: #fantasy, #Science Fiction, adventure, CBR15, comic book, Deal with the Devil, Eva Leigh, fandom, Fangirl the manga, friendship, Hell's Belles, historical romance, How the Wallflower Was Won, kit rocha, Knockout, Last Chance Scoundrels, librarians, Malin, manga, Mercenary Librarians, Post Apocalyptic, Rainbow Rowell and Gabi Nam, Regency, Romance, Sarah Maclean, Victorian, Young Adult

Malin's CBR15 Review No:95 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, History, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: #fantasy, #Science Fiction, adventure, CBR15, comic book, Deal with the Devil, Eva Leigh, fandom, Fangirl the manga, friendship, Hell's Belles, historical romance, How the Wallflower Was Won, kit rocha, Knockout, Last Chance Scoundrels, librarians, Malin, manga, Mercenary Librarians, Post Apocalyptic, Rainbow Rowell and Gabi Nam, Regency, Romance, Sarah Maclean, Victorian, Young Adult ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Mysteries and sci-fi fandom

Ten Little Fen: A Spade Paladin Novel by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

At Witt’s End: A Spade/Paladin Conundrum by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

The Really Big Ka-Boom: A Spade/Paladin Conundrum by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Unity Con: A Spade/Paladin Conundrum by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

The Early Conundrums: A spade/Paladin Collection by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

December 30, 2022 by persnickety chick Leave a Comment

These books and stories were all read together in a bunch, although the writing of them probably spanned decades.  The stories are all set at various speculative fiction cons – featuring two main characters who only really interact at these cons.  Spade – a large guy who made money in the early days of computing and acts as one of the “Secret Masters of Fandom” and helps keep cons going.  He acts as a form of detective.  Paladin – a slight woman who acts as […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: #Science Fiction, conventions, fandom, fen, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, mystery

persnickety chick's CBR14 Review No:24 · Genres: Fiction, Mystery · Tags: #Science Fiction, conventions, fandom, fen, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, mystery ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

“It isn’t wrong to want to do other things.”

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

October 17, 2022 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

I always enjoy Faith Erin Hicks’ YA work and Ride On was no exception. I re-read it before I started writing this review and liked it just as much the second time, so it’s definitely a keeper. Ride On follows Victoria, who starts riding at a new stable after leaving her more competitive one. She doesn’t want to make any new friends and rejects the attempts to befriend her by the friendly Norrie. Over the course of the novel, Victoria has to figure out if […]

Filed Under: Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Young Adult Tagged With: Faith Erin Hicks, fandom, friendships, horse riding, YA fiction

GentleRain's CBR14 Review No:103 · Genres: Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Young Adult · Tags: Faith Erin Hicks, fandom, friendships, horse riding, YA fiction ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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