Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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Join the CBR18 Book Bingo Reading Challenge—Now Underway!   

I was in a terrible confusion. Sometimes I thought, but this is your life. Stop fighting it.

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

March 30, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

And I realized that such childishness was fantastic at my age and the happiness out of which it sprang yet more so; for that moment I really loved Giovanni, who had never seemed more beautiful than he was that afternoon. And, watching his face, I realized that it meant much to me that I could make his face so bright. I saw that I might be willing to give a great deal not to lose that power. And I felt myself flow toward him, as […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: gay awakening, James Baldwin, LGBTQIA, paris, queer romance, sexual awakening, tragic romance

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:18 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: gay awakening, James Baldwin, LGBTQIA, paris, queer romance, sexual awakening, tragic romance ·
Rating:
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Elastic tension lashed their cars together across space, alone on the road, nothing in his head but grief and freedom.

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

February 26, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Andrew held the clutch and eased onto the gas, pushing revs while the digital readout reminded him to hold it, wait for the right moment to explode. Sam’s fingers touched the rim of the moon hanging in the sky. A shudder ripped across the bones of Andrew’s forearms, terror and delight and the promise of risk bringing him to life. ― Lee Mandelo, Summer Sons For fuck’s sake Andrew. Is there anything in this scenario that feels heterosexual or well-adjusted to you? ― Lee Mandelo, […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: American History, angst, Classism, curse, dark academia, drug use, Fighting, gay awakening, gay romance, Ghost Stories, homoerotic behaviour, Lee Mandelo, LGBTQ author, LGBTQ romance, murder mystery, Nashville, psychic abilities, queer romance, self-destruction, sexual tension up the wazoo, street racing, Tennessee, toxic friendships, toxic relationships, Toxic Romance, transgender characters, transgender main character, trauma bonding

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:9 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery · Tags: American History, angst, Classism, curse, dark academia, drug use, Fighting, gay awakening, gay romance, Ghost Stories, homoerotic behaviour, Lee Mandelo, LGBTQ author, LGBTQ romance, murder mystery, Nashville, psychic abilities, queer romance, self-destruction, sexual tension up the wazoo, street racing, Tennessee, toxic friendships, toxic relationships, Toxic Romance, transgender characters, transgender main character, trauma bonding ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments


Recent Comments

  • Tracy
    on can a fiction book about the historical racial terrorism be funny actually yes
    I really liked Dr No. James was good but got a little dark. Erasure was great but I hated the...
  • ElCicco
    on “The wonder is that you could start life with nothing, end with nothing, and lose so much in between.”
    I can see this being one of my top reads this year. I keep thinking about it
  • faintingviolet
    on First Book in a New Series
    The cat gets an okay amount of page time. She is an 18 year old senior lady who belongs to...
  • Esmemoria
    on “The wonder is that you could start life with nothing, end with nothing, and lose so much in between.”
    I loved this book. One of my top five reads from last year.
  • wicherwill
    on can a fiction book about the historical racial terrorism be funny actually yes
    which one(s) would you recommend?
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