The day Music died, by Jern Tonkoi

The Day Music Died: A queer speculative romance of memory, longing, and the magic of being seen by Jern Tonkoi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those quiet, slow-building stories that lingers long after the last page. At first, not much seems to be happening — Tonkoi spends time layering context, history, and atmosphere — but by the end, the emotional weight really hits. It’s lyrical, thoughtful, and deeply sentimental in a way that stayed with me.

The characters aren’t drawn with a lot of detail, yet they feel alive and achingly real. Tobias, in particular, is at the heart of the story: a man haunted by absence, searching for the piece of himself that’s always felt missing, whether in others or in Music itself.

Despite the subtitle, this isn’t a conventional romance. Love is here, yes, but it’s more subdued — not the main spotlight, but a steady undercurrent that shapes Tobias’s journey. And when it does surface, it feels quiet, tender, and inevitable.

If you’re looking for fast-paced action or heavy romance tropes, this may not be the right fit. But if you enjoy speculative fiction that explores memory, identity, and the bittersweet magic of being truly seen, The Day Music Died is a beautiful, lingering read.

View all my reviews

A wreck, you make me by Saffron A. Kent

A Wreck, You Make Me by Saffron A. Kent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Wreck, You Make Me is a dark romance that leans heavily on taboo elements and a love-hate dynamic.

What I appreciated most was the MMC’s arc: coming from a troubled past, he struggles to process emotions, open up, and allow himself happiness with the heroine. That layer of vulnerability, paired with the slow realization of what he really feels, gave the romance some genuine depth. I also liked the underlying theme of longing and unspoken love—watching those moments break through the toxic dynamic kept me invested.

That said, other aspects didn’t fully work for me. The “stepbrother/incest” vibe is pushed strongly, but since the characters aren’t actually related—not even by law—the taboo didn’t feel convincing, more like a device for added drama. On top of that, the bullying and humiliation sometimes went too far, crossing into territory that, for me, doesn’t sit comfortably in a romantic framework. Rather than deepening the story, the darker tropes often felt included for shock value.

Overall, I enjoyed the emotional pull of the romance when framed through the hero’s struggles, but the emphasis on taboo and toxic dynamics overshadowed it at times. Readers who enjoy darker, boundary-pushing romances may find more to love here, but I personally would have preferred more focus on the healing and emotional connection.

View all my reviews