Ribbonwood

This book is seriously competing with (and perhaps has surpassed) all of my other favorite sapphic romance novels. The character development is spectacular and the storyline is clever. Ollie and Lara, former small town high school rivals, seem an unlikely pair at first, but intrigued Ollie slowly figures Lara out as caring Lara lets down her defenses, and boy is she not what anyone would have expected after reading the prologue. At first I was a tad put off by the use of story telling from supporting characters' perspectives, particularly the gossiping townspeople and the police officers (it all seemed a bit random at first and I was a bit confused wondering where all of it was going), but as the story came together piece by piece, I began to appreciate the creative use of these perspectives to tell this delightful story. A+++ for the romance scenes which were the most well-written, steamy, and authentic romance scenes I've ever read in a sapphic romance novel and that's saying something considering my collection is fairly extensive. I'm certain I will be adding some more Ruby Landers to the collection shortly!

So it may appear that my review is late to the party, but I wanted to take my time. I read the book when it first dropped, I was in fact waiting for it with bated breath. I had a reminder on my phone, I read it the same night in one sitting, then I put it away. I then read other books in the genre, re-read on of the trilogy books in the Grace series and waited. I then read this book three more times. I needed to be sure that what I felt was real. This is probably the most current, exquisite lesbian romance novels ever written. There is the mundane at this point: Ruby Landers is a genius at character development and story arc. There is the expected: there will be scorching hot sex scenes that leave the reader breathless. Then there is the sublime: in a genre that feels very much in its infancy regarding quality of writing, Ruby Landers has not just raised the bar, she is setting the standard. In one fell sweep she tackles misogyny, slut-shaming, trauma, family dynamics, femininity , race dynamics, cultural dynamics, social norms and still writes a gripping romance where all the messages are so neatly and precisely housed in the tale the reader could almost miss them if obtuse. It’s exceptional. The author also keenly has her finger on the pulse of now, more astutely aware than others in the genre of the growing diversity, representation matters and she makes the effort time and again in her books. No one dimensional characters for her, a clear understanding of cultural…

A story well written, well done, and worth your time. I liked this book a lot- I laughed and cried and enjoyed every minute.