Breaking Character (Lee Winter) - ★★★★★
I started out thinking this was going to be a standard rom-com. Girl meets girl, and fast forward a few misunderstandings and dramas later, they fall in love and get the standard happily ever after. Well, this book took my expectations, played with them a couple times, and then shattered them completely. This was... this was absolutely gorgeous. I fell in love with Elizabeth's cold exterior, her contradictory kindness, her incredible vulnerability and fear of rejection. I fell in love with Summer's sunny smiles, her unbelievable strength and positivity in the face of adversity. And most of all, I fell in love with the stunning beauty but genuine authenticity of their relationship. I really enjoyed Winter's portrayal of people as what they are: flawed beings with an unimaginable capacity to create beauty, but also a capacity to inflicting pain. Her examination of toxic relationships through Grace and true friendships through numerous supporting characters was amazing. And I ...