Hold Me

A modern twist on You've Got Mail. Maria Lopez writes an apocalypse-centred anonymous blog which has just hit the big time, estranged from her parents since she was 12 years old, she relies heavily on the support of her brother. She has actively engaged with an individual who has been commentating on her blog for the past 18 months and they have become texting buddies through the anonymised interface. Jay na Thalang is a Professor mentoring Maria's twin brother, already disapproving that he is engaged rather than concentrating on his career, Jay is horrified to meet Maria who he dismisses because she is beautiful and wears sexy clothes - he falls into the classic misogynist trap of thinking pretty girls can't understand STEM. At their first meeting he is unbelievably rude and continues to be so each time they meet, totally overlooking the fact that Maria understands her brother's specialist field. And of course Jay is Maria's commentator but doesn't know it. I feel conflicted about making the next comment because TBH half of me thinks it has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not you enjoy the romantic comedy of this book. Then the other half wants to shout it from the rooftops and she won. Part of the reason I loved this book is that Maria is a trans woman and nobody cares, other than some issues about pronouns and not being able to understand certain points of view. Another reviewer noted that gender and sexuality are less important in the STEM world, although the belief that being girly somehow precludes the individual from being clever is still apparently widespread, and that is how the matter is treated in the book, it is who Maria is but it doesn't define her (I hope that makes sense). Overall, who wouldn't love a nerdy enemies to lovers romance featuring a handsome gazillionaire adjacent college professor and a hot blogger? Loved it and can't believe that the next books in the series are so delayed.

Good