A Girl Like Her (Ravenswood #1) by Talia Hibbert

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“There are some things you don’t get over. You just accept them, and keep breathing. That’s enough.”

Talia Hibbert is a national treasure, and I don’t think that I ever want to leave Ravenswood or these characters. Talia truly crafts the most heartwarming romances, with amazingly diverse characters, and weaves in some of the sexiest scenes I’ve ever read in my entire life. I have loved everything that she has written so far, and A Girl Like Her is probably my favorite yet. Truly a masterpiece, and she is truly creating a brand-new tier in the romance genre, above the rest.

➽ Ruth Kabbah – Black and autistic (both ownvoices), plus sized, web comic creator, in love with all things comic related, close with her family (especially her sister), and is very weary of new people because of something that happened in her past.

➽ Evan Miller – White, ex-military, new to town, and Ruth’s new neighbor. Evan is also learning to live with a loss from his past, and he really is such a giving and kind soul and hopes to win over his new neighbors with his shepherd pie.

Obviously, these two’s paths cross and they start a friendship over food and comics, and like, what damn goals! Ruth doesn’t leave her apartment too often, because of an abusive relationship that happened in her past and the fall out because of it. And Evan is slowly putting together the pieces of what might have happened, while he also realizes how damn small Ravenswood truly is.

This book just masterfully weaves so many important elements into this tale, too. Ruth, being on the autism spectrum, feels overwhelmed many times throughout the novel, but she never once feels like a stereotype. Ruth just handles a few things differently sometimes, and that’s okay, but it has never and will never hold her back from anything, ever.

Also, this book is so damn sex positive and I was actually saying “YES!” while reading some of things Ruth said in this book. What a damn queen. Also, like in all her books, Talia always puts consent at the forefront, and proves over and over why nothing is sexier in romance than consent!

I really loved how this book also talked about the guilt abuse victims will feel, even though they were the ones who did nothing wrong. I think this is just something we don’t talk a lot about as a community and a society, but survivor’s guilt is so real, and something that so many people have such a hard time coming to terms with. And seeing Ruth realize that Daniels constant harassment and manipulation was nothing that she deserved truly added five years to my life.

“Because allowing yourself to be manipulated by a man like Daniel wasn’t a crime, and you never deserved to be punished.”

Overall, I just loved this more than words. The sex was steamy and hot. The characters were simultaneously so soft but so very strong. The themes were important and so beautifully woven. And the story was so damn easy to fall in love with. At this point, I’m just going to preorder and read everything that Talia Hibbert writes, because she is a damn gift to the romance genre.

Content and trigger warnings explicit sex scenes, talk of past abusive relationship, talk of past harassment and stalking, talk of cancer, and talk of past loss of a loved one.

This was a pick for the Dragons and Tea Book Club! 🐉☕