There are some beautiful and heartbreaking moments in this book. However, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea with the cult theme & I found it a tad slow.

Becoming Calder is one of the most well-written, heart pulling strings book that I have read so far this year. Calder and Eden are characters you can't help but love and their forbidden love story is one that's so well done that it's truly unforgettable. I don't want to give anything away because I think this is a book every reader should read at least once. I have not read many cult type stories but after reading this book, I'm open to reading more. There are some beautiful, pure, heartfelt, heartbreaking and funny moments in this story with amazing side characters that you will love. There were a few parts of the story that was a little slow for me, but in no way did it take away from the characters or the story. This is a definitely a story worth reading and will have you desperately wanting to not only read the next book and look into other books from this author.

This was a touching, beautiful and devastating book all rolled into one. The love story was absolutely beautiful. This was a very enjoyable read and I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the arc of this book.

5 FREAKING STARS

"Morning Glory," I murmured, my lips lingering on her forehead for a moment. "Where do you find your strength?" "From you," she whispered.

Becoming Calder takes place in a cult in Arizona that is cut off from the world. This cult is run by a man, Hector, who believes and has convinced people that there will be a flood 2 months after our FMC, Eden, and him get married. Eden is groomed from around age 6 to be the perfect wife of her guardian. Calder, our MMC, and Eden become friends over the years, but aren't permitted to be around one another, because she is their "savior", and he's just a lowly worker. This is the first book in the duology.

GOD. This book was a trip. I was enraptured the moment I started it and it stayed that way until I finished. I knew I would like it because Mia Sheridan is a fantastic author who makes you feel all the feelings, but what I didn't expect was to be sobbing by the end. And, I mean snotting, tears wont stop, sobbing.

I felt so bad for Eden. She was secluded her entire life, told that she had to sacrifice her own happiness and wants for the "good of her people", and made to feel like she was some kind of fragile prize. When she started becoming friends with Calder, I loved every second of it. She wanted to learn absolutley everything, seeing as she wasn't allowed to be educated. She had so much character growth in this book.

Can we all take a minute to fan ourselves while I talk about Calder? Because wow, talk about a dream man. He was just such a genuinely good person. I'm all for a brooding grump, but Calder was a nice change of pace from the typical book boyfriends. He cared for everyone around him, and he quite literally protected Eden with his life multiple times. Reading about him coming to terms with the fact that life as he knew it his entire life was all a lie was so interesting.

I loved Calder and Eden's relationship. This is the kind of pairing that defeats all odds.

"It made me believe that even seemingly hopeless situations can work out in the end. Even when everything looks to be a mess--and you're not sure how or why or where to turn--that with love, everything will be okay, that we'll be okay."

I didn't realize this book was one of two, and now I'm kicking myself and have to wait until October 3rd when it's republished to finish Calder and Eden's story, but they'll be worth the wait. I knew Mia Sheridan was good, but... damn.

Thank you Bloom Books and Netgalley for sending me an eARC of Becoming Calder.

🫰🏾🫰🏾 🫰🏾snaps for Mia Sheridan! It has been a while since I’ve read a romance that has REFUSED to let me put it down - but I was breathless racing through this story waiting to see how Eden and Calder’s story would play out.

I love the uniqueness of this book. I’m a big fan of romantasy, and this book does that but is 100% not fantasy and solidly rooted in reality while still managing to take you to a different world. While there are some heavy elements (heard mentality, religious perversion/cults, child abuse) this is completely a love story.

Mia writes characters that readers will really care about, and there is just the right amount of supporting characters to fill out the world they live in.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, but again is balanced well in leaving readers feel satisfied with the stopping point, but waiting on the edge of their seats to find out what happens next.

Another winner from Mia Sheridan! Just as heart-wrenching, romantic, and spicy as what we know and love from her. Fans will love this!

Mia Sheridan continues to be one of my favorite authors have yet to be disappointed by anything I have read from her. I really liked Becoming Calder and am looking forward to reading the next book in the duology. This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions and was hard to put down once it got going. I don't want to give too much away but the main characters in this novel were so well written and the story and theme of cults while hard to read at times was also handled really well. I want to thank NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

This first book in the duology had me hooked and absorbed from literally the first page. The premise sounded promising, hence my request, and I was familiar with the wonderful works of Ms. Sheridan, but I had no idea how entertained I would be. I liked everything about this book and can imagine it will be a huge success upon publishing. I was enthralled in the world that I entered and fascinated with many of the elements she expertly mixed into the plot. I recommend this to the fullest!