Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK - One More Chapter for this ARC e-copy of Look Up, Handsome by Jack Strange.

Pull your cozy armchair up to the fireplace, warm up some hot cocoa, and break out this book, marketed as a Hallmark-adjacent LGBTQ+ winterttime romance. It just wasn’t for me.

My main problem with this book is that I didn’t like Quinn, the main character, at all. Has he endured hardships in his life, including the death of a beloved parent and being gay? Yes. Is he currently being threatened with eviction from his bookshop by his own step-father? Also yes. But none of this makes me feel bad for Quinn largely due to his behavior toward others. Quinn is bitter and hateful to everyone he knows, including his so-called best friend and his own mother, who he just can’t forgive for getting remarried after her former husband’s death. This haterism also extends to people that only occasionally pop up in the narrative—the only thing you’ll know about these people is that Quinn met them once and hates them. No amount of quirky mishaps or clumsy pitfalls could make me like Quinn from the very first chapter, unfortunately.

With its aggressive cheerfulness and British-adjacent, slightly forced humor, this book reminded me a lot of Matt Cain’s “Becoming Ted,” which I read earlier this year and didn’t particularly enjoy either. I suppose there must be a market for this type of thing, and I’m just not a part of it.

☆ ☆ - OKAY / DNF

My favorite thing about this story was the setting. It takes place in the town of Hay-on-Wye, which is known for having over 20 bookstores. It also took place at christmas time which created a really cozy atmosphere.
The cast of characters was fun. I really liked how everyone rallied around Quinn to help save the bookshop. I feel like my main issue was that I just found myself slightly bored. I didn't feel fully connected to anything going on. The elements were all interesting on there own it just wasn't executed in a way that had me fully pulled into the story. I also really liked all the scenes with Noah's mother in them. She was probably my favorite character in the whole story.
I'll also say that I was surprised by how the conflict of the book ended up being resolved. I thought I had it figured out early on but I was definitely wrong. I also really appreciated the feeling of family at the end of the story.
Overall this was pretty cute, and if you want hallmark movie vibes in a bookstore town with LGBT+ protagonists this might be a good option for you.

A sweet, queer Christmas season romance! It’s a bit cheesy, but in an endearing way that I appreciated. I didn’t feel like the main characters had the most sparkling chemistry, but it was a fun holiday read.

3.5⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to ARC read this book!

It was honestly super cute and British and I loved the Christmas vibes.

The main character had a great personality, and the buildup between the two MMCs was lovely. It felt like a cozy gay rom com! I loved the astrology talk and the queer exploration conversations as well. All of the things I love in a queer book were definitely in this!

The only downside is that I felt like things were getting dragged out a bit too long and I was starting to get bored about 70% in. I really had to push myself to finish the book, but I am glad I did!

Again, super cute, gay, and cozy!! Would still recommend to others♥️🫶🏻

I COULD LIVE IN THIS BOOK WORLD FOREVER!!

Do you ever just read a story and know that you could happily exist in the world on page? Well Look Up, Handsome is the world that I think I would love to live in. It’s cozy and quaint and cutesy and very demure!

Jack Strange is an author that has caught my attention and will keep it! This novel was so adorable and exactly what I want in my holiday romances. Look Up, Handsome has wit, classic romance, and enough angst to keep me hooked. And I think that speaks to the amazing ability that Jack Strange possesses. This is also coming from someone that doesn’t usually love super cozy books, but something about the safe atmosphere made me want to be present for each and every scene.

The plot of this story is at first pretty straightforward. We follow our hero, Quinn, as he is introduced to one of his favorite authors. However, hijinks ensue and Quinn has to write off the experience. Once Noah enters the scene, things take off at a fast pace. The story has some twists and turns with the bookstore saving plot that might feel like a Hallmark movie (this is something that I loved though)! But never fear, the romance and problem solving offers so much for both queer readers and allies (much like the clientele of Kings & Queens)!

Truly I enjoyed this and cannot recommend it enough for a great holiday romance! Check this out - you will thank me later!!

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for a complimentary eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review

I was immediately pulled into Hay-On-Wye with this holiday gay rom-com. The way Jack wrote about Quinn finding his voice and Noah’s anxiety resonated with me and my own anxiety. This reminded me of a hallmark movie and was a quick easy read that was inviting and heartwarming. Reading this reminded me of books by Alexis Hall.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I would rate this book 3.5 stars and 1 chili pepper for spice. If you enjoy slow burns (and I mean slow) this was a super cute drawn out romance. As far as plots go, this book could easily be a Hallmark Christmas movie. I enjoyed the plot of Quinn fighting to not lose his LGBTQ+ bookstore, and his love interest, Noah, is a famous author who is struggling with his own family and relationship issues. I rated it 3.5 stars because I really personally wished that this book would have been dual POV. I found my self wanting to know Noah's thoughts during the whole book. I also wish there would have been a little bit more spice because this entire book is a slow burn up until the last few chapters. I just felt like I was waiting forever for something to happen between the to MC's. If you like low spice and slow burns then this is the perfect holiday story to read on a cold winter day.

this was a very heartwarming read, very much the vibes of a hallmark movie /pos. not much thought needed, lighthearted, quick read with a sweet couple and good causes. sure, it could’ve been better but the simple-ness made it charming. you know who the bad guy is, who the love interest will be, who the best friend is. it’s neatly laid out in a way that’s relaxing and refreshing

thank you to netgalley and jack strange for an e-ARC in exchange for this review :)

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for a complimentary eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Look Up, Handsome tells the story of Quinn Oxford, proprietor of Hay-on-Wye's (of Hay Festival fame) first and only queer bookshop, Kings and Queens. Catastrophe looms as Kings and Queens is threatened by eviction during the festive season. Enter Noah Sage, romance novelist, who reluctantly returns to Hay to attend the Hay Festival Winter Weekend. Trapped by inclement weather, Noah stays longer in Hay than expected, running into Quinn over and over again in the small town. As Christmas approaches, Quinn tries to save Kings and Queens (with the help of his best friend Ivy, his employee Daniel Craig, and a whole cast of supportive community members) all while his feelings for Noah grow and deepen.

I had a lot of fun with this novel! It had so much going for it: a book about a bookstore, queer representation, small (and twee!) town drama, family conflict, hidden secrets, and, of course, Christmas (including an enigmatic visit with Santa)! Quinn's yearning for the aloof, mysterious, and brooding Noah is palpable and the cast of supporting characters is lovely, even if some of them aren't fully fleshed out. It's easy to like and support Quinn, especially against the forces conspiring against him.

The book is enjoyable, fun, and quick. It's a great treat during the coming winter months as the nights grow longer and days grow colder. It's not revolutionary in the genre of romance but that doesn't mean it can't be savoured (like mulled wine)! It warmed my heart and made me smile. The acknowledgements were a special treat! For those in the know, Gay on Wye is the real-life LGBTQ+ bookstore in Hay-on-Wye and I was so happy to see them acknowledged. It was like this book put that energy into the universe and the universe responded.

I love a good bookshop trope, and this definitely didn’t disappoint!

Quinn is fighting to save his bookshop, Hay-on-Wye’s only queer bookshop, from a greedy developer who wants to make it part of the castle that is being restored across the street.

Things become more complicated with who the developer is.

Then there is the dashingly handsome author, Noah, that has come home to speak at the annual book festival. Clearly unhappy to be back in the small town of his childhood, foul weather lengthens his stay.

Can the pair team up to find a way to fight the developer?

This was a really fun, cozy read. I loved Quinn’s dedication to his store and the customers that it serves. And Noah is everything you look for in a grumpy character. Noah’s mother adds a bit of mystery to the story as well.

You’re going to love this small town and the way they band together!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.

2.75/5

It's not a terrible book, but it's not my favourite one either.

The first scene of Quinn meeting Noah was already a terrible one and it only went downhill from there. He was dragged by his friend Ivy to Noah's panel, and then, she poured her drink on his trousers so it looked like Quinn wet himself. And THEN everyone (including Noah) saw his wet pants and came to the same conclusion. But did Ivy apologize or say it was her doing? No, not until Quinn left, humiliated. And even then people thought that Quinn had an accident.

And it only went downhill from there. Quinn was so shy and anxious he could barely speak to other people and it was annoying how Ivy didn't respect his boundaries and forced him to do things he didn't want to. Eventually Quinn realized that he had to do them by himself (fear of eviction etc), but being in his head was annoying. I was waiting for Noah's point of view and was disappointed that we never got any.

The book was cheesy and predictable. The writing wasn't the best and the author threw random words like "werk" which seemed really out of place and we're jarring. The small town setting was cute and Christmas books are always fun, but this one wasn't for me. But perhaps other people like it more!

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for giving me access to this ARC.

A queer Christmas romcom?! ITS A DREAM COME TRUE! 🫶🏼

This story is super cute, I loved all the characters and I felt so happy reading it.

Brief synopsis:
Our main character Quinn, is a gay bookstore owned in a small town in the UK, Hay. He loves his work, loves helping people, loves the town, and hopes to continue owning Kings & Queens forever. Enter: his mom’s boyfriend Harold 😡 Harold gets in the way of Quinn’s lovely life and threatens everything he has built. Quinn meets Noah at a local book signing and they feel pulled to each other, as their friendship forms they both feel the pull for something more - but Noah is a city guy, with no intentions of moving to Hay. The story follows Quinn’s journey through the holiday season navigating his life and it’s a fun ride we get to come along for!

The story moved at a good pace for me and I felt the characters were all sweet and easy to like.

If you’re looking for a sweet, queer holiday romcom, this is for you!

Such a cosy little romcom to get you in the winter spirit!
I would have loved it to be dual pov but oh well.

I was so very lucky to be able to visit Hay on Wye whilst I read this book, and this really is a love letter to the town. If you know the place, this will bring this book to life even more.

I enjoyed the story, it was fun and the whole premise worked for me. I liked Quinn, but I would have loved a dual POV for this, I really would have loved to be in Noah’s head and to see more of him and his character.

I struggled a little with the relationship between the two, it was sometimes too slow and sometimes too fast. I adored the side characters and the villain, Ivy and Gordon being stand out for me.

I would recommend this book, it was sweet and fun and if you love Hay on Wye, it is a necessity.

this story was such a cosy, fun, charming read. i thoroughly enjoyed reading this. i absolutely loved the story of the only lgbtq+ bookshop in hay-on-wye, kings & queens, and it being threatened with being shut down. the story helped pave the way of how important representation actually is to the people in the queer community, that something like a bookstore can help, and guide and heal people.

Look Up, Handsome is a sweet little novel that sees Quinn Oxford fighting to save his livelihood, Hay-on-Wye’s only queer bookshop. When an awkward yet adorable meet-cute happens between Quinn and author Noah, a possible budding romance is set in motion. But Noah has no plans to stay in Hay, as ghosts of his past still torment the writer. Will Quinn lose his shop and his chance at love?

Honestly? It’s hugely predictable and exactly what you want from a romantic novel of this genre. Yes the plot is simple and cheesy, but it’s not denying that, it fully embraces it’s romcom roots and rightly so.

As a person who has been to Hay Festival (albeit in the summer) and the town of Hay, I did love the setting, and Strange did capture the magic of both the town and the festival perfectly, and made me want to visit again. However, I think the Christmas setting could have been developed much more.

The characters are very likeable, and the interactions between Quinn and Noah are believable and adorable. I think they lacked any real depth though, and could have definitely been fleshed out more. I think on reflection, we didn’t really get to learn much about who Quinn was other than on a superficial level.

What I did find irritating, was every so often, Strange would throw in a cliched, stereotypical LGBTQIA word or phrase such as “Slay!” or “Werk!” and it just felt really out of place as if the author was just including it to be trendy. I also found one of the later scenes rather jarring… if you’re going to write a sex scene, do it properly or simply fade to black. This was so rushed; it lacked the build-up and emotion that would have been a lovely payoff. It just didn’t seem to fit in with the style of the rest of the book.

Look Up, Handsome is a nice little read, but it isn’t life changing in any way. One piece of advice…read it in Winter, not the middle of Summer!

Quinn is about to be evicted from his LGBTQIA+ book shop - by his stepfather! He and his friend Ivy are considering how they can save the shop when Noah does a book talk in town and eventually gets wind about the possibility of the store being closed.

There’s a funny meet-cute (well not for Quinn) and a sub plot of Quinn also being a writer and Noah’s infamous actress mother needing a ghost writer for her autobiography. we have grump sunshine banter, a potential love triangle, a small town, family dysfunction, and a host of super fun secondary characters you want to know more about. Except the step-father ……. He can go jump.

For readers who like some simmering tension, a little angst and a pretty clean romance this one might be for you.

My preference is a little more of an open door but this book worked and the enjoyment factor for me was still high regardless.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me the opportunity to read and review the book.

4.25/5

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC. The story follows Quinn as he tries to save his beloved (and Hay’s only LGBTQIA+) bookshop from being closed down while also dealing with his crush on the town’s romance author.
I enjoyed reading this book, though the romance was a full slow burn that could’ve been given a bit more attention in my opinion. There was some great character development from both the main and the side characters. I also absolutely loved Quinn’s interactions with his bookshop customers and they way the community of Hay came together for his bookshop - it highlighted the importance of safe queer spaces.
If you want a cosy, slow burn Christmas romance this book is for you.

A simple, sweet, gay Hallmark-esque novel that will get you into the cozy winter spirit. Faced with losing his LGBTQ+ bookstore, Quinn must find the energy and nerve to push back against his stepfather and rally with the community to keep his doors open. Along the way, what's a little romance with a best-selling romance author who avoids the town they were raised in? This was a feel-good novel that helped me beat the heat at the end of July. I will definitely recommend this novel to patrons and friends alike.

a cute story about the owner of a bookshop who falls in love with another man. sweet, quick read. I enjoyed the story.