Red Hot + Blue Reads: Review: '90s Playlist by Amy Jo Cousins, Audra North, Brighton Walsh, Jennifer Blackwood, Lorelie Brown & Rebecca Grace Allen

'90s Playlist
Amy Jo Cousins, Audra North, Brighton Walsh, Jennifer Blackwood, Lorelie Brown, Rebecca Grace Allen

Publication date: October 13th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Romance

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26267065-90s-playlist

Six stories of sex, love, and being young in the ‘90s, inspired by songs of the decade…

My Strongest Weakness by Brighton Walsh
It was supposed to be a one-time thing. No one would find out; no one would have to know. And then once turned into twice, and twice turned into several times a week, and now pierced, punk-loving, rebellious Tia Lanning is banging Mason Brooks, the big man on campus and Mr. All American. But banging him isn’t the problem. Falling for him is. Especially when he’s content to let her remain his dirty little secret.

Worthwhile by Audra North
Jill didn’t expect her semester in Leeds to start with getting dumped by her boyfriend. Especially since she only came to England to be with him. Two weeks in, all she wants to do is go home. Finding love with someone new is definitely not an option. But when she literally stumbles into grad student Stuart’s arms, her experience abroad becomes a lot more worthwhile.

Creep by Lorelie Brown
Roni lives for the raves in Oakland’s warehouse district. Dancing till dawn in white gloves under black lights breathes life into her soul. Nothing will get her kicked out of her underground world faster than turning over Skittles, her dealer. She refuses to provide info about the underage runaway to his big brother Tom. But Tom is going to find Skittles with or without Roni’s cooperation. But Tom is special. He’s rich, handsome and bold. Roni wishes she was special. And like the rave scene she loves, nothing lasts forever.

Smells Like Teen Spirit by Rebecca Grace Allen
Rory Stone’s days of grunge and poetry are behind her, her reality now in bags of Arabian brew, and counting the change in the tip jar. Can indie singer James Griffith rock her muse back into the present?

The Belle vs. the BDOC by Amy Jo Cousins
Shelby Summerfield is a gold star lesbian, even if she doesn’t look like one. Florence Truong is the only other dyke at Carlisle College in 1993 not wearing plaid flannel, and Shelby sets her sights on seduction. But instead of a delightful tumble in the sheets, Florence calls her out for being a straight girl. With seduction off the table, Shelby settles for revenge for her humiliation. But if all she wants is to show up her campus rival, how come Shelby can’t stop herself from saving Florence instead of annihilating her?

Little Red Thong by Jennifer Blackwood
Emily Jones is ready to embark on the most epic spring break trip of her college career with her bestie, twin brother, and her brother’s best friend, Chase. Chase has been in love with Emily since the eighth grade when she kicked his ass in laser tag. He’s not going to piss away his last chance to tell her how he feels. When the group decides to play a game of Spring Break BINGO that involves body shots, a red thong, and secret hookups, this is the perfect catalyst to get him out of the friend zone. But as things get heated, they have to decide if twenty years of friendship is worth putting in jeopardy because of a game, and what will happen when they hit dry land.

Buy Links

Amazon || KOBO

What I thought about '90s Playlist

I love stories that are inspired by music so this anthology was just perfect for me. And it includes authors that I've read before and like/love and also some new authors that I'm happy to try out.

The stories are short and also entertaining. Not only is there a song from the 1990's that inspired the story, but there's also little reminders of the culture of those days included in each story, which I adored. Activities like raves and ecstacy use are not whitewashed and I loved that in Creep. Hookups turning to something more is the theme of Brighton Walsh's My Strongest Weakness and Amy Jo Cousins contributes an interesting F/F story that makes me love her storytelling even more than I already do. Audra North delivers on Worthwhile with a tale of love-lost and love-found while on a study abroad trip. And Jennifer Blackwoods takes the best friends brother story to a different level with a game of Spring Break BINGO that makes shines a spotlight on the friend zone.

All the stories and fun, quick reads -- just perfect for when you are between books or just looking for something that isn't too intense or demanding on your time.

I really enjoyed '90s Playlist, probably because I can relate to this time period. While each story was anchored by a song from that time period, there is a universal quality to the stories that was appealing to me.

ARC provided for review.