Springer’s work is consistently good: she brings a lot to the table as a storyteller, and I will read all of her work if given the opportunity. Thaw was well written and enjoyable, although I’ll be honest, of her works it wasn’t my absolute favorite. The pacing felt a little slow to me. There were times when I wasn’t totally engaged in the story.

I liked Abby’s storyline. I felt invested in her anxieties over her library potentially closing and in her worries about dating someone who lives in a completely different world, so to speak, than her. Abby’s love of people watching and story telling was compelling, and also worked really well as we see her learning to navigate spaces such as Gabrielle’s photo shoot, and trying to understand other’s motivations throughout.

I believe that Gabrielle’s reticence to talk at all about anything personal for so long slowed the relationship believably down, for me a little too much. I understand why she was reticent, but it was hard to relate to Abby’s continued interest in pursuing something with Gabrielle when there was so little give in the beginning.

Springer did an excellent job creating chemistry between them; when Gabrielle did thaw a little, or moments when she was more herself with Abby, the scenes were lovely. Abby’s anxiety about coming out as ace was balanced really perfectly. Their communication and establishment of boundaries is important to see and I’m glad Springer wrote it. I, personally, struggled with Abby thinking she *had* to engage in something sexual to make Brie happy. However, I know that this is just because the phrasing struck a chord with me and how I feel about sex (and my own greyness).

This story is an important read: an #ownvoices story from an author who not only has an understanding of the struggles Abby might be going through, but who also took the time to talk to others who are ace and experience these moments, negotiations and romance in different ways.

A great addition to the Seasons of Love series.

This is the first novel I've ever read with an asexual character so I didn't know what to expect. Springer has created a story with charisma, angst, humour and love and I think she nails it.

This book didn't connect with me emotionally and I didn't care for either of the protagonists. This relationship seemed based on a mutual interest in each other - but not an attraction or compulsion to be with the other person. Much as I perceived they felt for each other - sort of "I like her - enough" - is how I felt. I liked it - enough. But not enough to offer a resounding recommendation. I like Ms. Springer's worldbuilding and I'm interested in where this group of friends eventually end up but this title was a miss for me.

an all-inclusive book with searing honesty about everyday life.

This books was just ok. An asexual heroine does not make for a compelling story and I found the library resolution implausible.

When I heard about this #ownvoices asexual f/f romance, I knew I had to read it. And I'm so glad I did!

In this book we get to meet Abby, a librarian girl who is biromantic asexual; and Gabrielle, a famous actress and model who is also bi (I think?). And it's great to see two apparently so different people discovering they have lots of things in common, and slowly falling in love with each other.

I love how their relationship evolves (and how they grow up as individuals as well), how they open up to each other little by little (even though they both have trust issues), and how they talk about and respect boundaries.

The writing might not be the best and the story is a bit predictable, but it's still a cute and important read, and I especially appreciate that the author explores asexuality in such an open, positive, and respectful way.

Thaw is the second book in the Seasons of Love series, but you can read it as a standalone.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I'm glad to see a lesbian romance featuring an asexual protagonist (especially from an asexual author), but the writing fell a bit flat for me. There was too much telling and not enough showing, especially with regard to Gabrielle and Abby's developing relationship, and I felt that the dialogue was frequently stilted. It was all very professional -- no typos, no grammar errors -- but it didn't flow. That said, I've read plenty of het romance novels with the same problems and they all found their audiences, so perhaps the truest form of equal representation will be when we all have enough mediocre romance novels to see ourselves in. For the time being, I'll give this one three stars out of five for taking a risk with its subject matter and achieving a decent but not great read.

Asexual MC FTW! I was very excited when this book was announced because 1) it has an ace MC - and one who isn't questioning it! Has a librarian/model pairing AND it's #ownvoices! Admittedly I've also read great books featuring asexual protags that weren't written by asexual authors (or authors on the ace-spectrum) but knowing that Elyse Springer is ace too made me just more excited to read Thaw. It also reassured me that the representation* wouldn't be harmful or inaccurate.
(*It's one way to portray it and not an universal portrayal. Every experience is different)

This book was just...it made me happy and I adore it! (Why is it so hard to find words for this book?) I want to say so much about how this story is so special to me and how I *loved* the characters, but nothing I'll say could ever do the story, and what I felt when reading it, justice.
I read this when I wasn't feeling so good about being ace. There had been some BS on twitter that really dragged me down (though I should know better by now than to look), so I decided to read this instead of another book I had planned to read. And this story defintely came at the right time for me - the dedication already made me tear up. Seeing a positive representation of an ace character - one with friends who are accepting without restrictions - and one who is content with being ace, really helped me. I really can't put into words how much I love it when I see a protagonist who is like me or at least very similar.

Gabrielle and Abigail come from different worlds. Gabrielle is used to not worrying about how she'll pay the next rent, or if she'll lose her job. Her life isn't perfect, but in some ways she has it easier than Abigail who is worrying about possibly losing her job and potentially not being able to afford rent anymore.

I loved how both got to know each other, fell in love and also learned that their differences don't necessarily have to keep them apart if they make compromises.
Elyse Springer did a fantastic job of portraying each characters worries without it being too much. Thaw was still mostly a light read.

Gabrielle's transformation from "ice queen" to "Brie" left me with warm fuzzy feelings. I really enjoyed the opposites attract-aspect of this story. In some ways Gabby and Abigail couldn't be more different but at the same time there's a lot that they can relate to with each other. So seeing them slowly fall in love was just beautiful.

More than once I found myself wanting to be in New York to see the things they saw. The scenery just came alive on page and I couldn't get enough.

I also loved how they found a middle-ground on the sexual aspect of their relationship without Abigail having to bend and twist just so she could be with Gabrielle. I want more stories like that!

I didn't want this story to end. This story is special and beautiful, the pacing is great and I just have so much <3 for it. Now I'm really looking forward to the next story in the series! If you haven't read them yet, I strongly urge you to do that.

So, I think I've established that I'm a fan of M/M romance, but F/F? Not so much. Don't ask me why, because I have no reasonable explanation. I just can't get into them and believe me, I've tried. So, why didn't I even hesitate to pick up Thaw? Well, that's simple. I fell in love with the characters in Whiteout and I couldn't resist seeing where the rest of the books in Elyse Springer's Seasons of Love series took them.

Abby was one of my favorite supporting characters in Whiteout. She was a great friend to Noah and in Thaw, he got to return the favor. I really enjoyed getting to know her even better, as well as a few other characters from the first book. Abby gained quite a few friends when she became friends with Noah.

Gabrielle had earned her reputation as the Ice Queen honestly, but Abby saw something in her that others hadn't. The same was true of Gabrielle's reaction to Abby. She didn't let her guard down or open herself up to many people. There was something about Abby that drew her in and let her relax, just a little. That was enough. What little time they got to spend together alone was good. When they were out in the open, things were tense. There was more than one misunderstanding and one that finally was the last straw for Abby. Things aren't always what they seem and secrets have a way of hurting the last people you'd expect. My heart broke for both of these characters equally at different times during Thaw. They were both fighting their own private battles and I couldn't help but root for their HEA because by the end, they totally deserved it.

If Thaw was any indication, I'm pretty sure that readers haven't seen the last of Gabrielle and Abby. I like it when a series keeps characters together, especially since they've been so supportive of each other. That seems to be a theme in this series. Heatwave is next and it's another F/F book in the Seasons of Love series. It also features another one of my favorite characters from both Thaw and Whiteout. Seems that Sara will be in for some surprises of her own and I can't wait ;)

Given that both of the central characters in Thaw are women, the book pretty much automatically passes the Bechdel-Wallace test. That said, Thaw demonstrates why feminism in fiction and entertainment isn’t about the absence of men, but rather the nuanced representation of interesting women. Both Abby and Gabrielle have lives and jobs that are important to them, and as fully-formed characters, they have to navigate the relationship realities that keep them from fitting perfectly and immediately together. Abby is also asexual, and ace characters are under-represented in romance. Springer gives her characters a lot of dimension, and for me that made Thaw a page-turner.

Verdict: Buy, read, and then lend to all of your friends.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second in the series and the blurb states that it does not matter the order of reading; however, some big hints are made about the previous couple twist, so I would advise reading in order if you can. That this works as a standalone is definitely true too.

I found this to be a very enjoyable read, which had a good plot, twists, and some super, friends moments. It considers an issue which is rarely discussed, certainly not often in romance novels, and it does so very effectively I think. Both Abby and Gabrielle are interesting people, with very different career paths, but as they discover, many similar likes and concerns. They both do something very caring for each other with no expectation of thanks or recompense, which seals the deal.

Lovely story, great outcome; thank you, Ms. Springer.

This is a super cute book. The first book in this Seasons of Love universe, Whiteout, was kind of an intense read because you just didn't know which way the story was going to go. But, Thaw, is a more straightforward story about a librarian and a supermodel. Sadly, I really don't read enough f/f books, but I really enjoyed reading this book. (So, if anyone has some f/f recommendations, leave a comment below!)

Abigail, or Abby, is an introverted librarian who gets invited by a friend to a charity auction has his plus one. It's much more glitzy and glamorous than something Abby is usually used to, but while there, she meets Gabrielle, a supermodel who asks her to a dance. It's obvious from the beginning that Gabrielle doesn't get along well with her manager, but not quite why that's the case. At first, she seems standoffish, cold. It's earned her a nickname of the "Ice Queen" through the acting and modeling circles. Gabrielle seems to keep everyone at a distance, but Abby seems to see through that icy shield Gabrielle puts up, and a blossoming relationship starts to form.

It makes my heart ache to read the tension, or the cold rebuffs, Gabrielle gives Abby. Like Abby states multiple times, Gabrielle is very hot and cold. This story is told from only Abby's POV, so we never quite see what Gabrielle might be thinking. Instead, we see the story solely from Abby's eyes. And while I love reading about Abby and her day-to-day life, I really would have wanted to know Gabrielle a little more too. Of course, that wouldn't have created quite the suspense, I imagine, as Abby wonders about Gabrielle's past and what the manager fits into the picture. Gabrielle longs to be back on stage, even if it doesn't make the same kind of money as being a supermodel brings in.

These books do work as a standalone, but I will say that this does spoil Whiteout. So, I would definitely recommend reading that book first and then reading Thaw. This book is wonderfully...quaint? I loved reading about Abby, her love for dressing casual and wearing no makeup, her interactions with her awesome friends, and working at the library. I love Abby. I don't know if I'm completely loving Gabrielle as much as I love Abby. But this is only just because we can see that Gabrielle loves reading and acting, and wants to show the world her softer side, but it's not something she's had the luxury of doing in the industries she worked in. I think the relationship is sweet and I definitely enjoyed reading this book. What I love even more is that Abby is asexual and we get to see her struggles with what that means and I love that this book has characters who are very accepting of asexuality.

Thaw is a very sweet and lovely book and I can't wait to read more books by Elyse Springer!

I would recommend this book because I think it's great that it has an asexual MC and an Ethiopian love interest. I love the fact that the love interest is a model and that she is close off and labeled an "ice queen" by the celebrity world. I love the fact that the main character is a librarian and she is so cute and nervous around girls she likes and I love her friendship with Nathan and Sara and her roomate as well.

The writing was something that bothered me a bit. It wasn't my kind of writing but I'm not going to down-rate it for that. I for sure know many will love this and I will recommend it to my followers and friends. If people ask me to rec them romances, I will for sure mention Thaw.

I actually didn't realise that this was the second part of a series when I picked it up. Each book seems to be a standalone however with just a little character crossover, so don't let that put you off.

I found the start of this a little hard going. The entire premise of the story is pretty much a standard romcom which you either like or don't, and I'm pretty meh on - the quiet, 'normal' person (who is, of course, also actually gorgeous) meets a stunning celebrity - and the characters' felt a little 2D.

Around the 30-40% mark though the character had really grown on me and had a lot of depth. Abby's definitely the more sympathetic of the two, in my mind (practical, introverted) but Gabrielle has her moments of utter charm too, despite her 'Ice Queen' reputation. There's also a couple of interesting subplots: Gabrielle's mysterious and volatile personality, Abby's impending job loss and her developing relationships with her friends. I liked her relationship with her parents too, they nag her about her career choices but are actually supportive, she turns to her mother for relationship advice. I really enjoyed the settings in this too, Abby's library, Gabrielle's apartment, the food festival, even the trains... The city definitely feels like a character too.

I knew this was an f/f story going in but I didn't realise Abby was asexual which was a nice surprise. To me (although I'm not ace and can't say for sure) this seem well handled and was discussed very openly. I liked that this wasn't a coming out or coming to terms story. Abby's comfortable and openly biromantic and ace. The story doesn't gloss it over, though, and shows how messy sexuality and relationships are.

Plus: Harry Potter references. :) Always a winner for me.

This review will go up on my blog, Foxes and Fairy Tales, on 17 April 2017.
https://foxesfairytale.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/review-thaw

Updated: review posted to Goodreads/twitter

Thaw by Elyse Springer (publish date: 24 April 2017)
Full disclosure: I received this ebook from the publisher via NetGallery in return for an honest review.
Warning: this review contains spoilers

5 stars for its portrayal of an asexual navigating hypersexual modern life. 4 stars for the resolution to the main plot and one major sub-plot being more coincidental than the result of the characters working out their issues

Feeling out of place as a plus-one at a high-profile charity event, asexual biromantic librarian Abby is flattered to be asked to dance by supermodel Gabrielle. Only, Abby realises Gabrielle is using her as a pawn in a feud with her manager and ex-lover, Drew. Thus, Abby is surprised when Gabrielle calls her to ask her on a date. As soon as friends and colleagues find out, Abby has to dodge questions about whether they had sex. Aware of how often sex comes up in conversations and how everyone assumes it to be the goal of successful dating, Abby has honed her ability to changing the subject to avoid dealing head on with the question. In this, the author, who herself identifies as asexual, portrays the lived experience of being part of a hypersexualised society yet feeling personally disconnected from its messages.

It is Abby’s meddling mother who identifies the core problem with the relationship: “Find the compromise, or risk losing someone you’ve clearly connected with” (Chapter 15). But despite agreeing with this analysis, Abby seems unable to work out how to achieve this compromise between mismatched libidos.

Unlike other novels pairing allosexual and asexual characters (for example, T.J. Klune’s How to be a normal person), here communication is not key — and in fact miscommunication nearly dooms the relationship with the pair breaking up before Abby even reveals that her asexuality is at least part of the problem. Indeed, throughout the novel, Abby is frustrated at how closely Gabrielle guards any personal details, shutting Abby down each time she digs for personal information, and living up to her reputation as the unknowable Ice Queen. Yet, Abby does the same to Gabrielle by not divulging her asexuality even when they have sex, with Abby bringing Gabrielle to orgasm then rejecting reciprocation (chpt 19). When Abby finally reveals her orientation, Gabrielle first worries she manipulated Abby into having sex then accuses her of lying by having unwanted sex, until Abby explains: “But that’s not what sex is. For most people, I think it’s another level of intimacy, of trust. It’s a way to show love. For me, it’s a way that I can help you relax, and show you that I’m willing to meet you halfway in a relationship. Nothing more” (Chapter 22). Ultimately, the pair decide they are well matched because Gabrielle is jaded by past betrayals and: “Because sex is only currency to me. The act itself is pleasurable, yes. I still crave release, still feel the attraction. But the act itself only ever meant that someone wanted something from me, and so the thought of having sex with another person is almost intolerable” (Chapter 23). However, this felicitous solution seems tacked on since I didn’t pick up prior close to Gabrielle’s attitude.

Running alongside the romance plot is a subplot about Abby’s job under threat due to library budget cuts. Of course, the day is saved but in a rather wish-fulfil-y manner when Abby’s branch is magically saved from closure by mysterious Manhattan patrons of the arts, stirred up by Gabrielle and Tony, a secondary character in the first two ‘Seasons of love’ novels and whose story is slated for the fourth.