LesBook Review: "Too Late... I Love You" by Kiki Archer

by Lauren W

If you're a long-time reader of All Things Lesbian, you may remember that way back in the ethereal haze that was 2012, I reviewed British lesbian author Kiki Archer's first novel, But She Is My Student. (Click HERE if you want to take a look).

Now, in 2015, Archer has provided us, the lesbians, with her sixth novel (that's right, I said SIXTH), Too Late... I Love You.

Wow, where should I start?

Firstly, you should know that I devoured this book within two days. (I would have read it all in one sitting, but my room mate came home from work and demanded that we watched Masterchef Australia. We can't always get our own way, but I digress...)

Like her previous books, Archer's writing is so easy to read. She doesn't beat around the bush (no pun intended), and every part of her storytelling has a purpose. There is no straying away from the storyline. Too Late... focuses entirely on its protagonist, Connie, and the world that turns around her. Even when you think the plot line is going off-topic, each twist brings you back to the pivotal story and connects you back to its main character.

Without spoiling too much, I'll summarise the book like this: Connie, a 'straight' lady with a boyfriend and a young son finds her solace in writing inside the cupboard under the stairs. (Yes, this is both a Harry Potter reference and a euphemism for being stuck in that closet we all know and hate.) When she realises that her life isn't as perfect as it seems, Connie meets a very interesting lady at her son's playgroup, where everything takes an unexpected turn.

I really can't say any more. In fact, I've probably already given too much away.

I can say, however, that this novel is a vast improvement on Archer's first novel. The editing was clearly near-perfect, the storyline was far less predictable, there was complexity within the story-telling... Everything down to the book's font was an improvement. I especially welcome back some of the very British references included by the author, specifically when she mentioned the now defunct ladies' clothes store, Ethel Austin. That one made me giggle in a way that no American could understand.

This book is what all young lesbians are in search of when they start reading romance novels. Kiki Archer is the lesbian answer to Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones' Diary), Sophie Kinsella (Remember Me?), and Cecelia Ahern (P.S. I Love You). I for one remember reading a Sophie Kinsella book when I was around fifteen years old and thinking "why am I reading about a heterosexual relationship that I have no interest in? Oh, probably because there is VERY LITTLE GOOD LESBIAN ROMANCE FICTION OUT THERE."

Hopefully, young lesbians today will pick up this book and realise there is someone out there who wants to give young women and girls that happily ever after story in a way that rings true to what their lives represent.

If I had to be really nit-picky and pick a fault, I guess it would probably be my distaste of the character of Ryan; Connie's gay best friend. He's a very stereotypical, loud-mouthed, flamboyant gay man, but I kind of get that these characteristics were essential to the plot in many ways, so I can forgive it.

All in all, this is possibly one of the best lesbian novels I've read (second only to Beyond the Pale by Elana Dykewomon), and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an easy, gritty, yet light-hearted read.

About Kiki Archer:

Kiki Archer is a UK-based, best-selling, award-winning author. Her debut novel But She Is My Student won the UK's 2012 SoSoGay Best Book Award. Its sequel Instigations took just 12 hours from its release to reach the top of the Amazon lesbian fiction chart, and Kiki's third novel Binding Devotionwas a finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Awards. All quickly became bestsellers in their genre. Kiki's fourth offering One Foot Onto The Ice broke into the American Amazon contemporary fiction top 100 as well as achieving the US and UK Amazon lesbian fiction number one. The sequel When You Know went straight to number one on the Amazon UK, Amazon America, and Amazon Australia, lesbian fiction charts, as well as number one on the iTunes, Smashwords, and Lulu, Gay and Lesbian chart. Her latest novel Too Late... I Love You has been her most successful to date making that transition into the mainstream contemporary romance charts. 

Kiki was crowned the Ultimate Planet's Independent Author of the Year in 2013 and she received an honourable mention in the 2014 Author of the Year category.

Click HERE to visit Kiki's website.

Interview w/ Out Lesbian Author, Kiki Archer

Remember when we reviewed that pretty great lesbian novel for you? (Click HERE if you don't!)

Well look who's back with a brand new book: its Kiki Archer herself.

Check out our interview with here and get all the latest gossip, right here on All Things Lesbian.

All Things Lesbian: You write primarily lesbian-orientated fiction. Can you give us some clues as to what your new book is about without giving too much away?

Kiki Archer: My new novel is called “Binding Devotion”. (Click HERE for the book trailer!)

So basically the novel is about love, betrayal, commitment and sex, with the central plot focusing on the question: “What’s more important … the bond of marriage or the pull of desire?”

Terry Baker is the top UK lesbian fiction reviewer and this is what she had to say about “Binding Devotion” :

CLICK!

It has also been reviewed by the popular Planet London girls HERE.

ATL: Lesbian fiction is unfortunately not very prevalent in today's climate. What do you think our authors and the LGBT community can do to push it into the limelight?

KA: The lesbian fiction genre is thriving amongst lesbians, or at least that seems to be the case in the UK. I write for lesbians. I know that many of my straight family and friends have read my books and enjoyed them, but it is not important to me to actively try and ‘widen’ my readership. The lesbian community are very loyal and the support that I have received has been absolutely fantastic. 

If my novels were to soar up the general romance chart then obviously I would be overjoyed, but ‘generally’ I think straight women, who enjoy chick lit, prefer reading about handsome men and strapping hunks, as opposed to same sex female relationships. BUT, that being said, I do get a lot of messages from ‘straight’ women who have chosen to buy my lesbian fiction books, read them, enjoy them, and then contact me to ‘discuss’ them further. (Obviously all behind their male partners backs. LOL)

ATL: Why do you choose to focus on the lives of lesbians in your writing?

KA: I choose to focus on the lives of lesbians because I’m living the life of a lesbian. It’s what I know and it’s what comes naturally to me. I enjoy using experiences that I've had and emotions that I've felt in my writing, and it just so happens that my experiences and emotions mostly involve women. I wouldn't want to write a love story about a heroine falling passionately in love with the handsome hero, as I have absolutely no idea what that feels like!

  

ATL: Do you have any future publications coming up?

KA: I am currently working on a couple of short stories that will be included in lesbian fiction anthologies this year, and I am in the planning stages with my new novel. My first two books “But She Is My Student” and “Instigations” were very light hearted easy read chick lit novels. “Binding Devotion” handled some deeper topics and emotions, and I think my new novel will be a happy balance in between. I love writing funny, laugh out loud romances, but it is also important to me that I include poignant issues that make you think about, or question, your own views and beliefs.

ATL: We know you're passionate about the same-sex marriage debates which are currently a hot topic in the US and the UK. If you had to create a PSA of sorts for undecided voters, how would you persuade them to vote in favour of equal marriage?

KA: I would show them this short video that I made: CLICK!

After they watched it I would ask them to tell me why they thought they had the right to judge my life as less worthy than theirs. Why they thought they had the right to say my life was not as valuable as theirs. Why they should even dare to think they can ‘vote’ on my life. I am equal, as are all LGBT people in this world that we share, equally, together. 

LESBOOK REVIEW: But She is My Student

Looking for some easy-read, lesbian novels?

Then we have a treat for you!

Kiki Archer is an up and coming, out lesbian author from the United Kingdom.

Her first, best-selling novel, But She is My Student caters chiefly to the lady lovin' lady audience - not to say men and straight women can't enjoy it too!

BSIMS tells the story of a forbidden romance between a teacher and her student - now where have we heard that before?

However, unlike its motion picture siblings (Loving Annabelle, Bloomington), Archer's tale has a difference.

First and foremost, it is set in a UK school. True, there are some references that North American (and other) audiences won't understand, but don't worry - this novel won't leave you feeling lost.

Archer succeeds in including relevant, modern allusions and interweaves them with an exciting plot that will leave you not wanting to put the book down. Of course, me being the grammar Nazi that I am, I spotted some grammar errors, but they don't get in the way of telling this great story.

The dialogue between the protagonists and their friends is never unrealistic - I'm pretty sure I've had some of these exact conversations in my real life! - and the characters are easily relatable, what with all their anxieties and drama, creating a love for each personality.

Perhaps the biggest difference from most lesbian media we see today is the ending. I won't spoil it for you, but it won't leave you disappointed like the majority of lesbian fiction.

On the whole, Kiki Archer is no doubt one of the top lesbian authors of today - being gay herself really shows throughout the novel and you can tell she has an understanding of troubles the LGBTQ community goes through day by day.

LesBook Rating: 9 out of 10 - I'm not saying its perfect, but its definitely worth a read! (Especially with there being so little, good lesbian novels out there.)

Click HERE to download the (extremely cheap!) Kindle version of But She is My Student. (And HERE if you're in North America!)

For more on Kiki Archer, go to her official website: http://www.kikiarcherbooks.com/

Coming Soon: We review Archer's sequel - Instigations!