"I found this book an exceptional read. It combined a fairly realistic midieval period writing, with religion and same-gender love.

Having done some of my post-secondary studies in a Roman Catholic run University where there seminarians, the idea of close friends who become lovers seems realistic. I have known individuals who have lived a cloistered life and left it, and so through conversations, I would imagine Clark has managed to depict it very well.

The passages of biblical text, often in Latin (translated) seemed particularly appropriate and shows a good knowledge of the bible.

Finally, some of the old english words I picked up cannot be reproduced here but one I would like to see reintroduced in common conversation was "fopdoodle" meaning someone without any intelligence for I could use it easily.

I found the writing superb, smooth, and carefully crafted."

"When I described the basics of this book (queer monks in early Tudor England) to my bestie, she said it sounded like someone asked AI to write a book just for me. She wasn’t wrong! I don’t presume to view Love Habit as particularly realistic or unrealistic because I don’t have a lot of Catholic monastic knowledge, but I will say I raised a few eyebrows.

That said, I really enjoyed this book. Maybe it’s sacrilegious of me (which I’m good with because I’m agnostic), but I enjoy the idea of monks still finding joy, so to speak, within their vows. The queer aspects aside, there were some really sweet messages about brotherhood, friendship, and finding enjoyment in a quiet and pious life.

The snowball fight had me outright cooing over how cute it was. The ending felt like it jumped to the epilogue rather quickly, but I suppose the main part of the story had already been told by that point. This isn’t the book for someone who is by the (Bible) book, but it is definitely for people like me who don’t find potential stretches of the pious expectations problematic.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review. 4.5 unapologetic stars from a lover of queer romances and the Tudor dynasty as it overtook the Plantagenet dynasty with all their respective dramatics."

"I had the very great pleasure of beta reading this book, and it immediately became one of my top reads of 2024. It may even have been my favourite read of the entire year!

Love Habit is full of sweet moments and poignant introspection as narrator Paul, a young novice monk in Tudor England, attempts to reconcile the teachings of his faith with his growing feelings for fellow novice, Luke.

The author has perfectly captured the young man's experience of adjusting from his privileged upbringing to his new life of humble religious devotion, giving the reader a genuine sense of stepping back in time. However, it's not overdone; there are enough details to provide atmosphere and context, vividly bringing the monastery to life for the modern reader, but not so much it feels like a history textbook. This is not an easy trick to pull off, but TL Clarke has not only achieved this, but has made it look effortless.

As the book is set in a Benedictine monastery, naturally there are Christian references throughout. This includes Biblical quotes, some of which are provided in the Latin the monks would have used, as well as English translation from the King James Bible. I found the occasional use of Latin to be a lovely touch that really helped me connect with the lives of these wonderful, well-developed characters. All the religious references combine to provide thoughtful context for the character's lives, as well as a mirror for Paul's contemplations.

The romance is sensitively written, and as previously mentioned, conducted with a great deal of soul searching from both Paul and Luke, who both want to do right by their faith but find their attraction irresistible. The question of whether their love is right or wrong - a test or a God-given gift - is thoughtfully examined and, I feel, realistically portrayed and believably concluded.

Because of the necessary secrecy surrounding their relationship, there is a lot of longing in this book which, though heart-wrenching, was not overplayed and gives a real sense of how the real monks in Paul and Luke's situation would have felt. However, when the two young men get a moment alone, the outpouring of love is beautiful.

Overall, I cannot praise this book highly enough, and encourage you to pick up a copy so you, too, can fall in love with Paul, Luke, and their world."