Book Review: "The Revelation of Dionne Daphne" by Mara Brock Akil

Speaking of revelations, this book was truly fantastic. Mara Brock Akil is the creator of television programs like Girlfriends and Being Mary Jane, but unbelievably, this is her debut novel. I’m so grateful to Storehouse Voices for the advance copy of this!

“It’s like this idea that if you heal yourself, you heal a bunch of generations behind you and in front of you. We’re all just glints in the dirt, waiting for someone to reveal us.”

It’s 1991. Dionne Daphne seems to have it all. She’s the associate beauty director at Essence magazine and she’s in the running to succeed her boss and mentor as director. She’s stunning and smart, and men want to be with her.

But her whole life changes with a late-night visitor. Her ex-boyfriend Darren shows up at her door around 5:00 am, desperate to talk to her. What he tells her threatens to upend everything she’s worked for and, perhaps more importantly, her life as she knows it.

The more she tries to reconcile this disclosure from Darren, the more she starts thinking about childhood trauma that she’s kept hidden all these years. But now, in the wake of all that might change for her, she needs to speak up. She decides to go visit her mother and stepfather in Kansas City and share the secrets she’s kept hidden. Will the release of this trauma help her find peace?

The book is told over a two-week period. It’s a heavy story that might be triggering for some, but it’s also powerful and insightful. Dionne is a character I’ll be thinking about for a long time!

Book Review: "Operation Boyfriend" by Zarah Detand

First things first: if someone wants to pretend they’re dating me because they need a date to some fancy occasion, count me in. It’s probably the only way I’ll get a fancy vacation!

Dean is a cardiothoracic surgeon. He’s known to be a little intense, and he’s definitely a workaholic. His sister is getting married at a fancy resort in Cambodia, and both she and their mother are pressuring him to bring a date. He folds under the pressure and tells his mother he’ll bring the guy he recently started dating.

The challenge is, Dean is not dating anyone. He barely has any time to breathe, let alone date, and his emotional walls are a difficult barrier to breach. But now he’s expected to bring his alleged boyfriend. Which means he has to find one.

Taylan is a surgery resident who has been intimidated by Dean in the past. He’s also in desperate need of a vacation but doesn’t have any money. So when he’s approached about the possibility of being Dean’s fake boyfriend in exchange for an all-expenses-paid luxury vacation, he doesn’t need to think twice.

As they get to know each other better in preparation for all of the prying that will come during the wedding festivities, they realize that each has emotional baggage to deal with. Dean is afraid of being hurt, so he never lets anyone close enough, while Tay is dealing with impostor syndrome. But as the beautiful sunsets and romantic setting sink in, both have to be reminded this is temporary. And it isn’t real. Right?

I can never get enough fake dating. Zarah Detand has become a go-to author for me, and once again she delivers a sexy, sweet, and emotional book. Her characters are always so memorable and endearing.

Book Review: "Cash Hooper Saves A Life" by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey

This series makes my heart melt. I discovered it last year and get so excited when I see another book will be published. I’m not at all ready to say goodbye to Goose Run or these characters.

Cash has a great deal of trauma from the horrible abuse he and his twin brother Chase dealt with during childhood. He is a sweet, kind man who doesn’t feel comfortable talking much, even with those he’s known for a while. His life is fairly routine and he likes it that way.

One night he finds a dog chained to a tree, bleeding and in obvious pain. Cash takes the dog and rushes it to the local vet. But when he arrives he finds that the usual vet is on vacation and his nephew, Mason, is filling in.

Mason is intrigued by the handsome man bringing an injured dog to his uncle’s office late at night. Clearly the man cares about the dog—and he can’t stand the sight of blood, because he faints. Mason now has two patients, and he doesn’t mind caring for either of them.

As Mason and Cash spend more time together, they become the bright spot in each other’s day. Mason is attracted to Cash but he’s only in town until his uncle returns. Cash has never been attracted to anyone, and has never let anyone get close to him except his brother. But Mason makes him want to change.

I’ve loved the glimpses of Cash’s character I’ve gotten in previous books, but I wanted to hug him so hard after this one. Mason, too, has a lot of emotional baggage to deal with, so they really are a perfect couple. Plus any book with cute dogs and kittens is a hit for me! I look forward to Book 5!

Book Review: "The Entanglement of Rival Wizards" by Sara Raasch

I’ve been meaning to read this for a few months and I’m so glad I finally did. I love the way Sara Raasch combines romance, humor, some heavy emotional content, and fantasy. Her last two books, The Nightmare Before Kissmas and Go Luck Yourself, were fun and sexy, and this was a worthy follow-up, as well as the start of a new series.

Sebastian is a human wizard, and a graduate student at Lesiara University. He’s a bit of a black sheep in his family, as everyone else has gone into the military rather than college. And his family really doesn’t respect the choices he has made.

Sebastian’s biggest rival is Thio (short for Elethior). Thio is half-elf and comes from a wealthy family, many of whom have attended Lesiara before him. Seb and Thio have been engaged in a prank war, but Seb thinks that Thio is just a pretentious jerk, coasting on his family’s legacy.

The two are both finalists for a research grant which could change the winner’s life. But rather than compete for the grant, if they work together, they can share the money. Of course, having to work with Thio drives Seb crazy, but they learn they have more in common than either imagined.

While Seb hates Thio, his disdain only fuels Thio’s desire. Of course, Seb is so blind to anything positive Thio does, so he has no idea about how he feels. But there’s a larger issue here: Seb has a history with Thio’s family that led to some serious trauma. And that leads to a difficult decision for Seb: his research or Thio.

This was a little heavier emotionally than I was expecting, but there’s lots of humor and banter to lighten the load. I often struggle with enemies to lovers romances because the enemies part doesn’t feel genuine, but here it did. Plus, there’s an invisible fox with a cute hat. How could you go wrong?

Book Review: "Nothing Tastes As Good" by Luke Dumas

I am powerless in the face of Bookstagram FOMO. So many of my friends have been praising this book nonstop, and while this isn’t a genre I read that often, I felt like I had to give it a try. It definitely hit close to home for me A LOT, but it really was excellent.

Emmett has struggled with his weight since childhood and now, in his early 30s, he weighs over 300 pounds. He hates the way he looks, the way his clothes don’t fit right, and his lack of energy. But what he hates most is the way people—colleagues, strangers, his family—treat him because of his weight.

“Because fat isn’t something you wear, like a piece of clothing. When you live with it long enough, when it’s a part of who you are, that shit goes all the way down.”

With his health deteriorating and his desire to be thin again, he enrolls in a clinical trial for Obexity, a new weight loss drug. He has nothing to lose, except weight, right? The treatment itself is horribly traumatizing, but once the drug kicks in—wow! He’s losing weight rapidly, and for the first time in a long time, guys are attracted to him, people are nicer, and he feels better about himself. Tracking his weight loss journey on social media nets him praise from his followers.

After a while, he’s lost a tremendous amount of weight, but he’s starting to feel weird. He’s having memory lapses and overwhelming hunger cravings. And then people who mistreated him start disappearing, and the police suspect coyotes, but Emmett is growing more fearful about what the drug is making him do.

This is definitely a bit gruesome and violent, but it’s so, so good. As someone who endured the ridicule and punishment for eating more than I should have, Emmett’s life triggered lots of emotions for me. I honestly loved the fact that Luke Dumas imbued this book with so much heart instead of just gore and violence. This really blew me away.

Book Review: "No Matter What" by Cara Bastone

“‘Don’t waste your energy over how you think things should be,’ Deb booms. ‘See things for how they actually are.’”

It has been a rough year for Roz and Vin. They were involved in a serious accident that upended their lives, causing injuries to both of them and Vin’s brother Raff. But even though their physical recovery has gone well, Roz and Vin haven’t slept in the same bed in nearly a year, and can barely stand to be in the same room.

As tough as it gets, Roz still hopes that they’ll be able to work things out. Although the fact that neither will come out and say what they’re thinking or feeling certainly complicates matters. But when Roz finds that Vin has signed a lease for an apartment of his own, she is devastated.

The two are moving in separate orbits and living in separate rooms. To help absorb some of her time alone, Roz signs up for a figure drawing class. She finds herself inspired by this exploration of her creative side.

As the date for Vin to move out draws closer, they’re still drawn to each other, physically and emotionally. Vin agrees to serve as Roz’s model for her to sharpen her skills. And it is through the time they spend together, with Roz focused on every aspect of her husband’s body, that they start to see each other more clearly again. Is there a chance they’ll make it back to one another before it’s too late?

I wanted to love this book but for some reason it never quite clicked with me. I found their struggles very emotional and I wanted them to rebuild, but neither of them communicated clearly, which always drives me crazy in books. Still, the story was a powerful one.

Book Review: "The Reservation" by Rebecca Kauffman

I was looking forward to reading this for two reasons. First, I enjoy the way Rebecca Kauffman writes. Second, and perhaps more important, is how much I love reading about restaurants, chefs, and cooking.

Aunt Orsa’s is a fine dining restaurant in a small midwestern college town. It was once described in a review as “offbeat, eccentric Italian-ish.” Tonight is going to be a huge night for the restaurant: famed author John Grisham, who will be speaking at the college, will be part of a group dining at Aunt Orsa’s tonight.

As excited as everyone is about “Grisham Day,” chaos erupts early in the day. Apparently 22 ribeye steaks have been stolen; the thief left two in the refrigerator. Orsa blows a gasket and is determined to figure out which member of the restaurant staff stole the steaks.

While Orsa figures out which employees were most likely to have committed the theft, a number of secrets, arguments, resentments, and relationships surface. It seems as if almost everyone holds a grudge against a fellow employee.

The book is organized into separate chapters that focus on one or more of the staff, as well as Orsa. We get glimpses of their past as well as how they came to work at the restaurant. Some of the characters are vividly drawn and it felt like a few of the chapters could stand on their own as stories.

There is a lot of drama here, much like in many restaurants. At times things get a bit repetitive and once or twice they get hokey, but it was a fun read. And as usual, the book made me hungry!

Book Review: "Little One" by Olivia Muenter

“…knowing your decisions were influenced by things that were bigger than you doesn’t make them lighter or easier. In the end, we have to live with the choices we make.”

Catharine grew up on a farm in Florida, which grew into a sort-of commune. The children all went to school together, everyone had responsibilities, and the focus was on eating healthy and building a strong community away from outside influences. Her father was the leader, a magnetic man, who for years seemed to have total control.

But little by little, his grip seemed to be failing. He required stricter commitments and sacrifices, and became increasingly paranoid. After trauma and tragedy affected the shrinking community, Catharine felt it necessary to escape.

Ten years later, Catharine has built a brand-new life, far from the farm and the stifling control. She’s never confided in anyone about what happened during those years, or how she found the strength to escape. But when a journalist contacts her asking if she’s the Catharine who lived in a “cult” in Florida, she tries to take control of the situation. Until it appears that the journalist knows more than she thinks he does.

Catharine decides to speak to the journalist, who claims to have another source with information about what went on. She hopes that her being (somewhat) forthcoming might help her find her sister, who left the farm shortly before she did. She also hopes to keep her own secrets safe.

The book shifts between past and present. It’s so compelling, emotional and a bit creepy. I usually don’t like stories about cults but Olivia Muenter’s storytelling definitely drew me in and didn’t let go.

Book Review: "Chase Hooper Likes It Hot" by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey

Last fall, I found the first book in a new rom-com series set in a small Virginia town called Goose Run. I was completely hooked by the tight-knit group of friends, the banter, the steam, and the theme of chosen family. Now, having just read the third book, I’ve completely fallen in love with these characters.

“Dating you is like riding a roller coaster. Except there are no seat belts, and it’s also on fire.”

Chase and his twin brother Cash had a traumatic childhood. Years later, Cash still has nightmares and only Chase can comfort him. But with Chase having to work overnight shifts at Goose Run Gas, neither is sleeping well, and it’s taking its toll.

The one semi-bright spot in his overnight shifts is the regular appearance of Lee, a customer who complains about the horrible coffee and stale pastries. It annoys Chase to no end, but the customer is kind of hot. But when Chase asks to switch to day shifts and instead gets offered a job at a new bakery, he waits for the other shoe to drop. And the shoe is that Lee, a talented baker, will be his boss.

There’s no doubt that the chemistry between them is intense and it leads to some hot post-work encounters. But Chase has been hurt too many times to let his guard down, which makes it difficult for him and Lee to get closer. In the end, all Chase can do is worry about his brother, right?

This series utterly warms my heart. I found this the most emotionally complex book of the three so far, and that added another layer to everything else I love. I’m so excited Book 4 will be coming in June!

Book Review: "The Fourth Daughter" by Lyn Liao Butler

Liv is an up and coming chef in NYC. But when she is involved in a traumatic incident, she can no longer leave her apartment without a full-blown panic attack. She misses cooking but can’t imagine setting foot in a noisy kitchen ever again.

After hearing from her beloved Ah-Ma, her grandmother who lives in Taiwan, Liv is motivated to end her self-imposed imprisonment. Apparently Ah-Ma saw a woman on the street that she was convinced is her fourth daughter, who was taken from her as an infant. This is a shock to Liv, who never knew that Ah-Ma had a missing daughter out there all these years. She agrees to fly to Taiwan to help find the woman.

When Liv arrives in Taiwan, she is amazed to hear Ah-Ma’s story about her fourth daughter. She tells of a country under martial law, where women had no rights and had to obey their husbands, and independent action was swiftly punished. Her husband (Liv’s grandmother) was a cruel man affiliated with the powerful military, and he arranged for their daughter to be taken.

As Liv and her grandmother try to track down this woman, they spend a lot of time eating and cooking traditional Taiwanese food. This awakens memories for both of them, and helps Liv recover some of her love of cooking.

The book shifts back and forth between 1960s Taiwan and present day, and is mostly narrated by Liv and Ah-Ma. (Other characters provide some narration from time to time.)

I found this book to be tremendously moving and thought-provoking. This is a story of love and loss, recovery and possibility. And it sure did make me hungry!!

Book Review: "People Watching" by Hannah Bonam-Young

Prudence used to dream of leaving her small Canadian hometown to see the world. But when her mother is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Prue shelves her dreams in order to help her father. Regardless of what her father thinks, she’s perfectly content to care for her mother, work in her family’s gas station, and write poetry.

Milo comes to town in his ancient van. He and his younger sister have been asked to come help Nik, their older brother, get his brewery ready to open. Milo is a handsome adventurer who tends to go from place to place, leaving relationships as soon as his partners begin catching feelings. He hasn’t seen his siblings in a while, because memories of their traumatic childhood still haunt him.

As her mother’s condition worsens, Prue’s father wants her to consider leaving town and pursuing her future. When she meets Milo, his confidence and swagger, coupled with his sensitivity, disarms her. The chemistry between the two of them is intense, and while they develop a warm friendship, they also spend late nights with Milo tutoring Prue in casual sex lessons.

Milo’s relationship with his siblings and their shared trauma is really compelling, and Prue’s care for her mother and her father’s love is as well. But when the focus moves off of those storylines, the book loses its spark. And there are even storylines that get mentioned and never get brought up again.

This book is one of the spiciest I’ve read in a long while, and there’s also some poignant emotion. But I felt like the book didn’t know what it wanted to be—the sex storyline didn’t really mesh with everything else. I wanted to love this but it just didn’t work for me.

Book Review: "Make Sure You Die Screaming" by Zee Carlstrom

Thanks so much to Flatiron Books for the complimentary advance copy of this book! This definitely is a bleak yet well-written book that will stick in your mind.

If you think your life is out of control, it’s nothing compared to that of our unnamed narrator. They’ve recently come out as nonbinary, lost their corporate job in fairly spectacular fashion, and probably suffered a brain injury in a fight with their ex-boyfriend.

“I guess you could call me the World’s First Honest White Man, but I don’t identify as a man anymore, so you’d probably call me other things first…”

To top it off, their mother called to let them know that their father, an ultra-conservative conspiracy theorist, has gone missing. So now they’re headed from Chicago to Arkansas (no culture shock there) in a fancy car they’ve stolen from their ex-boyfriend.

Their partner on this road trip from hell is Yivi, whom they met when they were both crashing at an illegal Airbnb. Yivi has her own issues: she screams in her sleep, she’s constantly high on something, and there’s apparently someone following her.

This book taps into some really raw emotions. The narrator has been avoiding dealing with some real emotional baggage beyond their father’s disavowal of their sexuality. There’s loss, trauma, and addiction, but there’s also real rage at the inequity that exists. This isn’t a lighthearted book but it’s a good one.

It will publish 4/8/2025.

Book Review: "Into the Fire" by Rick Mofina

Sometimes a crime novel is all that will hit the spot for me. I read an article about crime writers and found Rick Mofina, author of a trilogy of books featuring investigative reporter Ray Wyatt.

Ray Wyatt is a reporter in his early 40s who is trying to rebuild his life after the tragic loss of his wife and young son. He finds purpose in the stories he writes, because he’s making a difference rather than wallowing in his own misery.

A young boy is found by hikers in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. He is traumatized, unable to speak. When the hikers retrace his steps to a cabin, they make a gruesome discovery of what’s inside.

FBI Special Agent Jill McDade is put in charge of the investigation. The young boy is still unable to speak, but after a while the FBI is able to begin making inroads into the case, and Ray is doing his own detective work. It’s not long before they realize the case is far more complex than meets the eye.

As they try to find out what happened, they’re up against a ticking clock. Who will find the information first, and will they find it before it’s too late? At the same time, both Ray and Jill have their own personal issues to deal with, too.

While there weren’t any surprises in the story, I was definitely hooked. I really liked both characters and the vulnerability each showed. It’s always fascinating when you don’t know whom to trust. I’ll definitely be picking up the next two books in this series!!

Book Review: "Madwoman" by Chelsea Bieker

Wow, this was so powerful!! I was really blown away by Chelsea Bieker’s new book. It reminded me a little of The Push by Ashley Audrain, but unique all the same.

“I’ll carry the burden of you and my father and everything that happened on the island for the rest of my life. But I vowed to carry it in silence. So many lies I’ve told to ensure it would be my secret forever. Mine to death. I really had things figured out.”

After her tumultuous childhood, Clove was determined she’d do everything differently. She found the right man—a safe husband who gave her the life she wanted. She loves her two young children, Nova and Lark, and if spending every moment with the kids may stress her out, she has places—and strategies—to help calm things down.

Clove (which may or may not be her real name) has some secrets about her life that she has kept hidden from nearly everyone. But when she receives a letter from a woman’s prison in California, her carefully built façade starts to crack. What will she do if her secrets are revealed? What will that mean for her marriage, her children, and their future?

Madwoman shifts between the present, as Clove’s anxiety about discovery mounts, and the moments from her childhood that lead to one crucial moment. She desperately wants to control the narrative but she’s having a hard enough time controlling her emotions.

Domestic violence is such an epidemic in our world and breaking the cycle of violence requires far more strength and support than many have. The book may be triggering for some, but Bieker does a fantastic job depicting the struggles and choices that those affected must make. Yes, I figured out the twists, but that didn’t really affect my love of the book.

Book Review: "Bad Reputation" by Emma Barry

Maggie loved her job as a teacher and drama coach. But when she is fired for putting on a controversial play, she sues the school district and becomes an outspoken advocate against censorship. That brings her to the attention of the showrunner for Waverley (think Bridgerton), and she lands a job as an intimacy coordinator for the show.

When Cole starred in a hit teen drama, he was known more for his abs and his himbo attitude than his talent. In the years since then, he’s worked to rehabilitate his career and separate himself from the character that made him. But he’s hoping that Waverley will take him to the next level.

Both Maggie and Cole are immediately attracted to one another, but they know that acting on their feelings would be crossing a line. And the more she works with the cast on their love scenes, the more she identifies some long-hidden trauma among them.

Filming in England and Scotland goes well, and the attraction between Cole and Maggie intensifies. Early buzz about the series and Cole’s performance is strong, so better opportunities come his way. Maggie isn’t sure what she wants to do after the show is done, and as much as she’d like to be with Cole, she’s not sure that’s the right decision.

Yet as they embark on a relationship, scandal emerges that threatens to undo them both, and perhaps the show as well. They both realize that if their love is to survive—and if their careers are to thrive—they’ll have to fight with everything they have.

This was so enjoyable, full of all of the things I love about rom-coms: chemistry, banter, steam, likable characters, and a Hollywood setting. I couldn’t get enough of this, and I can’t wait for Emma Barry’s next book!

The book will publish 10/1.

Book Review: "Stars in Your Eyes" by Kacen Callender

I’ve had this book on my stack for quite a while. But if I had known had incredibly good it was, I would’ve read it sooner!

Mattie is on his way to becoming Hollywood’s golden boy. He’s handsome, sweet, and Southern, but he’s not quite comfortable with the scrutiny of fame yet. But he’s just been cast in a gay romantic comedy that could launch him into the big time.

His costar, Logan, has been acting since he was young, but he’s better known for his trips to rehab and his bad behavior. Just before the movie starts shooting, he says that he doesn’t think Mattie has any talent. That’s not awkward…

When Logan gets caught up in another scandal, the producers aren’t happy that his behavior is killing interest in the movie. So they suggest that Mattie and Logan pretend to date and fall in love. While Logan is dubious, Mattie admires Logan, and is willing to try and convince the public of his feelings.

Little by little, the chemistry between them intensifies, and it becomes more difficult to distinguish fiction from reality. But Logan has an inability to let anyone get too close to him, and he sabotages any chance at happiness. Mattie wants to help Logan, but Logan has to help himself first.

This is an emotional and beautiful story, but there are a number of trigger warnings listed at the front of the book. There’s definitely a lot of trauma and hurt that Logan, and to some extent, Mattie, have to deal with. I’m such a fan of Kacen Callender and they hit it out of the park with this one.

Book Review: "Between Friends & Lovers" by Shirlene Obuobi

Dr. Josephine Boateng is better known to her hundreds of thousands of followers as “Dr. Jojo,” the woman who tells it like it is when it comes to matters of health, sex, and love. It doesn’t matter that Jo has never really had a relationship, because she’s been in love with her best friend Ezra since college.

Jo knows that Ezra is aware of how she feels. But the handsome rom-com actor is always quick to throw her over for the woman of the minute without thinking. The last straw, however, is when Ezra’s date for his 30th birthday party is none other than Ashley, who bullied Jo when they were younger, and he took Ashley's side when she and Jo interacted.

Malcolm is a photographer-turned-bestselling novelist, much to his surprise. His debut novel, a love story, is climbing the charts. He’s invited to Ezra’s birthday party because his famous mother is interested in optioning the book for film. But Mal doesn’t really enjoy schmoozing or crowds, so he hides in an empty bedroom in Ezra’s home.

Jo is shocked to find a man in her bedroom at Ezra’s house, especially one as handsome as Malcolm. From their conversation, she feels seen for the first time, and realizes that Mal could be her ticket out of pining for Ezra. Mal is all too interested, but he wants to woo Jo, and this has never happened to her.

Their relationship experiences highs and lows, especially when Jo comes into contact with Ezra, who realizes how much he misses her adulation. And with Jo’s own issues with love and trust, she isn’t sure where to turn, or what to do.

I don’t normally enjoy love triangles, but this one worked for me. While Mal was the only truly sympathetic character, the dynamics between him and Jo, and Jo and Ezra, were fascinating. This was a more emotional book than I expected, but it really was a good one.

Book Review: "Breaking the Dark" by Lisa Jewell

I’ll admit I was a bit dubious when I heard that a book series featuring the grittier side of Marvel superheroes was being launched. But being a Marvel fan, I couldn’t resist the idea of a thriller featuring Jessica Jones written by Lisa Jewell. And I thought it was great!

Jessica Jones is still reeling from some serious psychological trauma, which she’s nursing with alcohol. By day, she’s a private investigator; by night, she’s drinking herself into a stupor.

She is visited by a distraught mother, who claims that her 16-year-old twins returned visiting their father in England and are now acting strangely. Their skin is flawless, they’re strangely serene and don’t look at their phones at all, and they claim that everything is “perfect.” When Jessica spies on Fox and Lark, she does observe that something isn’t right.

Jessica travels to the UK to try and figure out what might have happened to the twins while they were visiting. She can’t shake a strange feeling she’s having, and when she visits an old farmhouse to find the girl Fox was smitten with, she realizes that this girl, Belle, is being kept captive. Can she get Belle out of her captor’s clutches?

What Jessica finds is far more disturbing than she imagined. And she must solve the mystery at the core of what is happening before it’s too late. But Jessica is battling her own demons as well as the feelings that this mystery has evoked in her.

I thought this was a bit creepy but I was hooked completely. Jewell is in great form once again, and she really fleshed out Jessica’s character well. I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series, which will feature Luke Cage, written by S.A. Cosby.

Book Review: "The Lookback Window" by Kyle Dillon Hertz

“The longer time passes, the less evidence exists. The more my memories warp. I knew all this was true. I knew the effects of what happened to me grew with time, but my recollection faded.”

Dylan was 15 years old when he met Vincent on the internet. Vincent wasn’t significantly older than Dylan but he seemed more worldly, and Dylan felt so wonderful being wanted by someone. But for three years, Vincent held Dylan captive as a victim of sex trafficking, keeping him drugged, taking pictures of him that he distributed, and letting others have sex with him.

Now, he is an adult, still dealing with all that happened to him, but he’s trying to move on. He’s engaged, and he hopes to have a good life with his fiancé, Moans, although he isn’t sure he’s capable of truly being happy.

And then a new law is passed. The Child Victims Act extends the statute of limitations for child victims of sexual assault, which used to be only five years after the child turned 18. The Act provided Dylan with a “lookback window,” a one-year period in which Dylan can decide whether to bring a civil suit against his abusers. But what does he want? Money won’t help erase what happened, and can there even be an adequate figure?

Considering what to do reawakens a great deal of anxiety and trauma in Dylan, which he tries to assuage with drugs and sex. But again, he endures, only to realize he owes it to himself and others like him to face his accusers.

This was tremendously powerful and moving. As a victim of sexual assault, I was hesitant to read this, but I’m so glad I did. It is a difficult but important book which brings male sexual assault victims to light. While at times this is bleak, it also is a beacon of hope.

Book Review: "Some Strange Music Draws Me In" by Griffin Hansbury

“For some of us, there comes a moment when we realize that the object of our desire lies outside our known world, beyond our towns and families. Out there, we understand, there is another way to want, to have, to be. Sometimes, even when we do not venture out to find it, when we try to want only what we are given, the object comes to us. And the world, without our consent, breaks open and expands.”

It’s the summer of 1984 in the small town of Swaffham, Massachusetts. Thirteen-year-old Mel (short for Melanie) will start high school in the fall, so she plans to spend the summer with her best friend Jules, riding their bikes around town, avoiding their parents, and getting into mischief.

One day she sees Sylvia, a strong woman with bravado, who reminds her of Joan Jett. She is utterly transfixed by Sylvia, strange feelings for Mel. Then she learns that Sylvia is a trans woman—a choice not particularly popular in Swaffham. But Mel is drawn to Sylvia, who takes her under her wing, which causes trouble with her mother and Jules, among others.

In 2019, Mel is now Max, a trans man whose teaching career is in jeopardy because he still thinks of things with more traditional labels. He returns to Swaffham to deal with his depression and clean out his late mother’s house, but being home triggers many memories and traumas.

This is a powerful and moving book that definitely may trigger some people. It shifts back and forth between the 1980s and 2019, and looks at the personal dynamics of a teenager struggling with their sexual and gender identity and dealing with how different they are from their friends. It also looks at how, in the present, there are some who struggle with a person who is confident in their own gender if it doesn’t fit their own views of the world, family or no, and it provides perspective on how societal thinking shifts and changes.