Book Review: "Something Close to Nothing" by Tom Pyun

“Adulthood isn’t a fairy tale; long-term relationships don’t play out like a Hallmark movie. Relationships are primarily about having shared goals, like creating a family. You have to be in it for the long haul.”

Winston (Wynn) and Jared have been together for a number of years now. Jared is the responsible one; Wynn recently quit his corporate job to become a hip-hop dancer. But they’re about to take a major step: flying to Cambodia for the birth of their baby girl via a surrogate.

The thing is, Wynn isn’t so sure he wants to be a father. Jared may already be planning for their second child, but Wynn can’t imagine being tied down, forced to take care of a baby and give up his dreams. As they get ready to board the plane, Wynn flees, leaving Jared alone with no explanation.

Jared can’t believe that Wynn didn’t tell him sooner that he didn’t want a baby. But Jared desperately wants to be a father, so he makes the trip on his own and his mother meets him in Cambodia, where they await the birth of his daughter.

As Jared deals with the rigmarole of surrogacy in a foreign country and then settles in back at home in San Francisco with his new daughter, Wynn is trying to find himself and get started on his new dance career. Jared devotes himself to fatherhood while Wynn auditions for a singer’s comeback tour and teaches dance in different countries. Both think the other is self-centered and wonder if they made a mistake, but try to get on with their lives.

Neither character is entirely likable, but you can see how they are both right and completely wrong for one another. This is a book about what it feels like to realize you need to grow up, and how you don’t have to give yourself up to be with someone else. It’s both a funny and sad story, and very thought-provoking.