Book Review: "A Marvelous Murder" by David S. Pederson

It’s 1939. Orland Orcott is a well-known director in Hollywood. (Well-known, but not well-liked.) He has a reputation as quite a womanizer, and he treats his actors with a tremendous amount of disrespect.

He throws a big party for his wife’s birthday at their Bel Air mansion. But tensions rise when his wife discovers that his latest mistress has been invited to the party. Shortly after a big blowout argument, Orland gets a phone call and retreats to his study. Not long after, he is found dead in his locked study.

The police are convinced that Orland’s death was a suicide. But Victor Marvel, one of the stars of Orland’s last film, is convinced it was murder. (He played an investigator in three films, so he knows his stuff.) He’s determined to figure out the truth behind Orland’s mysterious death.

There are a lot of people who might be suspects. There’s the director’s son, Tab, who was recently disowned because he is gay; Sheila, his former mistress, cast aside when he found a younger model; and notorious gossip columnist Agatha Mudd, who holds several grudges against him. Then there’s William Taylor, an aging actor who Orland bullied constantly, and William’s daughter, whose reputation the director has been happy to sully.

Aided by his boyfriend, up and coming actor Griffin Fenwick, and his costar and frequent date, Eve Spellman, Victor is one step ahead of the killer. And he’s determined to keep his and Griff’s relationship from the Hollywood rumor mills.

I loved the classic Hollywood setting and the way this book dealt with the issues of the day, like keeping queer actors in the closet and directors abusing their power. I just wished the actual mystery was a little more exciting. The pacing really dragged, and I wanted to start skimming pages.

Book Review: "The Tide Between Us" by Cem Say

It’s fun to read the books that get lots of hype and publicity, the ones you see everyone else talking about. At the same time, I love stumbling upon a book I’ve never heard of and being taken by complete surprise.

The Tide Between Us definitely falls in the latter category. I’m not even sure how I found it. But this portrait of love, longing, and being truly seen honestly took my breath away. There were so many sentences, paragraphs even, that I highlighted while reading.

“Because you don’t know what missing someone feels like. You’ve never once let yourself do it. Everyone you ever lost, you skipped the missing and went straight to the wall. You built a whole personality out of not needing anyone, and you did it so well you forgot that need is just, a thing people feel. Ordinary people. Every day.”

Emre left Istanbul for an unnamed coastal town. He vowed that he would no longer wait to be seen, to be loved, and he would stop living his life in the margins of others’. At a cafe, he meets Julian, a charismatic older man. There is an immediate attraction but neither knows what their first move should be—if there should be one at all.

Julian has the ability to make people feel like they are the most important to him. But he can only sustain that for so long before he hurts them. His seven-year marriage to Marco is filled with moments of joy and pain, yet neither wants to ask questions they don’t want answers to. As Julian and Emre turn toward each other, both know the gravity of their choices and the inevitability of the end. But how do you distinguish love from feeling seen?

This was an exceptionally beautiful debut novel. The feelings these characters lay bare, the waves of joy, jealousy, pain, and love they experience were so poignant and yet so real. I cannot wait for Cem Say’s next book. I’m so glad I found this.

Book Review: "All Them Dogs" by Djamel White

I felt this book in my soul. Not that I identified with the characters or the violence, but Djamel White’s storytelling was so powerful it grabbed hold of me and didn’t let go.

“He was beautiful. There was no denying it. Nothing would change that. To see past it felt impossible. Hating something beautiful must make your insides shrivel. It made me ugly. It made me see that I’ve always been ugly.”

After he killed a rival gang member, Tony fled his home in Dublin and went to England. He longed for home, but needed to be sure the fury died down before it was safe to return. And when he returned five years later, he discovered one of his closest friends and mentors had been murdered and his other friend has abandoned the gangster life they lived.

Tony gets a job working as an enforcer for a local thug. He mostly picks up drugs and goes after people who owe money. He wants to be more powerful, but even though time has passed since he killed, he’s always looking over his shoulder. And having a very short fuse doesn’t help.

His job is to assist Flute, his boss’ right-hand man. Tony knew of Flute when they were growing up, but he is mystified by this quiet yet brutal giant. And when the two find themselves drawn together, it sets them on a dangerous path, as past and present crimes take their toll.

This is definitely not a book for everyone, and the Irish slang the characters use was tough to follow at first. But this story has so much heart, and even though you know tragedy is impending, I still found myself a bit hopeful. A surprising, beautiful read.

Book Review: "Main, Middle & Gay: A Chef Finds His Place in the World Against All Odds" by Patrick O'Connell

Some of you may know that I’m a huge foodie and utterly fascinated by reading books about chefs, restaurants, and cooking. I also went to culinary school about 25 years ago, so the whole business intrigues me.

All this to say, when I think of the best meals I’ve ever had, Patrick O’Connell’s The Inn at Little Washington is near the top of the list. It’s the most expensive meal I’ve ever eaten but worth every penny. What O’Connell has created in such a small Virginia town is impressive—even more when you realize he never had any formal culinary training.

“Only because I’ve finally arrived at a place where I’m unafraid can buried secrets be exhumed and set free without danger.”

For the chef at the helm of the first U.S. restaurant to receive 3 Michelin stars, O’Connell followed an unusual path. Raised in Maryland, he had a difficult relationship with his father because he was unathletic and effeminate, unlike his brothers. He started working at a restaurant in his teens, and quickly fell in love with the atmosphere as well as the way flavors worked together in the foods he tried.

The book recounts the difficult journey in creating the Inn at Little Washington, as they faced opposition from the town. He touches on the milestones as they created this incredible empire of sorts. And he also touched on the often-rocky relationship with his longtime partner, which nearly destroyed everything they built.

I enjoyed this so much, both because I’ve been to the restaurant and seen interviews with O’Connell before, and because his path was so different than many others. If you’re a foodie, you’ll love reading about the many meals he created—and you’ll probably be hungry, too!

Book Review: "Stitched" by Eli McCann

I love it when books take you to places you’ve never been and expose you to new things. I’ll admit I never thought I’d read a book about the cutthroat behavior around a quilting competition, but this was such fun!

The members of the Ogden Quilters Association are beside itself when they learn that the Simpton Family Quilting Extravaganza will be held in nearby Smithfield, Utah. The competition has never been so close to home before, and they definitely want to make a good showing.

This year’s theme is “I Wish I Knew How to Quilt You: Famous Forbidden Relationships.” With their numbers dwindling due to advanced age (let’s not talk about Terry and the “needle incident “), the OQA is in need of new members. Candace, who owns an empire of fabric stores across Utah, decides to invite her store manager, Byron, and his best friend, Rob, to join.

The addition of two men—albeit gay ones—throws the remaining OQA members into a bit of a tizzy. They’ve never had a man join them before. Do their bylaws even allow it? But it’s not long before they’ve become fully engaged in the gossip, grumbling, and quilting.

As the group focuses on creating the best quilt ever, dynamics within and outside the group threaten its camaraderie. And then word gets out that the Logan Quilters Society, the defending regional champs and an overall menace, are trying to take control of the competition, which sends the group into a frenzy. Can the OQA create a winning quilt, soothe the in-group tensions, and vanquish their nemeses?

This was such a fun and sweet book. It was a beautiful story of found family, friendship, growing older, standing your ground, and realizing what’s most important to you. The characters were so warm—even the curmudgeons—and I just smiled through the whole book.

Book Review: "The Living Realm" by Jordan Tannahill

“Her comment made me wonder, though, whether there were certain places on Earth where the membrane between the past and present, indeed even the future, had been worn thinner than elsewhere. Whether people across cultures, throughout history, had been able to perceive this thinness, both consciously and unconsciously, and if it was because of this that these sites became places of worship, or at the very least places of congregation. Places where we return over and over to be with time, to better perceive its flux, and situate ourselves within its mysteries.”

This was an absolutely gorgeous book. It was moving, powerful, at times elegiacal, and its prose was simply luminous. I’m so thankful I stumbled upon it!!

Europe was experiencing its worst drought in some time. In the midst of this oppressively hot summer, the narrator and his closest friends spend many a day at Teufelssee, a glacial lake in a forest on the edge of Berlin. The lake has always been somewhat of a tourist attraction, while the forest surrounding it has been a popular cruising spot for decades.

One night while cruising, the narrator is taken aback when he sees a man who resembles Lukas, his former lover. But it’s more than a resemblance—this man could be Lukas’ doppelgänger. Yet the strangest thing is that Lukas died more than 30 years earlier.

Even after he loses sight of the man, he is so sure that it was Lukas. But why would he show up so many years later? As he tries to make sense of this sighting and what it means, he starts encountering other former lovers whom he has lost. While his friends worry that he’s losing his mind or suffering from some type of latent survivor’s guilt, he’s determined to figure out what these appearances should symbolize to him.

I found this to be such a compelling book. This is a story about loss, memories, grief, friendship, and found family, but it’s also a fascinating exploration of the thin line that exists between our past and present. I’ll be thinking about this for a long time.

Book Review: "The A-Listers" by Berlin Wick

Former child star Jace Wilder is going to be starring in one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year. Iron Horizon, based on the story of the rock band with the same name, is unlike anything Jace has ever done. His manager—as well as his controlling mother—are concerned the film might damage his reputation.

His costar in the movie is British actor Lennox Rome, who parlayed being a social media influencer into an acting career. The two actors have never met, but Lennox beat Jace for a film award despite being new to the industry, and they’ve been pitted against each other ever since.⁣

The film traces the band’s story from their start in high school to the two leads falling in love, which ultimately led to their failure. In order to do their story justice, Jace and Lennox must ensure their chemistry and camaraderie are completely authentic.

From the moment they meet, both men feel an unmistakable pull toward the other. But neither has been in a relationship with a man before, and neither really understands what their feelings for one another means. Yet as the tabloids circle, they have to worry about not only hurting their career, but each other as well.

I really enjoyed the chemistry between Jace and Lennox, and there is a lot of steam. However, Jace’s mother is so crazily manipulative, so it really took me out of the story whenever she popped up. I also dislike miscommunication as a trope, and that reared its head a few times in the book. But in the end, the romance outweighed the obstacles, and left me smiling.

Book Review: "Isn't He Romantic?" by Adib Khorram

I really love Adib Khorram’s books, particularly his Love on the Vine series, focused on three gay childhood friends living in Kansas City. This is the third and final (I’m guessing) book in the series, and I just love these characters! Thanks so much to Forever and NetGalley for the advance copy!!

Talk about a meet-cute! Arya is getting ready to leave a Napa Valley vineyard, where his company has held an event. It’s Ben’s family’s vineyard, and he is trying to avoid his ex-boyfriend when he runs into Arya. He asks Arya if he could kiss him, which turns into a steamy encounter amidst the vines. But in the morning, Arya is gone, without a goodbye.

The last thing Arya is expecting when he’s back home in Kansas City is to run into Ben, who has just moved to be a cellist with the Philharmonic. Not only that, but Ben is on a committee that is planning the Philharmonic’s annual ball, which Arya’s company is producing. They vow to keep things civil and try to be friends.

But when Ben’s ex moves to Kansas City to try and get him back, Ben tells him he’s already moved on—with Arya. The two agree to be fake boyfriends but make some strict rules—no sex and no falling in love. (Eye roll.)

The thing is, Arya doesn’t do relationships. He’s always been happy being his slutty self. With his 40th birthday approaching and his two best friends in serious relationships, he starts to wonder if he needs to change his perspective. But given the dysfunction of his parents’ marriage, how will he know what love is?

I love fake dating stories, and Arya and Ben are just adorable (and hot) together. I so enjoy the way Khorram infuses the characters’ Iranian heritage in these books. I feel like Arya, Ramin, and Farzan have become my friends, and I hope we’ll see them again. Definitely give this series a try—it’s funny, emotional, sweet, and quite steamy.

Book Review: "See You Next Tuesday" by Kate Stayman-London

I loved this book for several reasons, but one of them is that it reminded me of what it was like to be excited by a political candidate and be hopeful for the future. Lord knows we could use a lot of that in the U.S. right now!!

Nothing gets Anya more energized than working on a political campaign. She loves helping candidates she believes in, candidates she thinks would make a difference. When she meets Gabe, she is awestruck by his handsomeness, but his ego and what she sees as his lack of principles irritate her to no end.

They keep running into each other, either working in different roles on a campaign, or being brought together by mutual friends. There’s no doubt that they’re attracted to one another, but they can’t be around each other for long before they’re arguing again. They try to at least be friends, but one always makes the other one mad fairly quickly.

The book follows them through more than a decade of working on campaigns—local, state, and national. When they work together for a charismatic woman running for the U.S. Senate, they become friends, and both want more, but they’re too afraid to admit their feelings. Yet the two stand by each other through difficult personal times, and then they finally fall in love.

But when Anya and Gabe both get jobs working for Democratic presidential candidates, suddenly they’re rivals. Anya feels strongly that her candidate is the right one for the country. While Gabe might not feel the exact same way, he knows his candidate is more electable. Can they be opponents at the same time as being lovers?

I really enjoyed the way the book not only portrayed the frenzy, the highs, and the lows of political campaigns, but also how challenging it can be to hold onto yourself. I loved how the book explored grief and moving on, and while Anya could get a little self-righteous at times, I thought she and Gabe had great chemistry.

Book Review: "Ship Happens" by Mason Deaver

Breakups are never easy. Owen and Jacob’s relationship ended when Jacob got an offer to move to the UK and work on a research team. Owen, who isn’t great with traveling, couldn’t fathom moving to another country, no matter how much he loved Jacob. So he let him go.

A year has passed, and Owen is still hurt and angry. It would be easier to hate Jacob, but he misses him too much. Yet when Jacob returns to San Francisco for the holidays, his presence is almost too much to bear for Owen, although he’s left with a huge jumble of emotions.

Then their best friends surprise the group with a 7-day, all-expenses-paid Alaskan cruise as an opportunity to bond. Owen’s first thought is to pass—can he really stand being in such close proximity to Jacob for a week without going crazy? But he knows this is important to his friends, so he agrees to go.

They both try to be nice to each other, and there are times when the memories of what they used to be confront them. They agree that neither is good at being an ex, and Jacob proposes that they try to be friends. Isn’t that better than not having each other in their lives?

Owen feels a bit lost, that all of his friends are moving on with their lives while he is stagnating. On top of that, he’s never stopped loving Jacob, but knows that when the cruise is over, they’ll go back to their regular lives. Then what?

I really enjoyed Owen and Jacob’s relationship. You could tell how much they cared for one another, and particularly, how protective Jacob was of Owen. But I could understand the struggles they had deciding what to do with their feelings. I’ve been a fan of Mason Deaver’s since their debut, and I love how easily they can shift from YA to adult romance.

Book Review: "Summer Coven" by Kat Hillis and Rosiee Thor

I was so excited to see that my favorite vampires/bed and breakfast owners were back for a second adventure! Thanks so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Arthur Miller (no relation) and his husband, Sal Conte, finally feel at home in Trident Falls. Business at their bed and breakfast (called Dead & Breakfast) is booming, especially with the summer solstice festival coming to town. And since Arthur was able to solve a murder (and clear Sal as a suspect), they’ve finally made friends in town.

The summer solstice festival is absolutely packed, and all of the food and activities bring out Sal’s inner child. When he takes their cat, Rumble, to a pet psychic, there is a bit of a kerfuffle. Later that day, the pet psychic is found dead, apparently poisoned. (She obviously couldn’t intuit she was drinking poison.)

At first, Sal once again is the primary suspect, but Arthur is able to quickly clear his name. But his skills as a VAMP (Very Astute Married Paranormal) PI are requested by Ambrosia, the head of the Celestine Coven, a group of witches essentially operating an MLM of sorts. Of course, Arthur hasn’t solved his other case yet—the disappearance of their friend’s missing mother—but he realizes the two cases are connected.

It turns out Ambrosia isn’t the benevolently powerful witch she’s pretending to be. The coven is getting investigated for fraud, and Ambrosia (who used to be called Amanda) may not even be a real witch. Can Arthur expose the real criminals before it’s too late? How many diversions can Sal create?

This is a fun series. Arthur and Sal are an adorable couple, as each balances the other out. Sal is flighty, flaky, and utterly melodramatic, while Arthur could use a little more loosening up. I hope to see them again in another book!

Book Review: "Bridget and Gabe Are Not Okay" by Lex Croucher

It’s time to return to Camelot for the sequel to Gwen & Art Are Not In Love. Thanks so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advance copy!

All is not happy in Camelot. With the death of the king, his son Gabriel has (reluctantly) assumed the throne, and he’s so ill-at-ease that it’s starting to cause a crisis in the kingdom. And since he became king, Gabriel has ended his relationship with Arthur, despite how much he loves him.

Meanwhile, Gabe’s sister Gwendoline is also having a romantic crisis. Bridget, the only female knight in the kingdom, left several months ago and hasn’t responded to any of Gwen’s letters. Bridget, who has always been unshakable when a challenge arises, suddenly can’t win a joust.

In a move to engender goodwill among his subjects, King Gabriel convenes a new round table. He and his knights will travel throughout the kingdom, investigating the rumored sightings of the questing beast and the green knight, and determining whether the holy grail has been found. Of course, Gabe’s anxiety increases at every appearance he makes, and he’s rapidly coming unglued.

Can Gabe become the king he was born to be? Can Bridget recapture her jousting skills? And can love return to Gabe and Arthur, and Gwen and Bridget?

I really love these characters so it was great to have a sequel. This book is a lot more serious and less playful than its predecessor, dealing with grief and anxiety and recovery. But the found family and the romance at the book’s core warmed my heart and made me smile.

Book Review: "Bobby Merritt Meets His Match" by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey

When I picked up the first book in Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey’s Goose Run series, I had no idea how much this small town and this group of friends would capture my heart. I’ve just read the 5th—and it seems the final—book in the series and I wish it was a real town I could visit!

This book features Bobby, who is the self-proclaimed mayor of Goose Run and the owner of at least half the businesses in town (so far). But while he’s been a featured character in the other four books, they never hinted that Bobby had a love that got away.

When Bobby was in college and law school, he was a scholarship student, treated condescendingly by many of his fellow students. But he had a secret relationship with Granger, one of his close friends, even though Granger was always quick to ensure Bobby knew this was just a youthful fling. And when Bobby dared express his true feelings, that was the last he saw Granger. Until 20+ years later, when Granger returns to Goose Run in the middle of the town’s Pride festival.

This book not only includes Bobby and Granger’s story, but it also features four short stories, each one focused on a different character we’ve gotten to know. This was a fitting farewell and it provided a bit more depth into each of the characters.

“And maybe our lives weren’t big or loud. Maybe they were just small, ordinary lives. But there was something magical in the smallness of them, in all the spaces where we could just sit and breathe, and feel the sun on our skin, and be together. Not much happened in a town like Goose Run, but on the other hand, miracles did.”

If you like sweet, steamy, and funny M/M romances set in a quirky small town, I’d encourage you to pick up one of the books in this series. You’ll be glad you stopped by, and you’ll probably want to stay, too!

Book Review: "Be Still My Unbeating Heart" by Josh Winning

What fun this was! I mean, I was already sold on the description: “A cozy vampire vacation mystery set in a seaside Italian village, featuring a reformed vampire, his magical talking cat, and a handsome, brooding detective.” But Josh Winning did such a great job with this book.

Bastian is a vampire. But a vegetarian one. Five years ago he cleaned up his act and kicked the whole feeding off humans thing.

Everybody needs a little time away, even the undead. So Bastian and his best friend, Whitby (the aforementioned talking cat), head to Vernazza, a beautiful Italian village. Bastian is hoping to enjoy the sunshine (as long as he has sunscreen), take in the sights, dance a little, and maybe find a handsome man to enjoy it all with.

However, on their first beach walk, Bastian stumbles over the body of a young woman. It looks like she’s been killed by a…vampire? Of course, the police find him near the body and immediately suspect Bastian of murder and take him into custody.

Bastian is put on house arrest, guarded by Nicole, a handsome police inspector, who initially seems immune to his charms. But Nico starts to fall for Bastian, and realizes, as more bodies appear, that someone else is responsible, and is framing vampires. Yet the police commissioner has summoned the Vampire Council, and that could wind up causing more harm than good.

I really enjoyed this book. Bastian and Whitby are the oddest of pairs and their banter is quite fun. And while the mystery is definitely twisty, there’s a lot of dialogue about accepting who you are and embracing your differences—which works for everyone, not just vampires. I’d love to see another book in this series!

Book Review: "Killer Vibes" by Jack Friday

Peter is a lazy stoner who makes money as a weed dealer, mostly selling to local athletes. He’s smarter than he appears but he definitely has bad judgment, which leaves him broke and homeless. But salvation arrives when he learns that his uncle—whom he last saw 10 years ago—has left him a house in Austin.

He never really knew his uncle but he’s not one to look a gift house in the mouth. Yet he quickly discovers that his uncle not only owed $40K in property taxes, but shortly before he died, he took out a $500,000 line of credit. The money is nowhere to be found and the bank is ready to foreclose.

Everyone is pressuring him to sell the house, which is in a very popular neighborhood in Austin. But Peter doesn’t like being told what to do. And when he finds the hidden money, he realizes that his uncle was in far more trouble than it appeared, and it probably led to his death.

Peter’s refusal to sell the house angers lots of people, and things start to get more precarious for him. He connects with a private eye who was hired to protect him, and in addition to investigating his uncle’s death, the man teaches Peter about being a private investigator—something it appears he’s quite good at.

What Peter doesn’t realize is that he’s gotten himself tangled in a very sticky web, and there are lots of secrets he never knew. But can this lazy stoner outsmart money- and violence-hungry killers without hurting his buzz?

I loved this book. It was funny, action-packed, sexy, and surprisingly emotional at times. Peter is such a terrific character and I hope this is the first in a series of books featuring him. I shouldn’t be surprised how much I enjoyed this, given that Jack Friday is a pen name for John Fram, whose books are crazy good!

Book Review: "25 Days in Athens" by Jack Strange

Will and Ollie broke up more than three years ago, after Will rejected Ollie’s second marriage proposal. But even though they clearly wanted different things, Will still pines for Ollie and believes they are soulmates, despite the fact that Ollie has moved on.

Ollie’s announcement on social media that he and his boyfriend Alec have gotten engaged throws Will into a spiral. And then Will gets invited to their wedding in Athens. Why would Ollie invite him?

Even though he’s not sure it’s the right idea, Will decides to attend the wedding. But he plans to arrive in Athens earlier than others, so perhaps he can tell Ollie how he feels and maybe they can be reunited. No one thinks this is a good idea.

When he arrives in Athens, Will runs into Sam, his childhood best friend, who moved away years ago. They were once totally inseparable, and Will is pleasantly surprised to see that Sam grew up to be absolutely gorgeous. Reconnecting feels amazing, and there’s definitely some serious chemistry between them. But Will is in Greece to get Ollie back.

Sam agrees to be Will’s plus-one at the wedding, and they pretend to be a couple. But the closer the two of them get, the more Will considers telling Ollie how he still feels. Will he throw away a chance at happiness for a glimpse of what might have been?

The book was a mashup of some of my favorite romance tropes: friends to lovers, fake dating, and second chance. I loved the pairing of Will and Sam, and thought that the supporting characters were a lot of fun. And don’t get me started on the setting of the book!

Book Review: "Unsayable: A Life in Writing" by Michael Cunningham

“When you set out to be a writer you may or may not understand all that you’re agreeing to. You’re saying, by implication, that you’re qualified to write about the passions and sorrows and underlying motives of others. You live, with various degrees of comfort and discomfort, with the fact that even if your work is read by only a handful of people, you’ve claimed the right to set down the definitive version of relations that, in fact, have no definitive versions.”

Michael Cunningham is one of my all-time favorite writers. The Hours and The Home at the End of the World, in particular, are books that, more than 30 years after they were published, still profoundly affect me. So I couldn’t resist reading his new memoir, which talks about how he found his way to writing and how his love of language and storytelling shaped him.

Even as a young child, he was obsessed with language, and the specifics of it. There wasn’t just a tree in his yard, it was an oak tree, while there was a maple tree in his neighbor’s yard.

He started writing stories when he was young but he never had much confidence in them. So he turned to painting and drawing as a creative way of expressing himself. But he never stopped searching for the words to convey emotions or share accounts of his experiences—true or false.

Cunningham touches on specific moments in his life—being with his best friend in high school, who was his first love; spending time in Provincetown with an elderly gay couple who loved his stories about his adventures; working briefly as a hustler; and the first time he met the man who would become his husband.

This was a fascinating, at times emotional, book. I definitely thought it provided some insight into a writer’s mindset and it made me appreciate Cunningham’s writing even more.

Book Review: "Seek Immediate Shelter" by Vincent Yu

It’s just an average morning in the town of Beckitt, Massachusetts. Some people are going about their daily rituals, some are still sleeping.⁣

⁣ And then, out of the blue, an alert shows up on every cellphone: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”⁣

⁣ As you might imagine, panic ensues. People react in a multitude of ways. David decides his wife is taking too long to get to the car, so he tries to leave. Nina sends an angry text to her daughter, from whom she’s estranged. Rachel, a high school student, longs for her parents despite the fact they embarrass her. Russ shepherds his family into the bathtub, but he can’t fit with all of them.⁣

But within minutes, a second alert appears: “FALSE ALARM. PLEASE DISREGARD. ALL CLEAR.” While recriminations will begin and fingers will be pointed at those responsible for the error, the citizens of Beckitt have to live with the consequences of their impulsive actions.

⁣ ⁣ I loved the concept of this book, but I felt like the execution didn’t work as well. For the first few stories, you saw the message come out of the blue, you felt the peace shatter and the panic set in. But at some point the alert just gets referred to in passing, so then essentially the book becomes just a collection of very tangentially connected stories. On to the next!⁣

Book Review: "The Bright Afters" by Sadie McCarney

I have a Bookstagram friend to thank for putting this powerfully emotional book on my radar. I don’t think I would have found this otherwise.

The Bright Afters is a book of verse monologues set in Nova Scotia. When the book opens, it’s just before another school year begins, which sparks excitement and anxiety among the students.

“First-day hair matters. But something else gets tucked in with Aqua Net and bobby pins: you hide your secrets in your hair. And if you listen, you can hear the chorus of follicles whisper: this will be, this will be, this will be our year.”

On the first day of school, Colton, a gay student, is brutally attacked in the bathroom by another student. The reactions of everyone—from Colton, his sister Christine, and his best friend Annie, to his attacker, teachers, even the school janitor—compose a Greek chorus of sorts. There are secrets and confessions, rants and laments.

Obviously, the attack is disturbing and many of the reactions are unsurprising. But their being told in this type of narrative adds impact and power. I don’t read a lot of poetry—and the book doesn’t quite read like poetry—but this will remain in my mind for some time to come.

Book Review: "Almost Life" by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

I will admit that this book started slowly for me, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep reading. But I persevered a little longer and was richly rewarded by this beautiful, emotional love story.

Erica and Laure met in 1978, on the steps of the Sacré-Coeur in Paris. Laure is French, a graduate student at the Sorbonne. She’s very cerebral and lives her life the way she wants, no matter what. Erica is enjoying the summer before returning to England to start university.

Both women feel a spark the moment they met. While Laure has had relationships with women before, the awakening of this desire surprises Erica. They fall quickly, knowing they only have the summer. Yet once they part, the longing, the emotions, the hurt all continue.

“It is the condition of the heartbroken to believe no one has felt as they have, ever in the history of the world.”

The book spans more than 30 years. It sees Laure and Erica together and apart, trying to wring everything from each encounter. It traces the strength of their love despite other lovers, marriages, and changes both personal and political. In addition to being a love story, this is a reflection on the changing culture and politics toward equality.

This book was a very emotional one for me. I was surprised at just how much it took hold of my heart. I love books that take place in Paris, as I could see the city in my mind’s eye. Don’t be put off by the slow start, as the story is so worth it.