Susan Scribner
My high expectations of Slow Dance, Rainbow Rowell's first adult novel in ten years, were mostly met despite (or because of?) a meandering plot and somewhat confusing non-chronological flashback chapters. Shiloh is a divorced mom of two young kids who lives with her own mother. Cary joined the Navy immediately after high school and is currently stationed for months at a time on a warship. Set in Rowell's native Omaha, the first third of the book deals with these formerly inseparable besties meeting for the first time in 14 years and finally addressing the missed opportunities and miscommunications that kept them apart after one ill-fated college visit. At peace with the past, they reluctantly part......Only to be reunited when Cary's mom (who is really his grandma) suffers a fall, and Cary calls Shiloh to ask for help. For a while the novel focuses on dysfunctional family dynamics that have roots in alcoholism, abuse, and neglect. Immediate crisis averted, we then shift to a largely epistolary section in which Shiloh and Cary grow even closer while he is at sea, and then a rousing finale in which a unique HEA is nailed down. Oh and somewhere along the way Shiloh realizes she might be bisexual. Neither Shiloh nor Cary are standard romance novel characters, and I give Rowell props for creating two flawed, struggling people who nevertheless fit together. I'm not a huge fan of kids clogging up my love stories, but Junie and Gus are realistically moody and annoying, demonstrating to Cary that his relationship with Shiloh will never be completely smooth sailing. Rowell's writing style, which includes multiple parenthetical clauses (my English teachers told me to never do this)(also to never split infinitives, which I just did) can be an acquired taste, but it's a quirk I can tolerate. I'm glad Rowell returned to the adult novel world, after spending ten years writing YA fantasy and comic books. I squee'd over her first few novels back in the day, but in hindsight there were some problematic aspects that #OwnVoices and #MeToo brought to light (including questionable Asian representation in [b:Eleanor & Park 15745753 Eleanor & Park Rainbow Rowell https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1341952742l/15745753.SX50.jpg 17225055] and blatant stalking in [b:Attachments 8909152 Attachments Rainbow Rowell https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1499377988l/8909152.SY75.jpg 13785503]). There will be some potential Slow Dance readers who are turned off by Shiloh's disavowal of her previous anti-military stance as “adolescent naivete.” Nevertheless, I hope this book's reception is positive enough to convince Rowell to stay with this genre for a while.ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
Please don't read Holly Gramazio's debut novel if you are looking for a rom-com (the publisher categorizes it as Women's Fiction but IMO the cover begs to differ). Although there are several funny scenes and the overall tone is satirical, if you (like me) are a romance reader you will be sorely disappointed. The revolving door of husbands becomes repetitive by the novel's midpoint, and there aren't enough significant events that deviate from that process to compensate. Fiction is full of stories that appeal to our curiosity around how our lives would have turned out if we made different choices (e.g., [b:Maybe in Another Life 23492661 Maybe in Another Life Taylor Jenkins Reid https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1424970519l/23492661.SY75.jpg 43082842], [b:Sliding Doors 4859702 Sliding Doors Peter Howitt https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1336333585l/4859702.SY75.jpg 4925023] etc.), but The Husbands trades quality for quantity. I raced through the book to see if Lauren's magical attic would ever stop spitting out spouses, but it was an intellectual curiosity, not an emotional one.There is a lot of positive buzz around this book, so maybe I'm an old-fashioned softie who doesn't appreciate 21st century novels. YMMV if you can see the book as brilliant commentary on The Way We Live Now and not feel personally invested in the outcome.
Marvelous and strange. The love story was to die for, but the chapters in which Icarus's “classroom friends” evolved into real friends were arguably my favorites. I'm a sucker for a lonely boy who finds support and caring in a high school setting (god knows I never did), especially from jock bros.
I yield the floor to my esteemed colleague ancientreader for her eloquent review, without which I would have missed this wonderful fever dream of a novel.
My late mother adored Barbra Streisand so I read this book in her memory. Or rather, I skimmed through it, pausing when Babs talked about a movie I liked or an interesting affair. The memoir should have been half as long, but that would have required that La Streisand relinquish some control. Which, as demonstrated repeatedly, she does not do. I think the most telling anecdote in the whole book is when she rewrites several of Stephen Sondheim's lyrics for an album. Stephen F*cking Sondheim! Only the greatest Broadway composer and lyricist of the 20th century!
Recommended if you want to read about hundreds of other times she was right and other people were wrong, design and fashion described in excruciating detail, and letters from famous people praising her to the rafters.
Hanif Abdurraqib is a Genius (I mean officially: he's a MacArthur fellowship recipient) and a national treasure. You don't have to like basketball to appreciate his latest release, although a bit of familiarity with the LeBron James phenomenon is helpful. But that's simply the framework Abdurraqib uses to muse about his past, his love for Columbus Ohio and its people, “making it,” loneliness, grief, music, prayer, fathers and sons, and how a Nike sneaker commercial can break your heart. His writing is poetic and beautiful and angry and joyous. If this book doesn't sound appealing to you, I urge you to seek out some of his earlier work including [b:They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us 33947154 They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us Hanif Abdurraqib https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1678391460l/33947154.SX50.jpg 54916808] and [b:A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance 49247757 A Little Devil in America Notes in Praise of Black Performance Hanif Abdurraqib https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1606110758l/49247757.SX50.jpg 62219511]. Or just google him and read one of his articles or this poem , in which a nameless Editor tries to tell Abdurraqib why his submission that uses a pooping dog as a metaphor for love is not suitable for their publication.
Every time a character said or did something, the author swooped in and told me what they were feeling, why they felt that way, and how their actions/words affected the other members of the family. I would have enjoyed the novel much more if Burns had gotten out of her own way and let her characters breathe instead of spoon-feeding their psyches and dynamics to me.
4.5 stars for this wonderful follow up to my favorite book of 2023, [b:We Could Be So Good 62365905 We Could Be So Good Cat Sebastian https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1674685755l/62365905.SX50.jpg 95573575]. Mark Bailey is Nick's former colleague from the Chronicle who frequently handed down queer literature to Nick, despite the latter's objections. We learn that two years after WCBSG, Mark's partner William died suddenly and his life pretty much stopped in its tracks. He quit his job but continues to show up at the office because he doesn't know what else to do. William was a successful attorney who remained deep in the closet, so Mark's grief is compounded by the fact that he was never able to publicly acknowledge their relationship, even in death.Andy (still adorable), the Chronicle's publisher, gives Mark an assignment to ghostwrite the diary of Eddie O'Leary, a baseball player who was recently traded to the New York Robins, a last-place expansion team. Eddie burned a lot of bridges by going on a very public tirade about how much he hates the Robins players, management, and New York in general. His first month of the season has been a disaster; the once-promising young player now can't get a hit to save his life. When Eddie meets Mark there is a spark that is nurtured by their tacit admission of queerness. But Mark is still grieving, living in an apartment that is more mausoleum than a home. He's tired of being someone's dirty little secret, but he knows that Eddie's career is over if anyone finds out about their relationship. Eddie and Mark give off similar sunshine/grouchy vibes to Andy and Nick from WCBSG, although Eddie's innate sweetness is obscured at first by his temper tantrums, and Mark is deeply grieving in addition to being grouchy. Their relationship arc mirrors their own journeys; Eddie is trying to recapture his baseball mojo and Mark is slowly moving past the acute phase of grief. Mark is subtly signaling that he will not hide his queerness anymore by taking small steps like letting his hair grow and dining out with his queer friends. Paradoxically, he is irrationally protective of Eddie, worrying that he will be the cause of Eddie's downfall. For his part, Eddie has always known he was queer, but it was easier to compartmentalize in a smaller city where he wasn't falling in love for the first time. There's very little third act drama - Mark tries to be a martyr but Eddie won't let him. And the HEA is very 1960s appropriate, with the men finding a community of queer friends and allies, even if they are decades away from being able to be out and proud. I would be remiss if I didn't mention two memorable secondary characters. George Allen is an elderly sportswriter and would-be mentor to Mark. His gruff, no fucks given personality is a perfect portrayal of many of that generation's real-life heralded sportswriters like Red Smith and Jimmy Breslin. And Mark's dog Lula has her own character arc, moving beyond “still waiting for William to come home” to “claims ownership of Mark and Eddie (but especially Eddie).” The Robins players and management shine in small roles as they move past their anger at Eddie and start feeling protective of him. YSBSL has a bit more real world angst (grief, fear of being outed) than WCBSG, which accounts for the slightly lower rating. Andy and Nick's appearances are kept to a minimum, which is appropriate even though I wanted to see more of them. I hope Cat Sebastian keeps publishing these 20th century historical fiction novels. They capture the era perfectly and are replete with passages worth underlining. (Eddie, looking at picture of himself from a year ago) The person in that photo is a kid. He had such a simple, uncomplicated life...But it was a life that couldn't grow in any direction. It didn't allow for failure, didn't allow for honesty. He was carefree, but maybe because he didn't know what was worth caring about. Now he knows who he is and what he wants, and he knows exactly how high a price he's willing to pay for those things. He's tired and he's angry, and his contentment is something heavy and sharp, a prize that he fought for. He wouldn't exchange it for anything. ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
3.5 stars. Several worthwhile books about MLMs have been published recently, including [b:Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing 62241157 Hey, Hun Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing Emily Lynn Paulson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1662304999l/62241157.SX50.jpg 98054825], and [b:Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism 55338982 Cultish The Language of Fanaticism Amanda Montell https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603741877l/55338982.SX50.jpg 86301080]. Jane Marie brings to the table a strong political and historical context for MLMs, going back to Amway's CEO schmoozing with President Gerald Ford in 1974. Plus, now I know where the term “snake oil” comes from (probably). Marie's tone is casual, if occasionally a little too snarky. I continue to be oddly fascinated by these examples of American individualism and exceptionalism run amok, so keep those books (and documentaries - check out LuLaRich and (Un)Well) coming.
3.25 “I really wanted to love this book” stars. Maybe my expectations were too high after seeing rave reviews from several of my favorite authors and reviewers, including some that compared The Shabti to the work of the singular [a:Jordan L. Hawk 6519692 Jordan L. Hawk https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521548404p2/6519692.jpg]. Maybe I had a book hangover from a recent 5-star read, and any follow up would have paled in comparison. Whatever the reason, I'm going to be the outlier, and admit that I liked-not-loved this debut novel. There is plenty to appreciate about the book's premise. Disgraced but charming reformed fake medium Dashiel meets nerdy, Jewish, Ancient Studies professor Hermann; who wouldn't enjoy a queer opposites attract trope set in a Depression-era small town? The ancient evil is suitably creepy, and the story's climax is suspenseful and dramatic. The weakest aspect of the book is its characters. The MCs felt like black and white drawings that hadn't quite been colored in sufficiently. I appreciated the way Hermann's religion and frequent use of Yiddish phrases were presented as No Big Deal. His impassioned defense of his chonky cat after an unwelcome visitor disses him was the book's highlight. But the dialogue between Hermann and Dashiel frequently rang false. That issue, and the closed door nature of their physical relationship, contributed to a disconnect between the strong emotions they expressed and the lukewarm passion I sensed between them. The bad guys were sort of bad, but not diabolically evil (where's a good Cthulhu cultist when you need one?). I even felt a bit sad when one of them Got What He Deserved. I'm a big fan of queer paranormal fiction set in the first half of the 20th century, and I hope that Lorenz is planning more books about these characters. Perhaps as we learn more about their pasts and personalities, I will feel as strongly about them as Hermann does about his cat. ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
4.5 stars. Third time is the charm for Sarah Van Name, who reaches [a:Sarah Dessen 2987 Sarah Dessen https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1372181953p2/2987.jpg]-level heights of YA excellence with These Bodies Between Us. The analogy may not be subtle (teen girls discover they can become invisible), but Van Name gives equal time to the MC's joy of discovering her sexual self, and the challenges of having a body that is easily shamed and distorted by the male gaze. The complex dynamics of girls' friendships are illustrated realistically but primarily positively. Setting the book at the beach just gilds the lily. I read the book in one sitting, and now need to go back and catch the nuances I missed. These Bodies Between Us shows an author who has found her true voice. Sarah Van Name deserves all of the accolades for this book.Disclosure: The author is the daughter-in-law of good friends, but if I didn't like the book I would not have posted a review.
CW : References to prior sexual assault and abortion. One character experiences virulent racism. K.J. Charles is no longer self-publishing's best kept secret. Sourcebooks published her 2023 M/M historical duology, [b:The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen 57102663 The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (The Doomsday Books, #1) K.J. Charles https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1663091244l/57102663.SX50.jpg 89360006], and [b:A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel 75505273 A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel (The Doomsday Books, #2) K.J. Charles https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677601132l/75505273.SY75.jpg 100794063]. Orion recently released the previously self-pub'd [b:The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting 192786618 The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting K.J. Charles https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1699055167l/192786618.SY75.jpg 87603321], with a follow up scheduled for July. And she recently announced an additional three-book deal with Sourcebooks. So it's a perfect opportunity for her to spread her literary wings and experiment with a new genre - historical mystery. Of course, she nails it.England, 1905. Downtrodden hero Jeremy “Jem” Kite loses his menial clerk job when his boss receives an anonymous letter linking Jem to the unsolved murder of his Oxford classmate ten years ago. With no college degree and few employment prospects, Jem decides that his life will never improve unless he identifies the note writer - and the killer. He has a finite list of suspects: the five other surviving members of the once close-knit “Seven Wonders.” Flashback to 1895. As a first year scholarship student at Oxford, Jem is astonished to find himself, club foot and all, recruited into an ebullient, exclusive circle of upper class men and women. He initially suspects that his acceptance by these shining stars is part of a cruel joke. But by the end of first term, he is secure in his place and envisioning a bright future with his new BFFs. That lasts until third year, when Toby Feynsham, the group's ringleader, is murdered. Due to the circumstances of his death, the friends are acutely aware that the killer has to be one of them. Jem has a mental breakdown and never finishes school. The other Wonders scatter and lose touch with each other, until Jem stirs the pot by asking questions. There's nothing worse than a mystery in which the characters take a backseat to the clues and theories of the crime. Fortunately KJC brings her brilliant character building skills to this new genre. It's easy to identify from page one with Jem, a disabled scholarship student without social graces or connections who is briefly one of the Best and the Brightest, before his bubble is cruelly popped and his illusions are shattered. Jem may be “a drab man with a drab job,” but through his investigation he discovers strength and cunning that help him uncover long-held secrets. The other characters, especially the victim's best friend Nick, are also richly drawn, to the point where I found myself wishing that the “Random Crazy Lunatic” theory of the murder espoused by Oxford's administration would somehow be proven accurate. The book is set at the turn of the 20th century, but the issues uncovered by Jem's dogged pursuit of the truth are alarmingly relevant today. Timeless themes of justice, redemption, and morality are also explored, with the book's denouement demonstrating that these concepts are rarely black and white. The Seven Wonders perform Shakespeare's [b:Cymbeline 305510 Cymbeline William Shakespeare https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1418615076l/305510.SY75.jpg 745601] just prior to Toby's murder, and many of the play's themes are echoed in the novel (also, it's Mr. KJC's favorite). Charles has been very upfront that Death in the Spires is not a historical romance, but that it has “romantic elements.” The physical relationship between Jem and another member of the group is essential to understanding the past, but their future together is murky. If you squint really hard, you can just barely imagine an HFN ending, but that could be my stubborn romance novel mind grasping at straws. KJC's foray into historical mystery shows that her incredible talents are easily transferable to other genres. I'd follow her anywhere. ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review. I am a member of KJC's Facebook fan group.
Gee Officer Krupke, you're really a square.This MC don't need a boyfriend, he needs an analyst's care! (with apologies to Stephen Sondheim)
Wes “Big Mac” Mackenzie is an angry skater boi who loves to bully his classmates, graffiti tag inappropriate places, and set things on fire. His redemption arc is launched when he meets Tristan, a black ballet student from the rich side of town, who is given to wise therapist remarks, such as “the next chapter in your life is for you to define” and “thank you for being vulnerable with me.” I just didn't buy the immediate attraction, or the way Tristan turned Wes' life around so quickly (although not without significant roadblocks). Wes is a well developed character (with valid reasons to be angry), and I admire the author's goal of showing that there's not one “acceptable” way to be gay, but it would have made more sense if Wes fell in love with a human being, instead of a paragon of virtue.
3.5 stars rounded up. Gene “Nes” Ionescu loves baseball. As a gay transgender man, he knows he is lucky to have been signed by a (lesbian) manager to the Portland Lumberjacks' minor league system. Now on the Triple-A Beaverton Beavers roster, he doesn't let himself admit his wildest dreams to someday get called up to “The Show.” Then Luis Estrada is traded to the Beavers and the shit hits the fan. Gene and Luis were college friends and teammates, and Luis' abrupt departure for the draft left Gene feeling hurt. Now that they are (literally) batting for the same team, things start off poorly. Not only does Luis replace Gene as the Beavers' shortstop, relegating him to second base, but his obvious talent signals that Beaverton is just a brief pitstop on the road to a glorious career in the major leagues. Little by little, Gene and Luis become a dynamic duo, on and off the field. But when Gene's manager suggests that their relationship is holding Luis back from his full potential as a major leaguer and reminds Gene that the couple will likely end up separated geographically, Gene has to decide if he should sacrifice the sport that has always made him happy or the man he is starting to love. At times in this promising debut, I felt like I was reading something by [a:Cat Sebastian 15171247 Cat Sebastian https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487439203p2/15171247.jpg] or [a:Casey McQuiston 17949486 Casey McQuiston https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1608160367p2/17949486.jpg], because the writing was so strong. “I am regretting that choice,” [Luis} says, and Gene almost wants to laugh. Part of the appeal might be that it's at Luis's expense. Still, though, the barest hint of a sense of humor exists in Luis's voice. So faint it's like someone's cologne sticking around in an elevator when they themselves disembarked three floors ago, but it smells so nice that you wish they'd stuck around so you could ask the name of both the cologne and its owner. Unfortunately, at other times the plot lagged, and few of the other characters, including Luis, came alive. But overall I was charmed by the book's inherent optimism, which is sorely lacking these days for the gay and trans communities. Although there is a (mercifully brief) third act separation, the dominant emotion for most of the story is joy - in baseball, in family, and in being queer. Gene is the first openly transgender man in professional baseball, but almost nobody gives him grief about his gender or sexuality. Queer representation extends to many of the secondary characters; in addition to Gene's lesbian manager, his best friend/teammate and two dads are gay. Angst is almost nonexistent, and everyone is emotionally available and supportive. Gene's story may be a fantasy in today's climate, but Hoffman defiantly chooses to present a world in which his protagonist's dreams can come true.N.B. Some “sports romances” use their designated game as window dressing, with most of the action taking place far away from the field/rink/stadium. The Prospects, however, is heavily steeped in baseball. Numerous scenes are set during games, and there are transcripts of the announcers' recap and analysis. I happen to love the sport, but YMMV if you can't tell the difference between a drag bunt and a drag queen.ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
Gracie Gold was briefly considered America's Sweetheart - a slender, blonde beauty whose athletic and artistic skills earned her two U.S. Figure Skating championships and a trip to the 2014 Olympics. Then her performances started to deteriorate, with missed jumps and falls. Gold's perceived laziness and bad attitude drew chastisement from the skating establishment. Tara Lipinski, commenting on a lackluster 2016 performance, callously remarked that Gold needed to “snap out of it.” In reality, Gold was falling apart from the combination of toxic family dynamics, depression, an eating disorder, ADHD, OCD, and trauma from being raped by a fellow skater (who is not named). Eventually, she got the help she needed, but it was too late to recapture her former glory.
Although it drags a bit in towards the end, Gold's memoir is a important reminder about the double whammy faced by women figure skaters - they have to tough it out, give 110%, AND they have to look pretty and keep smiling no matter what happens. In admitting she was a real person with real problems, Gold broke the rules and was punished for it. That she can honestly say that she still loves skating is astonishing.
Not just another COVID 19 book; former New York Times science editor McNeil pulls back and discusses how the world has almost always botched its response to pandemics. He links these failures to a combination of factors: response time, denialism, bigotry, corruption, media coverage, political opportunism and profiteering. The book is non-partisan for the most part; McNeil assigns blame to both Trump and Biden for lives that were unnecessarily lost to COVID-19.
The book's first half is the most interesting; in the second half McNeil proposes solutions that have less than a snowball's chance in hell of being adopted. It's difficult not to insert himself into the narrative because McNeil reported from the front lines of many pandemics, including several that devastated other countries but left the US relatively unscathed. But he does have a superior “I alone know the answers” tone that becomes more grating in the how-to-fix-things chapters. Another pandemic in our lifetimes is likely; I am not optimistic we will react more productively than we did in 2020.
What I was expecting from this historical novel: an indictment of toxic American colonialism as demonstrated by the building of the Panama Canal, regardless of its toll it on the country's natural beauty and its people.
What I got: Yes, that. But also a multi-character, warm-hearted and somehow hopeful story of early 20th century Caribbean life. A significant portion of the book takes place in Barbados, source of many Canal workers. Some of the Panamanian scenes are set in cities and villages that are far from the building site, highlighting native customs and traditions that are in jeopardy. There are the expected examples of American racism, carelessness and cruelty, but there are also chapters devoted to complex family relationships and futile but empowering resistance. The whole thing is sprinkled with a touch of magical realism and garnished with a positive outcome for most of the characters, despite the dubious impact of one country buying a poorer one to satiate its greed.
YMMV if you don't like novels with almost a dozen POV characters.
This was fine, a quick palate cleanser after several heavier reads. No disrespect to the author, but the book gave me Fisher-Price “My First Historical Romance” vibes. The WWII plot is simple and sanitized, with a plucky virginal heroine and “you can't do that to my sister” obstacle to her romance with a charming but conflicted hero. Takes place during the London Blitz but although buildings are demolished, the two MCs are not faced with the loss of any friends or family.
Works better as a memoir than a self-help book. Nominally written to process the 2019 death by suicide of Crosley's best friend/mentor, book publicist Russell Perreault. Come for the grief, stay for an insider's experience of the crumbling publishing industry, including Crosley's close connection to the infamous James Frey memoir [b:A Million Little Pieces 1241 A Million Little Pieces James Frey https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1483206985l/1241.SY75.jpg 3140930], which was lauded by Oprah before being exposed as mostly fraudulent. Worth reading for Crosley's skill at making you laugh while she's breaking your heart.
Publication date 5/28/24
CW: An offensive Yiddish word for Black person is used twice in this novel. The character who says the word is not a sympathetic one, and the author goes out of his way to show that the two MCs are not racist. The novel's most important secondary character is a Black woman. But even with all of those modifiers, that word left a lingering bad taste in my mouth.
From the blurb, I was expecting an “estranged twin brothers take a road trip, hijinks and reconciliation follow” plot, and Goyhood does offer several set pieces with humorous elements. The overarching mood however is serious, as Mayer (formerly Martin) wrestles with his commitment to Orthodox Judaism and his long-held belief that studying Jewish texts to the exclusion of everything else is the most exalted way to live. The so-called comic relief comes from the contrast with Meyer's twin David, who has wasted his life on drugs, women, and shady business deals that never paid off. For a good part of the book, the voice of reason is Charlayne, a beautiful Goldman Sachs financial analyst turned Instagram brand ambassador and would-be Appalachian Trail hiker. I guess if you're a white Jewish author writing a token Black character, you might as well make her perfect.
The Orthodox Jewish laws and customs are not always explained well, so I don't think this book will appeal to non-Jewish readers. It barely appealed to me before the offensive language took me out of the story for good.
ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
Note: Should be read in tandem with [b:Waiting for the Flood 89468474 Waiting for the Flood (Spires, #2) Alexis Hall https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1678797762l/89468474.SY75.jpg 43391117], whose narrator Edwin is the ex-boyfriend of Chasing the Light's Marius. This is the Alexis Hall I have been missing for a long time, since 2016's [b:Pansies 40025027 Pansies (Spires #4) Alexis Hall https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525287118l/40025027.SY75.jpg 51841846] and perhaps going back more than ten years to [b:Glitterland 60754391 Glitterland (Spires, #1) Alexis Hall https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1655387610l/60754391.SX50.jpg 24797122]. No cute rom-com, farcical fairy tale, satire of romance novel royalty, or historical fiction gut check. Just two men realizing they have found something special in each other despite their character flaws and questionable pasts. Marius actively avoids genuine emotion and uses sarcasm to keep other people at a distance, and is no kinder to himself than others. He reminds me of Glitterland's Ash, with less pretension and certifiable mental illness. The plot puts equal importance on Marius' coming to terms with the way he abruptly ended the ten year relationship with Edwin; and Marius' tentative first steps with the enigmatic, seemingly impervious to sarcasm Leo. I appreciated the fact that there was no easy explanation for Marius's difficult personality; his parents are delightful and he had anything but a traumatic childhood. Sometimes people are who they are, or as Gaga would say, born this way. I'm glad to see that Hall has several new Spires novels planned (in addition to reissues of Pansies and [b:For Real 40726183 For Real (Spires, #3) Alexis Hall https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530809160l/40726183.SY75.jpg 45123759]). I hope they too will be vintage Hall, sans gimmicks.