September Reviews

Big things this month! A slight job change, a trip to Texas, and, of course, five books! Turns out when I have the energy to do so, I can read a whole lot. Who'd have thought?

ANYWAYS, let's just get right to it folks, there were some interesting ones this month.

Like Real People Do by E.L. Massey

So this book started as fanfiction, which is where I read it for the first time, and then the author changed the story/characters (the main one she'd already originally created herself) and published it as an original story, so I've gotten to read it in a couple different ways now.

Eli is a figure skater recovering from a traumatic accident that set back his career, going into his freshman year of college out and proud and with no time for nonsense. But nonsense finds him in the form of young NHL captain Alex Price, closeted, stubborn, and only kind of an asshole. The two become friends and then something more, or as much as they can when Alex's career and notority keep him firmly in the closet, and they find themselves trying to balance what's really worth it to them.

If I'm being brutally, brutally honest, I like this story better as fanfiction. Part of that could be because that's where I read it first, so it made the biggest impact. But I also think that fanfiction can be hard to translate. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore fanfiction and think it's a great tool for writing and story telling, but there is a sort of...almost unnameable aspect to it that makes it markedly different from books. Fanfiction is entrenched in a world or story or characters that already exist, their history a sort of preexisting building block. And so even though Massey had already crafted her main character as her own, and certainly created personalities for existing side characters and a bunch of new characters, there was still a weird thing I don't know that I can place.

The story itself is very sweet and heartwarming and lovely, and the characters are funny and charming. The writing it witty, the dialogue very modern and hilarious. So really, it was a fun book to read, made me feel all warm and fond and all that. It did feel very...I don't know, low stakes? Which I am perfectly fine with, not all books need to be action and death and consequences all the time. This book felt like a soft look at falling in love with your best friend despite the world telling you no. And I already know there will be another book because there's more to the story than what's in this one, so that may have been why it felt low stakes. I sort of already know what's coming, but that did mean I kept waiting for certain things to happen. They will eventually, or not at all, who knows how much the story has changed. I'll just have to wait for the next one to find out.

Husband Material by Alexis Hall

I had coincidentally purchased this book around the same time a friend had just finished reading it, and it was her question about what I thought of the ending that got me to read it as soon as it showed up on my doorstep (bypassing the other book I'd planned to read before it). And I'll text Vic the same, but the ending was and was not a surprise.

Luc O'Donnel is finally not a complete mess. Mostly. He's been dating his lovely boyfriend Oliver for two years, is actually enjoying his job, and his best friend is getting married. But when the wedding spirit of just a few too many ceremonies gets the best of Luc, he and Oliver have to decide what works best for them (and what definitively doesn't).

Alexis Hall is a very funny writer, and there's a lot of wit and clever dialogue in this book. It's a sequel and does an excellent job of carrying over from the first book while still being It's own story. There was a lot of growth from the previous book, but still enough disaster energy to be hilarious and intriguing.

Both Oliver and Luc have complicated relationships with their parents (dads especially) and there was a part I had to put down the book and sort of almost cry for a minute because I love my father but things sure do be complicated sometimes and that was a nice moment of feeling seen for something I do not think about often. There was also a really good look at grief and all its complications that made for a very emotional several moments.

Overall this was an entertaining read, overall more funny than sad, and felt very apt for the characters.

Monster of the Week by F.T. Lukens

It was almost on accident that I realized this book existed. I read the first one several years ago, and so I was absolutely delighted to stumble upon the sequel.

Bridger Whitt somehow managed to survive fall semester of his senior year, despite starting the strangest and most magical job he could've ever imagined. But not only did he survive, he got a boyfriend, some new confidence in his sexuality, a pretty spectacular job, and a lot of new friends. Now, spring semester has come with a vengeance, along with a new paranormal investigative TV show that could spell the end of the world of myth. Bridger has to contend with his impending graduation, a suddenly too present father, and an aggressive investigative journalist, but at least the unicorn is finally on his side.

I really liked this premise in the first book and it's still just as fun in the second one. I love cryptids, and Lukens take on them is fun and modern (especially with so much queer energy). It's a creative look at something already very creative and strange, with a fun addition of found family and humor. I did have a time trying to remember the characters and resettle into the setting, but there were enough reminders throughout the book that I could figure it out.

There are some somewhat dated references, but that's sort of par for the course when it comes to books with high schoolers, though they did sometimes throw me for a loop during certain conversations. References can be cheeky and fun, but I'm also overly wary of having too many. But that is part of Bridger and Astrid's friendship, so it also gave them a characterization that may have been lost without all of them. So, there's a pretty waffly view on that, I suppose.

The inclusion of Bridger's dad brought another layer to the story. A previously Very Absent father, his dad's appearance sort of rocked the peace that Bridger had found with himself and his sexuality. I liked the confidence that Bridger had developed since the first book, and this was a really dynamic way to test that and give Bridger the opportunity to learn and decide who and what mattered to him. The found family is strong with this book, a trope I always appreciate.

Overall, this was a fun peek back into this world.

Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I absolutely fell in love with Ari and Dante in their first book, so when I found out there was a sequel, I knew I had to get it.

Picking up not long after the first book left off, AADDITWOTW follows Ari and Dante through their senior year of high school as their relationship develops with each other and the new friends they make. Facing racism in the classroom, the growing AIDs epidemic, and surprising grief and new life, Ari and Dante have to learn about the world and how they want to shape it.

This book is very meandering. It's thoughtful and thought provoking, and full of so much heart. It's also over 500 pages long and feels it. The book feels like a lot of short stories, vignette moments of Ari's life. He's smart and honest and feels so much that the whole thing sort of felt like a therapy session. Saenz is a very compelling author, and his writing style is irreverently poetic, unafraid to combine swearing and gorgeous metaphors.

There's a lot to take in with this book, because it contains so much, both page and plot wise. But it's all feelings, and even when things are bad it's growth and understanding. This book is a hug, but the type you cry into desperately.

I had to work a bit harder than I'd like to admit to remember characters and events from the first book, but this one did a good job reminding me who people were, which I always appreciate in a sequel. I love the characters in this series, both the new and returning, and the way they folded into each other in exactly the way they needed.

Overall this was a beautiful if very long read.

The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver

I read Deaver's other book I Wish You All The Best a couple years ago, so I was interested in seeing what they'd do with a different kind of love story. And while I think I ultimately liked their other work better, The Feeling of Falling in Love is still a good book about learning to know that you do deserve love.

Neil Kearney, transgender and wealthy, has just broken his best friend's heart. When their friends with benefits situation gets a little too full of unrequited feelings, Neil pulls the plug and devises a scheme to make sure Josh gets over him; pretend to date his roommate Wyatt and bring him to his brother's wedding to show Josh (and his family) that he's moved on and Josh should too. But when hijinks ensue and real feelings start to build, Neil will have to decide if he's willing to give love a go, and if he can believe he really deserves it.

As someone who has imploded friendships for far less than a declaration of love, I feel like I got where Neil is coming from. Love is complicated and maybe or maybe not worth it, but if you don't have feelings for someone who does, then it's better to pull the plug asap. Anxiety over love and being deserving of it also doesn't help. But that's sort of where the understanding ends; Neil is a complicated character, entitled and mean and fueled by a lot of family issues and deeply rooted fear of being left behind, so he does all the leaving first. But Wyatt, who is sweet and down to earth, is just the right person so both see Neil for who he really is and get Neil to see how he can be better too.

The overall arc of the story wasn't my favorite thing, but it was interesting to see family dynamics play out, especially when Neil finally had honest conversations with his mom and brother. I also appreciated the conversations Neil and Wyatt had about gender and how fluid and nerve-wracking it is.

The book is also very sex positive and doesn't shame Neil for his experience (or Wyatt for his lack). It handled the moments of intimacy with grace and levity but didn't shy away from the awkwardness also present. In fact the whole thing stuck it out with awkward moments, having important if uncomfortable (for the characters) conversations about a number of things.

Overall, this was a good read, even if it got bogged down by Neil's negativity. That just gave it room to grow along with him.

And that's it, folks! Until next month, keep writing!

Sam

Literary recommendation: I recently picked up Nona The Ninth, and while I haven't been able to read it yet, I have been thinking a lot about Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Media recommendation: I am very much enjoying the newest Star Wars television series Andor, and I'm also super vibing with Maise Peter's song Blonde (two recommendations! who is she?)