Family Meal by Bryan Washington: This is a tough read. Cam’s partner Kai is killed in a way that is maddening and horrible, but since you don’t find out for a while exactly what happened, I’ll leave it at that. The story of Cam’s spiral into grief and rage and self-destruction is visceral and raw. But once he nadirs out, his trajectory is toward healing— it just takes awhile to get there. Well worth hanging in there. The writing is true, and there is no higher compliment if you ask me. Check for trigger warnings, because there are some difficult moments.
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian: Nick Russo has been a city reporter at a big NYC newspaper for several years when the publisher’s son Andy stumbles into the newsroom looking to gain experience before he has to take over when his father retires. What follows is a sweet and thoughtful story of two men figuring out how to be together in a world where even holding hands in public could land them in jail. Set in the 1950s, We Could be So Good felt as much like a window into the times as a romance, although the romance is beautifully done. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Seven Days In June by Tia Williams: Eva Mercy and Shane Hall spent a crazy week together during their senior year in high school. They were both in trouble, but their connection seemed to be a safe harbor in the midst of their individual traumas. The week ended badly, and they haven’t seen each other since. But they both became writers, and the books they write are a sort of conversation across the years.
When they end up (mostly accidentally) at the same writers’ panel years later, a million emotions bubble up. Across another crazy week, they have to decide if they want to try again. In spite of being white and considerably older, I really identified with Eva/Genevieve, maybe because I also suffer from intermittent chronic migraines (not as debilitating as hers, but bad enough). The ending is excellent, and how often can you say that? (not often enough).
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff: Five years ago, Geeta’s husband disappeared without a trace. In the conservative, rural town where she lives in northern India, a woman with no husband or family is a disgrace, and rumors are swirling that she killed him. She’s lonely, but she’s figured out a way to support herself and has resigned herself to her life.
Until one night an acquaintance shows up wanting Geeta’s help with murdering her abusive husband, since Geeta “already knows what to do.” Then she discovers her former best friend might not be as uncaring as she seems. From there, complications multiply. It’s part Thelma and Louise, part My Sister the Serial Killer, part Xena Warrior Princess, occasionally hilarious, occasionally darkly ironic, occasionally black revenge comedy. It’s the kind of thing that’s super hard to do without turning it into either a farce or a bloodbath, but Shroff handles it so skillfullly, it’s hard to believe it’s a debut novel. Loved it.
Witch King by Martha Wells: Kaiisteron, Demon Prince of the Fourth House of the underearth, comes blearily awake to realize he has no idea where he is or what happened to him. His body has been held in stasis for almost a year in an underwater coffin. He has only minutes to figure out how to respond, save an innocent victim, and rescue his friend Ziede. And that’s just the first ten pages. There is some humor, but mostly this is a deeply heartfelt story of Kai and his devoted friends figuring out how to respond to oppression, betrayal, and grief. There is magic, but it is sometimes dark and desperate.
It is also almost too complex. I felt like Kai at the beginning, trying to get my bearings as I was thrown in at the deep end with little help. When I was twenty, I would have had no trouble with it—and I’m pretty sure I would have thought this was the best book I’d ever read (at the time, that dubious honor was held by the Thomas Covenant books). I still loved it but I had to read it twice to really understand what happened. There is a lot going on across two different time lines, and Wells resists the temptation to info dump—which takes far more work on the part of the author. And the reader, for that matter. Highly recommended if you enjoy complex world-building and a loyal band of friends fighting impossible odds. I went back and forth between the ebook version and the audio version, and the narrator is great. Plunge in, because it’s a great story.
Next week I will move on, promise. Other posts in this series:
2023 Reading Roundup
Six Books I Loved in 2023
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