written by Elias Rodriques, book 50 of 2021
This book stirred up a feeling of general uneasiness in me. I don’t know if it’s because the coastal Florida beaches of its setting are places I’ve vacationed, my own complex feelings about high school, or the novel’s challenging subject matter. The story is centered on the return of Daniel, the main character, to his hometown to visit his high school friends in the aftermath of his first love’s unexpected death. In between accounts of his visits, Rodriques also covers Daniel’s family’s complex interracial history, slavery, racism, and religion.The story itself is layered and compelling but perhaps a little too ambitious and left me wishing it would have had a little less breadth and more depth.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ALC.
Recommended for: those interested in stories that are focused on intersectional identities
Categories: Fiction, Multiple Narrators, Coming of Age
Content Warnings: Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Death, Alcohol/Drug Use