Acquaintance

to be honest, it took me some time to get into this book, after the very enticing beginning – which sets the atmosphere and tone for the time period perfectly— it seemed to sink into a period of ‘setup’ and even backstory as we get to understand the characters better and get to know their day-to-day lives – I do appreciate thorough world-building, especially in a historical fiction where the setting is just as important as the story is, but I still wish there would have been more of a dramatic ‘hook’ or inciting incident sooner to really grab our attention. But then the more I read the more I got into it, and then by halfway I was hooked. The author Jeff Stookey is really good at creating some complex, unforgettable characters and bringing the ‘past’ to life in a way where we feel like we really know Carl and Jimmy, we can feel the chemistry, the tension, the fear and uncertainty, and the emotional connection they share, like we are going through their relationship with them in real time. I was so curious to see how it would all work out, but it did…. in a way. I loved the ending, even if not the ‘ultimate happily ever after’ one would hope for at least we know it’s not the end of both Carl’s and Jimmy’s stories, as we will see both of them in the next books as well (yay!).

amazing! This novel by Jeff Stookey is poignant, provocative, entertaining, and even heartbreaking. And the way that Mr. Stookey infused this well-researched story with authentic, flawed, relatable characters and a compelling storyline – makes it feel that much more memorable. I liked his writing style-- the conversations with the characters really show us the story, but mostly we are in Carl’s perspective as this is told in his first-person POV. It works well here, and it seems like Mr. Stookey has really done his homework, as the level of cultural and historical detailing is certainly impressive. It was fairly evenly paced, but it does start off a little slow, and sometimes there are episodes of small-talk/chit-chat that didn’t add much and could be trimmed some. Each of the different characters really bring something special to the table (Gwen and Charlie) and I even feel liked I learned some things about this era – Stookey delves into an array of themes and topics here, from sexual identity and discoveries, oppression, KKK, Medicine, Music (the jazz scene), friendships, bigotry and persecution and discrimination… all wrapped around an emotionally engaging love story that is beautifully written and solidly-executed. Recommend for adult fans of gay romance. 4.5 stars