Here's what I read this past month, including what I've been reading to my son!
The Case of the Missing Mom by Steve Brezenoff: This one was something different from the rest of the series, as it's more about the missing people than the museum artifacts that have also gone missing. I didn't guess the solution, part of which was clever and part of which was far-fetched. This definitely wasn't my favorite of the series, but it was one of the better ones.
Boy Erased by Garrard Conley: I've heard many stories from survivors of ex-gay therapy, so nothing in this memoir was particularly surprising to me, but I'm grateful to those who are willing to tell their stories. I think there are probably other memoirs that share the experience of ex-gay therapy in a way that's more straightforward, but I would imagine that Conley's writing style lends weight to the experience for some.
The Case of the Counterfeit Painting by Steve Brezenoff: I appreciated that this was something different from the previous books — rather than being a simple art theft, the book centers on the question of whether a painting is authentic or a counterfeit. I thought the way they went about catching the culprits was ridiculous, though, and hinged on absurdly lucky circumstances even though they acted like it was the result of logical and brilliant plans. So it was nice to have a change of pace but put together a bit sloppily.
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary: This was a good mix of sweet romance and serious issues, with some funny moments throughout. Even more than seeing a relationship develop, I think it can be interesting to see how it unravels, especially when no one is clearly at fault. This isn't my favorite of O'Leary's books, but I did enjoy it.
The Case of the Soldier's Ghost by Steve Brezenoff: This was a fairly weak ending to the series. The solution didn't make a lot of sense, and I thought the author glossed over the issues with the Vietnam War in favor of a heavy-handed pro-veterans message. I'm fine with the series being over now.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston: This book is EVERYTHING. It's a romance and a mystery and a love letter to New York and a celebration of queer history and found family, and there's a heist and multiple drag shows and it's just the best. I can't recommend it enough.
Maurice by E.M. Forster: This is the kind of book that I appreciate and admire within its specific context and feel meh about outside of it. I'm glad to have read this for the historical glimpse into what it would have been like to be gay in pre-WWI England, but I can take or leave the actual story line.
Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Killers of the Flower Moon and The New Jim Crow
Five years ago I was reading: Philippine Duchesne and Never Let Me Go
Ten years ago I was reading: Rats
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