by
Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore
(ADULT title)
Ethan Domani had planned the perfect graduation trip before tragedy put his life on hold. Smothered by survivor’s guilt and his close-knit family, he makes a break for the open road. He doesn't know what he's looking for, but he's got the whole summer to figure out who he misses more: his boyfriend, or the person he thought he was. It’s just him and his memories . . . until he almost runs over a hitchhiker.
Nick Hamilton made some mistakes after his younger brother died. His violent ex-boyfriend was the most dangerous, and the one that got him shipped off to Camp Cornerstone’s pray-the-gay-away boot camp. His eighteenth birthday brings escape, and a close call with an idiot in a station wagon. Stranger danger aside, Nick’s homeless, broke, and alone. A ride with Ethan is the best option he’s got.
The creepy corners of roadside America have nothing on the darkness haunting Ethan and Nick. Every interstate brings them closer to uncharted emotional territory. When Nick’s past shows up in their rearview mirror, the detour might take them off the map altogether.
*************************
My review:
4.5 out of stars
Don’t be deceived by the bright cover of this new adult gay
story. This is an intense, heart-wrenching tale that deals with horrific
subjects that are all too prevalent in today’s headlines. It took me some time
to decide what I felt about the story because I read it while in the midst of
mourning a personal loss, and found myself relating all too well to the black
clouds surrounding these characters, so those who have triggers should
definitely use caution.
Kudos to the authors for creating such realism and providing
details of the impacts that violence and intolerance wreak upon our psyches. I
was horrified to read of the techniques used in conversion “therapy” even as I
mourned for the lost innocence of both of these young men. The reminder that
grief can manifest in different ways and the difficulty of finding a way to be
supportive without smothering is vividly portrayed, as is the insidious
challenge of coping with abusive behavior and finding a way to heal from the
emotional damage perpetrated. This is not a light, airy story, but it
definitely is a memorable and thought-provoking one that deals with the
aftermath of experiencing several levels of violence and bigotry.
There are some leavening elements that remind us that these
are young men on the cusp of adulthood who may not make the best of decisions
(including an attempt to sample umpteen varieties of pie, lol) but keep a
tissue handy because there are definitely poignant and touching scenes that
will tug at your heartstrings. I am disinclined to visit some of the spookier
places that evidently lived up to their reputations but am reminded that there
are some experiences that OTHER people seek that add to the mystique and
mystery of ghosts and hauntings. The “happy for now” ending makes me hopeful
that there will be a sequel to this story, but I will definitely be more
prepared for additional angst and emotional upheavals if there are more tales
featuring these guys.
Detour by Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore details an
unusual road trip taken by two young men who meet at the beginning of the trip
and strive to cope with the pain that has shaped them to this point. Visits to
quirky tourist spots across the U.S. form a counterpoint to the relationship
that slowly develops between the two, but their pasts may prevent them from
finding a future together.
A copy of this title was provided for review, which was submitted to Night Owl Reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment