Sacha T. Y. Fortuné

This book came to me via an ARC program, and the preview was intriguing so I chose it.

The Premise

When his younger brother Stevie disappears from in front of their house, Michael wants to pitch in to help find him. He’s relieved when Stevie soon mysteriously returns — until around him, everyone seems to be acting strange: his parents and grandparents, and even his crush Detective Ito. He soon realises that all is not as it seems, and Stevie may not be safely returned as he first thought. Even worse — other young Asian boys are also disappearing in their neighbourhood. Can he figure it out and solve the case before it’s too late?

The Pros

This was an intriguing mystery/suspense featuring a young gay male protagonist, and I really enjoyed seeing this representation. Michael is a great character to root for: smart, savvy, and endearing. I also loved the representation of Stevie and his quirks due to his autism. Their brotherly bond was undeniable and brought the story to life. Another aspect that drew me in was the elements of history that are interwoven throughout. We learn about a war that shaped the nation and its people, but instead of it being the main feature, we see it through the eyes of later generations that only witness the effects it left behind on their elders.

Overall, the story’s shining glory is the relationship between Detective Ito and Michael. As his grandfather’s friend and former student, he is protective of his young protégé, and there is never a disrespectful moment between them — he is older, and married with children; still, he has a connection with Michael that is undeniable. I loved seeing this type of crush that is not over-sexualised, and it is heartwarming to see their friendship grow into something that nurtures Michael’s character and development.

The Cons

Though I enjoyed the story and there is a lot to love here, I have to admit that the plot gets a little tangled sometimes, and let me wanting for a more consistent flow and a bigger “reveal” moment. For a teenage mystery, I wasn’t entirely sure about who the target audience would be — the main character is 16, but at times the voice feels a bit more innocent and younger than that, and there are parts coming down to the end that get quite dark for a teenage audience. Nevertheless, overall the writing style shines through to uplift these areas.

Conclusion

Overall, I really appreciated that this is a unique story unlike any other I have read before. It combines the gravitas of war history and child abuse with a coming-of-age story that is not often told: Asian, male, and gay — but these aspects are not the core focus; they just form the background of the character who has so much more to offer than just these categories. This was a great introduction to a series, and leaves you wanting more as the main character’s genius has a lot of room to grow and bloom more stories. I look forward to what’s next!

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This book came to me via an ARC program, and I chose it out of a few others because the synopsis looked good and the existing other reviews were also very positive.

The Premise

Hank is on probation, working a dead-end job while he recovers from the worst mistake he ever made in his life: in a moment of grief, he assaulted someone in a bar while under the influence. A chance encounter with Jess, a university student studying to be a marine biologist, changes Hank’s trajectory forever. Their connection leads him to believe in himself and pursue his dreams, even long beyond the blossoming and fading of their short-lived summer romance. Jess’ faith in him is tested by insidious forces that attack Hank’s character, and she flees town. Their stories continue separately for years as they each focus on rebuilding their lives and flourishing independently, until one day fate brings Jess back to the town of Wilmington, North Carolina where she runs into Hank again. Is it too late for them to find the pieces of their previously broken hearts, and create something new?

The Pros & Cons

“Wrightsville Beach” was a beautiful coming-of-age story of young love that falls victim to the trials of real life. From Hank’s tainted reputation he desperately wants to overcome, to Jess’ emotional rollercoaster of doubt and fear to let herself love and trust her heart, we feel every moment of their fraught relationship as it swells to the highest heights and then plummets to its darkest moments. One painful twist of fate rips them apart and they set off on their separate paths, though they each still love each other deeply and struggle to move on and open their hearts again.

I loved the winding tale of their lives as they each flourished in their careers, and I was so grateful to see Hank’s journey in particular, as he never believed in himself until Jess did. Her words set up shop in his soul, and he was able to convert that faith she had in him into faith in himself, sustaining a route to gain his education and start a profitable career. Jess also blossomed in her new environment after she moved away, gaining the experience she’d always dreamt of having with her research on turtles.

The details of the ecological research were expertly crafted into the story, and the care and attention that went into creating this part of the story was evident. The author also describes the atmosphere exquisitely: you can see the scenery of the beachy, close-knit community overrun with university students surfing and bike-riding, and you can almost smell the salt in the air and hear the roar of the ocean as she takes you from one scene to the next. I also really loved the plot aspects it explored beyond just the simple romance: Hank’s longstanding friendship with Mike, the mentorship he received from Mr. DeGaulle, and his relationship with his own father that flounders but finds its way back to the surface.

This was a lovely story I truly enjoyed. However, I did feel at times that the pacing was a bit slow, particularly when we read something from one character’s perspective and then right afterwards it is followed by the other character’s perspective (in just as much detail), which isn’t always needed. Reducing these parts would have made the pace swifter and reduced the overall word count to greater enhance and streamline this wonderful story.

Conclusion

Overall, this was a fantastic book to read as my first novel by this author. There is a lot to love here, and I really appreciated reading this type of romance with such a deep story that lies beneath. This will suit readers who like clean and/or slow-burn romances, particularly if they appreciate nature and love animals. I also really liked the fact that the author has dedicated this book to serve the preservation of these beautiful animals, and she provides excellent resources for others to participate. This book will touch many readers deeply, and I look forward to seeing more of her work.

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