I really, really liked this book - it was smart, tender, funny, sweet, and I flew through it. But even at 350 pages, things never felt quite fleshed out. I could have used another hundred pages in this book, in part because I really liked Gabe and Chana, but also because things just felt... not all the way there. I wasn't sufficiently convinced of their connection in the parts ten years ago, Gabe at some point references how his family loves her when the evidence seems to point to the contrary, and honestly I think it would have benefitted from being dual-POV.

But it was fun to read. Gabe's friend Ollie is a fucking delight, and I think the book takes a really kind, insightful look at what it means to be an alcoholic, and then an alcoholic in recovery. I'd definitely pick up future work from this author.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!

CW:

drinking & being intoxicated, homophobia, unsupportive partners, divorce, alcoholism, recovery and relapses, death of a non-narrative character's family members from cancer and a car accident