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A review by thatswhatdeeread
Sweet Honesty by Joan Vassar
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Dee’s Grade: A+
I’m in love with Michael and Alex. Alex is definitely added to the book husband stable.
The audiobook is excellent. Sean Crisden was brilliant. The historical accuracy in this book had this lowish angst book still feel tense. When characters live in a world that is so dangerous to them you don’t relax until the end. One thing this book does flawlessly is it doesn’t make homophobia and racism a side character in the story. It instead accurately portrays the nuances included in the lived experience of Black people and Black gay men navigating life in the 1950s when every single piece of your identity could result in some stranger or law enforcement committing sanctioned murder.
Even with these characters up against so much. They are still human and experience the vast array of conflicts that are a part of the human existence.
In the midst of that we get to experience them falling in love and caring for each in such a compassionate way.
A huge bonus in this story is that we these men have a safe haven amongst their family. While we know that there are plenty of families now and definitely back then that would provide a hostile environment. It was heartwarming that these men found respite from the harsh world in their homes.
I’m in love with Michael and Alex. Alex is definitely added to the book husband stable.
The audiobook is excellent. Sean Crisden was brilliant. The historical accuracy in this book had this lowish angst book still feel tense. When characters live in a world that is so dangerous to them you don’t relax until the end. One thing this book does flawlessly is it doesn’t make homophobia and racism a side character in the story. It instead accurately portrays the nuances included in the lived experience of Black people and Black gay men navigating life in the 1950s when every single piece of your identity could result in some stranger or law enforcement committing sanctioned murder.
Even with these characters up against so much. They are still human and experience the vast array of conflicts that are a part of the human existence.
In the midst of that we get to experience them falling in love and caring for each in such a compassionate way.
A huge bonus in this story is that we these men have a safe haven amongst their family. While we know that there are plenty of families now and definitely back then that would provide a hostile environment. It was heartwarming that these men found respite from the harsh world in their homes.