I received a free copy via Inked Rainbow in exchange for an honest review.
If I wasn’t sure before, this book sealed Debbie McGowan as one of my favorite authors. I’ve yet to find anything she’s written that I didn’t love.
I can’t say much about the story itself without giving spoilers. This is the most recent part of her ongoing Hiding Behind the Couch series, and it’s fairly important to read them in order for context about the relationships among the characters. Readers can catch on for the most part, but without reading the other parts, it’s difficult to understand a lot of the motivations.
For the most part, although I’ve grown to love all the characters, I really just read these stories for Josh. He is one of my favorite characters in any book, and I love seeing the world through his eyes. He’s complex and interesting, and the best part of this installment in the series is seeing how he’s developed over time.
What I like about Ms. McGowan’s writing is that there’s a realness to it. Her characters deal with some serious issues, but in a way that doesn’t feel played for melodrama. At times, this makes it an emotional read for me because many of their issues are so close to home for me.
The other thing readers should know is that this novel is epically long. I found (due to the emotional impact and the length) that it was best to read it in smaller chunks. It’s easy enough to do, as there are several intersecting storylines and the POV switches frequently. It reads a bit like how it would be if someone put a television series in novel format. I enjoy it, though I suspect there are readers who would find it not to their taste. (Actually, for reference, this whole series reads to me like the old Canadian show Degrassi High, except if instead of "aging out" the characters grew up. That's probably why I love it so much...I grew up on that show!)
I’m looking forward to reading more about these characters (I’ve read the series but not most of the stand-alone companion stories). I highly recommend this, reinforcing that it’s important to start at the beginning for the best experience.