Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

As far as queer history goes, the AIDS epidemic is really foundational to the current culture. The gay men in power right now particularly in the media were all in their teens or twenties at that time and were either closeted or facing the issue head-on. There seemed to be very little in between. It makes the landscape and the culture right now awfully interesting to dive into.

This story was a quick read. As is often the case with YA, I’m fairly forgiving of things that would generally irritate me in an adult POV. The teens here are especially self-righteous and self-involved, but it is a really intense examination of friendship and love in a community that’s bonded through external means. And how that plays how in the moment and in the future.

Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala

I really love a good mystery and I’m happy to have found this subgenre of cozy mysteries. It’s more interesting for me to see the mystery formula applied to ordinary life in this way.

Manansala warns at the beginning of the book that it’s a little darker in tone than the first and that’s true, primarily due to the trauma Lila the protagonist suffered through that first time around and her lack of ability to deal with it head-on. Her attitude toward therapy and mental health is very common, but it’s painful to read at times. Her unwillingness to seek help is familiar and realistic, though, and is handled delicately.

The twists and turns were fun on this ride and the murders were appropriately abrupt and jarring. I’m also impressed with the casual way in which Manansala populates her Chicago suburb with diverse characters who don’t feel so tokenish, both in race and sexuality. Not everybody has a deft hand with that.

As ever, the book made me fucking hungry.