The Latecomers Fan Club by Diane Vanaskie Mulligan

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A New Acclaimed Work of Contemporary Women's Fiction from the author of Watch Me Disappear

What is it about guys with guitars in their hands that makes them so irresistible, even when they are obviously self-centered jerks? If Abby and Maggie could answer that question, maybe they could finally get over Nathaniel.

Abby was first sucked in by Nathaniel's rock 'n roll swagger four years ago when a drunken fling turned into a series of drunken hook-ups that became something like a relationship. Now, as New Year's Eve promises a fresh start, she wants to believe he's finally going to grow up and take their relationship seriously.

What does Nathaniel hope the New Year will bring? An escape from the disappointing realities of his life. He's thirty-four years old and he's barely making ends meet as an adjunct philosophy professor, which was always only a backup plan anyway. Nathaniel's real goal was always to make his living as a musician, but his band, The Latecomers, broke up a couple of years ago, and he hasn't picked up his guitar in months. When he decides to spend the holiday with some high school friends instead of hanging out at the bar where Abby works, he gets the happy surprise of reuniting with his long-lost friend Maggie. Newly divorced, Maggie has just moved back to her mother's house to regroup.

Nathaniel and Maggie were supposed to be the ones who left Worcester forever to conquer the world. He was going to be a rock star. She was going to take the world of art by storm. He's never gotten farther than Boston, and her best efforts only left her broke and heartbroken. As they ring in the New Year together, Nathaniel decides it's time to take control of his life and to start making his dreams come true. He thinks the first step will be easy. All he needs to do is break up with Abby and finally admit his feelings for Maggie. But the New Year has more surprises in store, and nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

I like storylines with old friends meeting up. I’m particularly interested in how their old lives hold up when they intersect with their new lives. What are they thinking? Are they happy and living up to their dreams or are they disappointed with how things turned out? This is why I was drawn to The Latecomers Fan Club.

The story centers around three characters, Abby, Nathaniel and Maggie. Abby and Nathaniel are currently an item; Nathaniel and Maggie were best friends in high school. Abby laments the state of her relationship with Nathaniel. He doesn’t behave as the ideal boyfriend – not that she has some sort of checklist going – but she does recognize that their relationship is lacking something. Abby is all in but Nathaniel, not so much. She’s holding out hope that he’ll shake off whatever it is that’s keeping him from fully committing to her.

Nathaniel is discontent with his life. He had such high hopes of escaping town and becoming something special but his reality is far off course. His band, The Latecomers is also a source of disappointment. He’s disinterested in his relationship and completely dishonest with Abby. The only thing lifting his spirits is Maggie’s reappearance into his life.

Maggie has returned to town after the collapse of her marriage. She’s embarrassed and stressed about living with her parents again. Running into Nathaniel is a highlight but is he what she needs right now as she straightens up her head?

I know I’m being hard on the characters when I say that all of them are sad. I did develop an attachment to Abby while Nathaniel is the least likable of the group. There are just so many lies and distorted views that grated on me. The tough part is that what they’re all going through is real and it’s hard for them to snap out of their pity party. At least Abby managed to get some life in her by the end (thanks to her best friend). Truth is for all of their imperfections, I did care about what they were going through. And while I may not agree with some of their decisions, they seem to be headed in the right direction towards the end. 

The Latecomers Fan Club is about adults who don’t realize their dreams and struggle to accept that in order to adapt. Growing up can suck sometimes, especially when you’ve lost your drive. Moving on requires courage and perhaps a special person to help you see things differently. And if second chances at happiness come along, snap them up quick!

~ Bel

Stand-Off (Winger #2) by Andrew Smith

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Reviewed by Bel

It’s his last year at Pine Mountain, and Ryan Dean should be focused on his future, but instead, he’s haunted by his past. His rugby coach expects him to fill the roles once played by his lost friend, Joey, as the rugby team’s stand-off and new captain. And somehow he’s stuck rooming with twelve-year-old freshman Sam Abernathy, a cooking whiz with extreme claustrophobia and a serious crush on Annie Altman—aka Ryan Dean’s girlfriend, for now, anyway.

Equally distressing, Ryan Dean’s doodles and drawings don’t offer the relief they used to. He’s convinced N.A.T.E. (the Next Accidental Terrible Experience) is lurking around every corner—and then he runs into Joey’s younger brother Nico, who makes Ryan Dean feel paranoid that he’s avoiding him. Will Ryan Dean ever regain his sanity?

From the author of the National Book Award–nominated 100 Sideways Miles, which Kirkus Reviews called “a wickedly witty and offbeat novel,” Stand-Off is filled with hand-drawn infographics and illustrations and delivers the same spot-on teen voice and relatable narrative that legions of readers connected with in Winger.

Ryan Dean is now a senior at ripe young age of fifteen. Things are a bit different in the year since losing Joey. He and Annie are officially dating now; O Hall, his former dorm is closed, as a result he now has to reside on the first floor of a different dorm with a new roommate. Here’s the rub: this new kid, Sam Abernathy is only twelve. Not only does Ryan Dean have to bear the embarrassment of being the only senior on the first floor but he’s now stuck with a pre-pubescent kid! The powers that be thought it’d be a good idea for Sam to room with him since he himself was the youngest kid at the school. Ryan Dean has no interest in being friendly to him. He looks at Sam aka The Abernathy (also called a host of other ridiculous names he assigns him) as an outsider. Still dealing with the loss of his best friend, Joey last year, Ryan Dean has this constant dread looming over him that the worst is going to happen at any moment.

Rugby which usually provides some kind of solace for Ryan Dean has now become a weight on his shoulders. When his coach asks him to be the new team captain, replacing his former teammate and best friend, he’s reluctant to do it. How can he live up to that? Then he runs into Joey’s younger brother Nico, who he feels this desparate need to reach out to. Nico is probably the only other person who can understand the loss that Ryan Dean feels but he's reluctant to talk.

While I’ve been excited about Stand-Off for some time, I was also hesitant to read it. As phenomenal as Winger was, I was so shaken after reading it that I was afraid of what new turmoil might be awaiting me in these pages. However, as soon as I was done with the first page I felt an instant wave of affection for Ryan Dean. Some things may have changed but his humor and self-deprecation are very much intact. It’s impossible to not find his awkwardness and knuckleheaded moments endearing. And his doodles are as always, hilarious! What sets him apart is that he's experienced a tragedy that you wouldn't want befall on anyone. Otherwise, he’s like any goofy fifteen year-old with a wild imagination, a strange assortment of friends and a certain stubborness that lands him in some trouble. Believe me when I say that Ryan Dean and his antics have given me plenty to think of as I prepare for my own son's steps towards adolescence!

Fans of Smith's works will enjoy Stand-Off. Mind you I'm slowly making my way through his catalog and have read three of his books so far, including this one, but they all carry his unmistakable style and wit. For those who've read Winger, fell in love with it like I did and felt a need for some closure, I certainly found it here. Stand-Off is the perfect follow-up!

~ Bel

The Edge of Always (The Edge of Never #2) by J.A. Redmerski

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Five months ago, Camryn and Andrew, both dealing with personal hardships, met on a Greyhound bus. They fell in love and proved that when two people are meant to be together, fate will find a way to make it happen.

Now, in the highly anticipated sequel to The Edge of Never, Camryn and Andrew are pursuing their love for music and living life to the fullest as they always swore to do. But when tragedy befalls them, their relationship is put to the ultimate test. As Camryn tries to numb her pain, Andrew makes a bold decision: To get their life back on track, they'll set out on another cross-country road trip. Together they find excitement, passion, adventure-and challenges they never could have anticipated.

Reading The Edge of Never made for a great start to my new year. They may have only been words but I felt just as much as if I was on the open road as Camryn and Andrew and it made me that much more anxious for Always. 

Camryn and Andrew are blissfully, ridiculously, nauseatingly in love. They’re living in Galveston, Andrew healthy and Camryn glowing, content with where they are in life for the most part. Camryn is missing North Carolina so they return for a brief visit where they experience an unfortunate event. This time the devastation is so personal for Camryn that she resorts to a dangerous way to ease her pain. When Andrew sees her potential downward spiral, he decides the best medicine is to remove themselves from their surroundings and go on another roadtrip.

It’s amazing how much Andrew loves and adores Camryn completely. He notices all the little things about her, knows when something is off, understands her body language and anticipates her every move. And he’s ever so patient with her as the fog slowly lifts  from her head.

Despite the tragedy that happens at the beginning, this roadtrip is even better than the previous one. They’re so at ease with each other now that they’re even more fun. Their destinations and activities speak to who they are and they are a unit. They’re growing up, realizing that they need to find a balance to sustain their wanderlust lifestyle. Whatever they decide to do, they refuse to compromise who they are and what they love.  My favorite passages are when they come up with promises they make to each other that come into play later. These vows they make are unique and true to them.

Even with how much I loved the premise of Never, I still approached Always with a teeny tiny sliver of skepticism. I mean as exciting as it is to just take off, it also feels so reckless. But that’s what’s compelling about this series – breaking free, exploring and not worrying about having it all mapped out in front of you. They enjoy every moment they have together and immerse themselves in whatever surroundings they're in. (It's fun when we skip a few years into the future and see how their lives have panned out. I was all smiles by this point.) Their dreams may be idealistic but they’re making them happen. 

I am in love The Edge of Always and even think it surpasses its predecessor. Better yet, I have found a new fictional boyfriend in Andrew. He's all grown up and has eyes for just one lady in his life. Andrew sets the bar very high and when you read it too you’ll understand why!

~ Bel

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

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It's Dade's last summer at home. He has a crappy job at Food World, a "boyfriend" who won't publicly acknowledge his existence (maybe because Pablo also has a girlfriend), and parents on the verge of a divorce. College is Dade's shining beacon of possibility, a horizon to keep him from floating away.

Then he meets the mysterious Alex Kincaid. Falling in real love finally lets Dade come out of the closet - and, ironically, ignites a ruthless passion in Pablo. But just when true happiness has set in, tragedy shatters the dreamy curtain of summer, and Dade will use every ounce of strength he's gained to break from his past and start fresh with the future.

This is one of those lovely finds I came across when my kids asked me to take them to the library. Two wins here: one, my kids who love to read think that the library is a magical place and two, I discovered Nick Burd.

Dade is a quiet kid in a quiet town just waiting to get out.  Get out of town, out of the closet, out of a bad relationship, out of the mundane and immobile position he finds himself in. He has an awkward relationship with his parents who are experiencing marital problems. His no-so boyfriend Pablo treats him poorly. When he happens to meet Alex for about five seconds at a party, he’s smitten. He’s not even sure of Alex is gay but he takes a chance.

I was a bit skeptical about Alex initially because he screams “loser” being a drug-dealer and working at a hole-in-the-wall fast food joint. But any kind of judgment is abandoned once you recognize that this is a story about being stuck, directionless and waiting for something happen. Dade is looking for outside acceptance. He has already accepted that he’s gay and has proclaimed that to all the inanimate objects in his room. He knows he’s worth more that the crappy way Pablo used him when no one was looking. There’s a sweet moment when Dade describes how he feels with Alex, “He leaned over and kissed me…At first I was worried that I wasn’t doing something right, and then a few seconds passed and I realized that he simply wanted to kiss me. It was the first time someone had given me everything I wanted and asked for so little in return.” I almost wanted to cry for Dade at that realization. And I wanted to hug Alex for how well he treated Dade. He didn't have any unrealistic expectations of him and he too felt close enough to him to share his innermost feelings.

The other bright spot in Dade’s life is his new friendship with Lucy. She’s one of the few people who understands him and the first person with whom he can actually be himself completely. It's their friendship that stands in sharp contrast against those that he's been disappointed by. She breathes some life into an otherwise dull summer and brings him out of his shell.

What is really striking about the book is how Dade starts to awaken and realize that everyone is in the same boat. Not everyone is happy all the time or perfect. Alex puts it best when he says, "We're all sick ...Everyone's got that thing in them that keeps them awake." It's true and there are so many points in the book that so eloquently describe that struggle to break out and latch on to something that gives hope.

It's easy to assume that this is just a gay romance story. It isn't and that is secondary to everything that happens in it. Anyone who reads The Vast Fields of Ordinary will undoubtedly recognize a little of themselves in it. Whether it's during the high school years or when you're in your forties, as Dade's folks demonstrate, everyone is looking for direction.

~ Bel