Review: Even You

Impetuous isn’t a word you'd use to describe Claire Bramany. She’s capable, reliable and steady. But when a sudden accident in Brooklyn in 1995 takes the life of her lover, Jessie Friedman, Claire’s world implodes. And worse is soon to come: while cleaning out Jessie’s desk, Claire finds hidden journals that tell long-buried secrets of Jessie's western girlhood. Jessie’s account of Tulsa in 1944 appears innocent and playful, at first. Her days are peopled with quirky characters--especially Uncle Jimmy, an honest-to-goodness teenage hero just back from war-torn Europe. He’s Jessie's favorite, until the afternoon he makes his move on nine-year-old Jessie. No secrets, secrets kill: this was the promise Claire and Jessie had made to each other. But in twenty-three years together with Jessie, Claire never heard of any Uncle Jimmy, much less any sexual violation. Shattered, yearning to reconnect with the Jessie she thought she knew, Claire heads out to Oklahoma to find this man. Is the story in the journals true? If so, has Claire any other course than to avenge Jimmy's hideous crimes…?
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My Review:

I've been reading a lot of books lately with a similar theme to the one found in this book, when grief turns up new information and the ones left behind get latched on to an obsession in the name of finding closure. But even tough it's a similar theme, this book was poignantly written and a delight to read. I found myself drawn to Claire's character in her quest to come to terms with Jessie's death. It was pretty refreshing to read an LGBT+ book from the point of view of middle aged women. Not that points of view from teenagers aren't important, but there are so many of them. How are those who survived puberty supposed to relate to anyone older in books? While this book would make a fine addition to my shelf, I'm afraid it wouldn't be read too often. That said, I recommend borrowing it first or getting the cheaper kindle version before making your decision on the physical copy. My rating: 4.5