Weekly Reader: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid; Brilliant Realistic Character Study of the Real Life and Love Behind a Glamorous Movie Star

 Weekly Reader: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid; Brilliant Realistic Character Study of the Real Life and Love Behind a Glamorous Movie Star

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: I can't tell you how long I have waited to review Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

 I bought it four years ago and read it three times. I can't remember how many times I scheduled it but put it aside. I own this book so requested reviews from authors, book PR groups, and publishers came first. I read and reviewed many wonderful books and hope that I did my part to call attention to many deserving authors. But this one had always been in the back of my mind as an always unfinished project. Well now it's time to give Evelyn the spotlight that she has always deserved and highlight this wonderful character study of a glamorous movie star and her private lives and true loves.

Monique Grant, a writer for Vivant, magazine has received the offer of a lifetime. Evelyn Hugo, a film star who was once famous from the 1950's-80's, but now a recluse has agreed to tell her story so it will be a book published after her death. Her requirements are very clear. Monique must interview her. If they send someone else or Monique refuses, there will be no book. Monique is very curious and welcomes the potential fame and money that the interview will bring. During her time with the star, Monique learns about Evelyn's humble beginnings, her illustrious film career, her famed romances particularly her seven husbands and the real love of her life. Monique also learns why this plum interview was granted specifically to her.

It's clear that Reid knows her Hollywood stars and made Evelyn a composite of them. The romances and multiple marriages certainly call to mind Elizabeth Taylor. Both Ava Gardner and Bette Davis granted book length interviews later in life with writers who became close friends. (In fact I have Davis' book The Girl Who Walked Home Alone which is attributed to Davis and her interviewer/author, Charlotte Chandler.) Like Rita Hayworth (formerly Margarita Carmen Cansino) did with her Hispanic origins,  Evelyn had to hide a Latina background to pass as white. Formerly Evelyn Herrera, she dyed her hair and eyebrows blond, removed all traces of her Cuban-American accent and knowledge of the Spanish language, and changed her name to Evelyn Hugo to receive the starring roles and fame that her white counterparts did.

Evelyn is the typical poor girl who becomes famous. Technically, there isn't anything really new to her personal trajectory. But she is written so well and multifaceted that Evelyn herself is unique even if her story is not.

Even during her youth in Hell's Kitchen, New York with an abusive and potentially incestuous father that she can't wait to get away from, Evelyn is in control of herself and her path. She is aware of her developing body and how she attracts men and certain women. She already has an allure that draws many to her. Once she goes from local beauty to glamorous movie star, Evelyn's attraction only increases.

We see Evelyn's career take off when she gets the part of Jo in a film adaptation of Little Women with fellow actress Celia St. James (who eventually plays an important part in Evelyn's life) as Beth. We see her scandalous romances and private life and how it played into her film career and the audience's perception of her. We see her setbacks when one failed romance lowers her standards as a bankable actress until a sexy role in a French film and the lead in Anna Karenina bring her back to A list status. We experience her triumphs like winning an Oscar for All of Us and her troubles especially later in life when changing entertainment tastes and the losses of those closest to her leads her to becoming a recluse.

Evelyn is the type of star who is beautiful and smart enough to know what she wants off camera. Even as a senior, she coldly informs Monique that she is not there to confess her sins. She is there to tell her life story matter of factly. She made choices in her life that ended up not always being the right ones but they were made, and there is no point in regretting the past.

Over that glamorous upfront nature, there is a hidden insecurity that few get to experience. Once Evelyn is under the spotlight, she does everything that she can to stay there. She makes choices at the expense of her own heart and personal happiness. Sometimes, her head rules over her heart and it's only later that Evelyn realizes this. 

Evelyn is like many people who are good in their craft: charming, charismatic, forceful, devoted, fiercely loving, alluring, obstinate, self-absorbed, stylish, talented, exasperating, unique, and independent.

While Evelyn is the star, the supporting cast of characters is excellent as well. Her seven husbands are a mixed bag

There is Ernie Diaz, whom she married to get out of Hell's Kitchen, Don Adler, an actor with an alcoholic abusive temper, Mick Riva, a gullible singer that Evelyn married after a quick courtship, Rex North, Evelyn's Anna Karnina co-star whom she married for publicity, Henry Cameron, a producer and one of Evelyn's closest friends, Max Girard, a controlling director who loved the image of Evelyn he created rather than the real woman, and Robert Jamison, an heir who marries Evelyn to help her with a final request.

Some like Ernie, Mick, and Robert come and go so quickly that their presences are barely known before they are divorced. Some like Don and Max turn out to be abusive and controlling.

By far the best husband is Harry, Evelyn's closest friend. Even though they are not in love with each other, for reasons that I will get to in a minute, they are best friends who will do just about anything for each other. They even have a daughter, Connor. It is clear that this is one of the truly happiest moments in Evelyn's life where she can be herself to someone who knows her well, sometimes as much as or even better than she knows herself.

Actually, the greatest love of Evelyn's life is none of her husbands. Her true love is Celia St. James, her former co-star and rival. When Celia reveals her feelings towards the other actress,  Evelyn kisses her in return. The two embark into an affair that is mostly secret for fear of the decline of their careers, ostracization, and for a time in prison.

Celia is more passionate and emotional than Evelyn with a focus more towards the personal than the professional. Even though she wins three Oscars and is as highly regarded as Evelyn, one gets the feeling that if Evelyn asked her to, she would give it all up to be with her. If they lived in a more accepting and free time period, she might have.

But they don't and Celia has to stand in silence as Evelyn marries to avoid the gossip that surrounds the two women's closeness.

As compared to Evelyn's seven marriages, Celia only marries once: to football quarterback, John Braverman. This also plays into Evelyn and Harry's marriage which occurs at the same time. In reality, the seeming heterosexual marriages were covers for the two sets of gay and lesbian lovers: Evelyn and Celia and Henry and John. Once again, this shows a real closeness and love in this small family. It isn't fair that they couldn't be with the ones that they truly love but the quartet (quintet counting Connor who also loves her "Aunt Celia and Uncle John" as much as her Mom and Dad). are supportive and devoted to one another and their meaning of love, friendship, and family. It is also significant that this is the first time any of the four make any sort of public acknowledgement of their sexuality. After the Stonewall Riots, they donate anonymously to LGBT causes. They are not totally public, but it was a better gesture than anything that they have done for others like them so far.

The open marriage between the two couples is a happy time that unfortunately does not last.

Monique does not do a whole lot until towards the end of the book but it is clear that Evelyn's story has an effect on her. She becomes more assertive in her conversations with her boss and ex-husband. She also ends up confronting a long hidden family secret and learns the exact reason why Evelyn chose her to tell her story. Monique's reaction to this revelation shows that in some ways she was the right person to hear and share Evelyn's story with the world.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is among the best books about Old Hollywood by revealing the real human beings behind the glamorous aloof surface. It is like its protagonist a real star.

New Book Alert: The Covenant Sacrifice by Lee Allan Howard; Metaphorical But Also Timely Supernatural Horror About The Dangers of Religion, Self-Righteousness, and Passing Judgment

 New Book Alert: The Covenant Sacrifice by Lee Allen Howard; Metaphorical But Also Timely Supernatural Horror About The Dangers of Religion, Self-Righteousness, and Passing Judgment 

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews 

Spoilers: Can't imagine why a supernatural horror in which a religious cult kidnaps and kills LGBT people to appease what they see as evil is so relevant. End sarcasm. But that is the premise behind Lee Allen Howard's metaphorical but oddly timely horror novel The Covenant Sacrifice.

Strange happenings befell Anastasis Creek, Pennsylvania during the same time that the cicadas called. People disappeared or mysteriously died only to reappear as undead zombie-like creatures. There were whispers of a demon lurking around and taking souls. Pastor Uriah Zalmon of the Deliverance Tabernacle Church believed that it was a curse brought on by local witch, Agatha Abbott. The only way to end the curse was to sacrifice Kara McPherson, a young woman, whom they consider an "unrepentant sinner" for being a lesbian.

17 years later, the cicadas call again and Roger McPherson, local farmer, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Nurse Jarod Huntington leaves Pittsburgh to return to his hometown of Anastasis Creek to attend Roger's funeral and resolve unfinished business with his former best friend, Roger's son, Scotty. Then there are more deaths and returns of the undead. It isn't long before Zalmon and his closest followers are sharpening their knives for another sacrifice. 

The Covenant Sacrifice offers plenty of horror both of the supernatural and human variety. The creatures are a very terrifying demonic looking horde that first resemble someone that a person knows but something seems off about them.Then they build a chrysalis around them to eventually transform into a flying demon. 

In one of the scariest and saddest moments, a young girl named Madison goes through the kidnapping and transformation. She starts out as a sweet, active, trusting little girl, then turns into a violent, bloodthirsty, mindless creature. Her attacks climax when one of her relatives has to make the anguishing decision whether to kill her to save the town.

While the supernatural creatures are terrifying, and one in particular is enough to provide nightmares, there is also plenty of terror caused by human monsters, particularly Rev. Zalmon. His diary entries reveal a twisted tale of lust, self righteousness, and hypocrisy. He is a man with many secrets who chastises others for their sins and never acknowledges his own. 

Zalmon is willing to kill to protect his secrets and will get rid of those who he perceives as sinners. Not only that but Zalmon's cult-like followers are willing to go along with him. Agatha Abbott, the Baphomet worshiping town witch, arranges the events from Zalmon's past, but at times, she comes across as a better character than Zalmon. Not much, she's pretty manipulative, violent, and arrogant as well.

While the situation is a fantastic one, it is very easy to see that The Covenant Sacrifice is a sharp commentary about the cult mentality that many religious people, especially Conservatives, have when they are so bound to their own religious interpretation that they isolate and commit violence towards others who do not follow their standards.

However, there are many characters who are the exact opposite by showing kindness, goodness, and the ethics and morals that Zalmon and his ilk pay lip service to. There are many townspeople who spring to action to look for Madison when she goes missing. Twylah Sharpe is a spiritualist whose psychic abilities and magical skills counter Agatha's self-centered arrogant plans. Fanny Fassenden, a local recluse, doesn't have a large part but in one chapter, she demonstrates the difficulties that someone has in a small town when they are considered different from everyone else.

By far, the most heroic characters are Jarod and Scotty. They were once friends, but harbored secret crushes on each other. While acting on their feelings, they were caught by Roger, Scotty's father, and threatened to be ostracized. Jarod ended his friendship with Scotty and left for Pittsburgh. He tried to put his past behind him to start a nursing career and a relationship with Kelly. Unfortunately, he is hesitant to pursue his and Kelly's relationship further. He wants to start a family, but isn't sure if Kelly is the one that he wants to start it with.

Scotty meanwhile remained in Anastasis Creek and worked on the family farm. Now that his father is gone, he is considering selling the place and moving on. However, he never forgot Jarod and remained single.

Jarod and Scotty's journey in this book requires them to show courage and strength in protecting their families. However, they also have to be truthful and honest with each other and the rest of the town. Their love counters the hatred that Zalmon preaches.

The Covenant Sacrifice is a book that despite an unreal premise still resonates in real life with its themes of religious hypocrisy, equality, acceptance, honesty, and love.

Weekly Reader: Fearghus Academy: Precarious Gems by I.O. Scheffer; Magic Users Get Some Serious Game Play

 

Weekly Reader: Fearghus Academy: Precarious Gems by I.O. Scheffer; Magic Users Get Some Serious Game Play

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: In this third installment of the Fearghus Academy Series, Artesia Addison and her friends get to know more of the rest of the world around them. They also are affected with that illness that strikes every teenager: an overabundance of hormones and deep romantic feelings for classmates and other peers.

Another school year is in the air in Domhan and this year coincides with the Magic Research and Cooperation Triennial Tournament. Good news, Fearghus Academy students are permitted to participate in the Tournament in nearby Naomh. They have to use their magical abilities of Water, Fire, Air, Earth, Ice, and others against students from other schools. So in other words, it's something like Hogwarts' Triwizard Tournament combined with a human Pokemon battle.

To top it all off, sworn enemy Alptraum Engel is still around and is ready to take her villainous act on the road to fight those meddling kids. Just as big as the athletic tournament and the ever present threat of Engel, is the romantic lives of these kids who are starting to view their classmates as more than friends. 

Because I am not fond of books or episodes where most of the action is an athletic tournament, I find Precarious Gems to be the weakest volume in the series. However, it is the weakest volume in an outstanding series so the weakness isn't very much and Fearghus Academy is still strongly recommended as a whole.

The Tournament sections are interesting especially for those who like athletic competitions or magical duels. The characters often have to use their intelligence as well as their skill sets to best their opponents. A Water Mage Vs. A Fire Mage or Ice Vs. Fire is easy enough to figure out. But what sparks could fly in a Fire Vs. Fire battle (pun not intended)? What would result in Light Vs. Earth besides a scorching summer day? What powers are those in Other and how can one compete with a rival who has powers that they don't know about? 

There are some pretty clever means that Team Fearghus uses to defend themselves like building an ice wall or creating a bright light to throw their opponent off kilter. But a little of the competition goes a long way and ends surprisingly anticlimactic when unforeseen circumstances force Fearghus to withdraw from the competition.

What is more important is the development of our lead characters. As adolescents, they are experimenting with their bodies and their emotions. Many of the characters are pairing up. Wild girl Marnie and the steadier Gretel have fallen in love. The devout Lulu and class clown Douglas have been involved since the ending of the last book. They are strange attractions of opposites, but so far seem to work well.

Deuteragonists, Artesia and Eilam get the most attention and this book explores their romantic lives as they struggle to survive in this exciting but troubling world. In the previous book, Eilam was afflicted with a parasite which caused him to have great pain hearing or seeing religious things. He was then kidnapped and subjected to torture and abuse from his birth parents. 

This volume clearly shows that those events left their mark on him physically and emotionally. He is easily subdued a few times in this book and is unsure of himself or his abilities. He makes a few new friends, some turn out to be beyond fair weather friends, and exposes his fears and vulnerabilities even more. He has many heart to heart conversations with Artesia and Telemachus.

One of the most emotional ones between Eilam and Telemachus involves Telemachus pouring out his heart to Eilam. While Telemachus is certainly gay, Eilam is asexual but this conversation suggests that Eilam may actually be demisexual, asexual except where Telemachus is concerned or at least feels an emotional romantic connection with his friend, just not a sexual one. It's nice that finally after flirtations, jokes, and loyalty in the past two books the two young men are ready to admit their true feelings towards each other and take that step into becoming a couple.

Artesia also has her own love life to sort out. She breaks up with her former boyfriend, Jun, because the long distant relationship becomes harder to keep up with. At first, she thinks that she may have feelings for Eilam but since she knows of his sexuality and recognizes their platonic friendship, she does not pursue it.

Instead her latest romance comes from another place. In my review of October Jewels, I wrote that Artesia treats both Jun and Marnie, who are infatuated with her, equally and speculated that perhaps her sexuality was something that was waiting to be explored.

Well the wait is over. While Artesia had a romance with Jun, she is now interested in someone else: Callie Rose Boutique, a model and student from a rival school. Callie and Artesia at first get into teasing conversations that border on flirting. They go on dates first in groups then single. Then finally they become physical. Artesia is captivated by this beautiful self-assured woman who is unafraid to pursue a romantic relationship with another woman despite objections from her homophobic classmates. 

Artesia herself is uncertain at first. Even though she sympathizes and understands her friends' sexualities, her own has never been explored. There is still something of the 1860's Earth girl in her that causes her to think those feelings are wrong for her. Callie gives her a chance to understand and accept those emotions within herself and realize that they are perfectly natural and normal. Artesia is bisexual and she finally acknowledges that.

Another important aspect to this volume of the series is how it explores the relationships between the adopted parents and the children in their care. After the previous volume where we met Eilam's horrible abusive birth parents and learned a painful depressing secret about Artesia's, it is demonstrated that in Domhan they are in good hands. 

Mr. Peterson shows deep affection for Eilam and his other adopted son, Cadence. He becomes the person that Eilam can confide in and respect. He gives what the young man never had before: unconditional love and acceptance.

Nichole Harvey also steps up in her parenting of Artesia. She acts like a mother tiger or bear protecting her cub. She is concerned about Artesia's relationship with Eilam because of his parentage but slowly comes around. She also shares stories of her own youth to lead by example but also to let Artesia know that nothing is off the table and they can talk about anything.

Nichole's best moment comes at the end when she has to defend her adopted daughter from Engel's latest trap. While Engel reveals a dark secret of her own, Nichole's actions show that there is no excuse for her to mistreat children, particularly her daughter. 

While the Tournament takes a lot of Precarious Gems' time, it is the romantic and familial relationships that stand out in this book.

Weekly Reader: Cloud Cover by Jeffrey Sotto; Deeply Realistic and Emotionally Challenging Novel of a Gay Man's Struggle with Bulimia and Search for Love

 

Weekly Reader: Cloud Cover by Jeffrey Sotto; Deeply Realistic and Emotionally Challenging Novel of a Gay Man's Struggle with Bulimia and Search for Love 

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: According to the National Institute of Health, about one in three people struggling with eating disorders are male. However, there isn't as much focus on how the disorders affect men and boys. In the almost six years that I have reviewed this blog, I have only encountered two books featuring male characters with disorders. The first Lost Boy by Rawiri James featured a boy trying to overcome his mother's death by retreating into Anorexia Nervosa. However, it becomes misguidedly tied into a superhero subplot as a way to almost create a barrier between the Reader and the more serious subjects.

Cloud Cover by Jeffrey Sotto is the second book. It's a very realistic and deeply thought and felt novel about a gay man's struggles with bulimia as he pursues love for others and his own self-worth.

Tony is a 29 year old office worker/creative writing teacher who just broke up with his boyfriend. While giving writing advice to his students at a community college, listening to his favorite classical music pieces, trying to interpret his boss' "business"-ese, and clubbing with his friends, Tony is becoming dangerously concerned about his appearance and weight. 

He constantly counts calories on every bite. He runs straight to the bathroom after eating. He is obsessed with how he looks to other men and is afraid of being judged.

However, despite his insecurity, he actually does find a potential partner. Antonio is a painting instructor and drag performer. He astounds Tony with his charisma, charm, and outgoing fearless personality. But the more Tony starts to get to know Antonio, the more he continues to question his self-image and heads down destructive patterns. 

There is a lot of humor throughout but it is rooted in sarcasm and bitterness from Tony about his situation. While looking at potential dates, he sees an overwhelming amount of "guppies" gay yuppies who wear "suits like spandex." "They look like Ken dolls," Tony says warily, amazed that many of them are younger than him.

He also has a seriocomic conversation with his therapist in which he weighs the different types of men who turn off other men. Tony mentions that many of his acquaintances don't like other men who are too effeminate, overweight, or "too Asian" which Tony feels particularly singled out thinking that he checks all of those boxes.

One of the funniest running gags involves Tony and his boss, Jell-O. Jell-O is a veritable cornucopia of office cliches like "synergy," "outside the box thinking," and his favorite "quantify and cut." Tony's job appears to be translating Jell-O's requests and turning them into something useful. While these moments are hilarious, they also show that Tony is concerned about his employment situation and tries to be a good worker to make his life meaningful and useful.

He has stronger exchanges with his students showing that he has a skill for education but does not have the financial opportunity to do something that he is good at. He has to settle for an office job which does not make use of his best talents.

Like many do, Tony tries to overcome his loneliness with self-deprecating humor but the humor reveals more about his insecurities and inner thoughts than if he said them out loud. In taking a funny approach to sizing up himself to other gay men and revealing his disenchantment with his job, he reveals how harsh that he can be with his own self-criticism.

These insecurities of comparing himself to other men and discontent with work are part of what compels him to become bulimic. He can't always control what his boss tells him or how others feel about him, but he can control his weight. 

Tony's bulimia is he believes hidden from others but it is a central point in his life. Many nights out are filled with anguish as he debates how much he can eat before he rushes to a toilet. It's wrenching to read about his conflicting emotions between sitting and eating something without worrying how many calories it is and counting the seconds until he can go home to purge. The conflict between obsession and self-love is very real.

Tony and Antonio embark on a loving relationship which could be a healing factor and it is for a time. Tony is drawn to and maybe somewhat envious of Antonio's self confidence and daring. Antonio can wear drag and turn life into a performance. He can even participate in a pageant and put himself forward. Tony loves that about him, but is also wary of it too. 

Antonio is a supportive boyfriend. When he discovers Tony's illness, he tries to get him help. But the kinder Antonio is, the more self-conscious Tony feels. He feels that someone like him doesn't deserve love.

Even the end is painted with reality. It's not a complete downer but it suggests that more work needs to be done. As much as Tony grows to love Antonio, this relationship is not the cure. Antonio is not the cure for ending Tony's bulimia. Tony is the cure for ending Tony's bulimia. To do that, he needs to look at, accept, and love himself first.

Weekly Reader: Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston; LGBT Romances Presents An Idyllic Current World

Weekly Reader: Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston; LGBT Romance Presents An Idyllic Current World

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews




PopSugar Reading Challenge: A book by a trans or non-binary author


Spoilers: Of the books that I have been reading during this stressful time, Colin McQuiston's Red, White, and Royal Blue is alternately the saddest and the most uplifting. Uplifting because of what the book is, but saddest in what it represents or what it doesn't represent. It is wish fulfillment, an alternate universe, and a fantasy almost as unrealistic as The Other Magic by Derrick Smythe. It is hopeful and uplifting because it is not the world as it is, but the world as it could be.


The book stars Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of Ellen Claremont, the first female President of the United States and Prince Henry, (not our real-life Prince Harry obviously) grandson of Queen Mary of England. The two are often rivals talking snipes at each other in public and on social media. After a disastrous PR stunt at the Prince of Wales' wedding, in which the two fight resulting in a fallen wedding cake, the two are ordered to act like BFF's, share Instagram photos and Facebook stories of their time together, speak well of each other in interviews, and shadow each other at public events. Little does anyone realize that the two are hiding different feelings that open up on midnight New Year's Eve. The two young men kiss and become lovers. Now, they have to hide their relationship from potentially disapproving friends, family, media, and the general public should they create a scandal.


On the surface, there is nothing wrong with Red, White, and Royal Blue. In fact it's one of the best books that I read so far this year. Alex and Henry are a sweet charming couple that the Readers root for to get together. There are moments with real humor and warmth. Alex and Henry's email exchanges go from mocking to loving such as when they refer to each other in various terms like "Huge Raging Headache Prince Henry of Who Cares" and "First Son of Off-Brand England."

There are also some hilarious moments even after the two are outed. Ellen reacts the way any loving mother/POTUS would: she gives a PowerPoint presentation on "Why Having Sex With Foreign Dignitaries is Considered 'A Gray Area'." Highlights include a slide which reads "Exploring Your Sexuality is Fine But Does It Have To Be With The Prince of England?"


Henry and Alex are public figures, wealthy sons and grandsons of world leaders, but these aren't spoiled rotten kids who use their family connections to get away with trouble. Alex is inspired by his mother's career in politics and studies political science hoping to enter public service one day himself. In fact, he, his sister, June and the VP's granddaughter, Nora are bright brilliant young people who want to use their talents in political science, journalism, and mathematical analysis respectively to not only help Ellen with her reelection campaign, but to carve their own careers.

Meanwhile across the Pond, Henry visits sick children in the hospital particularly in one touching moment when he shares a mutual love of Star Wars with a bed ridden girl. (This exchange also softens Alex's original view of the Prince as a boring entitled snob). Henry is so involved in philanthropic and charitable causes that he considers his birthright to be an impediment from being as involved as he would like. His brother, Phillip, is more of a duty bound Traditionalist and Bea, his sister is more of the stereotypical drug addicted party girl/celebutante, but they are also good characters at heart. They clearly miss their deceased father (who in this version is a retired actor and Royal by marriage) and feel apart from their distant and depressed mother, so the Royal siblings care for and protect each other. If anything the large hearts are just as much a draw for Alex and Henry towards each other as their good looks and family pedigrees.


There are also triumphant moments that recognize the true worth of friendship and family when various people in both America and Britain lend their unwavering support for the duo. Bea, June, and Nora offer a Greek Chorus of sisterly protectiveness towards the Lover Boys.(Though they can't resist pointing out the Real Person Fanfiction about the duo.) Alex's father, Sen. Oscar Diaz treats Henry like another son and once his mother gets past her PowerPoint presentation, her response to the negative publicity is "f$#k it."

There is negative publicity, most prominently Henry's grandmother and brother are the most outspoken against the pairing. Even they are put in their place by Henry's mother who comes out of her depression to finally take an active interest in her children's lives.

Alex eventually gives a speech not only to out himself but to confirm his love for Henry. It is the type of speech that if it were real would go down in history as a monumental moment in LGBTQIA history. Of course the two get a happy ending that comes with some sacrifice, but it warms the heart and makes the Reader stand up and cheer. Which is why Red, White, and Royal Blue alternates between the most uplifting and the saddest.


Red, White, and Royal Blue is the saddest book because the world inside and outside the book couldn't be more different than if Red, White, and Royal Blue took place on Middle Earth or Westeros. To their credit McQuiston was aware of the dichotomy between fiction in reality. In the Afterwards, they state that Red, White, and Royal Blue began production in 2016 and was published in 2019 and McQuiston saw the dichotomy for themselves.

In the setting of Red White and Royal Blue, the first female President who had a commendable previous political and legal career is elected after Obama, the first black President. Even though, her first marriage ended in divorce, she remains on amicable terms with her first husband and her low key second husband does not mind filling the role of First Gentleman. In the real world, a business mogul/reality show star becomes President, even though he had three marriages, cheated on all of his wives with the next one, has made disparaging remarks about women on camera, and his supporters dismiss his behavior as "locker room talk." In this world, three women (one who was African-American), two African-Americans, a Mexican-American man, a gay man, and a Jewish man competed for the 2020 Democratic ticket. One by one, they all dropped out in favor of a 70ish white man with a divisive personality.

In McQuiston's world, Ellen's son and daughter, the First Son and Daughter of the United States are mixed race with a white mother and a Latino father. In this world, immigrant children from various Central American families are separated from their families and placed in cages, given little to no medical treatment, and many have disappeared perhaps into illicit foster homes or sold to human traffickers.

Inside the pages of the book, there is controversy towards the pairing particularly from the Queen of England, but his family manages to help Henry keep his lineage and place in the family world. Outside the pages of the book, Prince Henry and Meaghan Markle, Duke of Duchess of Sussex are in the process of giving up their titles and lineage rather than have Markle receive continue to receive negative criticism for "challenging the role expected of her" (when her late mother in law received praise for doing many of the same things that she does). Instead she and their son have received insults and threats because of their skin color, this being a factor in their leaving.


In fiction, an often marginalized group is given a voice in power. In reality, Ahmoud Arbery was shot just for being a black man jogging in a white neighborhood. George Floyd was killed by a police officer who usurped his authority by putting his knee on Floyd's neck after he passed out. White armed protestors can storm Capitol buildings and not get arrested, but if an actor speaks about an issue or a black football player takes a knee they are considered a threat. Protections for LGBTQIA people have rolled back. Women may be openly accusing powerful men of sexual harassment and assault, but it's the women who are being branded as liars and whores and are removed from their jobs while many of the men remain in their positions and/or are defended, even posthumously.

The President favors alt right and hate groups, praises their actions, and calls them very fine people because they support him. He does and admits various horrible things and still gains support from so-called religious people because he plays on their fears and values.


In Red, White, and Royal Blue, the children of the President, Vice President, and the British Royal family have famous names but don't use them to get away with crimes or to attend parties. Instead they use their talents, expertise, and drive to make the world a better place. In the real world, the children of the President use their famous name to get past conflicts of interest and illegal activities such as defrauding charities (while hypocritically accusing Hunter Biden of the former).

In the book, a bit of political skullduggery is uncovered when Ellen's strongest rival gets a key endorsement when he blackmails a young idealistic senator to support him instead of Ellen. The conspiracy is uncovered and the senator comes clean. Outside the book, the current White House occupant was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction, but the Republican led Senate chose party over country and refused to remove him from office.

The biggest issue during the book's 2020 election is the outing of the President's son. The biggest issue during the real 2020 election is a worldwide pandemic which has killed millions and shows signs of a second wave emerging. Rather than care about their fellow men and women, especially those who are considered essential workers, many refuse to follow health guidelines by gathering in large public places and refusing to wear masks. They claim these regulations are violations of their civil liberties, when all they are protecting people from sickness. Many would rather believe a conspiracy theory, than scientific and medical research and good common sense.

Red, White, and Royal Blue is idealistic because it gives us hope. There is still time to turn things around and let certain people be heard, accept love in its many forms, allow people to live their truths, for friends and family to consider love and support more important than wealth and politics, to become the people that McQuiston wrote.

New Book Alert: The Companion by Kim Taylor Blakemore; Intriguing Suspense, But Lack of Character Development In Novel About Forbidden Love and Murder in 19th Century New England

New Book Alert: The Companion by Kim Taylor Blakemore; Intriguing Suspense, But Lack of Character Development In Novel About Forbidden Love and Murder in 19th Century New England




By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews





Spoilers: Kim Taylor Blakemore’s The Companion is one of those novels that begins in a way where you think you know everything, but then it turns you around into being about something else entirely different. In this case, it makes for a novel with an intriguing suspenseful plot but lacks in character development.

In the opening, a woman is awaiting her execution and tells the Reader that she is responsible for three maybe four deaths. So, the Reader prepares for a novel about a serial killer explaining how she killed her victims. Instead, we learn that everything is not as cut and dry as we thought and the woman on death row is less a villainess and more of a victim.


The woman on death row is Lucy West and she was originally hired as a maid in the home of a 19th century well-to-do New English couple, The Burtons. Even in the first few pages, there are hints that all is not as it seems. There is the fact that Lucy's predecessor, Mary mysteriously drowned. Eugenie Burton, the mistress of the house, is blind and has to be led around but harbors some other eccentric behaviors. Rebecca, Eugenie's companion is highly suspicious and intensely jealous of any attention that anyone else gives Eugenie. Then there is Lucy who is herself a contradiction by hinting that her references are fake and is in grieving for her deceased son.

Blakemore is great at building suspense. Even though the book is told in flashback from Lucy's first person perspective, we only get droplets of information as Lucy (and Blakemore) sees fit to show us. Early on we learn her son, Ned, died but we don't learn how or the circumstances surrounding his birth and death and why this results in her being on the run until later in the book.

We learn about the death of poor Mary, but don't learn how it is connected to the rest of the book until later. For a long time, Mary is almost a red herring until suddenly she isn't.

While the suspense is palpable and makes you question the plot and character, unfortunately it comes at the expense of good characterization. The Reader is always on guard so they don't get much of a chance to understand or even empathize with the characters including Lucy.

Lucy purposely hides information and doesn't let the Reader in on her real intentions that once the resolution is made, we have to read back a few pages to make sure we understood it. It doesn't help that Lucy makes herself a subject of suspicion as many people sharing prison with her remark that she doesn't feel remorse for any of her crimes, when at least one should have based on the information we are eventually given.

The lack of characterization in favor of suspense also doesn't do other characters any favors. Rebecca seems to have been auditioning for the role of Mrs. Danvers in Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca (maybe intentionally so, considering the name). We get the creepy servant part, but we don't get what made her so trustworthy and alluring to Eugenie in the first place.

Eugenie Burton, who is by far the most intriguing character, falters as well. She and Lucy get involved in a romantic relationship which has some sweet moments but is tempered with more suspense. Their romance of course plays into the conventions of its day and it is interesting how the two women manage to coordinate their alone time away from prying judgmental eyes. However, Eugenie and Lucy's romance is hampered by accusations that Lucy is one of many extramarital Sapphic flings Eugenie has had. We are not sure whether it's malicious gossip or the truth and honestly Eugenie's behavior suggests that it could go either way.

Unfortunately one of the strongest most emotional moments, when Lucy and Eugenie agree to run away together is muted by the machinations of the plot and the realization that nothing in either woman's previous behavior suggests that this is plausible or even a believable outcome.

A novel that is built on suspense cannot just rely on the twists in the plot to keep the Reader interested. Sure it will keep them reading and guessing. In the end, it may even surprise them. But a good suspense novel has to give us strong identifiable characters that experience the twists and surprises. Otherwise, the suspense falls flat.