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A review by raye_sneq
Dude Magnet by Gregory Ashe
5.0
Another episode of enjoyable chaos unfolds for Dash and The Last Picks as a wealthy, entitled wedding party descends on Hemlock House - and Dash has to face his ever-so-plausible ex.
There are so many things making this fun: Dash's narration, which feels fresh and familiar all at once, the rapid fire dialogue between the group of friends, and the emotional depths explored as Dash is all too literally confronted by his past. I like how distinct everyone's communication style is, and the fact that they range from young Gen X through millennials to Gen Z, creating a rich dynamic that includes Dash effortlessly and pleasingly.
We get to see more of what Dash was running from, and how difficult it is to disentangle himself from Hugo's emotional claims on him. There is the sense of anxiety that his newer acquaintance might be as easily influenced as his old friends, and the impossibility of clearing the way to be open with the alluring Deputy Bobby. The mystery plot is racy, pacy fun of course, but it opens up questions of what characters value and how they choose which influences structure their lives in ways that reflect on Dash, and ultimately the driving force is Dash's determination to stand by his friends.
There are a couple of practical things that I wanted to be more fleshed out, like what have they all been living on, and where was Indira getting all these ingredients when she wasn't getting paid anymore? But that's probably slightly against the spirit of cosy escapism and I can give it a pass on those grounds. For me, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I look forward to learning more: what are Indira's and Keme's past histories? Just what does Fox get up to in their van? Is there an upper limit to Millie's vocal range? The Hastings Rock gang is just what I want from a cosy cast: a very funny, vivid, warm group of unruly beings who already feel like friends.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There are so many things making this fun: Dash's narration, which feels fresh and familiar all at once, the rapid fire dialogue between the group of friends, and the emotional depths explored as Dash is all too literally confronted by his past. I like how distinct everyone's communication style is, and the fact that they range from young Gen X through millennials to Gen Z, creating a rich dynamic that includes Dash effortlessly and pleasingly.
We get to see more of what Dash was running from, and how difficult it is to disentangle himself from Hugo's emotional claims on him. There is the sense of anxiety that his newer acquaintance might be as easily influenced as his old friends, and the impossibility of clearing the way to be open with the alluring Deputy Bobby. The mystery plot is racy, pacy fun of course, but it opens up questions of what characters value and how they choose which influences structure their lives in ways that reflect on Dash, and ultimately the driving force is Dash's determination to stand by his friends.
There are a couple of practical things that I wanted to be more fleshed out, like what have they all been living on, and where was Indira getting all these ingredients when she wasn't getting paid anymore? But that's probably slightly against the spirit of cosy escapism and I can give it a pass on those grounds. For me, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I look forward to learning more: what are Indira's and Keme's past histories? Just what does Fox get up to in their van? Is there an upper limit to Millie's vocal range? The Hastings Rock gang is just what I want from a cosy cast: a very funny, vivid, warm group of unruly beings who already feel like friends.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.