alys 's review for:

American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera

3.0

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My "only" liking this book instead of loving it I think is more about me as a reader than the book itself. I prefer books with a strong plotline, even if that plot is of the entirely internal variety, ie "how will these two people get together/stay together/fall in love". But despite that there were barriers, the love interests immediately get together, stay together, and fall in love. This meant that the pacing felt a bit off to me as an individual reader. I kept waiting for conflict of some kind, and there really wasn't anything until the last 80% or so of the book. I will give the book ALL the points, though, for not going where I thought it was going to go with the conflict.

I really thought it was leading up to Milo having to admit that he was taking on too much, breaking through his emotional barriers against accepting money and letting Tom help him out as a sign that their relationship had reached a level of trust that was new for Milo. I was a little grumpy about it, but willing to keep reading. BUT THEN instead, when Tom uses his money to pay for a bunch of stuff without asking, it's treated as the manipulation and huge betrayal of trust that it is. Every character acknowledges that even if it does make Milo's life easier, to ignore what Milo wants is taking away his agency and is a huge red flag for all future interactions. While I personally did not love that Tom's epic grovel choice included keeping more secrets from Milo, since Milo's mother was in on it and Milo himself appreciated it greatly I choose to let it go and embrace that Tom's epic grovel specifically did not involve money, it involved time and thoughtfulness, and a willingness to do something knowing full well that it might not get the results he wanted.

I also loved Libe. She needs to be a part of all of the other books in the series. Which makes me realize that all of this series has queer men as leads who also have a strong female support network in their mothers, sisters, and female friends. I'd like to pretend that's true of all books, but instead I'll just celebrate that this author is clearly intentionally providing it. I love that all of the characters have strong support systems, period.