A review by thestorydragon
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

 Pros:
✨Queer Representation
✨Character Development
✨Genuine and Organic Relationship
✨Historical Authenticity

Cons:
✨Audio (No distinction between character voices)

Set in 1958 New York, this novel follows two queer reporters who find solace in one another’s friendship and, eventually, love, in a time when simply being together could lead to arrest. It’s impossible to not love both Nick and Andy, each with their own complex family history that has led them to seek out comfort in the other. What really set this novel apart for me was the build of the relationship. These two went from strangers to colleagues to best friends, and the layering of such a solid foundation of trust and commitment led to a beautiful romance. I can see Nick and Andy cherishing each other for the rest of their lives, and the thought melts my heart. 

It was fascinating to read the author’s note at the end. Despite this being a historical novel, I hadn’t realized that so much of the plot was based off of factual events and articles, like the clipping Andy read on the subway and dog-eared, or the nuclear test Nick covered. That added an extra layer of authenticity to the text that went beyond the romance and into the period itself. There were one or two plot lines that sort of tapered off into nothing when I had expected them to be a larger source on conflict, like the arsonist, but they weren’t missed by any means.

I listened to the audiobook version of this, which was okay, but the narrator gave no distinction between character voices. This made it difficult at times to know whether it was Andy or Nick talking. I almost DNF’d because of this, but restarted the audio instead and paid particular attention to the distinct character personalities, which smoothed things out in the long run. Still, it was a bit frustrating. If you have a physical copy, I would recommend that format instead.