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A review by nickartrip102
Right Beside You by Tucker Shaw
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
I requested and received an eARC of Right Beside You by Tucker Shaw via NetGalley. Eddie has just graduated high school and isn't sure what to do next. When he receives a request from his great aunt Cookie that he come to New York City and care for her, Eddie jumps at the opportunity for a change in his life. As he settles in, Cookie gifts him a vintage polaroid camera and asks him to take photos of cherished places that she is no longer able to visit. When he uses the camera, however, he finds himself transported back in time to the New York City of the early 20th century. As Eddie discovers more about himself and history (including the handsome Francis) he finds himself torn between the past and the present.
Eddie is such a wonderful protagonist and there so many things about his character that I really grew to appreciate throughout the story. Little things, like the reason behind the falling out with his best friend, his anxiety, the way he uses his imagination to center himself, made him feel very real and familiar to me. I found Right Beside You interesting before the more fantastical parts of story kicked in, but once they did I was even more excited about following Eddie on his journey. The struggle between the past and present may physically take the form of Francis (the whimsical and sweet boy from the past) and Theo (the caring and evidently striking fellow from the bakery where Eddie buys Cookie’s opera cake) but the book doesn’t get hung up on romance and has many important messages.
From the moment Cookie appeared on the page I found her to be a complete delight. Shaw is fantastic at creating vivid and memorable characters and Cookie is a shining example. I got a kick out of all of her wonderful references and the stories she told. Albert is another terrific character, and although the affection developed more slowly I really enjoyed his role in the novel and gaining a better understanding of him. Right Beside You has all of the right elements. A little romance, a little magic, and a lot of emotion go a long way. I’m not sure when or how it happened, but I do know that it didn’t take me very long to become invested in this story. In his book, Shaw writes a beautiful love letter to queer culture, history, and New York City that mesmerized me.
Eddie is such a wonderful protagonist and there so many things about his character that I really grew to appreciate throughout the story. Little things, like the reason behind the falling out with his best friend, his anxiety, the way he uses his imagination to center himself, made him feel very real and familiar to me. I found Right Beside You interesting before the more fantastical parts of story kicked in, but once they did I was even more excited about following Eddie on his journey. The struggle between the past and present may physically take the form of Francis (the whimsical and sweet boy from the past) and Theo (the caring and evidently striking fellow from the bakery where Eddie buys Cookie’s opera cake) but the book doesn’t get hung up on romance and has many important messages.
From the moment Cookie appeared on the page I found her to be a complete delight. Shaw is fantastic at creating vivid and memorable characters and Cookie is a shining example. I got a kick out of all of her wonderful references and the stories she told. Albert is another terrific character, and although the affection developed more slowly I really enjoyed his role in the novel and gaining a better understanding of him. Right Beside You has all of the right elements. A little romance, a little magic, and a lot of emotion go a long way. I’m not sure when or how it happened, but I do know that it didn’t take me very long to become invested in this story. In his book, Shaw writes a beautiful love letter to queer culture, history, and New York City that mesmerized me.