lezreadalot 's review for:

The Companion by E.E. Ottoman

4.0

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“It can be almost painful. Getting what you want and not knowing what to do with it. I am good at being hurt and bad at being loved.”

4.5 stars. A very quiet and strikingly sweet poly romance novel about three people in the countryside outside New York in the 1940s. An almost painfully romantic, extremely tender story of love and acceptance amongst two trans women and a trans man. Madeleine and Victor are writers working on their newest books, Madeline having been hired as a companion of sorts for Victor. Audrey lives and works on the nearby farm, is also a creative of sorts, and also used to be involved with Victor. This is a really wonderful love story; I love how both Victor and Audrey are so taken by Madeline, and they're all so kind and careful with each other as they navigate this growing relationship and how it can work for the three of them. Things are complicated for Victor and Audrey, and I like how Madeline helps to bring them back together. I liked the secluded, homey feel of the book, even though it's shadowed by the knowledge of why that isolation is helpful/necessary for them. And gosh, it was so intense and sexy. I swooned at every description of Audrey and her hair. I do wish we'd gotten a better sense of the passage of time, and as with almost every novella I read, I do wish that this had been a bit longer. But I was still swept away by the easy romance of this. It's low-angst, and very prettily written.

Listened to the audiobook as read Kdin Jenzen, which was soooooo good. I especially loved her voices for Victor and Audrey, and how each scene had just the right amount of tension and emotion. This was such a lovely little read; I'm yearning to read more historical romance like this.

Content warnings:

Spoiler

mentions of transphobia and homophobia

 

“Here,” he said very softly, “you can simply have it.”