A review by queerafictionado
Finding Molly Parsons by Alyson Root

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

SO MANY EMOTIONS! Oof. This story is heartbreaking and beautiful and I absolutely devoured it. Finding Molly Parsons is in part a story about sapphic romance and first love, but it is so much more than that. It’s about discovering and loving who you are - even (and especially) when the people who are supposed to love you the most reject the most beautiful and truest parts of you. It’s about finding the strength to leave abusive situations, and finding the courage to live authentically and freely and proudly. It’s about finding the people on your path who make your life better, who lift you up and encourage you and offer support and bring joy and light into even the darkest parts of your life. It is heartfelt and moving and packed full of humor. And also filled to the brim with wonderful, unique, perfectly imperfect characters - real characters who are flawed and messy and absolutely beautiful. 

Finding Molly Parsons is a story told in multiple POV that follows three main characters - Faith Parsons, Carmen Ruiz, and Molly Parsons. And you get not ONE, but TWO different sapphic romances and all kinds of sapphic pining!

Faith is 18 years old and just ran away from home in search of her long lost aunt, Molly. After growing up in an abusive and extremely religious home, where she was completely sheltered from the outside world aside from one close friend and church, Faith has all the pieces in place to leave and try to start over. And it all centers around finding Molly Parsons. 

But the Seattle apartment Faith thought she would find Molly landed her at the doorstep of Carmen and Mateo Ruiz. Carmen and Mateo grew up in foster care on and off together, and siblings by choice. Being queer and having dealt with their own turbulent childhoods, they take Faith in. They help Faith begin to come into herself, and give her the “lesducation” that her sheltered upbringing denied her. And Carmen promises that she will help Faith find Molly. It’s good for Carmen, too. Because Carmen had closed herself off to the world, and having Faith show up on her doorstep just might be the thing that helps her find meaning in her life again. And maybe even…love.

Molly Parsons has been on the move since her brother, Faith’s dad, kicked her out at 17 after they lost their parents and he found out she was gay. She refuses to stay put, or stay in a relationship, because she will settle for nothing and no one less than a person/place that makes her feel safe, like she’s home. So she has moved around the country helping LGBTQ+ youth, never staying in once place for long. Molly’s nomadic lifestyle sends Faith, Carmen, Mateo, and their quirky old neighbor, Enid, on road trips across the country in search of Molly.

I absolutely LOVED Enid. She is sassy and delightful and exactly the kind of quirky grandparent type figure I love to see in queer stories! She is a RIOT and had me literally cackling at times. But she is also just a generally sweet and wholesome person, and quickly becomes part of this beautiful chosen family - that just keeps growing throughout the story.

Finding Molly Parsons was a different kind of story compared to some of Alyson’s other work, but equally funny, heartwarming, and just incredible. It is heavy and intense at times, and if you are an abuse survivor and/or have religious trauma - please read this book with caution because both of those themes are woven into this story throughout. Alyson does a great job of breaking up the intense parts of the story with humor and lighthearted shenanigans without downplaying the seriousness of any of the things these characters have been through. You will laugh and cry and feel all the emotions while reading this book.

I loved this book SO DANG MUCH! I absolutely can’t wait to read book two, Keeping Carmen Ruiz, and find out what happens next in this beautiful story!

Thank you, Alyson, for the ARC! 

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian MCs (three), two sapphic pairings, gay SC, Latine MC & SC, other queer SCs

📝Tropes/Themes: Multiple POVs, Family Relationships, Coming of Age, Chosen/Found Family, Quirky Old Lady, Self Discovery, Road Trip, Humor, First Love, Coming Out
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