notoriousesr 's review for:

Henry Henry by Allen Bratton

4.25

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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22-year-old Hal Lancaster is aimless, gay, Catholic, addicted to cocaine, and the heir to a dukedom in this 21st century retelling of Shakespeare’s Henriad. 

This book was made for me in a lab. Gay, messy, terrible rich people doing terrible things to one another but ultimately coming out on the other side a little more healed? That’s, like, my calling card. So I was overjoyed when Henry Henrycame off hold just in time for my most intense packing phase of moving out of my apartment. I’ve been looking forward to this book since Brandon Taylor raved about it on Twitter, and it did not disappoint!! Bratton (in Hal’s first person limited) has a clear, charming voice, and I was particularly impressed by his ability to write a trauma plot book that is neither maudlin nor self-serious. Sometimes I wish we got a little more depth from Hal in regards to his relationship with Henry Percy, but otherwise this was a great read. 4 out of 5 hunting accidents!