I didn’t know much about this book going in, except that it was from Lily Morton an author whose book I have enjoyed in the past. The latest being After Felix, and Charlie Sunshine.
The fact that the main protagonists are middle age, made the story a little more interesting to me since I most often read about college-aged or age-gap stories. Magnus and Laurie had an interesting dynamic, they met in an unexpected and comical way that almost made me think that one or both of them would act like man-children. But do not worry they both act their age, I mean like what you’d expect a gay 48-year-old painter, and a 52-year-old Queen’s Counsel – the highest-ranking lawyers in the UK. – to act.
The two have strong personalities and a great sense of humor. So there’s a lot of banter in this novel, laced with a sarcastic tone in some of the dialogue. Magnus and Laurie’s relationship evolves slowly – the book is a slow-burn -, they are friends first and their friendship very discreetly morphed into a loving relationship as the pages go by. They slowly realize that they are good for each other.
The novel is pretty smooth sailing but there is some drama that rears its ugly head – otherwise, there wouldn’t be a story. However, it serves a purpose – thank goodness – it opens our main protagonists’ eyes as to what they were gently getting into.
Overall this book was a fun satisfying story, the audiobook is beautifully narrated by Joel Leslie.