This is probably the first book we’ve read with a trans lead
and are utterly bowled by the gentleness, delicacy and love with which she’s
been written.
Trisha Ivy is a Chicago-based photographer who has
come to Cherrywood Grove for the summer. Amongst Trisha’s different assignments
she is often called on as a wedding photographer. While taking a break during
one aggressively heteronormative wedding, Trisha runs into Gabi Gonzalez, the
caterer at the wedding. Trisha is smitten on first sight and a casual
conversation does nothing to cool her off despite knowing that butch-looking and
butch-dressing Gabi is straight. Cherrywood Grove being a small town and
summers being the season for weddings means that Trisha and Gabi are often
working in the same place at the same time and their acquaintanceship grows.
Slowly their acquaintanceship spills out of shared weddings into a more
personal space and starts turning into a more real relationship.
We were absolutely taken by the style of writing. The book
is written in a non-linear episodic fashion with each chapter constituting a
complete episode by itself. And yet it all weaves in beautifully together. (We
so loved the chapter headings which are mostly just plain fun.) It took us a
couple of chapters initially to get into the groove but then it was wonderful
reading. Another unusual technique adopted by Hinkle was character
introductions. The characters just make an appearance without any real context
initially but their relationships are unearthed as the book progresses.
Trisha is beautifully written with care and sensitivity. The
many emotions of Gabi and her complexes and complexities are explored and
revealed with deliberate slowness. All the characters are fully developed and extremely
engaging. In fact, Gabi’s sister Rosa and niece Sarah are totally adorable. The
romance is slow burn and develops so organically with such real-ness that there
can be no doubt about the HEA.
This one was a great read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
