We Could Be So Good

Re-read October 2023: Having read this book again during a physically and emotionally exhausting week of moving out of the house I lived in for 30 years, I can confirm that We Could Be So Good is a powerful antidote to stress and anxiety. Take when needed, repeat when necessary.

Original review: Every word of this was perfect. I will have a book hangover for weeks. Sebastian's best work to date is a beautiful, funny, hot and sweet romance between grumpy Nick (his colleagues have a running bet on whether he will smile more than twice a week) and sunshine Andy (ADHD-coded golden retriever of a guy whose idea of swearing is “rats” and maybe even “gosh”).

The love story takes place in 1958 New York City, when there is just starting to be some hope for queer people's right to be happy together and resistance against being forced to hide who they are. The surprising reactions of the MCs' family-by-blood, and the joy of family-by-choice make the HEA even more satisfying.

Sebastian had me at the first paragraph, in which Nick's gruff catalogue of Andy's faults demonstrates the feelings he can't admit to himself yet.

Nick Russo could fill the Sunday paper with reasons why he shouldn't be able to stand Andy Fleming. Not only is he the boss's son, but rumor has it he's only slumming it at the New York Chronicle city desk - a job Nick has been hungry for ever since he first held a newspaper in his hands - because his father threatened to cut off his allowance. He can't type. He roots for the Red Sox. He has no idea how to buy subway tokens. He has this stupid habit of biting his nails and then, realizing what he's doing, abruptly stopping and looking around furtively to check if anyone saw him. He blushes approximately five hundred times a day. He has a cluster of tiny freckles at the corner of his mouth shaped like a copy editor's caret and, since Nick can't stop looking at them, those freckles are going to ruin his career.