Review: Reach For The Moon

Reach For the Moon by Val Kovalin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A copy of Reach For the Moon was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

For some reason this book was hard for me to read. Maybe because I had already fallen in love with Alejo and Bobby's first story when I read Fall Into The Sun.

It also could have been because I didn't really care for Alejo's character in this alternate timeline. He seemed more selfish and insecure than in the first book, although he eventually braved his insecurities to work towards a future with Bobby.

The story is full length, well written, contains high drama, including physical violence and recreational drug use, as well as descriptive sexual encounters. It was a pretty even split for me; with the positive elements balancing the bad. Be warned that some of the more violent portions may be disturbing to some readers. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 18.

It's main characters are teenagers who are coming of age during this story and struggling to find a place for their relationship in the hostile environment of the early 1980's. In that respect, I have to believe that the story is quite accurate in it's portrayal of what would have been typical challenges that gay young men growing up in a predominantly Hispanic culture, full of family oriented alpha-type males, and devout Catholic roots. The author must be given full credit for authenticity.

This is not an easy story to read, but it IS one that will have an emotional impact on it's reader. At times quite dark, it still manages to portray a sense of hopefulness for the future. Well worth the effort to read, but not everyone's cup of tea.

You may also be interested in reading my review of This is Yours. The short story included at the end of this book. I gave it 5 stars!


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