A Shot in the Dark: A Novel

Not only was it a constant page turner I loved each character. The way the love and friendships slipped in without being pushy.

The book opens with Ely coming to New York to study photography. Her first night she goes to a night club with her new roommates. She meets a man who turns out to be trans and they have an instant connection which leads to a night of steamy sex, described in minute detail. What I thought was going to be mostly sex with not much plot turned out to be a very sweet story of 2 troubled, talented people falling in love. The story is well developed with realistic characters and an interesting plot. Enjoyed it.

This was such a beautiful story and a great departure from more cliché romance novels. It's so well written, and I got so attached to these characters. Even though they're dealing with very specific issues (religion, addiction, etc.), their struggles remain relatable and the author keeps you engaged throughout. So great!

A Shot in the Dark is a modern love story between Ely - an addict who has been sober for four years - and Wyatt - a trans addict who has been clean for a decade. Ely moves to New York City to pursue an art degree at a prestigious program under the famous Wyatt Cole. But a s3xy one-night stand the night before her program starts leaves her flabbergasted and in a tough predicament when it turns out the rendezvous just happened to be with her new professor Mr. Wyatt Cole himself. The addiction piece of this novel was really well done. I appreciated that even several years sober, Ely and Wyatt actively had to control themselves and at times, even lost control. I also appreciated the background stories which informs the reader how Ely and Wyatt got to where they were and where they are. Addiction is a disease, and it was powerful to see how it impacts one person from the next. Wyatt's character was complex and I appreciated his background story and the education around individuals who identify as trans. Lee did a great job giving the reader facts without inundating us with information or making it feel rote. The story was steamy, the chemistry was real, and I was fully immersed in the blossoming love story. I also really enjoyed the Jewish aspect and how much knowledge was shared about different facets of the religion and ways to worship. I loved the gatherings, descriptions of food and ceremonies, and the relationships. This is a quick and informative read. All in all, I…

This book was genuinely beautiful, I wept. A magnificent job representing all the facets of queer identities and all the inner turmoil. These characters were raw, flawed in every way, but absolutely perfect for each other. This book is magic.