After Hours at Dooryard Books

Beautiful and heartbreaking; funny and depressing; an amazing portrayal of 1968 and a surprisingly similar portrayal of 2026. Set in 1968 NYC and centered around two gay men and a mother to a newborn whose husband just died in Vietnam, this book is a look at a slice of life that’s full of heartbroken characters trying to find their way through the day to day. But as they do, we are given layers of compassion, ambition, and hope. In addition to how Cat Sebastian captured a small ray of hope and happiness in an otherwise depressed and broken world, I loved all the characters she brought to life. Not just the main characters (who are great), but also all the side characters who build out the community. Hector and Iris, the teenagers willing to fight the government, even if only in their small acts of rebellion. Mrs. Kaplan, the elderly widow who ‘takes in strays’ and helps people get back on their feet (and finances the bookstore itself). And Susan, Patrick’s sister-in-law and famous folk singer who has always accepted and supported him. I both read and listened to this book and loved both. JJ Hawkins and Joel Leslie did a great job as Patrick and Nathan, capturing their emotions as well as voices for when other characters are talking on page.

This book is just superb! It is often bittersweet, poignant, and melancholy. It's also a journey of grief and healing. It a pathway to all kinds of love. It nails the time period exactly right without seeming like a documentary of the age. Historically, we can look back, knowing what comes after and what is happening now, and feel glad that these people had their moment in time and eventually found lasting family. The romance between Nathaniel and Patrick is tender, real, and you just know it will be lasting. At times, it was difficult to read of this era. (I remember as a child sitting around the dining room table each evening, as the news reported how many soldiers died in Viet Nam that day.) I'm glad I did read it, though, as it shines hope and love between the sad times. Highly recommended!