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The Double Life of Benson Yu
By Kevin Chong
Published by Atria,9781668005491, April 2023, 224 pp.

The Short of It:

Clever and imaginative.

The Rest of It:

In a Chinatown housing project lives twelve-year-old Benny, his ailing grandmother, and his strange neighbor Constantine, a man who believes he’s a reincarnated medieval samurai. When his grandmother is hospitalized, Benny manages to survive on his own until a social worker comes snooping. With no other family, he is reluctantly taken in by Constantine and soon, an unlikely bond forms between the two.

This is a sweet story and bends genres in the most appealing way. It touches on aging, coming of age, boyhood, male friendships, social welfare issues, and jumps back and forth in time. Benny is a very likable character. As a reader you can’t help but root for him as his world slowly falls apart. But for the most part, he has good people surrounding him. As he uses his art to deal with loss, it is slowly revealed to the reader that Yu, the narrator of the story, is having some trouble continuing Benny’s story. We are left wondering what is real, and what is make-believe.

Can Yu finish Benny’s story without placing him in peril?

I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it, especially if you are in need of something different.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

The Celebrants
By Steven Rowley
Published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 9780593540428, May 30, 2023, 320 pp.

The Short of It:

Big Chill vibes with a slightly darker undertone.

The Rest of It:

A group of friends come together in Big Sur to fulfill a pact made over a decade ago. The pact in question? To throw living “funerals” so that they can enjoy them and fully realize what their lives meant to one another. The sweet memories of the deceased cannot possibly be shared with them but sharing them before they are actually in the ground? Makes perfect sense.

But one of the friends is keeping a secret. A diagnosis which could send them all into a tail spin. The idea of living funerals is a novel one, but to think that one may actually be needed for one of their own, adds a dark cloud to the gathering.

I was expecting a lighter read given the book cover and the title but it’s actually quite thought-provoking and at times very somber. It has its funny moments but for every chuckle there is a more serious tone that sneaks its way into the story. I found myself pausing to reflect on my friendships of year’s past. Honestly, it’s a good reminder that the life we are living is temporary at best. Friendships matter and the choices we make do affect us in the long run.

If you are looking for a bubbly book to kick-off your summer reading, this may not be it but if you enjoy contemplative novels about friends, then toss this into your book bag.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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