Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Finding Joy
AUTHOR: Adriana Herrera
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 224 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 22, 2020
BLURB:
As his twenty-sixth birthday approaches, Desta Joy Walker finds himself in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the one place he’s been actively avoiding most of his life. For Desta, the East African capital encompasses some of the happiest and saddest parts of his life–his first home and the place where his father died. When an unavoidable work obligation lands him there for twelve weeks, he may finally have a chance for the closure he so desperately needs. What Desta never expected was to catch a glimpse of his future as he reconnects with the beautiful country and his family’s past.
Elias Fikru has never met an opportunity he hasn’t seized. Except, of course, for the life-changing one he’s stubbornly ignored for the past nine months. He’d be a fool not to accept the chance to pursue his doctoral studies in the U.S., but saying yes means leaving his homeland, and Elias isn’t ready to make that commitment.
Meeting Desta, the Dominican-American emergency relief worker with the easy smile and sad eyes, makes Elias want things he’s never envisioned for himself. Rediscovering his country through Desta’s eyes emboldens Elias to reach for a future where he can be open about every part of himself. But when something threatens the future that’s within their grasp, Elias and Desta must put it all on the line for love.
REVIEW:
Finding Joy is a brilliant love story of soulmates destined to overcome their inner turmoil to be together. It has a perfect combination of elements – a narrative that flows effortlessly, relatable characters, well-crafted world development, a slow burn, and a palpable love that unites these men; it grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I was enchanted from the first page to the last, including a fantastic, heart-warming ending. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Desta Joy Walker is a Dominican-American aid worker on an eight-week temporary assignment in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Those eight weeks put Desta’s life on a whole new trajectory, both professionally and personally. When he meets Elias Fikru, a local man working for the same agency, he is instantly attracted to him. Desta’s inner dialogue the first few days after their introduction is comical:
And seriously, what the hell? The man had perfect eyebrows, and why was I even noticing that? Who gets hot for eyebrows? Me apparently.
and
He winked again, then took his hand off the wheel to move the gearshift. All I could do was stare. A limb fixation was definitely a cry for help, and yet, here we were.
In addition to their relationship, this story is about personal growth and facing hard decisions. The struggle each man endures between personal happiness and familial expectations echoes throughout the novel. Desta’s mom has inadvertently put the burden on him to follow in his deceased father’s footsteps as a foreign aid worker. Elias is closeted in a culture where he can’t be openly gay. But he feels duty bound to stay in Addis with his family, staying closeted his whole life instead of finding love in a society where he can be himself and proudly and publicly acknowledge his partner. Their time together serves as the impetus for both men to finally go after what they want.
Finding Joy is also a nod to author Adriana Herrera’s love of Ethiopia. She spent time living in Addis Ababa, and Desta’s family’s experience is similar to her own. Herrera states in the author’s note, “This book is my love letter to a place I adored and that adored me right back.” This love of place is clearly evident. Through Herrera’s evocative writing, we are treated to a beautiful feast of cultural and geographic imagery that makes this book so much more than a simple romance. I devoured every morsel. The book reads a bit like Desta’s travel memoir – a genre I love – in that I felt embraced by Ethiopia’s people and culture while reading about Desta and Elias living in Addis and traveling through the Great Rift Valley.
Even though Ethiopia is a land foreign to most of us, the voices of Herrera’s characters feel real and familiar. There is an array of strong secondary characters – coworkers, friends, and family – that adds to the richness of the narrative, but still, this is the Desta and Elias show. They have an easy and fun rapport. The chemistry is formidable from the get-go. The slow burn and UST – the scene at the bar! – are deliciously torturous and when it finally comes to a head (so to speak) the sex is outrageously hot. If ever the label of soulmates applied, it would be to Desta and Elias: brought together by fate, they have a deep affinity, a connection of minds, mutual respect, and a destiny to be together. Their relationship is marked not just by romance but by maturity and deep respect that elevates their love and creates lots of feels. All the feels.
Looking at him being so brave, I swore to myself that if I ever got the chance to be with this man, I would do everything in my power to live up to that kind of courage and dignity.
Finding Joy is a marvelous novel that I hope you’ll give a try. You might find, like me, that Desta and Elias get stuck in your heart and mind. My highest recommendation.
RATING: 
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