Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Must Like Spinach

AUTHOR:  Con Riley

PUBLISHER:  Figment Ink

LENGTH:  223 pages

RELEASE DATE:  October 19, 2016

BLURB:

Opposites attract in this smoldering gay romance set in Seattle.

Jon’s future in New York should be bright. He’s on the corporate fast track as an executive problem solver, yet he knows something is missing. Working in a concrete jungle isn’t his passion, and it leaves no time for romance. Still, his heart yearns for a partner who shares his love of nature.

After a clash with a client, Jon’s sent to cool off in Seattle. Three months there should feel like failure, but his exile has upsides—the house he rents comes with a garden in need of love and attention. The only downside is that he has to share his outdoor space with Tyler, who is interested in him, and attractive, but who also sets Jon’s trust alarm bells ringing.

Jon’s head warns him to be wary, but his heart won’t listen. Attraction takes root between them, but as the clock counts down to Jon’s return to NYC, he’ll have to choose which to nurture long term. Will it be a career in business, or falling in love with Tyler?

REVIEW:

I recently had the pleasure of re-reading Con Riley’s adorable novel, Must Like Spinach, a wonderful story about self-discovery. Jon’s at a crossroads where he needs to reevaluate his definition of success. He thought it was measured by money, a corner office, and fulfilling his mother’s dreams for him. Going forward, though, he considers whether it’s really about love, friendship and community. About building lasting relationships and finding a better work life balance. It’s also a lesson in not jumping to false conclusions and judging a book by its cover.

When Jon, a trainee for a cutthroat property development company in NYC, makes a whopper of a mistake, he’s given one last chance to prove himself. He’s shipped off to consult on a project in Seattle for a few months. Hopefully, he’ll be far enough from home that his damaged reputation won’t follow him. Jon’s eager for this second chance, a fresh start.

When he arrives in Seattle, he considers a long-term stay in a motel but an advertisement for an apartment catches his eye: Must Like Spinach, it says. WTH? Now I love spinach but who in their right mind would advertise an apartment this way? What does a leafy, green vegetable have to do with finding a place to lay his head at night? Jon is as intrigued by the ad as I was by the book title.

Jon’s not sold on the dilapidated apartment when he sees it but the big vegetable garden and greenhouse in the backyard convince him. He longs for a chance to get his hands dirty in the rich soil, to feel grounded. His decision is cemented when he thinks he sees Tyler, the other renter, taking advantage of their sweet, elderly landlord, Peggy. Jon can help protect Peggy from the lazy con artist. He treats Tyler with disdain but in time, Tyler’s true self is revealed; he’s not the man Jon expected him to be.

What a cast of characters Riley has developed! From leading men Jon and Tyler, to sweet Peggy, and Jon’s excitable co-worker, Eric. Each of these characters and many more are engaging and highly likable.

I adore Tyler. He wears Bambi pajamas! How could you not love that? He’s loyal, caring, and hard working, always the first to offer help to others. Peggy is a lovely old lady who helps Jon on his journey. She gives him a fledgling tomato plant to care for and instructs him to treat it like a family member: talk to it, make sure it’s warm and well-fed, and protect it from the elements. It’s a poignant metaphor about cherishing the people in his life.

By the conclusion of the book, Jon sees that he can have a less demanding job that gives him time for having friends to care for, a sense of community, and a man to call his own. Jon, Tyler, and Peggy make an unlikely, but heartwarming, found family. The story spends lots of time on Jon’s work but it’s necessary to provide insight into him coming to terms with a need to change his life’s trajectory. Tyler shows Jon what a balanced, slower paced life could look like, that John’s future can contain joy with people who love him.

If you know me at all, you know that I love good epilogues. This one is very romantic and swoon worthy, and completes the book perfectly. I highly recommend this well-written book with its sweet story and even sweeter characters. If you haven’t read Must Like Spinach yet, be sure to put it on the top of your TBR pile.

RATING: 

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