Book Review: We Could Be So Good (Midcentury NYC #1) by Cat Sebastian

Beautifully written, tonne of emotional depth and a self aware humour that makes you feel fond of the characters… actually love the characters. What a fantastic book. A true escape into the world the author gently guides you into, sprinkling aspects of the period across to completely immerse you into their world.

Nick and Andy were perfection. Grouchy and a little surly (never with Andy) older than his years city reporter Nick pokes a soft spot in your heart for the man who has to hide to fit in and Andy tottering around falling over and forgetting everything, intolerant of being alone but with a lovely generous soft heart.

These two gently navigate the waters saying so much without having to say everything. It was a lovely one step forward two steps back shy and endearing kind of dance as they make their way to something more solid than the deep friendship they have, something more as they tie themselves to each other completely intertwined.  I like how the interactions, reflective of the times is so very nuanced, a little bit ritualised, a sort of subtext flowing and lending a context that’s almost language in and of itself. It’s also telling of otherness and exclusionary aspect that is inherent in the social interactions they both have, I havnt read much like it before but it was beautifully depicted, sad but not surprising and lent itself very well to the story playing out. But it’s also so wonderfully balanced with the found family vibes in the story, I adored the side characters. The growth these characters traverse over the year that the story is set is touching, I was so moved while reading this book and Nick and Andy and their story will stick with me for ages.