While driving across Texas to begin my summer break in Arkansas, I picked up another audio book to help with my reading challenge for 2022. Since I was a captive audience for a few hours, I decided to mark off one of the challenges that is not normally a part of my reading routine — a LBGTQ+ book.
Hand-Picked is the second book in the Sunday Brothers series (I didn’t know that when I picked it up!), but the book stands on its own quite well. Set in rural Vermont, the story centers on Webb Sunday, the owner of a local apple orchard and Luke, the new elementary teacher in town. The two men hate each other because of an unfortunate situation involving Webb’s young son who is a student in Luke’s class. When a property dispute further complicates matters, Webb prepares to give Luke a piece of his mind. Instead, the two men discover that their hatred for each other is the result of miscommunication and misunderstandings. Thus begins their friendship.
At least, they think they are “just” friends. Luke, a gay man, does not deny that he is attracted to Webb, but will certainly never pursue a relationship with someone who cannot love him back. After all, Webb is a straight man. Or is he? Webb faces his own attraction to Luke and admits to himself that he is bisexual. The romance novel continues as you would expect with many ups and downs for the new couple.
I was pleasantly surprised by Hand-Picked. I don’t know what I was really expecting, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Archer’s writing was witty and endearing. I found myself laughing out loud several times while listening to the story unfold. I must admit that I was quite uncomfortable when the romantic parts started up. Things were getting graphic. Then I realized that I was letting my prejudices impact my reading. The sexual encounters were no more explicit than what is typically found in a heterosexual romance. When I finally accepted that fact, I found that the scenes were actually tastefully written. As soon as I began to approach the episodes as expressions of love rather than something unacceptable to my palette, I found beauty in the story and the growing love between Luke and Webb.
Will I read more LBGTQ+ romances? I don’t think it will be a standard genre in my reading life. I am currently reading the first book in the Sunday Brother series because I found the characters captivating and delightfully rendered. Beyond that, I’m not making any decisions. I do know, however, that my eyes have been opened to some things by reading Hand-Picked and that I am a better reader…..and quite possible, a better person…..as a result of it.
Reading for Me 