FAMILY MEAL

André Santana gives a standout performance in this layered novel about grief and family. Santana portrays Cam, who returns home to Houston after the sudden death of his boyfriend, Kai. As he struggles to find himself again amid overwhelming loss, he reconnects with his childhood best friend, TJ. Santana's narration ranges from numb observation to moments of feeling overwhelmed. As Cam spirals into self-destruction, his voice becomes rougher and less controlled. Author Bryan Washington and Jake Choi give less compelling performances as Kai and TJ. Washington speaks in a monotone that doesn't capture the uniqueness of Kai's character. Choi's narration lacks the emotional depth that Santana's has. Even so, this is a moving audiobook--Washington's incredible prose and characterizations more than make up for his lackluster narration. L.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2023]