SHAE

Kira Fixx narrates this intimate queer coming-of-age novel with the perfect mix of wistfulness and straightforward brashness. Sixteen-year-old Shae falls in love with Cam, who radiates passion and determination. Within a year, Shae is pregnant, and Cam has decided to transition from male to female. Soon Cam is starting a new life away at college, while Shae sinks into opioid addiction. Fixx's narration, like Maren's prose, is bright, direct, and without fanfare. She sounds exactly like a teenager who is telling her story like it is, bouncing between youthful excitement, regret, and feeling overwhelmed. Her lilting voice and slight Southern accent evoke the West Virginia hills, where most of the novel takes place. This is a heartbreaking listen about love, addiction, and belonging. L.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2024]