kiki124's review
4.0
Far from perfect, but
the stifling fifties have such
space for need, hope, grace.
the stifling fifties have such
space for need, hope, grace.
kaje_harper's review against another edition
4.0
There is a wonderful feeling of time and place in this story - 1950's and the era of live bands and swimming spectaculars, and homophobia. Russell is working a summer job as an assistant coach for his aunt's water-ballet show, for the travel and because his girlfriend Susie is in the show. Susie is cute and fun, just wild enough to be exciting to hang out with, but still a good girl - the girl Russell plans to marry soon and spend his life with. In fact he has a ring in his pocket.
Susie is his best friend. He just wishes he could get more excited about her in a lustful or romantic way. He's not naive - he fooled around enough with guys enough in college to know how his tastes run. But in this era when being gay can cost you everything, and mean being forced into prison, or a mental ward, it's just not an option for serious guy like Russell. He's going to marry Susie, make his mother who's grieving the loss of his brother in Korea happy, and live his life home in Red Wing. But then he sees Skip, playing trumpet to accompany their show, and a door inside him opens. After meeting Skip, how will he go on doing the right thing for the rest of his life?
Skip is a talented musician, working a day job and dreaming of hitting it big. But family responsibilities have him tied to Seattle and earning money. He's out as gay with a select few, and walks the edge of trouble in the rougher districts where gay establishments can exist. He has a thing for broad shoulders and strong guys. But definitely not for scared closet cases. It's not a match made in Heaven.
There was a low-key realism to the plot and story-line here that I appreciated. Russell's moments of fear of looking gay, his inability to match, or even approve of, Skip's boldness, are very rational for that era, and all they had to lose. I liked the resolution to Susie's situation, and the absence of melodrama. I did find Russell's attitude toward his family at the end a bit too low-key, but over all a worthwhile read for those who enjoy M/M in a twentieth-century historical setting.
Susie is his best friend. He just wishes he could get more excited about her in a lustful or romantic way. He's not naive - he fooled around enough with guys enough in college to know how his tastes run. But in this era when being gay can cost you everything, and mean being forced into prison, or a mental ward, it's just not an option for serious guy like Russell. He's going to marry Susie, make his mother who's grieving the loss of his brother in Korea happy, and live his life home in Red Wing. But then he sees Skip, playing trumpet to accompany their show, and a door inside him opens. After meeting Skip, how will he go on doing the right thing for the rest of his life?
Skip is a talented musician, working a day job and dreaming of hitting it big. But family responsibilities have him tied to Seattle and earning money. He's out as gay with a select few, and walks the edge of trouble in the rougher districts where gay establishments can exist. He has a thing for broad shoulders and strong guys. But definitely not for scared closet cases. It's not a match made in Heaven.
There was a low-key realism to the plot and story-line here that I appreciated. Russell's moments of fear of looking gay, his inability to match, or even approve of, Skip's boldness, are very rational for that era, and all they had to lose. I liked the resolution to Susie's situation, and the absence of melodrama. I did find Russell's attitude toward his family at the end a bit too low-key, but over all a worthwhile read for those who enjoy M/M in a twentieth-century historical setting.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit I had no idea what I was getting into with Liv Rancourt’s Aqua Follies. Esther Williams and her “aquamusical” films? Sure, I know about those. And who hasn’t caught a little synchronized swimming during the Summer Olympics? But I was clueless that Seattle, Washington’s Green Lake was the site of “swimusical” performances in the 1950s, which is the setting of this lovely and emotionally evocative novel.
While the Aqua Follies certainly provides a unique backdrop for this story—something I appreciated and was even curious enough about to google and learn a bit more—it’s the era in which Russell and Skip’s story is told that provides for the pathos and those heart tugging moments throughout. This story isn’t in any way my history, of course, but I empathized with it on a deep level because of Russell’s struggle and Skip’s pragmatic recognition of the fact that love wasn’t for a guy like him. This is a time that wasn’t only dangerous for gay men, it was a time when it was quite literally illegal to be gay, a time when being arrested could lead to a monetary fine, at best; time in jail or a sanitorium, at worst. It’s the constraints of legalized ignorance and prejudice that informs Russell’s efforts to conform to what society expects of him—a wife, a couple of kids, the white picket fence—and is the root cause of the shame he feels for being engaged to Susie but being attracted to a gorgeous trumpet player, Skip.
I don’t mean to make this novel seem like a downer, though, so let me tell you about the author’s storytelling style, which is so comfortable, and I appreciate that she uses phrases and slang that fit the time period and allows the characters to move through the setting in a way that feels authentic. It’s obvious that Liv Rancourt knows her way around Seattle and its recent history, and that only made Russell and Skip’s story all the more intimate and realistic. There were some quiet moments of bonding that, sadly, didn’t last more than was appropriate for two adult men to be alone together—especially when one of those men is already being harassed by the police. The most important thing that worked for me is that I liked Russell and Skip, even when Russell wasn’t always at his likable best, and I was invested in their journey and bought into an ending that doesn’t rely on giving tidy and unrealistic expectations to the future of their relationship. I also loooooved that music played such a big part in Russell’s attraction to Skip—there’s just something about a man who can play and/or sing. Skip’s music speaks a language all its own, and the glimpses we get are sexy.
Apart from the building of Russell and Skip’s romance, there’s a storyline between Russell and Susie, his ex-fiancée, that ended up surprising me in a good way. I can only imagine what finding allies in the 1950s was like—rare, I’m guessing?—but finding that support system, even if in only a small circle of people, including Skip’s mom, added an uplifting and hopeful touch to this novel. There was only one minor character I didn’t like at all, but I wasn’t supposed to like him, so mission accomplished.
I enjoyed this book so much, from the trials to the triumphs, for the characters, the story, and the simple joy of watching two people fall in love against all the odds.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
While the Aqua Follies certainly provides a unique backdrop for this story—something I appreciated and was even curious enough about to google and learn a bit more—it’s the era in which Russell and Skip’s story is told that provides for the pathos and those heart tugging moments throughout. This story isn’t in any way my history, of course, but I empathized with it on a deep level because of Russell’s struggle and Skip’s pragmatic recognition of the fact that love wasn’t for a guy like him. This is a time that wasn’t only dangerous for gay men, it was a time when it was quite literally illegal to be gay, a time when being arrested could lead to a monetary fine, at best; time in jail or a sanitorium, at worst. It’s the constraints of legalized ignorance and prejudice that informs Russell’s efforts to conform to what society expects of him—a wife, a couple of kids, the white picket fence—and is the root cause of the shame he feels for being engaged to Susie but being attracted to a gorgeous trumpet player, Skip.
I don’t mean to make this novel seem like a downer, though, so let me tell you about the author’s storytelling style, which is so comfortable, and I appreciate that she uses phrases and slang that fit the time period and allows the characters to move through the setting in a way that feels authentic. It’s obvious that Liv Rancourt knows her way around Seattle and its recent history, and that only made Russell and Skip’s story all the more intimate and realistic. There were some quiet moments of bonding that, sadly, didn’t last more than was appropriate for two adult men to be alone together—especially when one of those men is already being harassed by the police. The most important thing that worked for me is that I liked Russell and Skip, even when Russell wasn’t always at his likable best, and I was invested in their journey and bought into an ending that doesn’t rely on giving tidy and unrealistic expectations to the future of their relationship. I also loooooved that music played such a big part in Russell’s attraction to Skip—there’s just something about a man who can play and/or sing. Skip’s music speaks a language all its own, and the glimpses we get are sexy.
Apart from the building of Russell and Skip’s romance, there’s a storyline between Russell and Susie, his ex-fiancée, that ended up surprising me in a good way. I can only imagine what finding allies in the 1950s was like—rare, I’m guessing?—but finding that support system, even if in only a small circle of people, including Skip’s mom, added an uplifting and hopeful touch to this novel. There was only one minor character I didn’t like at all, but I wasn’t supposed to like him, so mission accomplished.
I enjoyed this book so much, from the trials to the triumphs, for the characters, the story, and the simple joy of watching two people fall in love against all the odds.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
see_sadie_read's review
4.0
This is a hard on for me to rate. The book is really well written, easily readable and well edited. It has two likable characters and a realistic plot and setting. However, I didn't enjoy it personally, and that's not the fault of the book. It's just that, while I understand that 1950s America was a horrible time and place to be gay and there were very real reasons to be afraid of being outed, I got really tired of Russell's back and forwards. I understood it, but I had a hard time liking him each time he treated Skip poorly because of his own insecurities. And I never could forgive Ryker (and to a lesser degree Susie), so Rancourt's attempt to redeem them in the end totally flopped for me.
So, how do you rate a book that you can objectively say is a good book, but not a book for you? I don't know either, so I'm gonna go 3.5 and round up.
So, how do you rate a book that you can objectively say is a good book, but not a book for you? I don't know either, so I'm gonna go 3.5 and round up.
pagesandprozac's review
3.0
this was a sweet and realistic romance with interesting characters, but it didn't quite click for me. i suspect this is to do with the setting, as i've never really been particularly interested in 1950s america (i mean, i've never even seen grease! i know, i know). i think a lot of people will love this though and it was just a personal thing for me, so if you like the sound of the synopsis you should probably go for it!
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