A review by whitmc
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

5.0

I will read everything J. Ryan Stradal writes from now on. I loved "Kitchens" and nervously awaited his new book, really hoping he wouldn't burst my "Ryan Rocks" bubble. And it just grew bigger. Lager Queen is so enjoyable to read (especially with an IPA in hand). It's written really well, but not overly wordy, the story is not a potboiler, rather it just sits there, right next to you, and follows you around during your day while you are not reading it. I savored this book, keeping the characters with me as long as possible. And now I miss them! He does such a great job of telling the story of people's lives, and making what seems simple on its face as complex as it feels when you live that life. It's an appreciation for every day, and recognition that more often than not, it's the smaller decisions that lead us to where we are now, and it's hard to come back from those.