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A review by jediprincess
The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Cure for Drowning was the final book I read in 2023 and am I ever glad I ended the year with this beautiful novel!
A historical fiction set in WWII era Canada with a touch of magical realism, this LGBT love story is about finding yourself, love, and family in turbulent times and how to survive and ultimately thrive. The story follows Rebekah Kromer, a French-Canadian-German whose family must face the rising anti-German sentiment that preluded the start of WWII and Kit McNair, whose Irish immigrant family holds the magic that saves them after a drowning at age ten, living on a struggling farm in rural southern Ontario.
The novel switches between Kit and Rebekah's POVs as they slowly fall in love and deal with the fallout of WWII, of Kit's older brother's affections for Rebekah, and of Kit's finding themselves over the course of the war.
The prose is gorgeous, I sped through the novel in two sittings. Having grown up in the forests of rural Ontario, I could easily imagine the landscapes and felt like they were lovingly described.
I loved the touch of magical realism as a way for the McNair’s to come to terms (or at least just not be bothered) with Kit’s gender instead of the typical monstrous portrayals that seem to pervade literature/films/real life to demonize trans and non-binary people.
Congrats to Loghan Paylor on this incredible debut! I hope many people read this and feel loved and seen.
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC of this beautiful novel in exchange for an honest review
A historical fiction set in WWII era Canada with a touch of magical realism, this LGBT love story is about finding yourself, love, and family in turbulent times and how to survive and ultimately thrive. The story follows Rebekah Kromer, a French-Canadian-German whose family must face the rising anti-German sentiment that preluded the start of WWII and Kit McNair, whose Irish immigrant family holds the magic that saves them after a drowning at age ten, living on a struggling farm in rural southern Ontario.
The novel switches between Kit and Rebekah's POVs as they slowly fall in love and deal with the fallout of WWII, of Kit's older brother's affections for Rebekah, and of Kit's finding themselves over the course of the war.
The prose is gorgeous, I sped through the novel in two sittings. Having grown up in the forests of rural Ontario, I could easily imagine the landscapes and felt like they were lovingly described.
I loved the touch of magical realism as a way for the McNair’s to come to terms (or at least just not be bothered) with Kit’s gender instead of the typical monstrous portrayals that seem to pervade literature/films/real life to demonize trans and non-binary people.
Congrats to Loghan Paylor on this incredible debut! I hope many people read this and feel loved and seen.
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC of this beautiful novel in exchange for an honest review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Homophobia