A review by rbdeschamp
Something Like Hail by Jay Bell

challenging emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Jay Bell continues to display his prowess of writing engaging and relatable queer characters while tackling hard-hitting topics faced in the LGBTQ+ community. This installment lives up to the standard Bell has established chronicling the many lives in Austin and how paths are shared, crossed, and diverted away from one another. Noah Westwood has had a bout of bad luck, uber-religious parents, on the streets at 16, he's learned to survive any way he can. His story is unique in as he is a new character to the series, but we still get the usual crossover from regulars like Tim, Marcello, and Nathaniel, as well as some smaller mentions of Ben, Jason, Kelly, and others. We follow Noah on his journey from the streets through Studio Maltese, getting further background on Ryan, as well as introductions to Harold, Edith, Felix, and a whole gaggle of gentlemen from the GAC. I always enjoy learning more about Marcello, even if it's indirectly through someone else's tale. Noah, overall, is not the strongest character and often finds himself jumping into relationships and being ruled by his emotions, or lack of, depending on the situation. I appreciated Bell's depiction on the struggles people have with their family when it comes to being gay and the light representation of housing insecurity that many gay youth can experience. In the end, this is a good addition to the series, with great writing and world building, but not the best story in this universe.