A review by theskyboi
Hawk Mountain by Conner Habib

challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m grateful to live in a world with so many wonderful options for queer literature, and I’m so honored to call Hawk Mountain one of my absolute favorites! Conner Habib wrote one of the most uniquely gay thrillers, and I can’t sing its praises enough! 

This novel follows Todd, whose whole life changes when his high-school bully, Jack, waltzes back into his life seemingly out of thin air. From one moment to the next, Todd is taken from a calm existence as a single father and an English teacher, and he is instead faced with navigating the cryptic air that surrounds Jack.

At the core of this story is the battle between different truths, all with different weights and levels of veracity. Habib’s writing challenges you as a reader to evaluate where you stand, to ask yourself how objective you really can be when navigating life as a human being.

For those who can handle shock and suspense rather well, this book reads like the intersection of the films Parasite and Saltburn, melding the horrors of humanity with the lingering doubts about sweet nothings and what-ifs that seem to define queer youth for those of us from certain generations.

If you’re looking for a book that honors your complexity and intellect as a reader, then please rush to check this one out! The author pulls no punches, making sure to keep you on edge. You’ll never know what lingers in the darkest corners of your memory until you dig deeper and deeper and deeper...
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