A review by biblio_creep
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby

5.0

Book Review | RAZORBLADE TEARS by S.A. COSBY

5/5 ⭐’s | PUB DATE:  6 July 2021

Read if you're looking for: 

- An emotional story of loss & atonement

- Older men having to reckon with their homophobia after their gay sons are killed

- Exploration of parent/child relationships, homophobia, & white supremacy

- A humorous and heart-warming friendship between the two main characters

- Vigilante justice

I love everything I’ve read from S.A. Cosby so far, and this is no exception. This book was big last year so I’m a little behind, but this is the story of two homophobic older men, one black and one white, who are forced to reassess their prejudices when their gay sons, who were married and had a young child, are murdered. Buddy Lee is kind of a white trash drug dealer type, and Ike is a former gang member, and both spent time in prison. They meet at their sons’ funeral and team up to find out who killed their sons and to exact revenge. 

The characters are so well written, and Ike and Buddy Lee have some of the best banter I’ve read. The relationship between the two of them is even sweet at times. As one would expect, this book deals with very heavy topics, including homophobia, transphobia, hate crimes, white supremacy, and murder. The emotion felt by these fathers can be deeply felt by the reader, as they grapple with regret and grief after the loss of their children. One particularly memorable scene shows Ike & Buddy Lee going to a gay bar to try to collect some information, and Ike having almost a panic attack having to be in an environment that is so foreign to him, with his homophobia and insecurity getting the better of him. This book has many touching and emotional moments as well. It is extremely well written and really depicts some of the reality of the complex relationships between parents and their queer children. If are okay with the content, this book is a must read!

CW:  Violence, Homophobia, Gun violence, Murder, Transphobia, Racism