Read if you: Enjoy character-driven historical fiction.

Librarians/booksellers; This is a sensitive and moving portrayal of family history, and the difficulties in escaping it and facing it. Although relatively brief when compared to other historical fiction novels, this is quite memorable; touches on everything from upward mobility, women's empowment, divorce, coming of age as a young gay man in the 1990s, and the heartbreak and uncertainty of adoption.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the description of this book, I sounded like something of substance that i would like to read.. I prefer to give positive feedback and highlight the good parts of a book. Unfortunately, there was substance, but not very interesting or well created substance. It was confusing from the start what the real underlying structure of the book was supposed to be. Part of the weakness there was probably in the editing not making it clear that the flow from the prologue to the core of the books was a look back in time at the characters history. There is a clear need for some re-editing as there were multiple instances of jumps in time or character from one paragraph to the next with no indication that a change was to take place. It required me to go back and re-read a paragraph or two to see that I had not missed something, that the focus had changed to a different character or a shift in time had taken place. The characters were largely not likable. Not that unlikable characters are bad, except when it draws down the story and lessens the desire to read on. Were it not that I was reading this book with the understanding of giving feedback, I would not have completed the book.

I was originally not going to review this book at all, but I decided not to take a hit on my review percentages.

I tried about a dozen times to get into this book and failed miserably. I never got beyond page 20. The description was really interesting, and I normally reading a book from this genre from time to time. However, this title was so poorly written that I was not able to get to know the characters or discern a plot.

This book held me from beginning until end. I love generational family sagas and found this one particularly captivating! Such issues as feminism, racism and sexual identity are woven throughout - just as they are in life. Would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. This story will stay with me for awhile. The author was able to bring forth every emotion while reading this book. Enjoyed learning and reading about all the characters. Will recommend...

Interesting look at rural life as a queer person. I found it both thought-provoking and emotionally provocative.

"Lone Star" by Justin Deabler is a fictional story that centers around Julian Warner and the history of the family that raised him. Deabler's inclusion of many different topics like racism, discrimination, coming out, and same-sex relationships and adoption made this a really interesting read. The beginning of the story made me think the focus of the book was Julian and Phillip's journey into parenthood, but Deabler takes the reader into the distant past, through Julian's childhood, and into his current life. This is definitely an enjoyable read that will make you feel a multitude of emotions.