A heart breaking story in so many ways, this one won't fail to keep you hooked in whilst breaking your heart at stages too. So relevant to real life, you will be moved by this book.

Oh my! Cooper is one of my favorite all-time authors so I may have let out a little "whoop" when I received this ARC! Like his other two novels, Cooper is able to infuse honesty, humor, and remarkable insights into every book he writes. At the heart of this one is protagonist Gavin, and Jackie who is an eccentric soul he meets by chance on a park bench. As he reveals his "story," we see a haunted young man who was bullied in school and afraid to admit his attraction to other boys, even when he kissed classmate Steve. Told in alternating past and present, the book reveals his eventual marriage, the birth of his son, and his ambivalent feelings about his sexuality that he alternately hides but can't deny. There are so many relevant themes that Cooper addresses: rejection, addiction, social anxiety, and passion--just to name a few! Gavin comes to realize his "cage" doesn't have to trap him forever and I am still tearing up after reading this fabulous novel. Just hope Cooper is at work on his next one!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!