Breathe into Me

On the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Lacey St. James is just scraping by, staying with her abusive boyfriend, Macon, to escape her drunk mother and critical grandmother, who live off the earnings from her two jobs. Lacey’s gotten used to being insulted, manhandled, and taken advantage of by thoughtless friends and family members, so she’s surprised when clean-cut college student Everett Ward, who’s in town to house-sit a mansion, saves her from Macon and offers friendship with no strings attached. Fawkes’s characterization of these two “new adults” learning to trust each other and building a mature relationship is emotionally charged and underscores that turning attraction into lasting love must include understanding and forgiveness for mistakes. Everett also needs to overcome his own family issues and summon the courage to share his entire life with Lacey, not just the parts he thinks she wants to see. Everett and Lacey’s love and longing leap off the page and should not be missed. (Aug.)