cover image Two Across

Two Across

Jeff Bartsch. Grand Central, $25 (304p) ISBN 978-1-4555-5462-1

Debut author Bartsch’s promising tale is hurt by emotionally distant writing and an abrupt, disappointing ending. It’s 1960 when Stanley, trapped by his agoraphobic mother, and Vera, forever moving from one hotel room to the next with hers, meet as two teenagers who tie for first place in the National Spelling Bee (in Washington, D.C.). While his mother plans his future, Stanley just wants to create crossword puzzles, and so he hatches a plan to gain his freedom while keeping his fragile mother in the dark. He and Vera pretend to marry in order to cash in on the wedding gifts. Vera, secretly in love with Stanley, agrees to his scheme hoping that, in time, he’ll come to share her feelings. Stanley and Vera have good chemistry together, and the novel is populated by a quirky, diverse cast of characters. Unfortunately, Bartsch’s writing is detached and often clunky (“He tried, but she didn’t want to listen, and said she was done with all that, and furthermore she declared she was done with love”). Add to that a sudden ending and readers may feel cheated. (Aug.)