My impression based on the first few chapters was not good. I thought the author’s first-person narrative was all over the place and I just was not in tune with his writing style. But then I adjusted to the style and I have to admit that there was quite a bit of charm and a whole lot of really funny, dry wit.

The story revolves around a gay couple who never planned or wanted to have a child, but through some unusual circumstances became guardians to 11-year-old Scot, who was the son of the girlfriend of the brother of one of the couple. (Got that straight?) Scot’s mother was a drug addict and had just killed herself by OD-ing, and her boyfriend was too irresponsible to take the kid, so he pawns him off on his gay brother, Sam. Naturally Scot is pretty emotionally mixed up and he’s a quirky kid who is a bit of a sissy and seems destined to become a drag queen.

The narrator of the story is Ed, Sam’s partner. Where the charm comes in is through Ed’s hilarious observations, his feeling of being overwhelmed by a situation he never wanted or planned for, and then gently being won over to love and understand this peculiar child, and finally becoming so attached that he couldn’t imagine life without him. Once I became acclimated to Michael Downing’s writing style, I found the characters to be endearing, and I really enjoyed this book. ( )

I loved this book. I don't think it steps wrong. I adored how it avoided changing voice and its sweetness. ( )