Review: Divine River by Marina Vivancos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
At night, he’d curl under his thin sheet with the summer air everywhere around him, and his stupid heart would get away from him, replaying little moments of the week, chasing after Jason in his memories like a fool.
This short novella packs a lot in a few pages in a way that feels organic and not heavy-handed. On one side, we have a sweet, small-town romance between Mike (the POV character), a local grumpy wood-worker, and his new neighbor, sunshine city boy Jason. Seeing their relationship develops was a delightful experience, as they go from strangers to friends to lovers at a rhythm that felt natural and still managed to maintain natural tension even after the confessions. Those two really cared for each other and the book is full of tender, swoony moments.
Alongside the romance, we get to explore Mike's feelings about sexuality and gender in a way that feels purposeful but doesn't weigh down the overall tone of the story. At the start of the book, I thought this would be heavier than it ended up being. It's not exactly fluffy, as it deals with a lot of serious subjects, and at the beginning of the book, Mike is sad and lonely. But his satisfying personal journey and the sweet, tender romance made this book an emotional one, but in a feel-good, heartwarming kind of way.
Marina Vivancos's prose is lyrical and creates a dreamy vibe that was just perfect for this small-town romance. Some of the descriptions and inner monologues surrounding Mike and Jason's boat escapades to their little island were so well-written and evocative that I had to immediately re-read those passages. Here's an example of a part I loved:
They swam around each other, a mating ritual of water and body, before a playful shoving match ensued. Mike thrilled at the slide of bare, wet skin against his, at the way Jason’s blue eyes shone in the sun. His hair was plastered across his forehead, smile goofy, and Mike wanted to kiss him so much it was like a bruise he couldn’t stop worrying.
I really liked that not everything in Mike's life is resolved by the end of the novella. It doesn't feel unsatisfying or forgotten, because those issues were explored. Mike himself comes to the conclusion that he can allow himself to be happy even if the future is uncertain. As the reader, you feel optimistic that things will turn out OK, because Mike grew so much and has the tools to deal with those complex issues.
Divine River on Amazon
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