We Could Be So Good

                 

Title: We Could Be So Good

Author: Cat Sebastian

Published: Avon, June 6, 2023

Pages: 383

Genre: LGBTQ Historical Romance

Nick Russo has worked his way from a rough Brooklyn neighborhood to a reporting job at one of the city’s biggest newspapers. But the late 1950s are a hostile time for gay men, and Nick knows that he can’t let anyone into his life. He just never counted on meeting someone as impossible to say no to as Andy.

Andy Fleming’s newspaper-tycoon father wants him to take over the family business. Andy, though, has no intention of running the paper. He’s barely able to run his life—he’s never paid a bill on time, routinely gets lost on the way to work, and would rather gouge out his own eyes than deal with office politics. Andy agrees to work for a year in the newsroom, knowing he’ll make an ass of himself and hate every second of it.

Except, Nick Russo keeps rescuing Andy: showing him the ropes, tracking down his keys, freeing his tie when it gets stuck in the ancient filing cabinets. Their unlikely friendship soon sharpens into feelings they can’t deny. But what feels possible in secret—this fragile, tender thing between them—seems doomed in the light of day. Now Nick and Andy have to decide if, for the first time, they’re willing to fight.

The most magical friends to lovers story with no magic! 

Nick is this perpetually paranoid grump of a reporter. Andy is the boss's oblivious golden retriever of a son. Nick is a gay man in the late 50s who is constantly aware of just how dangerous that is. Andy is living in Nick's guest room because he hates being alone. And watching him lust after Nick without even acknowledging for awhile that that is in fact what's happening, is hilarious!

Watching Andy figure out that he is lusting after Nick is even better. His bi-awakening is so wholesome and cute. The wholesome factor may come from the fact that Andy is a mega prude and just adorable anyway. But his growth during and after discovering his attraction to men is so well done. 

Nick's growth is not anything to dismiss either. The character work in this book is top tier. And watching Nick learning how to trust people and be himself is really beautiful. 

Also, I listened to the audiobook for this one, and the late 50s New York accents were EVERYTHING!!

Ratings

Stars: 5/5

Spice: 2/5