{"id":6432,"date":"2017-08-24T00:00:38","date_gmt":"2017-08-23T22:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelesbianreview.com\/?p=6432"},"modified":"2023-06-13T17:34:10","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T15:34:10","slug":"kind-river-andi-marquette","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelesbianreview.com\/kind-river-andi-marquette\/","title":{"rendered":"Some Kind Of River by Andi Marquette: Book Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Some<\/a><\/p>\n

Some Kind Of River by Andi Marquette<\/b> is a sweet novella that takes a friendship built on mutual love of nature and segues into a romance between two women that is as strong as the river they love to navigate.<\/p>\n

Mel and Dez have been best friends, river buddies, and co-workers for five years. But this year things are different. After an innocent cuddling session in a tent with Mel the previous summer, Dez has developed feelings for her buddy that go beyond just the friendly flirtation and banter. She does her best to hide her new interest, but Mel keeps dropping little hints that maybe she has the same designs for Dez to go beyond their current friendship status. Dez is notoriously bad at reading women, so she can\u2019t tell if Mel\u2019s intentions are real or just wishful thinking.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to take more than a map and a compass to navigate this stretch. In the end, if Mel and Dez can make it out on the other side, they\u2019ll find a love just as valuable as the one they have for the outdoors.<\/p>\n

The Characters<\/b><\/h3>\n

Marquette did an outstanding job in creating these characters. She makes them different enough, yet likeable and relatable in their personalities.<\/p>\n

Dez is the more reserved of the two. While she is outgoing, fun, and flirty, she\u2019s also aware of the natural world around her and knows to respect it because danger lurks around every bend. Her only real flaw is when it comes to matters of the heart, she is clueless. She doesn\u2019t read women the way she can the river. So when she interacts with guests and fellow crew alike who are blatantly interested in her, she doesn\u2019t recognize it. It\u2019s funny to read and watch people openly flirt with Dez and have her completely oblivious. But when it comes to Mel, you start wishing for Dez to have that moment of clarity to see what\u2019s right in front of her.<\/p>\n

Mel is more adventurous. She takes more chances and is spontaneous at times, as is evident in a game of truth or dare. Her personality is a great counter balance to Dez\u2019s more reserved personae. While she drops clues for Dez to pick up on, she seriously underestimates Dez\u2019s plight at not reading romantic gestures. It\u2019s evident from the beginning that if anything is going to happen between her and Dez, she is going to have to be the one to make the first move, and a big one that won\u2019t be misconstrued in any way. Luckily, she has the spontaneity and courage to go after what she wants in the most genius way.<\/p>\n

The Writing Style<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is told entirely from the perspective of Dez, and I believe that was a smart choice by Marquette because you really get a good perspective on how much she loves the river, how much she cares for Mel, and her inner struggle with these new feelings for her best friend. I really love how Marquette doesn\u2019t skimp on the detail of the locations, the camps, or the river. It not only gives the sense of being in the environment with these characters. I believe the details are more designed to showcase the real love Dez, and by extension Mel, has for the outdoors and the river. It\u2019s not just a setting in this story, it\u2019s a way of life for these characters. And Marquette is smart in using the descriptions to illustrate that point to the reader.<\/p>\n

The Pros<\/b><\/h3>\n

What I loved best was how Mel and Dez counter balance each other perfectly with their personalities and that what anchors them to each other is their mutual love for the river and the outdoors.<\/p>\n

The Cons<\/b><\/h3>\n

I loved the awkward moments with Dez\u2019s clueless recognition of a woman\u2019s interest, but I felt that Marquette took it to a point of unbelievability in certain scenes. It doesn\u2019t distract from the story, however, and she makes up for this at the end with a conversation between Mel and Dez to explain this advanced cluelessness, which allows me to believe that it is a possibility.<\/p>\n

The Conclusion<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is the first book I read from Marquette, and it was a great introduction to her writing style and story telling. Marquette is attuned to the drama that happens when pursuing a romantic relationship, but she does it in a way that feels casual and allows you to laugh at the characters without feeling cruel or unsympathetic to their plight.<\/p>\n

This novella is great for a weekend read for anyone who loves watching friendships transform into romance, and get a good laugh out of watching two people navigate through tricky waters to claim what they want.<\/p>\n

Excerpt from <\/b>Some Kind Of River by Andi Marquette<\/b><\/h2>\n

I chuckled then grunted in surprise as someone jumped on my back. I lurched toward Brad, just catching myself. \u201cHey \u2013\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cDez! Woo hoo, the party can now begin.\u201d I\u2019d know that voice anywhere. Brad laughed as Mel slid off my back.<\/p>\n

I turned, laughing, and then almost choked. Mel. Holy shit. It had been Mel behind the counter. \u201cWow. Um, your hair\u2026\u201d I stammered. \u201cI didn\u2019t recognize you.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pretended to model it with gestures a game show hostess might use to show you the products you could win. \u201cDo you like?\u201d she teased in a French accent. \u201cI had it done last month.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks great,\u201d I said in a rush, embarrassed at my reaction, embarrassed that I\u2019d actually cruised Mel. I\u2019d been trying so hard not to think about her that way and practically the first thing I did when I came into the building was just that. \u201cYes, I like. It suits you. Nice. So how are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMuch better, now. My sexy river guide buddy is here to play on the water all summer long with me. Life is awesome. Even in Idaho.\u201d She grinned. \u201cDid you just get here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sexy? Did she just call me that? I nodded, still a little tongue-tied.<\/p>\n

Get This Book On Amazon<\/b><\/h3>\n

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[tweetthis]\u201cGirl, you wouldn\u2019t know someone was interested in you if she had her hands in your shorts\u201d[\/tweetthis]<\/p>\n

Bits and Bobs<\/b><\/h3>\n

ASIN: <\/b>B006YHTV1M<\/p>\n

Andi Marquette Online\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n