Reviewed by Ami
Title: Make a Circle
Author: Elliot Joyce
Series: Warmest Wishes – 2018 Advent Calendar
Heroes: Lucas & Oliver
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 33 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2018
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Pagan punk musician Lucas is fully prepared to spend this Yule with the rest of the band and his beautiful bass guitar when Oliver, his boyfriend of almost a year, asks if he wants to join the rest of the Han family for their annual winter celebration. It comes as a shock since Ollie has gone to great lengths to keep the two apart, and Lucas always assumed he was the reason. Since they’re planning to be together long-term, Lucas can’t say no to meeting Ollie’s parents, but he better brush up on his manners and his Mandarin because this is going to be a holiday season like no other—and it has some surprises in store for both of them.
Review:
This is the first time Oliver Han brought his boyfriend Lucas to meet his family, just in time for the Han family to celebrate Dōngzhì Festival – or Chinese Winter Solstice Festival – which date falls near Christmas as well. Lucas is rather worried that Ollie’s family will hate him; he doesn’t speak any Mandarin, he is, well, the white guy. Lucas is not aware that Ollie has his different reasons, and his own worries, for postponing bringing Lucas before.
I loved my first Elliot Joyce’s book that I read back in April, which was why I respectfully requested for this one. Turned out to be another winner! Despite it being short, but I thought Joyce was able to deliver a sweet and heartwarming holiday story about a young interracial couple.
I loved reading how Lucas is both feeling a little out of place, but at the same time, he makes sure that he is there for Ollie. I’m not going to spoil much about Ollie’s reasons, but I can totally understand Ollie dragging his feet. These two are really, really, sweet to each other. And I enjoyed reading about some of the traditional activities celebrating the Dōngzhì as well, like making the tangyuan.
So, it’s a nice clash-culture kind of holiday story. Although I wish the author explore more about Lucas being a pagan – I imagine it’ll be kind of fun seeing him explaining that to Han’s family *laugh*
Overall Impression: I really liked it
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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