"The publisher compares Brian Schaeffer to Fredrik Backman, and I can see why. Both writers introduce a large number of main characters at a rapid pace, making the first 20�30% of the story hard to follow. Add in the head-jumping, which I’m usually not a fan of but feels natural with both authors, along with a small village setting where tensions run high between people, and it’s easy to draw the comparison, especially to Backman’s Beartown series.

I struggled through the first quarter, but once I got up to speed, I began to appreciate the contrasts between all the characters. The story paints such a clear picture of a small town in a swing state, highlighting the minor differences that ultimately shape people's political choices.

Town & Country introduces a large cast of characters, from the mostly white, cheating, rich gay men buying the biggest houses as summer retreats and hosting pool parties in their tiny bathing suits, to Griffin’s mostly white original residents: Diana, a real estate agent raised by progressive parents who turned to the church as an adult; her husband, who owns the local pub and is now running for Congress; and their children, one a drug addict, the other recently out as gay.

I was most drawn to the storyline between Eric and Dalton. Eric is part of the gay clique but starts to like the quietness of the village, while Dalton is a young gay farmer living with his dad, and they’re barely getting by.

While reading, the current situation in the US was constantly in the back of my mind. Something just gnaws at me each time I see that man on television or online, and I hate the polarization. This book shows the struggles of real people, and I admire the way Brian Schaeffer depicts flawed characters. Eric and Dalton both picture the differences between the two groups so clearly and also show that those differences might not be that big after all.

Actual rating 4.5 stars

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Liong is currently reading Strange Pictures