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A Portrait For Tomorrow
After a failed stint in college, Gerald Waller is a reclusive lion who is unhappy with his static life. Buried are his desires of being an artist like his late-mother along with the prospect of finding love. When chance connects him with Michael, an optimistic fox with a penchant for the guitar, Gerald begins to see life with a fresh perspective and optimism. With renewed inspiration, Gerald resurrects an ambitious painting project and soon falls in love with Michael. But when Michael's health takes a traumatic turn, Gerald's faith is shaken with the growing possibility of losing the love of his life. Balancing between caring for his lover's health, his strained relationship with his father, and progress on his painting, Gerald wonders if he can march forward with all that he's learned and still remain hopeful.
Intimate and philosophical, A Portrait For Tomorrow is a hopeful story celebrating the wonders of life and the precious people we encounter.
Intimate and philosophical, A Portrait For Tomorrow is a hopeful story celebrating the wonders of life and the precious people we encounter.
248 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2025
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30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 4, 2025
You might want to read this book if you enjoy:
-Realistic fiction
-Gay romances
-Philosophical vibes
-An emotional read
-Staring at ceilings for long periods of time after finishing a book
A Portrait for Tomorrow is a strong debut novel from Raynarde who aims to write profound furry stories with a degree of thematic depth. If you’ve read my reviews before, you know “thematic depth” is my top buzzword, so I was excited to pick this book up and see what Raynarde was capable of in my favorite department. What I found was a story reminiscent of a John Green novel—thoughtful and heart wrenching, with a focus on insightful characters who have a lot going on in their heads. It was interesting to find something with similar vibes to The Fault in Our Stars but in a furry context, and just like TFIOS, this book packs a heck of an emotional wallop.
The story follows Gerald Waller, a reclusive lion whose mother has died a few years before the story begins. He's a painter, but he lacks inspiration and motivation as he deals with his ongoing grief, an alcoholic father, and general depression. When he meets an inquisitive and altogether lovely fox, Michael, the two quickly fall in love and Gerald finally starts to better himself and meet the challenges in his life. But the biggest challenge comes when a health scare puts Michael’s life in jeopardy, threatening Gerald’s newfound progress and the loving future they had planned.
I tend to go for fantastical gay romances, so I was worried about being underwhelmed by this one's realism and simplicity. Luckily, this book thrives on the "less is more” approach. The setup may sound simple, and you can pretty much suss out what’s going to happen from the first few chapters, but one should never underestimate the power of simple done well, and A Portrait for Tomorrow is certainly done well. It put me on an emotional rollercoaster the likes of which I haven’t ridden in a long time, something grounded that felt real and thus sparked some very real emotions. By the end I was left staring at the ceiling with watery eyes and the temptation to call in sick to work the next day.
I personally love a book that can spark an emotional reaction like this. It’s often a testament to the book’s quality. But readers who are easily overwhelmed may want to prep their emotional shield or take this book slow. While I don’t think the book throws any unexpected punches that aren’t also thrown in similar novels, the punches are still strong and will be especially felt by gay men who can relate to the characters, so be prepared.
And speaking of the characters, there are plenty to fall in love with and relate to here. Michael is of course the standout. He’s essentially the perfect boyfriend archetype. Inspirational, encouraging, supportive, and educational, with infectious optimism and positivity. He’s one of those people who betters everyone around him. Meanwhile, Gerald is more flawed in the beginning of the story. I’d describe his personality as “muted.” He’s reclusive, lacks motivation, and is generally pessimistic about the world around him. It’s wonderful to watch him finally start moving out of that stagnation to become a capable lion throughout the book. I was also impressed by how real the side characters felt. You can sense that each of them is dealing with the book’s events in their own unique ways that contrast with Michael and Gerald’s own experiences.
There is one aspect of this book that I think certain readers should be aware of going in. The book advertises itself as philosophical, so it may attract some philosophy enthusiasts, but those readers may find the book lacking. There is of course meaning inherent to the heavy situations in the story, but you won’t find many bold perspectives, philosophical references, or answers to existential questions here. For readers like me, that’s great, as I’m not big on heavy handed philosophy. But those hoping for an appeal to their taste in philosophy might want to temper their expectations. I honestly wish the book hadn’t been advertised as philosophical, because I think I would have enjoyed it more had I not approached it with that lens in effect.
Altogether, A Portrait for Tomorrow is a solid debut for Raynarde that succeeds at pulling on the heartstrings. Readers who love a realistic and emotional read will doubtlessly find this to be one of their favorite furry reads. The tears shed over this book will also probably be enough to solve a small drought. I look forward to seeing what Raynarde does next.
-Realistic fiction
-Gay romances
-Philosophical vibes
-An emotional read
-Staring at ceilings for long periods of time after finishing a book
A Portrait for Tomorrow is a strong debut novel from Raynarde who aims to write profound furry stories with a degree of thematic depth. If you’ve read my reviews before, you know “thematic depth” is my top buzzword, so I was excited to pick this book up and see what Raynarde was capable of in my favorite department. What I found was a story reminiscent of a John Green novel—thoughtful and heart wrenching, with a focus on insightful characters who have a lot going on in their heads. It was interesting to find something with similar vibes to The Fault in Our Stars but in a furry context, and just like TFIOS, this book packs a heck of an emotional wallop.
The story follows Gerald Waller, a reclusive lion whose mother has died a few years before the story begins. He's a painter, but he lacks inspiration and motivation as he deals with his ongoing grief, an alcoholic father, and general depression. When he meets an inquisitive and altogether lovely fox, Michael, the two quickly fall in love and Gerald finally starts to better himself and meet the challenges in his life. But the biggest challenge comes when a health scare puts Michael’s life in jeopardy, threatening Gerald’s newfound progress and the loving future they had planned.
I tend to go for fantastical gay romances, so I was worried about being underwhelmed by this one's realism and simplicity. Luckily, this book thrives on the "less is more” approach. The setup may sound simple, and you can pretty much suss out what’s going to happen from the first few chapters, but one should never underestimate the power of simple done well, and A Portrait for Tomorrow is certainly done well. It put me on an emotional rollercoaster the likes of which I haven’t ridden in a long time, something grounded that felt real and thus sparked some very real emotions. By the end I was left staring at the ceiling with watery eyes and the temptation to call in sick to work the next day.
I personally love a book that can spark an emotional reaction like this. It’s often a testament to the book’s quality. But readers who are easily overwhelmed may want to prep their emotional shield or take this book slow. While I don’t think the book throws any unexpected punches that aren’t also thrown in similar novels, the punches are still strong and will be especially felt by gay men who can relate to the characters, so be prepared.
And speaking of the characters, there are plenty to fall in love with and relate to here. Michael is of course the standout. He’s essentially the perfect boyfriend archetype. Inspirational, encouraging, supportive, and educational, with infectious optimism and positivity. He’s one of those people who betters everyone around him. Meanwhile, Gerald is more flawed in the beginning of the story. I’d describe his personality as “muted.” He’s reclusive, lacks motivation, and is generally pessimistic about the world around him. It’s wonderful to watch him finally start moving out of that stagnation to become a capable lion throughout the book. I was also impressed by how real the side characters felt. You can sense that each of them is dealing with the book’s events in their own unique ways that contrast with Michael and Gerald’s own experiences.
There is one aspect of this book that I think certain readers should be aware of going in. The book advertises itself as philosophical, so it may attract some philosophy enthusiasts, but those readers may find the book lacking. There is of course meaning inherent to the heavy situations in the story, but you won’t find many bold perspectives, philosophical references, or answers to existential questions here. For readers like me, that’s great, as I’m not big on heavy handed philosophy. But those hoping for an appeal to their taste in philosophy might want to temper their expectations. I honestly wish the book hadn’t been advertised as philosophical, because I think I would have enjoyed it more had I not approached it with that lens in effect.
Altogether, A Portrait for Tomorrow is a solid debut for Raynarde that succeeds at pulling on the heartstrings. Readers who love a realistic and emotional read will doubtlessly find this to be one of their favorite furry reads. The tears shed over this book will also probably be enough to solve a small drought. I look forward to seeing what Raynarde does next.
August 20, 2025
TLDR: Read this book, but be ready to be taken on an emotional journey.
There are some books you really don't know the impact they will have on you until you finish them. A Portrait for Tomorrow is one of those books.
The story starts at a funeral, and we are introduced to our cast of characters in a process of grieving, each one in their own way. Our main character, Gerry, who has little love lost for his grandma (for whom the funeral is for), finds the eyes of an orange fox in a sea of golden lions, and thus sparks the romantic relationship that is the pinnacle of the story.
At its core, A Portrait for Tomorrow is a slice-of-life story, and a beautifully written one at that. Raynarde's detailed prose brings life to the characters and the world without ever feeling excessive. The rich details transfer into the characters, too. While reading, it felt like I was getting to know real people, not just words on a page. When done as well as it is here, I can't help but vividly imagine the scenes playing out like a movie in my head. Not all books can invoke that feeling for me, which speaks volumes for how fleshed out these characters are.
While the book focuses on the smaller aspects of life, like Gerry and Mikey's initial flirting, first date, and the progression of their relationship, it doesn't mean the book is left without some drama to drive the story. From the loss of Gerry's mother at a young age, his father's developed alcoholism ripples throughout the story, adding additional complications at some of the worst times. And Gerry can be one insecure lion from time to time, adding some speed bumps here and there. None of the conflicts felt contrived or forced into the story; instead, they stem from character flaws, once again adding to a sense of character realism that all authors strive for, yet many fall short on.
Gerry's mother was a well-known artist in the community, and after discovering a set of unfinished paintings at his cousin Roman's house, Gerry, an artist himself, is convinced to finish them for an art show hosted at the local museum. This plot line helps tie several others together and acts as a connective thread throughout the novel. It shows up throughout the book and gives the reader (and Gerry) something to look forward to.
Spoiler section:
I think I felt just about every emotion while reading A Portrait for Tomorrow. This is a massive testament to Raynarde's ability to weave happy moments with gut-wrenching ones, while telling a story of love, of struggle, of loss, but most importantly, one of hope.
I loved getting to know Gerry and Miky and couldn't help but root for them. Their love and relationship had me swooning in certain scenes. When the book ended, I was sad that my time with them had come to an end. It's hard to say goodbye when you get to know characters like this, even in just a few hundred pages.
There is a lot to take away from Portrait for Tomorrow, and it's a book that's going to stick with me for a long time.
There are some books you really don't know the impact they will have on you until you finish them. A Portrait for Tomorrow is one of those books.
The story starts at a funeral, and we are introduced to our cast of characters in a process of grieving, each one in their own way. Our main character, Gerry, who has little love lost for his grandma (for whom the funeral is for), finds the eyes of an orange fox in a sea of golden lions, and thus sparks the romantic relationship that is the pinnacle of the story.
At its core, A Portrait for Tomorrow is a slice-of-life story, and a beautifully written one at that. Raynarde's detailed prose brings life to the characters and the world without ever feeling excessive. The rich details transfer into the characters, too. While reading, it felt like I was getting to know real people, not just words on a page. When done as well as it is here, I can't help but vividly imagine the scenes playing out like a movie in my head. Not all books can invoke that feeling for me, which speaks volumes for how fleshed out these characters are.
While the book focuses on the smaller aspects of life, like Gerry and Mikey's initial flirting, first date, and the progression of their relationship, it doesn't mean the book is left without some drama to drive the story. From the loss of Gerry's mother at a young age, his father's developed alcoholism ripples throughout the story, adding additional complications at some of the worst times. And Gerry can be one insecure lion from time to time, adding some speed bumps here and there. None of the conflicts felt contrived or forced into the story; instead, they stem from character flaws, once again adding to a sense of character realism that all authors strive for, yet many fall short on.
Gerry's mother was a well-known artist in the community, and after discovering a set of unfinished paintings at his cousin Roman's house, Gerry, an artist himself, is convinced to finish them for an art show hosted at the local museum. This plot line helps tie several others together and acts as a connective thread throughout the novel. It shows up throughout the book and gives the reader (and Gerry) something to look forward to.
Spoiler section:
I think I felt just about every emotion while reading A Portrait for Tomorrow. This is a massive testament to Raynarde's ability to weave happy moments with gut-wrenching ones, while telling a story of love, of struggle, of loss, but most importantly, one of hope.
I loved getting to know Gerry and Miky and couldn't help but root for them. Their love and relationship had me swooning in certain scenes. When the book ended, I was sad that my time with them had come to an end. It's hard to say goodbye when you get to know characters like this, even in just a few hundred pages.
There is a lot to take away from Portrait for Tomorrow, and it's a book that's going to stick with me for a long time.
November 12, 2025
A Portrait for Tomorrow is a touching story about love and grief that stresses the importance of enjoying the journey instead of fixating on the destination. Heartbreak and loss has tinged every aspect the lion Gerry's life: the loss of his mother, a bad end to a relationship, his father's struggle with addiction. When Gerry meets the red fox Mikey as his grandmother's funeral, that chance encounter lights a spark inside the lion, one that illuminates the dark recesses of his mind and carries him down a path to rediscovering joy and purpose in the wake of his mother's legacy.
Though some might find the plot a little predictable (this isn't necessarily a bad thing, tropes exist for a reason), I will say that knowing what was going to happen didn't hinder the experience at all. I remember talking with a friend about my predictions for the ending, and when I ended up being right, I was too busy crying to care. Much like the lesson the characters in the novel learn, the journey getting to that ending was what was truly important. You get attached to these characters and their lives, see the positive effects they have on each other, so when you get to that ending, it hits you like a cinder block dropped on your chest. There's nothing I love more than a good book that can make me cry, and A Portrait for Tomorrow more than achieved that with its heart-aching mix of tragedy, empathy, and emotional catharsis served to us by an introspective commentary on the cyclical nature of grief and healing.
I only had one real nitpick, but it wasn't a deal-breaker by any means. Disclaimer that this is just my personal opinion, but there were quite a few references to other pieces of media that didn't always land for me. It wasn't a big enough issues to make me stop reading, of course, but there were times the references to songs felt like they were being used to set the mood for a scene rather than communicating that via the text. This led to moments that maybe weren't as impactful as they could have been because I wasn't familiar with the song being referenced. That said, there were a handful of moments where the author did take the time to explain the musical elements of a song as it was playing, to highlight the emotional and physical reactions that characters had to that song. Those moments really stuck out to me and proved to be some of the author's best descriptive work in the novel.
In terms of things I absolutely loved, Gerry's relationship to his father and to the legacy his mother left behind was particularly compelling. The novel navigates these complex topics in such a satisfying way that I got excited every time the topics came up. I loved seeing the dynamic between Gerry and his father develop and shift over the course of the novel, and the way Gerry confronts his mother's artistic legacy was beautiful. It's a touching reflection on death and the memories our loved ones leave behind, one that stresses the importance of art--not just for healing ourselves, but for fostering and strengthening our connections with those around us.
A Portrait for Tomorrow does what it needs to do and does it well. As the author's first published work, it's a strong showing that proves he's got the skills and the potential to surprise us all. I'll be keeping an eye out for his future endeavors, whatever form they may take.
Though some might find the plot a little predictable (this isn't necessarily a bad thing, tropes exist for a reason), I will say that knowing what was going to happen didn't hinder the experience at all. I remember talking with a friend about my predictions for the ending, and when I ended up being right, I was too busy crying to care. Much like the lesson the characters in the novel learn, the journey getting to that ending was what was truly important. You get attached to these characters and their lives, see the positive effects they have on each other, so when you get to that ending, it hits you like a cinder block dropped on your chest. There's nothing I love more than a good book that can make me cry, and A Portrait for Tomorrow more than achieved that with its heart-aching mix of tragedy, empathy, and emotional catharsis served to us by an introspective commentary on the cyclical nature of grief and healing.
I only had one real nitpick, but it wasn't a deal-breaker by any means. Disclaimer that this is just my personal opinion, but there were quite a few references to other pieces of media that didn't always land for me. It wasn't a big enough issues to make me stop reading, of course, but there were times the references to songs felt like they were being used to set the mood for a scene rather than communicating that via the text. This led to moments that maybe weren't as impactful as they could have been because I wasn't familiar with the song being referenced. That said, there were a handful of moments where the author did take the time to explain the musical elements of a song as it was playing, to highlight the emotional and physical reactions that characters had to that song. Those moments really stuck out to me and proved to be some of the author's best descriptive work in the novel.
In terms of things I absolutely loved, Gerry's relationship to his father and to the legacy his mother left behind was particularly compelling. The novel navigates these complex topics in such a satisfying way that I got excited every time the topics came up. I loved seeing the dynamic between Gerry and his father develop and shift over the course of the novel, and the way Gerry confronts his mother's artistic legacy was beautiful. It's a touching reflection on death and the memories our loved ones leave behind, one that stresses the importance of art--not just for healing ourselves, but for fostering and strengthening our connections with those around us.
A Portrait for Tomorrow does what it needs to do and does it well. As the author's first published work, it's a strong showing that proves he's got the skills and the potential to surprise us all. I'll be keeping an eye out for his future endeavors, whatever form they may take.
October 16, 2025
Raynarde’s A Portrait for Tomorrow is a strong addition to the slice-of-life genre of furry fiction. A meditation on family, grief, and addiction, the novel is both sweet and touching, with likable characters, a compelling narrative, and solid writing throughout.
One of the book’s many strengths is Raynarde’s natural-sounding dialogue, which allows the characters to really come alive. Mike in particular is the standout—his bright, artistic personality jumps right off the page, and I loved every minute reading his scenes. However, while the focus is on the romance between Gerald and Mike, and rightly so, I found myself having the strongest reactions during the interactions between Gerald and his alcoholic father. The complexity of navigating their strained relationship, having drifted apart in the wake of Gerald’s mother’s untimely death, was portrayed realistically and handled with nuance. The rest of the cast is also good, though they understandably take more of a back seat.
I also enjoyed the way that Gerald’s painting was integrated into the narrative. The theme of healing through artistic expression is one that resonates with me strongly, and the aesthetic symmetry between Gerald’s art and the events of his life was a nice touch. Music also features prominently, although this landed less strongly for me because I was unfamiliar with most of the songs mentioned. I would say that this is something of a minor issue—I’m a particularly “bad” reader in terms of picking up these kinds of references—but it did occasionally take me out of the story.
My main point of critique would be how Gerald’s inner monologue was written. While the dialogue between characters was strong, I sometimes found his thoughts to be a bit too direct, “telling” us rather than “showing”, which is a tricky balance to strike in first-person narratives. It was more noticeable towards the beginning—once the characters have been more firmly established, the novel hits its stride. On the whole the book is both written and edited well.
These nitpicks aside, this is a very warm book, written with a care and pathos that shine through. I am glad to put it on my (growing) list of furry fiction recommendations, especially for fans of gay romance.
One of the book’s many strengths is Raynarde’s natural-sounding dialogue, which allows the characters to really come alive. Mike in particular is the standout—his bright, artistic personality jumps right off the page, and I loved every minute reading his scenes. However, while the focus is on the romance between Gerald and Mike, and rightly so, I found myself having the strongest reactions during the interactions between Gerald and his alcoholic father. The complexity of navigating their strained relationship, having drifted apart in the wake of Gerald’s mother’s untimely death, was portrayed realistically and handled with nuance. The rest of the cast is also good, though they understandably take more of a back seat.
I also enjoyed the way that Gerald’s painting was integrated into the narrative. The theme of healing through artistic expression is one that resonates with me strongly, and the aesthetic symmetry between Gerald’s art and the events of his life was a nice touch. Music also features prominently, although this landed less strongly for me because I was unfamiliar with most of the songs mentioned. I would say that this is something of a minor issue—I’m a particularly “bad” reader in terms of picking up these kinds of references—but it did occasionally take me out of the story.
My main point of critique would be how Gerald’s inner monologue was written. While the dialogue between characters was strong, I sometimes found his thoughts to be a bit too direct, “telling” us rather than “showing”, which is a tricky balance to strike in first-person narratives. It was more noticeable towards the beginning—once the characters have been more firmly established, the novel hits its stride. On the whole the book is both written and edited well.
These nitpicks aside, this is a very warm book, written with a care and pathos that shine through. I am glad to put it on my (growing) list of furry fiction recommendations, especially for fans of gay romance.
October 22, 2025
I truly wasn’t ready for the emotions that I was going to have when I started this book.
It starts with an adorable burgeoning relationship between our two main characters, Gerald and Michael. But as the story progresses, tragedy strikes the couple, and they must navigate their next steps going forward in dealing with it.
This novel is beautifully written. The characters are likable and their struggles are relatable and real. The story acts as a refreshing reality check to appreciate the life you’re given, and as dark and cruel as it may seem, there’s beauty in it if you are willing to look for it.
Highly recommend reading this one.
It starts with an adorable burgeoning relationship between our two main characters, Gerald and Michael. But as the story progresses, tragedy strikes the couple, and they must navigate their next steps going forward in dealing with it.
This novel is beautifully written. The characters are likable and their struggles are relatable and real. The story acts as a refreshing reality check to appreciate the life you’re given, and as dark and cruel as it may seem, there’s beauty in it if you are willing to look for it.
Highly recommend reading this one.
December 11, 2025
This book made me sob. Right before work. I was getting dressed with tears streaming down my face. While I have some gripes with the dialogue at times, this was a still a deeply emotional book about two characters finding love and joy amidst hardship outside their control. I was tethered along Gerald and Michael's journey through life and it left me in tears -- something that is very difficult for a book to do to me.
July 8, 2025
Fantastic, Awesome, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Raynarde made me cry, laugh and feel hopeful for the future. He made me truly care about the characters and brought this Lion and Fox to life in a way that made me want to spend more time in their world. I can truly recommend this book to everyone.
January 2, 2026
A thoughtful, emotional journey from start to finish. Be ready for more than a few tearful moments if you pick this one up, but I have no hesitation in calling it a must read.
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