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Cast Me Gently
Teresa Benedetto and Ellie Ryan couldn’t be more different, at least on the surface.
Teresa still lives at home. As much as she loves her boisterous Italian family, she feels trapped by them and their plans for her life. Their love is suffocating her.
Ellie has been on her own for years, working hard to save up enough to live her dream of escaping from Pittsburgh to travel the world. Except leaving isn’t that simple when she knows her brother is out on the streets of the city somewhere, back from Vietnam, but not home.
When Teresa and Ellie meet and fall in love, their worlds clash. Ellie would love to be part of Teresa’s family, but they both know that will never happen. Sooner or later, Teresa will have to choose between the two halves of her heart—Ellie or her family.
Set in 1980, the beginning of the Reagan era and the decline of Pittsburgh’s steel empire, Cast Me Gently is a classic lesbian romance.
Words: 100,510
Teresa still lives at home. As much as she loves her boisterous Italian family, she feels trapped by them and their plans for her life. Their love is suffocating her.
Ellie has been on her own for years, working hard to save up enough to live her dream of escaping from Pittsburgh to travel the world. Except leaving isn’t that simple when she knows her brother is out on the streets of the city somewhere, back from Vietnam, but not home.
When Teresa and Ellie meet and fall in love, their worlds clash. Ellie would love to be part of Teresa’s family, but they both know that will never happen. Sooner or later, Teresa will have to choose between the two halves of her heart—Ellie or her family.
Set in 1980, the beginning of the Reagan era and the decline of Pittsburgh’s steel empire, Cast Me Gently is a classic lesbian romance.
Words: 100,510
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
44 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Caren J. Werlinger
22 books295 followersFrom the author's website: Bestselling author Caren Werlinger published her first award-winning novel, Looking Through Windows, in 2008. Since then, she has published fifteen more novels, winning several more awards. Influenced by a diverse array of authors, including Rumer Godden, J.R.R. Tolkein, Ursula LeGuin, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Willa Cather and the Brontë sisters, Caren writes literary fiction that features the struggles and joys of characters readers can identify with. Her stories cover a wide range of genres: historical fiction, contemporary drama, and fantasy, including the award-winning Dragonmage Saga, a fantasy trilogy set in ancient Ireland. Most recently, she created the magical setting of Little Sister Island (a place she and her readers wish were real) in When the Stars Sang and Face the Wind.
She lives in Virginia with her wife and their canine fur-children.
She lives in Virginia with her wife and their canine fur-children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 15, 2016
Cast Me Gently, by Caren J. Werlinger is a breathtakingly beautiful book. This book is everything a romance novel should be. It has angst, obstacles, and truly heartfelt emotions. This sometimes bittersweet story will pull you in and steal your heart.
Ronald Regan is months away from being sworn into the office as the president. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s economy is right on the cusp of bottoming out. The number of out of work men and women is growing, along with the number is people forced to live on the street. This is the setting for our story, the early 1980s, a time of scientific discovery, but also a time when many Americans did not have the civil liberties that we do today.
Teresa Benedetto is an Italian-American that life is tied to the life of her conservative, overbearing parents. She works for them as a pharmacist in one of their three stores, as well as living at home with them. Other than her few years away at college, Teresa has never left the comforts of her childhood home. She spends her life catering to her large family, tending to their needs, all the while never really experiencing a life outside of the family. Teresa has only begun to feel in her mid-thirties that life is rapidly beginning to pass her by. She feels lonely all the while be surrounded by people.
Ellie Ryan is a teller at the bank the Bendetto family uses for their store’s daily deposits. Ellie has not had the easiest life thus far. Ellie had to face the death of both her parents at an early age, by the time she was in high school she was in foster care. As soon as she was eighteen she was living on her own, struggling to make enough money to keep a roof over her head and food in her belly. She spends any extra time and money she has handing out sandwiches to the homeless, searching the streets for her brother, Daniel. Ellie knows that she is like them, that if not for luck and the generosity of a few friends she would have ended up living on the streets as well.
Teresa and Ellie meet and almost instantly become friends. These two develop a friendship that is based upon an undisclosed attraction that neither feels safe admitting. Oh, but that current of yearning is strong. Their journey to each other is sweet and endearing. You find yourself easily stepping into both Ellie and Teresa’s shoes. As the reader you feel their anxiety as well as their passion and strength. You cannot help but to root for each of these women to find their way to each other.
Caren J. Werlinger has written one of the most captivating stories I have ever read. This book stole my heart right from the beginning and brought me on a roller coaster of emotions. I felt Ellie and Teresa’s pain, their happiness, loneliness and despair. What a fantastic book to bring that right to the reader, this story is just brilliant. For the life of my I cannot figure out why I hadn’t read this book earlier. This is a must read!
Note: I was given this book by the author, Caren J. Werlinger, in exchange for an honest review.
Ronald Regan is months away from being sworn into the office as the president. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s economy is right on the cusp of bottoming out. The number of out of work men and women is growing, along with the number is people forced to live on the street. This is the setting for our story, the early 1980s, a time of scientific discovery, but also a time when many Americans did not have the civil liberties that we do today.
Teresa Benedetto is an Italian-American that life is tied to the life of her conservative, overbearing parents. She works for them as a pharmacist in one of their three stores, as well as living at home with them. Other than her few years away at college, Teresa has never left the comforts of her childhood home. She spends her life catering to her large family, tending to their needs, all the while never really experiencing a life outside of the family. Teresa has only begun to feel in her mid-thirties that life is rapidly beginning to pass her by. She feels lonely all the while be surrounded by people.
Ellie Ryan is a teller at the bank the Bendetto family uses for their store’s daily deposits. Ellie has not had the easiest life thus far. Ellie had to face the death of both her parents at an early age, by the time she was in high school she was in foster care. As soon as she was eighteen she was living on her own, struggling to make enough money to keep a roof over her head and food in her belly. She spends any extra time and money she has handing out sandwiches to the homeless, searching the streets for her brother, Daniel. Ellie knows that she is like them, that if not for luck and the generosity of a few friends she would have ended up living on the streets as well.
Teresa and Ellie meet and almost instantly become friends. These two develop a friendship that is based upon an undisclosed attraction that neither feels safe admitting. Oh, but that current of yearning is strong. Their journey to each other is sweet and endearing. You find yourself easily stepping into both Ellie and Teresa’s shoes. As the reader you feel their anxiety as well as their passion and strength. You cannot help but to root for each of these women to find their way to each other.
Caren J. Werlinger has written one of the most captivating stories I have ever read. This book stole my heart right from the beginning and brought me on a roller coaster of emotions. I felt Ellie and Teresa’s pain, their happiness, loneliness and despair. What a fantastic book to bring that right to the reader, this story is just brilliant. For the life of my I cannot figure out why I hadn’t read this book earlier. This is a must read!
Note: I was given this book by the author, Caren J. Werlinger, in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2015
If there is one book that sold me on the cover and title alone, it's this. Simple yet poetic and truly enchanting.
The blurb doesn't reveal much beyond the basic setting and timeframe: 1980s Pittsburgh, and the two ladies' backgrounds. But underneath the cover is a rich and vibrant story encompassing myriad themes: family ties in an extended, close-knit family; restrictive societal attitudes toward same-sex relationships; homelessness and struggles in financially troubled times; even sexual harassment in the workplace. All of these subplots are woven in tightly and seamlessly with the beautiful love story of two people from very different backgrounds: Theresa, ever surrounded by family and never wanting for anything in life and Ellie, alone and struggling for most of her life. An unexpected attraction sparks a friendship that slowly develops into something more. Will they ever let it grow deeper, knowing both are trapped by their respective ties: Theresa to her very conservative family and Ellie to a quest to find her long lost brother?
'Cast Me Gently' is without a doubt the angstiest book I've read this year. There is nothing I dislike more than contrived angst. But by setting the story in the 1980s, the author has smartly set the stage for throwing a ton of realistic obstacles onto Theresa and Ellie's path--both external and internal. I also loved how the author dealt with unpleasant but important social issues raging at the time, and not in a superficial or patronizing manner either but with compassion, understanding and well-balanced realism--and deftly worked it into the plot so it doesn't feel out of place, doesn't sound like a history lesson or some kind of agenda. Every subplot and every character, no matter how small or insignificant, has relevance to the story progression or the MC's development, and there are a ton of them. I seldom see such superbly complex yet seamless plotting in genre lesfic. This is the author's best work yet.
Much of my emotional reaction is a tribute to the book's incredible ability to put me in the main character's place. I became Therese or Ellie, but especially Therese, who despite being surrounded almost 24/7 by people, feels incredibly lonely and alienated. So when she finally finds a soul mate in Ellie, a simple hug sent me over, lol. And to think I just told another reviewer I'm too jaded for that now. There's hope for me yet. In the hands of a skilled author, that is. :)
Lastly, I also loved that the book didn't do shortcuts. No, our ladies behave like real people--they have to work things out the loooooong way--like in real life. Just because they're head over heels in love doesn't mean they'll turn their backs on everything that made them what they were. This is real-life messy and there's no easy way out. But like real life, they've got to choose what regrets they can live with.
5 stars
P.S. As an aside, I'd like to mention that despite the fact that this story is illustrative of 1980s attitudes toward same-sex relationships in America, these same attitudes are still very much in place in other parts of the world. The family dynamics are not limited to Italians. Transplant the family to anywhere in Asia (even today!) and they'll fit right in. Moms unleashing the dreaded 'How could you do this to us after we spent so much money on you!' speech to guilt-trip adult children into compliance is as universal as parental love itself. :)
Arc provided by Netgalley
The blurb doesn't reveal much beyond the basic setting and timeframe: 1980s Pittsburgh, and the two ladies' backgrounds. But underneath the cover is a rich and vibrant story encompassing myriad themes: family ties in an extended, close-knit family; restrictive societal attitudes toward same-sex relationships; homelessness and struggles in financially troubled times; even sexual harassment in the workplace. All of these subplots are woven in tightly and seamlessly with the beautiful love story of two people from very different backgrounds: Theresa, ever surrounded by family and never wanting for anything in life and Ellie, alone and struggling for most of her life. An unexpected attraction sparks a friendship that slowly develops into something more. Will they ever let it grow deeper, knowing both are trapped by their respective ties: Theresa to her very conservative family and Ellie to a quest to find her long lost brother?
'Cast Me Gently' is without a doubt the angstiest book I've read this year. There is nothing I dislike more than contrived angst. But by setting the story in the 1980s, the author has smartly set the stage for throwing a ton of realistic obstacles onto Theresa and Ellie's path--both external and internal. I also loved how the author dealt with unpleasant but important social issues raging at the time, and not in a superficial or patronizing manner either but with compassion, understanding and well-balanced realism--and deftly worked it into the plot so it doesn't feel out of place, doesn't sound like a history lesson or some kind of agenda. Every subplot and every character, no matter how small or insignificant, has relevance to the story progression or the MC's development, and there are a ton of them. I seldom see such superbly complex yet seamless plotting in genre lesfic. This is the author's best work yet.
Much of my emotional reaction is a tribute to the book's incredible ability to put me in the main character's place. I became Therese or Ellie, but especially Therese, who despite being surrounded almost 24/7 by people, feels incredibly lonely and alienated. So when she finally finds a soul mate in Ellie, a simple hug sent me over, lol. And to think I just told another reviewer I'm too jaded for that now. There's hope for me yet. In the hands of a skilled author, that is. :)
Lastly, I also loved that the book didn't do shortcuts. No, our ladies behave like real people--they have to work things out the loooooong way--like in real life. Just because they're head over heels in love doesn't mean they'll turn their backs on everything that made them what they were. This is real-life messy and there's no easy way out. But like real life, they've got to choose what regrets they can live with.
5 stars
P.S. As an aside, I'd like to mention that despite the fact that this story is illustrative of 1980s attitudes toward same-sex relationships in America, these same attitudes are still very much in place in other parts of the world. The family dynamics are not limited to Italians. Transplant the family to anywhere in Asia (even today!) and they'll fit right in. Moms unleashing the dreaded 'How could you do this to us after we spent so much money on you!' speech to guilt-trip adult children into compliance is as universal as parental love itself. :)
Arc provided by Netgalley
October 12, 2015
An amazing read.
Werlinger succeeds in giving the reader a beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking love story. She doesn't sugar-coat Ellie and Theresa's lives or the challenges they face in their homes or workplace. Her attention to detail and a full cast of well developed secondary characters makes this a story that stays with you long after you have closed the final page. It's a credit to the author that a story set in the 1980's can be equally relevant and applicable to many places in the world and many pockets of North American society today.
I have so much respect for those men and women who dare to break from traditional family models and take a chance on love. The courage which they and their allies show in standing up to repressive societal norms is humbling.
Cast Me Gently is a page turner I will not soon forget.
Werlinger succeeds in giving the reader a beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking love story. She doesn't sugar-coat Ellie and Theresa's lives or the challenges they face in their homes or workplace. Her attention to detail and a full cast of well developed secondary characters makes this a story that stays with you long after you have closed the final page. It's a credit to the author that a story set in the 1980's can be equally relevant and applicable to many places in the world and many pockets of North American society today.
I have so much respect for those men and women who dare to break from traditional family models and take a chance on love. The courage which they and their allies show in standing up to repressive societal norms is humbling.
Cast Me Gently is a page turner I will not soon forget.
April 26, 2016
When I read lesbian romance nowadays I frequently end up asking myself if there are no poor, fat or flawed lesbians anymore. The L Word may have been a blessing at a time, but it's beginning to feel more like a curse.
Fortunately for us, some writters have not forgetten that we, lesbians, are real people too, and they bless us with real people's love stories such as this one.
Cast me gently is an honest book. The author has made an effort to introduce us with characters that we can relate to, with flaws, and struggles and a huge soul.
I have found this book refreshing and sweet, despite the harshness of the times depicted. The love story seemed a bit too high paced for these two, but I can also apreciate an author that knows when a story needs to progress and end. There are too many authors that drag the story far too long than necessary.
Fortunately for us, some writters have not forgetten that we, lesbians, are real people too, and they bless us with real people's love stories such as this one.
Cast me gently is an honest book. The author has made an effort to introduce us with characters that we can relate to, with flaws, and struggles and a huge soul.
I have found this book refreshing and sweet, despite the harshness of the times depicted. The love story seemed a bit too high paced for these two, but I can also apreciate an author that knows when a story needs to progress and end. There are too many authors that drag the story far too long than necessary.
January 7, 2023
4.5 star rating
Interesting characters. I was hoping for more happy endings but i instead I am left with perhaps or a perhaps not concerning Daniel. All the same another happily ever after.
The Author supplied a community of characters and a handful of them were prominent. Also a handful of reflective emotions flowing through this story...something i have come to associate with the Author's writing.
Interesting characters. I was hoping for more happy endings but i instead I am left with perhaps or a perhaps not concerning Daniel. All the same another happily ever after.
The Author supplied a community of characters and a handful of them were prominent. Also a handful of reflective emotions flowing through this story...something i have come to associate with the Author's writing.
September 1, 2015
Reading “Cast Me Gently” was like having a cup of tea with an amazing lady who do you the honor of sharing the story of her life, you can’t help but feel captivated by her, you can’t help but empathize with her pain, you can’t help but feel the happiness once she gets there, but most of all you can’t help but think that her experience could have been yours.
“Cast Me Gently” isn’t your typical romance novel, indeed, set in 1980 Pittsburgh, homosexuality has just become legal but is still frowned upon and completely taboo, the state faces an unprecedented economic crisis and poverty is at everyone's doorstep. The author doesn't shy away from exploring heavy topics, I admire her wiliness to stray away from the typical “lesbian romance” formula, she engage us in a journey through a story that will pull at your heartstrings, because let me tell you, this book actually made me tear up (and god knows I’m not the emotional kind), “Cast Me Gently” is testament of what doesn’t kill us make us stronger and to never take your peaceful life and the people around you for granted.
Let me introduce you to our superb cast, first we have Teresa, a 34 years old woman raised within your typical old school Italian family, she still lives with her parents and is the epitome of the good obedient catholic daughter, she pride herself on taking care of her family, neighbors and customers, she loves them and it shows. Teresa however isn’t as happy as she used to be, she notices her dedication to her family is taken as granted and is hardly appreciated, she feels old and struggles with body issues, religion and her sexuality, she feel trapped and yet she isn’t sure about wanting to be set free.
And then we have Ellie 26 years old, a cheerful, independent, and kind woman, full of life and hope, she want to explore the world and yet she is trapped by the shadow of her past, a tragic past that still haunt her, she knows all too well the meaning of loneliness, poverty,
and betrayal. She was at the brink of homelessness if it wasn’t for her hard work and the kindness of people around her. Ellie seek the warmest of a family, she yearn for love, but most of all she dreams of finding her long lost brother, a lifelong quest that she hopes to achieve.
The main characters are beyond likable and are most definitely relatable, their emotions and struggles are extremely vivid, you can’t help but actually feel their pain, fear, dilemma, and hope. You will end up cheering for them to overcome the adversity and fight for their happiness. Their love story seems like a natural and logical path and it's certainly not forced down our throat. Additionally the secondary characters are well fleshed out which add authenticity to the story.
I can’t end this review without commenting on the gorgeous cover too, It’s a rarity among lesfic and it needed to be acknowledged.
Caren J. Werlinger has become one of my favorite author, her words flow beautifully, her characters comes to life and shine by their individuality, and the romance is amazingly done, I can't recommend her work enough.
“Cast Me Gently” isn’t your typical romance novel, indeed, set in 1980 Pittsburgh, homosexuality has just become legal but is still frowned upon and completely taboo, the state faces an unprecedented economic crisis and poverty is at everyone's doorstep. The author doesn't shy away from exploring heavy topics, I admire her wiliness to stray away from the typical “lesbian romance” formula, she engage us in a journey through a story that will pull at your heartstrings, because let me tell you, this book actually made me tear up (and god knows I’m not the emotional kind), “Cast Me Gently” is testament of what doesn’t kill us make us stronger and to never take your peaceful life and the people around you for granted.
Let me introduce you to our superb cast, first we have Teresa, a 34 years old woman raised within your typical old school Italian family, she still lives with her parents and is the epitome of the good obedient catholic daughter, she pride herself on taking care of her family, neighbors and customers, she loves them and it shows. Teresa however isn’t as happy as she used to be, she notices her dedication to her family is taken as granted and is hardly appreciated, she feels old and struggles with body issues, religion and her sexuality, she feel trapped and yet she isn’t sure about wanting to be set free.
And then we have Ellie 26 years old, a cheerful, independent, and kind woman, full of life and hope, she want to explore the world and yet she is trapped by the shadow of her past, a tragic past that still haunt her, she knows all too well the meaning of loneliness, poverty,
and betrayal. She was at the brink of homelessness if it wasn’t for her hard work and the kindness of people around her. Ellie seek the warmest of a family, she yearn for love, but most of all she dreams of finding her long lost brother, a lifelong quest that she hopes to achieve.
The main characters are beyond likable and are most definitely relatable, their emotions and struggles are extremely vivid, you can’t help but actually feel their pain, fear, dilemma, and hope. You will end up cheering for them to overcome the adversity and fight for their happiness. Their love story seems like a natural and logical path and it's certainly not forced down our throat. Additionally the secondary characters are well fleshed out which add authenticity to the story.
I can’t end this review without commenting on the gorgeous cover too, It’s a rarity among lesfic and it needed to be acknowledged.
Caren J. Werlinger has become one of my favorite author, her words flow beautifully, her characters comes to life and shine by their individuality, and the romance is amazingly done, I can't recommend her work enough.
November 22, 2020
There it was again, hanging there, begging to be said aloud, if only one of them could be brave enough to take that first step.
I'm waffling a little... I think the first 3/4 of this book was really really well-written and effective. A slice-of-life-ish but yet emotionally dense story of two women discovering themselves and each other in the 1980s, contending with a conservative society/family and a lot of past baggage. It's very much character-driven, and who Theresa and Ellie are, the women their families have made them into, how their families continue to shape their lives and affect their relationship was very much part of the narrative. I for one will never get enough of coming out stories, especially when they take place in older eras like this. I was absolutely swooning over Theresa and Ellie's romance, especially in the beginning as they made those first tentative steps. It made me so giddy and happy. I loved how realistic and... idk, normal it was, dealing with mundane things like Theresa's huge family, compassion towards the homeless, found families, religion, and workplace harassment. The cast was colourful and varied, and I especially liked the aunts.
The last 1/4 or so didn't impress me as much. The book took place over several months, almost a year, definitely long enough for me to believe that they'd truly fallen for one another. So when they were going through their black moment as a couple, while I completely understand the reactions they both had to the situation, it really frustrated me that neither of them fought as hard for the other as I expected. It was very deflating. It all ended for the best but... idk. I wasn't rooting for them quite as hard in the end. A couple things were left unresolved, and that was deliberate on the author's part, but I for one really wanted some more closure in that specific regard. Also the whole weight loss thing was meh. I remember being annoyed by this in the other book I read from this author too (though here it was a lot less aggressive).
Listened to the audiobook as read by Shalauna Casey, which was quite lovely! She did a great job of capturing the era. Regional accents are some of my favourite things, and though I don't know much about the ones here (Pittsburgh) I thought it was really well performed!
Not as much of a winner as I thought it was going to be, but still a really good romance. 3.5 stars.
I'm waffling a little... I think the first 3/4 of this book was really really well-written and effective. A slice-of-life-ish but yet emotionally dense story of two women discovering themselves and each other in the 1980s, contending with a conservative society/family and a lot of past baggage. It's very much character-driven, and who Theresa and Ellie are, the women their families have made them into, how their families continue to shape their lives and affect their relationship was very much part of the narrative. I for one will never get enough of coming out stories, especially when they take place in older eras like this. I was absolutely swooning over Theresa and Ellie's romance, especially in the beginning as they made those first tentative steps. It made me so giddy and happy. I loved how realistic and... idk, normal it was, dealing with mundane things like Theresa's huge family, compassion towards the homeless, found families, religion, and workplace harassment. The cast was colourful and varied, and I especially liked the aunts.
The last 1/4 or so didn't impress me as much. The book took place over several months, almost a year, definitely long enough for me to believe that they'd truly fallen for one another. So when they were going through their black moment as a couple, while I completely understand the reactions they both had to the situation, it really frustrated me that neither of them fought as hard for the other as I expected. It was very deflating. It all ended for the best but... idk. I wasn't rooting for them quite as hard in the end. A couple things were left unresolved, and that was deliberate on the author's part, but I for one really wanted some more closure in that specific regard. Also the whole weight loss thing was meh. I remember being annoyed by this in the other book I read from this author too (though here it was a lot less aggressive).
Listened to the audiobook as read by Shalauna Casey, which was quite lovely! She did a great job of capturing the era. Regional accents are some of my favourite things, and though I don't know much about the ones here (Pittsburgh) I thought it was really well performed!
Not as much of a winner as I thought it was going to be, but still a really good romance. 3.5 stars.
July 22, 2022
Woah.
July 26, 2017
Cast me Gently is a heartening and somewhat bittersweet story of loneliness, first loves and family, taking place in the 1980's. The theme is about growing up and shows that it's possible to change the situation in life, if only one dares to try. However, it also portrays a harsh reality that we sometimes need to give things up to achieve these goals.
Family is everything to Teresa(34), she works for and breathes the family life daily, firmly rooted where the apple fell from the tree. Ellie(26) has no family, parents dead and her brother gone after the war. Loneliness and the strain of fostercare along with working triple jobs to earn a living have been eating at Ellie' psyche. Ellie had to grow up fast, and until she met Teresa, she had nothing. Teresa quickly is torn between Ellie and her family, while Ellie struggles with her missing brother and deep rooted loneliness, her only dream is to travel the world. Can Ellie fulfill Teresa's need for family? Can Teresa follow Ellie in her dreams to travel? It's really good.
The relationship between them develops naturally. It begins with a mundane meeting and grows into a friendship where touches and hugs suddenly take on new meaning. Their feelings gradually deepen until they both realize love has bloomed between them. While the storyline is very normative the characters make up for it by truly shining in realism. I loved how ordinary they were in terms of flaws and strengths, they could have been anyone, which makes it so easy to identify with them. There is also everything else socially that comes along with the 1980's; women earning less, given less slack, expected to clean, make dinner and serve men drinks in the home, but I'm not old enough to comment on that.
Family is everything to Teresa(34), she works for and breathes the family life daily, firmly rooted where the apple fell from the tree. Ellie(26) has no family, parents dead and her brother gone after the war. Loneliness and the strain of fostercare along with working triple jobs to earn a living have been eating at Ellie' psyche. Ellie had to grow up fast, and until she met Teresa, she had nothing. Teresa quickly is torn between Ellie and her family, while Ellie struggles with her missing brother and deep rooted loneliness, her only dream is to travel the world. Can Ellie fulfill Teresa's need for family? Can Teresa follow Ellie in her dreams to travel? It's really good.
The relationship between them develops naturally. It begins with a mundane meeting and grows into a friendship where touches and hugs suddenly take on new meaning. Their feelings gradually deepen until they both realize love has bloomed between them. While the storyline is very normative the characters make up for it by truly shining in realism. I loved how ordinary they were in terms of flaws and strengths, they could have been anyone, which makes it so easy to identify with them. There is also everything else socially that comes along with the 1980's; women earning less, given less slack, expected to clean, make dinner and serve men drinks in the home, but I'm not old enough to comment on that.
October 25, 2015
What an AMAZING book - I LOVED IT!
I usually power through novels, especially the ones I love, as I don't want to put them down until I reach 'the end'. Unfortunately, due to a heavy work schedule (aka wake, work extended hours, eat, sleep, repeat), I didn't get much of a chance to read at my normal pace. Fortunately, this extended the time spent immersing myself in Teresa and Ellie's lives over a week rather than a few days...
The story takes place in 1980 (yes, 35 years ago) and the author really paints a picture of the close knit Italian community in which Teresa's family own a few stores and of times whereby people actually paid cash rather than swiping plastic cards. Teresa meets Ellie, a new employee at the local bank, when she goes to deposit the the store takings for her father one day... the rest, you'll need to read for yourself.
This is the first novel I've read by Caren J. Werlinger, however it won't be the last!
Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book - you won't regret it :-)
I usually power through novels, especially the ones I love, as I don't want to put them down until I reach 'the end'. Unfortunately, due to a heavy work schedule (aka wake, work extended hours, eat, sleep, repeat), I didn't get much of a chance to read at my normal pace. Fortunately, this extended the time spent immersing myself in Teresa and Ellie's lives over a week rather than a few days...
The story takes place in 1980 (yes, 35 years ago) and the author really paints a picture of the close knit Italian community in which Teresa's family own a few stores and of times whereby people actually paid cash rather than swiping plastic cards. Teresa meets Ellie, a new employee at the local bank, when she goes to deposit the the store takings for her father one day... the rest, you'll need to read for yourself.
This is the first novel I've read by Caren J. Werlinger, however it won't be the last!
Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book - you won't regret it :-)
April 7, 2018
So far I haven't read a Caren J. Werlinger book I didn't like and it probably won't happen anytime soon. This author knows how to write realistic and engaging characters and sets them in a world that is always interesting. I loved the story of Teresa and Ellie in 1980's Pittsburgh. Their's is not an easy love story by any means but I kept rooting for them all throughout the book to find a way to be together.
f/f
Themes: famiglia, catholic guilt, everyone smokes everywhere! How soon we forget that was the norm back then, a homeless brother who don't want to be found, mysogeny within the family and the workplace, Teresa needs to figure out how to be her own woman and to stand up to her family (and her mother in particular).
4.5 stars
f/f
Themes: famiglia, catholic guilt, everyone smokes everywhere! How soon we forget that was the norm back then, a homeless brother who don't want to be found, mysogeny within the family and the workplace, Teresa needs to figure out how to be her own woman and to stand up to her family (and her mother in particular).
4.5 stars
November 14, 2015
As with other books by Caren Werlinger, Cast Me Gently upholds its usual high standards. However, I am not as shaken at the end compared to the previous titles I read by her.
August 27, 2018
A beautiful story.
August 13, 2016
A beautiful story of love and hope
February 17, 2016
If this book came with a soundtrack it would be on cassette tape. So grab your boom box and get ready to enter the world of Magnum, P.I. television, rotary telephones, and soon-to-be Reagan politics. Cast Me Gently is set in 1980s Pittsburgh where due to the numerous steel mill layoffs, the homeless and hungry are plentiful. However, author Caren Werlinger provides us with a love story despite the hardships and bleak outlook of the city.
Even though the main character, Teresa Benedetto, is 34 this is very much a coming-of-age story. She lives at home and works as a pharmacist for her parents’ store, making the presence of family in her life both paramount and smothering. One day Teresa meets Ellie Ryan and the two embark on a relatively normal friendship that eventually leads to much more.
It’s a basic and simplistic girl-meets-girl storyline that is as common as the acid-washed mom jeans the characters undoubtedly wear. The monotonous atmosphere left me wanting for something with a little more profundity, but these two characters are nice enough that you are genuinely happy for them.
Werlinger does an exemplary job describing the various settings throughout the book. She is extraordinary at placing the reader directly on the streets with the destitute, on a couch in a one-room apartment, upon a stool at a favorite restaurant, or behind the counter in the quaint store where Teresa works.
In the book’s first paragraph we are welcomed to the front door of the Benedetto shop. The author wonderfully illustrates Teresa opening the store at dawn, and you almost feel like you’re a customer waiting to pick up a few items. I give full kudos to Werlinger for a strong and beautifully written beginning.
Unfortunately, this is where my praise for the novel ends because it is by paragraph two, that the author’s writing starts to become static. A pattern begins to emerge in the text where words and phrases are overused and repeated continuously.
In this particular segment, it is the word grit that is triplicated in quick succession. Dirt, sand, or specks of gravel are just three of many synonyms that could have been used, yet grit finds its way onto the page over and over again. Later on we see repetitiveness with words such as lit, moan, moonlight, and goose bumps. In another section of the book, almost 25% of a 149-word passage was made up of the same two nouns.
Welinger can absolutely immerse the reader into a scene, but without using a variety of words her talent seems diluted. I think this could have been a simple fix if only the writer or beta reader had pulled out a thesaurus.
Other examples of the lackadaisical writing include weak dialogue and careless transitions.
It appeared that every time something of great importance needed to be said, an interruption would occur. A waiter would arrive, a telephone would ring, a customer would come in, etc… I can understand the importance of a good cliffhanger, but to never pick these unsaid words back up was a major disappointment. I craved for a finished, meaningful conversation to actually happen.
This novel is told from a combination of viewpoints and in several instances, the lack of precise segues made it difficult to find a point of reference or understand exactly where you were at in the story. Ellie comes with an intricate and complicated history, therefore often she reflects on her past. In addition, a lot of this novel is told from snippets of Teresa’s perspective and internal dialogue. So in order to create a world where these two visions can exist, clear and concise transitions are a must.
One of the most beautiful things I read was finding out that Teresa was a size 16. Finally, we can imagine a character who is not all just about physical appearance. But my joy was short-lived when I realized the author did nothing but fat-shame the character for her size. For me the absolute worst thing about this book was degrading its main character.
The author may have been trying to show us a “real” woman with insecurities, but the execution failed miserably. Werlinger kept bringing up Teresa’s size as a negative. I don’t need to hear about how Teresa knocks stuff over with her behind because it's big. Nor do I need to hear about how she is concerned with the weight limit on elevators or how she is afraid she will break Santa’s lap if she sits on him. It’s appalling, demeaning, and cliché.
Initially, I thought maybe Werlinger was going to write some sort of arc where Teresa finds out that she can be both large and beautiful. But as the book kept going and the remarks kept showing up, it almost seemed like she was on a subliminal message of fat hate.
Allowing a character to continuously make self deprecating comments without anyone opposing such thoughts is alarming and beyond disheartening. I questioned the author’s use of a larger character as it seemed her appearance was only a gateway for insults.
This book does not earn a one star rating simply for the above issues. Cast Me Gently is filled with numerous amounts of plot holes and inconceivable notions. If you choose to read further, know that there are some spoilers- but I could not in good conscious give this book such a low rating without explicitly explaining why.
***************
1. Best Friend Bungle
Secondary character, Bernie, is quite possibly one of the most annoying women I have ever read about. Her personality is surrounded by a cloud of racism, adultery, and profanity. She is a teacher who works in a rough neighborhood and shortly into the book, Bernie uses a handful of stereo types in regards to the poor African American families that live there.
As someone who has both taught in low-income neighborhoods and worked for HUD, I can attest that not every family is black, nor is every child there the product of a crack whore mama and absent father.
Additionally, I found Bernie’s ignorant, expletive-laced dialogue hugely uninteresting. I'm no prude but she says so many fucks, shits, and goddamns that it has me as an atheist wanting to go to confession. Her foul language was nonsensical and terribly absurd.
Overall, Bernie was just not a believable best friend for overly-sheltered Teresa.
2. Preposterous Plot Hole
Early on we learn Ellie's parents are dead and that her older brother, Daniel, went off to fight in Vietnam but returned as a homeless vet. For the past seven years, she has been frantically searching for him on the streets. Often, she places herself in life threatening situations- one of which also becomes a major plot-hole-ish scene later on.
Concurrently, Teresa befriends a homeless gentleman (Dogman) fitting the description of Ellie’s missing brother. (Ellie also shows Teresa a picture of her brother). So even though Teresa knows of Ellie’s desperate attempts to locate Daniel, she never once introduces them to one another. It isn’t until the last page of Chapter 29 that Teresa even thinks to ask Dogman if his real name is Daniel. The last page of Chapter 29!
Um, your girlfriend has been in total despair over her brother’s disappearance and you don’t think to make a serious effort in mentioning this man to her other than in passing? The dude even has an Army bag.
It is all very aggravating since Daniel takes up such a large chunk of Ellie’s narrative and because Dogman plays such a pivotal role in Teresa’s story line.
3. Outlandish Outing
Teresa has been spending the night and time in general with Ellie but tells her mom (Sylvia) that she's been spending all of that time at Bernie's. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever for Teresa to lie about hanging out with Ellie. Everyone knows they have become fast friends so it wouldn't be weird for them to be spending large amounts of time together.
Teresa invites Bernie and Bernie's mom (Angela) over for a Sunday meal when it comes out that Teresa hasn’t been hanging out with Bernie after all. So, from that statement alone, and only that, Sylvia now knows that Teresa and Ellie are a couple. What? How? There have been no context clues given to Teresa’s family for them to ever even assume that their daughter was gay. Yet, in one sentence she is outed.
This then leads to a very overly-dramatic seemingly Dynasty-inspired slapping scene that I’m still not over.
4. Ludicrous Love Scenes
Teresa is a virgin and the first time she has ever really been kissed was by Ellie on Christmas Day. But when she uses the terminology “down there” for her anatomy, I rolled my yes.
It could have been believable because of her inexperience, however she’s a pharmacist. I think she knows the word vagina. Teresa probably fills prescriptions for women’s vaginas every day. So “down there” was really odd and ridiculous.
When it comes to the actual lovemaking scene, Teresa, who has had nothing but terrible things to say about her appearance, just disrobes without hindrance or hesitation. If she has such a poor outlook in regards to her presence, then it stands to reason she would be worried about what she looks like at her most vulnerable especially when Ellie has been written as lithe and thin.
Actual excerpt: Ellie stepped closer and, with more dexterity than Teresa, unhooked Teresa’s bra and let it slide to the floor, freeing her breasts. She placed her hands under the soft weight of them. The nipples didn’t harden like Ellie’s did, but that didn’t stop Teresa from gasping when Ellie bent to take one in her mouth.
Ok, I'm sorry, but it's New Year’s night in Pittsburgh in 1981. It was 30 degrees that evening (I googled it on weatherchannel.com) thus Teresa’s nipples and everyone else’s would be hard whether they wanted them to be or not. And whose nipples don't harden? This is Teresa's first time of ever being touched and it's by someone she is crazy about. Please.
These may seem like small, insignificant details. But for me, excellent writing does not include distractions that can pull you away from the story. I do not want my brain saying “Wait, what?” when it can be saying, “Oh, yes.”
***************
These are only a handful of the questionable aspects presented within this work, but if I wrote about all of them my review would be longer than the book itself.
This is my first Werlinger read, but it is the author’s eighth published novel. I would have surmised that the content would be of a much higher caliber and that it would have resembled a more experienced style. I have seen some of the most eloquent posts on Facebook by this author, and I have read lovely prose in her blogs, but I am befuddled by the writing and dissatisfying quality of this book.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review.
September 7, 2015
I received an advance copy of this from NetGalley for review.
I loved it.
I just adored everyone in it, I laughed, I cried, I relived events from my own past.
This is billed as a "classic lesbian romance" and I don't really do romance novels. But this was more than that to me. It was a really great story that was about a romance. Set in 1980 Pittsburgh, it covered many other topics, such as the death of parents, the life of the homeless, the fact that the phrase "sexual harassment" did not exist in 1980 (Ahhh, I remember those days well), and gaining acceptance from your family when you have brought home an "other" as your partner. In 1980, there were all sorts of people who were considered "other". Yes, I remember those days well too.
Teresa is a member of a very tight-knit Italian family, whose mother has already shut out Teresa's brother for getting divorced and then marrying a non-Italian. For Teresa to bring home a woman under those circumstances, in 1980 even, well, that's just not going to work.
Werlinger does a great job of recreating that first romance, that spark that is felt for the first time, that realization of the emotions, and then all the rationalizations that go through your head trying to conjure a reality where you can just bring your female lover over for Thanksgiving."Everything will probably be FINE... I think... errrr..."
Of course Girl meets Girl, Girl loses Girl, and then... does Girl get Girl back? This story is told realistically enough, with enough real life problems thrown in (not fake drama, real issues) that you really can't be sure of the ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was a happy surprise of a book. It also brought back many memories of growing up in the 80s, when if you wanted to talk to someone you had to sneak down the stairs late at night, get the family phone and stretttttch that cord all the way into the closet so no one would hear you talk. The days when trying to find someone who wasn't sitting right there next to a landline at home was pretty much impossible. And it perfectly captured the realities of living in a large, loud, Italian family. Everything about that family rang true to me, and it reminded me of how my own Italian grandmother had at least one disowned child at any given time.
For a "Classic Lesbian Romance" novel, this gets five solid stars.
I loved it.
I just adored everyone in it, I laughed, I cried, I relived events from my own past.
This is billed as a "classic lesbian romance" and I don't really do romance novels. But this was more than that to me. It was a really great story that was about a romance. Set in 1980 Pittsburgh, it covered many other topics, such as the death of parents, the life of the homeless, the fact that the phrase "sexual harassment" did not exist in 1980 (Ahhh, I remember those days well), and gaining acceptance from your family when you have brought home an "other" as your partner. In 1980, there were all sorts of people who were considered "other". Yes, I remember those days well too.
Teresa is a member of a very tight-knit Italian family, whose mother has already shut out Teresa's brother for getting divorced and then marrying a non-Italian. For Teresa to bring home a woman under those circumstances, in 1980 even, well, that's just not going to work.
Werlinger does a great job of recreating that first romance, that spark that is felt for the first time, that realization of the emotions, and then all the rationalizations that go through your head trying to conjure a reality where you can just bring your female lover over for Thanksgiving."Everything will probably be FINE... I think... errrr..."
Of course Girl meets Girl, Girl loses Girl, and then... does Girl get Girl back? This story is told realistically enough, with enough real life problems thrown in (not fake drama, real issues) that you really can't be sure of the ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was a happy surprise of a book. It also brought back many memories of growing up in the 80s, when if you wanted to talk to someone you had to sneak down the stairs late at night, get the family phone and stretttttch that cord all the way into the closet so no one would hear you talk. The days when trying to find someone who wasn't sitting right there next to a landline at home was pretty much impossible. And it perfectly captured the realities of living in a large, loud, Italian family. Everything about that family rang true to me, and it reminded me of how my own Italian grandmother had at least one disowned child at any given time.
For a "Classic Lesbian Romance" novel, this gets five solid stars.
January 9, 2016
Cast Me Gently is a story of growing up, of loneliness, of coming out and the transformative affects of falling in love. Caren Werlinger always writes intriguing novels about complex and very real people. Once again her well-crafted plot and elegant prose transport us into the lives of her characters with all consuming intensity.
Ellie is alone; she lost her mother early and her brother to the streets. She has carved a life for herself, growing up fast and surviving by shear hard work. Somehow she has managed to keep her dreams of travel and finding her brother, as well as her kindness and humanity alive.
Teresa is part of a huge Italian-American family and while she is older, educated, mature, professional and responsible, she hasn’t really grown up or out of the confines of her family business and home.
Set in the early 1980’s in rust belt Pittsburgh we see the grittiness of the city during an economic recession, with large unemployed and homeless populations. Like Ellie and Teresa the city shows us two sides, the strong closely knit ethnic groups and the down and out wandering the streets and surviving on hand-outs.
The period is a complex one, post Stonewall but way before any gay rights, Ms Werlinger uses this recent past to set very real roadblocks for the romance, issues and concerns that most of us will remember. As always her use of place and time is subtle but real, from the ever-present smokers to the grim reality of the streets and the prejudices of the time.
This is an Intricate and delicate story made up of pain and hardship, love and loss, real life emotions that every one of us will empathise with. The themes of growing up, loneliness, even ostracism, make Ellie and Teresa’s journey painful and reminds us just how hard being honest with ourselves and our lives can be. But in the end it is a tale of love, of the joy in finding that “one”, and having the strength to stand up for what will make us whole.
(publisher review copy received)
Ellie is alone; she lost her mother early and her brother to the streets. She has carved a life for herself, growing up fast and surviving by shear hard work. Somehow she has managed to keep her dreams of travel and finding her brother, as well as her kindness and humanity alive.
Teresa is part of a huge Italian-American family and while she is older, educated, mature, professional and responsible, she hasn’t really grown up or out of the confines of her family business and home.
Set in the early 1980’s in rust belt Pittsburgh we see the grittiness of the city during an economic recession, with large unemployed and homeless populations. Like Ellie and Teresa the city shows us two sides, the strong closely knit ethnic groups and the down and out wandering the streets and surviving on hand-outs.
The period is a complex one, post Stonewall but way before any gay rights, Ms Werlinger uses this recent past to set very real roadblocks for the romance, issues and concerns that most of us will remember. As always her use of place and time is subtle but real, from the ever-present smokers to the grim reality of the streets and the prejudices of the time.
This is an Intricate and delicate story made up of pain and hardship, love and loss, real life emotions that every one of us will empathise with. The themes of growing up, loneliness, even ostracism, make Ellie and Teresa’s journey painful and reminds us just how hard being honest with ourselves and our lives can be. But in the end it is a tale of love, of the joy in finding that “one”, and having the strength to stand up for what will make us whole.
(publisher review copy received)
November 26, 2015
Cast me gently sends us back to the 80's. When cities had sub-cities, little Italy Chinatown,etc... And you didn't roam outside your section for anything, especially not love. Nice build up and romance of the two main characters. Their coming out stories and family reactions were probably typical for the times. The story takes a turn and at that time gets a bit bogged down. Also we never tied up the loose ends. Wanted to know what happened to the brother. Oh well, I liked it but wasn't a favorite.
October 5, 2015
Wow! Definitely a must read!
June 9, 2016
Classic. Well written.
September 16, 2015
Love has a transformative power, but how this transformation takes place and how it feels is unique to every individual. In Cast Me Gently, love transforms Ellie Ryan and Teresa Benedetto, as well as both of their lives. The story captures so much about falling in love—its power over us, and also the courage it can give us to do what is most difficult. However, falling in love never happens in a vacuum, and one of the many strengths of this work is the richly developed setting and context of Teresa and Ellie’s romance.
Cast Me Gently is a joyful, but sometimes bittersweet, story of first love, family and the harsh realities of life. It shows us that we can change our situation in life, although we may sometimes need to give things up to achieve these goals.
Before she begins her relationship with Ellie, Teresa feels boxed in and out of place, “stuck in between” and restless. Her love for Ellie creates a completely new world for Teresa and alters her in many ways. This short quotation demonstrates just how gorgeous Caren J. Werlinger’s prose is in demonstrating this change in Teresa: “It was as if she was being molded into a new shape, a new Teresa – just by knowing her . Ellie had a way of turning her inside out, seeing the bits of her that no one else had ever seen.” (Chapter 8).
Ellie realizes that as she falls in love, she is, in essence, giving up some control, and that Teresa has a lot of power over. However, in other ways, loving Teresa makes Ellie braver, such as in how she faces issues at her job as a bank teller.
There are many contrasts between Ellie and Teresa. Although Ellie is eight years younger than Teresa, it’s obvious that she had to grow up very quickly, living on her own and fending for herself. In other ways, we can see that it would be nice if she had someone special to care for her. Teresa, while older, has led a much more sheltered life, and in many ways her life has not changed or moved ahead significantly since she was a teenager. She sees this herself when she falls in love with Ellie.
I’ve said this before about Caren J. Werlinger’s work, but I think it bears repeating here. Her main characters, in this case Ellie and Teresa, are so relatable because they are so ordinary in many ways. We see them in their daily work and routines, but for both of them, every part of life takes on a new meaning when they fall in love.
Teresa and Ellie’s relationship is one that that develops organically. It begins through a meeting that is part of everyday life, and grows into a friendship. Hugs and touches take on more meaning, feelings deepen, and they realize that love has grown. As with many of us in our own lives, Teresa and Ellie don’t fall into bed together immediately. Making love is something that they take seriously, and here Caren J. Werlinger demonstrates that she has put a great deal of thought into writing about the physical aspect of their relationship in a way that is fully in keeping with the characters’ personal histories. These scenes are infused with a high level of emotion, and approached with sensitivity and delicacy.
A significant theme in Cast Me Gently is that of growing up. One might simply consider growing up as the legal onset of adulthood, or a milestone such as graduating from university or becoming financially independent. Yet Cast Me Gently reminds us that for each of us, growing up is a transition that may come about from an internal understanding of a change in oneself, a feeling of maturity, or the knowledge that one has forged one’s own path. This is something that can happen at any age.
By any definition, Ellie grew up when she was just a teenager and her mother died. Teresa, though a well-educated, professional woman, who’s good at her job as a pharmacist and takes a lot of initiative, has not quite grown up yet. The ties to her parents still hold fast, and she longs for an independence that is not so easy to attain without jeopardizing the family relationships that she cherishes. For Teresa, the story is one of coming out, growing up, and coming of age.
The dynamics of living at home with one’s parents as an adult is something that is not foreign to many members of the millennial generation, but for younger people today, living at home is more likely to be for economic, rather than cultural, reasons. Teresa lives at home primarily because it’s what her family expects her to do, and she’s never lived on her own. Her situation is even more complex because she works with and for her parents at the family business, Benedetto’s Drug Store. Her parents have a double standard with regard to her brother, Gianni, who also lives at home and works for the family business. Although this is partly the result of the sexism of the era, as well as cultural attitudes, Teresa’s parents still take her for granted in many ways. They treat her as if she were still a teenager, and Teresa seems to accept this situation, although she is not happy with it. When she meets Ellie, Teresa finds that sometimes you might have to break away to save yourself.
Ellie’s situation of finding herself completely on her own in the world, with no family or support system, is one that many of us would fear. However, Ellie has done amazingly well for herself, and was lucky to find people who lifted her up and supported her in difficult times. She’s hardworking and ambitious, but she also has a creative side. Ellie’s drawings capture moments her inner reflections, including moments of love and joy, but occasionally also capture her darker thoughts and emotions.
It is refreshing to see characters in Cast Me Gently that reflect the diversity of women’s body shapes, especially those which society does not deem ideal or perfect. I think that many readers will relate to Teresa, who is slightly overweight, unhappy with her nose and hips, and has some issues with body image. Teresa jokes about her weight sometimes, but we can see that she has some insecurities about it, and her body in general. Caren J. Werlinger weaves Teresa’s insecurities with body image throughout the story, and it comes up in subtle ways in Teresa’s thoughts and actions, and in how she deals with physical intimacy.
In setting the story in 1980-1981 in Pittsburgh, Caren J. Werlinger does not gloss over any of the grittiness of the city, but she also highlights the points in life where beauty can be found. It’s not the most obvious choice for a romance, but in the depth of the dreariness of a Pittsburgh winter, Ellie and Teresa’s love creates its own light. Whether this light is powerful enough to illuminate a path for them to be together in the face of many obstacles, is, at times, uncertain.
The socio-economic context is interesting, given Pittsburgh’s status as a rust belt city in an economic recession, with large unemployed and homeless populations. The homelessness stands in stark contrast to the city’s close-knit ethnic communities, and Teresa’s Italian community in particular.
Caren J. Werlinger is adept at building this social and political context into the story seamlessly. Without simply describing or telling us about it, she makes the reader feel as if they have become immersed in another era, the not-too-distant past of the early 1980s. Many little things set the tone of the time period – from the characters driving the small cars that became popular after the oil shocks of the 1970s, to the election of Ronald Reagan, to the secondary character who lights up cigarettes everywhere. Real-world events fit into the story’s timeline in ingenious ways. The atmosphere of Pittsburgh is also established through the use of some local dialect, however this is not overdone.
In terms of gay rights, the context is significant for Teresa and Ellie’s budding relationship, given that it’s set only twelve years after Stonewall, and before the AIDS crisis. The social context of Ellie and Teresa’s lives as women and as lesbians, and the reactions of family and friends to their relationship are also reflective of the time.
Even though the book is set in the early 1980s, it speaks to us now. Even today in Western societies, young lesbians whose families are recent immigrants from conservative cultural or religious backgrounds may face very similar struggles as those Teresa faces in Cast Me Gently.
Caren J. Werlinger also develops the secondary characters brilliantly. They come from a diverse range of backgrounds, their views are far from black and white, and they grow and change in their beliefs, ideas, and interactions with Teresa and Ellie. I particularly liked Teresa’s best friend Bernie, who provides comic relief with her constant swearing and blunt statements, but at the same time is also very perceptive of the changes in Teresa’s life.
Cast Me Gently really takes us into the life of Teresa’s big Italian-American family, including the large family gatherings and celebrations. Cooking and food play a major role – from homemade pasta and fresh bread, to cappuccino and pizzelle. Although the Benedettos have been in the United States for several generations, they aren’t far from their roots, and the Italian community, including church, comes first. In a family so large there are sometimes divisions, and Teresa’s family members react differently to the changes in her life – some are perceptive, sympathetic and offer support, others react negatively, and some merely stay on the sidelines.
Family is a major theme in Cast Me Gently. Whether it’s the kind we are raised in, or the kind we build for ourselves, the story touches on the issues of how we define family, the redefinition of family, and the sometimes tenuous nature of family relationships. It also addresses the point that we may need to let go of certain family members in order to move forward.
The book is masterfully plotted, and beyond the primary romance, other storylines develop in mysterious and unexpected ways. They are subtle and nuanced, and suggest that, as in real life, things don’t necessarily turn out perfectly. These elements of the story have so many different twists, and capture the uncertainty that prevails in many aspects of life. Overall, Cast Me Gently makes us wonder about the untold stories of the people who sometimes cross our paths.
The book also touches on some very important social and political issues, including the plight of Vietnam War veterans, who, while often physically or emotionally scarred by their experiences, had no real support system on their return home, and often ended up living on the streets.
Homelessness, and how easy it is for anyone to fall through the cracks, is always at the forefront of Ellie’s mind, both because she believes that her brother is a member of Pittsburgh’s homeless population, and because she realizes that she might easily have become homeless herself. She therefore has a strong connection to the homeless, and does whatever she can to help. In doing so, she changes Teresa’s understanding of this situation. At the time Ellie comes into Teresa’s life, Teresa begins to see homeless people as individuals, each with their own problems and issues.
I stated at the beginning of this review that love has a transformative power. However, I think that Cast Me Gently is so compelling that it itself can be transformative—it has the power to transform its readers and how they view the world around them. As with all of Caren J. Werlinger’s work, this story is one that will stay with you for a long time.
Caren J. Werlinger’s writing is truly beautiful, and this book is demonstrative of her skill and talent. With Cast Me Gently, she provides a unique contribution to lesbian literature, and, in my view, secures her place as one of the foremost authors writing in this genre today.
_______
For the sake of full disclosure, I beta read the manuscript, and I received a copy of the book from the author in advance of its publication.
Cast Me Gently is a joyful, but sometimes bittersweet, story of first love, family and the harsh realities of life. It shows us that we can change our situation in life, although we may sometimes need to give things up to achieve these goals.
Before she begins her relationship with Ellie, Teresa feels boxed in and out of place, “stuck in between” and restless. Her love for Ellie creates a completely new world for Teresa and alters her in many ways. This short quotation demonstrates just how gorgeous Caren J. Werlinger’s prose is in demonstrating this change in Teresa: “It was as if she was being molded into a new shape, a new Teresa – just by knowing her . Ellie had a way of turning her inside out, seeing the bits of her that no one else had ever seen.” (Chapter 8).
Ellie realizes that as she falls in love, she is, in essence, giving up some control, and that Teresa has a lot of power over. However, in other ways, loving Teresa makes Ellie braver, such as in how she faces issues at her job as a bank teller.
There are many contrasts between Ellie and Teresa. Although Ellie is eight years younger than Teresa, it’s obvious that she had to grow up very quickly, living on her own and fending for herself. In other ways, we can see that it would be nice if she had someone special to care for her. Teresa, while older, has led a much more sheltered life, and in many ways her life has not changed or moved ahead significantly since she was a teenager. She sees this herself when she falls in love with Ellie.
I’ve said this before about Caren J. Werlinger’s work, but I think it bears repeating here. Her main characters, in this case Ellie and Teresa, are so relatable because they are so ordinary in many ways. We see them in their daily work and routines, but for both of them, every part of life takes on a new meaning when they fall in love.
Teresa and Ellie’s relationship is one that that develops organically. It begins through a meeting that is part of everyday life, and grows into a friendship. Hugs and touches take on more meaning, feelings deepen, and they realize that love has grown. As with many of us in our own lives, Teresa and Ellie don’t fall into bed together immediately. Making love is something that they take seriously, and here Caren J. Werlinger demonstrates that she has put a great deal of thought into writing about the physical aspect of their relationship in a way that is fully in keeping with the characters’ personal histories. These scenes are infused with a high level of emotion, and approached with sensitivity and delicacy.
A significant theme in Cast Me Gently is that of growing up. One might simply consider growing up as the legal onset of adulthood, or a milestone such as graduating from university or becoming financially independent. Yet Cast Me Gently reminds us that for each of us, growing up is a transition that may come about from an internal understanding of a change in oneself, a feeling of maturity, or the knowledge that one has forged one’s own path. This is something that can happen at any age.
By any definition, Ellie grew up when she was just a teenager and her mother died. Teresa, though a well-educated, professional woman, who’s good at her job as a pharmacist and takes a lot of initiative, has not quite grown up yet. The ties to her parents still hold fast, and she longs for an independence that is not so easy to attain without jeopardizing the family relationships that she cherishes. For Teresa, the story is one of coming out, growing up, and coming of age.
The dynamics of living at home with one’s parents as an adult is something that is not foreign to many members of the millennial generation, but for younger people today, living at home is more likely to be for economic, rather than cultural, reasons. Teresa lives at home primarily because it’s what her family expects her to do, and she’s never lived on her own. Her situation is even more complex because she works with and for her parents at the family business, Benedetto’s Drug Store. Her parents have a double standard with regard to her brother, Gianni, who also lives at home and works for the family business. Although this is partly the result of the sexism of the era, as well as cultural attitudes, Teresa’s parents still take her for granted in many ways. They treat her as if she were still a teenager, and Teresa seems to accept this situation, although she is not happy with it. When she meets Ellie, Teresa finds that sometimes you might have to break away to save yourself.
Ellie’s situation of finding herself completely on her own in the world, with no family or support system, is one that many of us would fear. However, Ellie has done amazingly well for herself, and was lucky to find people who lifted her up and supported her in difficult times. She’s hardworking and ambitious, but she also has a creative side. Ellie’s drawings capture moments her inner reflections, including moments of love and joy, but occasionally also capture her darker thoughts and emotions.
It is refreshing to see characters in Cast Me Gently that reflect the diversity of women’s body shapes, especially those which society does not deem ideal or perfect. I think that many readers will relate to Teresa, who is slightly overweight, unhappy with her nose and hips, and has some issues with body image. Teresa jokes about her weight sometimes, but we can see that she has some insecurities about it, and her body in general. Caren J. Werlinger weaves Teresa’s insecurities with body image throughout the story, and it comes up in subtle ways in Teresa’s thoughts and actions, and in how she deals with physical intimacy.
In setting the story in 1980-1981 in Pittsburgh, Caren J. Werlinger does not gloss over any of the grittiness of the city, but she also highlights the points in life where beauty can be found. It’s not the most obvious choice for a romance, but in the depth of the dreariness of a Pittsburgh winter, Ellie and Teresa’s love creates its own light. Whether this light is powerful enough to illuminate a path for them to be together in the face of many obstacles, is, at times, uncertain.
The socio-economic context is interesting, given Pittsburgh’s status as a rust belt city in an economic recession, with large unemployed and homeless populations. The homelessness stands in stark contrast to the city’s close-knit ethnic communities, and Teresa’s Italian community in particular.
Caren J. Werlinger is adept at building this social and political context into the story seamlessly. Without simply describing or telling us about it, she makes the reader feel as if they have become immersed in another era, the not-too-distant past of the early 1980s. Many little things set the tone of the time period – from the characters driving the small cars that became popular after the oil shocks of the 1970s, to the election of Ronald Reagan, to the secondary character who lights up cigarettes everywhere. Real-world events fit into the story’s timeline in ingenious ways. The atmosphere of Pittsburgh is also established through the use of some local dialect, however this is not overdone.
In terms of gay rights, the context is significant for Teresa and Ellie’s budding relationship, given that it’s set only twelve years after Stonewall, and before the AIDS crisis. The social context of Ellie and Teresa’s lives as women and as lesbians, and the reactions of family and friends to their relationship are also reflective of the time.
Even though the book is set in the early 1980s, it speaks to us now. Even today in Western societies, young lesbians whose families are recent immigrants from conservative cultural or religious backgrounds may face very similar struggles as those Teresa faces in Cast Me Gently.
Caren J. Werlinger also develops the secondary characters brilliantly. They come from a diverse range of backgrounds, their views are far from black and white, and they grow and change in their beliefs, ideas, and interactions with Teresa and Ellie. I particularly liked Teresa’s best friend Bernie, who provides comic relief with her constant swearing and blunt statements, but at the same time is also very perceptive of the changes in Teresa’s life.
Cast Me Gently really takes us into the life of Teresa’s big Italian-American family, including the large family gatherings and celebrations. Cooking and food play a major role – from homemade pasta and fresh bread, to cappuccino and pizzelle. Although the Benedettos have been in the United States for several generations, they aren’t far from their roots, and the Italian community, including church, comes first. In a family so large there are sometimes divisions, and Teresa’s family members react differently to the changes in her life – some are perceptive, sympathetic and offer support, others react negatively, and some merely stay on the sidelines.
Family is a major theme in Cast Me Gently. Whether it’s the kind we are raised in, or the kind we build for ourselves, the story touches on the issues of how we define family, the redefinition of family, and the sometimes tenuous nature of family relationships. It also addresses the point that we may need to let go of certain family members in order to move forward.
The book is masterfully plotted, and beyond the primary romance, other storylines develop in mysterious and unexpected ways. They are subtle and nuanced, and suggest that, as in real life, things don’t necessarily turn out perfectly. These elements of the story have so many different twists, and capture the uncertainty that prevails in many aspects of life. Overall, Cast Me Gently makes us wonder about the untold stories of the people who sometimes cross our paths.
The book also touches on some very important social and political issues, including the plight of Vietnam War veterans, who, while often physically or emotionally scarred by their experiences, had no real support system on their return home, and often ended up living on the streets.
Homelessness, and how easy it is for anyone to fall through the cracks, is always at the forefront of Ellie’s mind, both because she believes that her brother is a member of Pittsburgh’s homeless population, and because she realizes that she might easily have become homeless herself. She therefore has a strong connection to the homeless, and does whatever she can to help. In doing so, she changes Teresa’s understanding of this situation. At the time Ellie comes into Teresa’s life, Teresa begins to see homeless people as individuals, each with their own problems and issues.
I stated at the beginning of this review that love has a transformative power. However, I think that Cast Me Gently is so compelling that it itself can be transformative—it has the power to transform its readers and how they view the world around them. As with all of Caren J. Werlinger’s work, this story is one that will stay with you for a long time.
Caren J. Werlinger’s writing is truly beautiful, and this book is demonstrative of her skill and talent. With Cast Me Gently, she provides a unique contribution to lesbian literature, and, in my view, secures her place as one of the foremost authors writing in this genre today.
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For the sake of full disclosure, I beta read the manuscript, and I received a copy of the book from the author in advance of its publication.
June 19, 2021
The description of the plot and the numerous positive reviews really drew me to this book. I found interest in reading this story. I was excited to begin.
However, I found it extremely dull. It was slow and repetitive, and frequently I was just being told to believe certain things to be true without being shown evidence of it. I could believe the main characters had some sort of draw to one another, I could even believe there was some attraction, but the love they apparently had for one another didn't really get displayed (at least to me).
I found a lot of the plot to be very outlandish. And while that can work some of the time, it felt like most of the conflict was so unbelievable, and the solutions felt almost like an afterthought. The worst part of the conflict, though, was how unredeemably dull it was. I just got pulled out of the story by how irritated I was at the choices the characters made, and had to wonder what the author was even thinking.
I don't want to give spoilers but there is a major plot element introduced very early on in the book. From that alone, it felt very obvious what the identity of Dogman was, but it felt like it was never really sorted. That Teresa never mentioned him properly to Ellie was wild to me, since she knew Ellie was looking for someone important to her, and Teresa had seen a picture! I don't think he taught Teresa anything. I don't think he added anything to the plot, other than to make Teresa feel like a better person because she saw humanity in a homeless man for the first time.
Most of the final part, including the conflict at Ellie's job, the conflict in the alley, and the conflict between Ellie and Teresa after the alley are all so much. They're dull, but also make only partial sense in the stream of the narrative. The way Teresa responds are so baffling because she's meant to be 34 and she is so incapable of communication it is incredible to me that Ellie put up with it or forgave her for the things she did towards the end.
Another issue I had was Teresa as a whole. I can understand having esteem issues. I actually didn't mind the nuance of her being this repressed woman who grew up so utterly sheltered that at 34 she felt like she was still a teenager in her mind. I relate to having a controlling mother, and how leaving the nest can really change the whole dynamic. I can understand, too, how growing up in an environment where you can't express your sexuality properly can affect your ability to have an adult relationship. However, the way she treated people was incredible to me. Ellie and Teresa have about zero meaningful conversations. They do not discuss anything serious, and when they attempt to there is always an interruption and the conversation is never picked up again.
Additionally, the amount of commentary about Teresa's weight is baffling. No one else ever makes a comment (other than, perhaps, noting her weight loss), but Teresa is constantly described as 'big', knocking things over with her 'large body' and just generally a focus on her weight and then, later, how much weight she's lost. And I understand insecurity is a part of people's experiences, so having it was fine. But it never becomes something she learns to live with. She just loses weight (at first from eating smaller portions but then just... because??) and the narrative takeaway seems to just be "it is a bad thing to be remotely overweight". It was very frustrating to read.
Ellie herself comes across as very innocent and naive. Which is incredibly frustrating because she's been described as having significantly more life experience than Teresa, despite being younger. I have a lot to say about her but most of it would be a spoiler. I just think she could do better than Teresa for sure.
Basically, I have a lot to say about this novel. I wanted to like it, but I was bored or annoyed in turn (sometimes both at the same time!) and I just feel this book could have stood to be edited a little bit more in order to not be so repetitive, and to fill in what I feel are significant plot holes.
However, I found it extremely dull. It was slow and repetitive, and frequently I was just being told to believe certain things to be true without being shown evidence of it. I could believe the main characters had some sort of draw to one another, I could even believe there was some attraction, but the love they apparently had for one another didn't really get displayed (at least to me).
I found a lot of the plot to be very outlandish. And while that can work some of the time, it felt like most of the conflict was so unbelievable, and the solutions felt almost like an afterthought. The worst part of the conflict, though, was how unredeemably dull it was. I just got pulled out of the story by how irritated I was at the choices the characters made, and had to wonder what the author was even thinking.
I don't want to give spoilers but there is a major plot element introduced very early on in the book. From that alone, it felt very obvious what the identity of Dogman was, but it felt like it was never really sorted. That Teresa never mentioned him properly to Ellie was wild to me, since she knew Ellie was looking for someone important to her, and Teresa had seen a picture! I don't think he taught Teresa anything. I don't think he added anything to the plot, other than to make Teresa feel like a better person because she saw humanity in a homeless man for the first time.
Most of the final part, including the conflict at Ellie's job, the conflict in the alley, and the conflict between Ellie and Teresa after the alley are all so much. They're dull, but also make only partial sense in the stream of the narrative. The way Teresa responds are so baffling because she's meant to be 34 and she is so incapable of communication it is incredible to me that Ellie put up with it or forgave her for the things she did towards the end.
Another issue I had was Teresa as a whole. I can understand having esteem issues. I actually didn't mind the nuance of her being this repressed woman who grew up so utterly sheltered that at 34 she felt like she was still a teenager in her mind. I relate to having a controlling mother, and how leaving the nest can really change the whole dynamic. I can understand, too, how growing up in an environment where you can't express your sexuality properly can affect your ability to have an adult relationship. However, the way she treated people was incredible to me. Ellie and Teresa have about zero meaningful conversations. They do not discuss anything serious, and when they attempt to there is always an interruption and the conversation is never picked up again.
Additionally, the amount of commentary about Teresa's weight is baffling. No one else ever makes a comment (other than, perhaps, noting her weight loss), but Teresa is constantly described as 'big', knocking things over with her 'large body' and just generally a focus on her weight and then, later, how much weight she's lost. And I understand insecurity is a part of people's experiences, so having it was fine. But it never becomes something she learns to live with. She just loses weight (at first from eating smaller portions but then just... because??) and the narrative takeaway seems to just be "it is a bad thing to be remotely overweight". It was very frustrating to read.
Ellie herself comes across as very innocent and naive. Which is incredibly frustrating because she's been described as having significantly more life experience than Teresa, despite being younger. I have a lot to say about her but most of it would be a spoiler. I just think she could do better than Teresa for sure.
Basically, I have a lot to say about this novel. I wanted to like it, but I was bored or annoyed in turn (sometimes both at the same time!) and I just feel this book could have stood to be edited a little bit more in order to not be so repetitive, and to fill in what I feel are significant plot holes.
July 1, 2020
Great book with well rounded characters and a pretty believable story. Still did not make 5 for me but close, 4 stars plus. I have several of her other books flagged to read and dont know why I have not got into them. That will have to change if they are this kind of calibre.
August 17, 2015
I received this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cast Me Gently is a book about family, love and what it means to overcome great obstacles that seem impossible at the time.
Teresa Benedetto comes from an Italian Catholic family who is set in their ways. She is thirty-four, still living with her parents and works in their family owned drug store.
We start out with Teresa experiencing the unfairness of what it is to be a women in the 1980s. She picks up on this and sometimes confronts the situation but is immediately shot down. Teresa was a very timid character and always did as she was told. I think that she had an amazing development of character as the story continued.
Ellie Ryan is twenty-six with nothing on her mind except finding her brother and saving up so that she can finally leave and travel the world. She too has her ups and downs and sometimes things didn't always work out for her. Due to certain events, Ellie is left to face the consequences of her actions and Teresa tells her "It felt like you never had to face an consequences for your actions. It felt like I paid instead."
Teresa and Ellie become friends quite early in the story and it was beautiful seeing the way their relationship unfolded. I as the reader could pinpoint the moments they fell in love and I found that amazing. Every emotion they felt, I felt as if I were experiencing it along with them. Teresa's family would notice that something was different about her and I'd smile because I'd know what it was.
"I know that someday, I am going to love someone so much that I will wonder how I ever felt whole without them."
Ellie reminded me of a little puppy that I just wanted to pick up and hug and never let go of. I thought that she deserved all the love in the world. I'm glad that she found that in Teresa. Although, if you push hard enough, even those who you thought would never leave, might not return again.
This book takes you through the different cultures and how in this case, Italian families run and think. The family dynamic was strong and I think it played a huge part as a base for this story. The constant pull and push between family vs. love was just enough that I at one point thought that love should win because even though it's not blood, you can find family anywhere. This choice is difficult for Teresa to make because family is all she knows.
There are little things that Ellie does that has a big impact on how Teresa acts and thinks. It seems small at the time but I felt that it changed Teresa as a person and that was what mattered.
"Life does not always give you what you want, but it usually gives you what you need."
I loved reading this book and the emotions were so real. In all honesty, there was a moment when I cried. It was so beautiful. The writing style was amazing and I think this piece of work was perfect in every way.
This book could easily be one of the best books I've read in 2015.
Cast Me Gently is a book about family, love and what it means to overcome great obstacles that seem impossible at the time.
Teresa Benedetto comes from an Italian Catholic family who is set in their ways. She is thirty-four, still living with her parents and works in their family owned drug store.
We start out with Teresa experiencing the unfairness of what it is to be a women in the 1980s. She picks up on this and sometimes confronts the situation but is immediately shot down. Teresa was a very timid character and always did as she was told. I think that she had an amazing development of character as the story continued.
Ellie Ryan is twenty-six with nothing on her mind except finding her brother and saving up so that she can finally leave and travel the world. She too has her ups and downs and sometimes things didn't always work out for her. Due to certain events, Ellie is left to face the consequences of her actions and Teresa tells her "It felt like you never had to face an consequences for your actions. It felt like I paid instead."
Teresa and Ellie become friends quite early in the story and it was beautiful seeing the way their relationship unfolded. I as the reader could pinpoint the moments they fell in love and I found that amazing. Every emotion they felt, I felt as if I were experiencing it along with them. Teresa's family would notice that something was different about her and I'd smile because I'd know what it was.
"I know that someday, I am going to love someone so much that I will wonder how I ever felt whole without them."
Ellie reminded me of a little puppy that I just wanted to pick up and hug and never let go of. I thought that she deserved all the love in the world. I'm glad that she found that in Teresa. Although, if you push hard enough, even those who you thought would never leave, might not return again.
This book takes you through the different cultures and how in this case, Italian families run and think. The family dynamic was strong and I think it played a huge part as a base for this story. The constant pull and push between family vs. love was just enough that I at one point thought that love should win because even though it's not blood, you can find family anywhere. This choice is difficult for Teresa to make because family is all she knows.
There are little things that Ellie does that has a big impact on how Teresa acts and thinks. It seems small at the time but I felt that it changed Teresa as a person and that was what mattered.
"Life does not always give you what you want, but it usually gives you what you need."
I loved reading this book and the emotions were so real. In all honesty, there was a moment when I cried. It was so beautiful. The writing style was amazing and I think this piece of work was perfect in every way.
This book could easily be one of the best books I've read in 2015.
February 6, 2017
This is my kind of book! Gentle love story with complications created realistically via relatives, friends, jobs, and life in general. Set in Pittsburgh in 1980, the story is about a pharmacist from a close-knit Italian family, Teresa, and Ellie, a young woman who has been on her own. An encounter leads to a friendship which leads to an attraction which leads to a relationship. And then the complications begin! Werlinger has told a sweet and touching story about two delightful protagonists and a large supporting cast of well developed characters. This is satisfying writing for me. Loved every page!
October 30, 2019
This book got off to a slow start, but soon I was completely immersed in Ellie and Teresa’s story. I lived through this era and came from a tight-knit ethnic family, so I strongly identified with the characters. The conflicts these women faced and their responses rang true. The author’s writing is smooth and tells the story without calling attention to itself. Recommended.
December 15, 2020
A deep and incredible read!
Ellie spent most of her childhood in foster care . She has a brother who she spends a lot of years looking for amongst the homeless. She has a big heart and does her part to feed the homeless in her area. She has an older woman who took Ellie in and became her family.
Teresa ad a life opposite of Ellie. A huge Italian family very Catholic and very stereotypical. Everyone is in everyone else's business. Teresa never wanted for anything.Her parents owed a few stores where after college she was expected to work.
Ellie met Teresa and changed her into caring for the homeless. Handing out bread from the bakers at the end of the day and eating lesser portions of food to give a homeless man and his dog food every night. This man camped out behind her parent's store.
The each travel a path which brings them closer to each other . Teresa knows her family would never except her relationship with Ellie and she would be.cast out by her loving yet very Catholic parents and Aunts. Ellie sees what she has missed out on. She enjoys all the chaos and cooking when she joins Teresa as a friend at her home.
Ellie decides.to.look in a dangerous neighborhood for he missing brother though Teresa had asked her to not go alone. One night an event changes both their lives. Will they be able to get past what happened that horrible night or would that incident pull them apart forever?
Ellie spent most of her childhood in foster care . She has a brother who she spends a lot of years looking for amongst the homeless. She has a big heart and does her part to feed the homeless in her area. She has an older woman who took Ellie in and became her family.
Teresa ad a life opposite of Ellie. A huge Italian family very Catholic and very stereotypical. Everyone is in everyone else's business. Teresa never wanted for anything.Her parents owed a few stores where after college she was expected to work.
Ellie met Teresa and changed her into caring for the homeless. Handing out bread from the bakers at the end of the day and eating lesser portions of food to give a homeless man and his dog food every night. This man camped out behind her parent's store.
The each travel a path which brings them closer to each other . Teresa knows her family would never except her relationship with Ellie and she would be.cast out by her loving yet very Catholic parents and Aunts. Ellie sees what she has missed out on. She enjoys all the chaos and cooking when she joins Teresa as a friend at her home.
Ellie decides.to.look in a dangerous neighborhood for he missing brother though Teresa had asked her to not go alone. One night an event changes both their lives. Will they be able to get past what happened that horrible night or would that incident pull them apart forever?
November 15, 2019
4.25
I loved it! I knew it takes place in the 80´s but while I´m reading I always thougt it to be the 60´s, maybe I had watched Carol too often..
And everytime I reminded myself that it´s the 80´s I couldn´t understand why Teresa was doing this to herself. Maybe thats the reason ist hasn´t gotten 5 Stars because it was hard for me to relate.
Other than that it is a beautiful love story!
I loved it! I knew it takes place in the 80´s but while I´m reading I always thougt it to be the 60´s, maybe I had watched Carol too often..
And everytime I reminded myself that it´s the 80´s I couldn´t understand why Teresa was doing this to herself. Maybe thats the reason ist hasn´t gotten 5 Stars because it was hard for me to relate.
Other than that it is a beautiful love story!
December 17, 2020
Italian hearts
This story carefully explores the difficulties of maintaining a gay relationship without the approval of parents and family. It looks at the choices and kthat have to be made. at its core is a beautiful love story with family members reaching out with support. Interesting character, finely worked plot and sweet resolution
This story carefully explores the difficulties of maintaining a gay relationship without the approval of parents and family. It looks at the choices and kthat have to be made. at its core is a beautiful love story with family members reaching out with support. Interesting character, finely worked plot and sweet resolution
January 20, 2021
Really well written
A well written and thoughtful novel. Strong characters, engaging families and friends. It made me feel nostalgic for the '80s, the great music and the fledgling scene, but I also remembered how terrifying it was to be "outed" during that time. We were all so young and innocent then, or so it seemed.
Great book.
A well written and thoughtful novel. Strong characters, engaging families and friends. It made me feel nostalgic for the '80s, the great music and the fledgling scene, but I also remembered how terrifying it was to be "outed" during that time. We were all so young and innocent then, or so it seemed.
Great book.
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