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Solid Ground
As Conor McLeish’s fortieth birthday approaches, the life he’s always dreamed of has finally taken shape. He has a steady day job, a debut novel, and Will, his Buddhist boyfriend of nearly a decade. He should be happy. The trouble is, Conor wouldn’t know happy if it smiled, winked, and offered to buy him a drink. With a hard-earned penchant for self-sabotage and an unfortunate Jameson habit, Conor frequently finds a way to disappoint himself and those he loves.
Solid Ground is a story of personal evolution—how we are each sculpted by the past, carved out of childhood, shaped and molded by what we’ve done and by what’s been done to us. For better or worse, who we are is the unavoidable sum of it all. But how we are, how we choose to love, and whether we stand alone in the end, that—at least in part—is up to us.
Solid Ground is a story of personal evolution—how we are each sculpted by the past, carved out of childhood, shaped and molded by what we’ve done and by what’s been done to us. For better or worse, who we are is the unavoidable sum of it all. But how we are, how we choose to love, and whether we stand alone in the end, that—at least in part—is up to us.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2017
1 person is currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Jeff McKown
1 book13 followersJeff McKown writes fiction. In his work, he is especially fond of exploring tragic flaws, unfortunate circumstances, and the small moments that matter. In life, he obsesses over tennis, politics, and whiskey, not necessarily in that order. He endeavors to be a better Buddhist — which hasn’t always worked out that well. He lives near Monterey, CA with his partner Paul and their best friend, Kyle. Solid Ground is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 28, 2017
Excellent writing. Easy flow and development of the plot with engaging and endearing characters. A big shout out to Harlan as he was my very favorite secondary character.
Even though mine will be an unpopular opinion, I have to be honest and admit that this was a difficult story for me to read. I found it depressing. Constantly depressing with very little let-up. Only a few instances of humorous dialogue keeping it from becoming completely dark.
This is Conor's story. A sad, messed-up life, story. Not messed up wholly by circumstance but by his very own actions and reactions many times. I personally found him very hard to like. I believe I was meant to feel sympathetic towards him, but instead I found myself annoyed and even angry at him a lot of the time. His self-reflection blaming his childhood for the mistakes he makes as an adult came across whiny to me. It sounded like his partner had an even worse childhood and yet had overcome it to become a decent and caring man.
There were two critical places in the story where I struggled to understand the developing action. They were glossed over assuming the reader would instinctively undertand what and why things were happening as they were. I needed more detail in both places.
I have to give this novel at least 3 stars because the writing is excellent, the plot original and the characters well fleshed out.
Review ARC graciously provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley.
Even though mine will be an unpopular opinion, I have to be honest and admit that this was a difficult story for me to read. I found it depressing. Constantly depressing with very little let-up. Only a few instances of humorous dialogue keeping it from becoming completely dark.
This is Conor's story. A sad, messed-up life, story. Not messed up wholly by circumstance but by his very own actions and reactions many times. I personally found him very hard to like. I believe I was meant to feel sympathetic towards him, but instead I found myself annoyed and even angry at him a lot of the time. His self-reflection blaming his childhood for the mistakes he makes as an adult came across whiny to me. It sounded like his partner had an even worse childhood and yet had overcome it to become a decent and caring man.
There were two critical places in the story where I struggled to understand the developing action. They were glossed over assuming the reader would instinctively undertand what and why things were happening as they were. I needed more detail in both places.
I have to give this novel at least 3 stars because the writing is excellent, the plot original and the characters well fleshed out.
Review ARC graciously provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley.
May 1, 2017
Great book that deals with many difficult but relatable topics. There are truly some touching moments as Conor comes to terms with his past and tries to change the broken man he's been for so many years. The voice is sharp and engaging throughout the entire novel, and interesting characters like June and Harlan provide a necessary dash of humor even in the darkest moments.
August 4, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself totally invested in the story and in the fates of the characters written with vulnerability and honest imperfections. This is a great first novel from an author with a promising future.
June 9, 2017
Engaging funny and sometimes heartbreaking. I fell in love with June and wish she was my Grandma. I could especially relate to the Irish Catholics who drink too much. I loved this book and find the characters still linger with me.
April 7, 2022
Excellent book! It has such a high rating on Goodreads (mine will take it up a touch higher) and I was really hoping it would turn out to be a good read. Well, once I started, I couldn't put it down.
Conor McLeish is certainly having a rough time in his life of late, but his early beginnings weren't actually conducive or ideal, and it becomes understandable why he self sabotages on so many levels. At one point, I thought he couldn't possibly fall any lower as one thing after another goes wrong for him. I found I was rooting for him to find a way out of his karmic knots, most notably that his relationship could stand the tests that arose.
There are terrifically written characters in this book, most of whom have their own hurdles in life to overcome. Perhaps Conor's partner Will is an exception, a character with such redeeming qualities and such a lovable persona.
I enjoyed the threads and hints of Buddhism especially around the concept of impermanence, letting go of the negative and surrendering to the way things are. It is a great story, very well woven together, and has an ending that totally worked for me.
I found the book to be extremely moving and indeed brought me to tears at different times. I could tell a lot of hard work and right effort went into the writing of this book. Jeff McKown is a wonderful author.
Conor McLeish is certainly having a rough time in his life of late, but his early beginnings weren't actually conducive or ideal, and it becomes understandable why he self sabotages on so many levels. At one point, I thought he couldn't possibly fall any lower as one thing after another goes wrong for him. I found I was rooting for him to find a way out of his karmic knots, most notably that his relationship could stand the tests that arose.
There are terrifically written characters in this book, most of whom have their own hurdles in life to overcome. Perhaps Conor's partner Will is an exception, a character with such redeeming qualities and such a lovable persona.
I enjoyed the threads and hints of Buddhism especially around the concept of impermanence, letting go of the negative and surrendering to the way things are. It is a great story, very well woven together, and has an ending that totally worked for me.
I found the book to be extremely moving and indeed brought me to tears at different times. I could tell a lot of hard work and right effort went into the writing of this book. Jeff McKown is a wonderful author.
June 20, 2017
*3 Stars for Solid Ground*
The blurb for this book mentions that this is a “story of personal evolution” – which it is, just not in the traditional sense. Solid Ground is the story of how Conor evolves over the course of a short period of time (I wasn’t able exactly determine if it was a year, but over several months). Essentially, Conor is finally reaching what he thought would be the pinnacle of his life – approaching 40, recently published his first book, he has a live-in long-term boyfriend… and still works at a bookstore, and is an alcoholic.
And that’s where the story starts and ends – following Conor around making bad decisions, sitting in a very surface-level of reflection, and not making any real changes. It was incredibly frustrating – this was a novel, M/M contemporary is not even a fit, but there was ZERO payoff for the reader in the end. There wasn’t really a HEA, there wasn’t a huge lightbulb moment that felt like something that was life-changing. It was simply about Conor’s path of destruction… and sorta/kinda some resolution.
It was well written – the flow and voice was easy to follow and read. And Conor, as a character, seemed well-developed – especially from a backstory perspective. But as messed up as his life was, he just didn’t seem to feel it as much as he could – or regret it in a way that felt like Will would be “right” with things.
This is a good read for people who enjoy novels – not M/M readers. There was very little romance, if any at all – and some warnings for cheating, bad treatment in general, lack of remorse, and some tears related to family drama. I know I’m in the minority with this review (honestly, I’m not sure how because I had strong feeling here), but I will say that this book or plot, isn’t for everyone.
Review Copy of Solid Ground provided by Ninestar Press for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mel from Alpha Book Club
The blurb for this book mentions that this is a “story of personal evolution” – which it is, just not in the traditional sense. Solid Ground is the story of how Conor evolves over the course of a short period of time (I wasn’t able exactly determine if it was a year, but over several months). Essentially, Conor is finally reaching what he thought would be the pinnacle of his life – approaching 40, recently published his first book, he has a live-in long-term boyfriend… and still works at a bookstore, and is an alcoholic.
And that’s where the story starts and ends – following Conor around making bad decisions, sitting in a very surface-level of reflection, and not making any real changes. It was incredibly frustrating – this was a novel, M/M contemporary is not even a fit, but there was ZERO payoff for the reader in the end. There wasn’t really a HEA, there wasn’t a huge lightbulb moment that felt like something that was life-changing. It was simply about Conor’s path of destruction… and sorta/kinda some resolution.
It was well written – the flow and voice was easy to follow and read. And Conor, as a character, seemed well-developed – especially from a backstory perspective. But as messed up as his life was, he just didn’t seem to feel it as much as he could – or regret it in a way that felt like Will would be “right” with things.
This is a good read for people who enjoy novels – not M/M readers. There was very little romance, if any at all – and some warnings for cheating, bad treatment in general, lack of remorse, and some tears related to family drama. I know I’m in the minority with this review (honestly, I’m not sure how because I had strong feeling here), but I will say that this book or plot, isn’t for everyone.
Review Copy of Solid Ground provided by Ninestar Press for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mel from Alpha Book Club
May 11, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed Solid Ground. Admittedly, I first bought just to support a local Monterey Bay Area writer; I’m so glad I did. Jeff is a great storyteller. I appreciated that the book wasn’t overwritten and that each of the characters and every chapter were relevant to moving the story along. There wasn’t any filler material or writing that made wonder why it was important to include. Loved the twists and turns toward the end. I would definitely recommend.
June 10, 2025
There are two things to know about this book.
(1) It is dark, depressing, and infuriating.
(2) It is very well written.
Reading it is like watching several slow-motion train wrecks in a row. You see the disasters coming, and yet you can’t quite bring yourself to look away.
Conor McLeish is a hot mess, as he would be the first to tell you, with a long laundry list of childhood traumas. Approaching his 40th birthday, he is alcoholic, self-destructive, guilt-ridden, prone to incessant obscenity, and increasingly suicidal. That’s pretty much it for most of the book.
SPOILERS BELOW
In other news…
His strong-minded, independent grandmother, whom he adores, suffers a debilitating stroke; his infidelities lead to the break-up a 10-year relationship with a patient, tolerant, Buddhist gardener; he gets fired from his job as a bookstore manager when his boss discovers a bottle of whiskey in his office desk drawer; and he carries the guilt of his cousin’s suicide after Patrick’s mother discovered him and Conor fooling around as teens.
Dark. Depressing. Infuriating in the sense of wanting to kick Conor in the butt and tell him to get a grip. (Not a charitable or helpful thing to do, but honestly, it’s hard to avoid feeling that way.)
And yet… This book is compulsively readable. With the exception of a couple of plot points early on that seem a little too convenient, the story is inexorable, with constant tragic turns that keep you going. And while Conor is truly exasperating, he is internally consistent (irritatingly so) and understandable. It would be easy for him to come across as a caricature, and yet, in the author’s hands, he doesn’t. He feels real.
The climactic scene near the end, involving a pair of purple panties at a family reunion, is as cathartic as it is unexpected. And the end of the story, in spite of all that came before it, is hopeful.
All in all, this book is frustrating and in many ways a real downer. And yet… It is compelling, unique, and well worth reading.
(1) It is dark, depressing, and infuriating.
(2) It is very well written.
Reading it is like watching several slow-motion train wrecks in a row. You see the disasters coming, and yet you can’t quite bring yourself to look away.
Conor McLeish is a hot mess, as he would be the first to tell you, with a long laundry list of childhood traumas. Approaching his 40th birthday, he is alcoholic, self-destructive, guilt-ridden, prone to incessant obscenity, and increasingly suicidal. That’s pretty much it for most of the book.
SPOILERS BELOW
In other news…
His strong-minded, independent grandmother, whom he adores, suffers a debilitating stroke; his infidelities lead to the break-up a 10-year relationship with a patient, tolerant, Buddhist gardener; he gets fired from his job as a bookstore manager when his boss discovers a bottle of whiskey in his office desk drawer; and he carries the guilt of his cousin’s suicide after Patrick’s mother discovered him and Conor fooling around as teens.
Dark. Depressing. Infuriating in the sense of wanting to kick Conor in the butt and tell him to get a grip. (Not a charitable or helpful thing to do, but honestly, it’s hard to avoid feeling that way.)
And yet… This book is compulsively readable. With the exception of a couple of plot points early on that seem a little too convenient, the story is inexorable, with constant tragic turns that keep you going. And while Conor is truly exasperating, he is internally consistent (irritatingly so) and understandable. It would be easy for him to come across as a caricature, and yet, in the author’s hands, he doesn’t. He feels real.
The climactic scene near the end, involving a pair of purple panties at a family reunion, is as cathartic as it is unexpected. And the end of the story, in spite of all that came before it, is hopeful.
All in all, this book is frustrating and in many ways a real downer. And yet… It is compelling, unique, and well worth reading.
May 19, 2017
Loved this book, thoughtfully and beautifully written. I laughed and cried and related to the main characters in so many ways. Conor is looking to an uncertain future, full of things he thought he wanted that weren't all he'd hoped they would be. At the same time, he's trying to run away from the parts of his past that still haunt him. We all experience some of this in our lives, so Conor's tale, told in the first person, hits home often. Wonderful secondary characters like June, Harlan and Ms. Broussard offer comic relief and wisdom all along the way. A great read, don't pass this one by!
August 12, 2017
An old Muslim poet said once, "Do not seek after love. Remove the things in your life that keep love from you."
I read this entire book, save the very beginning the other day, in one fell swoop. I sat down, listened to Billy Joel singing in my headphones and read.
At moments I laughed.
In various places I had my hand over my mouth as I narrowed my eyes.
I grit my teeth.
I shook my head.
I lowered my head and sobbed angrily.
Jeff McKown's book is a visceral, heart rendering, and honest look into the life of just an average guy doing the best he can. A guy who is weighed down maybe from some not so great choices of his own, and some remarkably bad choices of others in his life, good intentions of loved ones, all of which conspire to take him under.
And yet...
The genius of this novel is the thin sliver of hope, faith, kindness, forgiveness, and mercy woven intricately throughout.
I don't care who you are, where you been, what walk of life you got goin' on, whatever - if you've lived any measurable amount of life on this earth - you'll related to this book.
I read this entire book, save the very beginning the other day, in one fell swoop. I sat down, listened to Billy Joel singing in my headphones and read.
At moments I laughed.
In various places I had my hand over my mouth as I narrowed my eyes.
I grit my teeth.
I shook my head.
I lowered my head and sobbed angrily.
Jeff McKown's book is a visceral, heart rendering, and honest look into the life of just an average guy doing the best he can. A guy who is weighed down maybe from some not so great choices of his own, and some remarkably bad choices of others in his life, good intentions of loved ones, all of which conspire to take him under.
And yet...
The genius of this novel is the thin sliver of hope, faith, kindness, forgiveness, and mercy woven intricately throughout.
I don't care who you are, where you been, what walk of life you got goin' on, whatever - if you've lived any measurable amount of life on this earth - you'll related to this book.
August 6, 2018
While the main protagonist reminds me of a gay, 39 year old Haulden Caulfied, this novel should be considered a classic as much as 'The Catcher in the Rye' is. There are no moments of epiphany, there are no final resolutions, and there are no life-altering scenes ... because real life doesn't work that way. 'Solid Ground' is very much that; reflections and musings on real life.
Conor's troubles are mostly brought on by his own faults and flaws in character, but he demonstrates awareness of this with incredible self-reflexivity.
The writing is very good and - while you may want to shake some sense into Conor 80% of the time - you can't help but admire his self-awareness.
Conor's troubles are mostly brought on by his own faults and flaws in character, but he demonstrates awareness of this with incredible self-reflexivity.
The writing is very good and - while you may want to shake some sense into Conor 80% of the time - you can't help but admire his self-awareness.
Read
August 2, 2017It was interesting to read about a guy(Conner) that is from around Florida. He is a very colorful man with a lot of things going on.The book kept my interest and was a fun read.
March 6, 2018
**An ARC of this title was kindly given by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Where can I even start with this one? This book was everything I never knew I wanted and/or needed in a book. The story was, well, the story was perfect. Conor...I loved him. I hurt for him. I wanted everything for him to just be okay finally. I wanted him feel like he could just finally breathe. Will..I spent an awful lot of time hating him. And I know I shouldn't have. But, here we are. He was supposed to be the good one. The sweet, kind, nurturing one. The forgiving loving one. And he tossed Conor away. I know that what Conor did, more than once, was grounds for what Will did. But, I think this was a special case. Conor wasn't just some unfeeling, heartless man who didn't care about Will. He hard-core loved Will. But, demons...he had them. He tried to fight them. Most often failing. And Will's action/reaction to one of the things Conor did...well, I think it is what ultimately what pushed Conor to thinking he had no way out other than what he had planned for his 40th birthday. I know I'm going to be in the minority here with this, but I just kept on hating Will for abandoning Conor, giving him false hope, then being a jerk about it afterwards. It killed me to see Conor's heartbreak over and over again.
There are so many other things going on in this book, other than the relationship of the two MC's though. Everything was handled well and perfectly.
I found myself crying through reading Conor's story. Maybe because I saw a bit of myself in him from time to time and could relate in a sense. I loved Conor. I wanted the world for him. I wanted him to feel loved for once in his life without the specter of being left behind again looming his every waking hour.
If you're looking for a book that has all loose ends tied up in a pretty bow, a HFN or HEA you won't find any of that here. This is heart-wrenching story telling, the best I have seen in a very long while.
This one will stay with me for a very long time...
Where can I even start with this one? This book was everything I never knew I wanted and/or needed in a book. The story was, well, the story was perfect. Conor...I loved him. I hurt for him. I wanted everything for him to just be okay finally. I wanted him feel like he could just finally breathe. Will..I spent an awful lot of time hating him. And I know I shouldn't have. But, here we are. He was supposed to be the good one. The sweet, kind, nurturing one. The forgiving loving one. And he tossed Conor away. I know that what Conor did, more than once, was grounds for what Will did. But, I think this was a special case. Conor wasn't just some unfeeling, heartless man who didn't care about Will. He hard-core loved Will. But, demons...he had them. He tried to fight them. Most often failing. And Will's action/reaction to one of the things Conor did...well, I think it is what ultimately what pushed Conor to thinking he had no way out other than what he had planned for his 40th birthday. I know I'm going to be in the minority here with this, but I just kept on hating Will for abandoning Conor, giving him false hope, then being a jerk about it afterwards. It killed me to see Conor's heartbreak over and over again.
There are so many other things going on in this book, other than the relationship of the two MC's though. Everything was handled well and perfectly.
I found myself crying through reading Conor's story. Maybe because I saw a bit of myself in him from time to time and could relate in a sense. I loved Conor. I wanted the world for him. I wanted him to feel loved for once in his life without the specter of being left behind again looming his every waking hour.
If you're looking for a book that has all loose ends tied up in a pretty bow, a HFN or HEA you won't find any of that here. This is heart-wrenching story telling, the best I have seen in a very long while.
This one will stay with me for a very long time...
May 12, 2017
I loved this book....the characters had depth and humor and sadness. It was a tale not only of the main character but of an entire family trying to live life with the baggage that is gained in journeying thru day to day struggle. yet there was humor, there were smiles, and one liners that I'm trying to figure out how to stow in my brain so I can say them one day...thus is the kind of book I love....peeking into generations of dysfunction and hope! Read this, you won't regret it!
November 10, 2017
Heartfelt story, full of memorable characters (from June, the unconventional grandmother who always believed in Conor, to Ariel, the sassy, straight-talking bestie, and Harlan, the no-nonsense, big-hearted, country boy-next-door), family dysfunction, and truths about how difficult it can be to leave the past behind. I was moved, at times to laughter and tears, by honest storytelling wherein grace and wisdom come from unexpected people and at unexpected times. It's funny and serious and sad and messy -- just like life.
January 26, 2019
Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac, Hunter S. Thompson and Chuck Palahniuk are just a few of my favorite writers, particularly when it comes to fiction. I can now add Jeff McKown to that list. His debut novel is a promising one.
The protagonist and (in my humble opinion) antagonist in this book, is Conor McLeish. He manages a book store, has just published his first book and has a devoted better half (His name is Will). Unfortunately Conor is also an alcoholic and has some serious baggage due to a few troubling events in his childhood and adolescent youth. Over the course of the book, a year or so, Conor manages to destroy his career, book deal and relationship due to that baggage and his drinking. The path of destruction he set out upon reminds me of a similar one taken in John O'Brien's sad sad novel "Leaving Las Vegas."
Along the way we meet Conor's friends, neighbors and his family. He manages to disappoint them all, but they love him and try their best to help him. Jeff grew up in Florida and the book takes place there. I like it when authors write about where they grew up. Chuck Palahniuk has often written about Portland in his works. The places and people in this book are exquisitely captured with impeccable detail. His investment in these characters clearly ran deep and it wasn't difficult to develop a sense of empathy for every character in this book.
Each chapter, despite the darkness that engulfs this story, was surprisingly easy to read. A few twists towards the end, but never a moment where I felt the plot strayed off the path. This book is about Conor's attempt to let go of that baggage and find solid ground. I would highly recommend giving this book a chance to see if he does. Kudos to Jeff for working into his novel a line from a Peter Gabriel song. Yet another good reason to read Solid Ground.
The protagonist and (in my humble opinion) antagonist in this book, is Conor McLeish. He manages a book store, has just published his first book and has a devoted better half (His name is Will). Unfortunately Conor is also an alcoholic and has some serious baggage due to a few troubling events in his childhood and adolescent youth. Over the course of the book, a year or so, Conor manages to destroy his career, book deal and relationship due to that baggage and his drinking. The path of destruction he set out upon reminds me of a similar one taken in John O'Brien's sad sad novel "Leaving Las Vegas."
Along the way we meet Conor's friends, neighbors and his family. He manages to disappoint them all, but they love him and try their best to help him. Jeff grew up in Florida and the book takes place there. I like it when authors write about where they grew up. Chuck Palahniuk has often written about Portland in his works. The places and people in this book are exquisitely captured with impeccable detail. His investment in these characters clearly ran deep and it wasn't difficult to develop a sense of empathy for every character in this book.
Each chapter, despite the darkness that engulfs this story, was surprisingly easy to read. A few twists towards the end, but never a moment where I felt the plot strayed off the path. This book is about Conor's attempt to let go of that baggage and find solid ground. I would highly recommend giving this book a chance to see if he does. Kudos to Jeff for working into his novel a line from a Peter Gabriel song. Yet another good reason to read Solid Ground.
November 5, 2018
An odyssey of one man’s battle against the lure of alcohol, the toxic intolerance within his family, and his own insecurities. These are no less crippling to Conor McLeish, who shows the pitfalls of life can be no less terrible and challenging than any mythical monster a mythical hero must battle. It requires extraordinary willpower to cope with these things, willpower Conor doesn’t always feel he possesses.
Depicted in exquisitely detailed prosed which fleshes out even the most dislikeable people, leaving them well rounded and very human, the reader is confronted with the fact that each of every one of them is a person, neither wholly good or bad. Conor’s journey is one many of us can relate to, make him, everything, and everyone around as solid, vivid, and lifelike as the friends over the years I have known.
For offering a rich, detailed slice of life with all the agony and sweetness it contains, I give this book four stars.
Depicted in exquisitely detailed prosed which fleshes out even the most dislikeable people, leaving them well rounded and very human, the reader is confronted with the fact that each of every one of them is a person, neither wholly good or bad. Conor’s journey is one many of us can relate to, make him, everything, and everyone around as solid, vivid, and lifelike as the friends over the years I have known.
For offering a rich, detailed slice of life with all the agony and sweetness it contains, I give this book four stars.
July 23, 2017
This book had me laughing out loud from the first few pages, and then, later, crying. I fell in love with so many of the characters, especially Harlan, Will, and June. McKown's wit shines throughout.
April 30, 2017
Great first book!
This author's character development was intriguing. I liked the honesty and the humanity of his story. I am looking forward to his next book. I am sure that he will only get better as he continues to develop his craft.
This author's character development was intriguing. I liked the honesty and the humanity of his story. I am looking forward to his next book. I am sure that he will only get better as he continues to develop his craft.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews