We Could Be So Good follows Nick Russo, who has worked his way up to a reporting job at one of the city’s biggest newspapers. But the late 1950s are a hostile place for gay men, so Nick knows not to let anyone close to him—short encounters in dark places is all he allows himself in order to stay safe, and he’s okay with that. That is, until he meets Andy, who might just be the most impossible person to say no to. Andy Fleming’s newspaper tycoon father wants him to take over the family business, but Andy has never had any intention of following in his father’s footsteps. He’s barely able to care for his own well-being—how is he supposed to take care of an entire company? He’s sure his father will see just how wrong his intentions are when Andy promises him he’ll work at the newspaper, destined to fail. Except, Nick keeps helping him out, showing him the ropes, taking care of him when he messes up or loses his keys for the twelfth time that day. Their unlikely friendship soon sharpens into feelings that neither of them can deny—even though they try. What started out as an impossible secret turns out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to them.
My initial review of this book was “I am but a mere puddle of emotions” and you know what? I’m sticking to that, even weeks later. Nick and Andy stole my heart.
Nick’s grumpiness matched with Andy’s chaotic sunshine was an absolute dream. Rarely have I seen such an authentic take on one of the most beloved tropes out there. Even when Nick was grumpy, you could always tell how much he cared about Andy and other people in his life that made him feel safe. Meanwhile, Andy’s chaotic sunshine energy made him so lovable, whether it meant shaking your head when he misplaces his keys or tearing up when he realises just how much Nick wants him in his life.
Also, the pining. It was everything and that is coming from someone who is very particular about their pining. But Nick and Andy’s POVs just added so much to their story and how they felt about each other. The anxiety that comes with watching your loved one struggle—whether that’s with their career, their responsibilities, their relatives, or the fact that they have to hide their feelings from the world—was so present in this story and yet it was also imbibed with so much hope and love and laughter that I couldn’t put this story down even if I tried.
Cat Sebastian knows how to convey the most complex emotions in such visceral ways that it both makes your heart ache and gives you hope as these two men reach out to the other with the most tender, loving, and caring gestures.
It was also so fascinating to get a glimpse into the newsrooms of the 1950s era. It quite literally was what I expected but so much fun to find out all the intricacies, strategical planning and issues that come with following news stories that might make you as a reporter a target in the eyes of the law (or well, greedy policemen in this case). Nick is so passionate about his job and finding out the truth that he sometimes puts a story above his own wellbeing which just showed how much he valued being part of changing the world for the better, searching for the truth.
On top of that, this story incorporates so much more—talking about the dangers of being queer in that era, cop brutality, fraught family relationships, acceptance and love from the corners you expect it the least, and the ways in which queer people have looked out for and will always do so for each other. It’s a welcome reminder that queer people and the fight for equality have always existed, even if people didn’t (want to) see it.
All in all, this book just proved to be the perfect balance of joyful moments between Nick and Andy while also conveying the emotional punches that come with not being able to live (and love) openly in the 1950s. Compelling, delightful, and a wonderful addition to the queer historical romance genre that’s not to be missed.
We Could Be So Good is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of June 6th.
will you be picking up We Could Be So Good? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Nick Russo has worked his way from a rough Brooklyn neighborhood to a reporting job at one of the city’s biggest newspapers. But the late 1950s are a hostile time for gay men, and Nick knows that he can’t let anyone into his life. He just never counted on meeting someone as impossible to say no to as Andy.
Andy Fleming’s newspaper-tycoon father wants him to take over the family business. Andy, though, has no intention of running the paper. He’s barely able to run his life–he’s never paid a bill on time, routinely gets lost on the way to work, and would rather gouge out his own eyes than deal with office politics. Andy agrees to work for a year in the newsroom, knowing he’ll make an ass of himself and hate every second of it.
Except, Nick Russo keeps rescuing Andy: showing him the ropes, tracking down his keys, freeing his tie when it gets stuck in the ancient filing cabinets. Their unlikely friendship soon sharpens into feelings they can’t deny. But what feels possible in secret–this fragile, tender thing between them–seems doomed in the light of day. Now Nick and Andy have to decide if, for the first time, they’re willing to fight.
