Storm Season

January 2, 2017
Henson’s second novel (after Into the Blue) is a deep dive into character and setting that rapidly turns into an unintentional exposé of psychological abuse. The youth culture of Sydney, experimental and diverse, is evoked first, contrasting with the terror and beauty of the Australian bush. Lien Hong, fashionista journalist, is lured into a camping trip by the promise of a music festival. Claudie Sokolov is the park ranger who rescues Lien when the greenhorn gets lost in an epic storm. Their desert-island interlude in a remote cabin is mostly magical, with the two women balanced in their attraction, reticence, and willingness to risk. Then Lien returns to Sydney and aggressively digs into Claudie’s past—stalks her, really—and doesn’t hesitate to publish the results. Every time Claudie tries to control her own life, Lien intrudes, implying or outright declaring that she knows what Claudie really needs. When Claudie protests Lien’s blatant encroachments, Lien says aggrievedly, “I just want to help.” Eventually Claudie folds and decides that “hectic” and “interfering” Lien is the only one for her. Readers who have seen similar dynamics up close will flinch away from any notion that such mistreatment could lead to a mutually happy ending.

January 1, 2017
When an injured Sydney journalist is stranded in a storm during a camping trip, she winds up spending a few days at the cabin of a wilderness ranger, leading her on a surprising journey of romance and introspection.Music and fashion journalist Lien Hong isn't looking forward to a holiday camping trip with her friends. Her career--and perhaps her identity?--is a little too tied to social media, and being in the middle of nowhere for days is not her idea of a good time. But she's up for a challenge, and she has an adorable, if impractical, wardrobe. Unfortunately, almost as soon as she gets to the campground, she takes a little stroll and winds up lost, injured, and with a broken smartphone just as a storm is rolling in. Rescued by Claudia, a ranger, the two become stranded in Claudia's cabin when the roads are washed out. At first embarrassed and flustered, Lien begins to feel relaxed in Claudia's home and welcomes the forcibly unplugged atmosphere. One evening when Claudia is playing her guitar and singing, Lien realizes she is also Claudie, the lead singer of Grand Echo, a popular up-and-coming band from a few years ago that simply disappeared. The two embark on a summer fling, but Lien is disappointed when Claudia makes it clear she's not interested in keeping in touch. Lien heads back to her life in Sydney but finds her time away has changed her, and she feels restless. Meanwhile, their time together has inspired Claudia to face her past and pursue music again, and when she moves back to Sydney, she and Lien must decide if they have a future together. Henson explores an interesting lesbian relationship that begins as an "opposites attract" storyline but cants into a journey of two women truly finding each other after they decide to be true to themselves. The present-tense narration can be distracting, and the pacing slows occasionally, but overall this is a unique and engaging romance. An appealing love story.

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