American Love Story

September 9, 2019
Herrera’s intriguing third Dreamers contemporary occasionally bogs down as its protagonists struggle to feel worthy of each other. In Ithaca, N.Y., Patrice Denis, a Cornell professor and social justice activist, and Easton Archer, interim Tompkins County district attorney, attempt to pick up where their steamy fling left off in American Dreamer. A year after being ghosted by Patrice, Easton encounters him at the local grocery and they reconnect. But subsequent attempts to revive their romance are complicated by a rash of racially motivated traffic stops throughout the county. It’s Easton’s job to defuse the situation before it escalates, and it’s Patrice’s job to protest when he doesn’t. With all their differences and justice on the line, love may not be enough. Herrera delicately weaves a difficult romance around the serious topics of institutional racism, privilege, and social responsibility. As the book often states, there are no easy solutions, and Herrera’s emotionally charged character study demonstrates this well. The downside is that readers never see the protagonists at their best, making it hard to believe in their conflict-plagued romance. Fans of previous installments will find this one doesn’t quite sparkle as much, but it’s still worth reading. Agent: Linda Camacho, Gallt & Zacker Literary.

Narrator Sean Crisden delivers all the emotion in this satisfying romance. Haitian-born Patrice Denis is an academic and activist with a new professorship at Cornell; Easton Archer is an assistant district attorney in Ithaca. The two had an incendiary fling, but their very different life experiences--and Patrice's reluctance to be emotionally vulnerable--are keeping their liaisons from becoming something deeper. In addition to bringing their warm community of friends to life, Crisden captures Easton's sunny outlook and Patrice's carefully closed-off personality--and the crackling intensity of their romantic encounters. When a spate of traffic stops targeting young men of color puts everyone on edge, their budding relationship is further challenged. Listeners will love going along with Patrice and Easton on their journey toward joy. J.M.D. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

November 1, 2019

Assistant district attorney Easton Archer can't believe college professor Patrice Denis accepted a job and moved to his hometown of Ithaca, NY, ...and didn't contact him. They had a passionate affair last summer, and Easton hasn't been able to forget Patrice. An activist and Haitian-born refugee who grew up in America learning to survive, Patrice isn't sure he can have a relationship with a man who supports the system that oppresses people with his skin color. But the two are drawn to each other, even as they open their eyes to each other's viewpoints and blind spots. When racial tensions are on the verge of exploding in their town, Easton will have to decide where he stands for justice. VERDICT Herrera returns to her "Dreamers" series with a sexy romance that explores stereotypes and racial injustice. While this stands alone, characters from American Dreamer and American Fairytale make appearances, so libraries owning these first two books in the series will want to purchase. Recommended for all libraries.--Melanie C. Duncan, Washington Memorial Lib., Macon, GA

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