What should be a relaxed, romantic, and recuperative weekend away for Chezdon and Louis in Scotland proves that a stable and happy couple can be torn apart by a chance encounter with a boy wearing a pink hat. From Scotland, England, France, Spain, Italy, and back, love dramatically ends and then renewed on a road trip across Europe as three boys hope to find themselves, only after losing themselves.
Mitchell showcases the messy complexities of relationships, the cost of lies and cheating, and the ways social media can impact our lives. There’s a raw, visceral quality to the way Morrison’s interactions with both Louis and Oscar play out and how they confront the world around them in scenes that draw out their respective pain and inner turmoil. Much of this installment focuses on Morrison and Oscar’s burgeoning relationship, making it easy to sympathize with them, especially as their trip takes a chaotic turn for the worse. When the novel pivots, in its final third, to Louis’s spiral into alcoholism and claims of sexual abuse, key scenes feel disjointed and less connected to the story, especially when culminating in an abrupt cliffhanger.
Unfortunately, technical issues undermine the storytelling, distracting readers from moments of genuine charm and dry humor. Although told through three different perspectives, the narrative voices seem interchangeable, hallmarked by awkwardly constructed sentences and an abundant use of passive voice. Meanwhile, several explicit sex scenes fail to connect on an emotional or erotic level. Ultimately, Mitchell’s stylistic approach may alienate some readers, despite this chaotic, in-your-face romance’s urgency and potential.
Takeaway: Ideal for readers looking for complicated gay romance featuring younger protagonists in the social media age.
Great for fans of: Zak Salih’s Let’s Get Back to the Party, K.A. Mitchell’s Getting Him Back.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: C+
Marketing copy: B
The much-anticipated third book by Chezdon Mitchell, Bull Shark Part 1, is now avaiable on Amazon. It will be released in all the other online market places and at all good booksellers on 31 January 2021.What should be a relaxed, romantic, and recuperative weekend away for Chezdon and Louis in Scotland proves that a stable and happy couple can be torn apart by a chance encounter with a boy wearing a pink hat. From Scotland, England, France, Spain, Italy, and back, love dramatically ends and then renewed on a road trip across Europe as two boys hope to find themselves, only after losing themselves.Chezdon Mitchell’s novel BULL SHARK is about gay relationships in the digital age. With shocking narrative and dark humour, reminiscent of what was discovered in his first book, INNOCENCE WANING, Mitchell thrusts the reader into a holiday from hell that transcends anything that Brexit can ever achieve; sweet wonderful chaos and pure bliss. Colourful characters prove that being gay isn’t just about coming out of the closet and simply existing, but living in the moment. Beware of BULL SHARK.
