Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian

This is my favorite light gay romance fiction writer--the ones I have read prior to this had a bit of time travel and fantasy associated with them, where as this one features the lead characters in a long running space travel television show. Simon Devereaux plays one of the leads in the reasonably successful TV show Out There, featuring a group of fractious outcasts and weirdos learning to function as a group in outer space. He’s xhronically anxious, always second guessing himself, and has a hard time connecting with people. He has one good friend whom he relies on constantly but is not romantically invovled with. They tried that, it didn't work out, but they have remained friends. He has been on the show for seven seasons, and has decided that it’s time for him to move on; when the season, he’s heading to New York to take up a theatre role and embark on the next stage of his career. Throughout all of those seasons, Simon has shared most of his screen time with Charlie Blake, former star of a reality TV show about restoring old cars and who has, in Simon’s opinion, brought down the tone of the show, which is maybe jealousy because Charlie is everything he is not – likeable, charming, cheerful, sociable – and while their on-screen chemistry is potent, off-screen they don’t get along and Simon actively avoids Charlie whenever he can. That is until Simon reveals his plan, and time is short, and well, you can see where this is going. I read it in the midst of reading seven of the Booker long listed books on vacation, and let's just say this provided some much needed levity.

The Art of Racing In The Rain (2019)

This is my Day of the Dead selection. The family member that we lost this year is our beloved dog Zeke, and so remembering him I watched this movie, which could be called The Power of the Dog (which is another movie entirely and only relevant in name and not substance). It is a story about what a difference a dog can make, and also on point, the destruction that cancer can wield. We are a nuclear family that has felt the power of both, and in the end it is a feel good movie, against all odds. The story is told from the perspective of Enzo, a philosophical golden retriever who believes he will be reincarnated as a human and uses racetrack techniques as a metaphor for navigating life's hardships. He finds Denny, who is an actual race car driver, and the two share a special bond, which expands to include Denny's wife and then his daughter. Enzo is about as smart as you would expect a dog to be--meaning good at reading the room and stepping up when necessary. When Denny's wife gets sick and her overbearing--and wealthy--parents take over to squeeze him out, Enzo sticks by him in the best way a dog can. Yes, this is sugar coated sadness, but sometimes that is what hits the spot and this one did just that for me. Save it for when you are in danger of losing man's best friend and you will see what I mean.