The recipe of Decklee Cassel goes like this; take the charm and talent of Dolly Parton, the easter eggs, scrutiny and intricacies of Taylor Swift, and the fiery selfishness of Evelyn Hugo.

Boom. You’ve got the star of this book.

Darren and Kendall are fun, typical romcom characters and honestly, props to the author for giving both leads gender neutral/unconventional names. I love that little detail. The queerness of their generation is so casual, so comforting, but then you get yanked into the heartbreaking reality Decklee, Mickenlee and Markell dealt with.

I wouldn’t even say it’s a love story between Darren and Kendall, and more a love story between Darren and the town of Mayberry. It pushes her away, pulls her back in, will always hold a place in her heart.

Just like Mickenlee does for Decklee.

I would say this book is definitely reminiscent of Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in certain scenes, hence the comparison, but there’s just something about Decklee that pulls you in. Perhaps it’s because this is the story of her legacy, how she’s long gone, how you start the story with her dead and she comes to life throughout the book.

Or perhaps maybe they’re their own genre. Queer, classic, timeless, legendary women who want it all but can’t have it. They break everyone’s hearts and their own for the price of a dream.

All I know is that I finished this book with a lump in my throat and a longing to see it on the big screen someday.