I loved this novel! Set in 2016 Kentucky, our main character Owen takes a job in groundskeeping at the local Ashby College after living in Colorado didn't pan out for him. He's back living in his grandfather's basement. Having a college degree, he's looking forward to getting a free English class each semester, which is a side benefit of working at the college. Set right before and after the election, Owen is a liberal, but his family is Trump supporters, and that makes him bristle.  

He is quite taken with Alma, a writer in residence at Ashby College, but she is dating a man in his tiny writing class. 

As Owen navigates the school year, he learns about himself and that perhaps people are more than their label. 

It's difficult to articulate why I loved this book so much. I do have a fondness for books written about the South; there's a bit of a slower pace. I felt immersed in Owen's world and empathy for his strife and learning about the world. I would classify this as "new adult" and "literary," both of which aren't my favorites typically. But with this novel everything came together so well.