A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair, O, the Oprah Magazine, Esquire, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Good Housekeeping, Refinery29, Real Simple, Kirkus Reviews, Electric Literature, and Lit Hub “A masterpiece.” —NPR “No other novel this year captures so gracefully the full palette of America.” —The Washington Post “Wryly funny, gently devastating.” —Entertainment Weekly A funny and profound story about family in all its strange forms, joyful and hard-won vulnerability, becoming who you're supposed to be, and the limits of love. Benson and Mike are two young guys who live together in Houston. Mike is a Japanese American chef at a Mexican restaurant and Benson's a Black day care teacher, and they've been together for a few years—good years—but now they're not sure why they're still a couple. There's the sex, sure, and the meals Mike cooks for Benson, and, well, they love each other. But when Mike finds out his estranged father is dying in Osaka just as his acerbic Japanese mother, Mitsuko, arrives in Texas for a visit, Mike picks up and flies across the world to say goodbye. In Japan he undergoes an extraordinary transformation, discovering the truth about his family and his past. Back home, Mitsuko and Benson are stuck living together as unconventional roommates, an absurd domestic situation that ends up meaning more to each of them than they ever could have predicted. Without Mike's immediate pull, Benson begins to push outwards, realizing he might just know what he wants out of life and have the goods to get it. Both men will change in ways that will either make them stronger together, or fracture everything they've ever known. And just maybe they'll all be okay in the end.
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“A velvety, measured delivery makes this voice ideal for an intimate storytelling experience, perfectly aligning with the narrator's warm and measured style.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“This voice projects an intimate and intelligent presence, like a trusted friend sharing a profound story, emphasizing its reflective tone and gentle warmth.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Gabriela’s voice offers a wonderful blend of warmth and emotional depth, providing a reassuring and expressive quality that effectively guides listeners through discovery.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Casual
“With its smooth, expressive style and inherent warmth, this voice brings a deep sense of intimacy, suited for the character-driven and romantic nature of the book.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“The soothing delivery and gentle, warm quality of this voice provide an excellent calming presence, creating a comfortable and intimate atmosphere for the narrative.”