So fun, so tasty, so comforting.
This is a coming of age story about a teenage boy who becomes close with an outcast “witchy” girl in their small town. It has bits of creepy, ghostly moments but it mostly shows the angst of being a teenager while navigating different relationships.
I became pretty attached to the main character, Mark, rather quickly. I typically can’t stand reading from the perspective of a young boy but this book was written well. I felt his feelings and wanted the best for him even. I also enjoyed the side characters and felt they helped push the narrative along perfectly.
I really like the authors writing style and his ability to write something nostalgic but not make it so overdone (some people will reference the time period constantly and it can be distracting). This slice of life story felt believable and weirdly comforting to me. Grief is a major struggle with the different characters and how heartbreak can bring us closer together.
The ending was satisfying even though I didn’t want it to end. I am sure there won’t be a sequel to this but boy do I want to know what happened to some of the characters. The author does tie up some ends on different characters which I loved and appreciated. The mini reveal was done well also. I am usually pretty good and figure out the twists in books but this one really caught me off guard and broke my heart. Touche.
Overall, WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM is a poignant and beautifully written novel that offers a powerful portrayal of the complexities of human relationships.
I recommend this to people who love coming of age stories about the confusing times of growing up, figuring out who you are and how you fit in this world.
Great writing. Great story. Gross ice cream.
4/5 stars
Author: Tim McGregor
282 pages, Paperback
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