Family Meal by Bryan Washington

Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024--San Antonio

Family Meal by Bryan Washington is the third book I have read by this author.  All of his stories are interesting.  And because they are set in Houston, I often know the neighborhoods being mentioned.  This story is centered around the continuing lives of two young men who were best friends when boys.  When the parents of one died, the family of the other took in the orphaned friend and raised him within their family until he left for university.  It turns out that both boys are gay.  But after high school, they go their separate ways while still feeling tied to each other as "family."  There is an added factor of two of the main characters in the book (one in the family that took in the orphaned friend and one who becomes the partner of the the orphaned friend) are of mixed African American/Asian American race which means that unexpected reactions and problems are encountered beyond the problems that normally relate to being just Black boys in America.  Mental health, forgiveness, acceptance of others, making life decisions, etc., are also a part of the story.  I enjoyed the book.  I gave it 4 stars out of 5.