but while injected with a matter-of-fact dose of realism, the story still carries a message of hope through the Roosevelt Blues Brothers Movement that resonated with me on a greater level perhaps because of what's happened in the States during this pandemic. In a world where often money and power take precedence over the well-being of fellow human beings, their struggles with icky, maddening politics struck a resounding chord in me, enough to have me fuming in frustration and questioning society time and time again for its sometimes shocking stupidity. words of affirmation and quality time cannot be discounted! While Jeremey doesn't necessarily perform as many overt acts of service (completely understandable considering his headspace), i appreciated seeing plenty of examples of the emotional support he provides Emmet when he's off busy being his superhero self. his answer Spoilerto making Jeremey feel better by arranging a surprise service dog for him was sweet in theory albeit not entirely realistic, but i'll excuse it as i'm sure the lengthy trial and error process when it comes to finding the right match was glossed over for the narrative, and because Mai is perfection 😍 Emmet absolutely shines and his unwavering support for his lover, friends, and family restores my faith in humanity. for Emmet, the grand problem solver that he is, it doesn't sit right to simply sit there and not try to come up with a solution. Mental health is an ongoing battle, and for a good portion of the book, Jeremey is going through a rough patch with his depression and anxiety. i needed to know what happened next for Emmet and Jeremey and how their relationship would grow, and i wasn't disappointed! Iggy Toma once again brought this worthwhile sequel to Carry the Ocean to life :) I can’t wait for the next books in this series. Especially when said couple is too cute for words. Take notes, authors this is how you write a book about an established, steady couple. I can’t say too much about this one, because it’s the sequel and still follows the same couple from.

Thankfully, that wasn’t what this series was about at all. You know what I’m talking about the recent influx of books that romanticize mental illness and things like it. When I read the first book in this series, I was really worried that is would portray mental illness and autism in a way that irritated or annoyed me. Not only is it eye opening and informative, but it’s a lot of fun as well.

This series gives you a glimpse into the way lives differ for those that don’t fall under our screwed up umbrella of neurotypical. 'This story is about how we undid those complications and got ourselves the rest of our happy ever after anyway.'

Shelter the Sea by Heidi Cullinan