Sam asks all the questions we have all faced about identity. He knows who he is, but is constantly surprised by how little he knows about other members of the LGBTQ community. As he educates himself, the reader also learns about gender, sex and who we are as individuals versus who society wants us to be or the mold that many want us to conform ourselves to. There were quite a few moments where I cringed; but then I realized that this was how teenagers learn, how they develop, how they become better than the generations before them. I can only hope I opened my own mind enough. This book was full of funny moments, sad moments and endearing moments. There were poems, lyrics, and notes throughout the book. I loved that Sam connected to his mother through their shared love of music, her albums being the background to the story. Switching from one meaningful moment to another, with handwriting on liners, or on notes shoved into the album, by Sam's missing mother Ilona. Through these notes we get a sense of how Sam sees himself or how he hopes to remember his mother through her deep thoughts about what certain songs mean or what artists meant by their albums, music, lyrics. As well, music comes into play with his father, as their tether to each other. His father also conveys his emotions through the music he is listening to. Sam and Linda, a random phone prank call he makes one night who he finds himself becoming deeply connected to, also talk about the songs she is writing. Sam is a great character because he can be both sympathetic and unsympathetic. Half the time I found myself angry with him, but completely understanding his position, his rage, his hurt, his confusion. This is a book about growing up, accepting yourself and accepting others, even if it means putting your own feelings and pain aside to make way for their emotions. The Grands were fantastic, sprinkling the story with their good magic. They were Sam's heart, projecting their fears, their love, their caring onto him. I also like that each of the Weyward's show a different form of connection to magic, whether it be card reading, reading signs, or casting magic. Sam's ability is a doozy and I especially loved this part of the narrative, and any part that dealt in both the everyday magic of life and the supernatural magic that surrounds this family. Sam also lives a separate life from his family, at the gay bar the Shangri-La, with three drag queens. There is Lola, the owner, and Farrah and Paloma, the other drag performers. These three Queens have taken Sam in and have become a second family to him. They are his escape from the curse, they help to bring out another side. A side of Sam that is more carefree, happier, free to be himself. I loved all three of these Queens and their stories. I also like that they are not afraid to correct Sam with his gender pronouns and tell him when he is being a little s**t. These moments were genuine, funny and really brought out the good in Sam. The Weyward curse is more about the power a curse can hold over a person, or a family, and less about the curse itself. Maybe there is no curse and it is simply coincidence. Or maybe the family has given what was simply a spout of angry words the power to destroy those they love. Maybe it was all just guilt eating away at a friend, which turned what were some harsh words into a lifetime of sorrow. What is a curse anyway? Just something we cling to and blame when bad things happen that make no sense. I was sent a copy of this ARC by HCC Frenzy in exchange for an honest review.
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