The final book in the Christmas Bears Trilogy, this one focuses on Paul, who's the last of the three best friends to still be single, even though he's the one who's wanted a relationship the most. This is partly because his family doesn't approve of his interest in men, so he's always wanted to create his own found family.
He initially dismisses the romantic overtures of Kyle, a nurse at the assisted living facility in town, because Kyle is 25 and Paul is in his late thirties. But it's really because he's not sure if he deserves love.
This was the weakest of the three stories for me. I like Paul, but of the three best friends in the group, he has always felt like the one who had the thinnest back story. It's obvious from the beginning that he and Arthur should never be together in the long run, but it's never clear where they are emotionally - was Paul in love with him? Were they both just settling? If so, why did Paul suddenly want more? The longer the series goes on, the less believable the relationships end up feeling, because they just don't actually behave like real people do. I wanted a happily ever after for Paul, but Kyle feels like the obvious option only because he's the last single gay guy in a town that's quite small but seems to be the next Provincetown. The book does acknowledge that, at least, and there are a bunch of small town initiatives that reminded me a lot of the Harvest Festival in Parks & Recreation, which I enjoyed. But unfortunately the central romance doesn't quite land.
Grade: C
He initially dismisses the romantic overtures of Kyle, a nurse at the assisted living facility in town, because Kyle is 25 and Paul is in his late thirties. But it's really because he's not sure if he deserves love.
This was the weakest of the three stories for me. I like Paul, but of the three best friends in the group, he has always felt like the one who had the thinnest back story. It's obvious from the beginning that he and Arthur should never be together in the long run, but it's never clear where they are emotionally - was Paul in love with him? Were they both just settling? If so, why did Paul suddenly want more? The longer the series goes on, the less believable the relationships end up feeling, because they just don't actually behave like real people do. I wanted a happily ever after for Paul, but Kyle feels like the obvious option only because he's the last single gay guy in a town that's quite small but seems to be the next Provincetown. The book does acknowledge that, at least, and there are a bunch of small town initiatives that reminded me a lot of the Harvest Festival in Parks & Recreation, which I enjoyed. But unfortunately the central romance doesn't quite land.
Grade: C
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