"Epic in scope, Skipstone's stunning book is an unflinching conventional narrative of how queer women are viewed in today's world. It is a journey of gender and sexual discovery. It celebrates the beauty and complexity of queer lives without glossing over the trauma created by a transphobic society. It's the kind of queer narrative we badly need: honest, freeing, and vital. . . . Crystal's House of Queers is beautiful and painful and full of the kind of raw honesty that feels like a true gift." --Authors Reading
"A triumphant and poignantly drawn journey of self-acceptance and self-advocacy...The expert pacing and tight plotting keep the pages flying. Featuring an entertaining cast of disable and queer characters, this book focuses on sexual identity, abuse, bullying, family and friendship, and individual desires. This is a page-turner." -The Prairies Book Review
"The author has a gift of writing dialogues that are perfect and flow naturally, and it is interesting how these dialogues move the story forward while exploring and deepening characterization. The characters are well-developed, fully drawn, and sophisticated, and I enjoyed the ambiance in Crystal's home and the boisterous nature of the characters. One of those books I raced through and would pick up again, thanks to the lively narrative voice and the character depth." --Christian Sia
"This story is at once an intelligent homage to gay love and a startlingly original romance with a vividly described setting in the small town of Clear, Alaska. The author is never lacking in wit and she created characters that I still followed after turning the last page. Crystal's House of Queers has huge doses of humor, features dialogues that feel real, and plot points that are solidly imagined and executed with skill." --Ruffina Oserio
". . . told in such a compelling and impassioned way that makes your heart ache and soar with all the highs and lows. . . . I would recommend Crystal's House Of Queers to anyone looking for an emotional yet invigorating lesbian romance novel." -Literary Titan
"Crystal's House of Queers by Brooke Skipstone is a sweeping and passionate romance with strong gay themes, following compelling characters. The plot builds up with emotional intensity, and the characters develop throughout the story to a point where they realize it is time to override the prejudices of society, a time to fight: 'Because we love.' This is an immersive narrative with a tense plot and characters that swept me away. Brooke Skipstone's exploration of character and her gift for atmospheric writing are elements that augment the entertainment quality of this emotive and engaging tale." --Jose Cornelio
"With never a dull moment, the story progresses from one imminent danger to another, from one dramatic revelation to even more. Beyond the thrills and suspense, however, is a unique love story between individuals and among a group of tough-as-nails queers who find themselves and help protect others like themselves. Great story." -NetGalley review
"The story is not only sharp and moving, but distinguished by its exploration of the themes of bullying, abuse, addiction, and stigma related to disability and LGBTQ among teens and young adults.The accompanied illustrious are absolutely gorgeous. Through Crystal's journey to finding her voice, Skipstone provides an intelligent meditation on love, family, friendship, and identity." -The BookView Review
2022-03-25
A teenage girl finds her queer identity in the midst of a family crisis in Skipstone’s novel.
The small town of Clear, Alaska, isn’t the most inviting place to be an openly queer teen. It’s a conservative town where most people think Covid-19 is a hoax, even as local cases increase. Ever since in-person classes have resumed, high school senior Crystal Rose has been having sex dreams about her secret crush Haley Carson, who was once her best friend. Crystal intervenes one day when Haley’s boyfriend, Dylan Whitley, gropes Haley in the school hallway. The moment reinvigorates the girls’ friendship—Haley is impressed with Crystal’s self-possession and artistic abilities—and their relationship starts to blossom into something more. Meanwhile, a new girl arrives at school: Payton Reed, an out lesbian who doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her. When Crystal’s grandparents, who raised her, leave town to visit the hospital—they think they might have Covid-19—Crystal invites Haley to hide out from Dylanat her house. Then Crystal’s parents, whom she’s long believed to be dead, show up in Clear for the first time in 14 years. Along with Haley, Payton, and a few other new friends, Crystal attempts to adjust to the changes in her life while defending herself from those who would destroy her happiness. Skipstone’s prose is urgent and expressive, as when Crystal ruminates over her mother Maya’s alcoholism: “Crystal won’t speak because she’s afraid of what she’ll say. Why couldn’t Maya have entered rehab by herself? Gotten sober and gone back to her parents and kids?” The novel deals with issues of queer identity, domestic violence, sexual abuse, addiction, and neurodiversity, and at times, the plot feels overstuffed with various tensions. In part, this is a result of Skipstone’s decision to set the novel over the course of two days, during which an improbably large number of significant events occur. Although the author’s attempts to speak to a great many issues is admirable, she doesn’t allow enough space in this narrative to give them each the proper amount of emotional weight.
An earnest but sometimes credulity-straining story of empowerment and community formation.
