Sierra Simone brilliantly integrates faith, brotherhood, community, mental health, politics, and sexuality in her books, and this is my favorite one yet. I wanted to listen straight through in one sitting, and I also wanted to savor the story as it developed. I slowed down my audiobook sped and listened to it over several days, enjoying every moment and tearing up more than once. 

Aiden Bell has been a monk for the past five years. After a terrifying suicidal night and a mysterious biblical text message, he left his farmhouse, his partying, his money, and the love of his life, his brother’s best friend, Elijah Iverson. When Elijah shows up at the monastery with the news that he is getting married and then keeps showing up as a journalist reporting on monastic microbreweries, Aiden is not sure how to reconcile the deep love he still feels for Elijah with the passion and gratitude he has for God. 

Elijah and Aiden embark on a European tour of monasteries as Aiden ponders a hanging to a different, more intense order. This trip highlights Aiden’s split, but mutually enhancing, devotions.  The emotional scenes are deeply resonant, devastating, and the sex scenes are hot, heavy, and so romantic. I would read this entire series again, and this is by far my favorite of the bunch.