it's all so good: the cover, the dog on the cover, the beautiful cover leading to a beautiful story, the angst and the trauma.

Isamu is returning home with his service dog and a medical discharge from the military. he plans to roll with all the significant changes in his life by traveling the country in a camper van, for which he'll need the help of John, a closed off and grumpy mechanic. a little forced proximity and some sideways glances full of longing later, the two men must decide whether to act on their romantic attraction to each other or continue on as just pit stops in each other's lives. 

there are complicated and thought-provoking themes throughout this book that are done incredibly well, such as familial trauma, self-identity, and community. but i think what makes this book really special is the author's ability to write characters with such nuance and depth. the characters are thoughtfully created - not just in their diversity but also in their fullness. they are vulnerable and flawed and raw. no one feels like a caricature, placeholder, or awkward self-insert, and you fall in love with them, root for them.

i finished the book motivated to let myself be better seen and known in my own life and also like i'll be missing some new (fictional) friends.