We Could Be So Good: A Novel

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 1,363 ratings

Price: 22.04

Last update: 11-10-2024


About this item

A New York Times Notable Book of 2023

A New York Times Books Review Best Romances of 2023 pick Apple Books’ Best Books of the Month Amazon Best Books of the Month Editor’s Pick, Romance An NPR “Books We Love” Library Journal Romance Pick of the Month LibraryReads Hall of Fame: June 2023 Publishers Weekly Best Romances of 2023

Casey McQuiston meets The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in this mid-century grumpy/sunshine rom-dram about a scrappy reporter and a newspaper mogul’s son "‘for Newsies shippers,’ [that] absolutely delivers” (Dahlia Adler, Buzzfeed Books).

“A spectacularly talented writer!”—Julia Quinn

Nick Russo has worked his way from a rough Brooklyn neighborhood to a reporting job at one of the city’s biggest newspapers. But the late 1950s are a hostile time for gay men, and Nick knows that he can’t let anyone into his life. He just never counted on meeting someone as impossible to say no to as Andy.

Andy Fleming’s newspaper-tycoon father wants him to take over the family business. Andy, though, has no intention of running the paper. He’s barely able to run his life—he’s never paid a bill on time, routinely gets lost on the way to work, and would rather gouge out his own eyes than deal with office politics. Andy agrees to work for a year in the newsroom, knowing he’ll make an ass of himself and hate every second of it.

Except, Nick Russo keeps rescuing Andy: showing him the ropes, tracking down his keys, freeing his tie when it gets stuck in the ancient filing cabinets. Their unlikely friendship soon sharpens into feelings they can’t deny. But what feels possible in secret—this fragile, tender thing between them—seems doomed in the light of day. Now Nick and Andy have to decide if, for the first time, they’re willing to fight.


Top reviews from the United States

NicoleR.M.M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular book and on my Best Of The Year Shelf
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2023
This book made me smile and laugh out loud, it made me feel warm and fuzzy and it made me tear up. What more can I ask for in a book?! I highlighted almost the entire book and I can’t seem to stop wanting to share all the amazing quotes it hides inside. For now I will just hide away and embrace all these feelings I am feeling right now.

So, yes, I guess I owe a review for some time now. I just finished the audio, however, so I thought it was about time I would try to find the words to describe how I feel about this book. Which is A LOT!
First of all, the audio was okay-ish I guess. I wasn't sure the narration of Joel Leslie would work for me, but I desperately wanted to re-read and since my time was limited, the audio seemed the right solution. It was just okay. The story itself? I might love it even more after reading it again. There's so much I want to say about how much I love it, but I don't think I am able to find the right words to explain it properly. I only wished for another narrator. Joel Leslie and I used to go well, but lately we don't gel that well anymore. I don't like the way he portrays women, he makes them all sound like they are well in their 80's when most of them are young and vivid. Here I also didn't like how he made Andy and Nick sound like they came from the British countryside instead of them living in Brooklyn, NYC. Even when Andy comes from a money background, he should not sound like this. With one of the characters named Nick Russo, I really would have loved for this book to be narrated by Nick J. Russo. That would have been something! And besides that, Nick J. Russo is fast becoming one of my favorite narrators - he performs a book instead of just reading it. But alas, that didn't happen and so I had to endure Joel Leslie in my ears instead. It wasn't really bad, but if this book hadn't been on my Best Of The Year list, I might not have finished listening to it.

Now on to Nick's and Andy's story. There's something about Cat Sebastian's writing that I really love. I love how she subtly includes historical facts about living in NYC in that particular era without overloading her readers with everything she knows and learned through research. It all feels so natural, as if she went back in time herself and tells everything from her own experience.

So what wasn't to love about this beautiful, sweet, charming, heartwarming and heartbreaking book? There were funny times, there was a lot of love between friends and new found friends, between family. Between Nick and Andy. Nick is a city reporter who works for the newspaper Andy is going to inherit from his father. From the moment they meet, Nick is smitten with him. And so was I. I loved how clumsy Andy could be, it added so much to the sweetness of his character. I loved how naive he was at the beginning, and how he learned throughout the book. About himself, about city life, about Nick and riding subways. Mostly about himself. When his fiancée breaks up with him, it slowly occurs to him he isn't as devastated about it as he expected to be. And that's all because of Nick, who offers him a place to stay and who takes care of him like a real friend.
From there on it gets harder for Nick to hide his real feelings for Andy. But with them being so close to each other every day, both at work and at home, Andy also finds himself attracted to Nick in a way he never even considered possible. Their lives intertwine more and more without them even really planning to, and it was another reason to love this book so much.

I loved the slow burn, loved how their relationship developed. A tender, caring friendship that eventually evolves into more than that.
I loved how we got peaks into their lives. About Nick's family and his fear for finding out he's queer. About Andy, who lost his mother and who still needs to clean out her apartment. Andy, who is expected to run the newspaper after his father steps back and it scares him to death because he is sure he won't be up to the task.

I loved every minute, every second I spent with these guys. Cat Sebastian did such an exquisite job to write their romance set at the end of the fifties, the language she used to describe the city and society at that time transported me right then and there. Many emotions barreled through me while reading - I laughed and cried, and felt like I was wrapped in a comfy blanket all around. I loved this so much, I'm afraid it takes a proper word juggler to describe exactly what it did to me.
Highly, highly recommended (the book, not the audio unfortunately).
Carissa Janes
4.0 out of 5 stars Sweetness
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2023
This cover is perfect for the book! I loved Nick and his grumpy, caring gruffness and Andy and his chaotic, endearing sweetness. The cat could have easily stolen the show and we need more of him! So many sweet and simple ways that the characters expressed their feelings for each other. Not much angst and it just seemed perfectly easy.
William Edward
5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic and Heartfelt
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2024
This is one of the best MM Romances I've ever read. It quietly and effectively related a very believable account of two men falling in love. I think it was 130 pages before they even kissed. There are sex scenes, but they are not overblown and over- choreographed. It's also a success as an historical novel. The aura and routine details of life in the late 1950s are evocative and accurate. The inner workings of journalism and the newspaper industry are fascindting. Actual historical events are woven into the plot. While there is plenty of personal drama, much of the conflict is because of the fact that being out and gay then was a challenge -- socially, legally, and politically. But many people DID find a way to build a life. This would make a terrific movie.
Blatimore Phil
5.0 out of 5 stars JUST A VERY HEARTWARMING STORY
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
One forgets the struggles of hiding one's identity here in this country or matter of fact in other countries now. It's a wake up call of not taken for granted the rights we have today. As an elderly gay man I can appreciate the movement in my youthful days during the seventies. This narrative was not overdramatic and tasteful imagining intimacy absent explicit details. The historical era still had relevance in portraying loving who you want despite oppression. Personally, I was touched by the story and character development. The blend of humor and seriousness worked well. The only thing I missed was Andy's father with him at the final scene. This would have added icing to the cake.

Thanks CAT for this lovely gift!
JRF
5.0 out of 5 stars So sweet!
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2024
This book is so sweet! The author did such a fabulous job of capturing the different perspectives of two men navigating love, companionship, trust, and compassion for the first time—especially in keeping with such an uncertain and fearful time period. I found myself smiling and silently encouraging Andy and Nick all throughout the book. It was easy to root for these two! Definitely recommend this read! :)
J. Whitney
4.0 out of 5 stars Well written exploration of gay awakening in the 50s
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2024
Strong characters, interesting narrative voice. A bit too explicit for me as an old conservative hetero male, hence the 4 star vs 5. I assume most queer readers would not have that issue!
Felt real and well researched. Very enjoyable read.
Stuart L
5.0 out of 5 stars Gay Historical Romance
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2024
Good job of portrying the historical setting. I loved the romance and story of the charactures - I just had to let go of the times I felt the story was "gay washing" the feel of the times (even in NYC) - but I realize that would corrode the romance of the story.

I very much recommend this book for a really good historical romance.
Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars A Love Story
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2024
She explores all the uncertainties of falling in love. The novel is true to that experience regardless of who you are.

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