Kathleen in Oslo's Reviews > Big Boy

This bite-size novella is utterly delicious. I gulped it down in one ravenous bite, and then scrolled right back to the beginning to savor it as it deserves.

The character work is masterful. After 5 pages, I felt like I knew Mandy better than some of the people I've dated. Tyler is necessarily more obscure, but crucially, we understand from the beginning why Mandy wants him, what she sees in him, and what he and their dates and their play does for her. The setup is divine: their encounters happen in this liminal space, out of time (literally, with the period roleplay), in (but also out of) character, removed in every way from the responsibilities and obligations of daily life. The central conflict, then, is not just whether Mandy is in love, but who she is in love with -- and whether and how this love can translate from make-believe to everyday.

Mandy's voice is smart, assured, analytical, sarcastic. The dialog, little though there is, is spot on and funny. And the feelings, my god, the feelings!!! Serious pining and head-over-heeliness, but expressed in this understated, dry, almost detached (because it hurts too much!!!) way. "Understated, dry, detached megafeels while the person just gets on with things because they have no choice" is absolutely one of my favorite angst moods and let me tell you, Ruthie Knox nails it hard. The arc and the conflict are so real and true, the resolution so amazing.

This is just . . . I can't even. I didn't know it was possible to do all of this, much less in 70 pages. My god.

So please, my people, I am begging you: block off an hour and give yourself this gift. You deserve this joy in your life!!!!!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be off investigating Ruthie Knox's backlist.