Taking her rage out on a world with her father no longer in it, she grows up and begins to question the mythology that has engulfed her memories of the man behind the art. The best part? Photos of Schactman’s artwork appear within these pages, which creates an even more intimate feel. It’s a memoir that explores grief in a way that has never been done before. Not only is she faced with the startling discovery that her “loving” husband had been having an affair with 23-year-old Southern belle, Savannah, but it also turns out Eliot left his share of the business to this other woman in the will. Somehow Liv must learn to work together with Savannah. It Had to Be You takes readers on a journey as we witness five couples fall and stay in love. Funny, charming, and a delight to read. Ames suggests an unconventional idea: What if he, Katrina, and Reece raise this baby together? Everybody needs a family, especially a newborn. This enriching novel confronts what readers know and expect to read about queer relationships, motherhood, and chosen family. When her sullen teenage son’s hostility turns from normal teen expression to physical violence, Sammie Lucas must face the realization that her perfect family isn’t so perfect after all. Her marriage to the confident-but-absent Monika is fractured to the point where Sammie has grown resentful. Throughout the novel, Sammie is forced to confront her own ideas of what a happy family can look like, and whether her own can fit into that space. Candid, gorgeous, and written in Arnett’s signature style, this is a must-read.
