Finding Joy

Finding Joy

Adriana Herrera

Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

As his twenty-sixth birthday approaches, Desta Joy Walker finds himself in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the one place he's been actively avoiding most of his life. For Desta, the East African capital encompasses some of the happiest and saddest parts of his life--his first home and the place where his father died. When an unavoidable work obligation lands him there for twelve weeks, he may finally have a chance for the closure he so desperately needs. What Desta never expected was to catch a glimpse of his future as he reconnects with the beautiful country and his family's past. Elias Fikru has never met an opportunity he hasn't seized. Except, of course, for the life-changing one he's stubbornly ignored for the past nine months. He'd be a fool not to accept the chance to pursue his doctoral studies in the U.S., but saying yes means leaving his homeland, and Elias isn't ready to make that commitment. Meeting Desta, the Dominican-American emergency relief worker with the easy smile and sad eyes, makes Elias want things he's never envisioned for himself. Rediscovering his country through Desta's eyes emboldens Elias to reach for a future where he can be open about every part of himself. But when something threatens the future that's within their grasp, Elias and Desta must put it all on the line for love.


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  • sanaonearth42
    Apr 11, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

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  • LBeet
    Apr 16, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

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  • Apr 08, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

    What a lovely book. Desta and Elias are such sweethearts.

    This book transported me to a country I've never been and made it sing. Both Desta and Elias are on the cusp of making major life decisions, but are held back by concern for their families. Moreover, Elias is a gay man living in a country where it is dangerous to be out. This danger results in their mutual attraction simmering under the surface for a significant amount of time before either is certain enough to act on it.

    And once they act, oh boy. It gets steamy.

    Misplaced assumptions cause the rift in the back half of the book, but what I love about Adriana's story telling is that the characters do the emotional work. They sort through feelings, they have conversations, they figure it out, but in a real, messy way that's never too pat.

    I received an ARC from the author for review.

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