Growing Pains

Lennox continues her Toronto Connections contemporary romance series (after Finding Your Feet) with a deeper look at the dynamic of the secondary couple from the previous installment: dramatic drag diva Toby “Gigi” Rosenberg and teen crush turned real boyfriend Brock Stubbs. This light, easy story nevertheless digs into deep issues, such as homophobia and childhood abuse, that affect how people enter into new relationships. Gigi wants Brock to be his date to a wedding in the hometown they both hate; when Brock resists, Gigi flounces off, assuming that Brock isn’t committed to him and doesn’t want introduce such a dramatically and overtly queer person to his own family. But Gigi doesn’t realize that Brock has not spoken to his family in years, and that he fears physical violence if he comes out. Lennox’s stories target a young audience, with characters still very tied to their high school selves. Her embrace of a broad range of queer identities and her themes of forgiveness and coming through for loved ones will feel sweet and healing to those who worry that their history makes them unlovable. (Mar.)