Review by piplup45 -- Backcomb & Tattoo by Shea R Embry

[piplup45]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Backcomb & Tattoo" by Shea R Embry.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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“Remember to have fun.. It’s the best thing to have.” These are the immortal words of a “young” Aunt Mary Opal, one of four main characters in Shea R. Embry’s Backcomb & Tattoo, a tale of the friendship between four extraordinary women that endures all the hardships of modern life in Atlanta, where Embry lives today.

The story begins as Rachael LeBlanc, wife of rockstar Jake LeBlanc, returns home after spending six months in Charlotte with her dying mother. She has hopes of spending time with her husband, but instead comes home to a mess and a note. He’s at a gig like he always is. Fortunately, the neighbors have invited her to a party. Rachael finds herself drawn to a spitfire of a woman about 70 and an unlikely friendship blossoms. Soon, Rachael and Aunt Mary Opal are meeting weekly to drink Jack Daniel’s all night and share stories that are just slightly more interesting than the truth. As time goes on, these meetings also include Jesi, a free-spirited and well-traveled woman who has her share of stories to tell and Nicole, an attractive young woman who just left an abusive relationship. While Aunt Mary Opal is almost twice the age of the others, her youthful spirit and feisty nature keep them entertained.

The group of ladies continue the weekly meetings and begin to call it the “ladies’ light luncheon,” an amusing name due to how they usually drink too much and end up spending the night. Over time, they begin to open up with one another. They share tales of love, loss, and everything in-between. Aunt Mary Opal, however, is most amused with secrets: those she has with each of her friends individually and those she keeps to herself. While secrets occasionally cause issues between the women, they also end up being the tie that brings them closer.

This book was so well-written I found difficulty taking breaks while reading. The brilliant flow has a unique way of holding the reader’s attention. There are segments where the descriptions are vivid enough I felt as if I were at Aunt Mary Opal’s table drinking with them and enjoying life for a while. From the writing style to the plot, I struggle to find a part I did not enjoy, as even the editing was thorough and precise.

I was most impressed by the genuine queer representation, the handling of dark themes in a way that doesn’t bring down the mood of the story, and the underlying philosophies discussed. There are several strong lesbian characters (and one bisexual woman) that are fully developed and multi-dimensional, which is not common enough in literature, especially from southern writers like Embry. Issues of self-harm and spousal abuse were present, but they were well-balanced and fit into the story. The characters not only shared about their experiences, but they also explained them, dealt with them, and coped with them; just as real people do. It takes personal experience and presence of mind to write about such topics and develop these characters so thoroughly and I applaud that talent by rating Backcomb & Tattooby Shea R. Embry4 out of 4 stars.

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Backcomb & Tattoo
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[Odette Chace]

Thanks for a lovely review. This sounds like a refreshing and heart-warming read.