Review by S1234 -- Backcomb & Tattoo by Shea R Embry
Posted: 06 Mar 2020, 09:22
[Following is a volunteer review of "Backcomb & Tattoo" by Shea R Embry.]
Shea R. Embry's Backcomb & Tattoo is a beautifully written slice-of-life tale based on four different women and their unlikely friendship. Rachael, Aunt Mary Opal, Jesi and Nicole's unexpected meeting sparks into a life-long sisterhood. Follow these women battle through difficult times and find yourself crying and laughing along-side them. Each transition into versions of themselves they never knew they could reach and together lock away past struggles and welcome new opportunities.
They collectively experience issues a lot of people may not be estranged to, from relationships, family, illness, marital struggles and those you encounter by just being an adult human. Initially, I was hesitant to read this story as a few reviews hinted it may be too serious. However, I am glad I gave it a chance. Even with no familiarity with some themes, I was able to empathise with the characters. The author handles weighty issues gracefully. There is a good balance of sombre, sentimental and lighthearted elements with plenty of room for laughter. You will not get weighed down by the heavy moments or bored by superficial light moments. As a result, it was easy to lose myself in the journey of each character.
These women earnestly support one another with pure sisterhood. I love it! I enjoyed reading how they find each other. They bond so well and while different they are perfect for each other. When they meet, it is as if there's no problem they can not solve. The same probably happens for the fifth member; the reader.
Aunt Mary Opal is truly one of a kind. I wish she was real! She is not the main character or their guardian angel but has her own struggles and secrets like the others. For me, she is the heart of the group and stands out the most because she knows who she is; making her my favourite character. Thank you, Shea R. Embry, for introducing me to such a lovely character. It took me a while to get used to her because I clearly need to be around happier people. She is such a strong character with effortless influence. I now also find myself thinking, “what would Aunt Mary Opal do?”
By the end, you can't help but feel proud of each character and their personal triumphs. The only problem is that it ended leaving me wanting more but you've redeemed yourself with a sequel, The Weed Lady. That is all. This needs to be a movie. I immediately started searching for books by the same author.
Without spoiling anything, I have one tiny issue. When Rachael makes a decision near the end of chapter two with her sisters. The decision itself is not the problem, however, this is a sensitive time and felt a little rushed. Anyone is welcome to argue otherwise.
While I found a few errors and missing words, this is still very well-edited and did not interrupt the storytelling at all. I feel lucky to have read this and so enthusiastically rate this 4 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed the storytelling style. This is a satisfyingly heartwarming and life-affirming story and for that reason would not give anything below four. I would recommend this to anyone looking to lose themselves in a transformative tale, centring female friendships and the subtle influence good friends can have on our personal growth. Something that can be easily taken for granted.
I would not recommend this to anyone after a fantasy heterosexual romance or a story focusing solely on romance. This fits into a healthy middle between fantasy and realism with humour. Even if this is not your preferred style, I encourage everyone to give it a chance because Aunt Mary Opal is worth introducing into your life. I can not wait to read The Weed Lady.
Short disclaimer: this book tackles sensitive issues including assisted suicide, cancer, same-sex romance and death. Maybe not suitable for religious readers.
******
Backcomb & Tattoo
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Shea R. Embry's Backcomb & Tattoo is a beautifully written slice-of-life tale based on four different women and their unlikely friendship. Rachael, Aunt Mary Opal, Jesi and Nicole's unexpected meeting sparks into a life-long sisterhood. Follow these women battle through difficult times and find yourself crying and laughing along-side them. Each transition into versions of themselves they never knew they could reach and together lock away past struggles and welcome new opportunities.
They collectively experience issues a lot of people may not be estranged to, from relationships, family, illness, marital struggles and those you encounter by just being an adult human. Initially, I was hesitant to read this story as a few reviews hinted it may be too serious. However, I am glad I gave it a chance. Even with no familiarity with some themes, I was able to empathise with the characters. The author handles weighty issues gracefully. There is a good balance of sombre, sentimental and lighthearted elements with plenty of room for laughter. You will not get weighed down by the heavy moments or bored by superficial light moments. As a result, it was easy to lose myself in the journey of each character.
These women earnestly support one another with pure sisterhood. I love it! I enjoyed reading how they find each other. They bond so well and while different they are perfect for each other. When they meet, it is as if there's no problem they can not solve. The same probably happens for the fifth member; the reader.
Aunt Mary Opal is truly one of a kind. I wish she was real! She is not the main character or their guardian angel but has her own struggles and secrets like the others. For me, she is the heart of the group and stands out the most because she knows who she is; making her my favourite character. Thank you, Shea R. Embry, for introducing me to such a lovely character. It took me a while to get used to her because I clearly need to be around happier people. She is such a strong character with effortless influence. I now also find myself thinking, “what would Aunt Mary Opal do?”
By the end, you can't help but feel proud of each character and their personal triumphs. The only problem is that it ended leaving me wanting more but you've redeemed yourself with a sequel, The Weed Lady. That is all. This needs to be a movie. I immediately started searching for books by the same author.
Without spoiling anything, I have one tiny issue. When Rachael makes a decision near the end of chapter two with her sisters. The decision itself is not the problem, however, this is a sensitive time and felt a little rushed. Anyone is welcome to argue otherwise.
While I found a few errors and missing words, this is still very well-edited and did not interrupt the storytelling at all. I feel lucky to have read this and so enthusiastically rate this 4 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed the storytelling style. This is a satisfyingly heartwarming and life-affirming story and for that reason would not give anything below four. I would recommend this to anyone looking to lose themselves in a transformative tale, centring female friendships and the subtle influence good friends can have on our personal growth. Something that can be easily taken for granted.
I would not recommend this to anyone after a fantasy heterosexual romance or a story focusing solely on romance. This fits into a healthy middle between fantasy and realism with humour. Even if this is not your preferred style, I encourage everyone to give it a chance because Aunt Mary Opal is worth introducing into your life. I can not wait to read The Weed Lady.
Short disclaimer: this book tackles sensitive issues including assisted suicide, cancer, same-sex romance and death. Maybe not suitable for religious readers.
******
Backcomb & Tattoo
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon