Secret Light

3.5 stars. I love stories set in the 1950s, so I had high hopes for this book. As a Jewish woman, I was primed to be invested in Rafe, a man with a Jewish background facing both homophobia and anti-Semitism. I found the other MC, Ben, to be an absolute sweetheart - caring, honorable, brave and patient - but I wish I had liked Rafe more than I did. I understood that he had closed himself off entirely from meaningful relationships for many years because of his traumatic experiences, but the relationship with Ben felt woefully one-sided, both in bed and outside of it. And while Rafe's dog Mooki had a fully developed personality, the book's villain was cartoonishly evil and one dimensional. There were some very touching moments and a lovely ending, but it didn't quite come together for me in a completely satisfying way. This is the second “not quite” book I've read by Z.A. Maxfield (after [b:Rhapsody for Piano and Ghost 11444405 Rhapsody for Piano and Ghost Z.A. Maxfield https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1306214129l/11444405.SY75.jpg 16378177]) but I'm optimistic that eventually I'll find one that works for me.