Awards and Recognition

This one's a quiet, emotional queer contemporary about grief and learning to find your voice again. We follow Chase as he moves on from a partner who wasn't good for him and slowly unpacks how his childhood and parents trained him to stay small and silent. Eli kept silencing him, and Chase really did lose his sense of self-worth while he was with him, so watching him relearn that he doesn't have to be quiet anymore felt very personal and real. I also loved that he found really good friends and a new partner who helped him heal - it has a gentle found-family vibe that made those uplifting moments land. There are a lot of really good, intimate parts i enjoyed, and the author makes his grief and slow metamorphosis hit; it pulled at my heartstrings and left me more hopeful than I expected. That said, some sections felt a little repetitive and the pacing dragged in places, but I still liked it overall and would recommend it. Reading this as part of my LGBTQ/queer reads, I did most of it on my pink couch with iced coffee - perfect energy for it!

As someone in my 60's, I have read a lot of books over the years, but Inheritance of Silence touched my heart in a way I wasn't expecting. John Erik Dunnam has a beautiful way of writing that draws you into the lives of his characters and makes you feel every emotion alongside them. This isn't just a story about loss or healing - it's about finding the courage to be yourself, even after life has tried to convince you to stay silent. As the adoptive mother of a bisexual son, this book gave me a perspective that was both eye-opening and deeply moving. It reminded me how important it is for everyone to feel seen, heard, and loved for exactly who they are. The story is honest, compassionate, and full of hope, and I found myself thinking about it long after I finished reading it. I especially appreciated how genuine the characters felt. Their struggles, friendships, and personal growth never came across as forced. Everything felt authentic, and that made the emotional moments even more powerful. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh a little, cry a little, and leave you with a full heart, I highly recommend Inheritance of Silence. John Erik Dunnam has written a meaningful debut novel, and I can't wait to read what he writes next!