Three strangers heading to a convention in Toronto are stranded in rural Ontario, where a small town with a subtle kind of magic leads each to discover what he’s been searching for.

Ed Sinclair and his friends get stuck in Hopewell after their car breaks down. It’s snark at first sight when he meets local mechanic Lyn, but while they’re getting under each other’s skin, the town might show them a way into one another’s hearts.

Rome Epstein is out and proud and clueless about love. He’s hosting a giant scavenger hunt at the convention, but ends up in Hopewell. When the town starts leaving him clues for its own scavenger hunt, he discovers a boy who could be the prize he’s been searching for.

Fielding Roy has a gift for seeing the past. His trip to reunite with friends hits an unexpected stop in Hopewell, but a long-lost love letter and two local boys give him a chance to do more than watch the past. This time, Fielding might be able to fix the present.

Three short stories, three chances to enjoy unique and unusual stories with LGBTQ characters that aren’t your typical. Not only are the stories different but the geek in me loved that all three characters are on the way to a science fiction convention. As a scifi fan myself, I loved this element. But there truly is a lot to love in these stories.

In the first story ‘Roadside Assistance’ by Jeffrey Ricker, the two characters don’t start out as friends in the beginning but exploring the town leads to friendship. While there are romantic elements, each story takes place over a couple days and so the romance is kept to potential only. The friendship is developed at a great pace and the plot is engaging as is the dialogue. 

In the next story, ‘The Scavenger Hunt’ by J. Marshall Freeman, we meet Rome who is different from the others around him but the boy he meets is equally distant from those around him. When the pair meets, they find common ground. The fact that they find commonalities makes the story fun and interesting. Again, I really like that the pair like each other but start as friends and we only see the potential beginning of a relationship. 

Like the previous two, the story of ‘Hope Echoes’ by ‘Nathan Burgoine is all about the friendship that Fielding Roy develops with two new friends in Hopewell. The boys help Fielding get a lost letter to its rightful owner and in the process, the friendship shows a possibility for romance between the three. 

I like that the romance is light, it is realistic that none of the characters try to maintain a relationship after only two days but get to know each other and find a friendship amongst their troubles. 

If you like friendship and unusual romances, this is the novel for you. The stories are short but are complete, well paced, and engaging. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 left turns.