A towering novel filled with realistic imagination, The Glass Letters by Samantha Anne Gensch tells the story of Aiden Cooper whom we encounter at the opening of the narrative, broken and still unable to recover from a breakup with his girlfriend of nearly five years. Hurt and in a horrible condition — emotionally, physically, and psychologically — he slowly opens up to his friend Brett Glenson who runs the bar. A friendship with Jack, someone he mostly sees at work, stirs up feelings he never knew existed. As he feels attracted to Jack, he must rename his relationships and reconnect with the core of who he really is. But can he?

This is a novel that will thrill fans of LGBTQ, but it is written in a voice that will arrest anyone who enjoys realistic characters and compelling internal conflicts. S.A. Gensch’s characters are genuinely flawed and readers find them in situations that are real, navigating complex relationships. The author pays a lot of attention to how these characters relate with each other and the connection between Aiden and his best friend and sister, Jaxie, is one that pulled me in strongly, right from the opening pages. This masterful novel explores the psychology of a character that struggles with coming out and the exploration of his emotions and the flux of thoughts that occupy his mind is cleverly and poignantly accomplished.

The Glass Letters is an emotional rollercoaster and a tale that is adroit and profound in how it explores human relationships and nature. Themes of friendship, love, and solitude shine through the narrative, and while some readers might be turned off by Aiden’s frequent emotional and psychological breakdowns, they eventually uncover his need for attention and his sense of dependency as each layer of his personality peels off. The novel features rich prose and a beautifully imagined setting. The assured and strong writing melds with the sophistication in character execution to provide such an enjoyable reading experience. The story dazzles with details and the emotional depth of the characters is expertly executed.