Review: An Act of Devotion by A.M. Leibowitz

An Act of Devotion, written by A.M. Leibowitz is an adorable queer romance starring two bisexual disasters I couldn’t be happier. 

Characters: 

Adam and Aj are two unapologetically bi fellas and it’s awesome. Queer spaces are still very inhospitable to bisexual people, so it was so refreshing to see both main characters boldly stand in this space. The fact they are both grad students is personally gratifying as I’m tired of queer folks being displayed as these sexual deviants that only pursue the most liberal of arts. It’s almost like people are three-dimensional. Who knew?

Adam is a snarky, horny boy that’s a little too confident in the wrong things for his own good. Naturally, I instantly identified with him. What I enjoy about Adam the most is that he is willing to admit to his mistakes and try to make them right. Many characters in the “I’m sexy and I know it” camp come with almost an absurd amount of denial when it comes to their own fuck ups. It is quickly established that Adam is more than aware of his flaws. Does he always do the best thing needed to fix those flaws? No. Not at all. But he’s trying. 

Aj is a kind to fault, a terrible busy-body, and not the greatest at self-care. Without getting into spoilers, Aj carries a very heavy emotional burden. His role as the “dad friend” is written very well. Everyone always sees the caring and worrying but no one really talks about the toll being the “dad/mom/parent friend” takes on the friend themselves. Or how that can lead to issues. He’s also an adorable marshmallow that you just wanna give a big hug to. 

The side cast are diverse and believable. Leibowitz really did an excellent job at ensuring that everyone had a voice that was unique. Small bonus points at her portrayal of her black characters. While the vernacular used is subtle, it allows the reader to know exactly what type of person you’re dealing with without being, you know, racist. Which as a black reader, I can appreciate. Everyone in the side cast felt impactful and necessary which is a difficult task for most writers. Well done Leibowitz. 

Setting:

The university backdrop wasn’t anything out of the ordinary because it didn’t need to be. In “slice of life” romances such as this, the setting is often a means to an end. I’m glad Leibowitz kept is smooth and simple. It allowed for important locations to shine when needed and didn’t distract the reader. 

Plot:

Now I’m not usually a romance reader because I enjoy reading things with higher stakes and often the drama found in romance novels are so contrived. This was not the case here. The romance between Adam and Aj is nuanced and realistic. As is the drama that surrounds the two. The things that go wrong are largely attributed to the character flaws that were established. So, when the shit hits the fan, you roll your eyes. Not because its out of left field, but because you wanna shake the characters. And the one moment of high drama is appropriate though I would’ve liked to see the instigator’s consequences in real time. But that’s just because I’m a petty asshole. As for the freaky sneaky bits, they do their job. Leibowitz remembers that lube is a requirement for penetrative sex between men and thus I have no complaints. 

Overall:

This was an entertaining read from start to finish. The characters are three-dimensional and enjoyable and romance is adorable. It has a dash of self-discovery (that doesn’t have to do with anyone’s sexuality) and pinch of cheese to elicit that “aww” from you. Highly recommend.