4.5* – Some books, like some people, are sunny. That’s what I thought when I read Brooklyn Summer, my first Maggie Cummings book, in January, and it’s the feeling I am again left with after Totally Worth It, her debut novel and book 1 in the Bay West Social series.
While there is some romance happening – and some not happening –, Totally Worth It is literally about more than two people meeting. It’s about Meg moving to lesbian-exclusive development Bay West on Staten Island and becoming the adult she can be; it’s about Lexi and her huge crush on Jesse, her neighbour/boss/parents’ ex-best friend. It’s about said Jesse trying not to screw up. It’s also about Lexi’s mothers, Jesse’s friends, Meg’s elusive colleague…
Totally Worth It made me think of a lesbian version of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City (minus the outrageousness) or of ensemble cast films like Garry Marshall´s Valentine’s Day, for example. It’s a fantastic start to the series, and when I closed it, all I wanted to do was to immediately begin the second book, Serious Potential. Not because this one was too short, or left some issues up in the air, but because I didn’t want to leave this universe and its inhabitants. I like it there.
Jude in the Stars 