Queerly Beloved takes place in Oklahoma sometime in the early 2010s. I’m guessing the year is in the early 2010s since same-sex marriage was legalized in 2014 in Oklahoma. At the time that the book is set, same-sex marriage is not recognized in any way.
Amy is a baker at The Daily Bread, a Christian Baker. Amy is in the closet at work but out of the closet everywhere else. Her boss, Donna, at the bakery, is a homophobe. When Donna finds out that Amy is a lesbian, she fires Amy. Donna fires her and gives her a lecture about how being gay is a sin. Donna is the worst. Since 2020, it is illegal to fire someone based on their sexual orientation.
Closeted Amy is much different than Proud Amy. However, we don’t really see Proud Amy very often until the end of the book. Closeted Amy is holding on to old habits of hiding her true self. Amy begins a new service to help bridesmaids but she is still hiding her LGBT+ status. Of course, she doesn’t have to tell anyone but it doesn’t seem healthy to keep a big secret from everyone.
Amy meets Charley. They fall in love. They fall out. They almost make amends. Charley is alright but I’m not her biggest fan. Amy is so sweet and kind but Charley spends most of her time being a distant weirdo. Why are you such a weirdo Charley? Eventually, the reader will find out why Charley is so distant.
If you like books about food and trying to figure out how to be really, really out of the closet. It takes a brave soul to be all of the way out.
If you are suffering or making others suffer from homophobia like Donna, then you won’t appreciate this book. Please seek help for your phobia.
- I received an ebook from NetGalley. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own. Obviously.
