August Barton thought his tribulations were over, but some truths are hard to swallow. He’s been with Rose Varley for over a year, and has his heart set on taking the next step: a marriage proposal. He’s not prepared, however, for the obstacles that soon find their way into Augie’s life—tornadoes, drunken bachelorette parties, and an earth-shattering confession from his stepdad John are all … trials Augie will need to overcome if he’s going to keep the girl. With his Grandma Gertie and mom off at a retreat in the Cayman Islands, the revelation Augie never prepared himself for was that, for once, he was going to have to figure it out all on his own.
more
A wonderful continuation of Augie’s journey. Augie encountered some heartbreak during this book (no spoilers) which were ultimately necessary for his growth. I also enjoyed Diane’s growth as a mother and person in this story. As always, Gertie steals the show and is always good for some laughs. I can’t wait to read what happens next in Augie’s life. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a good coming of age story that tackles some tough subjects such as anxiety and childhood issues that effect you into adulthood.
Have I ever said how much I love stories that bear personal relevance in my life? No? Well, I’m saying it now.
Sure, most of us can find some common thread in a story/character that can seamlessly be woven into our own lives. But Augustus Barton, aka Augie, represents a part of me that makes me feel awkward, and that part is, well, awkwardness itself. Don’t get me wrong, I can be a social butterfly when I want to, but that safe pupa of seclusion is always part of the cycle.
Yet, emerging from his own pupa, Augie has managed to do things I would never dream of doing myself – like performing in a band in front of people. From first meeting him in the Tribulations of August Barton, Augie’s character has evolved into one that he, and those around him, could be proud of.
But just as Augie seems to be on track in shaping his future, someone from his past pops up to derail everything and put an end to his carefully mapped-out plans; not only the plans pertaining to his career but also (more importantly) those surrounding Rose and their future together, which he had hoped to make more… permanent.
And this time Gertie isn’t around, because she and Augie’s mom have their own stuff to sort out in a galaxy far, far away… or at least on an island too far away to help August out of his predicament. Whether Augie succeeds or fails, I won’t say, because my spoiler-alert is stuck on quite a sensitive setting.
What I will say, though, is that LeBlanc is not only a good author who produced a story that resonated with me, but also a good writer, or a good editor, or both. I say this because I could actually enjoy the story without getting distracted by copious amounts of errors and style issues. I’ll also say that I’m relieved the author didn’t delete this novella the way she’d wanted to at one stage, as stated in her Acknowledgements.
While I thoroughly enjoyed both The Tribulations and The Revelations of August Barton, I get the feeling LeBlanc has an even greater future ahead of her than even she can envision. Her own pupa of creativity has opened, and she’s started to flex her wings in a serious way. And once she spreads those wings even wider, I cannot imagine anything holding her back.
In short, LeBlanc is an author to keep an eye on, so watch this space…
The Revelations of August Barton is the second book in the August Barton series. This book is every bit as funny as the first one and kept me engaged from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what will happen to poor August in the next book.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.