There are twelve short stories in The Packing List and most of them range from ok to fantastic. The anthology is filled with romances between people over 40 and the proceeds go to reproductive health groups. Access to good reproductive healthcare is a sign of a healthy society and we are losing it. I’m so happy to see some of my favorite authors involved with this. I was impressed with the variety of romances – historical, queer, second chance, sci fi, and contemporary.
Rather than review every story, I’m going to focus on the ones that were standouts to me.
“Auntie” by Mia Hopkins. This was such a joy to read. Hopkins packs so much into “Auntie” while also giving us a feeling of openness and possibility. Jo has come to visit her sister and nieces for the weekend, leaving behind her worries about money and the continuing viability of her business. While there, her sister introduces her to Hiroki who is an artist hired to create a mosaic. The two strike sparks and leave the story with a sense of possibility for a future relationship.
“The Sun in Her Eyes” by Angelina M. Lopez. I think this is both Lopez first historical romance and sapphic romance. It is not her first “yes, Mexican Americans live in Kansas” story. MaryAnn Callahan, neé Gonzalez has agreed to marry a farmer who isn’t looking for more children, just a wife to keep his home. When MaryAnn arrives at her new home, she’s resigned to her future, hopeful that it will be more secure than the future she was facing. And then she meets her husband’s sister, Roslynn. Cue pining and soft glances. Yes, they get a happy ending.
“Community Property” by Sarah T. Dubb. Dubb is a new favorite, so I was very happy to get a short story from her. Tessa and Jack divorced 20 years ago, but they have retained co-ownership of a cabin in New Mexico. Rather than communicate about who will be at the cabin when, they divide usage by the calendar. They overlap when Jack tries to get ahead of a big storm and takes a chance that Tessa won’t be there. The exes are snowed in together and have time to revisit the circumstances of their divorce. Other than the fact that I am well over 40 years old, I love later in life romances like “Community Property” because they give us a chance to think about the way our priorities change with experience.
“No Going Back” by J. Calamy. There was a lot of good in this queer scifi romance, it’s one of the few stories that I think would have worked better in a longer format. There was a lot going on and a lot worth exploring. It was definitely worth reading.
This anthology is available for a limited time, so go get it now.
