THE SECOND ACT COMEBACK

In Norton’s novel, a retail worker in his late 20s navigates the challenges of his relationships, his passions, and his personal growth.

The story opens in Rockingham, New Hampshire, in the late 2010s, with Mickey Patrick and his wife and high school sweetheart, Beth, at a health clinic; there, he discovers that she’s been having an affair with a man named Brad and is pregnant with his child. Afterward, the narrative shifts between the past and present, illustrating the pivotal moments of Mickey’s life that led to his current situation. As a child in Rockingham, he endured physical and emotional abuse from his stepfather, Raymond, which left him timid and submissive. During his high school years in the early 2000s, he found refuge in the Drama Club, where he could finally express himself; it’s also when Mickey developed friendships with siblings Torey and Luci Rizzo. Torey, initially a bully, became his pal after Mickey stood up to him; Luci became a close friend for whom Mickey secretly harbored romantic feelings. In the present, with support from his brother, Mason (who eventually marries Torey), Mickey confronts Raymond about the years of abuse and later reexamines other aspects of his life. Overall, the book succeeds in fully developing Mickey’s journey as he moves from a place of self-doubt to self-acceptance, and readers may find it inspiring and relatable. However, at times, the dialogue can feel overly dramatic, which detracts from the feeling of authenticity, as when one character defends their infidelity during an argument: “What do you care, man? You got to fuck fat little Dora! You should be happy!” Nonetheless, this book maintains a good pace with consistently engaging developments, such as the clinic visit, the confrontation with Raymond, and Mickey’s rekindling of his passion for acting. The relationship between Mason and Torey is sweet and a great foil to Mickey and Beth’s troubled marriage.

An often-compelling story about trauma recovery and personal empowerment.