THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS

All the world—including a childhood home—is a stage!

Finn, a White 17-year-old, has a lot going on in his life: His blended family—consisting of his lesbian mothers, White Lula and Black Nomi, and his gay biracial college-age brothers, Andre and Kendrick, who are identical twins—is putting on an “interactive play meets murder mystery meets escape room” in their Victorian home, the Jorgensen House. The house is owned by the Beauregard Theatre and was a pet project of the former artistic director, who supported Lula’s plan to use the basement for set and prop storage while turning the upper floors into rental space for weddings and events. With the previous director’s passing, the new person is looking to trim the budget and sell the home. If that’s not enough, Finn is also trying to woo drama student Alexa, deal with complicated feelings about former friend Jade, and score a place in his high school’s acting lab, which he hopes will help him with his college goals. It’s a lot—and there’s more! A leaky roof, a cancer scare, a hidden treasure, and various actors’ individual issues all make their ways into a complicated plot that also addresses racism, sexuality, and privilege. The novel may appeal to those who enjoy the stress and chaos of an opening night, but for others it could feel like an overstuffed reading experience that doesn’t offer enough space to reflect on all the content.

Overwhelming and breathless.