These books definitely need to be read in order to get the most out of them. I’m glad I started at the beginning, and I think I have a slightly unfair advantage in that I was able to read all three at once. For me, that was ideal, keeping the momentum going. It’s release day for Jonathan’s Legacy, but I will be reviewing all three below.
Length: 60,000 words (210 pages) approx.
We follow the Jackson family, founded by Jonathan and Dan, as they grapple with the loss of their family patriarch. Parker and Cody set out to start a patchwork family of their own, while Marc comes to terms with his loss. And who is Kim Hwan?
This is the third and final book in this accidental trilogy, a book written out of the desperate search for answers, to bring hope where there was only despair, and to find much-needed closure. Anything but a happily ever after is unimaginable.
Jonathan’s Hope
I skipped over this one when it came up as a recommended read because I wasn’t sure I would like it. The synopsis made it sound stark. I’m only sorry I waited so long to give it a chance.
For me, this was less about contemporary realism and more like the author sat down by the fire to offer a fable. While the characters themselves have a genuine feel to them, the story has a lot of moments where I needed to suspend my disbelief. However, when read as a metaphor, it works perfectly.
This is not lighthearted or tender and sweet. It has a lot of really dark moments, and the cold setting lends itself well to the story’s overall tone. My sense was that the theme, even more than hope, was about growth: Jonathan becoming a man and discovering who he was; Dan learning how to be his own person after losing his husband; and the two of them growing together through it all. I had the general sense of “it gets better” throughout.
There is a love story in here, but it isn’t only the romantic one between Dan and Jonathan. This is a love letter to anyone who has lost hope. If you’re looking for a passionate falling in love/lust story, this is not it. But if you want a modern-day gay literary parable, you’ve found your match.
For a lost boy I just wanted to hug, a thoughtful storyline, and a light at the end of the tunnel, this gets 8/10 fountain pens.
Jonathan’s Promise
This picks up many years after the first book starts, but essentially right after that one ends. The first thing I noticed was that the somewhat conversational flow was gone, and I did miss it a bit. However, I think it might not have worked as well for the plot.
If the first book was all about growth, this one is all about starting over. At many points throughout, various characters have a reset and do-over moment. There are some tough times ahead for the Jackson clan, but there are good times, too. Every time it seems like a character might be knocked down, something good comes afterward or even as a result.
This time around, there are a lot of small details sprinkled in which give us hints about the relationship between Jonathan and Dan over the years. But this is primarily about Jonathan’s journey as an old man, after losing Dan. He’s an incredibly optimistic person despite all of the things he’s been through. I loved seeing the world through his eyes and his ability to find the good in people.
For an excellent follow-up novel, a man whose love we should all aspire to, and a family built out of that love, this gets 9/10 fountain pens.
Jonathan’s Legacy
This is definitely my favorite of the trilogy, despite the fact that I miss Jonathan’s direct presence. He’s there in spirit, though, and it’s easy to see why this is indeed his legacy.
Like the first two, I saw multiple themes, but the biggest one I picked up on was family: we are not bound by the confines of blood, marriage, or legal adoption but by the bonds we choose to create. Jonathan may have left his family financially well-endowed, but he left more than that.
As in the previous two parts, there is a love story, but it’s not the focus. What I took away from it was the idea that people have a great capacity to love when allowed to do so freely. This fits nicely with the the ideas about family as well. The Jacksons have consistently invited people to share in the love they have for each other, and we as readers get to be part of it.
Now that I’ve completed the series, I can see another overarching theme, restoration and healing. I’m convinced there are other big ideas, and that’s what I loved most about the books. For me, they were not about the particulars of the plot or the characters but about what we as readers take away from the experience. I have no doubt that every person could see something that would make them think deeply about life, the world, and the people around us. I would hope anyone taking the time to enjoy the books would pause to reflect on how we can be better to each other.
For a solid ending to the series, characters I could read about forever, and a lot to think about, this gets 10/10 fountain pens.
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