A Most Mutual Bond by Norman Luce

A young woman finds the confidence to explore her more taboo fantasies, bringing her handsome suitor face to face with his past, in A Most Mutual Bond by Norman Luce.

Capturing the pace and passion of a college romance, this novella traces the birth of a fetish, and the journey Sarah takes to communicate those desires in a safe and shame-free way. The romantic tension between Sarah and Kyle is well-developed, and their open conversations are encouraging for young people, twenty-somethings, and anyone else who may blush or struggle when talking about sex.

The book dives headfirst into delicate and difficult subjects – grief, shame, trauma, assault, kink, and self-worth, just to name a few – but in such a short read, the author rushes through a deep dissection of these issues. The editing in the novella could definitely be improved overall, from a misspelled “Foreword” before the prose even begins, to stilted dialogue, basic sentence structure, and clumsy foreshadowing. Even the most intense emotional moments, such as Kyle’s past traumatic recollections, are told without proper sensitivity or patience.

This book is no doubt intended for mature readers, but the storytelling feels more appropriate for young adults, lacking in much nuance or descriptive language. Even so, for a quick and powerful read, with just enough steaminess to keep things interesting, A Most Mutual Bond is provocative and compelling.

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