Review: Failure to Thrive by Katharine M. Sweet

A tender and emotionally charged second-chance romance, Failure to Thrive by Katharine M. Sweet is a cozy reminder that a new life of love can be found in unlikely places.

Following his release from prison after accidentally assaulting a cop, Russ wants nothing more than to keep his head down and get back on track, beginning with his job in the hospital cafeteria. When his first day is delayed by the sight of Aster Reign and her son Liam in obvious distress, his instinct to help them entangles him in their lives. It isn’t long before his generous nature leads them to temporarily move into his trailer, much to the chagrin of Russ’ parole officer.

Both Russ and Aster are looking for a fresh start, trying to leave their painful pasts behind them, and while neither expected to find a stable partner in such an uncertain season of life, their attraction and unexpected compatibility cannot be denied. Navigating the tricky road of living under one roof with a veritable stranger and her precocious and suspicious son is far from simple, but with each passing day, the foundations of trust are built, and worries from the past begin to fade. Leaning on the kindness of strangers and the strength of community, this unconventional family unit deftly dodges potential pitfalls, allowing for compassion and friendship to blossom into something more.

The relationship between Aster and her son Liam is deeply heartwarming, and their conversational exchanges are some of the most authentic and striking in the book. Sweet perfectly captures the dynamic of a mother and son who have already faced too much in their lives together, but trust one another implicitly for support and strength. Liam’s initial skepticism of Russ is also believable and entirely justified, which makes it even more satisfying when his cautious walls begin to lower, leaving room for a proper father figure to develop in his life, and elevating the novel to poignant family drama in addition to romance.

Secondary characters such as Marilyn, Marc, Nestor, Margie, and Jerry are excellent foils that bring out the protagonists’ personalities, while also being vehicles for key lessons in the book about trust, forgiveness, trauma, and resilience. Sweet skillfully addresses issues of emotional abuse and the long-lasting impact it can have on survivors of any age, exploring the subject with grace and respect. Russ is an outstanding character who reaches far beyond romantic fantasy – a man capable of demonstrating emotional intelligence, empathy, and humility in the face of a new partner’s suffering.

On the technical side, the book would benefit from a final proofread to catch the occasional typo, double negative, missing preposition, or awkwardly worded phrase. Some of the narration could also be trimmed, as the prose can sometimes be too overt, leaving very little nuance for the readers’ imagination. On the whole, the clear and articulate dialogue makes the book strong and impactful, but Sweet also needs to trust her readers to connect some of the more obvious dots.

Despite these very minor issues, this is a compelling and comforting read, offering readers an endearing portrait of healthy love blossoming against all odds.