Summer camps are a very American theme, but one that I’ve always found curious, whether it’s watching Heavyweights or The Simpsons’ episode Kamp Krusty. I’ve never read about one before though, especially not two in close proximity, each split only by sex.
Significant Others follows a group of friends who find themselves at different community camps, one for men and one for women. From the lesbian mothers D’or and DeDe and their children, to global superstar Wren and her older friend Booter, the group find their stories intimately intertwined, even if they don’t know it. It also continues the story of Brian and Mary Ann, a young couple whose lives are questioned when Brain discovers a partner from an affair has been diagnosed with AIDS, and fears his own diagnosis may be impending.
I enjoyed the fourth book in this series, Babycakes, and the fifth volume was even better than the last. I enjoyed reconnecting with a range of familiar characters, as well as new ones such as Wren, Booter and D’or, and I found the setting of these two unusual camp communities to be a fantastic way to explore different nuances and issues that each of the characters face in their journeys. It was also sobering but important to read more about the characters affected by HIV/AIDS, and to further understand the realities and loss that was associated with the virus, and the profound effect it had on the LGBTQ+ community. I also particularly enjoyed the storyline of D’or and DeDe, which explored themes of motherhood, discrimination and juxtaposing views on topics such as body confidence, which was portrayed particularly well.
This book was a great read. Easy to get into, yet powerful, important and fun. The subject matter was particularly deep at times, but this added to the cohesion the characters showed with one another and their environments, and the representation in this story was very powerful.
Rating: ★★★★★
Significant Others (ISBN: 0-552-99880-X) was published in 1987. A copy is available to borrow from the LGBTQ+ Lending Library in the LGBTQ+ Lounge
