I’ll Take Everything You Have Book Review

Because be gay and do crime rings true here.

Song Vibe Check

1. "Relax" By: Frankie Goes To Hollywood

2. "Muscle" By: Years & Years

3. "Killer/Papa was a Rolling Stone" By: George Michael

I discovered the existence of this book through another bookblogger and the name was drilled into my head since then. So, imagine the pleasant surprise when I finally discovered it at my local library and further discovering it took place in the 1930's in my own home in Chicago, in the mobster era I absolutely enjoy.

Sign me up, but before I sign you all up to read this book, here we go with the usual.

Short Summary: A closeted young man heads to Chicago to find an honest job and ends up falling for two very different guys while (accidentally) doing crime too.

Long Summary: Joe Garbe's family is flooded in debt. To make matters worse, they're in the thick of the Great Depression but everything is supposed to be better in Chicago, the city of progress. With the help of hos cousin, Bernie, Joe heads to Chicago to work at a hotel as a dishwasher.

But what is a simple job becomes so much more when he meets Eddie who recognizes the truth Joe desperately tries to hide: he's gay.

And he can't exactly disappoint everyone back at home especially with the pressure to get more cash to pay off the debts. But the chase of more cash leads to him conning a group of people travelling to france, leads him to meeting Raymond who turns his world upside down in the best and worst way possible and for him to learn three things:

1. You can't be fully out as a gay man in some public places.

2. Don't help others get away with murder.

3. Never con those who you begin to care about.

But, if he gets away with all three, he can surely get the money, have his cake and eat it too before the summer ends, right?

I was immediately pulled in by the story and as one of my pride reads for the month, it becomes another favorite for me. From getting a glimpse into gay life in 1930's Chicago, to the nightlife and the dipping of toes into the world of mobsters and people to not mess with, this book has it all: the obstacles, the self-discovery, the romance and tension, the history and the sights of a city written in such a way that it almost felt like a cinematic film noir film. While it doesn't provide an in depth view of the joys and struggles of being gay in Chicago during the 30's, it does give you a glimpse so those that do wish to learn more can do a bit more research on it.

Having read about this for the first time and reading a book like this which feels like a first of it's own kind, I was definitely thrilled to dive into this one and wasn't disappointed.

Overall: 4.5/5 stars