I love books that make me well up or cry. They feel so cathartic. Recently I read ‘We Are Okay’ by Nina LaCour after weeks of staring at its gorgeous cover. It’s a short read and I finished it in a day. But the emotions it stirred have stayed with me since. Every time I see the spine of the book on the shelf, I’m reminded of how the simple story made me feel and I get goosebumps. LaCour’s tale of grief and coming to terms with it is a lesson on how you don’t have to navigate your life alone and that being open and accepting the help and love you get can heal you. For such a slim book, it packs quite a punch.
We Are Okay is the story of a college freshman named Marin who leaves behind everything and everyone after the sudden death of her grandfather. But her best friend, Mabel, isn’t giving up on her. After repeated failed attempts to connect with her via texts and emails, she visits Marin at her college in New York during winter break when the latter is alone in her dorm. Everyone else has left for the holidays. The narrative alternates between present day and flashbacks to Marin’s life with her grandfather. Slowly you get the idea of what happened in Marin’s life for her to cut ties with everyone. LaCour is a noted LGBTQIA+ novelist and she explores the relationship between Marin and Mabel in that context as well.
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The different settings make the story interesting. In the present, it’s December in New York. There’s a storm raging outside and the gloomy environment reflects Marin’s sense of displacement and loneliness. Then we flashback to California during summer. There is a lot of warmth, comfort, and a sense of safety here. There is a familiarity in the regular rhythms of Marin’s life with her ‘Gramps’. Mabel’s family treats Marin as one of them and there’s a lot of love. Shuttling back and forth between the two settings gives you a complete picture of what’s going on and you see why Marin’s grief runs deep.
LaCour’s writing is so impactful that you feel every bit of Marin’s sadness. You feel her struggles as she tries to own up to her mistakes, make amends, and do the right thing despite her aching heart. Mabel is the best friend anyone could ever ask for. You realize she too must be hurting by constantly being pushed away. The fact that she has had to keep her own feelings aside to tend to Marin overwhelms you time and again.
We Are Okay conveys a powerful message about love, loss, and friendship. It’s just the book you should pick up if you are in need of some comfort.
We Are Okay
Four stars
Fiction
Nina LaCour
Published: 2017
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 234, Paperback
