Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Refuge by Bill VanPatten is a sweet, timely account of life for a young woman in a conservative West Texas town where her parents and grandparents are deeply religious and determined to keep young Gloria from a lifestyle they consider will “send her straight to Hell.” Jesse Pérez grew up gay in the intolerant attitude of Lubbock, West Texas. When he finally screwed up the courage to come out to his parents, their response was to throw him out of the house and label him a sinner. To Jesse’s mind, in hindsight, this was a blessing in disguise. He moved away from Lubbock, met and married David, the love of his life, and together they fathered a now ten-year-old boy, Matthew, through a surrogacy. With David’s untimely death from cancer just six months earlier, Jesse is solely focused on providing a stable and comfortable environment for their mildly autistic son as they work through their grief. When Jesse’s fifteen-year-old niece, Gloria, suddenly appears on his doorstep, late at night, having run away from home, Jesse again has to face the close-mindedness and anti-gay rhetoric of his family and their acquaintances in Lubbock, as he seeks to help Gloria attain freedom and a better life.

Refuge is a timely novel as it focuses on the issues currently sweeping across America, especially as they relate to women’s rights, abortion, and child safety. Author Bill VanPatten has constructed a likely cast of characters who perhaps best exemplify the cultural and moral differences that define the split in American society today. What I appreciated was that the author used the narrative to expose the often gross hypocrisy many fundamental Christians display today. While they claim to be doing “God’s Work,” they display all the characteristics that Jesus himself preached vehemently about; they judge, they condemn, and they certainly do not love their neighbor as themselves. Jesse was interesting in that he was determined that past prejudices and slights would not interfere with his moral duty to not only support his niece in her struggles against her oppressive parents but also actively assist her in achieving her dreams and goals. The best interactions occur between Jesse and his beloved son Matthew. Although Jesse loves his son dearly, one can also feel the deep connection, through Matthew, to his late husband. As he puts it at one point, “David’s blood runs through Matthew's veins.” The legal journey Jesse is forced to undertake to free his niece from her turmoil is well-constructed, well-researched, and with enough twists and turns to keep readers on the edge of their seats. I found this story immensely satisfying, deeply moving in parts, and one I highly recommend.