Rowboat by Daran Marcella is a poignant tale of love, regrets, and the quest for redemption. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of an unnamed young protagonist during his university years, where, at a frat party, he meets Farrah, a shy, half-French, half-Persian young woman who leaves her mark on him from their very first encounter. The protagonist suffers from a chronic illness, yet continues to party throughout his college years. A known womanizer, the protagonist develops feelings for Farrah that he had never felt before. However, after he cruelly breaks her heart, he finds himself spiraling down a path from which there's no coming back. As the years pass, the protagonist goes through multiple divorces and becomes an acclaimed photographer. Yet, Farrah remains etched in his heart forever.

Bittersweet and evocative, Rowboat is a contemporary romance drama with a lot of charm and heart. Because of its universal themes, the characters in this book will resonate with a broad range of readers. Author Daran Marcella has crafted some truly memorable characters who wouldn't look out of place in an indie Hollywood production. The narrative really plays out like a movie, with a single protagonist narrating the story from beginning to end, drawing on his memories to share his life and all its highs and lows. The relationship between the protagonist and Farrah is, of course, the highlight of the book. But I also enjoyed the plot itself. Both the main characters and their story arcs felt believable because of their vulnerabilities and flaws. Readers of contemporary romance will love this book.

In Rowboat by Daran Marcella, a college student recounts an emotionally conflicted relationship with Farrah, who is first noticed for her quiet presence at a freshman frat party. After taking time off due to illness, he returns to a changed social landscape and forms a connection with her, but it's marked by his emotional detachment and recurring involvement with other women. Farrah’s nature contrasts with his instability, yet they share moments of intimacy, including time spent in her hometown. Still, he remains unable to express vulnerability, or even just show a modicum of consistency. A near-fatal incident caused by his drinking leads to a moment of honesty, but it's not enough, especially as he reconciles how he hurt Farrah, violating her trust and misdirecting his pain against her gradual distancing. “I catch myself drifting. Drifting toward her. Like the rowboat.”

Rowboat by Daran Marcella is a unique novella, not just for the way it addresses some difficult issues surrounding mental health, trauma, consent, and co-dependency, but also in how it portrays relationships that shape each character in ways that are neither anticipated nor fully understood. The writing is thoughtful and sharply observant, capturing fleeting moments of intimacy, miscommunication, and disorderly relationships with care. Marcella gives us one of the most difficult main character types to write, one who is prone to self-sabotage and not very likable, but is successful in it because we do care what happens. The scenes are intentionally restrained, allowing quiet gestures and no easy conclusions to do the heavy lifting. Overall, the power of this literary piece lies in its honesty, showing the marks left, and how their memory can linger far beyond the final goodbye.