Review: The Queer and the Restless (Queers of La Vista #3) by Kris Ripper

Ed Masiello has been on testosterone for a year, is working his dream job as a reporter, and is finally passing as a man (so long as you don’t ask his abuela). But the investigation of a murder case is starting to take over his life. Afraid he’s becoming obsessed, he goes to the local club to relax, and meets the flighty, whimsical Alisha.

Alisha is a free spirit who’s tossed aside ambition for travel and adventure. Her approach to life is a far cry from Ed’s, and while Ed has always assumed that meeting his goals would make him happy, Alisha is much more content than him—despite all the plans she can’t yet fulfill.

As their relationship heats up, so does the murder case. Alisha thinks Ed needs a break, but someone’s got to find this killer, and he wants to be there when it all goes down. Besides, taking off into the great unknown with Alisha is crazy. But opting for what’s safe is just another way of living in fear, and Ed vowed to stop living like that a long time ago.

This is what I call an easy read-low angst, likable characters, engaging plot, relatable dialogue, fun or interesting secondary characters and not a lot of forced dramatics. 

Ed is at the bottom of the food chain at the local paper, getting the grunt work of clairvoyant blind cats and mall openings when he wants to do something productive and meaningful. He keeps his nose to the grindstone even though he sort of loathes it. He's from La Vista and knows pretty much everyone, something that will likely come in handy in the future. He has a dry wit and struggles with self-consciousness and self-confidence.

Things start looking up after bumping into Alisha one night at Club Fred when a dance turns into the start of something.

Alisha is one of those magnetic people who have that joie de vivre that's so contagious that maybe you find yourself doing things that you've never intended to, but end up having a good time anyway mostly because you're with her. She's creative and a little bit of a Bohemian. She's also into Ed and rather brazen about letting him know just how much.

Their relationship has an authenticity to it. They like each other and start spending as much time together as possible. On more than one occasion I found myself giggling at their role play games. They may have too many differences, but they are definitely happy right now and hopefully their relationship will strengthen the longer they're together. 

I have to say, though, that as much as I enjoyed reading about Ed and Alisha I became positively CONSUMED by the serial killer storyline. I'm so grateful that the whole story was told through Ed who seems to be just as consumed. It goes without saying that I'm locked in for the rest of the series if for no other reason than to find out the killer's identity as well as Togg. I have two working theories there but am still clueless as to the identity of the killer. I have a wild card possibility that I'm not exceedingly confident in.

Also, I should probably mention how much I appreciate gaining insight and expanding my knowledge base, so the inclusion of ordinary events that I take for granted being shown through the eyes of a trans person and how tricky they can be was edifying and eye-opening. 

Recommended for fans of the series or those who like an angst free romance.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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