The Remaking of Corbin Wale

The Remaking of Corbin Wale (2017) Roan Parrish

Alex Barrow broke up with his boyfriend and lost his job so he has headed back to Ann Arbor and taken over his parent’s coffee shop–turning it into his dream bakery.

The best bakeries had a cohesive vision. You didn’t want a counter selling bran muffins next to key lime tarts next to baklava next to polvorones. The menu needed to have range, but not feel chaotic— provide surprises, but not overwhelm.

It’s the opening day of And Son, when a young man comes in and Alex is immediately fascinated with him. According to his staff, his name is Corbin Wale, and he came in regularly for coffee and sometimes stayed all day.

This is a beautiful story that is at times sweet and at other heartbreaking. It’s split into four parts and alternates between Alex and Corbin, which means we get more than a glimpse into Corbin’s mind and how the thinks. Alex is very rooted in the real world, while Corbin–quite obviously–isn’t.

One of the strongest parts of the story is how you’re never quite sure if Corbin is magical or just wired differently from others. And that it doesn’t matter because Alex falls for him as he is. And as with all Roan Parrish stories, does leave you a bit feeling wrung out.

Publisher : Monster Press
Rating: 8/10

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