Lou’s Review: Touchwood, by Karin Kallmaker

Touchwood is one of my very favourite books. When I read it for the first time, it felt like it had been written just for me. I was delighted by the release of a new 30^th anniversary edition, which brings this novel to a whole new generation of readers. And even more thrilled to discover an audiobook narrated by the glorious Angela Dawe. I saved listening for a rainy day, and had no regrets – experiencing this story in a new format was a total treat.

After finding her girlfriend in bed with another woman, 29 year-old Rayann Germaine packs her bags and moves out. Not wanting to move in with her homophobic mother, who never approved of the relationship, Rayann searches for a new home. And she finds the perfect place. Louisa Thatcher, a bookstore owner, has a room to rent. Better yet, she’s looking for someone to help in the shop.

To begin with Rayann resists her attraction to Louisa, who is twice her age. And whereas Rayann’s out and proud, Louisa has stayed in the closet for fear of losing her son and grandson. Exploring the connection between them could jeopardise everything for both women. But, in spite of all their the differences, Rayann and Louisa click. They’re drawn to one another.

Touchwood

It’s important to stress there’s more to their bond than mere proximity. Louisa gives Rayann not only the stability she needs to rebuild, but the encouragement to reconnect with her passions. And Rayann gives Louisa the courage to move forward with her life.

In a romance, the two protagonists should make each other stronger; be better people together than they are apart. And Touchwood exemplifies that principle. The way Rayann and Louisa both grow over the course of this novel is beautiful.

It’s no secret that age gap is my favourite trope. And in many ways Touchwood is the gold standard. The dynamic between Rayann and Louisa is utterly transporting. For different reasons, both of them are initially hesitant – and none of the challenges about this relationship are swept under the carpet. Despite dealing with an unlikely scenario, Touchwood feels very much realistic in how it depicts that universal human experience: love.

Also, not all of my reasons for enjoying this book are cerebral. Touchwood contains some of the best sex scenes I’ve ever read. Rayann’s desire for Louisa is a visceral, unstoppable feeling pulling the reader deep into the story. Older and more experienced, Louisa is a very assured lover. But she also has insecurities that make her feel fully human – and this vulnerability makes my heart (as well as other parts) ache for her.

There is one part of the book that – in my opinion – doesn’t quite stand the test of time. While Rayann’s in denial about her feelings for Louisa, she tries to move on by seeing Zoraida – a biracial woman of Mexican and Indigenous heritage. Zoraida’s an intensely passionate lover, “aggressive” in going after the women she desires. Though Zoraida develops nuance, showing a softer side and swapping sexual dominance for mutuality, her character comes uncomfortably close to the racial stereotyping of women of colour as hypersexual.

If Touchwood existed in isolation, Zoraida’s characterisation wouldn’t be a big deal. But it fits into a wider pattern of women of colour being positioned as an exotic detour on the white protagonist’s path to their white true love. Other examples of this include Cho Chang and the Patil twins in the Harry Potter books; Julie and Charlie from Friends.

That’s not to say I don’t love this book or this author. I adore them both. Touchwood is one of those books I’ll read again and again over a lifetime. And it might take me a while, given how prolific she is, but I want to read every romance that Kallmaker has written. In a way it’s hard to believe that what was only her second book is so thoroughly excellent.

Touchwood audiobook

The plot, themes, and characters are all fully engaging. And the pacing’s so tight it’s painful to put the novel down – or pause the audiobook. Angela Dawe is a perfect narrator for Touchwood (and everything else I’ve ever heard her in). She fully embodies Rayann’s earnestness and uncertainty. And her Louisa voice is hotter than hell.

If I had to use one single audiobook as an example to explain why replacing narrators with AI is a disaster, this would be it. Dawe picks up on every thread of tension Kallmaker wove through the story. All of Rayann’s emotions colour her narration in a way that makes this book feel totally sincere. Touchwood, like all great stories, is a work of art. Full of heart and humanity. No artificial intelligence could help an audio adaptation live up to its very fullest potential the way Dawe does.