PositiveQuill & QuireAs its title suggests, Akin is a book about kinship. The question of what makes a family is a basic one, but no less engaging for that. Donoghue’s writing is as lush as it is clear-eyed; her characters and settings emerge in richly detailed prose, but there’s never a word out of place. Noah, a curmudgeonly almost-octogenarian who is not quite as progressive as he imagines, will ring true to anyone familiar with his type. Michael occasionally teeters on the edge of post-Generation Z stereotype—his speech is a touch too littered with buzzwords, his life goal of being a video-game streamer a bit too on the nose—but he’s believable all the same. In the hands of a lesser writer, their strained relationship might induce eye rolls, but Donoghue is adroit enough to avoid any common pitfalls. Noah’s and Michael’s emotional arcs never feel manipulative or contrived but always well earned. Their dialogue (mildly cringe-worthy slang aside) is consistently well crafted, smart, and funny ... While it might not have the high-stakes drama of The Wonder or the thriller-like quality of Room, Akin is a satisfying book nonetheless ... Donoghue’s ability to spin a story is masterful, and Akin is engaging and very readable.
