In the Fishbowl 2. Long Way

The best of an already great author. Two protagonists try to manage their trauma and how it affects them, and grow from it, and its amazing to watch. The first book was similar in themes, but the protagonists had felt a bit too bland and clean. These two had very understandable reasons for how they acted, but it sure as shit doesn't excuse them. They are both fucked up people who did fucked up things because of the fucked up situations they were in, and god damn is it good to see them try and get over their shit. The characters are written so well, so real, and you truly find yourself empathizing with Dennis, who was an antagonist last book. The Long Way is a good read, and required for the full context of just how far things have come. Every single character changes, they learn and grow in understandable ways. Theres no big plot points or moments for me to point out, the whole thing is just so grounded that its compelling to read from front to back. If you at all liked The Long Way, you'll love this. If everything I said sounds appealing, its worth reading TLW just to get to this. Even if you didn't care for it, depending on your reasons, you might like this. Genuinely one of thr best books I've ever read, I'd buy it in paperback without hesitation.

I liked The Long Way, but I loved this sequel. The character development, humor, pathos…. It was all there in spades, and it was terrific. I didn’t want it to end. 

Though the cast of characters from The Lo(n)g Way make appearances, they are by no means necessary to the plot of In The Fishbowl. The worst parts of Owen & Aiden are muted as DomLuka focuses on the struggles of Travis Beltnick as he tries to navigate his growing feelings for an unavailable emotional train wreck. The behavior of the protagonist is believable as you slowly, sometimes painstakingly slow ,peel back the onion of a horrific past and his quest to become a better person. 

The plot is basically nonexistent, as this is a character study in trauma and the destruction it leaves when you make one bad decision. How a single action affects so many people is analyzed from every angle, the innocent, the guilty, the bystander, and those that love them all. 

Travis is one of the best characters I have ever read hands down and no matter what you might think about the subject matter, the author writes them all with charm, wit, humor, pain, and skill that draws you into this world where you relish every moment, except for any scene with Owen and Aiden, then DomLuka reverts back to angst for the sake of angst. 

I've read this story probably ten times over the last ten years and it's one of the few stories I still enjoy. And you don't need to read The Lo(n)g Way first to appreciate this sequel.