Patron Saints of Nothing

by Randy Ribay

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Patron Saints of Nothing through BookishFirst in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Patron Saints of Nothing is written by Randy Ribay, and it is a beautiful story of coming of age, grief, and so much more. If you're looking for a powerful read to dive into, look no further.

Jay Reguero had plans for his last semester. Granted, those plans mostly involved playing games, but they were plans nonetheless. All of that went out the window after the death of his cousin, Jun.

You see, Jun's death was related to the war on drugs, but with none of his family being willing to talk about it, Jay has to head to the Philippines in order to get the answers he desperately needs. So now he's on a new path, one that will hopefully get him answers. Even if those answers are not ones he's prepared for.

“If we are to be more than what we have been, there's so much more that we need to say.”

This is arguably one of the most enchanting and emotional novels I've read this year. Jay's quest for answers was simultaneously painful and beautiful, and for all the right reasons. This was a journey about grief and loss, and it carried all of the weight one would hope and expect to find.

The Patron Saints of Nothing captivated me from the first pages and kept me going right until the end. Even during the times where it felt almost too real, I found myself unable to look away. That's the sign of a good story right there.

There's a lot to love about this novel, from the main plot to the perspective, to all of the details that flesh out the world. Everything felt so rich and real – and again, sometimes that seriously added to the impact of what was happening (but in a good way).

I'll confess that this is the first novel I've read by Randy Rig Ribay, and thus I didn't know much of anything about the author before I began. But I've got to say, I'm extremely impressed. All the more so after learning some details about the author and their personal connection to many details within the novel.

Patron Saints of Nothing hit me in the heart like a ton of bricks – and it was totally worth it. I recommend this novel to anybody looking for an emotional and powerful read.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks