Clean Start at Forty-Seven

Review of Clean Start at Forty-Seven by Nora Phoenix

This book is so amazing. The story of Kinsey and Ben really touched my heart. The characters are complex and believable. The story makes sense and doesn’t feel rushed or too slow. I love how Nora built relationships, and not only the romance building between the two men but the strained familial ties with Kinsey and his kids.

Addiction recovery isn’t something that happens overnight, and it isn’t something that can be glossed over like it happened once but it’ll never be a problem again. It’s a day-to-day issue that people face. Nora didn’t just throw a past addiction into Kinsey’s life. She let the reader experience how hard it is to not only get over the need for the drug but how it affects families and friends. It wasn’t glorified to have a conflict in a story.

She also tackles tremendous issues in this book. Internalized homophobia, religious trauma, drug addiction, coming out, self-acceptance…so many things. She does it beautifully as well. Then we get to the actual main characters and how they learn to navigate feelings. Communication, growing attraction, age gap, Dom/sub discovery, and first-time same-sex experience. She doesn’t rush the sex between the men. That’s so true to what I think it would be like for a newly out, older man who’s getting his life back on track while in recovery.

The younger, more experienced Ben knows that Kinsey needs time, patience, and acceptance. All while navigating a friendship with Kinsey’s son and remaining professional in his job as a physical trainer.

Kinsey himself is still seeking constant support from his addiction sponsor while trying to rebuild his life. It’s a process that Nora makes real. It’s not a miraculous healing but a slow-building arc in the book.

Her next book, New Daddy at Forty-Seven will wrap up their story and I think that’s perfect. I suppose she could’ve written an over-long book, or shortened the story to fit into one volume. This way is much better. It allows the story to be told in a realistic fashion without losing any of the punch.

Well done Nora Phoenix. Another great book for the masses!