Hi! I’m looking for a book to give my partner. He rarely shares negative emotions and I think it stems from a tough childhood—his sister was very sick, and the family was always worried or sad. I think, over time, he learned to suppress his own feelings to avoid adding to the burden.
I want to give him a book where he might recognize himself. I’m looking for a novel or story with a male character who grows up in that kind of difficult emotional environment and carries that suppression into adulthood. Someone who feels very deeply but doesn’t express it.
More than anything, I just want him to feel like he’s not alone. The story doesn’t have to match his exactly, just something that reflects the emotional silence he’s learned to live with, and maybe helps him feel a little more seen on his way to opening up.
I’m open to anything: a long novel, a short story, science fiction, horror, literary fiction, whatever you’ve read that made you (or someone you know) feel understood in quiet, unspoken ways.
Any recommendations would mean a lot. Thank you so much in advance. 💛
by cleansies