Synopsis
The Spring before Obergefell by Benjamin S. Grossberg is a poignant and introspective novel set in small-town Ohio in 2015, just before the landmark Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage across the United States. The story centers on Mike Breck, a fifty-year-old gay man navigating the complexities of life in a conservative, rural community. Mike scrapes by with a patchwork of part-time jobs—handyman work, a gig at Lowe’s, and adjunct teaching at a local community college—while grappling with personal and familial challenges. After his mother’s death, his elderly, cantankerous father, a staunch conservative, moves in with him, leading to frequent clashes that underscore their ideological and emotional divide. Mike’s life is further complicated by his reliance on hookup apps, where he seeks fleeting connections without expectation of deeper relationships, reflecting his resigned belief that lasting love is unattainable for someone like him in such a place.
The narrative shifts when Mike meets Dave, a local man who shares his sense of isolation and loneliness. Their unexpected connection sparks a tentative hope in Mike that he might not have to face life alone. As their relationship deepens, a moment of intimacy unleashes Mike’s long-suppressed yearning for a meaningful partnership, prompting him to confront his insecurities and reexamine his future. Simultaneously, Mike encounters Matteo, another man who challenges his assumptions about love and connection, further complicating his emotional journey. Meanwhile, his father forms an unlikely bond with Beth, a woman he insists is not his girlfriend, which begins to soften his rigid worldview and mirrors Mike’s own gradual transformation. Set against the backdrop of a changing social landscape, the novel explores Mike’s internal growth as he wrestles with self-doubt, the weight of middle age, and the possibility of a life beyond mere survival.
Grossberg’s novel, winner of the James Alan McPherson Prize for the Novel, is described as a romance that avoids fairy-tale idealism, grounding itself in the messy realities of its characters’ lives. Through Mike’s story, the narrative delves into themes of connection, self-discovery, and the impact of societal change on personal identity. The prose is direct yet rich, offering a nuanced portrayal of a “gay everyman” whose struggles and triumphs resonate with authenticity. Praised by authors like Percival Everett and Wally Lamb for its honesty and affectionate depiction of its characters, The Spring before Obergefell weaves humor, introspection, and hope into a narrative that celebrates the quiet resilience of finding love and meaning in unexpected places.