I guess it’s time that I mention how much I love Hamilton. Hopefully, you all know what I’m referring to, but in case you don’t: Hamilton is an American musical revolving around Alexander Hamilton and his role in forming the country we know today. The performance features non-white actors singing and rapping to some pretty amazing lyrics. How does this relate to Alyssa Cole’s The Could Be Enough? Aside from the title, which references a song in the musical, the story focuses on the maid of Eliza Hamilton, Alexander’s wife, who is assisting Eliza in preserving her husband’s legacy. Let’s get into the plot—
Mercy Alston is an organized, hardworking cynic. It’s not that she didn’t believe of love’s existence, she saw it in her parents before they passed and even felt it herself once or twice, but the cost of bearing such a thing was risky and left too much room for heartache. Mercy is content to her life of solitude and structure, that is, until Andromeda Stiel sets eyes on her. Andromeda is a flirtatious dressmaker who sees in Mercy a woman in need of companionship—of being seen. Andromeda is willing to coax Mercy out of her hardened love-resistant shell, but will Mercy be able to unguard herself enough to let Andromeda in?
With characters this captivating I would have loved a full length book, but I’m happy to settle for a novella. I enjoyed both leading women, but Andromeda was especially fun to read. She was so witty, confident, and ambitious, I fell for her too. I liked how being a queer, black woman wasn’t the obstacle in this book. We get to see Andromeda and Mercy succeed in more things than just love. Though the love was a sweet spot.
Cole’s writing is something else. Some lines were so beautiful I had to re-read them quite a few times over in appreciation. I especially loved the letters that were sent back in forth (I’m a sucker for letters). And that poem—so lovely!
If you’re looking for a beautiful story of two women falling in love, then That Could Be Enough will surely leave you satisfied.