Oooo this is nice and intertwine-y!

We meet three characters who are each facing their own hardships, but eventually the three's lives begin to twist together.

There's a lot of sadness each character is facing - whether from loss, rejection, or trying to be who they're not, but it's deeply touching.

It's set up in an interesting way with the play like setting of the scene at the start of each scene.

If you're also a fan of found family, definitely recommend!

From the very first page, Rainbows and Lollipops caught me off guard—in the best way possible. Don’t be misled by the title or the cover; this is not a light, fluffy (or even particularly happy?) read. But don't let this deter you. It’s sharp, unflinching, and deeply human. This is an absolute must-read for 2025.

The writing is fast-paced and vivid, with quick, naturalistic dialogue that pulls you right into each character’s world. The format—part novel, part screenplay—might seem unconventional, but it works here. It amplifies the story’s urgency and immediacy, giving each scene a cinematic, visual punch. I only found it distracting for the first few "scene changes." Make no mistake, once you settle into this book, you won’t want to look away.

What struck me most was how seamlessly Fanning tackles serious, often painful themes—grief, vulnerability, mental health, and the complexity of queer identity—without ever feeling preachy or forced. Within the first 50 pages, the book unpacks the raw reality of being in a long term, committed queer relationship without the legal recognition, exposing the fragility and added emotional labor that comes with it. Like many of the themes that Fanning touches on—these are not the central plot, but they are woven in so effortlessly, it catches your breath. Without realizing it, you’ve absorbed a stark, poignant truth about the world. That's exactly what great fiction does and Rainbows and Lollipops is no exception.

At its heart, this is a story about broken, beautiful people. Early on, the book deals with a tragic loss, and (having experienced something similar recently) I had a very good cry in the first few chapters of the book, but in a cathartic, healing way. My heart ached for Jake, Vicky, and Lucy, who find each other at exactly the right time. Although their connection and the manner in which they find each other might have seemed contrived under different circumstances, Fanning makes it seem like a plausible coincidence that these characters all found each other. Somehow, even a third of the way in, this author has buy-in with the reader. The characters' lives and friendship are messy, healing, and full of heart. I was continuously struck by how real these characters feel.

Rainbows and Lollipops is sad. It’s beautiful. It’s full of grit and soul and heart. I wasn’t expecting the format. I wasn’t expecting the depth. But this story gripped me from page one—and it didn’t let go. Just read it. You won’t regret it.

i could see this book as if it was a tv drama in my own mind. but so much more than that because of course a book gives you so much more fleshing out of characters and plots that tv drama wouldnt.
i poured over the words of these three. thir connection was just as beautiful as their lone parts. i wanted these three to be ok in the end. and felt like i want to know how they years later to make sure they truly truly were ok.
this is such a wonderful book for me and so much more than i thought it would be. i love a book like this. it holds so much heart within the people and the writing. it is told so it wraps you up in a hug even when its talking about some delicate or difficult topics.
i want to be the fourth in this friendship. they are all golden and im so glad they found each other.

Jake is grieving his partner. but life is hitting him hard because at the same time hes now facing eviction by his partners sister who still blames him for her brothers death. then there are problems at his work.
Vicky is having her own troubles. shes fierce and brilliant but shes a workaholic and not as strong as she makes out. and someone seems determined to break her. shes vulnerable and all she wants is to be safe and feel safe in herself and around others.
Lucy is the one we all hear of being the shining one, the perfect one. but inside she doesnt feel it and instead feel its all a veil to the vulnerability she faces underneath. especially towards her father who just keeps pushing and her husband to be who doesnt give her the feelings she surely should have right now. she about to break.
what comes next is a meeting of three people who all need eachother and are there. they are there for eachother for all of it. to trust, to support, to love. to create a family where they all finally belong.

Woah, this was not what I expected. It's a great story, really riveting, fast-paced. But definitely incongruous with the title, cover and tagline.


What I expected:
A low-stakes, slice of life contemporary novel about a group of interconnected mostly queer people finding connection in Birmingham. 


What I got:
A thrilling and sometimes sad story about an interconnected group of mostly queer people, all with their own interesting and fleshed-out backstories, with a hint of conspiracy and lots of intrigue, that reads like a gritty BBC/Channel 4 drama limited series. 


I loved Jake and Vicky's connections and the fast-paced nature of uncovering those connections. And while it might be controversial, I also loved how the part-screenplay, part-novel format encouraged my brain to fully visualise each scene. I'm not usually one for a format 'gimmick' in a book, ala One Day, but the scene introductions helped further set the story the way the author intended (I assume). It worked.


Rainbows and Lollipops is the first book by Mo Fanning I've read, but I'll definitely check out more from him.