Under The Rainbow by Celia Laskey

If the plot of Under The Rainbow sounds a bit laboured, that’s because it is. A queer task force is sent to live in what has been deemed ‘‘the most homophobic town in America’’ – Big Burr in Kansas. The project initially goes just about as well as you can imagine (i.e. not very). Each chapter is from a new character, alternating between LGBTQ+ activists, and the residents who don’t see what needs to change. It all feels like it’s trying a bit too hard – particularly with an overly saccharine ending. Each chapter is so short, by the time you’ve become connected to a character it’s on to the next – and there’s not enough overlap between stories to make it all come together.