3.0 (1 rating)
Meeks
A shocking tale about the cost of dreams, and the realities of nightmares and addiction. In a mesmerizing dance between reality and illusion, new author Gabriel Tait ensnares readers in a story of desire and descent, set against the backdrop of Toronto, 1997.
The year is 1997. 27-year-old Ranleigh Meeks, a perpetually down-on-his-luck warehouse worker, stumbles upon a gateway to a life filled with possibilities he'd only ever dreamt of. As he ventures deeper into this world, captivated by the elusive Charlotte, shadows begin casting long and daunting lines across his path. Each step forward pulls him further into a web of addiction and violence, where he dodges calamity at every turn. But as the boundaries begin to blur between his two lives, Ranleigh is pushed to the edge, one that threatens to redefine his very existence, Ranleigh must make a decision from which he may never recover.
Trigger warning: contains scenes of suicidal ideation and drug addiction.
The year is 1997. 27-year-old Ranleigh Meeks, a perpetually down-on-his-luck warehouse worker, stumbles upon a gateway to a life filled with possibilities he'd only ever dreamt of. As he ventures deeper into this world, captivated by the elusive Charlotte, shadows begin casting long and daunting lines across his path. Each step forward pulls him further into a web of addiction and violence, where he dodges calamity at every turn. But as the boundaries begin to blur between his two lives, Ranleigh is pushed to the edge, one that threatens to redefine his very existence, Ranleigh must make a decision from which he may never recover.
Trigger warning: contains scenes of suicidal ideation and drug addiction.
Published: August 31, 2023
Pages: 278
ISBN: 9798860313347
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Available in: Paperback
Reader Reviews
3.0
1 rating
Keeley W.
Feb 8, 2026
A very personal story
I really enjoyed the start of this book, which developed at a slow pace to introduce you to the main character, Ranleigh Meeks. Who in 1979 is a 9-year-old boy staying with his grandmother for a week during the summer. Tait's writing style in this part of the story describes the characters, events, and atmosphere well, allowing you to feel as if you're a part of it. Tait shows you a brief glimpse of the beginnings of Meeks addictive personality, so subtle at this stage that I was only aware of its significance due to the subject matter outlined within the blurb. The timeline is even detailed in the chapter headings by the date and hour.
The story picks up pace briefly as Meeks experiences a tragedy that touches all of the town's inhabitants. As Ranleigh Meeks becomes an adult, he's suddenly referred to as Leigh. Which didn't take too long to work out, but as the story then flips back and forth not only in it's timeline but alternating between the references to both Leigh and Ranleigh, it becomes a distraction. As a reader, I think that chapter headings would have been useful for time jumps as it halted the flow; it was especially confusing when the alternating names happened between paragraphs; perhaps sticking with one name would have been better unless there was a reason for it that I missed.
Tait's story is personal. Meeks is a character that shows the long-lasting effect that trauma has on the mind. He's able to draw on his own experience to depict addiction, anxiety, and desperation as fictional Meeks loses a grip on reality, losing himself to the fantasy life he's created in his dream world. I felt that suicidal ideation was handled sensitively. Please check the author's blurb for any potential triggers. It could be my personal taste that made the middle part of the book drag for me, as it took me quite a while to get through.
I often find it hard to arrive at a star value for books that aren't necessarily my cup of tea but nevertheless have merit. I think it's very brave to pour your heart and soul into such a deeply personal subject that will resonate with others that have suffered from addiction, but I have to review, reflecting upon my own reading experience that was often frustrating. In conclusion, I enjoyed parts of the book but also found it hard-going and at times confusing, meaning I didn't always enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
I really enjoyed the start of this book, which developed at a slow pace to introduce you to the main character, Ranleigh Meeks. Who in 1979 is a 9-year-old boy staying with his grandmother for a week during the summer. Tait's writing style in this part of the story describes the characters, events, and atmosphere well, allowing you to feel as if you're a part of it. Tait shows you a brief glimpse of the beginnings of Meeks addictive personality, so subtle at this stage that I was only aware of its significance due to the subject matter outlined within the blurb. The timeline is even detailed in the chapter headings by the date and hour.
The story picks up pace briefly as Meeks experiences a tragedy that touches all of the town's inhabitants. As Ranleigh Meeks becomes an adult, he's suddenly referred to as Leigh. Which didn't take too long to work out, but as the story then flips back and forth not only in it's timeline but alternating between the references to both Leigh and Ranleigh, it becomes a distraction. As a reader, I think that chapter headings would have been useful for time jumps as it halted the flow; it was especially confusing when the alternating names happened between paragraphs; perhaps sticking with one name would have been better unless there was a reason for it that I missed.
Tait's story is personal. Meeks is a character that shows the long-lasting effect that trauma has on the mind. He's able to draw on his own experience to depict addiction, anxiety, and desperation as fictional Meeks loses a grip on reality, losing himself to the fantasy life he's created in his dream world. I felt that suicidal ideation was handled sensitively. Please check the author's blurb for any potential triggers. It could be my personal taste that made the middle part of the book drag for me, as it took me quite a while to get through.
I often find it hard to arrive at a star value for books that aren't necessarily my cup of tea but nevertheless have merit. I think it's very brave to pour your heart and soul into such a deeply personal subject that will resonate with others that have suffered from addiction, but I have to review, reflecting upon my own reading experience that was often frustrating. In conclusion, I enjoyed parts of the book but also found it hard-going and at times confusing, meaning I didn't always enjoy it as much as I wanted to.