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In Thailand, JJ is experiencing the weightless space between lives: the ghosts of his life in America cling to his past, and the normalcy of a new job and routine in Singapore is not yet ready to begin. JJ's first time in Thailand is brief, whisking from one city to the next to have a little fun, check out some sights and cultural events like the Full Moon Party in Koh Phagnan, and acclimate to the time zone before heading to his new life across the gulf. Along the way, JJ seeks companionship from a series of bargirls, each with a character as varied and unique as the cities and bars they work from. First in Pattaya is Pooky, a cheerful yet childlike girl who maintains her spiritual roots, as comfortable in a foreigner's hotel room as she is at the local temple. Next in Pattaya is Moon: a shy, old-fashioned girl with hangups about her appearance and a quiet presence, but she can also dominate a karaoke stage with her flawless singing and dancing. And then finally, upon arriving in Koh Samui, JJ meets Noona.
Noona, like JJ, has also just arrived in Samui that day, and the two get to know each other before even getting familiar with the city itself. JJ feels an immediate attraction to Noona, but she remains steadfastly professional and transactional, despite letting him see glimpses into her tightly manufactured defenses. The constant game of hot and cold, of sex for money, divorced from all emotional development, is a torturous and dangerous attachment. In Noona, JJ sees a companion and a friend, and at times, he dares to hope for more than that, going so far as to use his salary and stability to help Noona achieve her dream of owning a coffee shop or to safely relocate her away from the dangerous cops investigating her for selling narcotics. On the other hand, Noona maintains her detachment and independence, her experiences with men coloring her decision-making and keeping her vulnerabilities hidden. Like the unstoppable force and the immovable object, JJ and Noona's relationship progresses to the point of discussing a long-term future, but the emotional volatility and distrust of their dynamics invite jealousy, suspicion, lies, and aggression into their time together. JJ ultimately must choose whether to not only provide and support, but also chase after a woman who enthralls him, yet refuses to lower her guard or appear weak.
Despite their differing geographic and cultural backgrounds, JJ and Noona simultaneously exemplify the very real human contradiction of wanting both independence and having someone to rely on and seek safety in. Through each of the Thai bargirls JJ encounters, even in a single transaction, there is an opportunity to explore the Buddhist beliefs of many Thai people: that life can be unfair, that it may or may not improve, and that acceptance of what is facilitates the way to peace. The narrative voice is bold, honest, and not one to mince words, so that any moments of true emotional vulnerability hit with that much more impact when they occur. Serving as the narrator, JJ frequently admits to the reader each of the small details and actions that catch his eye and stir his heart when it comes to Noona, even after a selfish act or a failure to communicate on either character's part. Each of them carries their own baggage and damage from previous life experiences that serve to steer them together, yet at the same time threaten to drive them apart. Through their encounters, readers will experience their throes of passion, creating opportunities for rebuilding lives together and urging them to take terrible actions driven by hurt and revenge.
The setting of Koh Samui, and to a greater extent, all of Thailand, captures the reader's imagination and attention in a similar manner. Through beach parties, holidays, food vendors, and the small phrases that tourists pick up over time, the country comes to life with captivating detail. Similarly, JJ's perspective throughout the book changes from his initial days in Thailand to becoming a seasoned visitor and eventually a business owner, as he acclimates to the culture and learns how to read social cues, respectfully haggle with vendors, and avoid the typical tourist traps. Readers will be taken on a personal tour of Thai nightlife and attractions, from scene to scene, creating a captivating travelogue that combines heady drama with endless opportunities for leisure. This story draws its audience in with exotic locations, sexy rendezvous, and realistic emotional conflict that comes off authentically and devoid of melodrama. The hot-and-cold nature of JJ and Noona's feelings will keep readers wondering if the two will learn to co-exist or flame out until the very end.