My Policeman by Bethan Roberts is a romance novel that takes place in the fifties and sixties. The main characters are Tom Burgess, Patrick Hazelwood, and Marion. The book is written in first-person journal entries from both Marion and Patrick.

Marion begins as a simple schoolgirl who has taken a liking to her childhood friend’s older brother, Tom. When Tom enlists in the army, Marion begins her education and later becomes a schoolteacher. Once she settles into her new life and job, Tom returns as a trained policeman, and he and Marion reunite. Marion and Tom begin a friendship through Tom teaching her to swim. They spend months like this when one day, Tom informs Marion there is someone he would like her to meet, thus entering Patrick. Tom takes Marion to meet Patrick in his place of employment, the local museum and gallery. Soon after, they become a trio, much to the annoyance of Marion. Later Tom proposes to Marion, though the friendship between Tom and Patrick never wavers.

When Marion learns an inexplicable secret, the truth of Tom and Patrick's friendship, she exposes the ordeal anonymously. This tarnishes her relationship with Tom, forever destroying the man. Patrick's point of view provides added depth, given how much the story revolves around him and Tom rather than Marion. It truly is a statement to admit that Tom was Patrick's policeman.

I enjoyed the book and how it was practically illegal for queer people to be themselves in fear of judgment and consequences from people who viewed their preferences as odd and freakish. The book has enjoyable romantic poetry as it tackles a forbidden gay romance and the downfall of the two lovers, who are incapable of expressing their love due to the time period.

Review by: Desaray Felix

Desaray is a teen volunteer at the Granada Hills Branch Library who is currently a sophomore in high school.

—Rachael Zak, Young Adult Librarian, Granada Hills Branch Library