The Butter House is a gorgeous gem of a story, and for being such a small book, it certainly packs a large emotional punch. I’m honestly mystified by how many beautifully meaningful scenes the author has managed to fit into such a slim little volume. Following a young woman and her partner as they move down the east coast from New York to the sunshine state with their two unacquainted cats, Gerard paints vivid emotional landscapes of their newly acquired domesticity and explores the contrasts of this newly formed family’s past with their gently settling present.

Vividly descriptive and introspective to a beautiful degree, Gerard’s sparse but warm writing style makes this book feel like a restorative glass of iced tea on a bright and warm summer’s day. Full of delicately ponderous musings on cohabitation and the responsibility of care, this short story manages to plumb the depths of the narrator’s innermost thoughts in such a purposeful way that it makes you feel like you’re reading revelations on the unavoidable contradictions of the human experience.

Give as a gift to your favorite cat-lover or newly cohabitating couple and pick up a copy for yourself for a cozy lunch break read.