Utterly realistic and a bit depressing, The Coil tackles a lot of things - the joy and struggles of raising a special child, making ends meet, reaching for your goals, letting go and finally giving yourself a second chance at love and life. Mattie is illiterate and works in a diner making sandwiches. To make ends meet, he also succumb to prostitution on the side. Simon, a successful writer is raising his special child and is not ready (does not allow himself) to fall in love in order to protect his child and himself. Overtime as their world collide, these two men gravitated to each other and tried to forge a new life with all their issues hanging. Will they be able to carry on or will they have to sacrifice everything they have worked for? 
 I thought the whole scenario about Mattie's life was just bleak. It's too depressing and even his success at the end doesn't even feel much of a consolation. I loved the use of "If you love someone, set them free" and I wish there were more dialogues in it or a narration from either character perhaps. 
 The middle part of the book was like a dripping faucet. It was alright but it was too slow-paced. I keep on hoping that the whole "flashbacks" of the book will be split in the middle and will continue at the end but unfortunately, it didn't go that way. Overall, I thought the book was consistent enough with its mood, though, it became boring at some parts, it still have a pull from the readers to finish it. It's not exactly my thing but it was an okay read. 
 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars