Solomon (national campaign director, Freedom To Marry) examines how gay marriage became legal in Massachusetts in 2004 and in New York in 2011, and briefly covers support for it within the Obama administration. The book is more of a political science text than a history, giving a behind-the- scenes look at how influence, money, and connections drive the political system at the state level. The author offers the blow-by-blow story of Senate arguments and backroom negotiations. As one might expect from a work on such a controversial subject, the narrative covers not only the intellectual aspects of the political struggle but also offers emotional stories of the acceptance and rejection that led politicians to vote the way they did. The prose style is lean, fast, and to the point, interspersed with engaging psychological analysis. VERDICT Recommended for readers interested in the American political system, or in the history of gay marriage. This would be a strong choice for those who enjoyed the portrayal of American politics but not the spy aspects of George Crile's Charlie Wilson's War.—Jessica Spears, Monroe Coll. Lib., Bronx, NY