This story picks up in the high school years of two long time pals . Jamie and many people around him realize he is gay and has a thing fir his best mate, Wynn. Wynn is a late bloomer, has no clue Jamie likes him or that a classmate Rebecca is in love with him. They have a "summer place" they escape too where the closed minded, small town attitudes don't impinge on them. The first part of the book ends when things finally get too much for Jamie and he leaves town.
Part two picks up twelve years later when Wynn finally realizes that his unhappiness is due to the fact that he always loved Jamie but never could admit it. Wynn decides to come clean with family and friends. He then takes off to find Jamie. They do get back together.
I enjoyed part 1 better since there was a lot of angst, coming to understanding and character growth. Although part two had a fair amount of the same, I felt Jamie and Wynn getting back together went a little quickly.

Although I wouldn't say that what happens between Alfie and Wynn is angst, exactly, you feel the desperation in Alfie and the helplessness in Wynn that breaks your heart. You could feel the connection between the two men when they were kids, but years later when Alfie is back, the struggle they go through to find exactly who they are and what they want is even more difficult. The slow build up to happily ever after between these two is filled with tension and when they finally get what they both want, I couldn't have been more thrilled.

A slow burn, but a great read! Another wonderful book from Ruthie Luhnow!!

Yet another wonderful and emotional read from Ruthie.
Part one of the book we start with Alfie and Wynn in their home town in their later high school years. Their friendship is unconventional to the outside world but works for the both of them. Best friends but kept apart by bullies at school and home.
Part two is about 12 years on and Alfie is living the life he was meant to lead in San Fransisco and Wynn is still in their home town. Coming up to his 30th birthday and he's looking back on the last few years that he's been without Alfie.
The heart wrenching emotion that is written throughout this book is amazing. You are pulled in right from the get go and are entangled with the friendship, devotion and events that happen between Alfie and Wynn along with the cast of characters that are pulling them apart. Wynn's father, school bullies and an old school town that can't accept Alfie the way he is. They are beautifully written characters , I love the way Ruthie writes. Makes her books unputdownable (that's now a word :-))
I cannot recommend this book enough! To fans of Ruthie's and to those looking for a wonderful coming of age, learning to accept yourself book

An emotional, heartfelt story that, at its very end is about trust who you are and stay true to yourself.

As always with this author, the writing is great, and the characters three-dimensional an easy to empathize with. There is a lot of angst along the ride, and the first part of the book will bring you to tears, but even in its darkest moments there are still some light shining.

A very recommendable read for those who love realistic m/m romances.

Lovely story about the power of love

Ruthie Luhnow doesn't release books as often as some other authors do but when she does, it's invariably a well crafted exploration of the power of love in some form or another.

This one centres on two teenagers living in a tiny conservative town that doesn't like "different" and examines the effect of expectations and fears of family prejudice.

I felt so bad for Wynn, unable to see the wood for the trees, unaware of "why" he loved Alfie so much and why the other boy was the most important thing in his life. He broke my heart.

But Alfie, oh how much did I want to just wrap him up in bubble wrap and tell him it'd be okay, that he'd find his place in the world and it would be beautiful.

This book is probably the most angsty of all of Ruthie's that I've read, but it's not unnecessary. It drives the narrative and anchors everything which happens later.

It's also a book about it never being too late to accept yourself and discovering that the years don't mean a thing when the one you love, loves you back.

#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

An emotional, heartfelt story that, at its very end is about trust who you are and stay true to yourself.

As always with this author, the writing is great, and the characters three-dimensional an easy to empathize with. There is a lot of angst along the ride, and the first part of the book will bring you to tears, but even in its darkest moments there are still some light shining.

A very recommendable read for those who love realistic m/m romances.

Lovely story about the power of love

Ruthie Luhnow doesn't release books as often as some other authors do but when she does, it's invariably a well crafted exploration of the power of love in some form or another.

This one centres on two teenagers living in a tiny conservative town that doesn't like "different" and examines the effect of expectations and fears of family prejudice.

I felt so bad for Wynn, unable to see the wood for the trees, unaware of "why" he loved Alfie so much and why the other boy was the most important thing in his life. He broke my heart.

But Alfie, oh how much did I want to just wrap him up in bubble wrap and tell him it'd be okay, that he'd find his place in the world and it would be beautiful.

This book is probably the most angsty of all of Ruthie's that I've read, but it's not unnecessary. It drives the narrative and anchors everything which happens later.

It's also a book about it never being too late to accept yourself and discovering that the years don't mean a thing when the one you love, loves you back.

#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.