Review: Subtle and moving
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 23, 2011
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.Rating: 9/10PROS:- The conversations, particularly between Aaron and Jake, are outlandish and odd, but funny. (see cons below also)- Both characters have a lot of peculiar idiosyncrasies that combine to make interesting and quirky personalities. My favorite feature of Aaron's is that he "ate bananas with a knife and fork after making Jake peel them for him because they `taste yummy but feel icky and naughty'," and my favorite of Jake's is that he insists on "dish soap that didn't smell too `dish soapy'."- Outwardly, the guys argue and nitpick each other to death, but they each do a lot of really sweet, selfless things for the other in private. It's touching.- Jake and Aaron are desperately, achingly, whole-heartedly in love before they ever even kiss, so the one long physical scene is tender and heartfelt and perfectly wonderful. Passionate and intense with lots of kissing, but also with lots of laughter.- The ending, with its subtle reference to a well-known, bittersweet children's story, literally brought tears to my eyes.CONS:- The conversations are so outlandish and odd at times that I found them a little annoying. The guys are both a bit strange and live in a world that's somehow... apart... from most people, but sometimes (especially toward the beginning of the story) I just wanted them to be serious.- For the most part, I relished the drama that arises from the men's refusal to recognize or admit to their attraction for each other. However, it did reach a point at which I wanted to crush things or tear pieces of paper into tiny shreds because they were both being SO bullheaded and clueless. Thank goodness for their meddlesome friend Alyson.Overall comments: The author does a great job here of creating a sense of true closeness between Aaron and Jake in a pretty short story. I often criticize novellas for not convincing me that the two characters are actually in love with each other, and that is not the case here. In fact, I thought the depth of emotion portrayed was rather stunning.