Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: The Last Birthday Party

SERIES: 2018 Advent Calendar – Warmest Wishes

AUTHOR: Mere Rain

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 30 pages

RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2018

BLURB:

Their favorite holiday is going away. Will it take their friendship with it?

Since 1989, the birthday of the Emperor of Japan has been celebrated on December 23rd. But this is the last year; the Emperor is abdicating, and next year there will be no holiday.
For twenty-year-old Akihito, the holiday has always been special. It’s his birthday, too, and a perfect excuse for spending the entire day celebrating across Tokyo with his life-long best friend, Kenji. But now that they will no longer get the day off and will soon face adult responsibilities, will they drift apart? Or if Akihito confesses the secret love he’s held in his heart for years, will their closeness be ruined? One thing is certain: nothing will be same by the end of the day.

REVIEW:

I love friends to lovers stories. It makes the bond so much more complete and beautiful to me. And this was gorgeous.

Akihito has been in love with Kenji for a few years. They’ve been friends since they were babies. They’ve gotten in trouble together, laughed together, cried together. But this is the last year, Akihito is afraid they will share his birthday together. They go to separate colleges. Kenji is being shown women. And Akihito is to the point of being depressed. He wants Kenji so much. So on the day of his birthday, they decide to get drunk. And at the end of the night, Akihito can hold back no longer. He has to tell Kenji how he feels.

They are such sweet friends. Kenji is the ‘boring, studious’ one. Akihito the more adventurous. Kenji often got in severe trouble for things he did with Akihito, but he kept quiet about it. He wouldn’t have changed a thing. Even when Akihito found out and was in tears over it. And Akihito studied harder than anyone thought in order to be with Kenji. Being away during college has been hell. But the love the have for each other is so sweet. They keep each other grounded and have a bond so strong they go against everything to be together. Just how love should be.

RATING:  

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