Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Everybody in the Place

AUTHOR: Suki Fleet

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 68 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2019

BLURB:

Alfie Adams comes at life sideways.

After unexpectedly losing his job in television, and having the script he’s worked so hard on unceremoniously dropped, Alfie turns up at his oldest friend, Jam’s, birthday party drunk, pretty sure his world has ended, and that he’s about to hit rock bottom with a bone-cracking thud.

But it’s funny how Jam’s little brother, Benji, seems to know exactly what Alfie needs. For the past twelve months Alfie has thrown himself into his job and tried hard not to think about beautiful punk-loving Benji—tried not to see how the sweet kid he used to look out for, and who used to trail so adoringly after him, has grown up into a big lad with an even bigger heart. As Alfie sobers up, he begins to see things with a new perspective, and Benji has his full attention.

If only Alfie can admit what it is he wants.

REVIEW:

This was actually a good story, if not a bit heartbreaking at times. It’s hard to trust and let go of your feelings when the people who are supposed to be your lifelines as children, be the ones to break your heart. It’s hard. It makes you run from feelings and people. You push people away instead of holding them close.

Alfie was like that. And now he was sitting in the rain, drinking vodka, getting drunk and being sad about his life. He ran from the one person he was falling in love with because he was terrified for many reasons. But now, he was sitting here literally drowning in his sorrows and it was all too much. When the man of his dreams, his best friend’s little brother, Benji, joins him on the bench. The bad part about him drinking is that he has no filter and speaks when he doesn’t mean to. And he shared a lot with Benji, not meaning too. But a night sleeping in the man’s arms, and being more or less caught, has him on the run again. Well, only so far. Benji catches him and they decide to go to Alfie’s flat and he finally lets it all out. But he’s scared to death, even when he says  I love you, and he’s terrified he’s going to hurt the one man that means more to him then anything.

I don’t know which I felt for more. Benji for having to be patient and wait for Alfie to come to his senses on his own, or for Alfie, who past has made him very skittish. Even with the one man he loves more than life itself. It’s a hard thing on both ends. No matter which way you look at it. But if you’re patient enough and keep holding on, it’s usually worth it in the end. Not always. Life doesn’t work that way. But when you truly love someone, you have to love them, quirks and all. And thankfully, Benji was patient.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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