Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: Everyday History

AUTHOR: Alice Archer

PUBLISHER: Shine Even If

RE-RELEASE DATE: January 28, 2020

LENGTH: Approx. 90k words

BLURB:

If you woo, win, and walk away, a second chance is going to cost you.

Headstrong Ruben Harper has yet to meet an obstacle he can’t convert to a speed bump. He’s used to getting what he wants from girls, but when he develops a fascination for a man, his wooing skills require an upgrade. After months of persuasion, he scores a dinner date with Henry Normand that morphs into an intense weekend. The unexpected depth of their connection scares Ruben into fleeing.

Shy, cautious Henry, Ruben’s former high school history teacher, suspects he needs a wake-up call, and Ruben appears to be his siren. When Ruben bolts, Henry is left struggling to find closure. Inspired by his conversations with Ruben, Henry begins to write articles about the memories stored in everyday objects. The articles seduce Ruben, even as Henry’s snowballing fame takes him out of town and farther out of reach.

REVIEW:

Fourteen years separate them. So, does a lifetime of experience or lack of it. Ruben doesn’t want to want Henry and can’t forget him. Henry wants Ruben and forces himself to ignore him. As student and Lecturer, nothing can happen between them, but when the year is over, Ruben makes Henry a promise he intends to keep. Henry knows he’s just the start of Ruben’s sexual adventure – his learning curve. As such, he tries to keep some distance, but Ruben works his way under Henry’s skin.

For some time, Ruben thought his infatuation with Henry was more about having sex with a man until it became more. But he’s 18 and on the precipice of a sexual revolution.

As people grow older, age becomes less of a factor. Unfortunately, when one is young, fourteen years can be the difference between a child needing to experience the world, and maturity looking for commitment. When Ruben and Henry are together, they bring out the best in each other. But Ruben hadn’t looked at a man before and wanted to see if anyone else could compare.

Ruben’s inquisitive nature forces Henry to face his demons and turn lousy memory into something positive. Unfortunately, Ruben isn’t willing to give Henry what he needs – a stable relationship. When Ruben goes to college, they part ways. But neither can move on from the other – even though they try.

The story is told from the viewpoints of Ruben and Henry, and I was so engrossed in it that I didn’t take notice of the technicalities. It is an incredibly lyrical tale and takes some concentration to read. Not because it is difficult but because of the tales and experiences conveyed within the main story. It is a book that needs to be read when there are no other distractions around. Otherwise, the ambience created gets lost.

Oh, and let’s add in here about the sex – Much of the sex is fade out. The passion is there, but the intimate details don’t dominate.

Ruben learns from Henry that to know about people, ask about the stories associated with the objects around them. He uses this method. The process helps him mature and have more in-depth conversations. It also teaches him that, despite how much he denies it, he loves Henry.

Henry hates modern gadgets. The prospect of being always contactable is purgatory for him. He lives for the histories behind the objects around him. Each one is a memory that taught him something about himself. After Ruben leaves, Henry starts his Everyday History column that soon goes global. He continues to hate gadgets and puts his faith in the promotional team looking after him. When Henry goes on the road, to tell and gather more stories, his technophobia isolates him from the people who love him and want to contact him.

A hefty portion of the story revolves around, moving on, the realization of how deep their feelings ran, and the experiences they have that enable them to come to that conclusion. Then there are Ruben’s efforts to find his way back to Henry.

I really liked the story. I loved the concept, history, the cast, and the stories surrounding the objects. For a while, I believed that the events preventing Henry and Ruben from getting back together, continued for a couple of dances too far. That is until I read the end, then I forgave. I loved that each character took a journey that would change them, amplify the love and recognize what the other needed. To make things easy may have had other consequences. Henry and Ruben face many twists and turns in the road. In this era where readers aren’t as patient as they used to be, I fear some readers may baulk, especially at the detail. But I was enthralled.

RATING:

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