This was a very sweet second chance romance novella set in 1959. I don’t normally like second chance romances all that much, but in this case, Sebastian plays it perfectly. Our two main characters went to an all-boys school for almost their entire childhoods, and Everett was in love Tommy for most of it. But Tommy married a woman, moved away, and the two of them stopped speaking.
Now in their thirties, Everett is a teacher at their old school, and Tommy has made the surprising decision to come out as gay to his politically influential family and get a divorce; he has thus been shunned. Back in town, Tommy and Everett reunite awkwardly. Tommy has no idea why Everett gave up on their friendship, and now his own son is at their old school.
Watching these two rekindle their feelings for one another was incredibly sweet and wholesome, and by the end (with Tommy’s ex-wife and her “best friend” giving off heavy sapphic vibes) there was even a cozy found family feeling.
I didn’t realize going in that this was a novella not a full novel, but the length works here. This particular story didn’t need to be stretched out to novel size. I suppose she could have given us flashbacks scenes to their adolescence, but it wasn’t necessary. I am glad that the sequel is a novel, though. Not sure when I’ll get to it, but I’m looking forward to it. We met Peter Cabot in this book at the end, as he takes refuge with his uncle Tommy, because he is also gay.