"Been Here All Along" book review

 

I  accidentally read Sandy Hall’s book, Been Here All Along, in one sitting.  How does one do this accidentally?  I had intended to read this during my lunch breaks this week, and thought I’d read the first 30-40 pages to get the gist of the plot, and then set it aside until lunch tomorrow.  Alas, I looked at the clock after two hours and had somehow managed to blow through 2/3 of the book. 

Here are my live reactions to the book.  I’m somewhat vague about spoilers in the latter portions of the novel; that said, if you don’t know how the book will wrap up based on the title and front cover, I have some swampland in Florida to sell you.

5 minutes:  After a pointless prologue (surely the author could have conveyed that Kyle and Gideon knew each other since they were five years old without a scene of them playing behind a garage), the book is progressing.  Kyle is a disorganized bisexual; Gideon is a punctual, seemingly nonsexual person who loves school—almost as much as he loves spending time with Kyle.  I’ll give you two guesses on how this book is going to wrap up.

15 minutes:  The rising tension in the first portion of this short novel comes from Kyle coming out as bisexual to his cheerleader girlfriend, Ruby.  His girlfriend, by the way, is introduced as being upset that the world doesn’t revolve around her.  Despite this, she is okay with Kyle once he comes out to her…only to start a fight at a school dance because it took him six months to tell her this personal news.  While this is going on, Gideon watches on the balcony of the gym and holds in a desire to kiss Kyle.  Surprise—Gideon likes Kyle as more than a friend, and randomly discovered it for himself during this fight.  Gee, that totally shocking development is a huge twist!

30 minutes:  A pro-con list of the good and bad things of Kyle?  How very season two of Friends of you, Gideon.  I’m sure this pro-con list won’t show up again in the third act.  Also, Gideon’s brother, Ezra, is a fun addition and he might be my favorite character.  Despite his humor helping the story, I’m baffled that his presence isn’t more of a shock to his family.  A tiny character history:  after finishing high school, Ezra decided not to go to college.  Instead, Ezra moved out to California to become a professional surfer—a profession that he inexplicably excelled at from the beginning.  Ezra made a good living at being a surfer for many years, along with the money he received because his family is rich…but now he’s broke, and can’t live off 30 hours at Starbucks in California.  His explanation why he’s back home for the time being is that he’s here for Passover—which isn’t for another week—and his family doesn’t catch on that there’s something more to his arrival, and that Ezra has no plans on returning to California. 

1 hour:  This book is only 220 pages, and I still don’t think the conflict in the story is enough for a short novel. 

1 hour and 5 minutes:  I’ve been complaining a lot.  I feel the need to point out that Kyle and Gideon are adorable main characters.  Even though I know where this is heading a mile away, the book is still holding my attention.  Plus:  Kyle and Gideon are in love with The Lord of the Rings movies, and write notes to each other in Elvish. 

1 hour and 30 minutes:  So far, I’m halfway through this short novel.  We’ve had a blackmail subplot (I’m SHOCKED that the pro-con list came back into play, guys), we keep having to listen to Ruby’s POV—who I’m supposed to hate, and things are seemingly wrapping up already.

1 hour and 31 minutes:  Also, I’d be remised if I didn’t point out that Been Here All Along contains a scene with underage people getting drunk at a party without any negative consequences happening.  I’m not complaining, I’m just surprised.

2 hours:  Huh, I guess I’m finishing this book tonight.

2 hours and 5 minutes:  This book has no conflict left.  Again, the leads are adorable so I’m not hating the book; I just find the structure weird as heck.

2 hours and 30 minutes:  *takes a sip of water* Aw, cute.

2 hours and 35 minutes:  Salad mix, cereal, wheat bread, shredded cheddar cheese, salami, grapes, apples, oranges.  Oops, I forgot I was still giving live reactions and started to list what I need to pick up from the grocery store.

2 hours and 45 minutes:  And that’s why you never keep a pro-con list!

3 hours:  All done!  I liked it more than my live reactions would suggest.  My main problem with the novel is that it felt too light and without the tension that warrants a full-length novel.  I read a book called Wallbanger last year and that had more conflict than this book.  I have mixed feelings with both characters being well off neighbors living in the most liberal town in America.  On one hand, it’s a breath of fresh air for an LGBT book to be concerned with events not including homophobia.  On the other hand, if you aren’t going to have that built-in conflict, and instead rely on the lamest sitcom device that felt tired when Ross and Rachel did it, you’re going to have readers who wish the book was a short story rather than a novel.

Rating:  C+