Review: Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall

23854755 Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Publication Date: August 30th 2016
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Point of View: 1st Person & Alternative
Recommended Age: 12+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, High School, Friends to Lovers

BLURB:

Gideon always has a plan. His plans include running for class president, becoming head of the yearbook committee, and having his choice of colleges. They do NOT include falling head over heels for his best friend and next door neighbor, Kyle. It’s a distraction. It’s pointless, as Kyle is already dating the gorgeous and popular head cheerleader, Ruby. And Gideon doesn’t know what to do.

Kyle finally feels like he has a handle on life. He has a wonderful girlfriend, a best friend willing to debate the finer points of Lord of the Rings, and social acceptance as captain of the basketball team. Then, both Ruby and Gideon start acting really weird, just as his spot on the team is threatened, and Kyle can’t quite figure out what he did wrong…

birds

This is some cute stuff.

Even the author’s name is adorable: Sandy Hall. I can’t imagine this author ever writing a horror story.

But let’s get back to Been Here All Along.

This is a very short novel of two hundred pages. It’s a ‘‘best-friends-to-boyfriends’’ type of plot with plenty of geeky, lovey-dovey and funny scenes.

It’s not original and half of the drama sure could have been cut out, but it’s well-written, atmospheric and heart-warming.

The dynamics between best friends Kyle and Gideon make this novel. They have the kind of friendship we all we wish we had. They know one another to the core of their beings.

I have some real friendship goals right now, because of the two of them.

But never fear, they make a lovely couple, also. The romance in this book comes naturally; it never feels forced and it’s so, so adorable.

Which I keep repeating.

I just wish it were longer and the plot more developed.

But it’s a good and short read: the type we all need from time to time.