A high school jock and nerd fall in love senior year, only to part after an amazing summer of discovery to attend their respective colleges. They keep in touch at first, but then slowly drift apart.
Flash forward twenty years.
Travis and Craig both have great lives, careers, and loves. But something is missing …. Travis is the first to figure it out. He’s still in love with Craig, and come what may, he’s going after the boy who captured his heart, even if it means forsaking his job, making a fool of himself, and entering the great unknown.
Travis and Craig are so very different from each other. When Craig needs help with his homework he turns to Travis who is more than thrilled to help Craig in any way he possibly can. Although I’m pretty sure Travis was trying to deny that he actually liked other boys, Craig and Travis start a relationship and fall deeply in love. It’s was hard, at first, to think that it was a deep abiding love because Travis is only 17 and Craig 18 but it’s told in such a way that you have no doubt that they are everything to each other, without ignoring the rest of the world.
After their senior year and one wonderful summer together, Travis goes off to college in California and Craig stays in the east. They write to each other but it just slacks off. This was, I think, the only issue that I had with the book. If they had such a wonderful relationship why would they let that happen?
Anyway, fast forward 20 years and here is Travis, a History professor, trying desperately to make heads or tails of his love life. He’s a great professor, he has a book grant that’s finally going through but he’s missing something with all the guys he dates. He finally realizes that he’s missing Craig. Craig is what he wants. He goes on the hunt to find him and what follows is hilarious.
The book is told in epostilary format and at first I put off reading it (even though I knew it was told that way when I got it from the library thanks to Kris’s info) because of this. I could have kicked myself when I finally started reading and couldn’t get the damned smile off of my face. Travis is all about the facts – academic and eventually baseball after becoming friends with Craig. Craig is all about the sports – but starts seeing a different side of life while being with Travis. It was a testament to how much the other person influenced their lives when we see them as adults.
I can’t say with enough fervor how much I loved this book. It was just all around goodness with a cherry on top. Great characters and a wonderful romance but mixed in are the beautifully written relationships/friendships with several other people in both Travis’s and Craig’s lives. Such. Good. Stuff.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Right, I have brought it and am going to have nose in book tonight! 🙂
BTW DRM software blows and is annoying. Had to buy book via Diesel.
Great review, Tracy.
I've read so many brilliant reviews for this book. I have to have it. Did you know it costs less to buy the paperback book from TBD than it does to buy the ebook from FW? What a rip off!
Oh well, I'll just have to buy the paper copy.
Nice review! I just saw this reviewed on Penny Watson's site last weekend and she raved about it so I requested it at PBS. Can't wait to start it!
Good blog and Nice posting.
Priya | True Hindi Love Story
This is the 2nd great review of this book. I wouldn't have given it a second glance because the cover doesn't do it for me – that's why I'm glad there are book blogs so we can find little gems like this. Can't wait to read it!
oooh sounds like a great, heartfelt read. Nice review pimpin Tracy.
Sarah – Please let me know what you think.
Jenre – thank you. Sorry about the price of the book. I lucked out and my library had it. I think I might need to buy a copy for myself for the future though. I can definitely see myself re-reading it.
Mandi – Hope you get it soon! Just a fun book.
Sunil – thank you.
Patti – I'd never heard of the book before Kris did a tasting on her blog – and you're right the cover says nothing about the book. But you're right – it is a gem.
KB – heh – you're welcome. 🙂
Yay!! I'm so glad that you liked it, Tracy. 🙂 I have to admit that I was a bit worried.
Now having read two more books in the same format by this author I actually think the epistolary approach brings more omph – more poignancy, more humour – to the relationships that he develops between his characters. It just seems to be able to convey so much. I don't know how to describe it. It seems more personal somehow.
Ohhh, I lucked out too Tracy as my library has it, and even though I shouldn't be requesting yet more books I have 🙂 It's all your and Kris' fault for writing such a (to paraphrase KB) pimpin' review *grin*
Kris – I was wondering if you'd read any of his other books. Which other ones, how were they and should I read them? lol
Orannia – oh good you did luck out! Well enjoy it. I just loved Travis and Craig…and well, everyone else.
I've read his 'Last Days of Summer' and 'My Most Excellent Year'. I really liked 'em. Probably not as much as 'Almost Like Being in Love', but they were bloody good. I would get 'em both.
Cool – thanks for letting me know – I'll see what I can scare up. 🙂
Sounds like a great book!! Thanks for reviewing it and putting it on my radar Tracy!! Let's hope the library has it ^_^;
Well, you know I have to have this one, doncha! Great review and thanks for the heads up. 🙂
I've read Kluger before and fell in love with him. I was really impressed. I don't know why I haven't read more. I'll have to pick this one up.