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 … 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.
Everyday History, a romance told with Alice Archer’s unique style and lush prose, was named a Top Book of 2016 in the HEA USA Today column Rainbow Trends.
Standalone romance, HEA.
Originally published in 2106 by Dreamspinner Press.
more
This story has a different feel from many M/M. It is deliberately slow, detailed, and poetic in its phrasing and approach. The present-tense narrative unfolds along with the progress of the main characters toward an understanding of who they are, and who the other man is as well.
Henry is a history professor, a quiet but intense guy who loves to teach and who has a knack for bringing history to life. Among the senior high-school students he teaches at a museum class is Ruben. Ruben is the golden boy, the young man on the cusp of adulthood who is the magnet for most of his peers. He’s intelligent, poised, casual, gorgeous, and destined to get almost anything he wants out of life. Henry, who is gay, has no illusions about how attractive he finds Ruben, but he also has integrity and an iron control and he is not going to make so much as eye contact in a way that reveals anything beyond a teacher’s interest in a promising student.
For Ruben, attraction is a slow and insidious thing, seeing Henry first as a brilliant mind, and only very gradually noting the man behind the words. Slowly, Ruben begins flirting, subtly and then more openly, trying out the power of his youth and attractiveness against the indifferent rock that is Henry. And then, once Ruben is of age, graduated, and the class is over, ending their student-teacher position, Henry lets himself be caught.
They have one weekend, incandescent, imperfect but still something more than either of them has had before. And then Henry ushers Ruben out the door, and out of his life, and Ruben, shaken by his experience, dedicates himself to a normal gay college student’s life. Fun. Classes. Men. Beer. It should be the best time of his life, except he keeps measuring everything against one quiet, surprising, intense history teacher, and one unforgettable weekend.
Henry is also determined to move on with an adult life, and to let Ruben spread his wings and fly. But random moments week after week echo back to that surprising weekend, and something that went deeper than he ever imagined.
This book is a long, slow, awakening. For me, it was one I could not put down, despite what in other hands might have been purple prose and cliche. It worked for me, as something unusual and beautiful, and well worth the time.
Brilliantly written
Lyrical and evocative: sublime
Author Alice Archer really can weave a tale that tugs at the heartstrings! I loved this story, most particularly Archer’s wonderful descriptions of the emotions that our connection with everyday objects can evoke. I so felt for both solitary, orphaned Henry and golden boy Ruben as they navigate through passion, joy, trust and loss. Their angst is palpable and I just could not stop reading hoping that their ending would be a happy one.
After all of the drama, the epilogue was a bit of a letdown, but it’s a great story with so much heart. Henry is a survivor and winner in my book.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
4.25 stars
“Everyday History” by Alice Archer follows young Ruben Harper as he explores his sexuality and his inexplicable attraction to the teacher who taught his high school senior class about history. Ruben’s ability to enchant those around him doesn’t seem to work on Henry Normand, who makes ordinary subjects fascinating. Their brief foray into an affair ends painfully for both of them, and each must find a way to move forward…in his own fashion.
This contemporary gay romance is filled with beautiful lyrical imagery such as, “I feel again the empty space of me reaching out to the real me standing beside it.” and “It was like you were a…treasure chest, but I only found the treasures if I paid very close attention. And the more I looked, the more I discovered.”) and angst. The strength of character that Henry displays is underscored by his determined resistance to Ruben’s charms, and he’s a sensitive guide during Ruben’s introduction to having a male lover. It was dismaying although inevitable that Ruben is a bit too immature but impressive that Henry found a way to channel his emotions in a positive fashion.
I wasn’t quite sure I was able to accept the reasons for the person who meddles in their relationship, but I enjoyed the story, and I have several passages highlighted to savor over and over. It took me some time to get used to the alternating points of view as the chapters went by, especially since I tend to skip titles and some of the chapters are VERY short, but I loved the author’s ability to paint vivid word-pictures. I think this is the first book I’ve read by this author but I’m definitely going to be looking for others.
A copy of this title was provided for review
This was one fantastic, incredible, grab-you-by-the-feels, poignant, poetic, lyrical, amazing, thought provoking, emotionally charged, slow burning, delightful, completely unexpected, unconventional, powerful, intense, fascinating, and totally awesome story. I was pulled in from the very first page, and I really hated it when I had to put it down because RL called. I would DEFINITELY recommend getting this marvelous masterpiece immediately!!
I admit that initially I found it difficult to get into the story. Until it gripped me and didn’t let go.
Everyday History is a wonderfull must read,and it touched my heart in thousands different ways. It’s pages emanate overwhelming emotions: loneliness, longing, hope, passion and the most powerful love.
Yes,it’s different, but it only make it beautiful and UNIQUE.
Ruben and Henry’s love story was heartfelt and beautiful. You couldn’t help but fall in love with these two souls and even though it took two and a half years apart for them to find their happily ever after, they did so very spectacularly. Ruben’s big moment was gorgeous and the epilogue was sweet.
I can’t give this book enough stars. These two characters dance around each other fighting their love. Henry is a history professor, and inspired by Ruben, sets out to publish articles and a book as well as a lecture tour around what he calls Everyday History. I was blown away by his concepts. Henry is adorable and heart-breaking. Ruben is…well he lives up to Henry’s code name for him. It takes him longer to figure his shit out. This book is well worth reading. There was nothing I disliked in the book. It’s imaginative and well written and character driven. Read it if you love a true romance with something more.