Loving Noah, Kenna Knight

This was a cute story, a forever love between friends, a second-chance romance, a reuniting between childhood friends. So many good things about this book, such a lighthearted story meant to give hope and courage. It's difficult to come out, for many people, and this book deals with two very different experiences, unfortunately for these two friends, one of them is tragic.

With Noah receiving the worst response from family and community for being born to love men, he's beaten and sent away without an opportunity to say goodbye to the boy he's growing to love as a man, the boy he's lived his life loving. Liam is on the other side of the come-out experience with loving, understanding parents. He remains mostly in the closet after witnessing the town's response to Noah and then he lives his life as an activist for gay rights on Capitol Hill. Along the way he's made great friends and had no romances worth reliving except for one. One that never got a chance to see the light of day. He's ready, though, for something more, something deeper. Finding Ben gives him hope that maybe he can have that and maybe move around his yearning for Noah. Little does he know, though, that the man he's coming to know is the boy he's always loved and could never forget.

Watching them overcome the years that have been trying and difficult for Noah as well as reacquainting themselves with one another is mostly sweet with only a little bitterness. I liked the story and there was potential for a really great book here, but as I read I felt everything in my head rather than deeper in my chest or even my gut. There was something crucial missing that would drive the story, captivate me, compel me to keep reading. Without that extra something it was just a nice read. I'm glad things worked out for Liam and Noah because Noah truly deserved happiness after all that life put him through. Having solid support from his aunt Kitty and the circle of friends introduced through Liam he had so much more to ensure that happiness. Struggles were overcome and love was found. The ending was satisfying and held great promise for their future.