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Forty-two Stairs
Owen has been struggling with addiction since he was a teenager, but it takes a DUI involving another vehicle for him to finally face his issues. The road to recovery is a rough one, and for Owen it's a journey made harder by bankruptcy, loneliness, and repressed memories.
His new apartment doesn't help either. It's small, worn, and hot as hell. The only way to reach it is a tedious stretch of stairs that seems like the final insult on top of a whole pile of misery. Thankfully, the mess comes with one bright intense, pretty Sebastian, who seems to have a knack for keeping his head up and finding the beauty in everything.
His new apartment doesn't help either. It's small, worn, and hot as hell. The only way to reach it is a tedious stretch of stairs that seems like the final insult on top of a whole pile of misery. Thankfully, the mess comes with one bright intense, pretty Sebastian, who seems to have a knack for keeping his head up and finding the beauty in everything.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2014
2 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
A.F. Henley
39 books215 followersHenley was born with a full-blown passion for run-on sentences, a zealous indulgence in all words descriptive, and the endearing tendency to overuse punctuation. Since the early years Henley has been an enthusiastic writer, from the first few I-love-my-dog stories to the current leap into erotica.
A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for ‘research purposes’ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, grow like weeds.
A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for ‘research purposes’ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, grow like weeds.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 17, 2014
Owen and Sebastian– two men who aren't perfect, men with issues and baggage– who take a journey of discovery and find out that sometimes it is easier to move forward with someone to lean on, and that "someone" doesn't need to be perfect.
Owen is at a low point in his life, a drunk driving charge resulting in him losing his job, home and boyfriend. He is placed on probation and needs to start over and therefore moves into a small apartment, directly over Sebastian's apartment. It takes him forty-two stairs to reach his new apartment– a tortuous journey that Sebastian assures him will become easier.
The story follows the evolution of Owen and Sebastian's relationship against the doubts they both have. Owen, as reinforced by his brother and his AA sponsor, believes that a new relationship will hinder his recovery. But it's not as simple as overcoming the physical addiction– there are many ghosts in Owen's past that drove him to lose himself in alcohol. Sebastian has his own issues and doesn't want to hurt Owen in any way.
Purple-haired Sebastian is the highlight of the story. There was something so engaging about his character. He also responded so beautifully to Owen, knowing what needed to be said to help Owen to deal with the ghosts from his past and move forward with this life. I would love to spend some more time with Sebastian, to get to know him, more insight into his problems and how he ended up maintaining the apartment block.
Owen's life does change and his relationship with Sebastian deepens in parallel with his ability to climb the forty-two steps without getting breathless.
3.5/4 stars
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in return for my honest review.
For m/m romance reviews and more check out Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
Owen is at a low point in his life, a drunk driving charge resulting in him losing his job, home and boyfriend. He is placed on probation and needs to start over and therefore moves into a small apartment, directly over Sebastian's apartment. It takes him forty-two stairs to reach his new apartment– a tortuous journey that Sebastian assures him will become easier.
The story follows the evolution of Owen and Sebastian's relationship against the doubts they both have. Owen, as reinforced by his brother and his AA sponsor, believes that a new relationship will hinder his recovery. But it's not as simple as overcoming the physical addiction– there are many ghosts in Owen's past that drove him to lose himself in alcohol. Sebastian has his own issues and doesn't want to hurt Owen in any way.
Purple-haired Sebastian is the highlight of the story. There was something so engaging about his character. He also responded so beautifully to Owen, knowing what needed to be said to help Owen to deal with the ghosts from his past and move forward with this life. I would love to spend some more time with Sebastian, to get to know him, more insight into his problems and how he ended up maintaining the apartment block.
Owen's life does change and his relationship with Sebastian deepens in parallel with his ability to climb the forty-two steps without getting breathless.
"Yeah," Owen chuckled. "Those first few trips up are nasty. You get used to it, though."
His mother rose and tugged her clothing into place. "Let me guess? You just have to keep making the trip."
"And look up," Owen said brightly. "You'd be surprised the difference that looking up makes."
3.5/4 stars
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in return for my honest review.
For m/m romance reviews and more check out Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
April 25, 2014
There might be 12 steps to the AA program, but for Owen, a recovering alcoholic, the 42 stairs leading up to his new apartment are the real challenge.
Owen started drinking heavily when he was a teen, but it took two DUI's and nearly killing people in another car as well as a judge's sentence to persuade him to get his life in order. In the process, Owen, who's in his early thirties, loses his boyfriend Eli, his house, his money, and job while picking up a mountain of debt as a result of legal expenses, fines and penalties.
What he retained was an AA sponsor, his loyal younger brother Dennis, who helps him move into a miniscule low-rent apartment, and 42 stairs from ground floor up to his new life.
On move-in day, Owen meets Sebastian who has the apartment below his. In his mid-twenties, Sebastian, with his purple hair, elfin face, and artistic nature, is completely out of Owen's experience as a former white collar worker with a flashy car and elegant home. More than anything, Sebastian challenges Owen to find out who he really is and what he wants out of life.
Read the rest of my review at The Romance Reviews: http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/vie...
Owen started drinking heavily when he was a teen, but it took two DUI's and nearly killing people in another car as well as a judge's sentence to persuade him to get his life in order. In the process, Owen, who's in his early thirties, loses his boyfriend Eli, his house, his money, and job while picking up a mountain of debt as a result of legal expenses, fines and penalties.
What he retained was an AA sponsor, his loyal younger brother Dennis, who helps him move into a miniscule low-rent apartment, and 42 stairs from ground floor up to his new life.
On move-in day, Owen meets Sebastian who has the apartment below his. In his mid-twenties, Sebastian, with his purple hair, elfin face, and artistic nature, is completely out of Owen's experience as a former white collar worker with a flashy car and elegant home. More than anything, Sebastian challenges Owen to find out who he really is and what he wants out of life.
Read the rest of my review at The Romance Reviews: http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/vie...
November 2, 2015
Full review available on Booklikes.
http://myfictionnook.booklikes.com/po...
Grab a copy of this book when it comes out on Wednesday, 6/25. Absolutely worth your time.
http://myfictionnook.booklikes.com/po...
Grab a copy of this book when it comes out on Wednesday, 6/25. Absolutely worth your time.
June 29, 2014
Hope. Truth. Recovery.
This one is about the journey of all three, but mostly?
This one?
This one's about hope.
So often in male male fiction I encounter what I like to call Ye Olde Typical Tropes of Angst: being gay, coming out, overcoming abuse or neglect, being ostracized, etc. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Thank God people are writing books about finding love and lives despite the odds and giving voices to people and issues who and that are not heard often enough.
I've also read my fair share of novels dealing with substance abuse. Again, thank God, because it's not everyone who can tackle such subject matter and come out on the other side in the light instead of the shadows. It's awful, thinking one is alone in the dark, and I believe in my idealistic heart of hearts that often art and, therefore, fiction, can show us the map out of the maze when nothing else has worked. Words are small enough to squeeze through the cracks in the walls our defenses build and sneak into our minds to make us think... consider... and decide.
However... it's a rare book that cuts to the heart of the matter and deals with what is so often the root of the discord... the nasty spark that sets a person on a downward spiral and in search of ways to numb, forget, submerge:
Powerlessness.
The feeling that no matter what you do, it won't matter.
Because you don't, inherently, matter.
For at some point along the way, a person was made a victim by people the person trusted and the victim was made to feel as though the power every human being has to make choices about their own fate was taken away from them. The person was made to think that the only option to live a meaningful life was to follow somebody else's idea of righteousness, no matter where that path lead him or her. Even and especially if that path lead to further destruction.
Not only did Henley tackle that powerlessness demon and pin it to the wall and make it talk in this story, he also showed us one man's journey out of the basement and into the light using a delightfully awful staircase as his base metaphor. There were so many things I loved the most about what Henley chose to do, here...
First of all, I love how he dealt with the, "Oh yeah, I'm gay, by the way" conflict between the main character and the rest of the cast. There were issues in the beginning, everyone got over them, and now everybody thinks Owen's sexuality is a healthy part of him. Well... almost everyone. There's a certain sponsor with ulterior motives, and therein lies the impetus for the main conflict of the novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Henley leveraged the Program and its Values as a way for Owen to discover the most important thing such programs try to teach us: Find Value In Oneself. Some might argue that Owen didn't realistically work the system. I'd say that he's not yet done working the system. He never will be, as anyone who's had to work said system would know. It's also slightly different for everybody. Such programs are maps with guideposts, and everybody's internal landscape is a little different. I also like to think Henley was focusing more on the concept of Owen finding purpose in himself and value in what he wanted and the ability to say no to ideas that were not good for him, as opposed to making a character follow a predictable route to any part of his journey to recovery.
Words fail me to convey how much I enjoyed Baba. Not only is he exactly what Owen needs (and Lord knows, we all enjoy seeing someone find the person who fits him so well), he's also brilliantly flawed, self aware, and pulls of spiritually wise without coming off as contrived or conceited.
And what's more, Henley walks the fine line between the unhappy land of Love Cures All and the promising dominion of Love Might Not Fix Everything But It Sure as Hades Helps A Brother Out. What is a romance... Or even a good book... if not a series of symbols reminding us that we are not alone, that there are people -- good, honest, truthful people -- out there who actually want us to grow, to learn, to be all of what we can be? And isn't that love, of the best sort? I think Henley gives such love to both Owen and Baba in each other. It's beautiful to watch.
Best of all, though, is the hope in these pages. No, it's not an "easy" or "light" or "fluffy" read. There is pain in these words. There is realism. Hitting bottom and finding the willpower to get up and keep going is a messy, dirty, endeavor. I adored the symbolism in the heat of the weather... the humidity, the mugginess, the dampness... The jungle theme... It's hot in hell, in other words, and heaven is in the cool breezes and the fresh air of new ideas and people who lend you hope.
The fact that Owen has enough wherewithal to notice Sebastian is hopeful. The humor between Owen and his brother is hopeful. The ability to face the truth is brave and... hopeful. It's in the prose, too:
"Listen, we're all off sometimes. Everybody's head tells them to do stupid things.... Sometimes you listen, sometimes you don't. As long as you don't start believing that your head is right all the time, you'll be just fine. ... As a wise man once said to me, when there's a conflict between your head and your heart, go with the latter."
Also:
"But you don't stop loving someone because you hate what they've done."
And my favorite:
"And I'm totally and completely okay with you needing to lose your mind now and again."
"I'm not too heavy?"'
"No way."
Thank you, Henley, for writing a book about a man who figures out that his choices give him power and nobody can take that away from him. Thanks for the purple-haired pixie and, as always...
Thanks for the hope.
This one is about the journey of all three, but mostly?
This one?
This one's about hope.
So often in male male fiction I encounter what I like to call Ye Olde Typical Tropes of Angst: being gay, coming out, overcoming abuse or neglect, being ostracized, etc. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Thank God people are writing books about finding love and lives despite the odds and giving voices to people and issues who and that are not heard often enough.
I've also read my fair share of novels dealing with substance abuse. Again, thank God, because it's not everyone who can tackle such subject matter and come out on the other side in the light instead of the shadows. It's awful, thinking one is alone in the dark, and I believe in my idealistic heart of hearts that often art and, therefore, fiction, can show us the map out of the maze when nothing else has worked. Words are small enough to squeeze through the cracks in the walls our defenses build and sneak into our minds to make us think... consider... and decide.
However... it's a rare book that cuts to the heart of the matter and deals with what is so often the root of the discord... the nasty spark that sets a person on a downward spiral and in search of ways to numb, forget, submerge:
Powerlessness.
The feeling that no matter what you do, it won't matter.
Because you don't, inherently, matter.
For at some point along the way, a person was made a victim by people the person trusted and the victim was made to feel as though the power every human being has to make choices about their own fate was taken away from them. The person was made to think that the only option to live a meaningful life was to follow somebody else's idea of righteousness, no matter where that path lead him or her. Even and especially if that path lead to further destruction.
Not only did Henley tackle that powerlessness demon and pin it to the wall and make it talk in this story, he also showed us one man's journey out of the basement and into the light using a delightfully awful staircase as his base metaphor. There were so many things I loved the most about what Henley chose to do, here...
First of all, I love how he dealt with the, "Oh yeah, I'm gay, by the way" conflict between the main character and the rest of the cast. There were issues in the beginning, everyone got over them, and now everybody thinks Owen's sexuality is a healthy part of him. Well... almost everyone. There's a certain sponsor with ulterior motives, and therein lies the impetus for the main conflict of the novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Henley leveraged the Program and its Values as a way for Owen to discover the most important thing such programs try to teach us: Find Value In Oneself. Some might argue that Owen didn't realistically work the system. I'd say that he's not yet done working the system. He never will be, as anyone who's had to work said system would know. It's also slightly different for everybody. Such programs are maps with guideposts, and everybody's internal landscape is a little different. I also like to think Henley was focusing more on the concept of Owen finding purpose in himself and value in what he wanted and the ability to say no to ideas that were not good for him, as opposed to making a character follow a predictable route to any part of his journey to recovery.
Words fail me to convey how much I enjoyed Baba. Not only is he exactly what Owen needs (and Lord knows, we all enjoy seeing someone find the person who fits him so well), he's also brilliantly flawed, self aware, and pulls of spiritually wise without coming off as contrived or conceited.
And what's more, Henley walks the fine line between the unhappy land of Love Cures All and the promising dominion of Love Might Not Fix Everything But It Sure as Hades Helps A Brother Out. What is a romance... Or even a good book... if not a series of symbols reminding us that we are not alone, that there are people -- good, honest, truthful people -- out there who actually want us to grow, to learn, to be all of what we can be? And isn't that love, of the best sort? I think Henley gives such love to both Owen and Baba in each other. It's beautiful to watch.
Best of all, though, is the hope in these pages. No, it's not an "easy" or "light" or "fluffy" read. There is pain in these words. There is realism. Hitting bottom and finding the willpower to get up and keep going is a messy, dirty, endeavor. I adored the symbolism in the heat of the weather... the humidity, the mugginess, the dampness... The jungle theme... It's hot in hell, in other words, and heaven is in the cool breezes and the fresh air of new ideas and people who lend you hope.
The fact that Owen has enough wherewithal to notice Sebastian is hopeful. The humor between Owen and his brother is hopeful. The ability to face the truth is brave and... hopeful. It's in the prose, too:
"Listen, we're all off sometimes. Everybody's head tells them to do stupid things.... Sometimes you listen, sometimes you don't. As long as you don't start believing that your head is right all the time, you'll be just fine. ... As a wise man once said to me, when there's a conflict between your head and your heart, go with the latter."
Also:
"But you don't stop loving someone because you hate what they've done."
And my favorite:
"And I'm totally and completely okay with you needing to lose your mind now and again."
"I'm not too heavy?"'
"No way."
Thank you, Henley, for writing a book about a man who figures out that his choices give him power and nobody can take that away from him. Thanks for the purple-haired pixie and, as always...
Thanks for the hope.
June 27, 2014
The fascination with this novel lies in how the problem of addiction and the beauty of romance come together so perfectly without making this story the usual read.
The reason for this comes from the exceptional characters Owen and Sebastian as well as the way AF Henley handled both subjects of addiction and love. He walked a fine line here and avoided cliché in a brilliant way!
Although an addiction rarely comes from nowhere, AF Henley did an awesome job on simply placing blame. Instead he makes Owen become aware of where his problems come from and confront them.
Being an addict to alcohol since being a teenager, Owen finally ruined his life after a second DUI and lost all he had as a grown man: a partner, a well paid job, a house. As a result, he is bankrupt and had to move into a miserable apartment. Here he meets younger „Baba“ Sebastian, who is working at the building. Owen begins to like Sebastian because the younger man has a certain way of looking at life and his sometimes cryptic musings fascinate Owen.
But falling in love and a new relationship is out of the question for Owen as he has to follow a program with very strict rules that demands to exclude becoming involved with another person to protect them from your issues before you become strong enough yourself to deal with them.
Here the strong and thoughtful story becomes brilliant. Although Owen knows that he needs the program, he hates it. Henley shows that while those programs can be helpful as a general guide, they come with a catch. The addictive is tied to them so strict sometimes that he can become too dependent. In a way another addiction that could prevent that the addictive becomes a person of self-respect and staining on his own feet again.
One of my favorite moments in this story is when Owen comes back one day from his grocery run and walks up all those dreaded stairs to his apartment. When he notices something in the hallway because all the time he was looking down instead raising his head and looking up. A wonderful analogy of how you will miss things that might better your life if you allow your regrets and sorrows block you from realizing that there is hope and the possibility of a brighter future. That moment, although it seems to be a simple one is not only very beautiful but also a turning point in the story.
Here comes in Baba. Troubled by his own problems, he shows Owen that a person needs more than rules to be able to deal with his issues. This throws Owen into an internal conflict between what he is being told what is right and what must be and what his heart tells him to do. As a result, Owen tries to keep Sebastian at distance.
The supporting characters in this novel, Owen’s brother, his mom and his counsel, are a very important and integral part of the story because they, to a certain extend, made and make Owen the person he was and that he becomes in the end.
I highly recommend this novel for its powerful characters, the thoughtfulness and strong dialogues, very romantic and hot moments and a wonderful happy end!
The reason for this comes from the exceptional characters Owen and Sebastian as well as the way AF Henley handled both subjects of addiction and love. He walked a fine line here and avoided cliché in a brilliant way!
Although an addiction rarely comes from nowhere, AF Henley did an awesome job on simply placing blame. Instead he makes Owen become aware of where his problems come from and confront them.
Being an addict to alcohol since being a teenager, Owen finally ruined his life after a second DUI and lost all he had as a grown man: a partner, a well paid job, a house. As a result, he is bankrupt and had to move into a miserable apartment. Here he meets younger „Baba“ Sebastian, who is working at the building. Owen begins to like Sebastian because the younger man has a certain way of looking at life and his sometimes cryptic musings fascinate Owen.
But falling in love and a new relationship is out of the question for Owen as he has to follow a program with very strict rules that demands to exclude becoming involved with another person to protect them from your issues before you become strong enough yourself to deal with them.
Here the strong and thoughtful story becomes brilliant. Although Owen knows that he needs the program, he hates it. Henley shows that while those programs can be helpful as a general guide, they come with a catch. The addictive is tied to them so strict sometimes that he can become too dependent. In a way another addiction that could prevent that the addictive becomes a person of self-respect and staining on his own feet again.
One of my favorite moments in this story is when Owen comes back one day from his grocery run and walks up all those dreaded stairs to his apartment. When he notices something in the hallway because all the time he was looking down instead raising his head and looking up. A wonderful analogy of how you will miss things that might better your life if you allow your regrets and sorrows block you from realizing that there is hope and the possibility of a brighter future. That moment, although it seems to be a simple one is not only very beautiful but also a turning point in the story.
Here comes in Baba. Troubled by his own problems, he shows Owen that a person needs more than rules to be able to deal with his issues. This throws Owen into an internal conflict between what he is being told what is right and what must be and what his heart tells him to do. As a result, Owen tries to keep Sebastian at distance.
The supporting characters in this novel, Owen’s brother, his mom and his counsel, are a very important and integral part of the story because they, to a certain extend, made and make Owen the person he was and that he becomes in the end.
I highly recommend this novel for its powerful characters, the thoughtfulness and strong dialogues, very romantic and hot moments and a wonderful happy end!
July 20, 2016
Owen had a great life – a big house, money, a loving boyfriend, awesome big brother. He also carried a big addiction to alcohol, one that finally ruined things for him with a car accident that happened because he was drunk. After this second DUI, Owen’s life drastically changes, going from success to broke and struggling in an instant. No one to blame but himself, but still. He has to do a rehab program that he absolutely hates, one that makes him feel “hopeless and fucked up…the dredge of society”. To add a little bit of insult, the apartment he chose strictly based on the fact that it was cheap is, you guessed it, forty-two stairs up in the air.
It is here, while moving into this dismal apartment, that he meets Sebastian, “friends call me Baba”, with an elfin face, slender body and long purple hair (love that!) Sebastian works at the building and he’s open, friendly and a little odd. Owen can’t be attracted to him – part of the program is that you can’t be with anyone for the first year because you are too busy working on yourself.
Despite this, Owen and Baba become friends, which leads to some trouble with Craig, Owen’s rehab program sponsor. It was actually a really sad thing, the first time Baba and Owen are together, because regardless of what he’s trying to be, Owen acts like Sebastian is something shameful and that isn’t right.
For his part, Sebastian also has some issues of his own. Combined with both his brother’s and Craig’s assertions that this is not the time to get involved, Owen may have considered backing off. But as Baba says, you can’t help when you fall in love. The relationship building is slow because it is fraught with obstacles from both sides. There are happy moments (meeting on the rooftop), sad ones (Baba’s reaction to Craig berating Owen because of Baba) and ultimately hopeful ones (particularly Owen’s acceptance of the problems in himself and Baba).
I particularly liked that Eli, Owen’s ex, was not painted out to be a terrible man. He is a good man, one who loved Owen but couldn’t handle the alcoholic Owen. When he was needed, he stepped up and that is more than you can expect sometimes. “But you don’t stop loving someone because you hate what they’ve done.” So very true.
Owen’s past plays a huge role in what makes him as he is, as does the responses and reactions (or nonreactions, as it were) of his mother. Owen finally gets to realize how strong he is, and that conversation with his mother was a good one. There is big time awful past in that family and they all need to work to get past it.
It is here, while moving into this dismal apartment, that he meets Sebastian, “friends call me Baba”, with an elfin face, slender body and long purple hair (love that!) Sebastian works at the building and he’s open, friendly and a little odd. Owen can’t be attracted to him – part of the program is that you can’t be with anyone for the first year because you are too busy working on yourself.
Despite this, Owen and Baba become friends, which leads to some trouble with Craig, Owen’s rehab program sponsor. It was actually a really sad thing, the first time Baba and Owen are together, because regardless of what he’s trying to be, Owen acts like Sebastian is something shameful and that isn’t right.
For his part, Sebastian also has some issues of his own. Combined with both his brother’s and Craig’s assertions that this is not the time to get involved, Owen may have considered backing off. But as Baba says, you can’t help when you fall in love. The relationship building is slow because it is fraught with obstacles from both sides. There are happy moments (meeting on the rooftop), sad ones (Baba’s reaction to Craig berating Owen because of Baba) and ultimately hopeful ones (particularly Owen’s acceptance of the problems in himself and Baba).
I particularly liked that Eli, Owen’s ex, was not painted out to be a terrible man. He is a good man, one who loved Owen but couldn’t handle the alcoholic Owen. When he was needed, he stepped up and that is more than you can expect sometimes. “But you don’t stop loving someone because you hate what they’ve done.” So very true.
Owen’s past plays a huge role in what makes him as he is, as does the responses and reactions (or nonreactions, as it were) of his mother. Owen finally gets to realize how strong he is, and that conversation with his mother was a good one. There is big time awful past in that family and they all need to work to get past it.
July 26, 2016
2.5 stars
I can appreciate the author's skill in writing a book that's not another cookie-cutter romance, but this story was heavy and mind numbing.
Owen's inner monologues were constant and tedious. Baba grew on me, but initially his character seemed off, an odd mix of Dalai Lama and quirky hipster.
I'm not sure the conflict with Owen's sponsor was necessary; why infuse a quiet story with manufactured drama?
Some of the conversations, particularly between Owen and his mom, felt forced; the language was so formal, I felt like the author was pushing for poetic and literary vs. realistic.
And the ending, while sweet, was tentative and didn't bring a lot of closure to a story drowning under its own themes. There was no lightness to be found.
I can appreciate the author's skill in writing a book that's not another cookie-cutter romance, but this story was heavy and mind numbing.
Owen's inner monologues were constant and tedious. Baba grew on me, but initially his character seemed off, an odd mix of Dalai Lama and quirky hipster.
I'm not sure the conflict with Owen's sponsor was necessary; why infuse a quiet story with manufactured drama?
Some of the conversations, particularly between Owen and his mom, felt forced; the language was so formal, I felt like the author was pushing for poetic and literary vs. realistic.
And the ending, while sweet, was tentative and didn't bring a lot of closure to a story drowning under its own themes. There was no lightness to be found.
June 29, 2014
Owen is a recovering alcoholic, he's lost his job, his partner and has been declared bankrupt. He's had to move to a new apartment which is up forty-two stairs and the only potential good thing in his life is the enigmatic, purple-haired Sebastian, his down-stairs neighbour. Both men have their problens and no-one in Owen's life is supportive of the relationship but somehow they work. This is not an easy read and a lot of issues are raised but somehow it never feels too heavy and Sebastian is like a ray of sunshine through Owen's otherwise gray life.
July 17, 2014
Owen is at rock bottom. He has lost his driver’s license due DUI, job and previous partner, he’s now reduced to back to basics and starting all over again. This book deals with the recovery process, the trials and tribulations that people go through trying to get over their addictions or problems.
For me this book was an uplifting book that deals with the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. One of getting to grips with one’s demons and taking control of your own life rather than letting something rule it and being reduced to a slave to your addiction and to other people. What was nice to read was that Owen’s family, especially his brother is still at Owen’s side. Stuck with and still supports him. I love it when a family pulls together, providing love and support because after all that is ideally how it should be. Owen has some issues with his mother and vice-versa, but there is fault on both sides here, but these issues are also nicely resolved.
Upon moving into his new flat he meets a neighbour, Sebastian or “Baba”, what I loved about Baba was his upbeat, positive look on life, but also his taking pleasure in the smallest things of life. even if he would be a little twinkie for my own personal tastes in RL. However, Baba also has his issues which makes him very vulnerable and fragile. He is dealing with what I guess to be a form of neurosis, but can’t really say. He gets worked up if he thinks he has been the cause of something bad. I just wanted to hold him to and tell him everything will be alright.
After all this is what this book is about. Broken and damaged souls trying to find their way, but in each other a lot stronger than apart. Despite their problems they are actually good for each. Unfortunately, Owen’s sponsor doesn’t approve as one should not start a relationship while one is recovering from something as any form of emotional upheaval could lead to a relapse. He doesn’t see in this case that finding love can actually be a big part of the healing process, but then we find out later he has ulterior motives which are entirely selfish. What a git! Completely hated him for it but on the other also to be pitied too in some way. was the relationship for Owen poorly timed? I wouldn’t like to think so, I think it came at exactly the right time.
I liked this book on many levels, but especially the whole idea of being reduced to the basics in Owen’s case and having to find his way again. Back to the beginning meant he could build a new Owen and in the process find happiness. So this is a story about a journey of recovery and healing, but also one of fighting, not making the same mistakes and finding happiness. A long climb up to the forty-two stairs, but Baba and Owen get their HEA. I really liked the sympathetic way that A.F. Henley writes, endearing the reader to the characters. I felt like I just wanted to squeeze and hug Baba to death and was willing Owen on all the way to do the right thing.
If you want a relatively quick read with a feel good factor then I can strongly recommend A.F. Henley’s Forty-Two Stairs.
3.5 stars.
For me this book was an uplifting book that deals with the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. One of getting to grips with one’s demons and taking control of your own life rather than letting something rule it and being reduced to a slave to your addiction and to other people. What was nice to read was that Owen’s family, especially his brother is still at Owen’s side. Stuck with and still supports him. I love it when a family pulls together, providing love and support because after all that is ideally how it should be. Owen has some issues with his mother and vice-versa, but there is fault on both sides here, but these issues are also nicely resolved.
Upon moving into his new flat he meets a neighbour, Sebastian or “Baba”, what I loved about Baba was his upbeat, positive look on life, but also his taking pleasure in the smallest things of life. even if he would be a little twinkie for my own personal tastes in RL. However, Baba also has his issues which makes him very vulnerable and fragile. He is dealing with what I guess to be a form of neurosis, but can’t really say. He gets worked up if he thinks he has been the cause of something bad. I just wanted to hold him to and tell him everything will be alright.
After all this is what this book is about. Broken and damaged souls trying to find their way, but in each other a lot stronger than apart. Despite their problems they are actually good for each. Unfortunately, Owen’s sponsor doesn’t approve as one should not start a relationship while one is recovering from something as any form of emotional upheaval could lead to a relapse. He doesn’t see in this case that finding love can actually be a big part of the healing process, but then we find out later he has ulterior motives which are entirely selfish. What a git! Completely hated him for it but on the other also to be pitied too in some way. was the relationship for Owen poorly timed? I wouldn’t like to think so, I think it came at exactly the right time.
I liked this book on many levels, but especially the whole idea of being reduced to the basics in Owen’s case and having to find his way again. Back to the beginning meant he could build a new Owen and in the process find happiness. So this is a story about a journey of recovery and healing, but also one of fighting, not making the same mistakes and finding happiness. A long climb up to the forty-two stairs, but Baba and Owen get their HEA. I really liked the sympathetic way that A.F. Henley writes, endearing the reader to the characters. I felt like I just wanted to squeeze and hug Baba to death and was willing Owen on all the way to do the right thing.
If you want a relatively quick read with a feel good factor then I can strongly recommend A.F. Henley’s Forty-Two Stairs.
3.5 stars.
September 21, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls.
3.5 stars
Owen’s addiction to alcohol has lost him everything. Now at rock bottom, he’s got no job, no partner and a less than stellar apartment with a long set of stairs to climb but he’s finally at the point where he wants to beat his urges. The only good thing about his new life is his vibrant neighbor, Sebastian, who’s filled with both wisdom and innocence. Before long, Owen and Sebastian’s ‘just friends’ turns into something more but one of the rules of Owen’s program is no relationships. Will Owen take the chance on Sebastian even though everyone and everything is telling him not to for his own sake?
When we first meet Sebastian, he’s a flighty, odd and small man that immediately gets Owen’s attention. It doesn’t take long for Sebastian’s weird view of the universe to confuse and intrigue Owen. I absolutely loved that Sebastian was so different. With his purple hair, exuberant personality and intense eyes, he’s definitely different. At the same time, while he’s so lively, he’s also very hard on himself when he thinks he’s done something wrong. Ironically, it’s Owen that has to comfort Sebastian at those times. Considering that Owen is pretty messed up in dealing with his addiction, it was interesting to see Owen’s hesitance and awkwardness in those moments.
The two make both a bad and good pair. Bad because they both have their own issues that could spiral out of control really quickly but they’re also great together and perfect for one another because they can help each other through their problems without becoming a permanent crutch. I think that’s what is so great about this book. It’s all about how only YOU can make yourself strong and only YOU can stand on your own two feet. That there’s a difference between leaning on someone constantly and only leaning until you can get back up. Still, I liked experiencing those moments in the end where Owen really evaluated his life and how to change things so that he wouldn’t use others as a crutch nor alcohol to cope with certain things.
My biggest issue with this one is that it had way too much inner monologue that was hard to follow. Normally, I don’t have issues with internal thoughts but for some reason, the first half of the book was hard for me to keep up with because Owen’s thoughts were very chaotic. In general, the book is very philosophical, you could say, so most of his conclusions and tendency to connect two things together were just a bunch of confusing sentences for me. Beyond that, I found it awkward not really knowing what exactly happened in Owen’s past or exactly why Sebastian was taking medications. It’s alluded to but there was never actually a verbal admission to either of those, which made it hard for me to connect with either character about that.
In the end, though, while I struggled with the beginning and Owen’s internal monologue, I really liked the story in the end. The second half picked up speed and really got into the relationship that Owen and Sebastian were building. Not to mention, how Sebastian ends up helping Owen realize that what he needs most is to learn to stand on his own two feet. It’s a story with an influential underlying message but beware that some readers might find some areas of the book a bit preachy.
3.5 stars
Owen’s addiction to alcohol has lost him everything. Now at rock bottom, he’s got no job, no partner and a less than stellar apartment with a long set of stairs to climb but he’s finally at the point where he wants to beat his urges. The only good thing about his new life is his vibrant neighbor, Sebastian, who’s filled with both wisdom and innocence. Before long, Owen and Sebastian’s ‘just friends’ turns into something more but one of the rules of Owen’s program is no relationships. Will Owen take the chance on Sebastian even though everyone and everything is telling him not to for his own sake?
When we first meet Sebastian, he’s a flighty, odd and small man that immediately gets Owen’s attention. It doesn’t take long for Sebastian’s weird view of the universe to confuse and intrigue Owen. I absolutely loved that Sebastian was so different. With his purple hair, exuberant personality and intense eyes, he’s definitely different. At the same time, while he’s so lively, he’s also very hard on himself when he thinks he’s done something wrong. Ironically, it’s Owen that has to comfort Sebastian at those times. Considering that Owen is pretty messed up in dealing with his addiction, it was interesting to see Owen’s hesitance and awkwardness in those moments.
The two make both a bad and good pair. Bad because they both have their own issues that could spiral out of control really quickly but they’re also great together and perfect for one another because they can help each other through their problems without becoming a permanent crutch. I think that’s what is so great about this book. It’s all about how only YOU can make yourself strong and only YOU can stand on your own two feet. That there’s a difference between leaning on someone constantly and only leaning until you can get back up. Still, I liked experiencing those moments in the end where Owen really evaluated his life and how to change things so that he wouldn’t use others as a crutch nor alcohol to cope with certain things.
My biggest issue with this one is that it had way too much inner monologue that was hard to follow. Normally, I don’t have issues with internal thoughts but for some reason, the first half of the book was hard for me to keep up with because Owen’s thoughts were very chaotic. In general, the book is very philosophical, you could say, so most of his conclusions and tendency to connect two things together were just a bunch of confusing sentences for me. Beyond that, I found it awkward not really knowing what exactly happened in Owen’s past or exactly why Sebastian was taking medications. It’s alluded to but there was never actually a verbal admission to either of those, which made it hard for me to connect with either character about that.
In the end, though, while I struggled with the beginning and Owen’s internal monologue, I really liked the story in the end. The second half picked up speed and really got into the relationship that Owen and Sebastian were building. Not to mention, how Sebastian ends up helping Owen realize that what he needs most is to learn to stand on his own two feet. It’s a story with an influential underlying message but beware that some readers might find some areas of the book a bit preachy.
June 23, 2014
From the looks of it, finding short, good reads, lately, has become a specialty of mine. Not only did the cover grabbed my attention-I have a thing for mysterious looking covers-, but the m/m theme drew me in as well.
What we have here is not an erotica, not a story revolving around the hot sex the two male leads have, but a bumpy journey towards salvation. The story is told from the point of view of Owen while he struggles through an alcohol addiction. I've never personally met anyone who went through what Owen was going through here, but I was glad to see I could get inside his head and relate to his thought process. Though he might've felt the opposite himself at the beginning, Owen was a calm and rational person. He came off as someone who truly wanted to get better and was strong enough to do it. As for Sebastian, well, he was a ray of sunshine. He was a peculiar young man, completely at peace with himself and his surroundings. If I hadn't already read characters like him, he could've come off as odd, but that was exactly what made him endearing.
Their story included some sexy times, sure, but the main theme was getting over and better. I liked the two characters' interactions with each other and their willingness to struggle through their problems instead of sweeping them under the rug. They faced, they shared, they leaned on each other, and came out as the winners. Even though the read was short, it was satisfactory in the way it was told, with enough detail and emphasis on the right moments.
If anyone were to look for a sweet story about two people coming together in hard times, and the m/m is the cherry on top, then this would be the right choice for you.
What we have here is not an erotica, not a story revolving around the hot sex the two male leads have, but a bumpy journey towards salvation. The story is told from the point of view of Owen while he struggles through an alcohol addiction. I've never personally met anyone who went through what Owen was going through here, but I was glad to see I could get inside his head and relate to his thought process. Though he might've felt the opposite himself at the beginning, Owen was a calm and rational person. He came off as someone who truly wanted to get better and was strong enough to do it. As for Sebastian, well, he was a ray of sunshine. He was a peculiar young man, completely at peace with himself and his surroundings. If I hadn't already read characters like him, he could've come off as odd, but that was exactly what made him endearing.
Their story included some sexy times, sure, but the main theme was getting over and better. I liked the two characters' interactions with each other and their willingness to struggle through their problems instead of sweeping them under the rug. They faced, they shared, they leaned on each other, and came out as the winners. Even though the read was short, it was satisfactory in the way it was told, with enough detail and emphasis on the right moments.
If anyone were to look for a sweet story about two people coming together in hard times, and the m/m is the cherry on top, then this would be the right choice for you.
August 6, 2014
Forty-two Stairs is a story about Owen who is struggling to overcome his alcohol addiction and he meets Sebastian 'Baba' who ends up showing Owen how to look up and see the positives in his life. At the start of the book I was worried that the book would be a downer but AF Henley’s writing is such that although the topic is a tough one, she has written an uplifting character in ‘Baba’ and for me he is the star of the book. I enjoyed the relationship that develops between Owen and Baba, I liked Baba’s quirkiness and his purple hair. I loved Baba’s description of himself “…although my name is Sebastian, my friends call me Baba. Telling you I am Baba should mean something.”…..”I like to mix grape drink crystals with mango juice and eat it over vanilla ice-cream. I don’t eat meat. I believe in summer and winter, but I think that spring and autumn are figments of people’s imagination”
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would love to see more of Baba. A prequel featuring him perhaps?
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would love to see more of Baba. A prequel featuring him perhaps?
March 30, 2015
I enjoyed this quick book. Basically the story is about how only "you" can help yourself.
Owen is at the lowest point of his life. He just got his second DUI, he lost his license, job, home and boyfriend. Now he is moving into a tiny apartment that is 42 stairs up and there is no elevator. His neighbor, Sebastian, is like a shining light to Owen. Sebastian is all about knowing oneself and isn't afraid to act, but Sebastian has problems of his own.
Each man can only help themselves overcoming their demons, but together they gain hope and strength. Like I stated before, the book was quick so things happen fast, such as self-discovery and love. The book would have rated better if it was longer and these emotions had time to develop.
Owen is at the lowest point of his life. He just got his second DUI, he lost his license, job, home and boyfriend. Now he is moving into a tiny apartment that is 42 stairs up and there is no elevator. His neighbor, Sebastian, is like a shining light to Owen. Sebastian is all about knowing oneself and isn't afraid to act, but Sebastian has problems of his own.
Each man can only help themselves overcoming their demons, but together they gain hope and strength. Like I stated before, the book was quick so things happen fast, such as self-discovery and love. The book would have rated better if it was longer and these emotions had time to develop.
November 15, 2014
My rating is a 9 out of 10.
Leave it to A. F. Henley to twist guts and unleash butterflies, cause random bouts of enraged ranting, and overall wish one had the ability to pull a certain character off the pages and strangle him to death. E-Books, thankfully, are a lot harder to mangle than physical copies. ;)
The full review can be found HERE. Spoiler warning after the link!
<3
Leave it to A. F. Henley to twist guts and unleash butterflies, cause random bouts of enraged ranting, and overall wish one had the ability to pull a certain character off the pages and strangle him to death. E-Books, thankfully, are a lot harder to mangle than physical copies. ;)
The full review can be found HERE. Spoiler warning after the link!
<3
October 15, 2017
Loved it. Hated it. Too short, but somehow if it was longer it would be too long. Why does this author do this to me? It's not fair. I just wanted a good short book with steamy friskiness. What's with all of the emotions I have to feel along the way? Huh? What's that all about?
Anyway, there is a lot to enjoy about this book. And a lot to be frustrated about. xD All in all, I loved it.
Vague enough for you? ;)
Anyway, there is a lot to enjoy about this book. And a lot to be frustrated about. xD All in all, I loved it.
Vague enough for you? ;)
July 23, 2014
Most abrupt ending ever. That was my first thought when I finished reading Forty-Two Stairs. The story just stopped. I was sure it had to be because I had an ARC and it was missing the last few pages. This was not the case. It just ended. I have to hope that A.F. Henley intends to write a sequel, but if so, it will need to pick up immediately with the next sentence which was sorely lacking in Forty-Two Stairs.
Owen is at the lowest point in his life, a repeat DUI has resulted in his losing everything—his job, boyfriend Eli, and home they shared. This time there was almost a tragedy, and Owen finds himself in a much more serious situation than before. While the judge grants probation, Owen needs to start over with almost nothing. He finds himself moving into a tiny apartment. One which his brother, while helping him move his meager possessions, repeatedly reminds him has forty-two stairs which need to be climbed to reach it. This is a nod to the Twelve-Step program that Owen is working as a way to meet the conditions of his probation and stay sober.
Owen’s downstairs neighbor, whom he meets while moving in, is the purple-haired Sebastian (Baba), who is the highlight of the book for me. Owen’s brother looks at him like he’s a freak, but he is nice enough to help them with the move. Repeatedly climbing those forty-two stairs to reach Owen’s new apartment is a hellacious journey that Sebastian assures him will become easier as he gets used to it.
Forty-Two Stairs takes us through the progress of Owen and Baba’s relationship. Owen is told ad-nauseum by both his brother and his sponsor that a new relationship will hinder his recovery. Any major life changes may take his attention and energy off the task at hand, which is to stay sober. As all those who are familiar with addiction know, overcoming the physical addiction isn’t always the hardest part of recovery. There are many secrets in Owen’s past which caused him to turn to the solace offered by alcohol as early as a teenager. Baba has a laundry list of his own issues and in no way wants to impair Owen’s recovery.
There’s just something so appealing about Baba. He has an indefinable quality to which Owen is drawn, despite the warnings to the contrary. He responds so perfectly to Owen, somehow knowing what he needs to say to help Owen deal with the memories from his past that he didn’t realize were there. I hope that if there is a sequel to Forty-Two Stairs, A.F. Henley uses it to give us a better look into Baba and his story. I’d love to spend some time getting to know him, to glean insight into his past and how he wound up maintaining the apartments.
Owen and Baba are two men who definitely aren’t perfect, both carry steamer trunks’ worth of emotional baggage, but they decide to make the journey that is their lives, and realize that moving forward with someone to lean on is easier than doing it alone. And that the someone they choose to lean on doesn’t need to be perfect.
The times Baba and Owen spend together late at night on the roof are part flirting, part counseling, and part developing a deepening friendship. These are the best moments in the book. As that flight of Forty-Two Stairs becomes less of a chore to climb, Owen’s life changes for the better and his feelings for Baba deepen.
My dissatisfaction with this book comes not from the characters or plot but from a story that had great potential but didn’t live up to that potential for me. I realize that many people really liked this book, but it just didn’t work well for me. That is the great thing about the M/M romance genre,though—there is an author and a book for everyone’s tastes.
Owen is at the lowest point in his life, a repeat DUI has resulted in his losing everything—his job, boyfriend Eli, and home they shared. This time there was almost a tragedy, and Owen finds himself in a much more serious situation than before. While the judge grants probation, Owen needs to start over with almost nothing. He finds himself moving into a tiny apartment. One which his brother, while helping him move his meager possessions, repeatedly reminds him has forty-two stairs which need to be climbed to reach it. This is a nod to the Twelve-Step program that Owen is working as a way to meet the conditions of his probation and stay sober.
Owen’s downstairs neighbor, whom he meets while moving in, is the purple-haired Sebastian (Baba), who is the highlight of the book for me. Owen’s brother looks at him like he’s a freak, but he is nice enough to help them with the move. Repeatedly climbing those forty-two stairs to reach Owen’s new apartment is a hellacious journey that Sebastian assures him will become easier as he gets used to it.
Forty-Two Stairs takes us through the progress of Owen and Baba’s relationship. Owen is told ad-nauseum by both his brother and his sponsor that a new relationship will hinder his recovery. Any major life changes may take his attention and energy off the task at hand, which is to stay sober. As all those who are familiar with addiction know, overcoming the physical addiction isn’t always the hardest part of recovery. There are many secrets in Owen’s past which caused him to turn to the solace offered by alcohol as early as a teenager. Baba has a laundry list of his own issues and in no way wants to impair Owen’s recovery.
There’s just something so appealing about Baba. He has an indefinable quality to which Owen is drawn, despite the warnings to the contrary. He responds so perfectly to Owen, somehow knowing what he needs to say to help Owen deal with the memories from his past that he didn’t realize were there. I hope that if there is a sequel to Forty-Two Stairs, A.F. Henley uses it to give us a better look into Baba and his story. I’d love to spend some time getting to know him, to glean insight into his past and how he wound up maintaining the apartments.
Owen and Baba are two men who definitely aren’t perfect, both carry steamer trunks’ worth of emotional baggage, but they decide to make the journey that is their lives, and realize that moving forward with someone to lean on is easier than doing it alone. And that the someone they choose to lean on doesn’t need to be perfect.
The times Baba and Owen spend together late at night on the roof are part flirting, part counseling, and part developing a deepening friendship. These are the best moments in the book. As that flight of Forty-Two Stairs becomes less of a chore to climb, Owen’s life changes for the better and his feelings for Baba deepen.
My dissatisfaction with this book comes not from the characters or plot but from a story that had great potential but didn’t live up to that potential for me. I realize that many people really liked this book, but it just didn’t work well for me. That is the great thing about the M/M romance genre,though—there is an author and a book for everyone’s tastes.
August 8, 2014
Most abrupt ending ever. That was my first thought when I finished reading Forty-two Stairs. The story just stopped. I was sure it had to be because I had an ARC and it was missing the last few pages. This was not the case. It just ended. I have to hope that A.F. Henley intends to write a sequel, but if so, it will need to pick up immediately with the next sentence which was sorely lacking in Forty-two Stairs.
Owen is at the lowest point in his life, a repeat DUI has resulted in his losing everything, his job, boyfriend Eli, and home they shared. This time there was almost a tragedy and Owen finds himself in a much more serious situation than before. While the judge grants probation, Owen needs to start over with almost nothing. He finds himself moving into a tiny apartment. One which his brother, while helping him move his meager possessions, repeatedly reminds him has forty-two stairs which need to be climbed to reach it. This is a nod to the Twelve-Step program that Owen is working as a way to meet the conditions of his probation and stay sober.
Owen's downstairs neighbor, whom he meets while moving in, is the purple-haired Sebastian (Baba), who is the highlight of the book for me. Owen's brother looks at him like he's a freak, but he is nice enough to help them with the move. Climbing those forty-two stairs to reach Owen's new apartment repeatedly is a hellacious journey that Sebastian assures him will become easier as he gets used to it.
Forty-two Stairs takes us through the progress of Owen and Baba's relationship. Owen is told ad-nauseum by both his brother and his sponsor that a new relationship will hinder his recovery. Any major life changes may take his attention and energy off the task at hand, which is to stay sober. As all those familiar with addiction know, overcoming the physical addiction isn't always the hardest part of recovery. There are many secrets in Owen's past which caused him to turn to the solace offered by alcohol as early as a teenager. Baba has a laundry list of his own issues and in no way wants to impair Owen's recovery.
There's just something so appealing about Baba. He has an indefinable quality to which Owen is drawn, despite the warnings to the contrary. He responds so perfectly to Owen, somehow knowing what he needs to be say to help him deal with the memories from his past that he didn't realize were there. I hope that if there is a sequel to Forty-two Stairs, A.F. Henley uses it to give us a better look into Baba, and his story. I'd love to spend some time getting to know him, to glean insight into his past and how he wound up maintaining the apartments.
Owen and Baba are two men who definitely aren't perfect, both carry steamer trunks' worth of emotional baggage. But they decide to make the journey that is their lives and realize that moving forward with someone to lean on is easier than doing it alone. And that the someone they choose to lean on doesn't need to be perfect.
The times Baba and Owen spend together, late at night, on the roof are part flirting, part counseling and part developing a deepening friendship. These are the best moments in the book. As that flight of Forty-two Stairs becomes less of a chore to climb, Owen's life changes for the better and his feelings for Baba deepen.
My dissatisfaction with this book comes not from the characters or plot, but from the seemingly amateur writing and editing. The story had great potential but didn't live up to that potential for me. I sincerely wish this author success and growth. I realize that many people really liked this book, it just didn't work well for me. That is the great thing about the MM romance genre, there is an author and a book for everyone's tastes.
Owen is at the lowest point in his life, a repeat DUI has resulted in his losing everything, his job, boyfriend Eli, and home they shared. This time there was almost a tragedy and Owen finds himself in a much more serious situation than before. While the judge grants probation, Owen needs to start over with almost nothing. He finds himself moving into a tiny apartment. One which his brother, while helping him move his meager possessions, repeatedly reminds him has forty-two stairs which need to be climbed to reach it. This is a nod to the Twelve-Step program that Owen is working as a way to meet the conditions of his probation and stay sober.
Owen's downstairs neighbor, whom he meets while moving in, is the purple-haired Sebastian (Baba), who is the highlight of the book for me. Owen's brother looks at him like he's a freak, but he is nice enough to help them with the move. Climbing those forty-two stairs to reach Owen's new apartment repeatedly is a hellacious journey that Sebastian assures him will become easier as he gets used to it.
Forty-two Stairs takes us through the progress of Owen and Baba's relationship. Owen is told ad-nauseum by both his brother and his sponsor that a new relationship will hinder his recovery. Any major life changes may take his attention and energy off the task at hand, which is to stay sober. As all those familiar with addiction know, overcoming the physical addiction isn't always the hardest part of recovery. There are many secrets in Owen's past which caused him to turn to the solace offered by alcohol as early as a teenager. Baba has a laundry list of his own issues and in no way wants to impair Owen's recovery.
There's just something so appealing about Baba. He has an indefinable quality to which Owen is drawn, despite the warnings to the contrary. He responds so perfectly to Owen, somehow knowing what he needs to be say to help him deal with the memories from his past that he didn't realize were there. I hope that if there is a sequel to Forty-two Stairs, A.F. Henley uses it to give us a better look into Baba, and his story. I'd love to spend some time getting to know him, to glean insight into his past and how he wound up maintaining the apartments.
Owen and Baba are two men who definitely aren't perfect, both carry steamer trunks' worth of emotional baggage. But they decide to make the journey that is their lives and realize that moving forward with someone to lean on is easier than doing it alone. And that the someone they choose to lean on doesn't need to be perfect.
The times Baba and Owen spend together, late at night, on the roof are part flirting, part counseling and part developing a deepening friendship. These are the best moments in the book. As that flight of Forty-two Stairs becomes less of a chore to climb, Owen's life changes for the better and his feelings for Baba deepen.
My dissatisfaction with this book comes not from the characters or plot, but from the seemingly amateur writing and editing. The story had great potential but didn't live up to that potential for me. I sincerely wish this author success and growth. I realize that many people really liked this book, it just didn't work well for me. That is the great thing about the MM romance genre, there is an author and a book for everyone's tastes.
April 4, 2015
Baba was just plain adorable but Owen made me kind of sad. Still a very good story though. =)
maybe-later
June 4, 2015...Sebastian is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl...
July 5, 2014
Its not bad what "A.F. Henley" wrote but still its nothing special.
To me it was boring reading material.
To me it was boring reading material.
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