When I See You Again

by Daryl Banner

Would you dare fall in love with your childhood enemy?

Caleb Fletcher was a shy and lonely kid who desperately wanted a friend.
He never dreamed that friend would come in the form of the troublemaking Beau Whitman, who was the neighborhood nightmare on the other side of the fence.

Their friends hated each other.
Their families kept them apart.
But Caleb refused to believe that Beau was a bad person. He knew deep down, the troubled kid was lost and hurting inside.

It would be that same belief Caleb carried with him into teenhood, when emotions grew more complicated, and the fine line between good and bad blurred.

It would be his hope that drove him through his college years, when the consequences of their pasts would catch up to them.

It would be their love that was tested into adulthood, when their lives were on the brink of achieving everlasting happiness — or falling to pieces.

Can Beau and Caleb's love withstand the test of time?

“When I See You Again” is a stand-alone novel that spans a lifetime, with every chapter taking place 5 years later. It contains potentially sensitive or triggering subject matter. Reader discretion is advised. (Full disclaimer is located in the Foreword.)

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Audiobook, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT, Contemporary

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2021

About the author

Daryl Banner is a USA Today Bestselling author, composer, and performer. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston Honors College with a degree in Theatre and Psychology. He is happily married to his piano. Theory suggests this is why he writes romance.

During Daryl Banner's time in college, he wrote, composed, and produced a musical under Tony Award-winning musical and Theatre producer Stuart Ostrow, as well as two original plays produced under the mentorship of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson, who also mentored Daryl through the writing of his very first novel. In addition to new adult and M/M romance, Daryl also writes post-apocalyptic fantasy as well as dystopian.

Join his mailing list here to be the first to hear about his new releases! He awards an Amazon gift card every newsletter:
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Fun facts about Daryl Banner:

- He is an obsessive self-taught pianist.

- He is a huge video game enthusiast.

- He left his day job of 10 years to tour with a 2-woman-1-man original musical.

- He's been remixing video game music for over 20 years. One of his remixes is featured in the major motion picture "The Spy Who Dumped Me". Check out his work here: http://www.youtube.com/DarylBanner

- He composes original soundtracks that accompany his books and series, including The Beautiful Dead and OUTLIER. He is also the award-winning composer of the audio drama Janus Descending, as well as several films, games, podcasts, and other media. You can enjoy his music here: http://darylbanner.bandcamp.com

Reviews

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ☆

"I think ..." Caleb swallowed, nervous, but kept his eyes on Beau. "I think ... there's so much more to you than you tell anyone. You're deep. You're thoughtful. You're brave." His voice quavered as he fought to uphold whatever courage had taken him over. "I wish we'd been friends all this time. I knew it since we were kids ... that there's something about you, Beau."
Beau swallowed hard. Boom, boom, boom. "Something about me, huh ...?"
"Something about you that makes me feel the most ... me."

wow. so, this...was definitely an experience. the story follows the two mcs, Caleb and Beau, as they encountered each other through a bike incident when they were five years old and it spans over their lives for decades. the good times. the bad times. the happy times. the heartbreaking times. this story has it all, and more.

what i found unique about this book was how each chapter took place five years apart so there were questions left unanswered in some aspects and so many things happened, new changes, within that time span. as much as this book made me feel, it wasn't a full five stars for me bc there were moments when i needed to know what happened in that gap after a chapter had ended. maybe its purpose was for us not to really know, but i still wanted to so it left me disappointed when it would just move on to the next part of their lives.

the prologue alone already sets the tone of the story and how, although things start off cute (a bit angsty...but mainly cute) during their younger years, you can feel the dread coming from a mile away as each chapters pass bc of the sneak peek during the prologue and the angst definitely made me feel so much. my fav part about Beau and Caleb's relationship was how... real and flawed it was. it wasn't perfect by any means, and they fought a lot, but you see the love was there. it was real. and isn't that how a relationship is supposed to be? imperfect, but real and, as long as the love still exists between you both and you're willing to put in the effort to make it work, it will last. this is why i personally loved how we were shown a glimpse of Caleb and Rafael's relationship as well bc we see just how different Caleb was, in comparison to when he's with Beau. with Rafael, Caleb fakes his smiles, how he feels, just to avoid the ugly parts of a relationship and, bc of it, he feels trapped but, with Beau, he always felt like he could be himself—both his good and bad sides. no facade whatsoever. i loved seeing both types of relationship bc of the clear differences and how there's no question who Caleb can be himself, be free, with.

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There’s a reason not everyone sticks around in life. It’s like sifting dirt for gold; eventually, the only ones who matter are the ones who stuck around.”

When I See You Again is an epic tale that takes place over decades. Beau and Caleb meet when they are five years old and are far from fast friends. This story felt so full of substance. There’s so much packed in here and I loved every second of it. I felt every emotion alongside the characters and felt so much empathy for them. They are fully realized and they aren’t perfect. I loved them for it. Bad choices, wrong choices, good choices and the best choices are made time and time again. They learn and they grow with each passage of time and sometimes they take a step backwards and it all felt so…real. The writing was stunning as well. A beautiful and emotionally powerful story of love lost and gained. Of love found and cemented. ❤️

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5***** moments of life stars


Wow, what a reading experience. You need to pick this up!

While reading, though, I was more confused than not the first half of the book and it was really hard to keep up. Most of the time I couldn’t even keep my head around what was happening. This really was something else.

Have you ever felt so in love, your heart wanted to leave your chest and join whoever it is you couldn’t live without, and after that moment, your heart never truly belonged to you anymore? ♡♡♡

Well, even though the author explained in a foreword how this book works I was thrown off guard every time I was pulled out of one glimpse of Beau’s and Caleb’s lives and suddenly plopped off again another five years later and everything had changed and I had no idea where we’re at now.

But somehow it worked and it really turned out a book to remember.


*********

“But how did you two get together?” he said, wagging his finger between Caleb and Beau. They looked at each other. Then…, Beau said, “I crashed my bike into him, that’s how.”

They were five years old the day that happened. And at another point in the book that moment was painfully described as the day Beau ruined Caleb’s life. First I thought there was a major life alternating injury involved or something… but no. It meant ruining his life by meeting him that day for the first time, by entering his life.

Maybe they were doomed from the start. The first thing Beau ever did to Caleb was hurt him.

It was hard for me to stomach how Beau was treated and seen by various people over the years. What he had to hear people say about him and to him. Like everyone was convinced that he was scum and not good enough. For anyone, really. That he causes trouble and destruction in other people’s lives. Like everyone would be better off without him. It was heartbreaking to witness. And so untrue.

“This is what you do. Your modus operandi.” Caleb came right up to Beau, face to face. “You crash here, crash there, turn over one household, wreck another. No regard to other people. As destructive and reckless as a goddamned tornado, twisting wherever you please. You ruin lives, Beau.”

*********
But despite the hurting there were also so many beautiful moments that warmed my heart. The last chapter and the extended epilogue were really funny even - I was snorting pretty un-lady-like more than a few times as we follow both men through their second half of life. And there was SO MUCH LOVE. So palpable it made my heart sore.


This book felt real somehow, not so made up for the sake of drama and romance. And it also held some serious good and deep lines to remember - about the time we have, about life and about love.

Go read it! ♡

[martina (the life of a chaotic reader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

i love the idea. every chapter jumps five years. interesting, new, i liked that.
however this made me mad.
first of all the long chapters. i wasn’t put on this earth to read a +20 minutes long chapter. my silly brain wanted to cry.

but honestly the time jumps were so annoying. the previous chapter ended anticipating some sort of catastrophe and the next would ignore that and then i’d play catch up. i still have some questions about what happened during some fights because we never got to learn.

it’s pretty stressful to not participate to important moments. we’re just told if we’re lucky and even then it’s underwhelming.
i liked the beginning a lot, but the more time passed, the less important things we got to see in real time.

then we got to a level of drama that’s only acceptable in fan fiction and i’m sorry but this is a published book someone should’ve stopped this.

if i wasn’t suffering enough the author had to go and mention covid. in a book. didn’t anyone tell them that’s it’s actually illegal???? no but really. put a trigger warning i don’t want to see the word covid in fiction. (okay, okay, i’m joking. i mean, i hate it, but i’m joking)


(i just saw that basically all my friends loved this… ignore me and remember that i love YOU)

[Megan [Slump City] · Rating 5 out of 5]

MM Romance
Angsty Childhood Enemies to Everything
5++ Stars


I hope I can do this book justice with this review. Books like this are why I read. This book is unlike anything that I have ever read before and it's incredibly special. I went through so many emotions reading this and I feel like I know these two in real life like I went on their journey with them. This is not just the best book I've read so far this year but it's one of the best books I've ever read.

And here is why.

Each chapter takes place 5 years later in the timeline of their life. Caleb and Beau meet when they are 5 years old and we stay with them until they are 80. Since the chapters are spread 5 years apart, we don't get all the mundane information as in other books but the events that really matter, that set the foundation for not only the people they are individually in the future but for the life they have together. For example, while we see their first kiss, we don't see the first time they ever have sex but we see them having sex throughout the years. I wasn't sure if this would work for me to not have all the first times and little details but I never felt like I was missing anything. In fact, I felt like I knew more about these two just seeing an important snippet in each 5 year period than I have about couples I have read their every daily thought and feeling.

But don't get me wrong, we get all the thoughts and the feelings over the years that go by because this book is angsty AF and I LIVED for it. From the prologue to the last page of the book, I felt everything these two go through and more. There's happy wonderful times, times I couldn't stop crying and times I wanted to beat both of them but since every chapter is 5 years later, I didn't always know what to expect from one chapter to the next. The anticipation in some cases nearly killed me to know where they were and how things played out over the 5 years. It wasn't always happy but it was real and I loved it.

I loved all of that but what got me in the end was seeing how they lived out their golden years. In most romance books, we see them get to a certain age, usually young and then get an epilogue a few years out but in this one we get to see them over a 75 year period. I'm teary eyed even writing this because their journey together was just so incredible and the years of memories they shared, a whole lifetime, whether it was good or bad made them who they were meant to be. In the end, it all tied back to the beginning and I found myself in tears again but not in the angsty tortured way I was many chapters before. This time I was so incredibly touched by what I had just read and so incredibly thankful I stumbled upon this book and this author.

These are the books I love to find because they are like needles in haystacks. No one I know is reading them, I know nothing about the author beforehand or really what I am getting into at all and yet somehow they're magic. I highly recommend this one.

[Brenda Motza · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Two Boys in the Rain"

Daryl Banner is quite the author. You would swear that these two kids are real.

This book put me thru so many emotions. I was hopeful, sad, in love, shocked, devastated, wondering what the hell happened, hopeful again, sad, some tears in the end knowing that these boys to men to elderly men finally got their act together and loved and lost and found and grew. Then you wonder how much longer do they have with each other and the beautiful love they found together forever.

Gah, this has to be the best book Daryl has written by far. I mean, I am partial to Raising Hell because it was so raw but this book, ugh, beats it by a mile.

Kudos Daryl!

(I may have been teary eyed writing this review. Told ya, emotional).

[Layla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Edited the rating after thinking about it some more.

This book was hard for me to rate because honestly I loved a lot of things about it, but 3i was also bummed with how other things were addressed... or NOT addressed tbh.

Let's start with what I loved;

1. The idea of the book:
This book has 5 year time jumps from the time the two MCs are 5 years old until they are 80 years old---(the epilogue alone spans from 45 years old to 80 years old). It's actually a unique take and I enjoyed how we get to jump with the MCs every 5 years and experience the most important things...mostly <--back to this later.

2. The MCs
Both were lovable... Beau was imperfect and struggled a lot. From the abuse to his mom's issues, to the alcoholism and more he was real and gave no shit about who he was.

Caleb was the white to Beau's black. Innocent and happy and wanting to live his life with the boy he had loved for a long time.

3. The relationship....
There was an unstoppable connection between these two from the moment they met, and you could feel how much they loved each other...mind you there were some ups and downs but it worked.

4. The Epilogue...
I loved seeing them well into their older years and how they were still in love.

What I didn't love/ Niggles

I felt as if the time jumps sometimes took away from the poignancy of this book. There were instances in their lives that were VERY important but we don't experience them on page, rather they are talked about. And because of that, they lost some of the effect for me.

The first half of the book was really strong. I adored that part, and that's part of why my rating is on the high side. But then it started to fizzle out slowly until some parts of the book felt as if they were wrapped up very quickly and sometimes very OTT. I won't mention them because spoilers but they could/should have been handled a bit differently, given more page time and importance because they were things that shaped Beau into the man he became.

So... in conclusion... it was a great read that could have been amazing with a bit of tweaks.
I totally recommend reading it despite it's issues.

[Liya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good, it was different and mostly I loved it.
Connection and chemistry between MCs was outstanding, the story was engaging and touching.
I just wish we got more of what happened in 2010. It seemed liked the most important point in Beau's getting his life around and in his relationships with Caleb. And it all happened off page. Other years - I got everything I needed, but this one was definitely lacking. The story felt incomplete without it

[alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

the epic story of two perfectly imperfect characters spanning a lifetime, documented in episodic fashion

[Gustaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.
I don't know how to describe this book with actual words. Just wow. And then wow again.
This is an epic tale of love and loss and lessons learned. Both the hard and the easy way. Following the main characters through five year time jumps we get to know them from they were kids until they are old men and everything happening in a lifetime.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

[Lori Hammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot express how much I love this book. Getting a snapshot every five years of Caleb and Beau's lives seems like it would leave a lot of holes, and at the same time is a perfect way to tell their story. I don't feel like I missed a thing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Ana Nimity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me hooked from the beginning

It's been a while since I read a Darryl Banner book, but I have enjoyed the ones I have read so I gave this one a try since it has such an interesting approach, following the MCs in five year increments.
I was a bit skeptical at first, but it worked beautifully as it set up the relationship without making the story drag through each year between. It may not be for everyone since the two MCs are not always together, but it feels right to me. I won't go into detail so as not to spoil the story, but I will say there's no cheating, and there's emphatically an HEA.

Some readers only want formulaic stories, but there are also plenty of us who just want GOOD stories with compelling characters and stories that stay with us once we close the book, and this one scores on both counts. I cared about them from the first page and wanted them both to succeed and be happy. I loved every bit of the journey, even though it wasn't all rainbows and unicorns. Probably because it wasn't all rainbows and unicorns.

Highly recommend.

[Joshua Conner]

I really enjoyed reading When I See you again by Daryl Banner. It was a brilliant fusion of my two favorites m/m romance and timeline exploration. Banner eloquently writes a story that illustrates that love lasts forever and in many different forms. The reader is taken on a ride observing the growth not just of the main characters Beau and Caleb, but also of everyone around them. Time is essentially a character in the story. Plenty of romance, didactic quotes, aesthetically pleasing underwear descriptions all offset with great timelines.

[Cyndi (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teardrops are so hard to clean off of glasses, so thanks for that Daryl Banner. Wow, talk about a journey. This is everything an epic love story should be and what an original and interesting way to tell it. 75 years of life! How often do we get to see characters ride off into the sunset of their golden years? This book was absolutely stunning. I loved watching Beau and Caleb grow up and change and mature. Yes there were events we weren't privy to due to the 5 year time jumps between each chapter, but the author did such a good job of filling in the blank spaces. It felt a lot like looking through a photo album, or a highlight (and lowlight) reel of their lives where only the memories most important to their story were shown. It reminded me a lot of The Story of Us by Barbara Elsborg, but with less external drama.

I connected to this story very deeply. Not only did I share a lot of the same experiences as the characters, but they grew up at the same time as me and in the same city. I loved the not-so-subtle call outs to each decade through the technology available at the time. When Caleb's dad was showing off his new VCR I laughed out loud because I remembered watching my dad flipping through the instruction manual while trying to figure out how to record the mid-day soap operas he wanted to watch after work. Caleb's mom was my mom - overprotective, judgmental and way too opinionated when it came to my life. My dad was his dad - trying his best to stay out of the drama. And Beau was my boyfriend - mohawk, tattoos and all. Maybe all of these similarities fed into why I loved this book so much. I'm not sure. I just know that I felt all of it.

There is nothing better than a walk down memory lane at the end of a book. I love it when characters reflect on their pasts together and relive the standout moments that brought them to where they are. Since the standout moments in this book were made very obvious, it made me feel even more a part of their story and retracing those steps with them made me really emotional. I mean, I met them when they were 5 years old. I felt the pain of their hard times and the joy of their good times. I watched them go from shaky to solid and everything in between and after. It was really impactful and I'm so grateful to Megan and her gorgeous review for making me aware of this book. I highly recommend it and hope everyone who reads it loves it as much as I did.

[Ronie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scandals

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I See You Again is a unique, touching, and beautiful romance by Daryl Banner.

This is a story many, many years in the making. 70 years to be exact. This unique tale is told in small glimpses of their lives, catching up with them briefly throughout the years.

Caleb and Beau meet when they're little kids. Things aren't easy for the two, as Caleb longs to be Beau's friend, but Beau fights it.

I have to admit that the early part was tough for me. I felt something was missing. I felt I wasn't connecting enough with the characters. But then...

Wow, later it's pure brilliance and wonderful. The story truly fast forwards the way it seems to when you're older. Looking back at how the big things at the time felt they'd last forever, yet later knowing they were a small blip in time.

Seeing the way people come and go. Seeing the way people and relationships change over time. Seeing the way people change and relationships can be healed.

This is a story of falling for someone despite everyone rooting against you. Falling for "the one" early on and never getting over them. The ups and the downs of their relationship. The ups and downs of their lives. And ultimately the power of love.

This is a story of rising up above one's circumstances. "We're all given a set of circumstances we didn't ask for in life...The world isn't built fair for all of us..." I love this element.

This is a story illustrating the power of alcoholism and the struggle involved. The power it has to destroy and the power of reclaiming one's life upon recovery. As well as the continued struggle to stay sober. "Every day is a battle - a battle we've got to win. Our loved ones are depending on it."

There are family issues throughout. It's definitely one hell of a ride, with both good and bad.

This is a story full of pain and hurt, full of love and strength, full of healing and forgiveness. It's a wonderful glimpse at lives well lived.

This quote really stuck with me. "There's a reason not everyone sticks around in life. It's life sifting dirt for gold; eventually, the only ones who matter are the ones who stick around." As an almost fifty year old, this is easy to relate to. But, as a mom to teens, this is one of the lessons I am constantly trying to explain to my kids.

When I See You Again is a beautiful story. Daryl Banner brilliantly uses a lifetime of two men to show the power of love and the way life changes us constantly. I am truly impressed by this book and it's message.

[Mommysuz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow!!!!!

I have no idea how I found this book or this author.  However, I am so glad I did. I had never read a book with 5 year apart chapters. I was iffy about this book before starting to read. Well was I wrong. This book is amazing. Caleb and Beau met when they were 5 years old. Beau at 5 was a tough little boy, where Caleb at 5 was good boy wanting to be friends with Beau. Things between them changes at dance chapter.  When starting the the 30 year old chapter I was so happy until I read a certain line. At which point I wanted to throw my kindle. When you think ok I can handle this bamb something else happens. What an amazing rollercoaster ride you go on.  There are so many twists and turns. You are pissed off one minute and the next you're like awww how sweet. The ending had me sobbing like a baby. This book ended perfectly. I could not think of a better ending.
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. It deserves so much more.

[Pablito · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, nostalgic life-spanning novel of two boys who meet by accident or just as likely destiny. It's told in five-year gaps, as the people and the settings in Beau and Caleb's life come and go, go and come. Despite the episodic structure, the narrative for the most part welds the joints, some of which are sharply bent.

I enjoyed this one almost as much as Bromosexual.

[Marthea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Niedoskonali ludzie, niedoskonałe życie, niedoskonała miłość.
I wszystko piękne w tej swojej niedoskonałości.

A że w kilku może miejscach było trochę ckliwie i sentymentalnie? Nie ma to znaczenia, bo każdy z nas zasługuje na trochę ckliwości i dobrych zakończeń w swoim życiu - a już zwłaszcza Ci idealnie nieidealni w swoim doskonale niedoskonałym życiu. I choć każdy z nas taki jest, to nie każdy jest tego świadomy, żyjąc w bańce "jestem idealny/wszyscy inni są gorsi" - zatem chwała tym, którzy wiedzą o swoich niedoskonałościach i mimo wszystko starają się żyć jak najlepiej. Nawet, jeżeli zrozumienie pewnych rzeczy zajmuje im trochę czasu...

Piękni ludzie, piękne życie, piękna miłość...
Piękna, nietypowa książka...

Cudny epilog 💙💙💙

* * * * * * *

"Time’s a … hell, how do I keep putting it? … Time’s a cleverly woven illusion. You can live your entire life in a single year if you wanted to. You can experience the universe in a day. Butterflies do it. Yet I bet if you could ask them, they wouldn’t say their life’s short. You won’t see them scrambling around in a panic, as if Death breathed on their delicate wings. Some wise asshole once told me, you shouldn’t live every day like it’s your last. Live every day like you’ve already lived forever".

[AngelFire · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 49%

I understand what the author was trying to do in this book and the narrative structure is unique in the world of MM romance but it's not working for me. I'm at the point where I'm bored and I'm skimming so I'm giving up.

Part of the problem is the writing style. There's a lot of head hopping between Caleb and Beau, which was jarring and the author includes some fourth-wall breaks and sometimes appears to be writing from side characters' perspectives. It wasn't my thing but I could have gotten used to it if that was my only problem. Unfortunately, the entire narrative structure didn't work for me as a romance.

The point of the story is that the author does 5 year time jumps through the MCs lives, starting from the time they're 5 years old. Every chapter takes place 5 years after the previous but even within chapters, there's sometimes more time skipping. The author clearly worked hard to sprinkle details about the skipped over time into the on-page scenes so readers can put together the clues and figure out what happened in the time that was skipped. Unfortunately, this didn't work for me. A lot of important events are skipped over and then divulged through small hints sprinkled in characters' conversations. For example, Beau's brief struggle with alcoholism, him cheating on Caleb and lots of other things. Other times, the author uses the on-page scene to build up to a massive life change between the MCs (like them getting together as a couple) and then cuts the chapter off and jumps 5 years ahead. As a result of this constant skipping, I felt I was missing too much of the MCs relationship and I didn't emotionally connect with what was happening. I also disliked that a lot of the on-page scenes were dragged out by throwing in constant references to past events and including detailed conversations that didn't serve much purpose (like the lengthy conversation where somebody flirts with Caleb at college and he struggles to explain that he's in a relationship). This created a weird pacing imbalance where the on-page scenes were slow but then readers are always yanked forward through time to the next scene.

I also didn't care about Caleb and Beau's relationship. The author made the unique choice to have them not become best friends right away. During the 5 yr old scenes and 10 yr old scenes, Beau doesn't care for Caleb (there's no animosity, he just doesn't want to be friends with him). But during the 15 yr old scenes, Beau is suddenly going above and beyond to be a good friend to Caleb and this leads to them getting together. All of this was way too abrupt and I didn't believe it. The author tried to make me root for them because he had Caleb be oddly fascinated by Beau from the moment they met, but this felt weird to me. Caleb doesn't know anything about Beau but he's fascinated by him as if Beau is a weird creature he wants to study. Since Beau didn't give Caleb any reason for this devotion, it felt forced - like it was the only way the author could create the idea that Caleb likes Beau.

So overall, this is a unique reading experience and I appreciate the hard work the author put into it, but it fell flat as a romance for me. I needed to see more on-page development between the MCs and I needed a stronger and more believable connection between them to root for their romance.

[DeAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful heartfelt "messy" love story like no other you have read before. As this story starts, Caleb and Beau are little boys and when it ends they are approaching old age. Its fast paced as each chapter moves us forward 5 years at a time. That being said you never feel like your missing parts of their life because its so well thought out and written the story itself just flows right along. Daryl is such a talented writer and he amazes me with the unique stories and characters he's able to bring to us. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

So....the first chapter threw me. The second chapter returned to historic events when the MCs were five years old, when they first met and the story progressed by five years every chapter.
I disliked the future chapters, I wish it had stopped at 2020 and left the remainder years to our imagination, but, so saying....I loved it. So emotional everyone becomes a friend regardless of past bitterness and hatred. Parents, friends, ex's, children. Loved it. Will try more by this author.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a lovely story and it was a 4.5 starts up until I hit the 80% mark. Let’s started with what I did like.
First, let me say that this book was beautifully written. The prose was flawless and the amount of raw emotional feeling it portrayed would have me think that this book came from such a personal place for the author. If it didn’t, well kudos to you for being able to express something so beautiful so well.

The characters: I fell in love with Beau, what a beautiful broke soul, he deserved the world. It amazed me how he loved Caleb every step-up of the way. He was a wonderful human, it pained that no one really saw it for a long time -sometimes not even Caleb- and especially not himself. He got dealt a rough hand, and he hit some really rough patches but at the end, he did what good men do and it is he learned from and overcame them.

Caleb: I loved Caleb as a kid, his sweetness and naivety, won me over. And the way he worshipped Beau without understanding why was a gorgeous thing to read. However, I really did struggle with him as an adult. I found him to be a bit selfish, I really was not vibing with him as an adult the same way.

What I didn’t like
Uhhh it pains me to give this book this rating because for the most part, it is a beautiful book, but by the end, I was just skimming through the pages. The main problem is that this book just dragged on I get what the author was trying to do. But it really became a bit repetitive at the end and for all the realness this book showed at the begging everything was too perfect. If this book would ended sooner, it would have probably been a 4.5 for me

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I See You Again is a beautifully written and epic love story. The love and connection between Beau and Caleb is one that spans a lifetime and never wanes. Their love is beautiful and inspiring.

Each chapter jumps ahead five years. I have never read a book like this and it was totally enjoyable. I never felt like I was missing anything in their life. Watching these two grow from young children to men was an honor and a pleasure. To witness such a love and a life was amazing. We should all be so lucky.

Daryl captured me from the words of the prologue and I couldn’t stop reading. His style of writing and the point of view used were addicting.

This story is heartfelt and heartwarming and it made me so happy. After reading my heart was warm and fuzzy and I had a smile on my face.

I don’t care if you read MM books or not. This one is a MUST READ.

Thank you Daryl for this amazingly beautiful story.

[Simon Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great book by a Daryl Banner. Not written like a typical romance novel, you get to experience these two great characters’ whole lives together starting at 5 yrs old. A quick read from cover to cover. Something you wouldn’t expect from a book spanning so many years. Beautifully crafted to where you don’t feel like you missed anything in the 5 yrs between chapters. The reader can use their imagination to fill in the gaps in time. Reminded me of one of those friends you don’t talk to for years and are able to pick up the conversation right where you left off. Highly recommended!

[Crystal Wilke · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I See You Again deserves more than 5 stars. This is Daryl's best book yet. I was a little hesitant when I heard the chapters are 5 years apart. But Daryl did it beyond justice. The story flowed, I didn't want to put it down or for it to end. Just the right amount detail in Beau and Caleb's lifes, but not only that, we got answers and details about other characters throughout the book. Not going to lie, I cried. The emotions are raw and powerful between Beau and Caleb. WISYA is a must read, you won't be disappointed.

[S Bryan Bkht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daryl Banner did it again with this journey between Beau and Caleb. I should have known right from the beginning when the book triggered memories from school. What I loved the most about the book was being able to grow through the journey with them! Daryl is a talented author that takes his readers into another experience and this book does that again. It’s so hard not to give spoilers away, but I can say that this book will take you on a journey you’ll never forget.

[Julie Leopold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really hits the feels. It’s honest, heartbreaking, heart warming and you will need a box of tissues by the end. It shows the highs and lows of being in love and that life doesn’t always go to plan. I really felt invested in these 2 characters. I loved the concept of seeing them every 5 years and snapshots of where they were in their relationship. Love isn’t always easy or pretty. But in the end …..
Read the book to find out

[Jimmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daryl Banner has just taken my heart on the most thrilling, emotional roller coaster ride of my life!!! From an old movie cliche’: my heart is full!!! LITERALLY!!!! Not many books I’ve read when I got to the end could I just sigh and feel completed. When I see you again has just bought my heart, my tears, my longing, and my love!!! Daryl, my heart and soul thank you for this awesome beautiful wonderful amazing journal of life, love, and fulfillment. YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!

[Sharing The Book Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um wow, this story was unexpectedly poignant and heart warming.

The way its structured and told in 5 year gaps you would think the story would seem like parts are missing but it isnt! This is a wonderful read from a wonderful author

Beau and Caleb, there story of a lifetime together and apart. Their families and friends who come and go in their lives.

Just 5 star perfection!