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For All Waters
Sebastian is living a perfectly hedonistic, worriless life as a student. But when he meets married father of one, Antonio, everything suddenly gets so complicated.
Status: Complete
Word count: approx. 106,379
Status: Complete
Word count: approx. 106,379
284 pages, online fiction
First published January 1, 2007
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61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 25, 2010
This is a story about Sebastian, a student in Sweden who was shunned by his parents once he came out and lives a pretty wanton even if a bit lonely life away from his birth place. Come summer after a few years without contact with his family, his sister invites him to spend the summer with her, her husband and their son in the same place where he grew up.
It doesn't take him long to meet Antonio who initiates a relationship.
His family as well as most of the town where he's from, are very religious and even though it's not forced it plays a rather large role in the way the main characters think and the direction their life took. That said, it's somewhat understandable why Antonio - a married man with a son, choses to stay with his family instead of coming out even though he is and has been very much aware of his sexual orientation even before he was married.
By the end of the summer their affair is discovered and comes to an abrupt conclusion resulting in a lot of hurt feelings and a stressful few months. Of course, like a certain man and a certain book said, just the way they looked at each other told a story of a love that won't break.
Like I already mentioned, the story is placed in Sweden and there are a lot of customs and details characteristic for the country. I found it to be very interesting and insightful and it really gave a certain charm to the story.
Revolving around cheating, it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I must say that even that was done with a certain dose of taste, however much can there be in such a situation, and by the end it's very clear that some things just don't work no matter how much two people might love each other. On that note it was realistic and I love that element in everything I read. It makes the story real and not a complete product of imagination.
Now despite it being rather good, the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, is the overall lack of that something extra. It has all the elements a romance book should have and their relationship is very well developed, but for me it missed a certain spark. That in addition to a somewhat abrupt ending, it couldn't get the same rating as some the incredible stories I've already read.
As an explanation, I should say that an abrupt ending doesn't in this case mean cut and finish nor a sad resolution, just that some things could have been explored more and the epilogue wasn't at all satisfactory for me.
Still, I do recommend it as an interesting read, and if you like what you've read in the review go right ahead and enjoy. I admit, I am a hard critic on occasion.
It doesn't take him long to meet Antonio who initiates a relationship.
His family as well as most of the town where he's from, are very religious and even though it's not forced it plays a rather large role in the way the main characters think and the direction their life took. That said, it's somewhat understandable why Antonio - a married man with a son, choses to stay with his family instead of coming out even though he is and has been very much aware of his sexual orientation even before he was married.
By the end of the summer their affair is discovered and comes to an abrupt conclusion resulting in a lot of hurt feelings and a stressful few months. Of course, like a certain man and a certain book said, just the way they looked at each other told a story of a love that won't break.
Like I already mentioned, the story is placed in Sweden and there are a lot of customs and details characteristic for the country. I found it to be very interesting and insightful and it really gave a certain charm to the story.
Revolving around cheating, it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I must say that even that was done with a certain dose of taste, however much can there be in such a situation, and by the end it's very clear that some things just don't work no matter how much two people might love each other. On that note it was realistic and I love that element in everything I read. It makes the story real and not a complete product of imagination.
Now despite it being rather good, the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, is the overall lack of that something extra. It has all the elements a romance book should have and their relationship is very well developed, but for me it missed a certain spark. That in addition to a somewhat abrupt ending, it couldn't get the same rating as some the incredible stories I've already read.
As an explanation, I should say that an abrupt ending doesn't in this case mean cut and finish nor a sad resolution, just that some things could have been explored more and the epilogue wasn't at all satisfactory for me.
Still, I do recommend it as an interesting read, and if you like what you've read in the review go right ahead and enjoy. I admit, I am a hard critic on occasion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2012
Lord, what an exasperating book.... It makes me feel old and wise and jaded. It makes me want to sit down all the characters and go all maternal on their asses. Listen!
*Nobody should get married and/or procreate before they are 27. Have sex, move in together, do whatever the hell you want, but use your effing birthcontrol, don't buy a house, don't burn your bridges, because you need to NOT COMMIT. The percentage of people that are with the person they should be with in their early twenties or before is in the single digits. Your brain is just not cooked enough or whatever, to know what you want and what you need and who is right for you. Case in point: both 'grown up' couples in this book.
*No one should make decisions about their hair while drunk. Britney Spears. 'Nuff said.
*Self-sacrifice is a bad, BAD idea in the long term. No one can do the noble and self sacrificing thing for a decent length of time. Anger, resentment, depression, obesity, weird auto-immune diseases and other physical manifestations of your unhappiness (migraines, back pain, you name it) all lie down that road. Put your mother in a nursing home, send your kids to daycare while you work, or divorce the asshole. Think that is bad? Try screaming 'You ungrateful bitch, don't you know what I have given up for you?', when you finally lose it, and then get a blank look in return. That's right, people, nobody else is going to make you happy but you. (Of course, Antonio does none of these things. Is he a saint? No, he is a flatly written character. Too bad. Missed chance there).
*In order to be able to retire comfortably you need to invest your money wisely. I suggest the Swedish branch of BevMo as a sound investment. Is there no Swedish BevMo? I wanna talk to some people. We should start a franchise immediately and become rich! Rich, I say!
*Nobody should get married and/or procreate before they are 27. Have sex, move in together, do whatever the hell you want, but use your effing birthcontrol, don't buy a house, don't burn your bridges, because you need to NOT COMMIT. The percentage of people that are with the person they should be with in their early twenties or before is in the single digits. Your brain is just not cooked enough or whatever, to know what you want and what you need and who is right for you. Case in point: both 'grown up' couples in this book.
*No one should make decisions about their hair while drunk. Britney Spears. 'Nuff said.
*Self-sacrifice is a bad, BAD idea in the long term. No one can do the noble and self sacrificing thing for a decent length of time. Anger, resentment, depression, obesity, weird auto-immune diseases and other physical manifestations of your unhappiness (migraines, back pain, you name it) all lie down that road. Put your mother in a nursing home, send your kids to daycare while you work, or divorce the asshole. Think that is bad? Try screaming 'You ungrateful bitch, don't you know what I have given up for you?', when you finally lose it, and then get a blank look in return. That's right, people, nobody else is going to make you happy but you. (Of course, Antonio does none of these things. Is he a saint? No, he is a flatly written character. Too bad. Missed chance there).
*In order to be able to retire comfortably you need to invest your money wisely. I suggest the Swedish branch of BevMo as a sound investment. Is there no Swedish BevMo? I wanna talk to some people. We should start a franchise immediately and become rich! Rich, I say!
July 20, 2011
Overall
I don't remember the first time I read For All Waters, but I know I've read it many, many times since.
At first glance it doesn't seem to be my kind of story: A college man, who doesn't have a boyfriend, just a friend with benefits, goes to visit his sister over summer holiday. Sebastian is a pretty boy who knows it and isn't really ready to settle down. He isn't a player or a slut--he's just enjoying life, which makes him more enjoyable (to me). Then he meets Antonio, who is gorgeous, interested, and...married. And is his sister's (and her husband's) friend. The couples, and their children, hang out all summer, and it doesn't take long for Sebastian and Antonio to fall in to bed together.
Adultery crawls under my skin, but Antonio is somewhat on the level: His wife knows he's gay and they have a platonic relationship in order to raise their son in an unbroken home. However, neither of them have had an affair, since they are both married. At least, until now.
You can see where the problems begin for our two leading men as they struggle with themselves and society, their age difference, and their life differences.
The writing, overall very strong, has moments when it is downright moving, in happiness, in sadness, and sometimes just the ache of "that's how life is." The style is often beautiful, offering just the right amount of description to paint the image of the people and the surroundings without bogging down the chapters trying to explain a place most people haven't been.
I love the story. Yes, it breaks my heart at times, but for me it's worth it. Again and again. Sebastian is smart and jaded, while Antonio is warm, kind, and never wants to hurt anyone (and by trying not to, hurts many). The supporting cast all play their roles to perfection, whether they are the sweet shadow of a wife or the jubulent nephew, carrying Sebastian through the summer and beyond.
I don't want to spout too many wonderful things for fear it will make the experience less wonderful, but I enjoy this story enough that I've sat on my butt for many hours reading it online (repeated times) and finally copy and pasted it into a document for my kindle.
Recommended for everyone, but especially people who like age gaps in their romances, challenges to overcome, sex, humor, and beautiful story telling.
I don't remember the first time I read For All Waters, but I know I've read it many, many times since.
At first glance it doesn't seem to be my kind of story: A college man, who doesn't have a boyfriend, just a friend with benefits, goes to visit his sister over summer holiday. Sebastian is a pretty boy who knows it and isn't really ready to settle down. He isn't a player or a slut--he's just enjoying life, which makes him more enjoyable (to me). Then he meets Antonio, who is gorgeous, interested, and...married. And is his sister's (and her husband's) friend. The couples, and their children, hang out all summer, and it doesn't take long for Sebastian and Antonio to fall in to bed together.
Adultery crawls under my skin, but Antonio is somewhat on the level: His wife knows he's gay and they have a platonic relationship in order to raise their son in an unbroken home. However, neither of them have had an affair, since they are both married. At least, until now.
You can see where the problems begin for our two leading men as they struggle with themselves and society, their age difference, and their life differences.
The writing, overall very strong, has moments when it is downright moving, in happiness, in sadness, and sometimes just the ache of "that's how life is." The style is often beautiful, offering just the right amount of description to paint the image of the people and the surroundings without bogging down the chapters trying to explain a place most people haven't been.
I love the story. Yes, it breaks my heart at times, but for me it's worth it. Again and again. Sebastian is smart and jaded, while Antonio is warm, kind, and never wants to hurt anyone (and by trying not to, hurts many). The supporting cast all play their roles to perfection, whether they are the sweet shadow of a wife or the jubulent nephew, carrying Sebastian through the summer and beyond.
I don't want to spout too many wonderful things for fear it will make the experience less wonderful, but I enjoy this story enough that I've sat on my butt for many hours reading it online (repeated times) and finally copy and pasted it into a document for my kindle.
Recommended for everyone, but especially people who like age gaps in their romances, challenges to overcome, sex, humor, and beautiful story telling.
October 22, 2011
When I read the last sentence on the last page, I simply started over again. This time I'm reading to savor it, not with the ravenous appetite I went through it the first time.
I absolutely adored Sebastian, flawed and cynical, but oh so lovely. And Ant with his big heart and misplaced good intentions.
It was a enjoyable, fluffy-ish (not sickening sweet fluffy) read, that made me smile, and left me with a good feeling. + it had that little bit of realism to it, that for me, made the story better.
I must also say that it was refreshing to read a m/m novel where the story takes place in Sweden :)
I absolutely adored Sebastian, flawed and cynical, but oh so lovely. And Ant with his big heart and misplaced good intentions.
It was a enjoyable, fluffy-ish (not sickening sweet fluffy) read, that made me smile, and left me with a good feeling. + it had that little bit of realism to it, that for me, made the story better.
I must also say that it was refreshing to read a m/m novel where the story takes place in Sweden :)
August 20, 2011
First of all - I loved that story! The characters feel real - you know, flawed in a way that make you root for them even more. I loved the European settings too and I was so happy, that for once I didn't need to constantly convert inches and pounds into meters and kilos, lol
It seems many readers here don't like Antonio, but I really do. I feel sad for him, because it seems he didn't live full on until he met Seb. He's been like in a mausoleum or something. I can't even imagine what it's to come home to a woman you don't love or want and never loved or wanted. To keep pretending and lying for almost a decade for the sake of your child. It's so depressing and I think it's much worse than Seb's life, although I admit that it's Antonio's own fault, but I'm happy that at the end he found the strength to break free and to be with a person who he loves.
So Ant seems like a quite likeable character to me and I sympathize with him very much. It's just that Seb's the main character and he's the focus of the story, but I like them both and so happy they ended up together :)
What I didn't like though is the Erica thing. I just don't get why it's needed? I loved their friendship with Seb and I thought she respected his sexuality and she's a good friend for him - his only friend even. And it turned out that all that time she just wanted to get into his pants and frankly it's just disgusting. Also I'm not sure a gay guy would that easily sleep with a girl and I dunno enjoy it like it's no big deal? It seems kinda strange for me. If the girls did turn Seb on I think he'd have tried it earlier.
And what else I don't quite understand is the arrangement between Antonio and Maria. Since she knew about his homosexuality all along and from what we know she hadn't tried to 'convert' him and they hadn't slept together than why would she mind if he's having male lovers? I do understand why they got married in the first place, but how could she expect that a young healthy man'd live without any sex at all??? Honestly that part really confuses me, coz it's implied Seb's Antonio's first lover since Daniel, so is it really that Antonio hadn't had sex in almost ten years??? And Maria too? No offence, but it seems too unplausible.
Seb's spontaneous infatuation with Markus also seemed kinda popping out of blue. Markus himself didn't irritate me, he's a nice guy and he said the right things, but I was actually angry with Seb or rather confused. If you're loving someone atm, how can you fall so fast for another person? I get that he's frustrated with Antonio and has every right to be, it's just... the catalyst for
The Talk between Seb and Antonio didn't feel right to me. If it hadn't been the 'chemistry' and just Markus' words that get to Sebastian I'd be okay with it, but as it is - not so much. But whatever, I'm happy that they hadn't hooked up and I choose to interpret Seb's words to Ant about still going to meet Markus later that he's going to hang out with him just as a friend. Otherwise it'be strange to say it to Antonio, I think.
Also I can't really pick a side in an argument between Seb and Ant. I mean Seb's right per se, that their current situaion made all of them unhappy, but I can't actually blame Antonio for what he did back then. He had do marry Maria, they hadn't another choice. But I'm glad that he did the right thing after that conversation with Sebastian and... put them all out of their misery, I suppose. And I'm glad he remains on such a good terms with his son.
As I said, other than that I enjoyed the story very much. I loved the ending too, I don't think it's too abrupt, it's just that that main story - Seb and Antonio's relationships - was resolved so for me it seems rather superfluous to delve into secondary relationships too much after that. Something has to be left to our imagination, lol. Oh and i LOVED the twist with Tommy! How he turned out to be so perceptive and understanding - nicely put.
I also loved the epilogue. I have to admit I'm sucker for happy endings and I'd never read a story before checking the ending first to make sure it's all fine and dandy at the end. Pathetic I know, but I'm reading web literature mostly for escapism and I really don't need a reminder that things can be shitty and unhappy. I don't mind angst and drama, of course, coz that's what makes a good story, but I need it all figured out and resolved at the end. So here I was really happy to see that Seb and Antonio are still together for so many years - it brings real closure for their story I suppose.
It seems many readers here don't like Antonio, but I really do. I feel sad for him, because it seems he didn't live full on until he met Seb. He's been like in a mausoleum or something. I can't even imagine what it's to come home to a woman you don't love or want and never loved or wanted. To keep pretending and lying for almost a decade for the sake of your child. It's so depressing and I think it's much worse than Seb's life, although I admit that it's Antonio's own fault, but I'm happy that at the end he found the strength to break free and to be with a person who he loves.
So Ant seems like a quite likeable character to me and I sympathize with him very much. It's just that Seb's the main character and he's the focus of the story, but I like them both and so happy they ended up together :)
What I didn't like though is the Erica thing. I just don't get why it's needed? I loved their friendship with Seb and I thought she respected his sexuality and she's a good friend for him - his only friend even. And it turned out that all that time she just wanted to get into his pants and frankly it's just disgusting. Also I'm not sure a gay guy would that easily sleep with a girl and I dunno enjoy it like it's no big deal? It seems kinda strange for me. If the girls did turn Seb on I think he'd have tried it earlier.
And what else I don't quite understand is the arrangement between Antonio and Maria. Since she knew about his homosexuality all along and from what we know she hadn't tried to 'convert' him and they hadn't slept together than why would she mind if he's having male lovers? I do understand why they got married in the first place, but how could she expect that a young healthy man'd live without any sex at all??? Honestly that part really confuses me, coz it's implied Seb's Antonio's first lover since Daniel, so is it really that Antonio hadn't had sex in almost ten years??? And Maria too? No offence, but it seems too unplausible.
Seb's spontaneous infatuation with Markus also seemed kinda popping out of blue. Markus himself didn't irritate me, he's a nice guy and he said the right things, but I was actually angry with Seb or rather confused. If you're loving someone atm, how can you fall so fast for another person? I get that he's frustrated with Antonio and has every right to be, it's just... the catalyst for
The Talk between Seb and Antonio didn't feel right to me. If it hadn't been the 'chemistry' and just Markus' words that get to Sebastian I'd be okay with it, but as it is - not so much. But whatever, I'm happy that they hadn't hooked up and I choose to interpret Seb's words to Ant about still going to meet Markus later that he's going to hang out with him just as a friend. Otherwise it'be strange to say it to Antonio, I think.
Also I can't really pick a side in an argument between Seb and Ant. I mean Seb's right per se, that their current situaion made all of them unhappy, but I can't actually blame Antonio for what he did back then. He had do marry Maria, they hadn't another choice. But I'm glad that he did the right thing after that conversation with Sebastian and... put them all out of their misery, I suppose. And I'm glad he remains on such a good terms with his son.
As I said, other than that I enjoyed the story very much. I loved the ending too, I don't think it's too abrupt, it's just that that main story - Seb and Antonio's relationships - was resolved so for me it seems rather superfluous to delve into secondary relationships too much after that. Something has to be left to our imagination, lol. Oh and i LOVED the twist with Tommy! How he turned out to be so perceptive and understanding - nicely put.
I also loved the epilogue. I have to admit I'm sucker for happy endings and I'd never read a story before checking the ending first to make sure it's all fine and dandy at the end. Pathetic I know, but I'm reading web literature mostly for escapism and I really don't need a reminder that things can be shitty and unhappy. I don't mind angst and drama, of course, coz that's what makes a good story, but I need it all figured out and resolved at the end. So here I was really happy to see that Seb and Antonio are still together for so many years - it brings real closure for their story I suppose.
March 17, 2013
The story was very well written and realistic, but I just couldn't believe in the main characters. The reason for that, I believe, is partially due to the heavy subject matter of the story. There is quite a bit of stress and angst that goes into a relationship such as the type the two main characters had. Given that, I would have expected that the author build a very strong relationship between the two to explain why the characters were willing to go through what they did. I didn't see that, and therefore couldn't believe in the romance between the two in the end.
June 7, 2013
Ok, so i loved this book. I loved the setting, and the characters and the dialogue. I loved it's angst, the quick dirty beginning and the slow tipsy pace of the developing relationships.
I sometimes am really judgmental about the choices of various protagonists, but something in the way it was written, or they were written made them seem more like people and alive and subject to stupidity and all that.
Ps. I have put it on my explicit and kinky shelves, even though the kink is mild and not explicit. I even found the explicit bits didn't feel like smut...
I sometimes am really judgmental about the choices of various protagonists, but something in the way it was written, or they were written made them seem more like people and alive and subject to stupidity and all that.
Ps. I have put it on my explicit and kinky shelves, even though the kink is mild and not explicit. I even found the explicit bits didn't feel like smut...
April 24, 2011
I couldn't really get into it at first, but as the story went on I couldn't stop reading.
I really enjoyed the characters, they were well written and the story overall flowed nicely. Sebastian was great adn when Antonio let him walk out the door and didn't go after him I was like NOOOO! But thank-fully it all worked out. A damn fine read.
I really enjoyed the characters, they were well written and the story overall flowed nicely. Sebastian was great adn when Antonio let him walk out the door and didn't go after him I was like NOOOO! But thank-fully it all worked out. A damn fine read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2012
Soo... I'm a little confused as to how I feel about this book. On one hand it was OK, some boring parts that I skipped and it felt a bit long winded, but then I also loved it, the whole plot and the ending Eek!! =D ..
June 13, 2011
I know I read it. Don't remember anything about the story.
March 16, 2012
3.5
I think it was too slow in the middle part, but it's a nice story.
I think it was too slow in the middle part, but it's a nice story.
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