Review: Building Forever (The Rebuilding Year #2.5) by Kaje Harper

Four years ago, Ryan and John decided they'd wait to get married until it came with full legal equality. Now, thanks to the Supreme Court, that historic moment has finally arrived. But three hundred miles separate Ryan's hectic residency from John's busy campus job. With a son in college, a daughter choosing her future, and a rambunctious Irish Setter needing attention, planning a wedding isn't simple.

Of course, even the most perfect ceremony can't solve all their problems. What does it take to build forever?

Fans of this author, especially those of this series, will not be disappointed with this addition.

I think what I like about Kaje Harper's writing is the realness it possesses. Even her stories that veer far from reality (werewolves for example) contain an essence of truth and realism within the characters. Reactions, feelings, actions are all relatable and that is what gives this author's style heart. It's exactly what I can't get enough of when I read her books.

Gay marriage has been a long time coming in many (most) countries, and the fight for the right to wed has been particularly well documented in the USA - a country supposedly at the forefront of modern civilisation. Anyone who sees any news knows that though this is a right won it is constantly under threat. I think this is why this story had such heart for me. I'm lucky enough to be heterosexual; lucky because my rights do not have to be fought for, they are there already, and when I wanted to get married (albeit I'm not in/from the US) there was no question that I could. Ryan and John did not have that luxury - and, while they may be fictional, they represent millions who aren't. Kaje could have made this series overtly political. Overtly a fight. Overtly a drama. But she didn't; she made it a series about two men in love who want to get married. For me this made the underlying difficulty, the unfair wait for others to recognise Ryan and John's right to have the same equality in that love, even more poignant. In this case, I think, less is more. The series showed the reality of the situation and that wait was heartbreaking in its unfairness and inequality.

The issues in this book specifically were those that face many couples, regardless of sexuality. The practicalities of arranging a wedding. The who, what, where and how. The minutiae - and I loved it because the minutiae meant that Ryan and John's rights were recognised by law as the same as everyone else's.

Kaje Harper is a go-to, must read author for me and this book is no exception. If you haven't already, you really need to check out this author's writing.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.