You to Me

I'm sitting here with a smile on my face. Sota and Masa are simply adorable. I just want to wrap my arms around them and never let go. Sota's so clueless, but Masa's patience with him is perfect. I loved this book so much that I literally couldn't stop reading once I'd started. If not for work and sleep, I'd have been done last night. I can't wait to see what more Ms. Forester does in this universe, because I want to devour it all.

The second I was told about this story, I knew I had to read it. It's right up my alley. I love boys in love with each other, because they're always so unbearably goofy and snarky and completely endearing. I'm so glad I managed to get my hands on an advanced copy, because waiting until the 11th to read it would have been far too long.

Non-spoilery review: If you enjoy BL or Yaoi, this is definitely for you. Especially if you enjoy mating stories. You won't be able to forget these two.

Now for the spoilers. This is a universe where all children are born the same. At a certain age, they become a boy or a girl. When they hit eighteen, they grow horns or a tail. And with that second change comes the possibility of mating. Sota and Masa have been best friends forever, and Sota wants them to always be together. As tailed. Unfortunately, he doesn't get that wish. What he gets instead is a best friend who will do anything to save him from the bully who has been getting rougher and scarier as Sota gets close to his change. And he ends up getting what he wanted in a completely unexpected and new way.I'm a sucker for hurt/comfort stories, and this one delivers in spades. Ken's a typical bad guy for this sort of thing, but Forester makes him not only believable, but gives reason to his madness, even if he is in the wrong. I love how careful and gentle Masa is with Sota, knowing how much Ken's attacks have hurt him emotionally, and willing, despite everything, to let Sota set the pace.The background characters are lovely as well. All three of their parents are wonderful, each in their own ways. Masa's calm, understanding parents happily take Sota in as a second son even before the boys have changed. And Sota's loving mother, who does everything she can, despite having lost her husband. It's wonderful to see the five of them come together as a family, something that was already there before, though Sota doesn't quite recognize it for what it is until the boys have Mated.Mai and Shiro are interesting, too. They start out as annoyances, but they add a great balance to the boys' relationship that helps keep the story from being completely about them being alone together. And I am very much looking forward to learning more about Mr. Yoshida and his own personal life. I think we'll find he's been far more hurt that Sota has been.I highly recommend this book. I really can't say enough good things about it, and I eagerly await the next in the series.