Everything in the Place by Suki Fleet

Well, that's no surprise - I ADORED this short novella by Suki. It was recently published in an Anthology ("Hot Summer Nights") and somehow I totally missed it while it was available so I'm happy I got it now on it's own. Alfie and Benji are THE cutest. We mostly get Alfie's POV and through him I promise you what we need in life is our own Benji. It doesn't have to be THIS Benji, and anyway, he totally belongs to Alfie.. But getting to be with our best friend who gets us and understand us - as I see it - it the best treasure to be had in life. And it's not like Benji didn't get his own prize with Alfie being the one who saw him. Really saw him through all of their childhood into adulthood. I think that's the most basic thing we all need (as well) - for someone to see who we really are and appreciate and love us just as we are.

All these words with nothing about the actual plot.. That's me totally and absolutely swooning over these two sweet-things!



Alfie and Jam have been friends since forever. Being neighbors and the same age also helped made them inseparable. But it wasn't just the two of them, it somehow always included Benji - Jam's little  brother. There was a beautiful connection between the three, but even a more special one between Alfie and Benji even if Alfie could never admit, even to himself, there's a bit more to it..

Yet it's been a year since he last saw the two brothers. His dream work kept him away from them. But maybe there was something else.. When he gets fired on Jam's birthday he finds himself getting drunk on the bottle of vodka he bought Jam and as Benji is the one to find him probably on his way to Jam's party he brings him with him and it seems there is a reason Alfie never got drunk in front of him before..

While usually Alfie is the quiet guy who keeps his thoughts and emotions to himself, when drunk it all comes rushing out. It's everything Benji always wanted but what happens when the night is over and with it the alcohol's influence? Benji has always been the open one, to talk and express himself freely, but when it comes to Alfie he knows he should be careful not to spook him. He truly hopes the first time Alfie is honest with him (and himself) will be the catalyst for change.

I've probably said WAY too much about this novella but it's no excuse not to read it. It's simply ADORBS! If you've read Suki's work before you probably expect angst, but this one really isn't like that. It's the-sweetest-thing-ever and though I'm not a fan of drinking and clearly OVER drinking. Alfie's behavior while being drunk just made him more vulnerable and honest and not silly and annoying. Sometimes a moment of honesty makes all the difference, in this one it was through drinking a bit too much and you know what? I'm totally fine with it.

Enough said - READ IT!

Rating: ★★★★★

E-Book Edition

67 pages

Read on: 19-21 December 2019