BOOK REVIEW: Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. The scheduled publication date for this book is August 30, 2016.

Gideon always has a plan. His plans include running for class president, becoming head of the yearbook committee, and having his choice of colleges. They do NOT include falling head over heels for his best friend and next door neighbor, Kyle. It’s a distraction. It’s pointless, as Kyle is already dating the gorgeous and popular head cheerleader, Ruby. And Gideon doesn’t know what to do. Kyle finally feels like he has a handle on life. He has a wonderful girlfriend, a best friend willing to debate the finer points of Lord of the Rings, and social acceptance as captain of the basketball team. Then, both Ruby and Gideon start acting really weird, just as his spot on the team is threatened, and Kyle can’t quite figure out what he did wrong

Do you know that Taylor Swift song, "You Belong With Me?" This story is basically like that song in book form, except with the twist that it's two guys instead of a guy and girl. That was pretty much the main reason I requested this one. 

There were a few flaws with this one, so let me start with the positives: the friendship between Kyle and Gideon. Their friendship was just so cute and sweet and it was everything I would want in a friendship. Kyle is bisexual and is dating Ruby. Gideon is the boy next door who has known him since he was five or something. Gideon has this sudden realization that he is gay AND that he's attracted to his best friend. Gideon is a list maker (like ME!) so of course his first reaction is to make a pros and cons list. I fell in love with him right then. I don't usually like love triangles, but I didn't mind this one. I felt like it was a bit realistic and I felt for both Kyle and Gideon. I rooted for them and wanted them to get together so badly! The family dynamics of both boys was so great. 

This book is told with four POV's: Kyle, Gideon, Ruby and Ezra. And now we get to a few of the negatives. Kyle and Gideon's chapters sounded way too similar. I could barely tell who was who. Ezra is Gideon's brother and his POV was completely unnecessary. It added NOTHING to the story. There was some kind of drama about why Ezra came back home, but that was never addressed so I didn't get it. The only character that I absolutely hated was Ruby. She did awful things for stupid reasons and I get that she's young, but that doesn't change the fact that I hated her. I could have done without her POV. Actually, some of the drama that she caused was completely unnecessary. 

For the most part, this was a cute story about two friends who may want something more. It was predictable and there were a few flaws, but not a bad read.

Buy/Borrow/Skip: Borrow this one.