{"id":2098,"date":"2016-01-22T00:00:52","date_gmt":"2016-01-21T22:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelesbianreview.com\/?p=2098"},"modified":"2023-06-13T17:52:51","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T15:52:51","slug":"all-the-little-moments-g-benson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelesbianreview.com\/all-the-little-moments-g-benson\/","title":{"rendered":"All the Little Moments by G Benson: Book Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"All<\/a>All the Little Moments by G Benson<\/strong> is an absolute gem. It deftly and delicately explores the challenges of navigating a new life while grieving, including when joy starts to pop up again, but also provides a satisfying romance.<\/p>\n

Anna Foster has rushed back from a beach holiday in Indonesia because her brother and sister-in-law were killed by a drunk driver. Within a month, her life is entirely different; not only has she lost her best friends, but she’s raising their two small children alone in Melbourne, away from her happily childfree-by-choice former life with her now ex-girlfriend in Brisbane.<\/p>\n

One day Anna runs her shopping cart into a beautiful woman who’s flirty and funny. Lucky for her, this woman is a nurse at the hospital where she just started as an anaesthetist, and is happy to move at any speed Anna is comfortable with.<\/p>\n

The Characters<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Anna\u2019s movement from grief and constant guilt in the early days of not wanting insta-parenthood to happiness and occasional guilt is so honest and frequently heartbreaking. Her desperation during the major crisis is palpable and showed how much a person can change when they make their way from one side of grief to the other.<\/p>\n

Lane is such a dreamy romantic partner and is, frankly, a joy to read. She’s positive, thoughtful, and endlessly supportive. She’s not perfect though, with a past that she’s not proud of, and I liked that because it gave her depth.<\/p>\n

Kym is a great sidekick and interesting foil to Anna as she works through her own grief after losing her husband. She’s a fully fleshed character who helps show that grief takes different shapes for everyone, and that it’s possible to be a good friend even while dealing with your own issues.<\/p>\n

The Writing Style<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is a fairly long book, but I couldn’t imagine it any shorter because every scene and interaction is necessary for either story or character progression.<\/p>\n

Plenty of lesroms explore grief in the context of widowhood, but this is the first I’ve seen with a story like this. Benson nonjudgmentally explores how it’s possible to grieve for many things at once (people, a former life, the future you thought you were going to have), acknowledging that sometimes it means working through thoughts and feelings we’re not proud of. Anna\u2019s guilt at realizing she’s starting to be happy is beautiful and sincere, something that anyone who has ever grieved will identify with.<\/p>\n

The Pros<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Everything? I mean, I basically just wrote a love letter to this book. It’s sad and sweet and sexy and funny and lovely, all balanced just right.<\/p>\n

[tweetthis]\u201cI don\u2019t kiss girls in bathrooms unless I\u2019m single.\u201d [\/tweetthis]<\/p>\n

The Cons<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I wanted to punch Cathy in the face. Wait, having strong feelings about a bad person is not a con. Okay, no cons for me.<\/p>\n

\"Tara's<\/a>The Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Read this book right away. When you’re done read the follow up story, All Wrapped Up. This will definitely be on my list of all time favourites.<\/p>\n

Excerpt from All the Little Moments by G Benson<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cAnna!\u201d<\/p>\n

She spun at the sound of her name.<\/p>\n

Lane pulled up in front of her, out of breath and concerned, eyes searching Anna\u2019s face. \u201cWhy did you leave?\u201d<\/p>\n

Anna wrapped her arms around herself. \u201cUh, I don\u2019t know.\u201dShe really didn\u2019t. In hindsight, it was a little dramatic. \u201cYour face, you looked\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSurprised? Shocked?\u201d Lane stepped forward, hands coming up to rest on Anna\u2019s shoulders as if to hold her in place. \u201cI was. That\u2014that is just, horrible. For you. And for those kids. To lose your brother, and their dad. Their mum.\u201dLane shook her head. \u201cGod\u2014how have you been coping? All your lives have been turned completely upside down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anna swallowed over a lump in her throat and gave a tiny shrug.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you leave?\u201d<\/p>\n

Anna didn\u2019t trust herself to speak.<\/p>\n

Lane was watching her with wide, concerned eyes, and the feelings in Anna\u2019s throat were going to choke her. More forcefully than intended, she kissed Lane. With her eyes still closed, she pulled back, afraid to open them and give herself away.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnna, open your eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a moment she did, and a tear slipped onto her cheek. Lane reached up to brush it away, her thumb gentle on Anna\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? Because you ran away, or for the tears? You\u2019re not allowed to apologise for tears.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, for both.\u201dLane\u2019s hands were resting against Anna\u2019s neck, while her own hands clenched Lane\u2019s jacket. \u201cI, uh, I thought it might be too much. The kids, all this baggage. My brother.\u201dHer voice hitched slightly over the last word, and she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.<\/p>\n

Lane\u2019s voice was soft. \u201cYou\u2019re an idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n

The laugh trapped inside Anna\u2019s body came out almost like a sob. \u201cCan you blame me?\u201d She looked down. \u201cDid I mention my girlfriend left because of the kids?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lane ducked her head to catch Anna\u2019s eye. Her voice was soft. \u201cWell, she\u2019s an idiot. Can\u2019t say I\u2019m sad though. That means you\u2019re definitely single.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t kiss girls in bathrooms unless I\u2019m single.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Get It Online<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When you use the links in this review and buy within 24 hours of clicking then we get a small commission that helps us run the site and it costs you nothing extra.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"<\/a> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

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Bits and Bobs<\/strong><\/h3>\n