Aloha? Oy! by Jonathan Penn

Aloha? Oy! Reviews

• 
  Ulysses Dietz

  Aloha? Oy!
  
  By Jonathan Penn
  
  Four stars
  
  
  
  Paul and Asher have been together for 15 years. They’re in their forties and live in Atlanta. Like most couples of this longevity, both are a little worried at the hum-drumness their shared life has taken on. (Been there, done that.) So they plan an out-of-the-box trip—to Hawaii.
  
  Although advertised as something of a comedy of errors, this gentle, affectionate short story isn’t really that at all. It felt so familiar, so true to life. The absurdity of life, especially when we over-plan it, can make you laugh. But it can also make you cry.
  
  After fifteen years Paul (the narrator) realizes he doesn’t really know everything about Asher. He worries that they’re drifting apart. But of course, as anyone viewing it from a similar perspective can tell you, Paul is just remembering what it was like for them at first; and that’s always an insidious comparison to make in a long-term relationship.
  
  Therein lies the beauty of this story. There is no magical moment when Paul and Asher realize that it’s all good; that nothing has changed. Everything has changed, and not all of it is good. But most of it is good, especially the enduring love they feel for one another, and which manages to get expressed in Hawaii in spite of all the usual vacation mishaps and mislaid plans.
  
  Stories about longtime couples aren’t, I guess, very interesting in this world of gay romance and twenty-somethings swearing undying love as they writhe in each other’s arms. But it sure is nice to see my life even faintly represented. I remember 15 years. We threw a party. It seemed like forever. Well, it’s been 25 years since then, and let me tell you, it seems like a blink of the eye.
  
• 
  Al

  Any book with a cover like that, with the author on it - deserves to be adored and applauded :D
  Oh, and the story is fab too .
• 
  Tess

  A cute short about two established lovers taking a trip to Hawaii in an attempt to reconnect. Instead of the perfect romantic trip, its a trip full of mishap after mishap … but things don't end up turning out too bad after all.
• 
  Love Bytes Reviews

  3.5 Heart Review by Sheena
  
  For a tale that took me 15 minutes to read (I read very fast, it is actually one of the longer stories in the anthology), this short m/m love story was sweet. Mr. Penn did a lovely job of bringing Hawai’i to life on the vacation of errors that our two leads take in an effort to reconnect.
  
  After 15 years together, lovers Paul and Asher are in a rut. It happens to every long-term couple, no matter the orientation, and Paul, through whom the story is told, is desperately trying to reignite the spark and the heart of his relationship with his live-in boyfriend, Asher. Paul is always away on business, home on weekends, and Asher is always home alone, every day. Feeling more like strangers, Paul plans the perfect vacation to the island state.
  
  From day one, little things start to go wrong. Every stop, every sight and side-trip was designed to make Asher happy, and while Ash had fun, small things would happen that drove Paul nuts and took a tiny bit of joy from the moment. Ash hits his head, gets attacked by mosquitos, gets exhausted by a climb, etc.
  
  Even though things go wrong as often as they go right, there’s little moments in this story that made me smile. The way Paul looks at Asher, you can feel how he’s falling in love all over again. The way the sun lights his lover’s hair, the way Ash smiles at some huge trees, the way a cliff-side vista captivates—Paul sees what he loved in Ash way back in the beginning of their lives together, and its charming. Paul plans the perfect moment to ask Asher something important—wink wink!—and while the moment gets crashed and Paul feels like he’s lost his chance, the story winds up in a beautiful place, and Paul gets his chance, and it’s a lot better than his first plan. The ending is much like the rest of the story—less than perfect, but charming and sweet.
  
  This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
  
  
  
• 
  Andrea AKA Catsos Person

  MMRG Ultimate Team Challenge February 1, 2017 - January 31, 2018. February/March Bonus, state: Hawaii, first trip.
  
  Usually, I can't stand "real-time" 1st pers POV, but the voice of the narrator was fine. He didn't try to be clever, or try to "entertain" the reader.
• 
  Ro

  One of my favorites of the anthology, this involves an established couple, Paul and Ash, who take a vacation as both feel they are drifting apart after 15 years together. Paul is a frequent flier, Ash hates to fly but they are headed to Hawaii, where Paul has all kinds of wonderful plans to show Ash how much he loves him. Of course, as is wont to do when you pin so much on plans, everything just seems to go wrong, from a rash to hemerroids, a bad show to a hated treehouse. It just doesn’t pan out and it’s funny (well, for us to read!) but in the end it’s a sweet and ultimately romantic reconnection.
• 
  Aղցela W.

  This was a short quick read that I thought was ok. Paul and Asher have been together for fifteen years. They’re still in love, but each is beginning to have doubts about what their future holds. As the spark begins to fade in their relationship Paul decides to plan a romantic tropical getaway for them. I did like both of these character's and I liked the love that both of them shared and I wanted more. This was my first time reading this author this book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling.
• 
  Tailtiu

  Part of the
  Summer Bigger Than Others Anthology