The Last Birthday Party

by Mere Rain

A Story from the Warmest Wishes: Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar

Their favorite holiday is going away. Will it take their friendship with it?

Since 1989, the birthday of the Emperor of Japan has been celebrated on December 23rd. But this is the last year; the Emperor is abdicating, and next year there will be no holiday.

For twenty-year-old Akihito, the holiday has always been special. It’s his birthday, too, and a perfect excuse for spending the entire day celebrating across Tokyo with his life-long best friend, Kenji. But now that they will no longer get the day off and will soon face adult responsibilities, will they drift apart? Or if Akihito confesses the secret love he’s held in his heart for years, will their closeness be ruined? One thing is certain: nothing will be same by the end of the day.

Genres: M M Romance, Holiday, Friends To Lovers, Christmas, Contemporary, Short Stories, LGBT

25 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2018

Reviews

[Jewel · Rating 3 out of 5]

​The Last Birthday Party is a sweet and cute best friends to lovers story. The story spans one day when two life-long best friends celebrate the last birthday that will fall on a national holiday.

Akihito and Kenji have been best friends for their entire lives and ever since they could remember, they have celebrated the Emperor's birthday, that Akihito shares, together with much revelry. At 20 years old, both young men are on the cusp of adulthood and everything is bound to change.

Not only will both Kenji and Akihito be headed to university, but the Emperor is abdicating, so no longer will Akihito's birthday be a national holiday. Akihito is scared of all the changes that will happen; afraid that he and Kenji will grow apart with impending adulthood and everything that entails.

I felt like I got a good sense of both Kenji and Akihito and their friendship, even without knowing much of their history beyond their life-long friendship. Kenji is a caretaker, making sure that Akihito has what he needs and Akihito is the one that takes life less seriously. As the day progresses and Kenji and Akihito face their feelings for one another, the bittersweet feelings of longing turn sweeter and sweeter, with an ending that could only make me smile.

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ARC of The Last Birthday Party was generously provided, by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara]

5 Hearts!

Holy Holiday! Where did this author come from? This story is a favorite trope of mine and the words are stunning. Seriously. I know I gush all the time but I was blown away on page one and held my breath the whole way through.

Review on the blog and then here.

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

At just 25 pages, this is a little jewel of a tale about two young men celebrating the Emperor's birthday, a national holiday in Japan. But with the Emperor retiring in 2019 (and a new Emperor with a new birthdate), this is the last such holiday for Kenji and Akihito. Just as the old traditions are changing, life is changing for them as they are on the cusp of adulthood and future responsibilities. We get delightful details of a day in Tokyo enjoying sites and food, and the start of a romantic relationship. Very sweet, very satisfying story. 4 stars.


I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.

Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love friends to lovers stories. It makes the bond so much more complete and beautiful to me. And this was gorgeous.
Akihito has been in love with Kenji for a few years. They've been friends since they were babies. They've gotten in trouble together, laughed together, cried together. But this is the last year, Akihito is afraid they will share his birthday together. They go to separate colleges. Kenji is being shown women. And Akihito is to the point of being depressed. He wants Kenji so much. So on the day of his birthday, they decide to get drunk. And at the end of the night, Akihito can hold back no longer. He has to tell Kenji how he feels.
They are such sweet friends. Kenji is the 'boring, studious’ one. Akihito the more adventurous. Kenji often got in severe trouble for things he did with Akihito, but he kept quiet about it. He wouldn't have changed a thing. Even when Akihito found out and was in tears over it. And Akihito studied harder than anyone thought in order to be with Kenji. Being away during college has been hell. But the love the have for each other is so sweet. They keep each other grounded and have a bond so strong they go against everything to be together. Just how love should be.

http://lovebytesreviews.com

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

The Last Birthday Party was rather charming and sweet. I know very little about Japanese culture save that tradition and honor can be very important. This short story did an excellent job of depicting two young men who have celebrating the same tradition for years and now everything seems to be on the verge of changing. It packs of a lot of layers into a small package and manages to make them all work well. We can relate to Kenji and Akihito because we were all young once and reaching adulthood was thrilling and terrifying for most of us. And the push and pull of that dynamic is well done here. The entire story takes place over the course of the day and the author has done a great job of giving us all the right information to make that premise work. There were a few things about Akhito’s character that annoyed me, but these were minor and The Last Birthday Party was really an enjoyable short story.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.

[Bess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very short read (25 pages) but pleasant! This was a friends-to-lovers story that was cute, but it was so short I couldn't really get into it before it was over. Like another reviewer mentioned, the consistency is not really there and there are some errors (which is disappointing since it's so short).

[Angela Goodrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Unlike most of the other advent stories I’ve read this year, The Last Birthday isn’t really a Christmas romance. I still think it qualifies as a holiday romance because it centers around a major Japanese holiday that occurs right before Christmas – the Emperor’s birthday. Mere Rain uses the holiday to show the bond between the two young men as they bar hop around Tokyo to celebrate Akihito’s birthday. Because it’s the last year the day will be a national holiday, the two decide to make a day of it and get well beyond wasted. And thanks to all that liquid courage, Akihito finally confesses his feelings for his best friend.

I enjoyed the tiny bit of sightseeing Rain treated readers to and appreciated how Akihito and Kenji revisited some places out of nostalgia, which allowed readers to see the history between the two via childhood memories. The confession scene was quite touching because of Akihito’s fears and the manner in which he reveals his feelings for Kenji because of those fears. What I really liked was Kenji’s declaration on the train because while I suspected he would reciprocate Akihito’s feelings – it is a romance, after all – I didn’t expect him to say what he did based on the conversations about his family. Despite their years of history, The Last Birthday is a tale full of hope as Akihito and Kenji embark upon the next stage in their lives.

Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that any errors were corrected prior to publication.

[Sipping Waterfalls · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think the author has been to Tokyo, which is fine, honest, but I'd expect better research.

It's Chiyoda not Chiyodo.

The distance from the Imperial Palace (where they started out) to Ueno is a good hour away on foot and 20 by train.

From what I got, the boys walked from one bar to the next and suddenly they were in Ueno. It wasn't mentioned they took trains, in fact there was barely any description at all. I have no idea what the boys looked like... Why the nickname, Tsugu? What did it mean to them?

It was all very rushed and filled with dialogue, a bit of inner monologue, but I never got a good sense for the characters or the places they went to. The story could have happened in a school gym and it wouldn't have made a difference, which I find sad. Tokyo has a lot of potential, setting wise.

The final scene at the train station too seemed odd. No turnstiles? What train in Tokyo runs only every hour? (I honestly am curious)

The premise was cute. The boys and their friendship WERE cute. But that was about it for me.

The ending was very abrupt. What happens to them now?

Friends to lovers is a favorite trope of mine but I think there could have been done a lot more with this story :(

Kenji once turned into Kenzi... huh.

I admit, I was looking forward to reading this story because it's set in Japan. What I got was very disappointing :(

These things are minor, of course, and can be overlooked. I do appreciate the time and effort the author put into creating the story.

[Miss · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and cute story following BFFs Akihito and Kenji as they spend the day celebrating Akihito's birthday, which fell on the same day as the Japanese Emperor in 2018. It's all from Akihito's perspective, so we get a lot of his pining for Kenji and how his greatest birthday wish is that they were more than just friends. Which they are because the love is mutual but hasn't been clearly communicated as being more than platonic until the end of the day when too much drinking spurs Akihito to confess his feelings. Kenji, the epitome of quiet, patient, steadfast love, just takes the confession in stride and admits his love and desire for them to be together forever and in all ways. That's really all of it. A sweet, no to low heat snippet from when a pair of friends decide to become lovers.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming of age can be traumatic, it often brings questions and uncertainty, and it always means change. Akihito and Kenji have been friends and neighbors since they were born, but now that they are about to graduate college and will need to find “real” jobs and fulfill their parents’ wishes to get married, Akihito fears their friendship will not last. It is also the last year that his birthday is on the day Japan celebrates the emperor’s birthday – a national holiday – as next year there will be a new emperor and Akihito will not be able to spend the whole day with Kenji.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Kathryn Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved “The Last Birthday Party.” A smart, thoughtful novel written in a breezy, conversational style, Goldstein has a knack for creating recognizable characters in situations that feel familiar and yet distinct. What really kept me reading and made me a fan of this book is that every page crackles with warm humor and insight, about marriage, relationships, parenthood and taking hold of your life when the pieces are flying out of your hands. Everyone can relate to that! Terrifically funny, a sparkling, soulful debut! Looking forward to this writer's next book.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short but enjoyable tale about two 20-ish guys who've grown up together and are best friends. Every year they celebrate one of the guys' birthday with a visit to the Emperor's palace. But there are some unrequited feelings on the part of one of them.... or are they? Very sweet friends to lovers. Nice little nugget. This is a new to me author and will seek out her other reads...

[Courtney Bassett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected to from the blurb. The two guys were clearly close friends with a lot of history, and the longing for more that one of them has is conveyed so well. I wish we’d gotten a bit more of their relationship, but it still left me with a smile on my face.

[Suze · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid friends to lovers story in the Warmest Wishes set in Japan, for the last official birthday of Emporer Akihito and so too Akihito of the story. He and his BFF Kenji celebrate and in the dark and with the effects of alcohol running through their veins, they declare their feelings.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a surprise! It's a bit tedious when two MCs are obviously pining for each other, but in a story as short as this one it doesn't have time to get too annoying. This gem had tons of sweet little facets as the two MCs spend a day together in Tokyo.

[Kobie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little short. Always fun to read about something I know little about...in this case Tokyo.

[Katy Beth Mckee]

This is a fun look at a different culture. It was also fun to travel through the day with these two men. I like how they relive old memories and make new ones. They also gain the courage to move their relationship forward.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Birthday Party is a total treat. I do love me some Christmas story overload, but even I have to admit it was refreshing to read a holiday story not about Christmas for a change. The author does a great job with setting a scene and I found myself stopping to Google locations, festivals, food and cocktails. I love reading a book and accidentally learning things, especially about other cultures. I finished this book both happy and hungry. I loved being in Akihito’s head and his love for his BFF, Kenji, read so real. It’s pretty obvious to the reader how Kenji feels, but the dawning realization to Akihito is the real star here. The ending felt a little rushed considering the beautiful buildup, but the outcome is still perfect and I would love to read what happens next for these two.



**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**