A review by violetsto_
The Last Kiss by Sally Malcolm

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

cozy and tender, but a little angsty, mm historical romance that reminds me of Cat Sebastian (especially Two Rogues Make a Right, which i believe is the book that led me to this rec). the depictions of war and resulting trauma give what is otherwise a sweet friends to lovers romance a bit of bite and angst.

MCs: nervous, dreamy, and optimistic Captain Ashleigh Dalton; and supportive and ever practical Private Harry West.
tropes: friends to lovers, class difference, hurt / comfort, forbidden love,
lavender marriage
pov: dual third person

“Christ, they were happy enough for us to die together b-but God forbid we dine together.”

Harry smiled, reached out slowly, as if toward a spitting cat, and took Dalton’s hand. His fingers felt cold and stiff. Harry squeezed them. “You’re right. We are friends. I didn’t mean to say we weren’t, it’s just … I dunno. It’s different, back home. People don’t understand. It’s like we don’t fit no more.”

Dalton nodded and beneath Harry’s hand he turned his own over, threading their fingers together. “We d-don’t fit. That’s it exactly.” He hesitated, then in a lower voice said, “B-but we fit together, you and I.”

likes:
● ash and harry balance each other so well as brothers in arms, friends, and lovers. their friendship is so sweet and warm. the small glimpses of their relationship on the front lays the foundation for a rewarding friends to lovers journey. they’re not opposites, though ash is definitely the dreamer, while harry tries his very best to keep them grounded.
● the deepening of their friendship into love and desire is so heartwarming and exciting!

He heard Ash come up behind him and didn’t realise he was anticipating his touch until Ash slipped one arm around his waist and leaned against his back. At least he wasn’t alone in this constant need to touch. An embarrassingly soft noise escaped his throat as Ash kissed the back of his neck.

● ugh, the class difference is the real source of angst here, and authentically so. seeing their relationship stifled by stodgy societal conventions after everything they both sacrificed was heartbreaking! especially in comparison to the casual masculine intimacy shared on the front. the power dynamics of their class difference are excruciating and seem impossible to surmount, especially for harry. 
● brutal but worthwhile depictions of war, injury, disability, and trauma as a result of wwi. ash and harry really struggle to fit back into society when they return home.
● hurt/comfort! including one of my favorite little mini-tropes: nightmare comfort.
● some other notable mini-tropes: the Intimacy of Christian Names, reading to one another.
● tender, casual intimacy :’’’)

“You could start,” he finished quietly, “by calling me Harry, when it’s just us. If you’d like to.” 

A smile, that sweet smile that turned him inside out. Jesus, but it was going kill him one day. “Harry,” Dalton said, testing the word, shoulders relaxing and his weight swaying forward. “Yes, alright. Harry it is. That’s — Thank you, Harry.”

“You’re welcome — Ash.”

And God help them both.

smut (nsfw):
● once they start, they cannot get enough of one another!!! some of it’s tender, some urgent, some for the carnal thrill of feeling alive and in love. they explore physical intimacy so tenderly and excitingly, just another manifestation of their love and care and self-exploration.

“I want — ” He almost lost his nerve. “I want to kiss you again.”

Harry’s lips parted and Ash had a flash of memory — the warmth of his lips, the press of his strong body against Ash’s own. “Yeah,” Harry said roughly. “Me too. And more.”

More. Ash felt a twitch below his belt, a flush of heat across his skin and goosebumps rising on the back of his neck. “Christ, Harry.”

dislikes:
● ash and harry’s povs were difficult to distinguish at times and the overuse of he/him/his pronouns made some sentences and passages difficult to understand.
● the
HFN(/HEA?) solution
was predictable a little early on.