The Estuary

From LibraryThing: Set in Greenwich, London and in Devon and the estuary of the River Ex, the story revolves around a group of friends from the West Country in their early twenties. Jack and Kevin are both school teachers and lovers, having met and fallen on love in their first year at university. They share a flat together which they rent from their friend Cheryl and her lover Aaron, who live above them. Aaron is a one time teen idol and pop star, and although still performing his days of headline fame are passing. Luke is Cheryl’s ex boyfriend, and a wannabe journalist. As the story unfolds, the friends experience changes in their relationships including break ups, some will form new relationships, introducing new characters, and while some will return to their former partners others will go off perhaps alone; one previously straight guy will meet an older gay guy with whom he will move in. The gays face problems of family acceptance among other difficulties. As we follow their lives over a period of a few years we see them mature and come to a better understanding of themselves and one another. This is a well told story, very descriptive of place and location. The narrative has a certain melancholy feel which seems to match the mood of the participants, for while some partnerships are deep and loving; there is this constant acceptance that nothing is permanent, that gay men especially find it difficult to form a relationship that will endure. Despite this it is a positive story, and the conclusion warm and fitting.