Expectations by Liz Borino

This story is about identical twin boys, Matt and Chris, the latter gay, who have become emotionally estranged from their wealthy, despotic father.  Their father has imposed his own idealistic conditions in order for them to access their somewhat sizeable trust funds;  but neither son can or wants to conform to these conditions, the pressure of which sends Matt down the path to alcoholism.  I have to admit that, when it became clear that Chris’ love affair with his college friend and housemate, Aiden, was integral (with some graphic descriptions) to the story, I did start to wonder whether or not this book was for me.  However, it was very hard not to find these twin boys instantly likeable and not many pages into the book you begin to care very deeply about them.  Instead of feeling uncomfortable with Chris and Aiden’s relationship, I was smitten by the depth, tenderness and utmost sincerity of it.  The ending is poignant and solid proof that blood really is thicker than water.