Ellis and Michael begin a lifelong friendship after Michael's mother dies and he comes to live with his grandmother Mabel, both boys sharing the affection of Mabel and Ellis' mother Dora. The delicacy of their first love romance shatters as Ellis yields to society's mores after a turning point in France, and even Michael understands that Annie is "the one." Loving Annie draws Michael into their orbit, expanding her idea of family to include him and his grandmother. Although readers are familiar with the horrific stories of gay men succumbing to AIDS, Winman carefully portrays Michael's unique perspective on his friends' deaths—he returns to France where he grieves for all that he's lost in his life. The first half of the book focuses on Ellis after all of his losses leave him off-kilter, wondering what to do with himself. The second half flashes back through Michael's journals, a candid look at a man whose fulfilled expectations disappoint. This is a gorgeous story of how love grows to include those who might be estranged by circumstances. I was fortunate to receive a copy through a Goodreads giveaway.