Her Twin Brother

Released By: Yaoi Press

Writer and Artist: Yamila Abraham

Cover Art: Studio Himitsu

Release Date: Out now

Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

As a cop Heath is still getting over the loss of his wife. He wakes up on a morning and in remembers his dream when he held her in his arms, and the feelings hurt deeper each time. He has her photo by his bedside, and still longs for the time when he can see her again, knowing his hopes are futile. His life isn't anything he would call decent either, due to her death he hasn't felt like cleaning up the house, litter is strewn all over the place, and he is just living his life for his job as a cop - it's tough and he doesn't see a way out of feeling helpless and unhappy.

When his partner calls him over the phone rather than the radio to tell him to come to a domestic disturbance problem, his whole life turns around once he meets Abel, his brother in law. Abel looks just like his wife minus the curves, and every time he looks his way, he sees Abby, the woman he lost. When he sees him looking all beat up, he wants to cry, and tries his best to do his job, but it isn't easy when he is confronted with this kind of image. Heath watches while his rookie partner takes control of the situation, knowing what he is going through. What Heath doesn't know is that his partner has set him up with Abel, hoping he can take his mind off the grief he feels day in day out. Heath decides after Abel's lover has hurt him again and got away with it, he might as well come and stay with him. It's a period for him to get over his lover, and also so Heath can have someone around so he doesn't feel so alone. Before he came along, he used work as an excuse to forget about his empty home life, but instead now Abel is around, he can get immersed in home life again.

Heath is a caring type who loved his life with his wife, and misses her terribly. Seeing Abel who looks her twin in every way sets off his memories of her, and in a way he getting with him is his way of reliving the memories.

Abel is very similar to Abby, he laughs the same, and has other little quirks that set Heath off whenever he sees him. Compared to Heath he is a domestic god, always cleaning up, doing the laundry and, Heath discovers, is a rather super cook too. He wonders why he isn't already married, but forgets he's not interested in women; he's gay and not ever likely to get wed unless it's with another guy. At the moment he is an emotional mess trying to cope with having an abusive partner, striving not to seem too weak in front of his new lover.

I liked the friendship the two of them feel in this novel, and for a one shot, it gets to the problems associated with grief and abusive partners, and puts them together. Heath can help Abel find himself a new life without his abusive partner, while Abel can help Heath deal with his grief and loss - and clean his house up a bit. Even though it is a book and not a manga graphic novel, it is one of the best Yamila has ever written.

Verdict: This is a touching and startlingly realistic one shot story that will appeal to everyone - get the tissues at the ready, you will need them.