Publication date: October 15 2014
Published by: Rennie Road Books
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Sports, Contemporary, College
Rating:
What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.Five years ago, Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then, he’s made an art of hiding his sexuality from everyone. Including himself.
So it’s a shock when his past strolls right into the Harkness College locker room, sporting a bag of hockey gear and the same slow smile that had always rendered Graham defenseless. For Graham, there is only one possible reaction: total, debilitating panic. With one loose word, the team’s new left wing could destroy Graham’s life as he knows it.
John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it’s worse than usual, because the media has latched onto the story of the only “out” player in Division One hockey. As the satellite trucks line the sidewalk outside the rink, his new teammates are not amused.
And one player in particular looks sick every time he enters the room.
Rikker didn’t exactly expect a warm welcome from Graham. But the guy won’t even meet his eyes. From the looks of it, his former… best friend / boyfriend / whatever isn’t doing so well. He drinks too much and can’t focus during practice.
Either the two loneliest guys on the team will self destruct from all the new pressures in their lives, or they can navigate the pain to find a way back to one another.
College romance, with just the right amount of complication and angst, but not always the kind you want. Also, addictive as hell, if that's your thing. I read it in one day, couldn't put it down.
The first half of TUoTY was pretty great; I really liked the writing, I loved Rikker's voice (we mostly see his POV) he was charismatic, smart and funny. I also really appreciated how he sort of backed off and tried not to engage much with Graham even though he obviously wanted to. He wasn't whiny or clingy. Like he said, he just wanted to play hockey. Rikker was cool like that. Also, this is a slow burn romance since the whole "enemies to lovers" trope needs time to unfold, and I think Bowen hit the nail on the head with that one. Rikker and Graham's back story was also very interesting and well though out.
However, Graham's deep closetedeness started to become annoying after the first half. I started to really dislike him, he sure as hell didn't deserve Rikker. I of course appreciate the fact that coming out might be the single hardest thing in a gay man's life, but Graham took it to a whole other level. Didn't even want to be seen walking, talking with or looking at Rikker just in case his "friends" made the connection. Great friends they were, by the way. One homophobic asshole and the rest were OK with Rikker so what was the issue exactly? His family was also very very cool. He could not even say the word "gay", Rikker had to actually ask him to say it out loud. Ugh, I don't know.
He eventually comes to his senses, but a little too late for me.
Another thing that bothered me was Bella. And no, I am not talking about the dog. Her character didn't really fit into the story at all, which I guess Bowen realized because she wasn't even mentioned towards the end. Graham's alleged best friend. She was deliberately silly and annoying, did not serve any particular story line, there was absolutely no need for her.
And finally, what kinda ending was that?? Have you ever had a conversation with someone, when they start telling you a story and then they cut mid sentence looking into the horizon and you look at them with pleading eyes like "yes, and??"
That was TUoTY's ending in a nutshell.
I loved Rikker, he had a great heart and was a genuinely good guy. I love decent and honest guys in MM books. I thought his and Graham's was going to be an epic love, but unfortunately Graham was too much of a disappointment.
The first half of TUoTY was pretty great; I really liked the writing, I loved Rikker's voice (we mostly see his POV) he was charismatic, smart and funny. I also really appreciated how he sort of backed off and tried not to engage much with Graham even though he obviously wanted to. He wasn't whiny or clingy. Like he said, he just wanted to play hockey. Rikker was cool like that. Also, this is a slow burn romance since the whole "enemies to lovers" trope needs time to unfold, and I think Bowen hit the nail on the head with that one. Rikker and Graham's back story was also very interesting and well though out.
However, Graham's deep closetedeness started to become annoying after the first half. I started to really dislike him, he sure as hell didn't deserve Rikker. I of course appreciate the fact that coming out might be the single hardest thing in a gay man's life, but Graham took it to a whole other level. Didn't even want to be seen walking, talking with or looking at Rikker just in case his "friends" made the connection. Great friends they were, by the way. One homophobic asshole and the rest were OK with Rikker so what was the issue exactly? His family was also very very cool. He could not even say the word "gay", Rikker had to actually ask him to say it out loud. Ugh, I don't know.
He eventually comes to his senses, but a little too late for me.
Another thing that bothered me was Bella. And no, I am not talking about the dog. Her character didn't really fit into the story at all, which I guess Bowen realized because she wasn't even mentioned towards the end. Graham's alleged best friend. She was deliberately silly and annoying, did not serve any particular story line, there was absolutely no need for her.
And finally, what kinda ending was that?? Have you ever had a conversation with someone, when they start telling you a story and then they cut mid sentence looking into the horizon and you look at them with pleading eyes like "yes, and??"
That was TUoTY's ending in a nutshell.
I loved Rikker, he had a great heart and was a genuinely good guy. I love decent and honest guys in MM books. I thought his and Graham's was going to be an epic love, but unfortunately Graham was too much of a disappointment.
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