The SCU Hockey team becomes even more implausibly queer, but that's why we're here. The Atlas/Henri interactions are great: especially the depictions of consent and boundaries. Atlas's belief that he could never be enough rings so true.

2/2

This is a single-POV slow-burn romance in which we learn much about Ben while Pete remains enigmatic for plot reasons. The characters are engaging and the writing's funny. However, the cause of Pete's fear is disappointing.

2/2

Unless you go full comedy, historical gay romances are tricky: attitudes and laws were very different. This book gets the balance right I think. Chapters swap between WW1/1920s, and then WW2/1930s, alternating narrators, gradually revealing truths. Moving and satisfying. But needs more proofreading!

The romance kicks in early and strong, which leads to a succession of spicy scenes and declarations of love but no real plot progress. The coming-out storyline brings the book back to life again - I wish this had occurred earlier, leading to more development later.

2/2

A grumpy/sunshine pairing, with both boys well drawn. They both identify as straight initially; the dawning is gradual and just about believable. The inevitable act 3 breakup doesn't ring entirely true.

2/2

A miss, for me. I muttered "this wouldn't happen" too many times. Claimed "can be read as standalone" but has many unresolved threads, such as the (interesting) side character with a development that's forgotten about, and the secret blogger.

2/2