Tal Bauer

The Jock

Aishling

** spoiler alert **
           3.5/5 stars

I think maybe Mr. Bauer’s books just ain’t for me 😅 this is only the second one I’ve read so I probably shouldn’t give up just yet, but he definitely has a very particular vibe to his writing and I’m not sure it’s for me. 

I really enjoyed the start of this book, Wes may have turned me into a cowboy fan 😂 him and Justin were very cute together, but sometimes a bit too cheesy for my tastes. I struggled to sympathise with either men after the initial break up, I just felt like it was too dramatic for how long they’d known each other, and neither of them even tried to talk things out. 

I really enjoyed up until the point where Wes was outted, and then his teammates reaction really ruined my mood for the book. I hated how they reacted, they claimed they were mad cause Wes lied, but they way overreacted. They knew Wes was facing hate from every angle and they didn’t support him at all. It took a life or death moment for them to get their heads out of their asses and it just wasn’t good enough for me. It is a well known thing that a lot of people feel like hide their sexualities, even from the people they’re closest too, but apparently none of these assholes were smart enough to realise that. If my best friend came out to me after knowing her for 17 years I would never dream of getting mad at her for “lying” to me. I get that maybe Bauer wanted some angst but I feel like it wasn’t a good plot point at all. After things were resolved I only glanced over most pages. I felt like it ended really suddenly too. 

Colton was such a bad friend when Wes was outted that I don’t even know if I want read his story. I’ll definitely be taking a break from Bauer’s books and I’ll see if time changes how I feel.

Jasmine

4.5 Stars

FANSTASTIC, EMOTIONAL, AND BEAUTIFUL!!!!! It made me cry I had no idea going in that I would become so attached to Justin and Wes over the course of this book but it definitely happened😭💕 The story starts with Wes who gets the opportunity through his scholarship to spend a part of his summer in Paris studying French and that's where he meets his new roommate Justin. Wes is this Texas cowboy type and it immediately puts Justin on edge because of his past experiences living in the south and having faced lots of prejudice when he came out. Not to mention he's a jock and right away Justin is thinking he couldn't have got paired worse roommate and that his summer is going to be spent avoiding him. Also, there is this pesky problem he's attracted to him and thinks he's straight.

However, through mutual classes and getting paired up together they start spending lots of time with each other all while fighting their mutual attraction. During that first week, they both realize the attraction might not be as one-sided as originally thought between the lingering looks and closeness. Wes descides to go for and kisses him and from that moment they start falling for each other over the course of the summer. Being far away from home Wes (who is not out back at home and has never had a boyfriend or even kissed a guy) throws cautions to the wind and decides to start dating Justin openly and for a time everything feels right. 

Both learn they go to the same college and start planning what life will be like when they're back home. Wes is a football player and relies on his scholarship to pay for his academic program and doesn't want to risk the ramifications of coming out while in school. Justin tries to be understanding of his situation and somewhat reluctantly agrees to date in secret. While Wes is confronted with a bigger dilemma when he gets back to campus and without spoilers, things don't go as planned and 
that's where their story really begins. 

This book had one of my biggest tropes that I dislike, insta love. I actually probably hate that trope more than most so authors who use it have to really have something unique to convince me. I'm okay with characters feeling a strong connection to someone quickly, but these two were head over heels in love the moment they kiss and everything was way too effortless between them to an extremely unrealistic level. Some of it I guess could be chalked up to Wes never having a boyfriend before, but he was practically planning their wedding in his head after being together for such a short time. The start was good but once they realized the feelings were mutual they became over the top lovey-dovey. It was a bit much because you barely get to know them as individuals still and yet we're supposed to believe they're the ones for each other right from the start! 

So yep go in preparing to suspend disbelief because personally I just need more from my couples to care. However, I love books that surprise me and change my mind this book started so insta lovey that I was convinced I would end up eye rolling my way through it, but nope it got emotional and then it got oh so good!!! I lived to for the longing and angst. Well written angst and was such a sweet spot for angst whore ways. I felt all intensity of their emotions when they were apart and it that was in those scenes where I fell hard for them. By the end, they made me believe strongly in their love and I desperately needed to see them get the happy ending they deserved. 

The way they eventually worked through their problems and then stood by each other through everything was achingly beautiful. This book gave me the was greatest highs and the lowest lows. Justin and Wes were so sweet when they got together I was smiling so much through their scenes. Perfect sports romance that surprisingly delivers an emotional impact and sweeps you up through their journey back to each other