Like Real People Do
Photo of emily

emily &
Like Real People Do by E. L. Massey

Edition
ISBN 9781648905247

Reviews

Photo of matti horckmans
matti horckmans@matti444
4.5 stars
Jun 19, 2025

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH


this book was soooo cute, also special thanks to their communication skills lilke hello??

Photo of Shaq H
Shaq H@wiccanth
4 stars
Jun 11, 2024

just your standard mlm book

Photo of Poncho Bosque
Poncho Bosque@poncho_bosque
4 stars
Apr 6, 2024

Just a very enjoyable and light read. I personally enjoyed so much reading Alex's chapters, I felt like the book from his perspective was just much more compelling as his side kinda drives a lot of the story.

+3
Photo of Ela
Ela@thequeerbookish
5 stars
Jan 15, 2023

This review was first published on The Queer Bookish where you find even more information about it.


How long do I have to wait until I can read the next book? I need it now!

So you might’ve already gathered that I absolutely loved E.L. Massey’s queer novel, where Ice Hockey meets vlogging with some Figure Skating on top.

But please don’t make me choose which part of Like Real People do I loved the most, because it’s damn near impossible to choose if I can’t choose everything.

We are being treated to absolutely loveable and funny characters – doesn’t matter if we’re talking about our main pairing Alex and Eli or supporting characters like Jeff or the whole of the Ice Hockey Teams (well, apart from one person). But they are not only loveable, but they also read so fucking real and I love how healthy their relationships are. Friends and partners call each other out on their BS and grow that way, okay?

I can’t analyze how well Eli’s epilepsy and his service dog’s reaction to it are written – let me know if you’ve read an own voices review for that part so that I can link to it here – but I definitely liked how it wasn’t skipped over but portrayed in a way I found to fit in well with the overall story.

Seriously, if you need a fun and well-flowing feel good queer book featuring a diverse cast, this one has to be bought by you ASAP!

+8
Photo of Mia
Mia@iwontusemyrealname
4 stars
Dec 4, 2024
Photo of Gabriella Lanouette
Gabriella Lanouette@developergab
4 stars
Nov 6, 2024
Photo of Mary Carmona
Mary Carmona@mary_carmona
3 stars
Sep 29, 2024
Photo of isabella
isabella@bellawoodhouse
3 stars
Jan 8, 2024
Photo of midnightjelly
midnightjelly@midnightjelly
4 stars
Nov 4, 2022

Highlights

Photo of Mary Carmona
Mary Carmona@mary_carmona

“No? Why would it?”

“Because they’re women’s shoes?”

“They’re Eli’s shoes,” Alex says with studied blankness. “I bought them for Eli. And he’s a man. So, I think they’re men’s shoes, in this case.”

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Mary Carmona
Mary Carmona@mary_carmona

“I hate you,” Eli calls, moving to center ice.

“Don’t play. You memorized my routine. You love me.”

“Loved. Past tense. Crush is officially terminated.”

“This is devastating news.”

“I thought flirting wasn’t allowed,” Alex interrupts.”

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Mary Carmona
Mary Carmona@mary_carmona

“I won’t. Hey, come here. Can I hug you?”

Alex looked at him like he was certifiably insane. “I guess?”

“It’ll help. Probably. The books say it helps.”

“Well. If the books say it helps.”

Photo of Mary Carmona
Mary Carmona@mary_carmona

“Swear to god. And I’ll make a donation to—I dunno—something for disabled kids. As an apology. And buy you dessert after lunch.”

“Jesus, Price,” Eli says. “You weren’t going to include dessert with lunch before? You have a 1.5 million-dollar annual salary. What kind of cheap date bullshit is that?”

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Mary Carmona
Mary Carmona@mary_carmona

“COOPS,” Price yells. “TELL HIM I’M NOT A HOMOPHOBE!”

Eli covers his face with his hands.

Cooper appears in the doorway of the locker room again, looking fond, but exasperated. “Pricey isn’t a homophobe.” He raises his voice so everyone who is now watching can hear. “Just an idiot. I promise. Can I go home now?”

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Mary Carmona
Mary Carmona@mary_carmona

“You,” Eli says. “Alexander Price. Want to take me on a pity date.”

“I—yes?”

Cooper makes a long-suffering noise. “All right, I’m going to let you kids figure this out. I’ll see you later, Pricey.”

This highlight contains a spoiler