Book Review: The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen

Synopsis

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. To say that it won’t be easy is the Understatement of the Year.

Review 

I’ve been curious about M&M romance books for a little while now. I never really thought it would be my thing but I was so wrong – I flipping loved this story.

Graham and Rikker were more than just friends during High School until they are caught in a compromising position, Graham hightailed it and left Rikker to defend himself, he doesn’t see or speak to him again until Rikker shows up at Harkness locker room – turns out he’s the new guy on the team.

These 2 guys are in very different places at the beginning. Rikker is Out and doesn’t care but Graham is so far in the closet he’s practically in Narnia. Rikker has is own troubles being the first openly gay man in Hockey, all he wants is to play and not have anyone treat him differently. Whereas Graham is terrified that Rikker will out him.

As the two of them reconnect, you really start to see the real side to Graham and its so sad that he’s had to hide his true self away out of fear. People really do suck. I liked how patient and understanding Rikker was with him, he never pushed him to “Come Out” and just gave him space to figure it out for himself even when it meant he was hurting.

Overall this was a great read, Sabrina’s writing is just awesome and I can’t get enough of her books.

My Rating: 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟

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