Book Review: Him (Him #1) by Sarina Bowen Elle Kennedy

BOOK REVIEW: HIM (HIM #1) BY SARINA BOWEN ELLE KENNEDY
POSTED DECEMBER 22, 2021 BY WHITNEY IN BOOKS / 0 COMMENTS
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Him by Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy
Series: Him #1
Published by Tuxbury Publishing on July 28, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 358
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?
Jamie Canning has never been able to Slot Gacor Maxwin figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.
Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.
Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—
can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend…and a big one to learn about himself.
Warning: contains sexual situations, hotties on hockey skates, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.
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Him by Sarina Bowen Elle Kennedy is top tier MM romance. It was actually the first MM romance that I have read that was more. It was intimate, heartwarming, and game-changing.
Peep that new cover!
him by sarina bowen elle kennedy
“Jamie Canning was my first crush and my first love. But he was never mine to have.”
Wes and Jamie were teammates and best friends. All that came changed when lines blurred one night at hockey camp. For Wes, he was mortified that he tried to take advantage of his best friend – who isn’t gay. And for Jamie, well he lost his best friend because Wes disappeared.
Years later, they are reunited when their hockey teams compete against each other. Jamie is clearly confused on how to process their run-in. He is hurt that Wes has ignored him this whole time. Wes, however, decides he isn’t completely over Jamie. He obviously has some groveling to do.
Things come full circle as they are both back at their hockey camp in Lake Placid as coaches. He has decided to join in this year and recreate their hockey camp experiences. Only this time, he is going to read the room. No crossing the lines this time around.
Funny thing is Jamie may be the one to blur the lines because –
“I’m attracted to women, no doubt about it. I’m also attracted to men, apparently. Wonderful. Complicated fellow, my dick.”
And from that point forward, things get wonderfully complicated.
Tropes Include:
- Friends-to-Lovers
- MM, LBGTQIA
- Sports Romance
Have I already mentioned how much I love this MM romance? There was so much to love. I don’t feel like the couple’s relationship was fetishized in anyway. Some times that can be an issue when women write gay romance. Seeing Jamie questioning his sexuality was a beautiful journey too. Oh, and how Wes was respectful of Jamie’s journey was fantastic too. So many positive conversations were had in this book about LBTQIA topics. Take my word for it and read it.
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And there is something magical about this author duo. If you aren’t aware, they go on to write other books together and they are superb. I hope they never stop collaborating.
Have you read anything from this author duo? Is Him by Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy your first by them? Are you a fan of Wesmie? Sound off in the comments below!