I must say what started out as just another Jock meets Nurd story, soon sucked me in. I loved both characters and how they grew and adapted throughout the book.
Asher is like a jack Russell, snapping at Blakes heels. Everything has a place and life is organised. After his brother’s death he has been on a mission to be the perfect son for his mother. To the degree he rates his daily behaviour.
Blake lives a lie, so he can remain in the closet, not least to keep his job as a maths teacher and head coach of the lacrosse team at a prestigious all girl’s school.
They meet for no strings attached hook up through a gay dating app. They have hot, hot, hot, sex and that is the end of it! Or it should be.
Neither can get the other out of his mind.
After a student at his school comes out as lesbian, something in Blake changes, he feels he can not go on living a life of lies, lies that end up hurting people. So, he seeks Asher’s help in coming out.
They draw up a plan they call a script. And Asher agrees to befriend Blake, on a purely platonic level.
We all know that is going to work Not.
But when things take a turn and it looks like Asher is walking away from Blake, believing he is making Blakes coming out harder. Blake must decide how much he is willing to risk, to keep Asher in his life.
This is a sweet coming out, redemption, second chance love story between two unique and fun characters. That are so opposite from each other that they really should not work, yet they are the other part of each other.
What I particularly liked about this book is that the Jock (Blake) is not your typical all muscle and no brain’s character.
Their banter was funny, especially when Asher takes a few moments to realise Blake is teasing him. I smiled for about 90% of the book. But me hear broke at moments, especially with the prisons they have put themselves into. Blake and his iron door closet, which he has built around himself, hiding so much of the shining star that he is. And Asher and his mission to be the perfect son, when all his Mam wants from him is him to be happy.
I always say a good story is on that can make you happy and sad, which this one certainly did, and one where you’re biting your nails for the characters to get to their happy ending.
All the supporting cast was strong characters too. I have a feeling that some have already had their story in the earlier books in the series. Which I intend to read soon.