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thegreatmanda 's review for:
Him
by Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The yearning, the pining, the unbelievable hotness of how much these two want each other! This was so fun to read!
On a serious note, I want to highlight something that happens in this book that I complained about in The Foxhole Court, and how differently these authors handled it. When Wes and Jamie are coaching teenaged players, two of them fire racist and homophobic slurs at one another. Obviously that kind of thing sucks to read, but it’s something that unfortunately happens in real life, and in this book, it shows us how Wes handles the situation by disciplining the perpetrators. That tells us a bit about Wes as a character, and it also makes it clear that this book doesn’t condone or excuse the behavior. For me, that clear position makes the overall scene unproblematic, whereas in The Foxhole Court, slurs are thrown by players and coach alike. There is no discipline, no one acting as the adult in those situations, and nothing to tell us that the story’s world doesn’t approve of that behavior, which makes the whole thing problematic as hell.
In fact, there were several potential pitfalls in this story that the authors handled like pros. It would have been easy for Jamie’s life decisions to read like they’re about choosing between a visibly queer relationship and a straight-passing one, but the first time we meet Jamie, it’s already very clear how he feels (and doesn’t feel) about Holly. His bisexual awakening is present and clearly confusing at first, but that confusion isn’t used as a central character trait or as a source of excess drama. Both characters also experience a certain amount of the larger world’s homophobia, but that doesn’t become the main focus of their relationship or their biggest problem.It’s certainly present in the way Wes worries about his NHL career when they’re in Toronto, but their biggest obstacle is their hesitance to voice their feelings for each other. Once Jamie finally says it out loud, and Wes feels safe telling him he’s always loved him, Wes isn’t about to let homophobia take Jamie away from him again, no matter how tough it gets. Wes’s parents are terrible, and that affects him, but it doesn’t define his entire life or personality. Their love story remains, at its heart, about them. I can’t wait to read more of it.
Favorite Quotes:
On a serious note, I want to highlight something that happens in this book that I complained about in The Foxhole Court, and how differently these authors handled it. When Wes and Jamie are coaching teenaged players, two of them fire racist and homophobic slurs at one another. Obviously that kind of thing sucks to read, but it’s something that unfortunately happens in real life, and in this book, it shows us how Wes handles the situation by disciplining the perpetrators. That tells us a bit about Wes as a character, and it also makes it clear that this book doesn’t condone or excuse the behavior. For me, that clear position makes the overall scene unproblematic, whereas in The Foxhole Court, slurs are thrown by players and coach alike. There is no discipline, no one acting as the adult in those situations, and nothing to tell us that the story’s world doesn’t approve of that behavior, which makes the whole thing problematic as hell.
In fact, there were several potential pitfalls in this story that the authors handled like pros. It would have been easy for Jamie’s life decisions to read like they’re about choosing between a visibly queer relationship and a straight-passing one, but the first time we meet Jamie, it’s already very clear how he feels (and doesn’t feel) about Holly. His bisexual awakening is present and clearly confusing at first, but that confusion isn’t used as a central character trait or as a source of excess drama. Both characters also experience a certain amount of the larger world’s homophobia, but that doesn’t become the main focus of their relationship or their biggest problem.
Favorite Quotes:
Why hasn’t anyone ever told me the prostate was some kind of magical pleasure zone? Are there unicorns and orgasm fairies dancing around in there?
I give myself a minute to adjust, and I use the time to take Jamie’s gorgeous face in my hands. For a second I just admire the view. He’s flushed and sex-tousled, burning up with arousal. I came to Lake Placid hoping we could still be friends. I got much more than that. And I’m so grateful.