This was going to be a mini review but then I started writing it and realized that wasn’t happening! First and foremost, If you are unsure that M/M romances are for you, this is not the one to start with! This is a VERY open door romance and it is hot! Bowen and Kennedy are a force of nature when paired to write a sports romance. Throughout this incredible series you witness the two bring what they are best at – Bowen’s obvious zany humor and Kennedy’s heart. This book was just – I don’t even know how to describe it but I wasn’t expecting it to be as extraordinary as it was. I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t put the series down! I read Him, Us, and Epic in less than two days. I just found out there is a bonus “love letter” that I fully intend to read after I finish this review. 

Him kicks off a love story that anyone would envy. Wes has been in love with Jamie since he was 13 years old, even if he didn’t understand how deep his love was until he was 16. Each summer only confirmed more and more that his heart belonged to his best friend, except his best friend was straight! The ultimate of unrequited love, Wes kept his attraction under wraps for as long as he could but when they reached their final summer of hockey camp, he decides to go big or go home – making a bet with Jamie that would change the trajectory of their friendship forever. Fast forward to four years later, Jamie’s college team is gearing up to head to Boston for the Frozen Four.  Unknown to him, Wes’s team is also competing to be in the championship. Having dropped out his life after summer camp, Wes needs to apologize and clear the air with his former best friend. Restarting an old tradition, the two meet up again and make amends only to go their separate ways after Jamie’s team loses and is out of the championship. Apparently absence does make the heart grow fonder as the brief reunion wasn’t enough for Wes. He realizes quickly that he needs time with Jamie more than he needs his next breath. Learning through their quick connection that Jamie still teaches over the summer at the camp where they met, Wes signs up to volunteer. He knows he can never have what he wants most in the world but little does he realize that hope has a funny way of making the impossible possible.

Wes and Jamie’s story is just too wonderful for words. It isn’t simple, straightforward, or easy. It is messy, complex, heartbreaking, and eye opening. I once heard someone say that being gay doesn’t mean you come out once, you literally come out every single time you meet someone new. Wes doesn’t glorify being a gay man who plays hockey but he also doesn’t have a personal pity party around it. We see how he struggles, how he triumphs, how it makes him stronger, and how he perseveres. We also witness Jamie coming to terms with his own struggle of sexuality. His confusion, his exploration, his insecurities, how the world will view him, accept him, accept them. We witness acceptance and we witness hatred/ignorance. Through it all we witness a love the only gets stronger with each hurdle and each step. We see a family that accepts one with open arms while the other is ostracized. Bowen and Kennedy work every angle of their journey either through their character’s personal experiences or experiences of people they know (Wes talks about knowing gay men who were kicked out on the street by their families). What was the most disheartening was watching Wes having to decide between the love of his life and his career, NOT because he wanted to but because society wouldn’t accept him any other way (there were no openly gay hockey players in the NHL at the time in his career). When he decided to walk away, you could feel a part of him die.

Reiterating my comment from above, the spice is off…the…charts in this book! Bowen and Kennedy’s spicy scenes are like a fire in a chemical lab (out of control and explosive). There are moments that are so insane I had to fan myself!

As I couldn’t let Jamie and Wes go, I jumped right into Us. As I read them back to back, I am trying to make sure I don’t add any crossover but will say if you thought this was funny, dramatic, and generally an emotion whirlwind, you haven’t seen anything yet.