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nicola949's review
4.0
This is the story of "The handsome Bollywood actor and the rugged cricket superstar" and is the first of the International Men of Sports series. Because of the series name, I expected the main focus to be on the cricketer and the actions set within the cricket arena. However this was not exactly how the plot played out.
Yes, Ajay is a cricketer but most of the focus seems to be on Raj, the actor. Actually the first line of the blurb seems to place more emphasis on Raj. "A handsome Bollywood actor must choose between his career and a rugged cricket player from his past, who he’s fallen in love with…again."
Regardless of the amount of cricket or cricket settings in the book, it is still an enjoyable story. Slightly predictable but still entertaining. It was also very good value at only $0.99 from Amazon.
3.5 stars
Yes, Ajay is a cricketer but most of the focus seems to be on Raj, the actor. Actually the first line of the blurb seems to place more emphasis on Raj. "A handsome Bollywood actor must choose between his career and a rugged cricket player from his past, who he’s fallen in love with…again."
Regardless of the amount of cricket or cricket settings in the book, it is still an enjoyable story. Slightly predictable but still entertaining. It was also very good value at only $0.99 from Amazon.
3.5 stars
crtsjffrsn's review
3.0
Rajan Malik is THE hottest actor in Bollywood and things are only looking up. He, along with his girlfriend and co-star, are the hottest couple both on and off screen, and he couldn't be more successful. But this isn't entirely the life he wanted--it's the life his mother wanted for him. When Ajay Singh, cricket star and Raj's ex-roommate from university, sees Raj in the paper and reaches out to him, glimpses of a life that could have been immediately wash over them both. Ajay is out and not ashamed of it. But Raj has appearances to keep, and there's the constant reminders from his mother that he could never be in a relationship with a man and still be successful. Raj believes her, but he knows there's something missing from his life. Can he find a way to have everything: Ajay AND his career? Or will he need to make a decision about what's most important and leave the other behind forever?
In an age where we often think it's "so much easier to be gay" than it was years ago, it's easy to dismiss the idea that people might still feel pressure to stay in the closet. But those pressures still exist and are very real for many people. In some cases it's like Raj's concern of career success. For others (like Ajay's friend Neel) it's concerns about family reactions and fallout. But regardless of the reason, we can't just assume that what has become true for many people is true for everyone. And here we get a very modern story of how three men (I include Neel even though his struggle isn't a major focus of the story) navigate the reality of being gay, being Indian, and being celebrities. The story is different for each of them, as it's likely different for every single person who finds themselves in such a situation. The authors approach the topic very sensitively and don't minimize or overstate any of the issues involved.
Definitely an enjoyable read that really hooked me in. I'm set to continue reading more from this series after finishing this one--and I'm looking forward to it.
In an age where we often think it's "so much easier to be gay" than it was years ago, it's easy to dismiss the idea that people might still feel pressure to stay in the closet. But those pressures still exist and are very real for many people. In some cases it's like Raj's concern of career success. For others (like Ajay's friend Neel) it's concerns about family reactions and fallout. But regardless of the reason, we can't just assume that what has become true for many people is true for everyone. And here we get a very modern story of how three men (I include Neel even though his struggle isn't a major focus of the story) navigate the reality of being gay, being Indian, and being celebrities. The story is different for each of them, as it's likely different for every single person who finds themselves in such a situation. The authors approach the topic very sensitively and don't minimize or overstate any of the issues involved.
Definitely an enjoyable read that really hooked me in. I'm set to continue reading more from this series after finishing this one--and I'm looking forward to it.
ktomp17's review
4.0
Ajay is out and proud cricket player. Raj comes from a very strict upbringing with a mom who demands exactly what she wants out of him. They are college roommates, but when his mom finds out they might be together, she pulls Raj out of school and aims him into the spotlight. Years later, Raj is a famous actor and Ajay sees him looking run down. After so many years, Ajay contacts him to offer him a place to escape and their friendship/attraction rekindles. The guys together were great. Ajay was such a calming presence, which is what Raj needed. It took a little while, and it was a slow road, but Raj was able to realize he wanted to be happy and could stand up for himself. The ending was fabulous. I liked how the story and relationship progressed and resolved.
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