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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Having read every single novel and novella in the Glasgow Lads series—except this one: the first, the inception, the one that started it all—I figured it was about time I checked in with Duncan and Brodie to see where these two boys began. Especially after a certain stripper lesson in Playing With Fire. ::tease::
Taking place immediately before John and Fergus’s book, Playing for Keeps, this short novel picks up just after Evan Hollister (Fergus’s ex and the subject of the next full-length novel in the series) does a runner with his new lover, which not only leaves Fergus devastated but leaves the Woodstoun Warriors football team in a state of utter collapse. They’ve just lost their team captain, Fergus is a mere shadow of his former self, and Duncan has lost the one man he’d looked up to for encouraging him to try out for the team. If nothing else, I have to say I’m even more anxious than ever now for Evan and Ben’s book, because Evan has so much to make up for.
There are a couple of things that set Play On apart from the other books in this series. The first is that, of all of the couples thus far—John and Fergus, Colin and Andrew, Robert and Liam—I feel that Duncan and Brodie’s story has the most obvious New Adult Romance feel to it. The story is set at uni, so it’s easier to get a sense of how young these boys really are. The second thing that makes this story unique is that there are no political underpinnings to the storyline, nor is there a solid social statement made in the book—as in marriage equality, for example. What Duncan and Brodie’s story has going for it, though, is an impactful emotional depth to it in the painful truth of Brodie’s life before he left his small coastal town in the northeast of Scotland.
The subject of bullying takes center stage in Play On, as it’s what informs so much of our young Brodie as a character. He’s determined to live out and proud at Glasgow University, but having left home knowing his share of bullying by the footballers there, it’s left a bad taste in his mouth for not only the sport but its players too. Which, in turn, supports the built-in divide between him and Duncan which isn’t easy for either boy to bridge—that’s the whole of the conflict between these two boys. That, and their not knowing how to get beyond it.
There’s such a sweetness to this story, even amongst all the angst caused by Duncan and the sport he loves, and the fact that Brodie hasn’t escaped the threat of bashing simply by leaving home. Nor has it kept Brodie from still trying to hide the parts of him that make him stand out as different—namely, his Doric dialect. There’s a certain innocence to the way Brodie sees life and the world, and it’s this naïveté that makes him both brave and, at the same time, so afraid (and rightfully so)—it’s that fear that reminds us again how young he and Duncan are. Honestly, I just wanted to wrap Brodie up in cotton fluff most of the time, especially after the brief glimpse we get of his mum, but, then again, part of the growing up process for both Brodie and Duncan was discovering there’s courage in pride and pride in courage.
While Play On isn’t necessarily the heavyweight of the series in terms of the plot, it was, through the ups and downs and worry and fear, delightful to get to know these boys in their own story rather than getting small glimpses of them in everyone else’s books. If you’re a fan of the Glasgow Lads but haven’t read this one yet, do. It’s a sweet addition to the series, regardless of the order you read it in.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-play-on-by-avery-cockburn/
Taking place immediately before John and Fergus’s book, Playing for Keeps, this short novel picks up just after Evan Hollister (Fergus’s ex and the subject of the next full-length novel in the series) does a runner with his new lover, which not only leaves Fergus devastated but leaves the Woodstoun Warriors football team in a state of utter collapse. They’ve just lost their team captain, Fergus is a mere shadow of his former self, and Duncan has lost the one man he’d looked up to for encouraging him to try out for the team. If nothing else, I have to say I’m even more anxious than ever now for Evan and Ben’s book, because Evan has so much to make up for.
There are a couple of things that set Play On apart from the other books in this series. The first is that, of all of the couples thus far—John and Fergus, Colin and Andrew, Robert and Liam—I feel that Duncan and Brodie’s story has the most obvious New Adult Romance feel to it. The story is set at uni, so it’s easier to get a sense of how young these boys really are. The second thing that makes this story unique is that there are no political underpinnings to the storyline, nor is there a solid social statement made in the book—as in marriage equality, for example. What Duncan and Brodie’s story has going for it, though, is an impactful emotional depth to it in the painful truth of Brodie’s life before he left his small coastal town in the northeast of Scotland.
The subject of bullying takes center stage in Play On, as it’s what informs so much of our young Brodie as a character. He’s determined to live out and proud at Glasgow University, but having left home knowing his share of bullying by the footballers there, it’s left a bad taste in his mouth for not only the sport but its players too. Which, in turn, supports the built-in divide between him and Duncan which isn’t easy for either boy to bridge—that’s the whole of the conflict between these two boys. That, and their not knowing how to get beyond it.
There’s such a sweetness to this story, even amongst all the angst caused by Duncan and the sport he loves, and the fact that Brodie hasn’t escaped the threat of bashing simply by leaving home. Nor has it kept Brodie from still trying to hide the parts of him that make him stand out as different—namely, his Doric dialect. There’s a certain innocence to the way Brodie sees life and the world, and it’s this naïveté that makes him both brave and, at the same time, so afraid (and rightfully so)—it’s that fear that reminds us again how young he and Duncan are. Honestly, I just wanted to wrap Brodie up in cotton fluff most of the time, especially after the brief glimpse we get of his mum, but, then again, part of the growing up process for both Brodie and Duncan was discovering there’s courage in pride and pride in courage.
While Play On isn’t necessarily the heavyweight of the series in terms of the plot, it was, through the ups and downs and worry and fear, delightful to get to know these boys in their own story rather than getting small glimpses of them in everyone else’s books. If you’re a fan of the Glasgow Lads but haven’t read this one yet, do. It’s a sweet addition to the series, regardless of the order you read it in.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-play-on-by-avery-cockburn/
What the heck, I loved it no matter what other reviewers say. 5 stars.
Shelby, thank you for the rec! :)
Shelby, thank you for the rec! :)
While I enjoyed this one, there were a couple of minor irritants mostly because I wanted to bang Duncan and Brodie's heads together over their lack of communication.
I did, however, love that these two young men were not perfect and had flaws which made their relationship worth the fight.
I think because they were younger, I just felt a bit more frustration at their attitudes which were, of course, perfectly believable with the arrogance of youth.
And, although this is the prequel to the whole series, I would actually suggest you read book one first before coming back to this one.
I did, however, love that these two young men were not perfect and had flaws which made their relationship worth the fight.
I think because they were younger, I just felt a bit more frustration at their attitudes which were, of course, perfectly believable with the arrogance of youth.
And, although this is the prequel to the whole series, I would actually suggest you read book one first before coming back to this one.
Re-Read 2020
Still enjoyable on the second reread
I love Duncan and Brodie
Great
Re-read
4 ⭐️
Great introduction to the guys with Duncan and Brodie’s story. I liked that both guys released they made mistakes and admitted to them, and I also liked seeing Brodie gain confidence
Still enjoyable on the second reread
I love Duncan and Brodie
Great
Re-read
4 ⭐️
Great introduction to the guys with Duncan and Brodie’s story. I liked that both guys released they made mistakes and admitted to them, and I also liked seeing Brodie gain confidence
This is a delightful novella! The themes of intolerance and self-protection, and the problem of privilege, and the trouble with tempers are all familiar, as well as the learning curve of understanding between two very different people. They are woven into a lovely tapestry set in Scotland, unfamiliar terms and all, and I'm smiling, I realize. So, there you go. Recommended!
3.5 stars
Oh well, I made a mistake. I should have read this before I read the other books in the series. Not that you can't understand the things going on, or have to read the books in a certain order, but after the more complex, deeper and somewhat heavier other two books, this one left me a tiny bit disappointed.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad story. Like I said, just not as deep or complex as the others as far as the backround story goes.
On one side we have Duncan. With parents who aren't really interested in him, but love his sexual orientation, his friends and team mates in his LGBTQ soccer team are way more important to him. He cares for them, cares about them and he lifes and suffers with them. After betrayal and humiliation, Duncan has some issues of his own, in addition to some problems with the team. One of them is definitely his lack of... I don't even know what to call it. Empathy? Maybe, but not really, because he is not a cold-hearted bastard. He just doesn't put himself in somebody else's shoes first before he speaks - or looses his temper for that matter.
And then there is Brodie. Growing up surrounded by homophobia, without an undertsanding or supporting famliy, he looses much of himself and his self-confidence because of bullies and his ex-boyfriend.
Put these two together and you get one explosive mix.
I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I didn't fall in love with the characters as I did in the other two books. So a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to four because, you know, soccer. We loooove soccer. I recommend it for basically everyone. The bits and pieces of Scottish are well explained and shouldn't be problem for readers. And other topics, like soccer or politics, aren't really touched that much. It's easy, it's light - if not really angst-free - and I'd think everyone who liked two boys with some issues falling in love is perfectly fine right here.
Oh well, I made a mistake. I should have read this before I read the other books in the series. Not that you can't understand the things going on, or have to read the books in a certain order, but after the more complex, deeper and somewhat heavier other two books, this one left me a tiny bit disappointed.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad story. Like I said, just not as deep or complex as the others as far as the backround story goes.
On one side we have Duncan. With parents who aren't really interested in him, but love his sexual orientation, his friends and team mates in his LGBTQ soccer team are way more important to him. He cares for them, cares about them and he lifes and suffers with them. After betrayal and humiliation, Duncan has some issues of his own, in addition to some problems with the team. One of them is definitely his lack of... I don't even know what to call it. Empathy? Maybe, but not really, because he is not a cold-hearted bastard. He just doesn't put himself in somebody else's shoes first before he speaks - or looses his temper for that matter.
And then there is Brodie. Growing up surrounded by homophobia, without an undertsanding or supporting famliy, he looses much of himself and his self-confidence because of bullies and his ex-boyfriend.
Put these two together and you get one explosive mix.
I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I didn't fall in love with the characters as I did in the other two books. So a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to four because, you know, soccer. We loooove soccer. I recommend it for basically everyone. The bits and pieces of Scottish are well explained and shouldn't be problem for readers. And other topics, like soccer or politics, aren't really touched that much. It's easy, it's light - if not really angst-free - and I'd think everyone who liked two boys with some issues falling in love is perfectly fine right here.