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ameserole's review
4.0
Below the Belt was surprisingly really good! Lately I've been trying to explore more into genre's that I don't read a lot of - like m/m. So when I saw this, I was like heck yeah! Plus it's on KU.
In it, you will meet Noah and Adrian. They were both hurt in the past and they are both single. Noah's ex got him a pass to this gym and it kind of worked out in his favor. So points for the ex (even though I didn't want them to get back together. Then there's Adrian who is shy but has a deep sexy ass voice. Once they met, there was kind of an insta-crush going on?
I mean, they did kind of have drinks the day after they met - which was cute and adorable. Besides them, I feel like so many other things in this book didn't make sense. I felt like I was missing so much information because random things or decision would be made or a character that we've never met would just be mentioned into a conversation. If there was a novella that I needed to read before this that probably would've been helpful.
After all the confusion, I still ended up liking this book.
In it, you will meet Noah and Adrian. They were both hurt in the past and they are both single. Noah's ex got him a pass to this gym and it kind of worked out in his favor. So points for the ex (even though I didn't want them to get back together. Then there's Adrian who is shy but has a deep sexy ass voice. Once they met, there was kind of an insta-crush going on?
I mean, they did kind of have drinks the day after they met - which was cute and adorable. Besides them, I feel like so many other things in this book didn't make sense. I felt like I was missing so much information because random things or decision would be made or a character that we've never met would just be mentioned into a conversation. If there was a novella that I needed to read before this that probably would've been helpful.
After all the confusion, I still ended up liking this book.
bronwynheeley's review
PAUSED/DNFed at 20%
In this short amount of time I was reading this I had a bit of a rage in my notes and I read this one the 21st and by the 29th I still can't get myself to pick it back up. I honestly can't say I will pick it up again,
I am also having a problem with how the 'nerdy' MC sees the other MC, like he's not paying attentions to his disability and how other people would react to it, while saying people are treating him differently and he's aren't really noticeable anymore. and it's not that I have a problem with him not 'seeing' him, because he is, he just doesn't seem to acknowledge the struggles he'd be having with looking as disfigured as he is. I found it almost distasteful that it wasn't something that came up. like I get seeing passed it. I get the whole, he wouldn't want his help with things, which came up but these little things like "he could be a model" "of course he's not single". I just...I don't know, it just wasn't sitting right, and could be something that changes or comes up later, what do I know I've only read 20%
on the other side, I actually like the writing, it read well, and I am going to look into something else written by the author and hope it's just this one that's rubbing me wrong, and who knows maybe it's just me right now and I'll want to read it later, but right now I needed to vent and get it off my currently reading list.
In this short amount of time I was reading this I had a bit of a rage in my notes and I read this one the 21st and by the 29th I still can't get myself to pick it back up. I honestly can't say I will pick it up again,
Spoiler
I'm really not doing well with the fact that this 'misunderstanding' that keeps coming up about them at the university is something, and it is something or why would it still be a noted misunderstanding throughout the short amount of time I've been reading. it came up to many times and it's become to much a thing that i can't see it not being used and if it isn't then I'd be pissed. so either way really, and it shouldn't be anything, they don't seem like the types of people who'd give a shit.I am also having a problem with how the 'nerdy' MC sees the other MC, like he's not paying attentions to his disability and how other people would react to it, while saying people are treating him differently and he's aren't really noticeable anymore. and it's not that I have a problem with him not 'seeing' him, because he is, he just doesn't seem to acknowledge the struggles he'd be having with looking as disfigured as he is. I found it almost distasteful that it wasn't something that came up. like I get seeing passed it. I get the whole, he wouldn't want his help with things, which came up but these little things like "he could be a model" "of course he's not single". I just...I don't know, it just wasn't sitting right, and could be something that changes or comes up later, what do I know I've only read 20%
on the other side, I actually like the writing, it read well, and I am going to look into something else written by the author and hope it's just this one that's rubbing me wrong, and who knows maybe it's just me right now and I'll want to read it later, but right now I needed to vent and get it off my currently reading list.
jengirlreads's review
4.0
Below the Belt is ultimately a love story between two men who’ve been knocked around by life but refuse to stay down.
Noah has lingering effects from the traumatic car accident that cost him an eye, and his ex-boyfriend-now-friend gives him passes to Baum’s Boxing, which specializes in clients with disabilities. There, he meets Adrian, a veteran with his own struggles. The two are drawn together quickly, and they understand each other well — even if they don’t necessarily communicate effectively about some of the mundane details of life. When the truth of their situation comes to light, it collides with a man who’s both unscrupulous and obsessed with Noah. Can they manage to find a way to be together — and to get away from this man’s machinations?
This book had a bit more suspense/action subplot than I was expecting, but I think it really worked both for the storyline and to highlight the way that the main characters’ disabilities affected their lives in big and small ways. I’m never a fan of the miscommunication trope, but it also made a fair amount of sense in this case. I really enjoyed Noah’s journey to be more assured and strong in himself, and I loved him and Adrian together. This is book one in the Baum’s Boxing series, and I look forward to reading this book’s side characters getting their HEAs in the rest of the series. Definitely recommend.
Noah has lingering effects from the traumatic car accident that cost him an eye, and his ex-boyfriend-now-friend gives him passes to Baum’s Boxing, which specializes in clients with disabilities. There, he meets Adrian, a veteran with his own struggles. The two are drawn together quickly, and they understand each other well — even if they don’t necessarily communicate effectively about some of the mundane details of life. When the truth of their situation comes to light, it collides with a man who’s both unscrupulous and obsessed with Noah. Can they manage to find a way to be together — and to get away from this man’s machinations?
This book had a bit more suspense/action subplot than I was expecting, but I think it really worked both for the storyline and to highlight the way that the main characters’ disabilities affected their lives in big and small ways. I’m never a fan of the miscommunication trope, but it also made a fair amount of sense in this case. I really enjoyed Noah’s journey to be more assured and strong in himself, and I loved him and Adrian together. This is book one in the Baum’s Boxing series, and I look forward to reading this book’s side characters getting their HEAs in the rest of the series. Definitely recommend.
thosemedalingkidsss's review against another edition
2.0
I would have loved to see the leads in a less instalove whirlwind romance (at 25%ish in they were both fully committed to each other).
I also fully did not enjoy the plot of this - forbidden (kinda) teacher/student relationship, a mustache twirling villain, not a lot of boxing.
I really liked both leads and their loved ones though. EML always manages to include a perspective on ableism that is excellent. But the plot was a lot to get through.
I also fully did not enjoy the plot of this - forbidden (kinda) teacher/student relationship, a mustache twirling villain, not a lot of boxing.
I really liked both leads and their loved ones though. EML always manages to include a perspective on ableism that is excellent. But the plot was a lot to get through.
haletostilinski1's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
This was disappointing. I gave it 2.5 stars instead of 2 stars for the first half, which was mostly enjoyable. I didn't think Noah and Adrian had the most amazing chemistry, but they were nice together and cute.
Also it's funny that the title of this about boxing when boxing is not a big part of this story. It's mainly about the fact that Adrian is a student at the same university that Noah is a professor at, only they're so shit at communicating - or getting to know each other, honestly - that Noah thinks Adrian is a professor as well - because he's older than Noah even - and Adrian thinks Noah is a student because he looks young enough to be one.
They misconstrue things and when things come up that make them confused - like Noah talking about another teacher like he's a friend, like that - they don't ask the other to clarify and just let it go - conveniently.
But then there's one of Noah's coworkers who has been trying to get with Noah for years and Noah has always come up with an excuse, and when Noah starts dating Adrian, the guy doesn't like it and is actually horrible enough to start stalking Noah and using the fact that Adrian is a student and Noah a teacher as blackmail.
For a guy who is supposedly so gone on Noah, he's fucking nasty and horrible to him. Then it becomes, of course, just about being rejected and not really about Noah. And I know men who get rejected can go to extremes, but this is the most ridiculous and outlandish and unrealistic way to go extreme.
I was also angry at the book making the fact that Adrian was a 30-something year old student - two years older than Noah, the book said - into a huge deal when Noah isn't even Adrian's teacher, at all. He's not even his department! They can't even assume that Noah is able to help Adrian with his homework because it's not his expertise - and also even if he did help, that's not cheating either. So the whole thing was ridiculous.
Then near the end, maybe 60 to 70% in, I started skimming a lot. It just got boring and drawn out. I didn't care about cartoon villain Charlie and I didn't care for how seriously these two took it and how they followed what Charlie wanted to help each other - which, while noble if they had no choice....they definitely had a choice - and other characters even pointed out that they weren't even int he same department, but that did nothing to change their minds.
Then Adrian and Noah just became boring, and their sex scenes weren't that well written, and after awhile I didn't come to care for the secondary characters that much, although I didn't mind Ryan, Noah's ex-boyfriend and friend. Other than that though, I didn't really care.
One other good thing though that made me give this 2.5 stars aside from the somewhat entertaining first half was how well it dealt with disabilities and how it shined a lot on disabilities and just how much abled people don't think about disabled people, or if they do how horrible it about they are and what stereotypes they have. But this firmly showed that no matter your disability, you can have someone you love in your life or others around you who love you - if you don't want a romantic relationship - and that those relationships life you up. So, big plus for that.
But other than a good - but not great - first half and what I just said, this wasn't a very good book and I didn't enjoy it much and it deviated completely from what I thought this was going to be about. Some blackmail, sure, but not this.
Overall just not a fun or great read for me. Thumbs down.
This was disappointing. I gave it 2.5 stars instead of 2 stars for the first half, which was mostly enjoyable. I didn't think Noah and Adrian had the most amazing chemistry, but they were nice together and cute.
Also it's funny that the title of this about boxing when boxing is not a big part of this story. It's mainly about the fact that Adrian is a student at the same university that Noah is a professor at, only they're so shit at communicating - or getting to know each other, honestly - that Noah thinks Adrian is a professor as well - because he's older than Noah even - and Adrian thinks Noah is a student because he looks young enough to be one.
They misconstrue things and when things come up that make them confused - like Noah talking about another teacher like he's a friend, like that - they don't ask the other to clarify and just let it go - conveniently.
But then there's one of Noah's coworkers who has been trying to get with Noah for years and Noah has always come up with an excuse, and when Noah starts dating Adrian, the guy doesn't like it and is actually horrible enough to start stalking Noah and using the fact that Adrian is a student and Noah a teacher as blackmail.
For a guy who is supposedly so gone on Noah, he's fucking nasty and horrible to him. Then it becomes, of course, just about being rejected and not really about Noah. And I know men who get rejected can go to extremes, but this is the most ridiculous and outlandish and unrealistic way to go extreme.
I was also angry at the book making the fact that Adrian was a 30-something year old student - two years older than Noah, the book said - into a huge deal when Noah isn't even Adrian's teacher, at all. He's not even his department! They can't even assume that Noah is able to help Adrian with his homework because it's not his expertise - and also even if he did help, that's not cheating either. So the whole thing was ridiculous.
Then near the end, maybe 60 to 70% in, I started skimming a lot. It just got boring and drawn out. I didn't care about cartoon villain Charlie and I didn't care for how seriously these two took it and how they followed what Charlie wanted to help each other - which, while noble if they had no choice....they definitely had a choice - and other characters even pointed out that they weren't even int he same department, but that did nothing to change their minds.
Then Adrian and Noah just became boring, and their sex scenes weren't that well written, and after awhile I didn't come to care for the secondary characters that much, although I didn't mind Ryan, Noah's ex-boyfriend and friend. Other than that though, I didn't really care.
One other good thing though that made me give this 2.5 stars aside from the somewhat entertaining first half was how well it dealt with disabilities and how it shined a lot on disabilities and just how much abled people don't think about disabled people, or if they do how horrible it about they are and what stereotypes they have. But this firmly showed that no matter your disability, you can have someone you love in your life or others around you who love you - if you don't want a romantic relationship - and that those relationships life you up. So, big plus for that.
But other than a good - but not great - first half and what I just said, this wasn't a very good book and I didn't enjoy it much and it deviated completely from what I thought this was going to be about. Some blackmail, sure, but not this.
Overall just not a fun or great read for me. Thumbs down.
ruthiedr89's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Body shaming, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
lost_windsock's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was a really emotional and tense story, and I loved it. It got pretty dark, which I wasn't expecting, but the drama fit the story and it made the ending feel extra special.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Stalking, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Infidelity, Car accident, and Death of parent
penguinsquack's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Brilliant disability rep in a queer romance by a non binary author? This would have been perfect if the "misunderstanding" wasn't so contrived. I am keen to read more by this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, and Violence
Minor: Car accident and War
chocoholicwriter's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25