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A review by bookwyrms_shelf
Gym Bros and Saving Throws by CD Rachels
5.0
This book has everything you need in a romance. Vil is a trainer at a gym, and isn't quite sure what's missing in his life. Dylan is a skinny, effeminate gay man who never wants to feel weak again. When Dylan shows up at Vil's gym, he feels drawn to him as he helps him with an over weighted bar.
While Vil is unintentionally helping Dylan immensely by doing his job, for free though, he begins to question just why he likes working out with Dylan so much. He's not gay. Right? He can't be. Not raised in a strict Filipino Catholic family. His inner voice is reminding him of his upbringing, but he's deciding that maybe that isn't who he is anymore, or who he wants to be.
Watching Vil figure out what's going on and making decisions to just go for it and try was absolutely perfect. He's confident, and he was afraid, but he still wanted to try, because he absolutely could not get Dylan out of his mind. Even better, when he has to bring his special needs sister to work with him, Dylan steps up and plays board games with her while Vil works. If he wasn't smitten before....
Opening up and claiming an identity is hard. It's scary, risky and ultimately one of the most vulnerable things a person can do. I love how CD Rachels framed the entire process of Vil figuring himself out, and being willing to reach out and ask for help for the most part. Of course, with any relationship, there's conflict and uncertainty and embarrassment. But that's normal in every relationship, and I love how he made all of these struggles the same as everyone else - because they are. I also really loved the special needs rep and how she fits in with Vil's family. Outside of that, she is a beautiful example of people's choice in what 'other' they accept and which they don't.
While Vil is unintentionally helping Dylan immensely by doing his job, for free though, he begins to question just why he likes working out with Dylan so much. He's not gay. Right? He can't be. Not raised in a strict Filipino Catholic family. His inner voice is reminding him of his upbringing, but he's deciding that maybe that isn't who he is anymore, or who he wants to be.
Watching Vil figure out what's going on and making decisions to just go for it and try was absolutely perfect. He's confident, and he was afraid, but he still wanted to try, because he absolutely could not get Dylan out of his mind. Even better, when he has to bring his special needs sister to work with him, Dylan steps up and plays board games with her while Vil works. If he wasn't smitten before....
Opening up and claiming an identity is hard. It's scary, risky and ultimately one of the most vulnerable things a person can do. I love how CD Rachels framed the entire process of Vil figuring himself out, and being willing to reach out and ask for help for the most part. Of course, with any relationship, there's conflict and uncertainty and embarrassment. But that's normal in every relationship, and I love how he made all of these struggles the same as everyone else - because they are. I also really loved the special needs rep and how she fits in with Vil's family. Outside of that, she is a beautiful example of people's choice in what 'other' they accept and which they don't.