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A review by romanticauroras
All Hail the Underdogs by E.L. Massey
5.0
E.L. Massey writes romance books so well.
i didn’t expect to like this one as much as i loved Like Real People Do and Like You’ve Nothing Left To Prove.
but once again, i stand corrected.
this was an excellent book that portrayed hate-to-love in a way that felt realistic and natural. the progression from rivals to reluctant friends to lovers was so genuine and moving that i adored each moment. what i also loved was how they both had GENUINE reason to hate each other — albeit it came from a misunderstanding. but the reasons they had for hating each other was solid because who wouldn’t potentially hate a person that you thought was racist or someone that seems to not acknowledge their privilege?
it was even better when they realized how misaligned were their assumptions of each other. once it was clear that they had these preconceived notions, they worked hard to mend that and genuinely build a relationship.
the intersectionality in this book was also something that i loved about it. because while Rome is a poor scholarship kid working to make ends meet, he is still white and can never experience racism in the way that Damian did despite Damian’s privileged background. this is the catalyst that allows them to shift their perspectives of each other and that moment is so bittersweet. they were both so kind about it in the end that i just wanted to cry.
all in all, the genuine love that they had was more than just giddy and romantic love — even if it did make me kick my feet like a lovestruck teenager — but it felt so much deeper and meaningful. these boys truly cared for each other and their happiness just means everything to me.
i didn’t expect to like this one as much as i loved Like Real People Do and Like You’ve Nothing Left To Prove.
but once again, i stand corrected.
this was an excellent book that portrayed hate-to-love in a way that felt realistic and natural. the progression from rivals to reluctant friends to lovers was so genuine and moving that i adored each moment. what i also loved was how they both had GENUINE reason to hate each other — albeit it came from a misunderstanding. but the reasons they had for hating each other was solid because who wouldn’t potentially hate a person that you thought was racist or someone that seems to not acknowledge their privilege?
it was even better when they realized how misaligned were their assumptions of each other. once it was clear that they had these preconceived notions, they worked hard to mend that and genuinely build a relationship.
the intersectionality in this book was also something that i loved about it. because while Rome is a poor scholarship kid working to make ends meet, he is still white and can never experience racism in the way that Damian did despite Damian’s privileged background. this is the catalyst that allows them to shift their perspectives of each other and that moment is so bittersweet. they were both so kind about it in the end that i just wanted to cry.
all in all, the genuine love that they had was more than just giddy and romantic love — even if it did make me kick my feet like a lovestruck teenager — but it felt so much deeper and meaningful. these boys truly cared for each other and their happiness just means everything to me.