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A review by roygbiv_books
Like Real People Do by E.L. Massey
4.0
This book was a genuinely fun and comforting read.
Aspiring figure skater and college freshman, Elijah Rodriguez, is not impressed with Alexander Price, despite him being the youngest captain in the NHL and dominating leader boards. He is especially not impressed when he takes up two handicapped parking spots and then tries to pet his service dog, Hawk. However, when Alex offers to take Elijah on a date after learning that going on a date with a professional hockey player is on his bucket list, Eli agrees to go. Eli, knowing Alex must be straight, ultimately forms a friendship with Alex and learns he is not malicious, just woefully ignorant about people with additional medical needs. However, being close friends with an out gay figure skater can cause big problems in a professional hockey players life, considerably more so when he’s never been photographed or rumored to have a girlfriend.
Alex and Eli have such a tangible, authentic, and effortless chemistry. I loved reading their story and was rooting for them from literally page 1. That may be my favorite part of this book, the pacing, within the first few pages we are already seeing the characters interact and connect. While this book could be considered a slow burn since the main characters do not technically get together quickly, they are constantly interacting in a pleasant way, not an rivalry, enemy, or negative way. Writing such likable characters with the only antagonist being the idea of homophobia and negative reactions in the professional sports world leaves a lot of room for a boring story, however THIS WAS FAR FROM THAT. While there is discourse, it is overall a warm hearted, comfortable, happy read. I was pleasantly surprised that this was truly a young adult novel with modest characters considering one of them living an accelerated life and being a professional athlete. This is something I feel we don’t see often anymore, but there was respect in wanting to take their relationship slow.
I am excited to continue reading about these characters in the sequel, Like You’ve Nothing Left to Prove.
Aspiring figure skater and college freshman, Elijah Rodriguez, is not impressed with Alexander Price, despite him being the youngest captain in the NHL and dominating leader boards. He is especially not impressed when he takes up two handicapped parking spots and then tries to pet his service dog, Hawk. However, when Alex offers to take Elijah on a date after learning that going on a date with a professional hockey player is on his bucket list, Eli agrees to go. Eli, knowing Alex must be straight, ultimately forms a friendship with Alex and learns he is not malicious, just woefully ignorant about people with additional medical needs. However, being close friends with an out gay figure skater can cause big problems in a professional hockey players life, considerably more so when he’s never been photographed or rumored to have a girlfriend.
Alex and Eli have such a tangible, authentic, and effortless chemistry. I loved reading their story and was rooting for them from literally page 1. That may be my favorite part of this book, the pacing, within the first few pages we are already seeing the characters interact and connect. While this book could be considered a slow burn since the main characters do not technically get together quickly, they are constantly interacting in a pleasant way, not an rivalry, enemy, or negative way. Writing such likable characters with the only antagonist being the idea of homophobia and negative reactions in the professional sports world leaves a lot of room for a boring story, however THIS WAS FAR FROM THAT. While there is discourse, it is overall a warm hearted, comfortable, happy read. I was pleasantly surprised that this was truly a young adult novel with modest characters considering one of them living an accelerated life and being a professional athlete. This is something I feel we don’t see often anymore, but there was respect in wanting to take their relationship slow.
I am excited to continue reading about these characters in the sequel, Like You’ve Nothing Left to Prove.