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The Understatement of the Year
- Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Christian Fox
- Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
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The Understatement of the Year
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Publisher's Summary
What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.
Five years ago Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then he's made an art of hiding his sexual orientation from everyone. Including himself. So it's a shock when his past strolls right into the Harkness College locker room, sporting a bag of hockey gear and the same slow smile that had always rendered Graham defenseless.
For Graham, there is only one possible reaction: total, debilitating panic. With one loose word, the team's new left wing could destroy Graham's life as he knows it.
John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it's worse than usual, because the media has latched on to the story of the only "out" player in Division One hockey. As the satellite trucks line the sidewalk outside the rink, his new teammates are not amused. And one player in particular looks sick every time he enters the room.
Rikker didn't exactly expect a warm welcome from Graham. But the guy won't even meet his eyes. From the looks of it, his former...best friend/boyfriend/whatever isn't doing so well. He drinks too much and can't focus during practice.
Either the two loneliest guys on the team will self-destruct from all the new pressures in their lives, or they can navigate the pain to find a way back to one another. To say that it won't be easy is the understatement of the year.
Warning: Unlike the other books in this series, this heartbreaking love story is about two guys. Contains sexual situations, dance music, snarky T-shirts, and a poker-playing grandmother.
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What listeners say about The Understatement of the Year
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Catriona
- 2021-12-07
One of my favourite mm books
Such a lovely story. I loved Rick and my heart ached for Graham. Absolutely my favourite of the series. I so wish there were more mm in this series. The narration was absolutely perfect.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- William
- 2019-01-11
I LOVED this book and perfect performances !
Outstanding performances and story....I did not want it to end... I will definately listen to more performances by them as well as the author.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- NHunka
- 2023-04-19
Not at all what I expected
I can't believe how much I liked this book. It's more explicit than I usually listen to. The story was interesting and felt real. The narration was great.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Heather Duff
- 2023-02-05
Coming Out and Second Chances
For some people, coming out is the hardest thing ever. Even when it’s to be with your best friend. Especially when a traumatic event help solidifies why you were in the closet.
This is a second chance story for Graham and Rikker. When they find themselves on the same college hockey team, tension is high. Because they loved each other in high school until a tragic event tore them apart. Leaving some deep emotional scars.
It’s hard to watch Graham fight being gay. Torn between loving Rikker and being terrified of the world finding out. The push and pull between the two. It hurts. Meanwhile, Rikker has been forced into the spotlight for being Gay, becoming the poster boy for being an out player.
It’s an excellent book. With all the angst you expect from young love and fears of coming out. It was satisfying for them to find a way to be happy and take strength from each other.
Narrators Teddy Hamilton and Christian Fox do an excellent job of these two young guys and their journey.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Arkei
- 2022-12-16
it's so good. So, so good. I don't want it to end.
Once again Sarina Bowen made me laugh, happy, shocked and tear up all in a single book. The way Sarina Bowen writes about gay men relationship is so relatable it hurts. Every book pounds me to the core like Thor's hammer. It just hits way, way to close to my very heart.
I know I keep saying this but Sarina Bowen gets my hardships of being a gay man in this society like she; herself wrote my entire life every since I was born. It's absolutely unreal to read/listen to her M/M romance book. I like reading my entire life. All the pain of hiding from my own mum, dad and friends. That I often think that my family and friends never really knew.
I ache for Graham, feel for Graham. I feel for him so much I sometimes feel like he's me being described in this book. Not as a character but a very real person
All the protective mask I wear, all the pretending I did, all the avoiding I tried for anything remotely seen as "feminine." It's just way too real.
She get it to so well that made me tear up for all the things I did, go through and avoided all my damn life.
That's way why it hurts even more that the epilogue is so, so short; too short. I just want to hear a bit more after he came out. Please continue more of this story. A continuation from this book would be a blessing.
As always performance from Teddy Hamilton is fantastic and invaluable to bring this already amazing book to life. Christian Fox is also equally invaluable. That's the true understatement of the year for me.
All the variations of voice they did is so talented. With them narrating this book together you just can't help it but get lost in your head. Letting your imagination go wild with them directing and acting the scenes into a film in your mind.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JC
- 2022-07-21
Not What I Expected
When I started this book I didn’t realize it was about two guys. I was going to skip it, but t thought I’d give it a chance and if I became uncomfortable with it I would stop. It ended up being a great story line. I actually had tears for these guys at one point. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who like a good love story whether it be heterosexual or homosexual.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 2022-07-14
amazing!
great narration
great writting
beautiful story! Bing listened in 2 days. soo steamy as well!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2022-02-28
awesome
I thought I would never like sports.....who knew
....well I knew I liked men who played them
Rick Vancouver BC Canada
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jessica
- 2022-02-15
such a wonderful love story
I love these characters. the author did a fabulous job of depicting the challengea of coming out and had a beautiful balance between blossoming romance and wild passion.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- TheCatioWaitress
- 2021-08-31
Don’t listen if you don’t want to cry happy tears
Oh god 😭🥺
Such a sweet and beautiful story. Cried bittersweet and then happy tears way too many times. Narrators were fantastic and besides a couple grammatical errors, the story was perfect.
10/10
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Heather K (Dentist in my Spare Time)
- 2016-11-20
One of my favorite audiobooks of 2016!!
Sarina Bowen absolutely CRUSHED this one, and I LOVED every second of it! To say that I adored The Understatement of the Year would be, well, the freakin' UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR!
First, I have to put an important message out to all of the lovers of the AUDIOBOOK of Him: Buy The Understatement of the Year in audio format. I'm telling you, it is worth every single penny. For those lovers of Him, you will instantly recognize the voice of Teddy Hamilton, and you will also ADORE the voice of Christian Fox. Listen up all M/M authors: These men should narrate MORE audiobooks! They have voices to DIE for, and they completely made this audiobook their BITCH. I'm in love with their readings, and they have become my top narrators to watch for.
The story was also pure new adult, sweaty hockey player gold. For me, 2016 has been my year of hockey romances, and they are my newest obsession. This book was hockey-tastic. I loved all of the hockey details, but they absolutely didn't get in the way of the romance.
The romance was... gah, amazing. I can go either way with reunited former lovers stories, but this one gutted me. Slow-burn, painful closet, sneaking around... it destroyed me in the best way. I was near tears at times, and I feeeelt for these guys. Their love story wrecked me, and I thought that their chemistry was insane.
I could go on and on gushing about this story, but the bottom line is that Sarina Bowen crafted a beautiful love story and picked perfect narrators to bring it to life. I will forever read Sarina Bowen now because this story blew me away. JUST BUY IT!
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31 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- whatcha.listening.to
- 2019-03-27
HIM & US had a BABY, Understatement was BORN
Rikker & Graham
I swear to G - O - D it was like HIM and US had a baby and this book was made. If you haven’t read either HIM or US.. You are missing out big time.
This book will break your heart and put it back together. So much happens and you are left feeling happy and hopeful. I wished it hadn’t taken me this long to find this series.
Rikker and Graham both go through some eye-opening things and their feeling toward each other is just part of that. It is all about accepting who and what you are, and dealing with it even if it is not an easy thing to do.
I had tears, I had joy, I felt love and I felt pain. This book really goes to show you that even if you know who you are, there is still going to be ongoing struggles.
I felt huge sorrow for Bella, and I am happy to know she gets the next book because she was so supportive but she was hurt too.
Fantastic narration just as the last books. I mean hello Teddy and Christian!!
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16 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ❤️Cyndi Marie❤️🎧Audiobook Addicts🎧
- 2019-03-11
✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫
BEST BOOK IN THE SERIES!!! Ok so I love them all so far but this one is awesome! I have tried a lot of M/M books and just couldn't get into them until I read Sarina Bowen! She write the best M/M love stories, her characters are always manly and normal every day guys who fall in love with each other. They don't go over and above to make sure every one knows they are gay, they just want to live their lives like everyone else and that leaves me with a happy heart every time. These two are the perfect mix of friends & lovers and the best part for me is when a love story has history. The sex is crazy hot and I love the dirty talk!
The narration is perfect! I really liked both of the narrators so much!
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14 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- G. Eggleston
- 2017-07-20
Wanted good read. Didn't expect it to be best read
This audiobook has been in my collection for months, being one of my early purchases after joining Audible. (I now have 200+ titles). After finishing my last one -- which was average and I can't recall the title of it -- I was craving a really good read. I'd purchased "The Understatement of the Year" because it was by the co-author of "Him" (my very first Audible purchase), which I loved, and because the synopsis sounded like it would be similar. So I knew "Understatement of the Year" would not likely be a disappointment.
When I started it -- and for the first hour or more -- the problem was that I kept comparing it to "Him"... only I didn't like how closeted Graham was (whereas I loved both of the guys in "Him"), and so I was always mad at him. But then, today, I came to a startling realization: I AM GRAHAM, being so completely closeted myself, and I've been subconsciously identifying with him!
Today totally broke me. I'd been on my way home from work and had pulled over so that I could finish the scene I was at before getting home. I now suspect it will prove to be the penultimate scene of the book. (I still have around 1 1/2 hour to go). I didn't, as sometimes happens, get merely teary-eyed over what I was reading... I absolutely started balling my eyes out (which delayed my getting home even more!) That has NEVER happened with another audiobook. So I can now say that "Understatement of the Year: has surpassed "Him".
My high rating is not just because of that one scene. The minor characters have greater depth. And the subtext is superb.
POSSIBLE SPOILER FOLLOWS:
Regarding subtext in "Understatement of the Year":
There is a scene with Hartley in which I don't think even Ricker understood why Hartley took off like he did. (He was angry) But then Hartley came back to ask him if he wanted to go get a slice of pizza. (He was pushing back against his own anger). The understatement in that subtext was truly remarkable writing.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Smitten with Reading
- 2016-08-13
A+ rating...
My Review:
Overall: 4.75
Performance: 4.5
Story: 4.75
I have so much utter love for this book. Wow, it was absolutely incredible.
The setup for the story is fabulous. Graham and Rikker were best friends in high school...and then more. But one night they weren't as discreet as they should have been and were the victims of a hate assault. Graham took off and abandoned Rikker...who could have died. They never saw one another again...until college. They both play hockey and for a while both were safely hidden in the closet. But then Rikker was outed and thrown off the team at his last college...something the governing body of college hockey did not take well. They transferred him to Harkness, where Graham goes to school.
Graham is DEEP within the closet whereas Rikker has made national news for what happened to him...everyone knows he's gay. As a result, Graham acts like he doesn't even know Rikker, although the chemistry between them is just as powerful as ever. But for Rikker, that's easier to ignore because Graham continues to be such a jerk.
There is so much to love about this book. There are a TON of really complex and angst-filled emotions going on here. Graham is an absolute mess. He won't even admit to himself that he's gay. He has sex with women...usually drunk so he doesn't notice who he's sticking his dick into. As the reader/listener, I wanted to hate him, but he's just so lost and scared about being discovered. He's truly a hot mess. On the other hand is Rikker, who never planned to be out, but now handles it all in stride although he hates being the "gay guy" on the team. He just wants to be a hockey player...easy...done...at least it should be, but that's never the way it works. I absolute ADORED Rikker's character. While he hates Graham's actions, he understands why he's doing what he is. Rikker has amazing empathy.
And then there are the side characters who I love...Bella, the team assistant and resident ho...I did not think I would like her so much, but wow, she turned out to be incredible. She's such a support system for Rikker which is huge since he's basically the outcast at the school. Then there's the team captain, Hartley. I love how he simply accepts the situations Rikker brings in stride.
This book was absolutely fabulous on audio. I highly recommend reading it this way, although I will admit to ordering a print copy of the book for my keeper shelf. I'm looking forward to sitting down and reading the book to see if I enjoy it as much in that format.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Morgan A Skye
- 2016-07-10
Love the duo narration, interesting story
From the blurb we can tell that this is a “second chance” love story. Two boys who fell for each other at the wrong time, have lived apart for years, are now suddenly thrown back into one another’s lives.
Rikker is out and proud, and Graham is still hiding behind beards and denial.
What proceeds is a long and angst-filled romance that hides behind closed doors for the most part, until Graham can’t stand the strain any longer.
**
I avoided reading this book originally because –though it got many 4 and 5 star reviews – several key issues made me cringe. 1) I don’t tend to like re-union love stories. I like the original blush of new love far too much to see lovers find one another again. 2) I didn’t like the YA aspect of this. Too much angst. Not enough sex. 3) The fact that it’s part of a M/F series written by an M/F author.
But… I love hockey stories. I love coming out stories. I LOVED Him by Sarina Bowen and finally – when this came out on audio it had two narrators which really flipped my switch when I listened to Him.
So, I gave it a go.
All in all it wasn’t bad. I agree with the preivous reviewers who noted that Graham and Rikker don’t act like teenagers, but young men with real life problems. However, I never warmed to Graham and felt like he was a big whiny baby for most of the book. Even when he finally makes the right decision, it wasn’t enough for me to really like him as a character.
Rikker was awesome and I wish he’d been more forceful with Graham and earlier on.
The other secondary characters are interesting, but since their stories are all part of the M/F series – I won’t be reading them.
I guess I enjoyed this, but I wouldn’t be tempted to read/listen to it again, because I was pulling my hair out over Graham’s ridiculous inner monologues.
Story 3 of 5 stars
Audio
The audio is the only saving grace (for me) with this book. I loved the alternating voices and really felt immersed in the story. I really liked how well both narrators captured the emotion and it’s great having two distinct voices tell a story like this.
Audio 5 of 5 stars
Overall 4 of 5 stars
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Santy O.
- 2016-09-02
Audio Cherry Popped!
This was my first audio book and I absolutely loved it!!! I'd already read the Kindle version of the book and wanted o try the audio version.
Needless to say I was very happy with it. Teddy Hamilton and Christian Fox were awesome. Awesome awesome awesome. Sigh.
I loved how I could do other things while still listening to the book. Such convenience!
I'm now an audiobook convert. And Happily so!
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- SB84
- 2021-11-19
Solidly crafted story, enjoyable narration
Kudos to Sarina for writing a story that spends a lot of time on character development - a rarity in the genre. If you’re looking for implausible roadblocks and relentless detailed sex scenes that go on way to long, skip this title. This story is a journey, and I was happy to go along for the ride. I know some call this an enemies to lovers story, but it is really more coming of age/awakening. Cut free of the rich guy/poor guy narrative that shows up in Him/Us, this story allows the shared background to be the foundation for what is to come. We are allowed to see how one event changed the paths Rikker and Graham took over the next 5 years. Filled with regrets, what ifs and insecurity, the MCs have a lot to overcome and Bowen allows this to happen organically through actual conversation. There is an underlying tenderness to this story that I appreciated, don't look for a slow burn - Bowen allows the MCs to take a step, live in it a bit, and then take another step. That doesn't mean there isn't some delicious tension and a few personal obstacles to overcome. Also included are moments of new awareness, forgiveness, bravery and compassion. Last, but not least is the growing sexual undercurrent that takes some interesting turns as it progresses. As much as I would love to see some sort of follow up book for this couple, it is such a solid story I am good with this as their only title.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Zell Oakley
- 2020-06-15
Beautifully written m/m sports romance
With one flaw, The Understatement of the Year is one of the best m/m audiobooks out there. This is helped by the narration of Teddy Hamilton and Christian Fox, who are simply perfect (although there is one line Teddy Hamilton reads in the voice of the wrong character, but other than that, they're both flawless). Both the protagonists, Rikker and Graham, are interesting and likable, the conflict is believable, and the writing is lyrical. Unlike "Him" and "Us," an m/m hockey series also written by Bowen (with Elle Kennedy), the writing is in past tense, which always works better, and there's no unrealistic "gay for you" storyline here.
There is one issue I had with this book, however, and that's the character of Bella, the student manager of the college hockey team at the center of the story. Bella is a textbook example of a Mary Sue character (except she actually doesn't get the guy in the end). She's sort of a stand-in for the female reader. Several times throughout the novel, characters randomly wax poetic about how wonderful, beautiful, and intelligent she is, sometimes about ten seconds after meeting her for the first time. These are all "informed characteristics," which means that we know this about Bella because we're TOLD this, by the author, as opposed to having it shown. Personally I find her pretty grating, and entirely inappropriate. Switch genders--that is, imagine she's a male student manager of a women's hockey team--and suddenly her actions take on a very different and very, very creepy aspect. I believe Bella is the protagonist of another book in this series, and you could not pay me enough to sit through that book unless Bella is fired from her position for extreme sexual harassment, which she would be if there were any justice in the world.
Anyway, if you find yourself agreeing with me, take heart: it gets much better as the book goes on; Bella sort of fades into the background about halfway through the book, thank God. My irritation with her is enough to knock this otherwise five-star book down to four overall, but I still count it among my favorite of all time. Highly recommended!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cynthia Shepp
- 2019-05-02
One of the best books I’ve listened all year
One of the best books I’ve listened all year and I’ve listened to TONS! It’s realistic, emotional, beautiful, and a great love story. Love the narrators and the characters.
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