- Him

I love sports romance something fierce, especially the NA variety. And I love a good m/m romance. When I heard that two authors whose romance books I love were writing an m/m sports NA? I was all over that. It should go without saying that I absolutely adored Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy’s Him. Four years ago, Ryan Wesley pushed the boundaries of his relationship with his best friend. On their last night at hockey camp, things got heated and one night changed their friendship completely. After that night, Wes cut Jamie off completely. Fast forward four years and Jamie and Wes are about to face off in the college hockey championship. When they see each other for the first time since that last night of camp, things quickly go back to the way they were before. But when Wes shows up at camp to join Jamie on the coaching staff, things are going to be heating up in ways neither one of them ever expected. Both Wes and Jamie have discoveries to make about each other. But more importantly, about themselves. 2015 has apparently been the year where I read all the awesome m/m romances. To be completely honest, they’re not really something I’d really read before this year. It’s not that I was opposed to them, there just weren’t really any on my radar. But I seem to be on a roll with the m/m romance this year, and the latest in that streak is Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy’s Him. Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen are two romance authors whose individual books I have loved (I’ve gushed plenty about Elle’s Off-Campus series, and gushing about Sarina’s Ivy Years series is coming soon) so when they announced they were writing a romance about gay hockey players, I was beyond excited. And when Him landed on my Kindle, I pretty much dropped everything and started reading it right away. And I read it all in less than a day. Because once I started, I couldn’t bring myself to stop. This story was fun. It was touching. It was sweet. At times it was downright hilarious. And at others it was heartbreaking. But I loved every single page of it. Him is absolutely one of my favourite books I’ve read this year and is quite possibly one of the sweetest and most touching romances I’ve ever read. It was just THAT GOOD. And I fully plan to talk people’s ears off about it and recommend it to everyone I know. Because anyone who loves romance is pretty much guaranteed to love Him. At least that’s my opinion on the subject. One of the reasons I loved Him so much is because I pretty much adored Wes and Jamie. I don’t really know how to put either one of them into words other than to say I loved them. But I’ll try even if I won’t even come close to doing them justice. One of my favourite things about Wes and Jamie were that they had a history. They’d known each other since they were thirteen years old and you could just tell. They were so comfortable around each other and it made their relationship feel real and genuine. The back and forth between them was always so fun and the more quiet moments could be incredibly touching. Wes and Jamie just worked together even though they were pretty different. Sure they both played hockey, but where Jamie was the definition of laidback, Wes was always on the go, likely getting himself in trouble. I loved how easygoing Jamie was, how he was always willing to go with along with whatever potentially crazy idea Wes had. And so often my heart broke for Wes, because he felt like he had to hide his feelings. I just wanted to give him a hug. So I loved Jamie. And I loved Wes. And most of all, I loved Jamie and Wes together. If you are a fun of either Sarina Bowen’s or Elle Kennedy’s books, I can guarantee you will love Him. The story was sweet, it was hilarious, it was touching, it was everything I could have ever wanted it to be. Him is the kind of book that reminds me why I love romance stories as much as I do.

4-4.5 stars This was a really good story. I liked both Wes and Jamie very much and really enjoyed their story. This is the first story I've read by this author and I liked it well enough that I'm planning to read more of her work in the future. Wes is a hockey player that is just graduating from college and has been signed by a professional hockey team in Toronto, Canada. Wes grew up well off but with parents that were cold and cared little for him. The main interest his father showed in him was his abilities in hockey, because it was something he could brag to his friends about. Wes figured out he was gay in his teens but was still kind of confused about his sexuality until things solidified in college. Jamie is a hockey player that's just graduating from college. He has a spot with a NHL team in Detroit but isn't sure how well that will work for his career. Jamie is the youngest of 6 children and his family is big and boisterous and loving. Jamie has always thought he was straight and has never really questioned that, except for this one time at hockey camp... Wes and Jamie had been going to the same hockey camp every summer through both their junior high and high school years. They bashed heads when they met but once they became friends, they were BFFs and stayed that way even though they lived far apart from each other during the school year. They were very close but an unexpected incident caused them to end their last summer together on a bad note...one that made Wes decide to cut off their friendship. They both missed each other over the next 4 years but didn't see each other until both of their college teams got into the Frozen Four (championship playoffs) and ended up at the same hotel. When Wes sees Jamie again, he wants to talk to him and tell him he's sorry for how things ended between them. They manage a talk but there's still some strain between them when they both go home. Jamie has been working at the hockey summer camp as a coach the last few years and is surprised when a new coach shows up at camp and it's Wes. They talk things out and when it all come out, it seems that Wes worried out about nothing. They become friends again but it's tough for Wes because he's always had a thing for Jamie and being around him constantly just makes Wes want him more. Some things happen between them and Jamie seems curious which leads to some experimentation. Wes is convinced that Jamie will freak out about their m/m explorations but Jamie is more freaked that he's not freaked out about it. Wes and Jamie end up deciding to have a short-term relationship while at camp but since Wes is convinced that his hockey team won't accept him being gay, they figure they have to end the relationship at the end of summer. This notion stays with them for a while and there's some angst while Wes and Jamie figure out their lives and all. Thankfully, their issues get resolved and Jamie and Wes end the story starting a HEA together. This was a really enjoyable story. I liked both Jamie and Wes. I had no complaints about Jamie and thought he handled his transition from straight to bi very well. Wes was a good hero but I was a bit frustrated that he had a real problem handling relationship issue/goodbyes. Overall, this was a really good story and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. I'd recommend this story. :D * note - I listened to the audio version of this story. The story had 2 narrators, one for the parts from Wes' PoV and the other handled the parts from Jamie's PoV. They both did good jobs.

College romance...check....Athletes...check...sexy alpha men...check...a storyline that dragged me in, had me invested within the first few pages...CHECK... Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy was one of those books that had me intrigued when it first popped up on my facebook feed, I marked down the release date in my diary and waited (not so patiently) for it's release, I #1clicked it the second it went live and made sure I left it to read when I had time to savour it, book friends gave it high praise and I was excited to dive in, when I had a break in my blogging commitments yesterday I dove in...and I didn't put it down until I turned the last page, I struggled to walk away to eat dinner with my family, as I read the final words I set it down, smiled that smile only a book lover will understand, I sighed and then I picked it up again to read through my highlighted passages, I messaged book friends to tell them to buy this book instantly if they hadn't already, and I enjoyed that joyous moment any reader will understand when you finish a book that made your heart soar. Ryan Wesley, has few regrets, he's a college hockey superstar about to embark on the national championships, he's got a NHL contract waiting for him once his college career is over, life is good... the only thing that truly gives him pause is the way he ended his friendship with childhood friend Jamie Canning four years ago. Embarrassed, guilt ridden, upset and angry Wes walked away from his best friend fearful some drunken decisions can never be fixed. Despite the confusion of adolescence and childhood crushes on his very male best mate one thing that night all those years ago proved was that Wes was gay, he accepted it and went about his life. Jamie Canning lost his best friend Wes four years ago, he hasn't allowed himself to truly think about it in detail in the years that passed, he's an all star goalie with a contract waiting for him, he's not short for friends, he's got a girl who keeps his bed warm and he spends his summers coaching the sport he loves, when he runs into his ex best mate at the Frozen Four play offs, for the first time in four years he finally lets the memories of all that happened wash over him, he remembers summers spent at camp with Wes, he remembers what it's like to have a best friend by his side, and he remembers the confusion and hurt and anger of that best friend walking away without a word. Wes is undoubtedly all alpha male, he's tough, independent, his strength isn't just physical, he's lived a life where he's had no choice but to be self sufficient, with the exception of Jamie he's never truly had anyone he's wanted to let in, he's gotten used to hiding who he is sexually, not totally in the closet but not truly out of it either, for such a huge personality being discreet constantly has taken its toll. Jamie can't really complain about his life, he's got a loving and supportive family, friends who have his back, a girl who would jump at the chance for something more than friends with benefits, hockey and summer camp, he's never really known what it's like to have to hide a side of himself, but when he and Wes finally have the opportunity to mend their friendship, things he's never really addressed, thoughts he's never entertained are suddenly brought to the forefront of his mind, try as he might to dispel is thoughts, he is realising his sexuality might be more fluid then he thought, but more than that whatever happens this summer might be about more than just experimenting. "Loved you every summer since I was thirteen years old." There's this beautiful tender quality to both Wes and Jamie, Wes has come to terms with where he is and what he wants, but embarking on anything with Jamie means being vulnerable in a way he hasn't been since that fateful night four years ago. There's a stereotype that professional athletes especially hockey players must be big and tough, that gay men are flowery and effeminate, even in the day and age we live in hatred and bigotry still run rampant, it's evident that we even have to label books as M/M and not just as contemporary romance, in truth there wasn't one moment in this book that the thought that these two characters were anything but two people taking me along for a ride as they discovered what I already know to be true, that love is powerful, it has the power to build you up and bring you to your knees, that family is the one you make for yourself, that your worth is not determined by those who only wish to tear you down. "But here's the thing about family, Ryan...blood doesn't mean s***. You just need to surround yourself with people who do love you." From the first page to the very last line Him captivated me, it was funny and irreverent, sexy as hell, it was tender and touching, Bowen and Kennedy straddled the line of when to go for it and when to pull back perfectly, there was never a moment when I thought something was over done, and even as I turned the last page I was left wanting more and yet perfectly sated, it's a tough gig to balance heat, humour and heart but the authors knocked it out the park, and I can't wait to see what else they write together.

Oh man did I love this book! Him is one of those stories that you've heard about but haven't gotten around to reading and man am I pissed at myself for waiting so long to jump in! It is a beautiful M/M story that is so much more than hot sex which is what many typical M/M stories are about. Him is a beautiful and romantic story full of heart and soul. It is about two best friends that haven't spoken for 4 years who finally find their way back to each other---one is a gay man who has been in love with his best friend since they were teenagers and one is completely straight but suddenly realizes he wants to explore new, developing feelings he has for his best friend. It's a story of love, self-reflection, taking chances and discovering who you truly are on the inside. Yes, there are lots of sexy times and boy do Bowen and Kennedy deliver on the heat and steam. Wes and Jamie will most definitely steam up your Kindle!! But it's the beautiful and timeless romance that will have readers falling hard for this story. With two jocks (both successful college hockey players who are heading to the NHL), I was expecting alpha males who were rough and tough. What I didn't expect was the tender, romantic, swoon-worthy love that developed between these two. Yes, there were hot, sexy alpha moments but the relationship between Wes and Jamie was so much deeper and completely believable. Their moments of tenderness made my heart flutter and swoon repeatedly. They face their rough spots---and there are several, but in the end, they get their HEA. While this book does have that HEA and can be read alone, there was no way I could not jump right into Us which is the continuation of their story. I honestly couldn't get enough of these two men! If you are new to M/M, this is a great place to start. It's witty, funny, enjoyable and beautifully told. It sucked me in from the first page and I couldn't put it down until the last page was read. Bowen and Kennedy collaborated perfectly on a love story that is sure to stay with readers for a long time.

I've read Kennedy's Off Campus books and Bowen's Ivy Years books and found them all to be unfailingly entertaining, but some of them have packed more of an emotional punch than others. This book features all of the authors' strengths, but it didn't quite reach the emotional heights I hoped for. Jamie and Wes are very appealing characters and the support cast is interesting as well. The dialogue is great and there are many moments of humour. I enjoyed reading this book, but I was left wanting more. It took quite a bit of thought before I could pinpoint what was missing. It was the affection and tenderness and longing I've found in my favourite Kennedy and Bowen books. Wes and Jamie have been close friends for years and they fall easily back into that comfortable relationship, but with the addition of sex. I found it a bit hard to believe that Jamie had never had the slightest smidgen of attraction to anyone except girls, and yet he feels this sudden, intense attraction to Wes and plunges wholeheartedly into a sexual relationship with him. Jamie's lack of insecurity was refreshing, I suppose, but a bit of confusion or uncertainty might have made for a more emotionally engrossing story. Wes has been in love with Jamie for years, and Jamie realises how much Wes always meant to him but as their relationship unfolds, full of humour and sexual satisfaction, it feels not much different from Jamie's arrangement with Holly, his previous casual sexual partner. Even the emotional climax near the end of the book, when they realise they can have a life together, left me a bit dissatisfied. I think at times like that the first person present tense narration (which I generally loathe) felt clumsy and inadequate to convey deep feelings. It was more intrusive and annoying than in Kennedy's previous books. There is a lot of sex in this book, far more than the story requires. The nature of their sexual encounters doesn't seem to change significantly as time passes; they remain great friends having hot sex. Therefore a lot of this sex felt repetitive to me. I don't want to sound too negative; overall this is a very entertaining and generally well-written story. But in comparison with Bowen's other mm romance The Understatement of the Year, this one just lacks emotional intensity.

I heard so many good things about Him that I knew I had to read it. I even planned for it to be my first MM romance book at some point, but that didn't work out. And I only got around to reading it now. Sadly I feel like it fell victim to high expectations and my reading mood being more in the mood for a slow burn MM romance than a fast burn one focused on the heat. But mostly I just wanted more of those moment were I could feel how much these two cared about each other as a person. Him follows the story of Jamie Canning and Ryan Wesley, they used to be best friends and spend each year 6 week together on an elite hockey camp. Then their last summer there something happened and they haven't spoken since. Until they meet during a hockey championship and rekindle their friendship and it leads to even more than friendship. I liked both Jamie and Wes well enough. They both had their own personality and dreams, although I still was confused a few times and had to double check whose pov I was reading as their voices could sound a bit similar at times, but for the most part I found it easy to separate them. They both were likeable enough and I liked the idea of these guys being best friends for such a long time and now rekindling their friendship. I also liked how over the course of the first few chapters we get to see a bit of their previous friendship and also what happened that last day of camp. Jamie always thought he was straight and it was interesting to see him find out he was actually bi and how he slowly got used to that idea. And also how he got to see what Wes dealt with as a gay guy as he hadn't seen that before. I found his change believable enough, but struggled a bit with the first time he acted upon it as I would've liked a little more build-up. Then again I am usually not a fan of jealously type scenes, so that also could be the reason why that scene didn't quite work for me. My main issue with this book was that I probably expected or was in the mood for a slower burn and more romance/ caring moments. Instead this book had quite a fast burn and quite a lot of sex scenes, nothing wrong with that, but I would've liked more scenes were they were together doing something other than sex or an activity that would eventually lead to sex. It felt like most of their relationship was shown through sex and at times they felt more like sex buddies than a couple who cared for each other, but I guess the point is that they don't quite realize that at first that they could have more. I wanted to feel their love for each other more and see some sweet/ touching/ caring scenes too. And while they had been friends for a long time, most of that felt like it was in the past, I wanted to see more of that in the present too. Wes always has had loved Jamie, but while we were told that often enough, I just didn't quite feel it. I actually liked the build-up at the start and the last few chapters the most as I could feel their romance the most there. The last few chapters were really sweet and made me happy for the couple, I just wish there had been a bit more of that earlier in the book. It also frustrated me a bit how these two didn't talk at all, okay that's an exaggeration, but they don't talk nearly enough. They don't talk about their future and dreams or their relationship. Not until the end after when they almost lose it all. I just would've liked to see them share those parts of themselves with the other and talk. There were some misunderstandings I saw coming from a long way, simply because these two rarely really talked. And to be honest I kinda understood Wes' his ideas about what Jamie thought of them as he never says anything to indicate otherwise, but I also think Wes could've been more open about what he wanted. I liked how most of the book took place at the summer camp, I hadn't expected that and it was a fun backdrop for the story. I also liked how the focus is on hockey and it felt like the authors knew what they were talking about, but it also wasn't too full of hockey. It had a nice balance between giving attention to the hockey part, without it being too much. There are some great side characters and I liked how the camp backdrop really worked here. To summarize: If you're looking for a steamy New Adult MM romance I would definitely recommend this one. I had fun reading it, but in the end felt slightly disappointed because my expectations were so high as I heard so many good things about this book. And I was looking for more talking/ caring/ being close in the romance, that was lacking in this book in my opinion. The chemistry between these two is quite obvious from the start, although I felt Wes's side of it more than Jamie's at first, but I struggled feeling their love for each other. And only in the last few chapters I felt like I really got a glimpse at that closeness and caring that I had wanted to see for most of the book. It also annoyed me that these two rarely really talked about things. There are plenty of sex scenes and quite the variety of scenes too. I liked how most of the book took place at camp as it made for a fun backdrop and the hockey aspect was well done too.

I really enjoyed this story. Relatable, interesting, believable, heartwarming….all the feels. And it was sexy as hell. Some of those scenes were 🔥🔥

I already read this story earlier this year, but went back to it because it is so good and uplifting! The Bowen/Kennedy team really know how to churn out good stories! And it helps that I see myself and my husband in this story. Not that my parents were bad ones, and neither of us has been in sports, but just the way things come together with Jamie and Wes warms my heart. And the big family that Jamie has, and they way they welcome Wes into their lives, just gives me a warm feeling inside! I will probably read this book again!

While looking for a new story to read I found out many great reviews about this novel and thus told myself I should give it a try and it was totally worth it. I've read lots of m/m romance and this one will definitely counr as of of my favorite! I read it in one go, I just couldn't let it down. I told myself a few times " just a few more pages then I will do something else" but suddenly I found myself at the last page without realizing it! :) Guess it's what happens when you come across a very well written story with a great plot and super attaching characters ! The building relationship between Canning and Wes? Just wonderful, no rush, the way I like! Totally recommending this !

These authors are amazing individually, but together they are a powerhouse! This book was one of those that sucks you in from the start and has you reading the whole thing in one sitting. The worldbuilding and character development is so beautifully done, and the storyline flows well, is intriguing and has just enough angst to keep you on the edge of your seat. Ryan 'Wes' Wesley and Jamie Canning are both amazing characters. Their connection was there from when they first met, but it took them years to figure out what that really meant. A misunderstanding sees them at odds through their college years, but then a chance meeting at a hockey championship brings back unresolved feelings. Wes makes the decision to coach at the Elites hockey camp he used to attend as a kid, where Jamie has been working every summer since they graduated themselves. Roommates once again, they finally have the chance to talk through things and see where things lead. It was a beautiful read that was also so realistic. The way the characters all react rang true, and I can't wait to read their sequel. Definitely a book I would recommend!

50% sex 25% hockey 25% Wes and Jamie being afraid to tell each other “I love you”

I just loved those two so much, I can't even wrap my head around it! I've read this book after the whole game changers series (which I enjoyed very much!) and I must admit that this and US are just better books. Go for it, don't hesitate!

A vida é simples, a gente que complica! Não gosto muito de livros com tantas cenas de sexo, mas a história por trás faz valer a pena.