E.L. Massey

4.5 stars

Eli is a figure skater who had a traumatic event that changed his life. Now he has a service dog and is trying to fight his way back to contention in figure skating. His practice arena is in the same complex as the professional hockey team, and one of the players used to be a figure skater whom Eli really admired. While meeting said player, the captain, young hockey phenom Alex spots Eli and his dog. One thing leads to another, and Alex takes Eli out for lunch to help him cross something off his bucket list, and Eli opens up a little bit to him, because Alex doesn't seem to be quite the jerk that he is painted to be. They become friends, and when Eli finds out that Alex is actually gay, decide to stay friends because Eli doesn't want to be involved with someone in the closet. But their friendship grows to the point where both of them are willing to take some risks and make some allowances in order to maybe find something great.
Oh my goodness. This was so, so, SO cute! Completely adorable. Did you see that glow? That was me, feeling warm, squishy feelings while reading this book. And it was told in present tense, 3rd person, which is my absolute least favourite of the POV tenses. Watching Eli and Alex interact with each other, and then with Alex's teammates was just...lovely. Not everyone had a great reaction to Eli, or Alex's friendship with Eli, for that matter, but the majority of the team, and the majority of Eli's best friend's team were "enh, it's no big deal. You like guys, so what?" Which is as it should be, in my opinion. Alex had a few kneejerk reactions, as did a couple of other characters, but I liked that they took the time to think about it and walk it back, or temper their reaction. It felt as though everyone really did think about their reactions and why they had them and, if they found them lacking, change them. There was hockey (which I love in my stories; it's my favourite of athlete driven romances), and there was a service dog, and a delightfully grouchy cat. All in all, one of the better books that I have read this year.… (meer)

This book continues the events from the first "Like Real People Do." Honestly they are one story and should have been one book, but I guess the publisher broke them up due to length. In the first book Eli and Alex meet, fall in love, and get together. This book continues the story as they learn how to live together as out gay athletes.
It's a fun read for the most part-- though it doesn't shy away from harder topics like injury and mental health.
There are some continuity issues near the end that could have been fixed with better editting.
Overall I enjoyed it, and if you like stories of queer boys getting to their happily ever after you probably will to.… (meer)