They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?
Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.
Ryan … died.
Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.
Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend…and a big one to learn about himself.
Warning: contains sexual situations, hotties on hockey skates, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.
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Gah, I loved this book! I gobbled it up the first time I read it and I’ve gone back at least twice for the experience. It’s one of those steamy ones where the steam is a perfect expression of the character’s feelings for each other. Loved, loved, loved!
I own this and listened to it on Audible. There’s nothing more I can contribute to my review of this story that others haven’t already stated. The story is great and thought provoking since it’s MM and surrounding athletes. It is oh, so hotttt, and I really mean hot. And the narrators are SPOT ON. Absolutely wonderful narration! Great audio listen and story!
I hardly read M/M Romance, but thanks to the Romanceopoly Challenge created by the lovely ladies at the Under the Covers Book Blog and Jessica at Peace Love Books, I’m now starting to branch out to read it more often. I also got the recommendation of reading Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy from them too. Thank you, ladies!Holy Moly! I loved this book! It didn’t take me long to read it because I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the story, and I loved the characters! The gist of the story is that both characters Jamie Canning and Ryan Wesley were best friends that attended a summer hockey camp together for years.
At 18 years old Ryan made a bet with his best friend Jamie who happened to be very straight that crossed boundaries with their relationship that he regretted. Now in college, they end up facing off with each other during their college hockey game. They hadn’t seen each other since that incident four years ago. Jamie has been confused since then due to his best friend Ryan never talking to him again. He has waited a long time for answers. Now he is going to finally get those answers and finally realize the truth about his best friend, Ryan. After their hockey game, Jaime goes back to the same summer camp, but as a counselor this time. Ryan also decides to tell him the truth. Six weeks with a best friend may lead more into just friendship with Jaime though. Jaime may realize he thinks more about Ryan than just friendship too. First off, this book has a lot of STEAM to it.
You will need a COLD shower after reading the scenes between Ryan and Jaime. This book is one of those where the friends are confused with their relationship with each other. Ryan is in love with Jaime, but Jaime is straight. Jaime though is baffled by how Ryan has been acting around Jaime back when they were younger and what happened during the bet. Jaime is confused now as an adult when it comes to Ryan. He has some feelings towards Ryan. Who wouldn’t have feelings for Ryan? Ryan is gorgeous! I love the angst between these two and the love between the two because of their friendship and how they buy gifts for each other back in camp and how they were trying to get their friendship back in camp.
Seriously these two were meant for each other. I have found two new authors too. I loved how both of these authors kept me swiping my kindle and keeping me engaged in the story between the characters and how I wanted these two characters to get together finally. They both deserved happiness. I look forward to diving into the second book, which continues Jaime and Ryan’s story. I’ve also added several more books to my TBR from both Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy’s other books they’ve written. I love finding new authors to read.
Story Rating: 5 stars
Steaminess Rating: 5 stars
Standalone or part of series: First book in a two book series.
Do I recommend this book? Most definitely YES! If you are a fan of M/M romance books I highly recommend this book!!!
Will I read other books from the authors? HECK YES!
Trope/Elements: Friends to Lovers. Both characters are hockey players.
I loved this book.
I was afraid it was too much a sports jock kinda book where they hid in the closet because they were too cool to be gay. But not at all, this was such an awesome book about a gay guy falling for his best friend.
I loved Wes and Jamie from the beginning they were a match made in heaven and had such an easy friendship and even when the lines started to get blurred all they ever wanted was for the other to be happy even if that meant they had to sacrifice them self. They were the sweetest guys and I got not just one but two new book boyfriends in this book!
You could feel there love and passion throughout the entire book and my heart just keep getting filled up more and more with love for these guys! even though they were not the girly kinda men and especially Wes was an alpha man, I just want to describe them as sweet boys.
So are you looking for an M/M, sports romance with some steamy sex and a lot of heartfelt moments this is the book for you. And this is also a perfect beginners m/m book
This was my first MM audiobook and I really love it, the story, the characters everything was awesome, especially the narrations with Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan making the book even hotter and more intriguing.. they really made me feel the characters emotions, their happy and sad moments.. everything was great, definitely these two great narrators brought “HIM” to life..
Jamie and Ryan were best friends but something happened that the relationship fell apart and they lost communication and touch for a few years.. Jamie is not sure what happened, why his best friend disappears without saying a word. he is hurt but determined to move on with his career and projects. He had a beautiful family that supported him, he didn’t have any serious relationships only a friend with benefits that will come and go from time to time..
Ryan is a very successful Hokey player, with a family that doesn’t even care about him, his parents only care about money and image. Focusing on the only thing that brings him joy, is the only way to move on and continue his life far from the people who don’t love him and accept him from whom he is.. But Something was still missing in his life or better say, someone, They haven’t seen in a very long time, he never explained why he left and why he never try to make any contact. but life is about to bring back memories, and situations that will rekindle and revive all those feelings making them stronger than ever.
I really like this book because it has depth, it has a story, a beautiful love story, it has angst, laughing moments and a lot of steamy situations that make this book super scorching.. both characters have a great story to tell, a past and memories that keep making them afraid to move forward but I like how the story brings a balance between them making them heal, making them finally to let go and embrace what life was offering.. LOVE.
great book I can’t wait to start US.
Audio Version – This was my first M/M listen and holy smokes I was NOT disappointed. Sarina and Elle wrote a great love story and the narrators were absolutely perfect…and oh man their voices H-O-T and the sex scenes off the charts! I loved the build up of Jamie finally getting there with Ryan – wow, absolutely fantastic. The story was amazing…so much so that I started US immediately upon finishing this one up! If you are on the fence about this genre, this is a great one to dip your toes in the waters with, you will not be disappointed!
I love Sarina Bowen’s books so much and The Understatement of the Year is one of my favourite ever books so I readily jumped into this. It’s a first from Elle Kennedy but I’ll be reading her books immediately.
Wes and Canning (Ryan and Jamie) were amazing. I love MM books but they have to have a real story behind them, so this was the perfect book for me to jump in and devour. It was a hot, easy read, and I can’t wait to jump into the second book and find out what happens. I want more from the Canning family
Absolutely LOVE this hockey romance! It is a regular reread for me! It is a friends to lovers, kind of second chance, Bi for you sports romance that will make you wish you could read it again and again!
If you’ve never read a M/M romance novel, this is the one to start with. Steamy loves scenes, tons of angst, and well-rounded characters that are flawed but lovable. I listened to the audiobook and it’s even better that way.
Him was my first M/M book and it took me a long long time to build up the courage to read a book in this genre and I really didn’t know what to expect but I went in with an opened mind and the biggest regret was taking so damn long to read this book. I should have put more trust in Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy and knew they would make me fall in love with these characters.
I loved this book and everything it stood for, to be honest I didn’t think it would be so hot and I would get hot and flustered but god dam did I feel it. The story was fantastic and I couldn’t put it down, I read this about a year ago and I have just re listened to it on audio and it was just a fantastic to read/listen to it again. The narrators were second to non they told the story so perfectly.
Wes was a very strong character and even though he knew who he was and excepting of his sexuality he still kept his cards close to his chest and really didn’t want to let anyone close to him. His family had pretty much shut him out and it caused him to be very focused on his hockey career and pretty much have a lot of meaningless one night stands.
Jamie is one of my favourite characters he is so laid back and whatever happens happens. He could never understand why his best mate from summer camp stopped talking to him, but after 4 years they finally come face to face. Jamie was such a great character the way he had to question his sexuality and the way the authors told Jamie’s story was amazing. He was such a fun loving, charismatic, funny character. He took to being Bi in his stride and the authors told this story was beautiful.
To say I loved this book is an understatement and I can’t wait to start listening to US the next book and get more of Jamie and Wes. I am so glad this was my first M/M book thank you Elle and Sarina for writing such an amazing book
I don’t read a lot of M/M books but Him definitely makes me want to in the future. This story felt really authentic when it came to figuring out your sexuality and how difficult it must be embracing it and be honest to your loved ones. Wes and Jamie were fabulous from start to finish. I absolutely loved Wes and his strong feelings he had for Jamie. Especially how he loved just touching him or being around him. In his presence.
Jamie’s whole process of enjoying being with a guy and figuring out if it’s just an attraction or more was handled flawlessly. I loved how their friendship and feelings evolved into more. It was done at the perfect pace. Their chemistry was amazing. So intense and also filled with so many emotions. It wasn’t just about a quick rump in the sack for them but about so much more.
These two authors delivers when it comes to romance, laughs and love. I’m so happy that I finally took the time to read this. The sequel is definitely going on my to be read list.
4 BadAssDirtyYou’reMyHomeStars
Another sexy hit from Sarina Bowen!!!
I absolutely loved this story. Amazingly beautiful forbidden love story. Confident Wes except when it comes to Jaime. Jaime who goes through self discovery after finding out why his best friend cuts him off abruptly. I love how the story unfolds… The passion, confusion, and struggle. Did I mention hockey players…. A must read!
I need a minute, and possibly a cigarette. Eek were these two smokin’ hot together. I feel like asking, was it good for you? Because it was GREAT for me!!
I’ve only read a few m/m books and hands down I’ll remember this one for sure! Not only was it hot, but it was a great love story. Even if it wasn’t so hot, I would still love reading their story. That’s how good it is. Yes they had some obstacles, but when you love someone, you don’t let anything stand in your way. I think I’m going to have to re-read this one. That’s how awesome I think this book is.
The characters are well-explored, their motivations & reactions make sense. The plotting is well-paced. There is great humor.
A really enjoyable read.
This book!!!! OMG I love this book so much. I read many reviews about it and since every single one was good feedback, I figured I wanted to get in the Jamie and Wes bandwagon . I fell in love with both characters and the story it’s self was so well written I couldn’t help but finish this book in one sitting. Also ulala #steamy
I constantly come back to this book/series! I LOVE it so much! The characters are amazing and the authors did an amazing job with the story!
Oh. My. Gosh. I loved this from cover to cover!! A M/M hockey romance. My first and certainly not my last but an impossible bar was set. This book is everything!
After reading ‘Good Boy’ I couldn’t stop myself and read ‘Him’ series again What can I say Jamie Canning and Ryan Wesley, a.k.a Wesmie, is one of my favorite couples. This series is the first book I read from the powerful duo Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. After reading ‘Him’ and ‘Us’, I start reading individual books from both authors and really enjoyed it. I am not going to write separate reviews for the series and I will do my best to not to spoil the story for you guys.
Since childhood Jamie Canning and Ryan Wesley used to spend six weeks of their summers together at a hockey camp. They have a great friendship for years up until they’re eighteen. One bet at the end of the summer camp when they’re eighteen changes everything and Wesley cuts Jamie out because of the guilt, he feels. They’re both seniors and play hockey for their universities and after four years they might play against each other on the frozen four finals. Wesley takes this as a chance to rebuild the friendship he destroyed four years ago.
When they see each other during the finals, they couldn’t find enough time to talk but Wesley holds out an olive branch to Jamie which he accepts gladly. Jamie works as a coach in their old hockey camp every summer and before going in to NHL Wesley decides to go back and work as a coach for the summer and try to fix his relationship with Jamie. Wesley is more or less out of the closet. His college teammates and family knows that he is gay but he still doesn’t have a steady relationship and not really living his love life out in the open. Jamie is still trying to understand why Wesley cut off all communication with him after that summer and when Wesley goes back to the camp, he explains Jamie why he disappeared all those years. What shocks Wesley the most is how easily Jamie accepts Wesley being gay. It doesn’t take them much to go back to being the way they were before. After spending time with Wesley, Jamie starts to realize that he is attracted to his best friend and soon Jamie figures out he’s bisexual.
After their summer together they decide to continue their relationship. They move to Toronto together. While Wesley is playing for Toronto, Jamie finds a coaching job. I really loved Jamie’s family. When Jamie comes out to his family, they were really supportive of Jamie and great towards Wesley. They accepted Wesley into the family right away. Everything seems great with their relationship but their struggles start after the hockey season starts. Because it is Wesley’s rookie season in the NHL, they decide to hide their relationship. But soon enough they both get sick and tired of hiding. Especially Jamie is really having a hard time with hiding. On top of hiding, they both travel too much because of their jobs and soon it becomes hard to spend time together. Ohhh and there is Blake, who constantly interrupts their limited alone time. It was really heartbreaking to see Jamie’s struggles, which left Wesley not knowing what to do in order to make everything ok for them. Will they overcome these struggles and continue their relationship? If they come out how will it affect them and their jobs? That is for you to find out.
Through out the series the banter and chemistry between Jamie and Wesley is incredible. They’re both amazing characters and I was rooting for their happily ever after. Him series is a sweet, sexy, funny and emotional read and I totally recommend you to read the series.
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Already did.
Would I read future books by these authors: Yes.
The review was originally posted on: http://miabookaddict.com/
One of my favorite reads this years. So heartfelt and also very different from what I normally read. Love this author.