The hardest battle is the fight to be yourself….Jesse Solomona has always tried to be the perfect straight guy–a cocky sports fan capable of drinking more than he did in his fraternity days and an expert at one-night-stands. That he hooks up with just as many men as he does women is a secret Jesse’s been hiding for years, fearful of losing his family and tight group of friends. He’s a … friends. He’s a Kensington boy–a group of guys that grew up in the same neighborhood and somehow all ended up back in their hometown. They, and his family, are the only things that still matter in his otherwise soul-sucking life.
Chuck Dunn, a tattooed and pierced sports photographer, has refused to step back into the closet since he was disowned by his family, but he keeps choosing men who can’t fully be with him. Finally free from a long-term relationship he should’ve ended years ago, he quits his high-profile gig in favor of getting back to the art of sports photography–documenting a local boxing club that works with at-risk teenagers. He may not have the same swagger anymore, but he’s working to be happy with who he is.
When Chuck joins one of the Kensington boys’ community center sports leagues, Jesse’s self-imposed rules are systematically demolished. But there’s one barrier Jesse can’t find the strength to break through–coming out to the other Kensington boys. Chuck knows hooking up with Jesse is a bad idea. Falling for him even worse. But he can’t stay away.
Chuck is damaged by his past. Jesse is frightened about his future. But, together, they may just be able to come out of the shade.
Reader Advisory: Out of the Shade is a standalone novel with an HEA that carries the following warnings–alcoholism, mentions of sexual and physical abuse, mentions of drug addiction, mentions of rape, attempted suicide by a minor character, violence, homophobia, closeting
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S.A. McAuley’s Out of the Shade is an evocative page-turner—a blazing hot romance that expertly showcases the delicate balance of self-discovery with the intricacies of falling in love. It’s a brutally honest but gorgeous reminder about the cost of being true to yourself…and, here, McAuley reminds us why it’s a worthwhile price to pay. In case it’s not clear, I LOVED this book.
Out of the Shade by S.A. McAuley is a fantastic read. It had me feeling emotions, sometimes wanting to smack Jesse and sometimes wanting to just hug them. I truly loved the story…. and found it hard to put the book down to do stuff like eat dinner. I mean I was just caught up in it. Jesse and Chuck are great characters, even if I hated Jesse for a minute for certain actions he did that caused Chuck hurt. I still rooted for them. I loved how they grew and evolved in the story. Overall a very satisfying read.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
So many feelings this story brings front and center. It is brutal with its rawness and how sadly accurate to these times we live and love in.
I felt so strongly for all these characters even the ones who can’t see past their own issues. We all walk our own truths or we should before or even while others walk in theirs. We can stay true to ourselves and still be there for others and fall hard even when we know it’s not right at that moment.
Both our leading men have to face that reality in so many aspects of their lives. You honestly can’t do something for someone else unless you believe in yourself.
An amazing love story that will encompass dreams and despair, denial and acceptance of the heart’s desires. Learning to love yourself is a hard journey and that is one that both of these MC’ have to experience. I loved the writing and the story-line was beautiful. I so enjoyed these MC’s and so many of the supporting characters are awesome.
Chuck and Jesse have touched my heart and i cried and celebrated as they journeyed to the HEA. I found this story to be authentic and so heartfelt. Working through our demons is never easy and we don’t arrive at the end of that journey, it is an ongoing path that is often rocky and painful. I really appreciated that ‘love and the right man’ couldn’t fix everything. Life takes work and these guys found their HEA after working on themselves.
One of my favorite quotes of this story:
‘Of course I’m in. Give me the good days and the bad….. Just give me you. That’s all I need.’
I was gifted this book from the LesCourt Author Services and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
I loved this story even though I had a couple of mixed feelings about a few spots, but not enough to go into detail about them.
Jesse was a character who, while he was open-ish with himself about what he likes, is so backwards when it comes to his friends… (I don’t know if backwards is the right word for him though)… I loved his reaction to Chuck and the relationship they began though it wasn’t how I thought it would go.
Chuck is one of my favorite types of characters. Tattooed, pierced, and kinda broken – well, more slightly shattered in places – but slowly putting himself back together. I did have mixed feelings about him around the middle of the book but when I understood where he was coming from I liked him again.
The things Jesse goes through in this book kinda broke my heart and slowly cleared things up for me.
I loved this slow building story about Jesse and Chuck. I liked that the story wasn’t easy and that the men weren’t perfect and had flaws that they dealt with. I thought the Kensington boys are sweet and were a good part for this book. I definitely recommend Out of the Shade.
I had a feeling this might be a bit of an emotional read, based on the blurb, and it was. It was a beautifully written story that included overcoming various obstacles. Some of the topics were rough, but unfortunately are real things that many are faced with. Jesse and Chuck were written in a way that made them seem real and relatable. Their chemistry was evident also.
This author is new to me, but I am glad I decided to try something new. I enjoyed the writing style. Some of the secondary characters interested me also. I’d like to see their development and will be on the lookout now that this author is on my radar.
So, I am all for books where the characters have to learn themselves and be honest, not just with others, but themselves. Jesse and Chuck come from two different worlds. Chuck will never go back to the closet and Jesse can’t find his way out, but the chemistry between the two is undeniable.
These two have to battle each other, their friends, and society in order to be together and it’s the fight that I love. It’s the character’s proof that they do feel the love, that they do deserve to be with the person they fall for because they’re willing to go for them.
Jesse and Chuck have a rough go at things and there were times when I wondered if they needed to be together. They probably shouldn’t work but somehow they do and that’s what I loved the most about this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Closeted guy reluctantly comes out is one of those tropes that’s been done so many times, it’s easy to fall into redundancy. I was very plesently surprised. Jesse and Chuck are fully fleshed out characters, and the banter is whitty and fun.
“This doesn’t really bother you, does it?”
Jesse slumped against the headboard and crossed his arms behind his head, swallowing. “Whatever, dude. We all have exes.”
“Ah, playing it cool now.”
“Like a penguin drinking a Slurpee in Antarctica.”
“You’re an idiot.” Jesse slid under the covers and laid his head on Chuck’s stomach.
“Yep. Your idiot,” he mumbled.
(Mcauley, 2019)
I’m into sports romances, this one centers on Football. If you enjoy Eden Finley’s Fake Boyfriend series, you’ll probably enjoy this novel.
Angst. So much angst. The kind you know is going to be fixed if you hold out. The kind that still causes low grade twists and frustration until it’s resolved. A little forced proximity to may up for it. And a hard won hea.
The characters were pretty realistic. I’d like to know more about Chuck’s tattoos, especially the one he got during the book. I also wanted more of a resolution with his father after his revelations about their relationship. Otherwise, a strong book with flawed, human characters.
Trigger Tags: Non-MC rape and abuse, anger management issues, alcoholism, infidelity w/o sleeping together, breakup, angst, non-mc character suicide attempt, internalized bi-phobia, secondary homophobic character.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and LesCourt. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was a real surprise. The blurb caught my interest and as soon as I started it, I just fell deeper and deeper into the story and didn’t want it to end, to the point where I’d pick it up for a chapter or two then put it down as I didn’t want to rush this read, I wanted to savour it. This book was so rich and had a ton of substance the way it got into Chuck’s and Jesse’s head’s; I felt every bit of the hurt that Chuck was carrying for being cast aside by his parents after coming out, and the patience and waiting he did for Jesse. Jesse… oh my… where do I start? This guy had my emotions up, down and back to front. There are so many facets to his personality, and that’s probably the crux of the matter: he’s never had the guts or the opportunity to truly be himself. But when he meets Chuck and what begins a secret relationship where it shocks the hell out of both of them and both recognise they’re pretty goddamn perfect for each other. But Chuck’s not one for keeping secrets and Jesse just can’t let the world know he’s bisexual—he just can’t—especially not his close knit band of brothers, the Kensington boys. It all comes to a head and the guys part and then other factors come into play with Jesse and we delve even deeper into his psyche and find out there’s way more going on with him. This was definitely no easy boy-meets-boy, boy won’t come out of the closet so they part and eventually find their way back together tale, it was SO much deeper and intense than that, and this is why I adored it, it was so multi-layered and involved and real. This book was a wonderful surprise because I didn’t expect the depth of the story, it really reached another level for me and I’ll definitely be looking out for more from the author.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and the writing is smoothly done.
This is a story about close friends – a brotherhood, fear, anger, rage, anxiety, depression, and the hard decisions that have to be made sometimes.
Jesse has a good job, but he doesn’t really enjoy it. What he does enjoy are the weekly sports games with the Kensington boys, and his frequent hookups with men that he keeps in the deepest recesses of the closet possible. His friends call him “Godzilla” when he’s been drinking and gets in a mood, or just when he looses control of his temper. But, Kensington boys stick together no matter what…
Chuck is the new guy in town. He’s working with Kam, one of the KBs, at the boxing center where the Warriors train. This is a place where troubled teens learn about control and how to make their lives better. Anyway, Chuck is brought on as a backup player with the KBs one Friday night. Jesse is used to being able to win against anyone, but Chuck surprises him and isn’t so easily pushed around.
The tradition is that they all meet at a local bar after games, and Chuck is invited to join. While there, one of Chuck’s exes shows up, and unintentionally outs him. Only one of the KBs has an issue, but Jesse is intrigued. This starts what Chuck soon learns will be an unhealthy relationship, because he is out and has been for years, while Jesse may never be ready to even accept his own sexuality.
When at a party, Chuck finally sees a side of Jesse he has heard about, but never witnessed. He has to think about himself this time, so he makes a hard decision. Later that week, a family member is in danger, and Jesse lets loose all of his internal rage while defending his sister.
Chuck knows he has to stand by his decisions, but the KBs and Jesse’s family provide the support system needed to fight his way back into the light. After months of not seeing each other, Jesse and Chuck are put back into each others lives professionally, and eventually start working toward a tentative friendship.
Jesse has a plan for his goals, and Chuck knows what is in his heart. As time passes, the two start to coincide. What we are left with is a VERY hard won HEA.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *