The Understatement of the Year

De: Sarina Bowen

Narrado por: Teddy Hamilton, Christian Fox

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.

©2014 Sarina Bowen (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Fantastic Read or Listen in this case!

My first gay romance. I am stunned at how emotional this made me. Kudos to Sarina Bowen and the voice actors who brought this story to life.

Graham & Rikker

Story:~4.5 Stars
Audiobook:~5 Stars

I first read The Understatement of the Year back in 2016 when I first started reading M/M. I'm not sure why but apparently I didn't like it (CRAZY, I KNOW) because this time around I absolutely LOVED it. While The Understatement of the Year may end in a HFN I'm certain that the short story "Yesterday" in the book Extra Credit cements their HEA. As with anything that is narrated by Teddy Hamilton he did a great job. While this was my first time listening to Christian it hopefully won't be my last.

Second Chances

The Understatement of the Year is the third book in The Ivy Years. This is a second-chance romance set within an Ivy League college. Graham and Rikker fell in love in high school, but a terrible, brutal moment tore them apart. Now, years later, they find themselves on the same hockey team. But they need to find the courage and strength to love each other again. The story was touching and full of drama and angst. However, I did not like the secondary character Bella. I'm not sure why she played such a prominent part of this story. It's not that I don't like secondary characters in my romances, but when a secondary character adds nothing of real value to the plot or romance, it can be a bit annoying.

Coming Out

Sarina Bowen writes some of the best stories that make you feel! John Rikker and Michael Graham are friends from growing up in Michigan. They ended up on the same college hockey team at Harkness, an Ivy League school. Rikker was outed by a former teammate st a different college and got kicked off the team. The Harkness coach welcomes him to his new team, but being the first outed college hockey player is a lonely place to be. Graham or G wants to support his old friend, but he is fearful of what others may find out. M It is a sweet poignant story of mean people, acceptance, a progressive Gram and Coach, being brave and love between two young guys. The narrators are perfect. This is a one click.

A sweet story

One college hockey star out and free and one hockey star locked in the closet with his guilt and secrets destroying him. This book is well written and has all the drama, humor and love that you could want in a book. Add to that the wonderful performances delivered by Teddy Hamilton and Christian Fox and you have a 5 star listen. Don't miss this one, it is soooo good.