Home Goal

Gay Footballer Romance, Book 1

By: H. J. Perry

Narrated by: Piers Ryman

Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the closet...

Career-focused Jason Tant has given up on love to play football at the highest level: His team is in the Premiership, and Jason also plays for the English national team (even though his mother is Spanish). He doesn’t want to be the poster boy for LGBT people in sport - and his advisors have told him that coming out will ruin his career. It’s not an issue until Scott captures Jason’s heart and turns his world around.

Out and proud...

With a carefree, live-for-today attitude, Scott Cole was never in the closet. Funny, clever, and a terrific dancer, the science student has many talent, but the man he loves requires something else - discretion. They seem an unlikely couple, but neither can resist the chemistry that draws them together.

Under scrutiny...

Prying paparazzi are everywhere, determined to out gay footballers. Scott questions whether he and Jason need to keep their love a secret when professional British sportsmen in other fields are coming out. Will Jason have to choose between love and his career? Or will the tabloids destroy them both?

An MM romance novel with a happy ever after. The story spans 2012-2015. Set in England where fans would die for their football team and football is not called soccer. It is 51,000 words.

The book was inspired by the news story in October 2015 that British gay footballers are preparing to come out in public. As of January 2017, no professional players at the top level in European football have come out. The rumors persist, and there have been discussions at the highest levels, including inside Parliament.

The story is set in England but uses American pronunciation for the benefit of international listeners.

This book was published in May 2016.
The characters also appear in My Goal (published September 2016).

©2016 H. J. Perry (P)2019 H. J. Perry

Realistic Sports Romance

This book is a love story between a famous football (soccer) player and a math nerd who also knows how to tear up the dance floor.

The gradual process of their relationship was enjoyable to listen to. However, there was always an element of lying from the beginning. Or maybe an element of omission. I thought the angst will come from their lies hitting them on the face, but come to find out, it was just not living an honest to goodness kind of life that would tear them apart. It got resolved fast enough so there was no torturous chapters of angst.

This story does reflect a lot on the realities of how professional sports are the last ones to accept out LGBTQ athletes. How usually the ones who come out, they do so as they retire. It’s a toxic heteronormative culture. Here’s hoping that someday soon, things will shift and they’ll be ready to accept and represent out and proud LGBTQ athletes.

As far the the narrator, Piers Ryman, he did okay. Not a favorite of mine, but it was okay to listen.

Needed more...

There were a few plot holes that could use filling, it almost seemed rushed. It was hard to connect with the characters because I never really felt the emotion. The narrator was good, however could’ve used some more distinction between characters. Overall I liked the story and it was an enjoyable listen but just wish I felt more.

This title was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

soccer romance

it was a kind of typical soccer romance at the start with a semi-closeted MC and an out and proud MC. I kind of didn't like Scott too much. I felt as if he just kept on taking and what he did get he didn't like and didn't think was enough. I especially started hating him when he started flirting with someone else because Jason wasn't all out and he was pretty close to cheating since he didn't know how far he would have gone with said guy. i felt Jason made a lot of concessions in regards to his lifestyle and coming out and I felt Scott wanted him to give up his career so Scott could be happy but didn't really give Jason anything. it felt like a one sided relationship with Jasin giving and giving until he only had his career. jason had come out to everyone but the media and public. I do understand Scott's side but he moved so much quicker than Jason. I felt he could have been more understanding. I wanted scott to suffer for making Jason suffer. but am glad their ending ended well.

the narration was a bit weird to me. the accent was pretty strong and it takes some listening to get use to. the cadence was good and it was easy to differentiate between charcters.

a free copy of this audio was provided to me by the author.

Very good

Very good story, tho at times it skipped parts like you felt like you missed a chapter or something.
Love the narrator wonderful job.

A little choppy, but enjoyable

HJ Perry is a new author for me. I grabbed this duo after enjoying Piers Ryman in The District Line series.

Perry’s writing here is a series of vignettes and that sometimes left me feeling like jumps were too long or some foundational events were missing. Though, as I got more into the story, I found it an interesting approach and ultimately enjoyed getting to know Jason and Scott.

Due to his profession Jason is in the closet and it eventually wears on Scott. While I definitely felt conflicted for both of these guys and the utterly horrible position they were in – the overall story didn’t drag out the angst.

There’s a lovely HFN and a tease for book 2, My Goal, which I immediately started.

Narration:
Piers Ryman does a good job here. Almost all the characters are male and giving them all various accents, inflections, and personalities helped keep them straight for me.

mind reader needed

I could have kicked Jason for lollygagging and not telling Scott his plans after 3 years together!!
Poir communication could have cost them their happiness forever. It was soul crushing to heat all the homopobia, and I can't imagine how ut had to feel to actually live it. The ending was great with the help of Liz and Mark. I'd love the next book to see who's brave enough to come out against the tides. Great book. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job bringing it to life.

Sweet and good story with an important topic.

It is an important topic about gay football players still hiding in the closet.

The story is sweet and beautiful but I can’t really feel the trubble they have. There are some sudden jumps in time, where thing seems to get complicated and the story moves on to what happens after. So the angst and struggle that obviously is there don’t reach in to me.

So this is an easy going love story between two men who have some smaller issues on the way.

The narrator is easy to follow and does a good job.

enjoyed it

Would I listen to it again: yes
Did the story keep me engaged: yes
Was I invested in the characters: yes
What did I like about the story? great sports romance, good pace and likeable well developed characters. An interesting story dealing with the problem of homophobia in sports and the double life some of the top athletes have to lead.

My heart breaks for Jason (closeted footballer) and Scott (an out and proud gay man). Throughout this entire book, I wanted Jason to step up and be the change the world needs. Scott is such a likeable character and to see their romance evolve over time was great, but for him to spend 4 years hiding he's in a relationship is heartbreaking.

[extract:]
Scott: "Jason, are you out?"
Jason: "I'm not out at work" Jason replied, somewhat relieved to at least get this out in the open.
Scott: "And when you go to that nightclub where I've seen you, your at work?"
Jason: "I'm not at work, but yes, those are work colleagues and none of them know. A lot of people know me and they don't know i'm gay. I don't know how they'd react."
Scott: "Outside of work you're out?"
Jason: "I'm so famous and work is all the hours, there is no outside of work."
As a celebrity, there was no outside of work except in a very limited sense of the word.

I enjoyed Piers Ryman's narration and think he has done a good job narrating Home Goal. His British accent suits the story I had no problem distinguishing characters or feeling the emotions of the story, however I would have liked more distinction between the characters voices.

< I received a complimentary copy of this book at my request - it has in no way influenced my review. >

Being gay and an athlete is hard

This is a story that I did not know that I needed. I do not know anything about [author:H.J. Perry|14931934] aside from the fact she writes M/M romance. When I first started this book, I thought one of the main characters that is a footballer, Jason, was not going to admit that he is gay; I was wrong. He did admit and know he is gay however he refuses to let the world know that he is gay. His partner, Scott, who is openly gay did not have the same issue.

I loved this story and it makes me understand more about how professional athletes feel about coming out in this day an age. There are people out there that look at people who are different than they are and hate them for it.

In the beginning I was sympathetic to Jason however after the story progressed it just seemed as though Jason really felt that what he felt was all that mattered. I do understand that he did not mean to feel this way however Scott was just casted aside.

Throughout this entire story I wanted Jason to be brave enough to let not only ALL his teammates know he is gay and in a long-term relationship, but I wanted him to tell the world. I felt on edge for Scott throughout the entire story because he loved Jason and spent almost 4 years with him in hiding. Having to hide your partner must not feel good at all.

The way it ended had me a bit confused. I did not know if it was because it was sort of a cliffhanger or if it was because the book was complete. I do not know… It just feels like there could be more, but I am satisfied with the ending.

Piers Ryman is new to me. I had no idea who he was, but he narrated this book well. I can see myself listening to something else that he narrated.

Great listen.

This is such a great listen. Scott and Jason's story is such a great sport romance. Now I did have to get use to some of the words just because I am American. However I was really pulled into their story. Then Piers Ryman did such a great job in bring this story to life. I like how he did all the characters voices.

An okay read

I'm not good with words but i've got to say this is a 3rd gay themed American/british book i've managed to finish without getting annoyed at some point.

I'm too used to reading eastern novels that when i start reading western ones i can't help but make comparisons which ofcourse influences my enjoymemt of the western ones.

But this one book was nice to listen to.

Engaging and intelligent sports romance!

Very enjoyable! I’ve read a few m/m sports romances and this one stands out because it didn’t go down the well-trodden path of a forced outing. Jason Tant is a premier league closeted gay footballer (soccer) who falls for university student, Scott Cole. The story intelligently highlights the economic pressure on gay sports people to stay in the closet and as well as the incidental homophobia amongst team members. The main characters were likeable and the plot engaging. 🎧 I’m a big fan of Piers Ryman - he has a drawerful of authentic regional British accents and he keeps my interest every time.

as good as the ebook

The story is always full stars, because if I wouldn't like the story as ebook, I wouldn't listen to the audiobook. I can't listen to an audiobook without knowing the book, that's not possible for me.

The performance from the narrator is also very important for me. I can't listen to a lot, because my English as a non-native-speaker isn't so perfect to follow a whole story over hours, when the narrator speaks too fast or too sloppy. Normally I have to SEE the person, who is talking to me in English. It took me a little bit, to come into the narrator, but at the end, it worked. I only have to take a few breaks between. I'm just not yet finish with the book, I’m over the half, but I listen enough to give a review.

PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!

To my ratings:

5* - very very good
it's like an A+

4* - very good and will be often re-listening
it's like an A

3* - it's more then a one-time-listening.
it's like a B

Good, OFY story

A good story about a footballer (Jason) who has chosen to stay closeted for his career and an out/proud uni student (Scott). This is a well done trope with likeable characters. I liked how Jason slowly let his feelings for Scott made him stand up for their burgeoning relationship. A nice, light-angst story.
Piers Ryman made this a great way to enjoy the story - he's a whizz with many types of regional or class-related accents. He also has good pacing.

Jason and Scott...

While this is an mm sports romance it is also a way to open our eyes to what’s happened in the last decades.
I like the bit of history at the end of the book as background of why it was written. It is lovely how Jason embraced his love for Scott, risking his high profit career and the respect from his friends and colleagues. Scott stood up for himself and their relationship and that was awesome. I really enjoy their love story.

Unique

Story: Two characters trying to navigate a homophobic environment and deal with own fears and insecurities - potentially a trivial plotline, but the author has managed to dress it into a very interesting story! I liked the characters and their development throughout the book, as well as the secondary characters that added a lot of flavor to it :) The narration style was quite unique for me, with very characteristic selection of scenes the reader gets to "witness".

Narration: Great choice of voices and easy to follow in terms of discerning the characters. Some of the British accent was difficult to follow for me, as I am not an English native speaker, but it didn't take away from the overall impression of a job well done.

Great listen

This is a great book charting the development of a relationship between two gay men, one of whom is a top footballer and very much in the closet where the other is out as out can be.

I love football so I really enjoy books set with a football background, it’s 2020 and there are still no out footballers. This book does give a true representation of the struggles that might be faced, it feels very authentic.

Scott and Jason are very cute together and I was completely rooting for their relationship throughout.

Piers Ryman is excellent in his narration.