2. The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen

In this episode, we talk about Sarina Bowen's M/M new adult romance, The Understatement of the Year: "Five years ago, Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then, he’s made an art of hiding his sexuality 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. Meanwhile, John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it’s worse than usual, because the media has latched onto 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. 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."

We also talk about romance novel shame, teenage crushes, and sad boy bjs! We shouted out our favorite local romance bookstore, The Ripped Bodice in Culver City (which is still operating by mail during the COVID-19 closures if you would like to support them by ordering a romance novel!). Other books mentioned in this episode:

• Brooklynaire by Sarina Bowen
• Him by Sarina Bowen
• Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
• Extra Credit by Sarina Bowen
• Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski

Join us next month when we talk about The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen!

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