Book: These Secret Years by August Jones
Reviewed by Emily
Rating: 4/5
This was my very first ARC read and one I was very excited to read. If you’re looking for a fluffy MM college romance this is not the book for you. However if you’re looking to have your heart repeatedly stomped on then put back together, this is the book for you. I’m a reader who will happily let an author destroy me for 500 pages if I know I get my happy ending.
I thought the story taking place over the course of 4 years might end up dragging but it really didn’t. Most of Knight and Sullivan’s time apart happened off page. Sullivan is a profoundly broken human when we met him and, frankly, is still pretty fucked up at the end. Knight seems to (mostly) have his shit together, but things are not always as they seem.
There was surprisingly little of actual football in the story so if actual sports in your sports books aren’t your thing, this is a good choice. 4 stars instead of 5 for the third act breakup and subsequent rushed ending. Overall I really enjoyed this book and will definitely purchase it.