The Understatement of the Year

I don't know if I'll be able to write a coherent review without gushing or spilling the proverbial beans so I'll just say right off that I freakin' loved this book. Hard. My read included the audio done by [a:Teddy Hamilton 15007880 Teddy Hamilton https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:Chris Fox 477457 Chris Fox https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. Those two are artists in their own right. Genius. I'm not a huge YA/NA reader but I started this series by [a:Sarina Bowen 7737308 Sarina Bowen https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402702789p2/7737308.jpg] and I haven't been disappointed but rather more than pleasantly surprised. The first two installments and the novella that sits between these two and [b:The Understatement of the Year 22701480 The Understatement of the Year (The Ivy Years, #3) Sarina Bowen https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1408448387s/22701480.jpg 42221194] are MFs and though you don't need to read them before this book I would still highly recommend them and they'd probably give you some depth and background to some of the characters and events in this book. This book!!! The story was told in just the right tone. Some awful things have happened and both Rikker and Graham go through their respective hard roads but there isn't one note of stridency or PSA about the whole thing much less mushy sweetness. These young men wouldn't stand for that. I loved these two guys. I loved how Rikker really just wants to play hockey and though that meant wadding through the ugliness the game against Saint B's, Big-D etc. he walks proud every day, lacing up and dealing with being ignored or getting attention for the wrong reason i.e. being gay.Poor Graham. I just wanted to hug him so tight. This kid had made a prison for himself, afraid of just existing for fear of being different, rejected or unloved and that is the true tragedy, horror and injustice of people being assessed or judged because of who they love. So sad.This is really Graham's story of self acceptance and what a lucky guy he is to have the parents he does, the friends he has (even if he doesn't know it at first) and to be so well and unconditionally loved by Rikker. When these two finally come together you'll swoon with joy for two fictional characters who have come alive on the pages of Sarina Bowen's novel.This book was note perfect. There are moments that will make you rage and others that made me tear up in joy the game against Vermont and characters you'll fall in love with i.e. Bella, Grandma Rikker, Mrs. G. But what really shines through loud and clear like a palpable sun is the love and rightness of that love between Rikker & Graham. On a side note a nice surprise was unlike what you'd have thought Rikker is the predominant top, in the bedroom at least, not shy about being bossy and Graham loves it.My only two ‘complaints' are I want more about these two and it seems to be a thing in sports books and perhaps it's true in real life that guys refer to each other by their surnames. Odd. The guys are Johnny and Mike to their families.