Playing for the Other Team

Title: Playing for the Other Team
Author: Sage C. Holloway
Publisher: Loose Id
Release Date: January 11th 2016
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary YA/NA Romance
Page Count: 161 pages
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 2 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Bryson just wants to make it through the last few weeks of high school alive. Graduation is on the horizon, his grades are decent, and his biggest worries are, in order, his baseball performance, his graduation gown color, and his weird hair. Everything seems on track – until two heavy realizations hit him right in the middle of his senior prom: He’s gay, and he’s in love.

Reserved artist Jasper turns him down at first, despite his feelings for Bry, but he offers help to ensure Bryson can start the next chapter in his life as the person he was always meant to be. However, Jasper struggles with his own demons. He has commitment issues and a past which won’t let go of him, including a jealous ex-boyfriend who doesn’t take kindly to his former flame being pursued by someone else. Soon, every day spells trouble for the gifted outsider, forcing him to rely on Bryson for support.

Bryson must pull together all of his resolve to navigate the minefield with Jasper. Together, they stand against bullies, homophobes, and graduation gowns that threaten to make them look like bananas. With luck, they might just make it out in one piece.

This is the first young adult/new adult book I’ve enjoyed in a long time.

I liked the flow of the story and I loved both Bry and Jasper. I loved how supportive Jasper was of Bry in the beginning, and Bry was of Jasper later on in the story. The supporting cast in this was really wonderful, especially both of their sisters and Jasper’s parents.

Where the story stumbled, for me, is in the manufactured drama by Jasper’s ex. I would have liked to have gotten a better idea of some of the outcomes to certain storylines that came from that arc, and a couple of things were a little too glossed over without proper explanation of consequences.

In the end, the guys stand together with their support system in place, and we get a sweet HFN ending.

For those who like a lighter steamed, medium angst story with some drama and likable characters I can totally recommend you pick this up.

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