Offsides

Blue Mountain University #5

by A.E. Madsen

Tyler
It's senior year. I don't have time for a relationship, let alone a sudden realization that I'm not as straight as I thought. Seth's always pushing me. A few drinks leads to us in the same bed with a girl, and I have a harder time keeping my eyes on her than my teammate. I should focus on my grades and graduation, not offering Seth a chance to fool around with no strings attached. Only the more time we spend together, the more confusing things get.
Seth
Never fall for the straight guy. Tyler is everything I want, except for one tiny little detail. It's no wonder when I get the chance to have him in my bed I take it, even if it means someone between us. One night to get him out of my system, that was the plan, except both of us want more. I tell myself I can keep my heart out of it when he kisses me, but maybe it's already too late.

Offsides is a MM bi-awakening teammates to lovers romance novel. Although this is book five in the series it does standalone.

Genres: M M Romance, LGBT

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2024

About the author

A. E. Madsen(they/them) is a stay-at-home parent and loving spouse. They live in California with their three children. A. has degrees in culinary arts and business management that have nothing to do with writing gay romance. They started writing gay romance in an attempt to better understand their gender identity and sexual orientation as a teenager, and it grew as a hobby from there. A. spends most of their time writing and reading stories about men falling in love with other men, but they also have ADHD and are easily distracted by social media and various topics of research that often have little relevance.

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

While I really liked the plot concept, pacing and the characters, the writing style just felt really off and made the reading experience slightly unenjoyable.

There are so many abrupt sentences, one after the other, that it really affected the flow of the storytelling because it carries on for most of the book. It felt like continuously stalling your car and getting frustrated because you just want to go already! I was dying for some run on sentences after the first chapter. It just made everything feel stiff and robotic and resulted in a lot of telling not showing.

There's also not much difference between the personalities of each MC so I did forget at times who exactly the POV was for, and I'm still confused about what each was studying?

I loved the longtime 'rival' teammates to friends to lovers aspect. It was cute and the relationship progressed nicely, although because there isn't a lot of dialogue outside of sex scenes it was a little difficult to see where they fell in love.

The sex scenes were actually really engaging for me, which doesn't happen all that often because I'm Ace and not really interested 😂 There was a lot of awkwardness around it and having first times, but it made it so much more relatable than books where inexperienced or virgin characters are immediately proficient sex gods as soon as dicks get whipped out! The fumbling and embarrassment felt like a realistic reaction although I would have preferred the safe sex talk to have occurred before they had unprotected sex, not after - horse, stable and bolted springs to mind...

I enjoyed the drama elements and the fact there was no big 'coming out', they just were who they were which I loved.

Definitely a nice end to this series.

*****

I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable low angst ending to a good series. Good bi-awakening and consent, and it was sweet how they were so careful with each other. Ty's father was pretty awful with his threats. I would have really liked a sort of epilogue to give hints about what the characters from this series will be doing now that they have graduated but I always want more after being invested in a group of characters over some time. It was a satisfying ending.

[peoniesandmm · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a super sweet read!
loved the first times & the spice was super well written, definitely recommend this book for a quick sweet read with low angst!

[Showarst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Offsides by A.E. Madsen is the final book in the Blue Mountain University series. I’ve read the first book and was intrigued by the blurb of this one. Tyler and Seth are soccer teammates who have a MFM threesome and it makes Tyler realize that he is attracted to Seth. They soon start a friends with benefits arrangement that turns into more.

I liked Seth and Tyler, but I didn’t feel a ton of emotional connection between them. They were physically intimate with each other and then suddenly they were in love. I wasn’t sure that I believed it. There was no discussion of what the future held for them and the end left so much to be desired. It ended with their graduation and nothing else. It felt a little lacking for a series wrap-up. In that case, I feel like it's more HFN rather than a HEA.

Then we get the bombshell of Maddy’s (Tyler’s sister) girlfriend being the F in the threesome and nothing happened there. It was mentioned when they met and never dealt with. It felt kinda icky to have this secret from Maddy. Why was it mentioned if it wasn’t going to be part of the overall plot? It felt thrown in as something for shock value.

I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review

[⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven• · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Teammates-to-Lovers Soccer romance with Grumpy/Sunshine vibes, College dudes, Crushes & New awakenings!
This is shorter-sized book, I devoured my #ARC in around 3hrs. Seth & Tyler were fun! I haven't read this series before.

Seth & Tyler have known each other since childhood. They have a (friendly) rivalry but had become teammates in college, now Seniors. Seth is a tease & loves to annoy Ty. Ty gets grumpy from it fast!

Seth had realised he was bi, & now has a hopeless crush on Ty who is (allegedly) straight. But a MFM threesome (😳 that was unexpected, but Girl lucky!) led to new feelings in Ty. Maybe, Seth can be Ty's safe space.. But as Seth also becomes Ty's tutor, lines begin to blur!

They were cute & hella HOTT together, love me a vers couple! They actually felt like college boys with some stupidity, some maturity & their whiplash of emotions 😅. I did like that they used tech wisely! There's also a bit of parent drama from Ty's side (not homophobia).

There were a lot of characters intro'd at start, but that's expected. The built up at places seemed off tho so that put me out a bit. Some plot beats I could guess, some were a surprise! The sister subplot was funny 🤣. RTC.

Story Ratings:

POV: 1st person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 4.75/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 😅😳😆🤨🤭😍😔😁😩😤🥵🤯🥰
4) Steamy scenes: 3.5/5
5) Levels: Cute+fun: 4/5
Angst: 2.5/5
Dark: 1/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.3/5
7) Plot arc: (Teammates, Crush, Explore, Love) 4/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.25/5

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is in his senior year and he keeps grades up and he will soon realize he may not be as straight as he thought. He will end up in bed with a girl and a guy. He is more interested in the man than the girl. Now what he will he do? Will it go further? What is going to happen for them? See how they get on

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ty and Seth ❤️

3.5 Stars ⭐️

Sweet, low angst, sexy times and HEA's. I really enjoyed this couple, the relationship build was kinda adorable. This was a perfect addition to this series and the epilogue was bitter sweet ❤️. I recommend, especially for series fans.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Jo Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun read. Tyler and Seth were involved before they knew it by their competitive nature. They fail to keep their feelings under wraps and then have to deal with an interfering father. All side characters are important to the story. Loved the epilogue.

[Leilani Noack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since Tyler and Seth being introduced as more in book 4 I was waiting to see how their story unfolded. These two are the most cutest couple and had to go through some obstacles but seeing there HEA makes it all the worthwhile. Can’t believe this is the end.

[VicReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont know how I feel. This was cute but I felt no connection no anyone or anything. It felt slow but rushed. They seemed to sive head first into everything but there was such lack of conversations that it felt forced.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - I didn't have time to read the entire series before reading this, alas. However, I do hope to go back and read from the beginning.

Ty and Set are adorable. I enjoyed getting to know them as they got to know each other better. Despite having played soccer either against each other or on the same team since age 5, they weren't close, but were kind of friendly rivals.

Seth had been out as bi, but as Ty became more and more aware of Seth once Seth became his biology tutor as well as teammate, well...he came to realize he was attracted to Seth.

Their sexy times were both sweet and awkward, especially at first with Ty coming to terms with his attraction to Seth. However, Ty quickly is on board with everything and without too much angst, which I love. They are adorable and hot together. I love how openly they show affection to each other, whether on campus, with their families, or out in town.

Some of my fave moments happen during Christmas - I have all the heart eyes here.

I was happy to have the epilogue, though given that this is a series finale, I would personally have enjoyed seeing a bit more into the future (but that is who I am - I always want more).

However, there are some issues with flow of this book - I felt like the author pictures things very clearly in their head, but not everything made it out onto the page. As a result, the progression was choppy both between events/scenes but also the transitions between one paragraph and the next. Nonetheless, I do want to go back and read the books I missed!

What to expect:

* Soccer teammates & college seniors
* one MFM scene
* bi-awakening
* low angst


Thanks to the author for this ARC - this is my honest opinion.

[Amanda Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Offsides" by A.E. Madsen is a delightful read and the final book in the Blue Mountain University series. This book brings a satisfying conclusion to the series, particularly with its well-crafted characters and engaging plot.

Tyler and Seth, two soccer teammates, find themselves entangled in a relationship before they fully understand their feelings, driven by their competitive nature. Their initial connection begins with an MFM threesome, which serves as the catalyst for Tyler’s realisation of his attraction to Seth. What starts as a casual friends-with-benefits arrangement quickly evolves into something deeper and more meaningful.

One of the book's strengths is the development of the side characters, who play crucial roles in enriching the storyline and adding depth to the main plot. The interactions and dynamics among all the characters contribute significantly to the overall narrative.

The story also introduces conflict through the character of Ty’s father, whose interference adds tension and challenges for Tyler and Seth to overcome. This element of family drama enhances the emotional stakes and provides a well-rounded experience.

The epilogue was great, providing a heartwarming and satisfying conclusion to the series. It ties up loose ends and gives readers a glimpse into the future of the characters they have grown to love.

Overall, "Offsides" is a fun and engaging read that delivers on both romance and character development, making it a fitting end to the series.

[Tara Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seth and Tyler have been competitive with each other for years. Now, in their senior year in college, they were on the same soccer team. Now, it’s their senior year, and Seth finds himself thinking about Tyler as something more than a rival. The only problem is that Tyler is straight, and Seth isn’t, which is a situation that needs to be worked out. Figuring out where they stand with each other and what a future looks like is the only way they will know for sure.

OPINION: I really liked this couple. The way they were written drew me into the story. The way that they naturally fall into their identities made for a low-angst, comfortable read. You could feel their insecurity and determination throughout the story, which made me want to cheer them on. This was a very low angst sweet romance, and it was perfect when you want to read about falling in love and figuring out how that looks. There were a few spicy scenes that were nice but not particularly detailed. Overall it’s a good story with two great characters who have to work through internal conflicts to find their happily ever after.

[DMCechak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offsides - Ty & Seth

‘Tutoring Ty and our whole friends-with-benefits-turned-dating thing has eaten up more of my life than I realized. Not that I mind. In a way, it’s actually nice. I don’t have to think about what I’m going to do when I’m not in class or on a soccer field. Most of all it’s laughable that either of us thought this could be casual.’

The last book, in their Blue Mountain University, is romantic and steamy. A.E. Madsen has created a world where the young men are finding themselves changing and maturing, while becoming attracted to other individuals than they maybe were before.

This is a love story where competing friends find themselves drawn to each other romantically, in their scariest college year-senior. With so many changes on the horizon, strong physical and emotional pulls are happening, and the outside world will just have to deal with them!

[Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m sorry I haven't read the rest of this series and I’ll be going back and doing so. This was a comfort read to me. Two guys that are always trying to stay ahead of the other. Then things change.
Both Seth and Tyler are seniors in college. Both are on the soccer team. Each lives in a different frat house and seem in constant competition with each other when Tyler needs help to get his grades to a passing level. No surprise Seth just happens to do tutoring. Neither expects them to be assigned to the other. As they get into the sessions the thoughts each has had about the other comes to a reality.
I enjoyed the journey that took them to get together. The expected threesome was funny especially as it comes full circle in the end. The nervous reality between them and their care for each other is heartwarming. This made me want to read the rest of this series.

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg Tyler and Seth have such a strong connection.
Firstly, let me say I got this book from gay romance reviews, and this is me leaving my honest review.
Well I’ve got to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is plain to see Seth and Tyler have feelings for one another. It all started at a party when they both meet a young lady and this is really where Tyler realise he might not be straight
Seth been attracted to Tylerfor awhile, but didn’t act on it because he thought Ty was straight. But like always in these books, somebody decides that they’re not a good act together, but will this be the end for Seth and Tyler?
I thoroughly enjoyed the banter the competition between them. It’s safe to say that they have a strong electric current running through them for each other. And the passion is off the chart and the dirty talk just makes everything more interesting

[kn_cozy_bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, low angst read. It was enjoyable and I found Seth and Tyler likable characters. I enjoyed their exploration of each other and found their smexy time realistic with each of their areas lack of experience.

I liked Tyler and Seth’s commitment to each other once they decided to be together. Despite some obstacles they stayed true and didn’t let others demands derail them.

The authors writing style was different than I was used to. It’s a bit abrupt and robotic at times, but I still found the story enjoyable.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eyes opened to possibilities. Seth is crushing hard on Tyler a fellow teammate. Tyler, is focused on grades and graduation and has no time for a dalliance. They had a 3 person adventure and Tyler opens his eyes to possibilities that he feels a bit more for Tyler than as a team mate. Working through new discoveries is fun. The challenges are fun and character buiilding making our guys grow up. AE builds great flawed characters who end up in the right place. Nice cover art! Nicely done! I received and ARC and am voluarily leaving a review.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seth has a crush on Tyler. Not only is he a college teammate and rival but now he tutors him in biology. When both guys hook up with a female, Tyler can't get Seth off his mind. It's only a matter of time for them to try it without the female. It's a relatively easy acceptance of their bisexuality in a coming of age story for the guys. I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Molly Otto · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun conclusion to the Blue Mountain University series. These two are what I call frenemies until they rewlaide their may be something more. They have a great banter overall that kept you engaged throughout. However, I did find the mcs to be a little too similar, where it made it somewhat difficult to tell them apart at times. It is a good way to conclude the series, and I look forward to seeing what AE Madsen has in store for us next.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crossing the line can lead you places you were not expecting to go. For Tyler and Seth that is what happens. And once they cross the line and start to interact intimately the temptation is too great to resist falling in love. These two were good together once they got started. Tyler's bi-awakening met Seth's longing and led them to fall for one another. Sweet and spicy and left me smiling.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good! At first I was a little bit hesitant, just because It seemed from the beginning all Seth thought about was his obsession with Ty, but it turned out to be amazing. These boys were so cute, and It was the perfect book to get me out of my reading slump!

Tropes:
-Insta-lust
-“teammates” to lovers
-bi awakening

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A satisfying ending to the series as we get to see Tyler and Seth working through their feelings for each other and how or if they can actually sustain a relationship. I thought the characters actions and feelings felt realistic for the age they are supposed to be and I enjoyed the secondary characters both supportive and definitely not that they have to deal with.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh this was cute from start to finish and bit a wild 😂 I loved Tyler and Seth’s relationship develop and them being patient with each other. Their communication was top notch and just fun to see them still be them but with a new added level. This whole story was fun from start to finish and I loved it 🥰

[Nina Diab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved both Seth and Tyler. I thought they were really sweet together. I liked how their relationship developed and their chemistry sizzled. Bi-awakening is one of my favorite tropes, so I enjoyed Tyler navigating his attraction to Seth. Tyler's father was a jerk. I couldn't wait to see how they would push past it together. 4 stars.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet bi-awakening story that started with a MFM threesome. Ty and Seth are natural competitors, which makes their friendship fun. An unspoken challenge changed the dynamics of their relationship, and they will not be the same. I enjoyed the story, but wanted a future update at the end. Overall, I would recommend.

I received an ARC copy from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
ARC

This book was a light read. Ty and Seth are teammates who indulges in a threesome that awakens things for Ty. Seth already had a crush on Ty before the threesome. I did not see that coming with Maddy and Katy. My jaw hit the floor. I loved Seth and Ty together.

[Thrilled Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a solid 4.0. The love scenes are hot, but it is a little too basic. There is a little attempt at some angst with one of the MC's father trying to break up the MCs, but it fizzles out. Overall, the writing is consistent, but there isn't anything new.

[Mandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the main characters, but nothing really happened until about 45% of the way in. Throw in the dad/Dean completely overstepping, and then the sister’s girlfriend? What are the odds? It just seemed completely unrealistic.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tyler and Seth were teammates and competitors/friends until they found themselves becoming more. This was a cute read, low angst with well written characters. This is part of a series but also reads pretty well for a standalone.