Ring in the True

Scientific Method Universe

by Kris Ripper

Evan spends New Year’s at the beach house because he doesn’t have anywhere else to go and the boss has assured him that the family’s not that scary, which turns out to be only sort of true.

But Lucy’s going to be there. And ever since he met Lucy three years ago, she’s been on his mind…and in his fantasies.

Between Lucy, Nick (whom Evan privately calls “the blond god”), and his girlfriend Cait, Evan’s New Year’s is unlike any holiday he’s ever spent. And he definitely wouldn’t have it any other way.

Ring in the True is 30,000 words, or 120 pages long. This story is part of the Scientific Method Universe, but need not be read in conjunction with other books in the series. Please check out krisripper.com/smu for more info and recommended reading order.

Genres: Queer, Romance, Contemporary, BDSM, LGBT, Polyamory, Found Family

117 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2016

About the author

Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.

Reviews

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as compelling as the rest of the SMU installments since we’ve never encountered Evan before, only allusions to Lucy’s hot weekend in Boston with him a few years back. This series and its spinoffs are at their best when they deepen our knowledge of a character, whether main or secondary, we already know. That said, it was great to see the gang completely embrace and enfold Evan and Cait into their world. Plus, Evan and Cait are both trans so this friend group just got even more inclusive. We also got to see another side of Lucy, which makes me all the more eager for her eventual story.

However, I am still befuddled that no one gives newbies any heads up about the sexual dynamics at the house or what they might witness. That is not good consent on either side! It had to be extra weird for Evan to learn certain things about his boss too. Jason should have checked with him first.


Characters: Evan is a polyamorous white trans construction worker. This is set in CA.

Content notes: gender dysphoria, past misgendering of MMC’s girlfriend by her ex-boyfriend, past emotional abuse by MMC’s father, on page sex, D/s, FFM menage, muffing, exhibitionism/voyeurism, harness, anal play, impact play (secondary character), cock cage (secondary character), alcohol (mentions), ableist language

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of this series and the characters. I love the depiction of gender, sexual identity, and relationships. The books are very intimate, because they are told very close to the characters, and that is something that I enjoy immensely. For me, at the core of this series stands acceptance; acceptance of yourself and of others, and that’s very rewarding to read about.

We are now in the third year spending New Year’s Eve at Hugh’s and Truman’s beach house. These books usually are written from an ‘outsider’s’ perspective, meaning a character that is connected to but not one of the usual main characters. This year we follow Evan who’s working for Jase and renovating the beach house and who’s staying for the holidays.

My thoughts after the first half of the book, however, were that everything is too rushed, too crowded, too over the top even.

These people are so intense, seriously. They are all crazy.

And that’s something I actually love and it’s great to see all of them, but since they are all a handful ;-P, fully developed through many other books before, they feel like crammed into the pages and it doesn’t fit them. They need space to breathe, and that’s simply not the case in the first half of the book. Everything seems rather disconnected and jumping around. Like , I don’t think this was the case in the last New Year’s books with Ally and Jase. All the characters were there as well but these two main characters had time to get to know the family and discover things.

This gets better in the second half, or at least there are several scenes that take their time and build up the intimacy and wonder I’m so used to in this series. I always had a thing for Nick and Bernie and I love the part they are playing here. On the other hand, I never really could connect to Lucy and that is still the case here.

Evan, however, is an interesting character. I like him and I like the issues he’s dealing with during this book.

I had no earthly idea who I was, or how to be that person, but the two of them saw me and in their company I became who I am.

This is well written and well developed. But all in all, there is just too much going on in this book, which is ultimately taking away from Evan.

Fans of the series still don’t want to miss this, I think ;-) Because, as it is, we can never get enough of our favourites! But this time, less would have been more, or more pages would have suited this book way better.

____________________________________
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tags: Trans Characters, Bisexual Characters, Open Relationships, Poly Relationships, POC, BDSM / Kink, Holidays
Content Warnings for: Dysphoria
Rating: 3 stars
Blog: Review for Just Love Romance

[Iben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm on a break from review writing, for reasons, but this book... What a wonderful treat. I gobbled it up in one sitting. It's probably the second book I have read so far this year where I identified so strongly with the main character that I'm honestly not sure how to review it. So I'm writing this review mostly for me....

But I would like to issue a "blanket recommendation": If you are looking for kinky and trans characters in romantic, sexual and friendship relations, this book is such a rare gem. I strongly recommend you to check it out if that's something you would like to read.

What I personally love...
Ripper writes kink which challenges and shows alternatives to toxic dichotomies which tend to follow authors into D/s relations and contexts.

Ze problematizes toxic masculinities, and centers the trans characters in a way where cis genders are open to questioning. I want to repeat that: This book centers the trans main characters (for there are two! Who are in a relationship, no less. And if you want to call that unrealistic or...well, I don't know what people can come up with about this - and I'm not wasting enegry guessing - I am here to tell you: No, that is probably one of the most realistic aspects of this entire book. And sorry about my terrible use of brackets here!) in ways that challenges cisnormative views on bodies, gender expressions, and sexualities.

I also love how the lines between sexual orientations/sexual identities, and kink preferences/identities are not explained or broken down for the reader. They are there, on the page, shown in glimpses where the MC reflects on his own options and choice, and the effect that I personally get when reading this, is also a centering of nonbinary sexualities/queerness.

P.S.: I saw someone who wanted to know about books where trans characters are not deadnamed. This is one; neither of the trans charachters are deadnamed. (There is talk about the MC having had a different name, but no mention of the actual name.)

[Anna]

Another lovely installment.

Was kind of interesting to have someone warm to Hugh but not to Tru for a change.

Very much enjoyed the exploration of gender and sexuality and the fluidity of it all. As someone nonbinary, the whole book was affirming. YMMV, of course.

Did want to know more about what's going on between the boyfriends and Will, though. Would love to revisit them as them, since it's been a number of years, and they're obviously coming to a turning point in their relationships.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think probably my understanding of trans sex is pretty scarce, so while I could mostly follow along, it probably didn't have the full effect it might have if my brain hadn't been pulling me out of the story to work things out. It likely could have been written in a way that would have made it easier for someone without familiarity to follow, but this isn't an instruction manual or anything, and the PoV is from the perspective of a trans man, so he's unlikely to spell things out in his own mind when he's obviously very familiar with his own body and his trans girlfriend's. And their partners in the story have some experience as well, so they hardly need to be walked through it either. So it was probably a difficult line to walk writing-wise. Besides that though, these new characters were a decent addition to the annual house party.

[J.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The point-of-view character for this year’s adventure at the beach house features someone mentioned in Surrender the Past. It sounds like he’s doing rather well for himself since then, and has been renovating the beach house despite his home base being back in Boston.

The usual sexual shenanigans ensue, but the best part of this story is Hugh’s holiday spirit, reuniting Evan with his girlfriend for a few days.

Usually, I write something about wanting to see these characters again in the future, but it sounds like Evan’s life is pretty sorted, and I’m happy to let him go on his merry way. He was an interesting POV choice for this book, but I appreciate the sense of closer Ripper brings to a character only briefly mentioned, while also making him a fully-fledged person I enjoy.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My genderqueer little heart NEEDED THIS STORY. Evan's prickly need for people to understand his gender/his protective cynicism about whether they will do so, the complex feelings about Lucy, the INCREDIBLY HOT interactions with Nick and Bernie, Cait's companionable self-assurance contrasting with Evan's stress about his gender identity, CAIT/EVAN/LUCY oh my god, the moments where the family fail a little bit and apologize and move on... I loved this story and I love Evan and his cautious little domly feelings. I just loved seeing a character not have to be perfectly self assured or experienced be given the space to be both understood and appreciated for himself.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Representation for the win!!!!

Yes! All the yes! From the start the SMU has been open & inclusive time all body types and kinks. Even if they don’t share that particular kink they’re open to it. Can I just say how wonderful it is to have trans characters that aren’t fetishized!?! Trans characters that like everyone in these book are fully developed, many layered, and dimensional. And yes, they fuck, like most humans that aren’t demi, grey, or asexual. Bravo Kris, for yet another fantastic story that broadens & deepens the SMU.

[Xan]

Content Warnings Dysphoria triggered by insensitivity around trans identity. MC gets triggered around a vaguely referenced history of abuse from family. Vague references to cis partners not respecting/understanding/honoring trans partner's genders. A trans character attributes him recognizing his gender to a (probably?) cis character, referring to her as a deity. Sex on the page. BDSM on the page, including D/s, spanking, service, caning, pain play.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the twelfth SMU story I've read. (I had to go look that up. Yep, twelve. They're short, but detailed.) I feel like I know these people like my own family by now - and yet, with Evan, I see new aspects of established characters, and that's always fun. There wasn't as much humor in this one, so it isn't my favorite, but it was good in other ways. Deeper ways.

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this one, because the POV character was so radically different from any of the others in the main group. Shy but not reserved, knowing exactly what he wants. Also, the trans rep was wonderful.

[Zoe]

Dnf for now.

[dobbs the dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another New Year book, yet another POV.

This one felt a bit weird, to me, because it's from a POV of a character that was sort of mentioned in the last New Years book, but who isn't a side character throughout the main series.

It was still good, I like seeing 'The Family' from all different perspectives, and this one was very much an outsider, though also someone who is perhaps more open minded than Alison and maybe Jason. Evan hooked up with Lucy when she was on vacation and then ended up working for Jason at his construction company. Evan ends up flying out to California to run the renovations on the beach house, and is there for New Years.

It was interesting to see a different dynamic with Lucy, as she definitely took on a different role with Evan than what she usually does. There was also an interesting 3-way, in which I learned some new things about trans sex.

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gradually working my way through the New Year's novellas in the Scientific Method Universe. 3 stars because honestly, I have no investment in Evan (or Cait) as characters. They are nice enough and we're supposed to believe they're in some way meaningful to Lucy, but it's so lightly filled in that it's hard to generate more than a mild interest. But it's always fun to catch up with Will and the Boyfriends and spend time with their found family, in this universe of radical acceptance and love that Ripper has created.

Lots of sex and kink, per usual, but the joy of Ripper's work is the little insights and dry humor, all bound together with a great generosity of spirit. And so it is here too, even if it's not going on my re-read shelf.

Rep is 2 trans MCs.

[Lotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review 2017: So in a way, Evan's POV is actually more outside looking in than the others, because he's less connected to the SMU family than Ally and Jase were. But he's there with a prior connection to Lucy, being her Boston Love. For that reason, this book has the most Lucy of all the SMU books. Also, I like Nick even better after this book.

I get the feeling Will is seriously thinking about moving in with the Boyfriends, but he's not fully committed to it yet, and this is why he doesn't want to talk to Hugh about it. I really miss reading about them and knowing what's up with them.

Review 2016: It's the scientific method universe! <3 <3 <3 Only I wish there had been more Will.

If you want to read a real review of this book, I recommend this one by Iben.

[Ashley Hance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

As a follower of the SMU I loved the updates given of mist characters. Though I'm still waiting on a thorough update on what's going with Will and the boyfriends.
But it was a fun read with enough feels to get to most of us.