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Just Acting
A closeted gay theater major and a questioning college football superstar fall for each other after being assigned as roommates. Can two people from such different worlds make it work?
Sean learned early on that being gay wasn’t okay, and he’s always been very careful to avoid letting anyone even guess that he’s far more interested in romance with a man than a woman. Which has led to him being lonely and alone and deeply focused on the only things that he has allowed to matter to him, music and theater.
Josh has received his own messages loud and clear from his time in the highly homophobic world of football. Though he has always suspected that he must be bisexual, he’s hardly had the chance to act on it and has always had shame around his desires.
When the two of them are thrown together, the sparks are immediate. Neither one of them will admit it, or has any idea how to deal with it, but despite that, they soon find themselves fumbling toward a relationship that feels like it could be something real.
If anyone found out, Josh could lose his scholarship, and football has always been the thing that matters the most to them. Sean could lose his entire family. Are these risks that the two men are willing to take, or will they be doomed almost before they get started?
Sean learned early on that being gay wasn’t okay, and he’s always been very careful to avoid letting anyone even guess that he’s far more interested in romance with a man than a woman. Which has led to him being lonely and alone and deeply focused on the only things that he has allowed to matter to him, music and theater.
Josh has received his own messages loud and clear from his time in the highly homophobic world of football. Though he has always suspected that he must be bisexual, he’s hardly had the chance to act on it and has always had shame around his desires.
When the two of them are thrown together, the sparks are immediate. Neither one of them will admit it, or has any idea how to deal with it, but despite that, they soon find themselves fumbling toward a relationship that feels like it could be something real.
If anyone found out, Josh could lose his scholarship, and football has always been the thing that matters the most to them. Sean could lose his entire family. Are these risks that the two men are willing to take, or will they be doomed almost before they get started?
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2017
42 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Felix Brooks
13 books23 followersIn a former life, Felix Brooks worked a corporate job in the South. When the voices in his head wouldn’t stay quiet any longer, he moved to San Francisco to pursue his dream of becoming a writer. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his pets.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 26, 2017
Almost 3 stars
The fact that the asshole teammate and coach didn’t get their comeuppance ruined the ending for me.
Otherwise, it was a so-so book. Nothing to call home about.
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The fact that the asshole teammate and coach didn’t get their comeuppance ruined the ending for me.
Otherwise, it was a so-so book. Nothing to call home about.
Free with Kindle Unlimited
May 17, 2017
Brooks and Knight reliably churn out sweet, feel good romances that go down perfectly when that's what you're in the mood for, and this book is no exception to their track record. They don't redefine the genre, but what they do very well is avoid tropes. I've read enough MM romance at this point to know some, uninspired, insipid authors "go to" is to make women characters awful. I'm not even sure what the subtext of that is, "hey women are awful aren't gay guys lucky they don't have to deal with them." I mean who is that meant to appeal to?
Brooks and Knight are able to create enough tension without having to craft a bitchy, shrill, evil woman as the obvious antagonist. Two enthusiastic thumb up for the absence of misogyny. Even better, they don't rely on gay stereotypes.
So why the four stars? Because whilst the authors avoid gay stereotypes they barrel headlong into athletic tropes so it was no surprise when the star football player
A pleasant read that is written well but, like I said, not winning any originality awards.
Brooks and Knight are able to create enough tension without having to craft a bitchy, shrill, evil woman as the obvious antagonist. Two enthusiastic thumb up for the absence of misogyny. Even better, they don't rely on gay stereotypes.
So why the four stars? Because whilst the authors avoid gay stereotypes they barrel headlong into athletic tropes so it was no surprise when the star football player
A pleasant read that is written well but, like I said, not winning any originality awards.
January 16, 2020
I am in between two and three stars on this one. The writing is okay, the characters are wonderful. I love the relationship between Sean and Josh. I like how both characters are described and how different they are. What I struggled badly with was Josh being on a football scholarship at a large division I school and really not talking about his games and practice. He would not have any time to do anything else and definitely wouldn't be getting drunk on a Friday night when College football play on Saturday. Plus, they travel a ton. UCLA is a major school for sports. That was way too unrealistic for me. Also, the situation with Bryce. This game would be televised in the region because it is such a large school something like that happening, would be caught on camera. This was a huge event brought into this story that wasn't fully thought out.
May 17, 2017
I really wanted to give this 4 stars.. Truly...
The story was just more than a little implausible. The MCs with their stereotypical jock and theater major ran into the same bigotry that is common in m/m relationships. Testosterone driven football players with their ignorant coach, family drama. Sure, all that I can get. However, there were no real surprises to cast this story as being different from any other college m/m romance.
It was like the author was writing from the same formula as everyone else with no incentive to branch out.
The story was just more than a little implausible. The MCs with their stereotypical jock and theater major ran into the same bigotry that is common in m/m relationships. Testosterone driven football players with their ignorant coach, family drama. Sure, all that I can get. However, there were no real surprises to cast this story as being different from any other college m/m romance.
It was like the author was writing from the same formula as everyone else with no incentive to branch out.
May 19, 2017
Just acting
This book was well written and believable. I could actually imagine myself in the main characters shoes both physically and emotionally. Even the sex scenes were creatively tasteful and passionate with sweet loving emotional feelings that it sucked me right in to where my imagination let me feel everything that Irene,Josh, and Sean felt. The 4 stars was do to some repetitive story lines and some wording and grammar errors. Otherwise, a wonderful story w/ a HEA ending❤️👍🏻👌🏻
This book was well written and believable. I could actually imagine myself in the main characters shoes both physically and emotionally. Even the sex scenes were creatively tasteful and passionate with sweet loving emotional feelings that it sucked me right in to where my imagination let me feel everything that Irene,Josh, and Sean felt. The 4 stars was do to some repetitive story lines and some wording and grammar errors. Otherwise, a wonderful story w/ a HEA ending❤️👍🏻👌🏻
May 7, 2017
Sweet
This is a sweet romance between two guys that are questioning their sexual preferences. Sean has been hiding from everyone, including himself, and it might be time he came out. Josh has been interested in girls, but thinks he might be bi. One look at Sean and he is pretty sure about who he wants.
This is a nice book about new love and the troubles that can arise arid it. Give this book a try.
This is a sweet romance between two guys that are questioning their sexual preferences. Sean has been hiding from everyone, including himself, and it might be time he came out. Josh has been interested in girls, but thinks he might be bi. One look at Sean and he is pretty sure about who he wants.
This is a nice book about new love and the troubles that can arise arid it. Give this book a try.
July 28, 2017
Good characters, but ultimately the ending felt rushed with a lot of loose ends to me. Family especially, but also...
May 7, 2017
Lovely Book.
Very good romance between college roommates. Sean was into acting and Josh was a football player. They were into each other but it took awhile for them to come together. Very tender and sexy and very supportive of each other. Loved Sean 's.temper.and Josh triying to calm him down . Very supportive family on Josh's part.
Very good romance between college roommates. Sean was into acting and Josh was a football player. They were into each other but it took awhile for them to come together. Very tender and sexy and very supportive of each other. Loved Sean 's.temper.and Josh triying to calm him down . Very supportive family on Josh's part.
May 21, 2017
The bonding of two souls
Will always run deeper than what gender or color you are as love is love. Bigotry has no rights and should never be deemed acceptable.
These characters were diversely adorable and I can't wait to read the additional chapter.
Will always run deeper than what gender or color you are as love is love. Bigotry has no rights and should never be deemed acceptable.
These characters were diversely adorable and I can't wait to read the additional chapter.
June 3, 2017
Loved it!!
Could not put the book down interaction between the two characters was engaging and I felt so bad for them it broke my heart but the fought and now they are together I was rooting them one the entire time
Could not put the book down interaction between the two characters was engaging and I felt so bad for them it broke my heart but the fought and now they are together I was rooting them one the entire time
May 6, 2017
Just Acting is wonderful.
I love how Josh and Sean meet in a wild way in English class and then find out they are roommates.
Such a wonderful way to believe in true love.
I love how Josh and Sean meet in a wild way in English class and then find out they are roommates.
Such a wonderful way to believe in true love.
May 6, 2017
2.5 stars
September 20, 2017
The story of an actor and a jock.
One bisexual and one thinking he was straight but learning he is gay. Through adversity they cling to each other and come to love each other.
One bisexual and one thinking he was straight but learning he is gay. Through adversity they cling to each other and come to love each other.
May 13, 2023
You can feel their love
I've read gay romance books. This is one of the best. The character's actions support the dialogue. Read this story.
I've read gay romance books. This is one of the best. The character's actions support the dialogue. Read this story.
January 27, 2018
DNF. I thought that Sean's college professor pressuring him to take a gay lead role in a required play was OTT and unrealistic. I stopped reading at that point.
April 30, 2017
This is what you look for in a true college sports romance. The nervousness, the questioning of others thoughts and actions, even that first taste, it's all here and beautifully done. I was very fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy and am voluntarily leaving a review. Riley and Felix make a beautiful team and I look forward to what they can come up with next.
May 4, 2017
this is exactly what a standard college romance looks like :) loved the realism in it, and for once football wasn't shown like something so important, that a person puts it before everyone else he loves :)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews