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Out in College #2
Out in the End Zone
Evan di Angelo is an upbeat, good-natured goofball who loves his friends and family…and football. A traumatic accident may have ended his hopes of playing professionally, but he’s made the most of his four years on the field at a small Southern California college. He’s learned the hard way to embrace change, take chances and try things outside of his comfort zone…like agreeing to play fake boyfriends for someone else’s senior project.
Mitch Peterson knows that being his authentic self is the path to true happiness. He’s grown from a shy, quiet kid from a broken home to an out and proud budding internet sensation bound for grad school. An awesome senior project is the key. It’s unlikely anyone will believe the hunky, straight athlete is Mitch’s new lover, but it’s worth a shot. However, as their tentative friendship blossoms into unexpected attraction, the lines between reality and fiction blur for both men. Evan is forced to face old demons and decide if he has the courage to take the next step and come out in the end zone.
Mitch Peterson knows that being his authentic self is the path to true happiness. He’s grown from a shy, quiet kid from a broken home to an out and proud budding internet sensation bound for grad school. An awesome senior project is the key. It’s unlikely anyone will believe the hunky, straight athlete is Mitch’s new lover, but it’s worth a shot. However, as their tentative friendship blossoms into unexpected attraction, the lines between reality and fiction blur for both men. Evan is forced to face old demons and decide if he has the courage to take the next step and come out in the end zone.
162 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2018
320 people are currently reading
981 people want to read
About the author
Lane Hayes
105 books1,715 followersLane Hayes loves a good romance! She’s the bestselling author of the Out in College, Starting From, Better Than, A Kind Of, Right and Wrong, and Leaning Into Series! Lane loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). All things she can find in sunny SoCal where she lives with her amazing husband in a not quite empty nest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
February 9, 2019
Warning! Review of a Tired! Cranky! Slumping reader!
Oh boy! I love Lane’s writing. She is one of those authors who have perfected the single POV, well crafted mm- romance writing. So what the hell is up with these MM-N/A books?
Ugh! Me is cracky! Me is again disappointed! Me is taking a break from these types of books.
I'm so sick of that same old story, that shit, it makes me cracky
I'm so sick of that same old story, my brain’s had enough
Oh, (that same old story)
It goes like this!
Boy 1 meets Boy 2.
Boy 1’s cock notices but he is afraid to act because of he is a football player and what will people say? Oh! and boy 1 has a secret.
Boy 1 is in the closet and Boy 2 is out and proud.
Boy 1 and Boy 2 start a secret relationship.
First Kiss! Hot! Hot! Hot!
Date!
First sex! The usual, Supplies (I don’t like this word) to mean lube and condoms, 1 finger, 2 fingers, ready enter, hot! scream! shoot ribbons of cum.
Boy 1 reveals the anti-climatic secret.
Boy 1 and Boy 2 fall in love, say the L word.
Sex! Sex and more Sex!
Between 80-90% - Cue Martyr trope, or Miscommunication.. Ugh! I dislike this with a passion.
Boy 2 breaks up with boy 1 to protect him. *Eye roll*
90% public declaration of love, make up sex and they live happily ever after!
THE END!
Oh! And a bitchy, evil, stalker female character.
Oh boy! I love Lane’s writing. She is one of those authors who have perfected the single POV, well crafted mm- romance writing. So what the hell is up with these MM-N/A books?
Ugh! Me is cracky! Me is again disappointed! Me is taking a break from these types of books.
I'm so sick of that same old story, that shit, it makes me cracky
I'm so sick of that same old story, my brain’s had enough
Oh, (that same old story)
It goes like this!
Boy 1 meets Boy 2.
Boy 1’s cock notices but he is afraid to act because of he is a football player and what will people say? Oh! and boy 1 has a secret.
Boy 1 is in the closet and Boy 2 is out and proud.
Boy 1 and Boy 2 start a secret relationship.
First Kiss! Hot! Hot! Hot!
Date!
First sex! The usual, Supplies (I don’t like this word) to mean lube and condoms, 1 finger, 2 fingers, ready enter, hot! scream! shoot ribbons of cum.
Boy 1 reveals the anti-climatic secret.
Boy 1 and Boy 2 fall in love, say the L word.
Sex! Sex and more Sex!
Between 80-90% - Cue Martyr trope, or Miscommunication.. Ugh! I dislike this with a passion.
Boy 2 breaks up with boy 1 to protect him. *Eye roll*
90% public declaration of love, make up sex and they live happily ever after!
THE END!
Oh! And a bitchy, evil, stalker female character.
October 14, 2018
~4.5~
When Mitch asks Evan to be his "faux boyfriend" for a social media class project, Evan readily agrees. Evan is a good guy, but not that good. He has ulterior motives, namely: get to know Mitch better, MUCH better.
Evan is a tight end (this is American football speak, not sexual innuendo, although his ass is tight indeed). Mitch is a cheerleader. Both are seniors in college. Mitch just broke up with a closeted bi guy, so he's reluctant to date another one. But Evan is different, or so he says.
The last time Evan tried to come out, it didn't go well. And that's an understatement. So Evan goes along with his football buddy who tries to set him up with a woman who has the hots for him. And when Mitch and Evan's videos go viral, Evan isn't prepared for the attention. Maybe he's not ready to be out after all?
Mitch and Evan have a spark. Their interactions are easy and real. Mitch buys Evan pink candy and charms Mitch's grandma, whom I LOVED (I wished we'd seen more of her in this story).
This book is low on the angst, high on the steam. The guys can't keep their hands off one another. Holy sexy, batman!
I loved the epilogue too. It was the perfect way to wrap up this delicious story. Sometimes flowers are better than candy.
Mitch and Evan's story overlaps with the first book of the series but stands alone. The sneak peek of book 3 made me positively giddy!
When Mitch asks Evan to be his "faux boyfriend" for a social media class project, Evan readily agrees. Evan is a good guy, but not that good. He has ulterior motives, namely: get to know Mitch better, MUCH better.
Evan is a tight end (this is American football speak, not sexual innuendo, although his ass is tight indeed). Mitch is a cheerleader. Both are seniors in college. Mitch just broke up with a closeted bi guy, so he's reluctant to date another one. But Evan is different, or so he says.
The last time Evan tried to come out, it didn't go well. And that's an understatement. So Evan goes along with his football buddy who tries to set him up with a woman who has the hots for him. And when Mitch and Evan's videos go viral, Evan isn't prepared for the attention. Maybe he's not ready to be out after all?
Mitch and Evan have a spark. Their interactions are easy and real. Mitch buys Evan pink candy and charms Mitch's grandma, whom I LOVED (I wished we'd seen more of her in this story).
This book is low on the angst, high on the steam. The guys can't keep their hands off one another. Holy sexy, batman!
I loved the epilogue too. It was the perfect way to wrap up this delicious story. Sometimes flowers are better than candy.
Mitch and Evan's story overlaps with the first book of the series but stands alone. The sneak peek of book 3 made me positively giddy!
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October 14, 2025
RATING 4.5 STARS
Out in the End Zone is book two in the Out in College series by Lane Hayes. This is only the second book but I’m loving this series. They’re just short enough that I can get completely lost in the story and know that the HEA is coming soon.
We met Evan di Angelo in the previous book as Derek’s roommate and best friend. The time line runs parallel to the first book so both Evan and Derek are going through pretty much the same thing at the same time. Figuring out who they really were and finding the person they were meant to be with. Evan is a football player at a private college near the one Derek attends. He is twenty three years old.
Mitch Peterson is an out and proud gay man. He is also twenty three. Both he and Evan are fifth year seniors. Mitch is a cheer leader and also finishing up his degree in communication. For his senior project, he needs someone to help him. When he and Evan run into each other at a party and begin talking, he just knows that Evan is the right choice.
Whenever Evan is around Mitch recently, he gets all flustered and tongue tied. He has no idea why. When they run into each other at a party and get to talking, finally he gets past the awkward part and they hit it off. When Mitch asks him to help with his big project, he knows he’ll say yes, if only for the reason that it will allow him to spend more time with him.
After a traumatic event in Evan’s life five years ago, he knows you have to grab what life gives you and right now, life has given him Mitch. He has no idea where this will go, not to mention that he’s not out. All he knows is that he wants to be around Mitch as much as possible. They’ll figure the rest out as they go. Or will they?!
You can’t help but to love these two. I felt like they were both pretty mature for twenty three. I have to add here that Evan’s favorite candy is peanut M&M’s. I love him just for that fact alone! Together, these two just worked. They brought out the best in each other. But there are still hurdles to cross. Evan needs to figure out if he’s ready to put his past behind him and live out in the open, or possibly lose the man that has quickly become the center of his world.
As I said, this is a quick read. Now I can’t wait to start the next book, Christian, Evan’s teammate’s book called Out in the Offense.
Out in the End Zone is book two in the Out in College series by Lane Hayes. This is only the second book but I’m loving this series. They’re just short enough that I can get completely lost in the story and know that the HEA is coming soon.
We met Evan di Angelo in the previous book as Derek’s roommate and best friend. The time line runs parallel to the first book so both Evan and Derek are going through pretty much the same thing at the same time. Figuring out who they really were and finding the person they were meant to be with. Evan is a football player at a private college near the one Derek attends. He is twenty three years old.
Mitch Peterson is an out and proud gay man. He is also twenty three. Both he and Evan are fifth year seniors. Mitch is a cheer leader and also finishing up his degree in communication. For his senior project, he needs someone to help him. When he and Evan run into each other at a party and begin talking, he just knows that Evan is the right choice.
Whenever Evan is around Mitch recently, he gets all flustered and tongue tied. He has no idea why. When they run into each other at a party and get to talking, finally he gets past the awkward part and they hit it off. When Mitch asks him to help with his big project, he knows he’ll say yes, if only for the reason that it will allow him to spend more time with him.
After a traumatic event in Evan’s life five years ago, he knows you have to grab what life gives you and right now, life has given him Mitch. He has no idea where this will go, not to mention that he’s not out. All he knows is that he wants to be around Mitch as much as possible. They’ll figure the rest out as they go. Or will they?!
You can’t help but to love these two. I felt like they were both pretty mature for twenty three. I have to add here that Evan’s favorite candy is peanut M&M’s. I love him just for that fact alone! Together, these two just worked. They brought out the best in each other. But there are still hurdles to cross. Evan needs to figure out if he’s ready to put his past behind him and live out in the open, or possibly lose the man that has quickly become the center of his world.
As I said, this is a quick read. Now I can’t wait to start the next book, Christian, Evan’s teammate’s book called Out in the Offense.
November 17, 2018
This story was fine, but was a bit like cotton candy in that it tasted good in my mouth while reading, but I really don't see me remembering much about it in a couple of days. : (
Very cute, but nothing utterly memorable to set it apart from a hundred other fluffy books I've read and already forgotten.
3.25 stars.
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October 15, 2018
I ended up liking this more than I thought I would.
After the first few chapters, I was afraid the characters were going to read as too immature for me.
But I thought Mitch and Evan were cute and sweet together.
Overall this one ended up being a nice easy, low angst read with some good steam.
Lane Hayes wins again.
After the first few chapters, I was afraid the characters were going to read as too immature for me.
But I thought Mitch and Evan were cute and sweet together.
Overall this one ended up being a nice easy, low angst read with some good steam.
Lane Hayes wins again.
November 30, 2018
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*A Cute Read*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
I didn't read book one as it didn't seem all that interesting, however, this one did. Fake boyfriends? Count me in! The book centers around football player Evan ‘Ev’ di Angelo (23) and the out and proud cheerleader Mitch Peterson (23). Mitch has a project where he'll fake a relationship on YouTube in order to see if people think they're real or not, and Evan is perfect for the fake boyfriend part. As time goes, they become not so fake boyfriends... Overall, it was a cute, fast forward book, with great chemistry between the two characters. There was no ‘oh shit’ moment, no ‘I'm gonna cry’ moment, the book was just a nice little read about two people who becomes lovers.
Other Characters:
→ Chelsea, Mitch's best friend. Also close friends with Derek.
→ Derek Vaughn, Evan's best friend and roommate.
→ Gabe Chadwick, on Derek's team and becomes his boyfriend. (They were the main couple of book one.)
→ Rory, Mitch's ex-boyfriend who's in the closet.
→ Christian, team captain of the football team?
→ Jonesie, teammate of Evan and Christian.
→ Nicole, a girl who has a crush on Evan.
My heart threatened to burst at the sight of him standing in a halo of light next to Chelsea. He stood out in a crowd with his tight jeans and a sparkly “Rainbow crusader” sweatshirt. Or maybe it was something else entirely. All I knew was, he looked like sunshine. A sparkly, incandescent beautiful man. And fuck, I loved him. No doubt. I was L-word, all caps, head over heels for him.
I sidled through a small opening and raced toward him, pulling him into a fierce embrace. “You’re here.”
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (New Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M).
Series: - Series (Can Be Read As A Standalone), Book Two.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Mitch Peterson, I think.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Sure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Sure.
Will I read this again in the future? - Don't think so.
Rating - 3 stars.
January 19, 2019
Review tomorrow when I'm at the laptop.
Weeee, this was a delight. It overlaps with book one in the series but can still be read as a standalone. I loved Evan and Mitch. Evan was like a giant puppy, eager but naive and sensitive and, once his past was revealed, it made perfect sense.
Mitch was just a great character, he's out and proud and happily living his life without complications, but he's also vulnerable, apart from his grandmother, he's never been put first as a priority, both his parents essentially abandoning him for their careers.
There's just a really sweet romance at the heart of this "fake" boyfriends trope when it becomes clear that pretending to have a relationship - so Mitch can use the YouTube videos for his final year project on the impact of social media - not only isn't a hardship but, for Evan, is becoming the central part of his life.
I will say, Evan also frustrated me for a long time but, once I knew what happened in his past, it became crystal clear why he behaved as he did. It's not horrible behaviour, so no need to worry there! Just a wee angsting about accepting his bisexuality.
Also, there was a brief bit of plotline which just didn't seem to go anywhere and, while I got that it was a bit more background to the big reveal later, I think it may have benefitted from a small follow up reference as to whether Evan did anything or not about it. Sorry to be cryptic but it's a fairly big spoilery type thing!
Even though these guys are college age at just 23, I firmly believed in their Happy Ever After and can quite easily picture them muddling along together for the rest of their lives.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
Weeee, this was a delight. It overlaps with book one in the series but can still be read as a standalone. I loved Evan and Mitch. Evan was like a giant puppy, eager but naive and sensitive and, once his past was revealed, it made perfect sense.
Mitch was just a great character, he's out and proud and happily living his life without complications, but he's also vulnerable, apart from his grandmother, he's never been put first as a priority, both his parents essentially abandoning him for their careers.
There's just a really sweet romance at the heart of this "fake" boyfriends trope when it becomes clear that pretending to have a relationship - so Mitch can use the YouTube videos for his final year project on the impact of social media - not only isn't a hardship but, for Evan, is becoming the central part of his life.
I will say, Evan also frustrated me for a long time but, once I knew what happened in his past, it became crystal clear why he behaved as he did. It's not horrible behaviour, so no need to worry there! Just a wee angsting about accepting his bisexuality.
Also, there was a brief bit of plotline which just didn't seem to go anywhere and, while I got that it was a bit more background to the big reveal later, I think it may have benefitted from a small follow up reference as to whether Evan did anything or not about it. Sorry to be cryptic but it's a fairly big spoilery type thing!
Even though these guys are college age at just 23, I firmly believed in their Happy Ever After and can quite easily picture them muddling along together for the rest of their lives.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
October 11, 2018
Out in the End Zone by Lane Hayes is the second book in the Out in College series. When we first met Evan we in the last book we knew that he was working on a project with Mitch and spending time with him and we now get to find out what they've been up to. I won't tell you though- you have to read the book and find out. ;)
Alright, let's get down to likes and what I felt was missing.
What I liked:
-LH's smooth writing. Her stories have a steady pace that makes her stories easy and never dull to read.
-Likable characters. Both Mitch and Evan are great guys; they're sweet, funny, loyal men.
-The chemistry between them is tangible.
-OitEZ is low angst and feel good.
-The end is a lovely and believable (AND STRONG) HFN.
BUT something was missing...
And I think it was more Mitch. LH writes in first person and only has one narrator- and I am a dual POV junkie. She typically does an outstanding letting us know what the other character is feeling. Whether it's through dialogue, a look, a touch- I just felt like something was incomplete. I'm not sure if I'm conveying this well at all, but I didn't feel a "complete" connection to Mitch's feelings throughout the novella. This was my only niggle.
Can this be read as a standalone? I guess, but I think it stands better when read in order.
Overall, I enjoyed Out in the End Zone, what can I say I'm a sucker for sports romance. If you're in the mood for a short, sweet, sexy novella give this series a try!
4 Stars
October 30, 2018
Novella igual de sencilla que la primera, pero igual de mona y adorable, me está gustando esta serie de deportistas, es entretenida y deja con una sonrisa.
October 14, 2018
4+++ Stars
I loved this book, in fact I think it was even better than the first book. (All joking aside, the first book in the series has one of the best covers of the year....I mean DAAAYYYMMMMNNN)
I think bisexuality is one of the most difficult areas of sexuality to write and read about. (Not to mention live in the real world). Sometime it’s portrayed as a simple choice and other times it comes off as selfish, I think Ms. Hayes got it so right here. I think finding a life partner is difficult for most of us, but add very confusing feeling and social acceptance into the mix and you have what Evan was wading through. I loved the struggles each of the main characters were faced with, it felt very real. This was a couple you couldn’t help but root for.
I’m loving this series and am anxiously awaiting the third installment.
I loved this book, in fact I think it was even better than the first book. (All joking aside, the first book in the series has one of the best covers of the year....I mean DAAAYYYMMMMNNN)
I think bisexuality is one of the most difficult areas of sexuality to write and read about. (Not to mention live in the real world). Sometime it’s portrayed as a simple choice and other times it comes off as selfish, I think Ms. Hayes got it so right here. I think finding a life partner is difficult for most of us, but add very confusing feeling and social acceptance into the mix and you have what Evan was wading through. I loved the struggles each of the main characters were faced with, it felt very real. This was a couple you couldn’t help but root for.
I’m loving this series and am anxiously awaiting the third installment.
June 7, 2020
The second book in this series follows Evan and Mitch.
I didn't like this story as much as the first book but it continued to be super cute.
Mitch wants to do a social experiment on a youtube channel and prove how on the internet it is super easy to trick someone just to have followers, basically they will make videos saying they are boyfriends and talking about their "relationship" and let the viewers decide if the relationship is true or false ... Evan never told anyone that he also has an interest in men, and despite the risk he wants to "help" Mitch.
This is how it all starts, we all know that fake relationships will never stay that way and before long they start feeling things for each other, the question is, how far is our Evan willing to go to make a fake relationship into a true one?
Rating: 3.5 Stars.
Steam: 6 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
I didn't like this story as much as the first book but it continued to be super cute.
Mitch wants to do a social experiment on a youtube channel and prove how on the internet it is super easy to trick someone just to have followers, basically they will make videos saying they are boyfriends and talking about their "relationship" and let the viewers decide if the relationship is true or false ... Evan never told anyone that he also has an interest in men, and despite the risk he wants to "help" Mitch.
This is how it all starts, we all know that fake relationships will never stay that way and before long they start feeling things for each other, the question is, how far is our Evan willing to go to make a fake relationship into a true one?
Rating: 3.5 Stars.
Steam: 6 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
October 21, 2018
3.5-3.75 stars.
This is one of those cases that has to do with me and not the book. I loved how it started but I felt like I started to get bored during the second half and then I lost interest. But I'm glad I stuck through it till the end. Lane is an amazing author but this wasn't my favorite of hers.
An arc was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Find me on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Blog
This is one of those cases that has to do with me and not the book. I loved how it started but I felt like I started to get bored during the second half and then I lost interest. But I'm glad I stuck through it till the end. Lane is an amazing author but this wasn't my favorite of hers.
An arc was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Find me on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Blog
December 4, 2018
One part sports romance, one part college romance and a splash of fake relationship on the side.
Right from the start there was a weird dynamic between the MCs. They were supposed to be having a fake relatioship but almost off the batt everything became a lot more complicated than that and they had a fake relationship in public and a real one in private. The plot kept my interest and the side characters were well-crafted.
Evan and Mitch, their personalities, their interactions kind of reminded me of Matt and Aaron from Better Than Good. I'm curious if this couple reminded Matt and Aaron to anyone else or if that was just me. There were many common points but there were also a lot of differences so I can't say it was the same recipe just one that had one or two ingredients the same.
This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *
Right from the start there was a weird dynamic between the MCs. They were supposed to be having a fake relatioship but almost off the batt everything became a lot more complicated than that and they had a fake relationship in public and a real one in private. The plot kept my interest and the side characters were well-crafted.
Evan and Mitch, their personalities, their interactions kind of reminded me of Matt and Aaron from Better Than Good. I'm curious if this couple reminded Matt and Aaron to anyone else or if that was just me. There were many common points but there were also a lot of differences so I can't say it was the same recipe just one that had one or two ingredients the same.
This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *
November 18, 2018
This was a fun and enjoyable second installment in this series that held up with the first one. Evan agrees to do a project with Mitch - who shows up in the first book as Chelsea's best friend - and over the next few months while Derek and Gabe were having their secret relationship, so were Evan and Mitch, basically.
This is one of Haye's book which I wish at times we had gotten Mitch's POV, although I didn't crave it throughout the whole book, so that was a plus. But near the end and such, I wondered what he was thinking and why he did what he did. I don't think the break up was all that necessary, at all. It barely even felt like drama to me. It seemed unnecessary, especially because I knew it wouldn't last long.
Like I don't know why Mitch had to break up with Evan in order for Evan to come out on his own terms. It just seemed a little silly to me. Also why he's still trying to stay away from Evan after he came out very clearly (and on his own terms) but then a second later is like "okay!" and jumping Evan's arms. It just felt a little uneven.
But other than that this was a fairly shot, enjoyable story and Evan and Mitch had great chemistry and were cute together.
I will definitely be reading the next one, which seems to be about Christian and Rory. I recommend this one if you enjoyed the previous book. Thumbs up from me :D
This is one of Haye's book which I wish at times we had gotten Mitch's POV, although I didn't crave it throughout the whole book, so that was a plus. But near the end and such, I wondered what he was thinking and why he did what he did. I don't think the break up was all that necessary, at all. It barely even felt like drama to me. It seemed unnecessary, especially because I knew it wouldn't last long.
Like I don't know why Mitch had to break up with Evan in order for Evan to come out on his own terms. It just seemed a little silly to me. Also why he's still trying to stay away from Evan after he came out very clearly (and on his own terms) but then a second later is like "okay!" and jumping Evan's arms. It just felt a little uneven.
But other than that this was a fairly shot, enjoyable story and Evan and Mitch had great chemistry and were cute together.
I will definitely be reading the next one, which seems to be about Christian and Rory. I recommend this one if you enjoyed the previous book. Thumbs up from me :D
October 30, 2018
I really liked these guys. Evan was sweet and real and this could have been made angsty and I'm so glad that it did not. Mitch was a definite favorite! He was funny and I enjoyed his and Evan's talks and the time they spent together. I was glad that so I liked this, it was pretty quick, yummy, sweet and low-angst.
November 24, 2018
Fun, but not as good as the first.....
The second in Hayes "Out in College" series, it can be read as a standalone since the events here parallel the timeline in the first book (although if you read this one first, it spoils the "secret" project Evan has been working on.)
I liked it well enough, but there were things on it that kept stopping the flow of the story and my enjoyment of it:
1. The premise. I won't spoil it, but it is a weird setup/proposition. It also has no conclusion and this secret project is left hanging at the end of the book. It served as the basis for these two to get together, but then it's just forgotten at the end. What happened?
2. Momentum. When things would start to get hot and steamy, the action would stop because one of the MCs needed to talk. It stopped the heat build up. When they were done talking, they picked up right where they left off, throwing that delicious build out the window and dropping me in the middle of action without foreplay. Their talking made me forget what they had done before that point. It was disjointed. Talk about a cold shower in the middle of the action.
3. Evan (football player) has some great secret. But once it's revealed, it lacks punch and doesn't make me understand Evan's behavior any better.
4. Mitch (the one with the project) is fun and flirty. Overall,I liked him--I liked them both--but I didn't understand why he felt the need to let his project stop. Maybe he could have integrated the hypothesis on which he based his project with what really came to pass.
I liked this and it was fun seeing Evan fully embrace his bisexuality, I just needed a tighter story. I enjoyed the first book much more, although it was fun seeing book 1 from this parallel POV knowing the roommates were both embracing their bisexuality at the same time yet not confiding in each other. Dingbats!
The second in Hayes "Out in College" series, it can be read as a standalone since the events here parallel the timeline in the first book (although if you read this one first, it spoils the "secret" project Evan has been working on.)
I liked it well enough, but there were things on it that kept stopping the flow of the story and my enjoyment of it:
1. The premise. I won't spoil it, but it is a weird setup/proposition. It also has no conclusion and this secret project is left hanging at the end of the book. It served as the basis for these two to get together, but then it's just forgotten at the end. What happened?
2. Momentum. When things would start to get hot and steamy, the action would stop because one of the MCs needed to talk. It stopped the heat build up. When they were done talking, they picked up right where they left off, throwing that delicious build out the window and dropping me in the middle of action without foreplay. Their talking made me forget what they had done before that point. It was disjointed. Talk about a cold shower in the middle of the action.
3. Evan (football player) has some great secret. But once it's revealed, it lacks punch and doesn't make me understand Evan's behavior any better.
4. Mitch (the one with the project) is fun and flirty. Overall,I liked him--I liked them both--but I didn't understand why he felt the need to let his project stop. Maybe he could have integrated the hypothesis on which he based his project with what really came to pass.
I liked this and it was fun seeing Evan fully embrace his bisexuality, I just needed a tighter story. I enjoyed the first book much more, although it was fun seeing book 1 from this parallel POV knowing the roommates were both embracing their bisexuality at the same time yet not confiding in each other. Dingbats!
February 4, 2019
Michael Pauley continues narrating the Out in College series with distinct, easy to follow character voices, good pacing and timing, and I really like the way he infuses emotion into the text.
This is a New Adult series focusing on early twenties college students recognizing and coming to grips with their sexuality while falling in love. In this installment be prepared for some angst, including a break up, and some outside influence into the relationship.
While I really like Lane Hayes writing style, I must admit I prefer her older characters.
Single POV, pretend boyfriends that change to become very real boyfriends, with some angst, some very nice steamy moments, some miscommunication, and a happy ending.
Though Out in the End Zone can be read as a standalone, I would recommend picking up Out in the Deep first.
Audio copy of Out in the End Zone provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
August 6, 2022
4 surprising couple stars
I might need a re-read to refresh my memories, but I know I really liked the characters - especially Mitch💕 - and the plot was very enjoyable. So RTC !
I might need a re-read to refresh my memories, but I know I really liked the characters - especially Mitch💕 - and the plot was very enjoyable. So RTC !
February 3, 2019
4.5*
We first met Evan, Mitch, and many of the characters in this story in book 1 (Out in the Deep), so although it’s not entirely necessary to have read/listened to that first, I think it’s a good idea to get some background on these characters and the timeline as the two stories run concurrently.
I like how Lane Hayes creates her various series with a group of characters and in each subsequent story we find out more about one or two of them. In this series, one or both of the main characters are bisexual and are seniors (aged 23) at college. Here it is Evan who explores his previously suppressed bisexuality as he falls for Mitch.
Out in the End Zone is a twist on the fake boyfriends trope. Evan agrees to take part in Mitch’s YouTube/social media project where viewers have to decide whether or not they are in a real relationship. They pretend to be boyfriends for the camera, but behind the scenes they actually fall for each other. As with Derek and Gabe in book 1, Evan struggles with accepting his sexuality and wants to remain in the closet at first. Of course, Lane never makes it easy for the poor guys. Evan has to deal with a female admirer and a friend who is trying to push them together, which in turn threatens to come between Evan and Mitch. Evan also has to build up the courage to come out to his teammates and also his housemate, Derek.
This is an enjoyable, well-written story with some lovely steamy moments. The inevitable ‘break-up’ scene felt a little contrived and I didn’t fully understand Mitch’s thinking here. Other than that, the main characters are well portrayed and very likeable.
Michael Pauley’s narration is good. He created distinct voices to match the characters’ personalities. It was clear who was speaking throughout. The emotions and passion were expressed well and made the steamy scenes even hotter. The pacing and narrative style made for easy and enjoyable listening. I like that the same narrator is used throughout a series to maintain continuity of character voices.
Review also posted on Gay Book Reviews:
https://gaybook.reviews/2019/02/03/li...
We first met Evan, Mitch, and many of the characters in this story in book 1 (Out in the Deep), so although it’s not entirely necessary to have read/listened to that first, I think it’s a good idea to get some background on these characters and the timeline as the two stories run concurrently.
I like how Lane Hayes creates her various series with a group of characters and in each subsequent story we find out more about one or two of them. In this series, one or both of the main characters are bisexual and are seniors (aged 23) at college. Here it is Evan who explores his previously suppressed bisexuality as he falls for Mitch.
Out in the End Zone is a twist on the fake boyfriends trope. Evan agrees to take part in Mitch’s YouTube/social media project where viewers have to decide whether or not they are in a real relationship. They pretend to be boyfriends for the camera, but behind the scenes they actually fall for each other. As with Derek and Gabe in book 1, Evan struggles with accepting his sexuality and wants to remain in the closet at first. Of course, Lane never makes it easy for the poor guys. Evan has to deal with a female admirer and a friend who is trying to push them together, which in turn threatens to come between Evan and Mitch. Evan also has to build up the courage to come out to his teammates and also his housemate, Derek.
This is an enjoyable, well-written story with some lovely steamy moments. The inevitable ‘break-up’ scene felt a little contrived and I didn’t fully understand Mitch’s thinking here. Other than that, the main characters are well portrayed and very likeable.
Michael Pauley’s narration is good. He created distinct voices to match the characters’ personalities. It was clear who was speaking throughout. The emotions and passion were expressed well and made the steamy scenes even hotter. The pacing and narrative style made for easy and enjoyable listening. I like that the same narrator is used throughout a series to maintain continuity of character voices.
Review also posted on Gay Book Reviews:
https://gaybook.reviews/2019/02/03/li...
October 11, 2018
I was so happy to see I was right and this was Evan’s story! It was so good. This one tugged at me hard, though. The chemistry they had was off the charts, but so many things had happened. I loved Evan from the first book and to see what makes him tick, and what had made him who he is…….yeah. wow.
To see Evan in everyday life, he's just a fun loving goof. Most everyone thinks he's straight, and although he's never said it out loud, he's far from it. He buried that side of himself. And when you find out why..oh my gah. *Cue tears* What I love, though, is in spite of the fear he carries around over what happened, he can't stay away from Mitch. Something calls to him. Just talking to Mitch has made him feel again and feel whole. So when Mitch has this super secret project to do, Evan jumps on it. With the first kiss he gives Mitch, as an experiment, it's over for Evan. He's hooked. And so is Mitch.
Evan has always been so easy going. But he has a few demons that haunt him. And *cue tears again*. What kills me is when he knows he has to tell Mitch. He's been so afraid of letting that side of him out again, but the thought of losing Mitch because of it. No. Not having Mitch in his life would be like cutting off his air supply. But it makes me so happy that he faces his fears. He pushes through and let's go. And that sweet teddy bear finally feels free.
With Mitch, I feel for him too. Yes, he's an out and proud gay man, but he deals with issues of his own. The worse being he will be all alone again. I know that feeling. No one ever wants to be truly alone. I don't care who you are. And having the morons he does for parents left him feeling like that. And yeah *cue tears*. These two. Shew.
But what these two never seem to realize for a while is the strength they have. They often feel fearful or worried, weakened. But the strength it takes to move on from what they've been through is phenomenal. They are such beautiful people.
I love these two. I have to say I really liked this one more than the first one. Something about these two just makes you feel. And I'm happy I got to meet them. I hope you give these two a chance as well. They are anxious to have their story read. ;)
http://lovebytesreviews.com
To see Evan in everyday life, he's just a fun loving goof. Most everyone thinks he's straight, and although he's never said it out loud, he's far from it. He buried that side of himself. And when you find out why..oh my gah. *Cue tears* What I love, though, is in spite of the fear he carries around over what happened, he can't stay away from Mitch. Something calls to him. Just talking to Mitch has made him feel again and feel whole. So when Mitch has this super secret project to do, Evan jumps on it. With the first kiss he gives Mitch, as an experiment, it's over for Evan. He's hooked. And so is Mitch.
Evan has always been so easy going. But he has a few demons that haunt him. And *cue tears again*. What kills me is when he knows he has to tell Mitch. He's been so afraid of letting that side of him out again, but the thought of losing Mitch because of it. No. Not having Mitch in his life would be like cutting off his air supply. But it makes me so happy that he faces his fears. He pushes through and let's go. And that sweet teddy bear finally feels free.
With Mitch, I feel for him too. Yes, he's an out and proud gay man, but he deals with issues of his own. The worse being he will be all alone again. I know that feeling. No one ever wants to be truly alone. I don't care who you are. And having the morons he does for parents left him feeling like that. And yeah *cue tears*. These two. Shew.
But what these two never seem to realize for a while is the strength they have. They often feel fearful or worried, weakened. But the strength it takes to move on from what they've been through is phenomenal. They are such beautiful people.
I love these two. I have to say I really liked this one more than the first one. Something about these two just makes you feel. And I'm happy I got to meet them. I hope you give these two a chance as well. They are anxious to have their story read. ;)
http://lovebytesreviews.com
January 26, 2019
Good stuff! I didn't love it as much as the first one but so far I have no complaints about this series.
On to the next one!
On to the next one!
October 1, 2021
***3 Stars***
“Something in me screamed that this was how it was supposed to be. I could have this forever if I was brave.”
Mitch is out and proud and Evan is bi and not so out. He and Mitch know each other through mutual friends and mostly see one another at the parties that their mutual friend Chelsea throws. Even at the beginning it's cute how flustered Evan gets around Mitch! Mitch is working on a data collection project and it requires him needing an online fake boyfriend and gaging whether people buy into it or not and even though Evan isn't out he dives right in, he just wants to spend time with Mitch! All very cute!
I was enjoying this one and at the same time I wasn't. I became so torn.
Likes and Dislikes:
+ Maryanne deserved more page time she is wonderful!
- Lane's need to write a very particular type of female characters with the exception to one or two. Amanda, Amanda's friend at the party, Amanda's friend Nicole. Please, there's gotta be another way of getting their character across whether they are good, bad, or inbetween without feeling so contrived. All of them with their "manicured nails", overly flirtatious ways, and ability to pop up where Ev was. I beg you to stop. There's gotta be a middle ground somewhere for these characters.
+ Cuteness. Mitch and Evan are adorable together. Candy and flowers and cookies and just wanting to be so connected with each other and not being afraid to admit that to each other.
- Evan. Lawd. He began to frustrate me. I loved him but also wanted to throttle him. I was not frustrated with his fear of coming out at all. His need to ignore things that could easily be sorted out on the other hand... He never once told Nicole straight up he wasn't interested. He skirted around it. Just say the words dude. And then if she continued after you that's on her. But also, while I hurt for what Evan went through, the moment he reveals it to Mitch didn't sit right with me. I felt like Mitch was struggling with some emotions but he had to push it aside because what Evan went through was so sad.
+ The project! I was liking that part of the story but do wish we could actually delve into it more.
- Lack of dual POV. I think there's some moments where it's really needed. Even in the moment between Evan and Mitch that I already talked about maybe it wouldn't have felt so bad if I got to see Mitch's POV.
+ Seeing Derek & Ev have the conversation around what both of them have been dealing with as their stories kind of go side by side.
- Saying that though I'm still not convinced of their friendship. We see very little of it.
+ The call with Evan's parents. His dad had me tearing up a little! Wish we could have seen his parents meeting Mitch and maybe even Mitch's grandma too!
+ epilogue cementing their Happily Ever After!
Probably gonna take a step back from this series for a bit. Some of the same issues for me have already cropped up in the first two so I don't want to get frustrated and burned out on the series. I'm sure I'll come back to it at some point!
“Something in me screamed that this was how it was supposed to be. I could have this forever if I was brave.”
Mitch is out and proud and Evan is bi and not so out. He and Mitch know each other through mutual friends and mostly see one another at the parties that their mutual friend Chelsea throws. Even at the beginning it's cute how flustered Evan gets around Mitch! Mitch is working on a data collection project and it requires him needing an online fake boyfriend and gaging whether people buy into it or not and even though Evan isn't out he dives right in, he just wants to spend time with Mitch! All very cute!
I was enjoying this one and at the same time I wasn't. I became so torn.
Likes and Dislikes:
+ Maryanne deserved more page time she is wonderful!
- Lane's need to write a very particular type of female characters with the exception to one or two. Amanda, Amanda's friend at the party, Amanda's friend Nicole. Please, there's gotta be another way of getting their character across whether they are good, bad, or inbetween without feeling so contrived. All of them with their "manicured nails", overly flirtatious ways, and ability to pop up where Ev was. I beg you to stop. There's gotta be a middle ground somewhere for these characters.
+ Cuteness. Mitch and Evan are adorable together. Candy and flowers and cookies and just wanting to be so connected with each other and not being afraid to admit that to each other.
- Evan. Lawd. He began to frustrate me. I loved him but also wanted to throttle him. I was not frustrated with his fear of coming out at all. His need to ignore things that could easily be sorted out on the other hand... He never once told Nicole straight up he wasn't interested. He skirted around it. Just say the words dude. And then if she continued after you that's on her. But also, while I hurt for what Evan went through, the moment he reveals it to Mitch didn't sit right with me. I felt like Mitch was struggling with some emotions but he had to push it aside because what Evan went through was so sad.
+ The project! I was liking that part of the story but do wish we could actually delve into it more.
- Lack of dual POV. I think there's some moments where it's really needed. Even in the moment between Evan and Mitch that I already talked about maybe it wouldn't have felt so bad if I got to see Mitch's POV.
+ Seeing Derek & Ev have the conversation around what both of them have been dealing with as their stories kind of go side by side.
- Saying that though I'm still not convinced of their friendship. We see very little of it.
+ The call with Evan's parents. His dad had me tearing up a little! Wish we could have seen his parents meeting Mitch and maybe even Mitch's grandma too!
+ epilogue cementing their Happily Ever After!
Probably gonna take a step back from this series for a bit. Some of the same issues for me have already cropped up in the first two so I don't want to get frustrated and burned out on the series. I'm sure I'll come back to it at some point!
October 10, 2018
☆ 3.25/5 ☆
Une lecture rapide et mimi, le genre de roman qui s'avale en une soirée, qui met du baume au coeur, mais qui s'oubliera somme tout assez vite.
Evan, on l'a brièvement croisé dans le tome 1 de cette série, puisque c'est le coloc de Derek. Evan est un étudiant de dernière année, il ne sait pas encore quel métier il va exercer, et fait partie de l'équipe universitaire de foot. Il est à l'aise avec la sexualité en général, et la sienne en particulier.
Aussi, lorsqu'il ressent une attirance pour un autre homme, il ne panique pas, au contraire.
Evan est un mec facile à vivre, le gars sympa qui a toujours une vanne pour détendre l'atmosphère, un mec simple et bien dans ses baskets. Il accepte sans sourciller la curieuse proposition de Mitch : jouer face caméra (sur youtube) au vrai/faux couple, dans le but de mener une étude sur les médias, projet final de Mitch pour ses études.
Évidemment, les deux étudiants vont passer de plus en plus de temps ensemble, et ils ne vont pas tarder à explorer cette attirance mutuelle !
La romance est mignonne et légère, c'est une histoire sans prise de tête, , qui fait le même effet qu'un paquet de bonbons !
Ce n'est pas le bouquin dont on se souviendra, mais il offre un agréable moment de lecture douce et mignonne.
Une lecture rapide et mimi, le genre de roman qui s'avale en une soirée, qui met du baume au coeur, mais qui s'oubliera somme tout assez vite.
Evan, on l'a brièvement croisé dans le tome 1 de cette série, puisque c'est le coloc de Derek. Evan est un étudiant de dernière année, il ne sait pas encore quel métier il va exercer, et fait partie de l'équipe universitaire de foot. Il est à l'aise avec la sexualité en général, et la sienne en particulier.
Aussi, lorsqu'il ressent une attirance pour un autre homme, il ne panique pas, au contraire.
Evan est un mec facile à vivre, le gars sympa qui a toujours une vanne pour détendre l'atmosphère, un mec simple et bien dans ses baskets. Il accepte sans sourciller la curieuse proposition de Mitch : jouer face caméra (sur youtube) au vrai/faux couple, dans le but de mener une étude sur les médias, projet final de Mitch pour ses études.
Évidemment, les deux étudiants vont passer de plus en plus de temps ensemble, et ils ne vont pas tarder à explorer cette attirance mutuelle !
La romance est mignonne et légère, c'est une histoire sans prise de tête, , qui fait le même effet qu'un paquet de bonbons !
Ce n'est pas le bouquin dont on se souviendra, mais il offre un agréable moment de lecture douce et mignonne.
January 28, 2019
3.5 stars. Would have been better if it weren’t so similar to the first book in the series, down to the over zealous girl. I liked the football setting better than water polo.
March 21, 2024
dolcino dolcino
October 22, 2018
Now see this right here is what I'm talking about. I love, loved, loved Evan and Mitch. Super sexy and low on angst. Evan has his issues but deep down he is a man who knows what he wants and that's Mitch. What started out as a project quickly became reality and both men knew they wanted each other. I didn't love the first book in this series but this one I went bananas for. Just a hot, sexy story of two guys falling in love and the HEA was just wonderful.
October 10, 2018
Sometimes I seek out action, other times heartbreak, and then there’s the days I want schmoopy- sweet and swoony romance that’s real enough to make an impact but not laden with angst that leaves me clutching my chest or in tears. That’s precisely where Out in the End Zone falls. The second release from Miss Hayes’s Out in College series, this standalone features a collegiate football player and a cheerleader. For those who did read the first of the series, it’s secondary characters Mitch and Evan’s chance to share their story. While there are some plot points tying the series together, I appreciated the marked differences between the two books- distinct character challenges, romance paths, and a bit of a different vibe running throughout, but leaving me equally satisfied and happy at the end.
I found Evan’s story slightly sad, but mostly uplifting and I loved that Out in the End Zone wasn’t the “typical” out-for-you college romance. I enjoyed seeing Evan work through his feelings for Mitch and repeatedly take charge and account for his feelings rather than hiding from or patently denying them. There was a strength of character in this book that definitely set it apart from others in the trope. With the story told from Evan’s point-of-view, there’s less focus on Mitch, but I found his quiet strength relatable and thought he complimented Evan well, and I loved their easy banter. The romance between the young men had a sweet, quiet vibe with some intense physical chemistry sprinkled in, but moved in a balanced pace. Overall, I found Out in the End Zone to be an enjoyable, easy read with a solid story arc despite being a little on the shorter side.
*eARC received via PA. The author had no influence over this review*
Reviewed by Annie from Alpha Book Club
I found Evan’s story slightly sad, but mostly uplifting and I loved that Out in the End Zone wasn’t the “typical” out-for-you college romance. I enjoyed seeing Evan work through his feelings for Mitch and repeatedly take charge and account for his feelings rather than hiding from or patently denying them. There was a strength of character in this book that definitely set it apart from others in the trope. With the story told from Evan’s point-of-view, there’s less focus on Mitch, but I found his quiet strength relatable and thought he complimented Evan well, and I loved their easy banter. The romance between the young men had a sweet, quiet vibe with some intense physical chemistry sprinkled in, but moved in a balanced pace. Overall, I found Out in the End Zone to be an enjoyable, easy read with a solid story arc despite being a little on the shorter side.
*eARC received via PA. The author had no influence over this review*
Reviewed by Annie from Alpha Book Club
January 28, 2019
You can see this and other Reviews I have written along with various cover reveals, excerpts, and giveaways here Nadine's Obsessed with BooksAhhh, Evan and Mitch, now this was an interesting match-up. The football player and the cheerleader is something we all knew about growing up right?!? Well, Lane Hayes takes that and gives us one heck of an MM Romance with a star football player and a male cheerleader.
Mitch is out and proud and I loved that about him. His happiness was infectious and I never wanted his light to dim. Evan is Derek's roommate from Out in the Deep, and these two books overlap one another in time but I honestly had no clue this was going on while listening to the first book but then as I listening to this one I was like "Oh Yeah, I remember that...Oh LOL I totally thought something else was going on" and in my defense so did Derek!
This story was a little more intense than the first one and there are a few reasons for that the first being Evan's past, I will not get into it because it will give to much away but wow did my heart break for him. And second, I was afraid at one point that there would be some gay-bashing within the story but I am really glad it didn't go where I had thought it would. Yes there is some teasing and things like that which is offensive but I really expected it to get dark at one point, but like I said before I am really, really glad it didn't go in that direction.
Once again the narrator, Michael Pauley, did an amazing job with this story. I am going to check out some of his other narrations and add them to my ever growing TBR shelf.
If you are a lover of MM romance with athletes I would recommend giving this book a read. It is relatively short and can be listened to in just one afternoon, but if you're like me you'll make a day of it listen to book 1 & 2. Happy Reading!!!
October 9, 2018
Out in the End Zone is a delightful little take on the friends-to-lovers/fake boyfriend trope. I really liked Evan and Mitch, they are sooo cute together. I enjoyed their banter and seeing their feelings grow as the story progressed. Evan is all-in when it comes to helping Mitch with his senior project, even if he’s not quite ready to go all-in when it comes to being "out". I liked Evan's journey, and learning why he was hesitant, even as he was falling for Mitch, to really let himself be fully invested. There were a few hiccups along the way, but I loved how Evan acknowledged what was holding him back and went about fixing things.
This book is a perfect example of what I love about a Lane Hayes book.- it’s so well written, low on angst, high on the sweet, and left me with a smile on my face. That could also have something to do with the couple coming in the next book- January can’t come soon enough!
This book is a perfect example of what I love about a Lane Hayes book.- it’s so well written, low on angst, high on the sweet, and left me with a smile on my face. That could also have something to do with the couple coming in the next book- January can’t come soon enough!
October 9, 2018
This series is shaping up to be very fun and sexy and just plain swoony. I might be a bit disappointed that Derek and Gabe didn't show up much, but Evan and Mitch definitely hold up the story by their own. Mitch is out and proud yell leader, which totally make me think of JVN when he was younger. Evan is a jock and probably bi, but he was seriously crushing hard on Mitch. What I like about straight guy Derek and Evan is that when they are interested in someone, they went all out instead of cowering in fear. Is fun seeing how Evan was obsessed with Mitch and even though they started out as a partner for a project, they soon developed something more and the project is the last thing they might care about. Coming out is always hard and Evan faced his own challenges. No matter how many times I read these coming out scene, they always make me teary eye. Overall, a very sexy and sweet read.
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