Liz

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Liz is Currently Reading

Liz is currently reading

Role Model (Game Changers, #5)

by Rachel Reid

bookshelves: romance, lgbtqia, favorites, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in February 2024

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Liz said: " A couple things up front. There's some pretty intense discussion of SA and treatment of victims in this one. It was handled well, even if the league commissioner expressed some really terrible views on it. (This was super realistic but also really gr A couple things up front. There's some pretty intense discussion of SA and treatment of victims in this one. It was handled well, even if the league commissioner expressed some really terrible views on it. (This was super realistic but also really gross.) Also, everyone knows how Troy has been in previous books and going from that homophobia to "surprise, he's been gay this whole time" could be pretty problematic. The difference I felt here was that he was using the words to delude himself into thinking he wasn't gay, he was using them as a shield against being found out. It doesn't make it better, but it is different and given his toxic relationship with his father (super fuck that guy), I think it gave enough grey area to get why he was acting that way.

And his journey was great. Starting the book with him calling out his friend is such a surprise and the way everything flows from it was really interesting. Yeah, he had moments of doubt and fear, but the entire time he actively considering his actions and who he wanted to be versus who others thought he was and should be.

Harris was the best balance. Super sunshine-y and positive without being cloying or annoying. I liked that he gave Troy space to figure things out and yet still supported him.

I am a low angst person so the lack of third act conflict really made me happy. And not even just because I am not a huge fan of that kind of conflict, but Troy was already dealing with so many other things that it made sense not to have one.

(His coming out to his mom was so nice and then the scene where she showed up at the Pride game made me cry. Oof.)

Also, all the team stuff. It really made me happy to get Wyatt again and, obviously, everything with Ilya. The whole scene of them all out at Kingfisher was perfection from actually being at the bar to Troy's walk back with Ilya. Still screaming about Ilya tacitly confirming his relationship to Shane!!

Anyhow, I really just loved this from start to finish. I can't believe I get to follow it up with the Shane & Ilya bookend. ...more "

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(77%)
— Jul 25, 2026 12:10PM

Feb 17, 2024 08:54AM · see review