Us (Hockey Series Book 2)
Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
2016
324 pages
Overall Rating: 5/5
MM Sports Romance (Hockey)
Plot: Ryan Wesley and Jamie Canning know the value of keeping a secret– but that doesn’t mean they have to like it. They’ve been living together for months now, and no one even knows they’re a couple aside from their families and Wes’s hockey team managers. And for two men who are confident in themselves and unapologetically in love, pretending they are “just roommates” is pretty awful. But Wes and Jamie both know their silence is worth it because Wes is crushing his rookie season with Toronto, and the last thing he needs is for his Big Gay Moment to happen and overshadow everything he’s worked so hard for.
At least they have their apartment. Their home is like an oasis, a place where Wes and Jamie can be anonymous and themselves and shut out the rest of the world. Unfortunately, it seems Wes has been raving about the amazing views from his living room a little too loudly (mostly as a cover for his thoughts of how lovely Jamie looks living in his apartment, but of course, he can’t talk openly about that), and his Toronto teammate, Blake Riley, needs a new place to live and thinks he might like a piece of those downtown views for himself, so he moves in upstairs on a whim. Unfortunately, Blake is also a people person who loves surprises and is prone to unexpected visits. Wes and Jamie’s little oasis now feels a lot more like a bed and breakfast, and the strain of denying the most important thing in their lives becomes nearly intolerable, leaving both men wondering how they could possibly keep things under wraps until the end of the season.
First Take: OMG I could not put this book down. Ryan Wesley is one of my most favorite book boyfriends of all time. There is no one more important to him than Jamie, and his endless capacity to love him just had me swooning for hundreds of pages. There is so much gloriously juicy tension and secrecy in this book and it absolutely had me on the edge of my seat. My nail beds are decimated and it was so worth it.
Characters: Ryan Wesley is deliriously happy. He’s got Jamie and hockey– the two great loves of his life. Sure, the travel is rough and he wants nothing more than to bring Jamie as his date to all the team functions, but they have a plan to come out at the end of the season and Wes is nothing if not disciplined. In the meantime, he lives for the nights at home with his man, and he’s come up with creative ways to keep things spicy while he’s on the road. And his happiness is translating perfectly upon the ice– he’s having the kind of season most players only dream of. Jamie Canning, on the other hand, is finding the adjustment to grown-up life a little more difficult. He’s not used to keeping secrets and wishes he could be more of himself around his new coworkers. He loves being a coach, but it isn’t quite as easy as he thought it would be– teenagers can be awfully moody, especially when their team is losing. Best new character award goes to Blake Riley, Wes’s big, loud, and extremely lovable teammate. He is such a cuddly teddy bear who’s hilarious (the source of most of my LOLs this time around) and a lot more perceptive than anyone gives him credit for (he gets his own happy ending in Good Boy, also written by our dynamic duo).
Praises: While the first book in the series focused on Wes and Jamie getting together, this book is an exploration of really being together. There were so many cute little moments between them that felt really real and relatable. Wes and Jamie both mature a lot in this story and it was so, so satisfying to follow them on their journey. They deal with the struggles every human faces after high school: how to fit into the real world and adjust to that first grown-up job. It was all the more fascinating because of the added bonus of a behind-the-scenes look at professional hockey and the celebrity that comes along with that. I am a huge sucker for celebrity stories– who doesn’t want to imagine what it’s like to be famous?
Critiques: I’m sad it’s over. Sure, we get a snippet of Wes & Jamie’s future in Good Boy and the novella Epic, but I am really, really sad to say goodbye. There was also some angst in this book, which definitely made me a little sad at times and might turn off some readers, but it felt really necessary so I didn’t mind it aside from the near-tears. Also, I thought the ending was wrapped up well, but also abrupt. I can’t explain it, other than to say I thought the ending scene maybe felt a little incomplete? I dunno, I wanted more. But I think I’m just sad to see them go.
Themes: Coming of Age, Faith v Doubt, Family, Identity, Justice, Loneliness, Man v Self, Man v Society, Sacrificial Love
Overall Tone: Wes and Jamie go through some growing pains in their personal and professional lives as they transition into adulthood, and they’ll need to rely on their love for each other to carry them through it.
Prose: Dual first person POV from Wes & Jamie. They struggle with communication at times and things get pretty tense, but the emergence of Blake Riley brings some much-enjoyed comic relief.
Steam: 4/5. A little less steam than in book one, a little more kink.
Trigger Warnings: None.
Tropes: Athlete Hero, Coming Out, Forbidden Love, Fame, Secrets & Lies, Shared Pasts, Soul Mates
Kinks: A super fun Skype chat and some very creative texting.
Swear Jar: 5/5. Wes and Jamie are a little older, a little wiser– but still curse like sailors.
Cliffhanger: HEA. No cliffhanger.
Memorable quotes:
The man I love. Even now the phrase sticks in my mind with damn near wonder… The way I feel about Ryan Wesley… it’s something I thought existed only in the movies.
There’s an old quote my mother once painted on a ceramic platter. Love is friendship set on fire. I get it now.
I’ve just discovered that falling in love has a dark side. When you’re mad at the love of your life, it’s impossible to feel joy.
Worthy of a reread? OMG Yes.
Stand-Alones, Prequels, Sequels, & Tangents: Book 2 in the series, plus an epilogue/novella named Epic. Series should be read in order, with Epic last. Wes and Jamie also make appearances in two other M/F romances: Good Boy and Stay (WAGS books 1 & 2), both written by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy.
Check out more reviews at The Hopeless Romanticist blog!
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Popular Highlights in this book
I’ve just discovered that falling in love has a dark side. When you’re mad at the love of your life, it’s impossible to feel joy.Highlighted by 1,294 Kindle readers- The way I feel about Ryan Wesley…it’s something I thought existed only in the movies. He’s my other half. We complement each other in more ways than I can count. When he’s in the same room, I’m focused on him, and when he’s gone I walk around missing him.Highlighted by 1,236 Kindle readers
- “I trust who I am with Jamie. He’s known me since I was a pimply thirteen-year-old when we used to argue about video games. He doesn’t see me as Toronto’s rookie forward. He doesn’t care about my scoring average. I don’t try to impress him.”Highlighted by 1,164 Kindle readers
- I’ve spent too many weeks worrying about accepting help from Wes, because I didn’t want to appear weak. And the whole time he’s only been desperate to show how much he loves me.Highlighted by 1,059 Kindle readers
- Love is friendship set on fire. I get it now. But that doesn’t mean I’m not pissed at him.Highlighted by 667 Kindle readers
OMG this book was one heck of an emotional journey
I fell even more in love with this crazy cast of characters! ***** Rating: 5 stars Steam: 3 flames Genre: MM / Sports ***** Where HIM was light with a little angst, this book took me on an emotional rollercoaster of emotions. I think my heart broke so many times I am surprised it’s still beating. Jamie and Wes have moved to Toronto, but because Wes is in his rookie year of NHL Hockey, Wes has decided it is best to keep his sexuality and love for Jamie a secret. As far as anyone knows, Jamie and Wes are just buddies from hockey camp and roommates. Hmmm… I wonder what could go wrong. Almost instantly there is tension and when one of Wes’ teammates, Blake moves upstairs, Jaime and Wes’ secret hideout isn’t a secret or much of a hideout anymore. Time is already very precious with each of them on the road at separate times but bring on a gregarious and hilarious new tenant with no boundaries...there time is even more limited. The relationship begins to strain. Jaime is struggling in his new job. Wes is keeping secrets from his team. Both are not happy with the situation, but they can make it right...it’s only a year. This book had me chuckling, tearing up and I think I must have put the book down a few times just to catch my breath. To watch these two...so much in love slowly grow and fall apart. UGH!!! Jamie’s insecurities, Wes’ fear of being outed and ostracized by his team make for a terrible combination for a new relationship. Is their love strong enough to survive the challenges life throws at them? If you loved HIM, you would love US. A five-star book with wonderful characters, an engaging story that will keep you up well past your bedtime and an HEA that will leave you with a goofy smile on your face. A definite recommendation for me and now I am off to read Good Boy, not really book 3 but Blake and Jess’ book...I can’t wait to see those two combust!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2023
- Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2025
my heart broke for wes during the middle of this book because how could jamie be so selfish?
i get he was going through a tough situation but he only thought about himself and not how everything was affecting wes too😭
and the part where he left to california? it absolutely broke me. wes did not deserve that at all…
he didn’t deserve to feel like he was alone when his whole world was jamie and his family.
am i glad that jamie got his head out of his ass? ABSOLUTELY.
the way the whole team just embraced then after their coming out was beautiful 😍
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2017
- Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2025
Top reviews from other countries
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Tanja-WortWeltenReviewed in Germany on February 8, 2019
[REVIEW] Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy: Us (Him, #2)
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- Pierre J.Reviewed in Spain on March 29, 2022
A good but underwhelming sequel
I really enjoyed Us and the fact that we even got a sequel, but it doesn't compare to the excellent Him.Pierre J.A good but underwhelming sequel
Reviewed in Spain on March 29, 2022
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