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Jeff Russo, a somewhat surly full-time mall custodian and hobbyist storm chaser, feels fated to a life without intimacy, the wall cloud of past trauma poised to wreck every romantic relationship he tries to pursue. But when Jeff meets the constantly corny, very nerdy, and hopelessly endearing Gary Graham of radio station WKBR, he is helpless to fight his burgeoning feelings. Gary Graham, part-time calculus professor, part-time radio personality, and full-time self-proclaimed weirdo, has packed his schedule to the brim so that he might stave off loneliness. Afraid of losing people, Gary tends to latch on too tightly in his romantic relationships, which has only ever resulted in heartbreak. Jeff and Gary’s fast friendship threatens to turn into too much too soon, and their romantic intimacy seems to only forecast catastrophe. Forced out of his storm shelter, Jeff will have to face his trauma and learn how to be vulnerable, or chance losing the only man with whom he has ever felt truly safe. And Gary will have to let Jeff take the lead, or risk hurting the broody-yet-sweet man he is starting to love. Navigating intimacy in the middle of a metaphorical tornado isn’t easy, but Gary and Jeff are willing to try. Because true love is worth weathering the storm for. Set in 1985 in Niles, Ohio, Out of the Stormis a heartfelt MM romance with a torrent of humor, a flurry of heartache, and a sprinkling of spice.
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Another delightful read from Logan Sage Adams! I received an ARC of Out of the Storm and could not be more delighted that I did. This is a story about how to love someone the way they need to be loved. About healing - slowly and incompletely perhaps, but healing all the same - from trauma. About finding happiness with someone whose weirdness perfectly matches your own.
It’s funny and sweet. The chemistry between Gary and Jeff is deeply emotional and also silly and playful, with enough light moments to balance the heaviness of the more intense moments. I love that this is a love story about two average guys, not Exceptional People - just normal humans, with average jobs and average lives, navigating the complexities of loving another flawed human. I also love that, though there are some spicy moments, this book has a lot of sleepy snuggling, quiet hand-holding, and other everyday intimacies that make it feel comfortingly cozy.
The care Greg and Jeff show one another works so well because they are both fully developed characters in their own right. Alongside the bigger things (radio host, storm chaser) we learn about their more mundane favourites and pastimes, beloved music, family memories, preferred snacks - and all of this is shown to us, as part of the story, rather than told. I found Greg and Jeff deeply endearing, both individually and as they develop into a couple.
As with Adams’ first book, the historical setting in Out of the Storm feels like a character in its own right, rather than an afterthought. I’m a child of the 80s and can attest to the historical accuracy of so many tiny details in this book. Stovetop popcorn, fledgling vegetarian options, mall food courts… This was well researched and really helped me to see the world Greg and Jeff inhabit.
I’m a fan of heartfelt MM romance, particularly between genuinely flawed humans and often with some kind of trauma complicating things. Out of the Storm balances sexy, earnest, and healing in a way that feels similar to Cat Sebastian or Alexis Hall - with the added bonus of a unique and fully realized historical setting. Definitely recommend this book and can’t wait to see what Adams writes next.
Oh, and, for what it’s worth: they’re both wrong about potato salad. The ideal version involves BOTH mayo and vinegar - apple cider vinegar specifically.
(Do pay attention to the content notes - there’s nothing explicit on the page, but a lot of the conflict centres around a past sexual assault, so be sure to take extra care if that hits hard for you)
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