Local gay wins US championship of pathetic pining (affectionate).

I fucking love an author who is a gay ass nerd about their favourite sport and Mr Vellner, you are the Grand Slam champion of gay sports nerdery. I have never read such long and vivid match descriptions that are so genuinely riveting; I was on the edge of my seat (front row at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, obviously) until the very last page.

I would put this in my top 10 sports romances of all time, and boy have I read a lot.

BESTIES, let me tell you this is the best book I have read in a long time.

It sounds absurd - this book is literally asking the question "what would it take for you to f*ck yourself?" and somehow the answer is "not much at all". It shouldn't make sense... But it absolutely does. Of course, the person you feel most connected to, most vulnerable with, least insecure and ashamed with, most ready to bare it all to... Is yourself!

When sunshine karate instructor August Blackthorne meets another August Blackthorne (jaded physicist version) from an alternate universe, you think to yourself "this is going to be too weird". And before you can even question the nuclear mechanics of it all, it's suddenly a tale of self exploration and the importance of truly believing that loving yourself is the only way to save the universe(s).

This book had me laughing out loud non-stop - particularly at the unexpected celebrity cameo, the use of "science" as an explanation for why spicy scenes are an absolutely necessary plot point and the endearing roasting from the bravest and most wholesome friend group in any galaxy.

It would all be completely unbelievable and ridiculous if it didn't just... work!

I am bereft that it's over and I just hope me in every universe gets to read WH Lockwood's sexy mind bending words.

(Honest ARC review!)