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The Locker Room

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'The Locker Room' by Amy Lane is a heartfelt story that follows the journey of Xander and Chris from their teenage years to adulthood. The book explores themes of first love, coming out, and the challenges faced by gay athletes in the world of professional sports. The writing style is described as emotional and captivating, with a focus on the evolving relationship between the two main characters over a span of fifteen years.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Xander and Chris exhibiting growth and depth as they navigate their relationship and external challenges.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is emotionally rich and realistic, effectively melding romance with sports themes while conveying the challenges faced by the characters.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on a Young Adult coming-of-age story that intricately weaves together themes of love, basketball, and the struggles of being gay in a homophobic sports culture.

Setting:

The setting effectively combines a basketball backdrop with a focus on personal and societal dynamics, particularly around issues of homophobia.

Pacing:

The pacing varies from intense to slower moments, with some occasional disjointedness that may frustrate readers.
Some guys wore suits after a game—snazzy, top of the line, slick, bright ties, newest-cut shirt suits—the kind that impressed the snot out of fans and fucks alike, but not Chris and Xander. When they ...

Notes:

The book is a Young Adult Coming of Age story, not primarily focused on sex.
Xander and Chris meet at 15 and their relationship grows from friendship to love.
Xander comes from a troubled background with a drug-addicted mother, while Chris has a more supportive family.
Their love is portrayed as a deep, familial bond rather than just a romantic connection.
They struggle with societal expectations, playing straight in public while hiding their true relationship.
The story covers their journey from adolescence to professional basketball players.
The author, Amy Lane, incorporates the challenges of being gay in sports in a non-dramatic way.
The ending has a cliffhanger, allowing readers to predict the characters' future without a definitive conclusion.
The narrative is described as highly emotional, focusing more on feelings than physical passion.
Readers connect deeply with the characters, despite the book's length and some pacing issues.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains high content warnings for themes related to homophobia, addiction, emotional distress, and angst.

Has Romance?

The book contains a strong romantic element, focusing on the relationship between Xander and Chris.

From The Publisher:

Xander Karcek has only wanted two things in his life: Christian Edwards and basketball-the man he loves and the game that let him escape a childhood he'd rather forget. His two obsessions have served him well. He and Chris beat the odds and stayed together through high school, college, and right on to the NBA. But life under fame's microscope isn't easy, especially when two men are pretending to be frat-buddies so the world doesn't know they're the next best thing to married. Their relationship survives the sacrifices they make and the lies they tell to stay together, but when their secret is exposed, the fallout might destroy them when nothing else could. Chris and basketball are the two things holding Xander together. Now the world is asking Xander to make a choice. Is there an option that includes a future with the man he loves?

Ratings (3)

Incredible (1)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (6):

Read It (4)
Want To Read (2)
 
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