College Boys by Daisy Harris

College Boys is the first book in The Men of Holsum College series.

College Boys (Book #1)
Diva and the Frat Boy (Book #2)
Townie and the Twink (Book #3)
Player and the Prude (Book #4)
Bossy and the Brat (Book #5)
Pride and Politics (Book #6)
Genius and the Jock (Book #7)
My Fair Dork (Book #8)

The Blurb…

When soccer star Chris Fischer moves next door to an openly gay classmate, he doesn’t realize the wall between their rooms will be so thin he’ll hear his neighbor’s every move. But soon he and Peter become friends, and Chris is intrigued—imagining what happens on the other side of the wall.

Active on the Queer Student Council, Peter Cohen wishes he wasn’t so damn hot for his straight neighbor. He can’t tell if Chris is flirting or in denial or what, but Chris’s innocent overtures lure Peter into flirtation that throws his world into chaos. Peter doesn’t want to date a closet case, but he desperately, passionately wants Chris.

Soon Chris must choose whether to run away from his new feelings or embrace a relationship with the guy he loves. And Peter must decide if he can give his heart to a guy who hasn’t yet figured it all out.

So what did I think?

This is the story of Chris, the sporty soccer player and Peter, his gay neighbour who lives in the dorm room next door. Chris has not acknowledged his true sexuality but has all the signs of not being straight. Peter has a huge crush on Chris but doesn’t want to push him if he is not ready and also has no desire to date anyone still in the closet.

From the blurb, I was expecting a pretty straight forward plot, following a fairly standard formula for college gay-for-you/coming out. However, the author actually provided a story with a strong emotional element and definite level of realism.

Chris is a soccer player so I expected trouble from his friends. Yes, there is some heckling but the reaction from the team is not sensationalised.

Peter is active on the Queer Student Council so I expected a strong political message. Yes, there is a message about diversity and tolerance but it is subtle.

Chris is listening to Peter through the thin walls of their room and imagining ‘gay sex’ (“Chris wasn’t even sure what “all the way” meant between two guys, and the thought made him feel uncomfortable, nervous, and intrigued all at once.”) but the sex in the book, hot as it is, is really about the emotional not just the physical.

I think it was the gentle pace of the romance and the lack of over-the-top big drama that actually lead me to enjoy this book, the realism enhancing the story. It also helped that both Chris and Peter were really likable characters.

Interesting secondary characters, such as Peter’s best friend Nathaniel, have definitely piqued my interest in reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing a copy for review through NetGalley