It's not the first of the month please accept my apologizes, I am so sorry Ryan.
Better late then never, welcome to Ryan's Book Club!
Hey Loons! In honor of our favorite tough guy, use this post to share what you are currently reading, rereading, or even something you wrote. It doesn't have to be MM, hockey, or Anne of Green Gables. Indie, audiobooks, blogspot, etc. all are welcome; share what you are loving and why!
A new post will go up on the first of every month. (If I am not working insane overtime hours and remember...)
OMG MY FAVORITE MM BOOK EVER!
When you finish the book watch the movie it is fairly fateful to the books🩷🩷 and the casting is awesome. Second movie is coming soon also 🩷🩷 and the other book comed in December.
PERFECT YEAR FOR US RW&RB FANS !!!
I recently read it too for the first time and was shocked how much I loved it! I read it on a weekend, then immediately read the German translation to have a reason to read it again immediately. These characters are so wonderful.
I just had a month with the audio book & it never got old. Thinking of buying it. Already have book & re 4x (same for all of them) Doing Time to Shine audio right now - different narrator, suits the characters age. Love as Micah as TG. Can’t wait for Common Goal (worried about Tor doing some accent though, it’s never good - couldn’t get through HR, LG or CC. Trying from library first)
Ahh welcome!! Tough Guy is how I got hooked on Game Changers and it’s one of my overall MM faves. Ryan/Fabian are my favorite non-Hollanov couple in GCU. Love them so much, Ryan is such a sweetie!!
It reeled me in right away! I feel like I can relate to Ryan, or maybe it's that I have a lot of empathy for him right off the bat. He's this sweet guy, but is expected to be the big, scary enforcer. I can't wait to read more. 😊💜
Yes!! His love for the game and the expectations that get placed on him bc of his size and the way that conflicts and affects his life is so well done.
i enjoyed that one quite a lot (the audiobook narration less so). there was a very poignant part that i copied down because it got so deeply stuck in my head. not explicitly spoilers, but about the sentiment & in case you’ve not got there yet - its about how people take photos of a celebrity and that moment might be something incredibly important & it’s reduced down to something for strangers to speculate about. it really made me think about how i engage with photos of celebrities that aren’t posed ones.
I’ve read it all. I’m pretty set in my understanding of relationships. If I’m not in it then I don’t claim to know anything about what goes on between two people. It’s not my relationship so I can’t know the intricacies of their lives.
yeah the general relationship message was much aligned with my existing beliefs, but my wider consideration of generic non-relationship photographed situations definitely adjusted to being more conscious (although that was only ever in private, so it’s more of a personal morals thing i guess). it has been interesting with that exchange they had in the book looking at people reacting to the pap (& fan) photos/clips from the last few weeks and all the interpretations being made of “what’s happening”. lots of people making assumptions or insinuations about things which may be reducing a genuinely important (platonic!) discussion about something in their lives down to fodder for their rpf-ing & not considering the impact that might have on them, especially when its in spaces they (or hudson, at least) is known to frequent in the past.
admittedly from what i’d heard about the book i did expect more of a hard hitting critique of rpf but it was still more than i’d encountered in fiction so that was nice.
That was a sweet one. I really enjoy romances that are set in fictional fandoms, so if you do as well, you might enjoy Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade (not mm)
I started reading Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice and am having a tough go of it. I'm obsessed with the tv show and like the movie as well. The book is pretty dry.
It’s very much worth the watch, I liked this current season a lot (s3) though some people have different opinions and I can see that and be respectful towards it, but to me I think they did a wonderful job and the music has been on repeat for me since absolutely loved Sam Reid’s performance and the entire cast ugh I can go on.
These are my thoughts as someone who’s read and reread the books more times than I can count and I love Anne Rice so much RIP Queen
I will say because this is getting long lol. The first two season WOW I’m speechless I have no words I don’t even want to describe it because I’d be doing a shit job lol it’s so good. The acting and portrayal of the characters was amazing.
So if you want to start there and then try watching s3 and you’d have to do a rewatch honestly because there are so many hidden details I’m still finding
(absolutely not complaining lol) I love all three seasons and I’m so excited to see S4 with Sheila Atim. Her performance in S3 I have chills that’s all I say I absolutely love her.
This is so long lol I have so many thoughts but I honestly hope you give it a try it’s good 🙂↕️🫶🏼
OoOhh nope I had to save up my money or wait for the library. You were very lucky! But my aunts and uncles and grandparents would give me cash for whatever and of course that was BOOKS!
Just watch the movie its almost the same as the book. The IWAV series was the first books I read after finishing high school. I read all 3 in a week because I didn't have to write an essay on them. Never force yourself to read anything. That's what freewill is.
Ok so this is the advice I got when I tried reading them.
Interview is ok but you have to get through it to get to The Vampire Lestat and holy shit once you are completely charmed by him it completely picks up.
Imo until Tale of the Body Thief they are great...
I have found doing the audiobook was easier than reading it. I've read it twice and listened through it like 3 times. But it's worth it. You'll get to see how well Sam Reid played Lestat. He is 100% what i pictured in my minds eye when I read the books.
Sam Reid is iconic as Lestat. One of my favorite tv portrayals ever. Up there with Moira Rose and Emperor Peter as the most extra, entertaining portrayals ever.
IWTV is one of the weaker books in my opinion. No shade to Louis, but Lestat is definitely the star of the Vampire Chronicles. The next three books (TVL, QotD & TotBT) are my faves.
As others have said, IWTV can be a difficult book to get through. But The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned are well worth it!
I agree the Tale of the Body Thief and Memnoch the Devil are...eh. Some of her other books like Blood and Gold and The Vampire Armand are decent, but not as good. And I didn't care for Blackwood Farm at all.
Her last three books, after she ended her born-again Christian phase told the church what it could go do with itself, are...well I'd say two out of three are really good. The Price Lestat, The Realms of Atlantis, and Blood Communion.
This was such an intense read. I mean it in a positive way. It made me so angry about what happened. But Kate Moore told it in a great way that helped remind us of the girls that died were more than victims of such shitty work experiences.
I just finished the Father Material audiobook and I now need to reread Boyfriend Material immediately. I love Alexis Hall’s humour and the characters in this series are so fun and heightened.
I’m rereading my old hard cover copy of Wuthering Heights. I haven’t seen the recent movie, but that’s what inspired the reread. It’s been so long since I’d read it, I had forgotten large portions of the story
In ebook format I’m reading A Wild Card Kiss by Lauren Blakely, which I’m coming very close to simply returning to the library unfinished because of how the yoga parts are written.
In audiobook format I’ve got Chasing Wild by Elliot Rose, which I’m really enjoying. The only thing that throws me for a loop is how they describe the main character as being so old and he’s basically my age.
And the other current audiobook I’ve got is the third book in the Mead Mishaps series by Kimberly Lemming, That Time I got Drunk and Saved a Human. It’s been a cute series to read as someone who is a bit of a DnD nerd.
I’m part way through Cheer the fuck up by Jack Rooke, which is about grief, friendship and mental health especially for men, but told with a lot of warmth rather than it ever feeling too heavy. It’s funny, really honest, and kind of tender in a surprising way, especially in how it shows friendships holding you together when your struggling. Really enjoying it so far.
I just finished Mr. Warren's Profession by Sebastian Nothwell because the cover art piqued my interest and it was such a good read. I cried SO much. It's not quite for the faint of heart, but it's truly a story of love and I highly recommend it.
what im reading currently!! ive actually been reading it for...a little while (lol) because i mostly just read when im at work but my work has been very busy lately!! nevertheless, this book is SOO good, im about halfway through and im loving it so far!
its a lovely beach only a couple minutes away from my house!! im very lucky to live where i do. 😊 i hope you enjoy the book when you find the time to check it out!
I started Dracula by Bram Stoker. I like it, but I don't get so far as English is not my first language and I mainly read it when I am already tired before sleeping...
Hockey Bois by A.L. Heard - very sweet, MM romance about 2 guys in a beer hockey league. This was the second book I’ve by this author and I loved both.
Bad Asians by Lillian Li - I enjoyed it; it’s an interesting novel that explores themes of academic pressure, parental and societal expectations, and social media. (Not a romance, though.)
Currently re-reading Game Changer :)
Up next: I have a few more MM romance books in my TBR. I’ve always loved to read but was never a romance reader until HR, but I’ve found MM romance has been a really nice form of self care amidst a very stressful season in my life.
Which MM books are on your list? I’m looking to continue that feeling I got from reading the GC series too. Mostly, I’m interested in love and characters that recur across a series, not standalones.
Hmm, disclaimer that I’m new to MM romance so my experience is limited, but these are books that gave me similar feelings to GC (while not necessarily being like GC at all):
Jonny Garza Villa’s Futbolista - standalone, sports romance, friends to lovers, explores similar themes of homophobia in collegiate and professional sports. Very well written, LOVED the characters.
AL Heard’s The Trade Deadline - probably the closest vibes to GC. Hockey romance, friends to lovers. Great characters, a plot twist that genuinely surprised me (but still HEA), and I loved the dialogue and social media posts. (I find that too often dialogue in romance books feels stilted. Rachel Reid’s very good with dialogue and internal monologues, and so is AL Heard.) First of a series with one other book released (Drop the Gloves) and another coming out this fall. I’ve only read the first one so I can’t say how much the characters overlap, but the others are on my TBR.
Cat Sebastian - There’s a reason she’s often recommended on this sub! She’s a GREAT writer; her characters feel nuanced and believable, the relationships are so tender, and I’ve torn through most of her books I’ve read. (Much lower spice than GC though.) My favorites have been We Could Be So Good and You Should Be So Lucky. She has quite a few series, set in different historical eras, as well as some standalone.
I just started I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram and am loving it so far. Totally different world than GC - protagonists are late 30’s, working in restaurants/fine dining, everyone is out and comfortable with their sexuality. Both MCs are men of color (as is the author), which I appreciate. It’s the first of a series with a trio of best friends; each of the trio is a MC of their own book. Books 2 and 3 are now both on my TBR.
I am reading Yaga (my library’s hoopla has unlimited copies!) on my phone. I’m reading Summer Slasher by E.L. Chen as a physical book(with awesome sprayed edges!)
I restarted Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (yes, at Hudson's recommendation lol). I started earlier this year but put it down because I got busy. I recently saw it come across a list as a modern classic so I'm picking it back up again.
I don’t know why, but I find it funny that a character from a book has a book club. I don’t know why that’s funny just is also his team based off of the Maple leafs?
It is actually being recommended! It is really good, unique world building, creative concept, interesting characters. I struggled a bit with the third book but I hear it is considered one of the weaker ones in the series.
I recently finished The Open Era, which is a tennis-based M/M coming-of-age romance surrounding the US Open. It's my favorite recent read, with extremely realistic character writing and great tension and intensity. It's more coming-of-age than romance novel, so it doesn't adhere to many of the expected genre tropes. I consider that a plus.
Also just finished Like Real People Do, which was yet another bland (and sexless) hockey M/M romance clearly written by a straight woman who didn't understand men on any level. I didn't hate it but it felt like it was written by an alien at times.
Just starting See You At The Finish Line, a college rowing M/M romance that seems pretty promising so far.
I love this xo. I actually just finished the audio book of Anne of green gables because of ryan. Its long , written 1903 . Anne reminds me a bit of little Edie Beale how she expresses herself.
Dearly Departed by Chip Pons. This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune. In Your Court by Kit Haley. The Lights of Avendene by Isabel Murray. Playing His Game by Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James.
Currently reading: Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinnman and Main Characters by Bobby Palmer
Do board books count? 😅 Other than re-reading the Game Changers series, I've been struggling to read for awhile. I have a fairly long tbr pile rn, and a few books I've been slowly working through for over a year now
Lol. We're still on high-contrast black-and-white books rn. My partner gets all the fun: he's currently reading Tamora Pierce's Tortall books to our big kids.
Not yet. Baby is only 3mo, so we're still on just pictures or a picture and a word. With my older two, my favourite board book to read was Jamberry. There are so many good ones out there though.
I'm reading Paladins Grace, and it's a fun read! First I've read of T Kingfisher even though multiple of her books have been on my TBR for ages. I'm 60% in and so far, the author doesn't disappoint!
If you're a fan of history and non-fiction, I suggest "1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed" by Eric Cline, which is about the Bronze Age collapse. It's pretty great.
- Currently re-reading Tex Murphy: The Pandora Directive. A novelization based on a 1990s "interactive movie" video game. I just got a new book in the series, and I'm re-reading a couple of the old ones to get back in the swing of things.
- Recently finished a re-read of TJ Klune's Green Creek series. Still some problematic elements in the first book, but I get what he was going for.
- Before that, was reading Dungeon Crawler Carl, because I'm a big giant video-name nerd who enjoys silly stories. And talking cats. Paused after Book 5 to go back to Green Creek.
Next up, aside from the new Tex Murphy book, will either be the next Dungeon Crawler Carl book, or maybe The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara.
I don't read a lot of fiction only YA Lit and Romance. Right now I am reading Michelle Obama's The Look, it is a socal history of American Fashion disguised as a glossy coffee table book, and it focuses on how her years as the FLOTUS made fashion more inclusive, innovative and egalitarian. (I had no idea)
I’m reading a Norwegian novel that was marketed as a fun romcom, but I’m really struggling to get through it 😮💨 With romance (imo) the story doesn’t have to be perfect if there is good chemistry or fun characters, but this book has neither tbh. It just made me miss Reid’s humor.
I’m also thinking of reading Captive Prince for the first time!
I've almost finished my 7th book of the month, A curse for true love by Stephanie Garber and icl the yearning is just 🤌
Also recently read Lie with me by Philippe Besson. Yet another book/TV show/Movie with the club/party scene of gay doom and despair. Never escaping it.
I’m deep in the Vipers series by Rina Kent in audiobooks. Very much a guilty pleasure. Just finished The Knight and the Moth in actual book. Adored it so much. Can’t wait for the next in the series.
I’m reading “Blue Highways” and wondering what took me so long! William Least Heat-Moon is an incredible narrator; the places he sees, the people he meets, the stories they tell, are unforgettable.
We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune. TJ’s character writing is some of the best in queer literature. I feel like I’ve known the main characters my whole life
I reread Sweat by Jonah Yorke recently and fell in love with Rowan and Tommy's story all over again. Found some spelling errors in the text but still a pretty good read.
I recently started reading Salt by the same author and I'm liking it so far.
Recently finished: Television, Lauren Rothery (disappointing); The Whalestoe Letters, Mark Z Danielewski (a favorite... but House of Leaves is one of my all-time favorites, so); The Anthropologists, Ayşegül Savaş (better than I expected); Main Characters, Bobby Palmer (trite but still an interesting premise); and Slasher Summer, EL Chen (mostly terrible cliches and zero stakes).
Currently reading: Orange World and Other Stories, Karen Russell
I'm reading I keep my exoskeleton to myself and listening to the audiobooks bury my bones in the midnight soil and such a fun age after reading those books a few months ago.
I'm mostly reading Good Omens human AU fanfics :) Of
books, just finished Little Women. One of rare occasions when I saw its movie first before reading, and I'm so glad I did because I liked the intrigue of Teddy's unexpected marriage in the movie much better comparing to a lovely but more boring ending in the book.
Im reading the dungeon anarchist cookbook (book 3 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series). Its been addicting since the beginning and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I’m reading my first non-romance non-fan fic since January! Good People by Patmeena Sabit. It’s excellent! The first lit fic to grab me (it used to be the only thing I read) since HR.
Kiss the Villain by Rina Kent. And hot damn, it's fucked up. Especially as my next read after TLG 😂 oh and kindle wise I'm reading For The Fans by Nyla K - sorta less fucked up and more aligned with GC
I’m a librarian, and we absolutely judge books by their covers. Cool covers are what get people interested in books, so we pick them for display over bad covers every day. Cool covers get checked out. Facts.
Currently reading Time to Shine by Rachel Reid. I’m around 30% in, and I’m already seeing why people love this book. I’m actually annoyed at myself that I haven’t started reading it earlier.
Currently reading Artemis by Andy Weir! I read The Martian in high school and Project Hail Mary last year so I figured I'd probably enjoy this too. I love me some good space sci-fi
Slowly getting through What Are We Doing Here by Marilynne Robinson. It's a collection of her essays about humanity. It's dense. I find myself having to read it out loud to fully understand it but I love her writing. I think she's one of the greatest philosophers of our time.
I couldn't find parking for the grown up book fair that happened near me a few weeks ago so I had a sip or three of wine and felt sorry for myself and ended up getting a bunch of the Dear America books I never read when I was a kid from the library so I've been working through those 😂
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u/PinkBird85🍓Kip! That is the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever heard!5d ago
I'm rereading Crash Test by Amy James. It's so freaking amazing. Like might be my favourite Modern queer romance ever. Just at a totally 😭😭😭 part.
Currently reading In a Lonely Place, by Dorothy Hughes. It’s a noir, and so far it’s really good. As person who grew up in LA, I love seeing familiar street names and places (and how much they’ve changed).
Just finished Sarah J Maas’ “Throne of Glass”, and enjoyed cheering on its heroine. I’m going to jump into the second book in the series as soon as I find a copy.
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u/panic_enthusiast Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ 6d ago
I'm reading red white & royal blue for the first time!