Book 857: Playing Offside (Sporting Secrets #1) – Jax Calder

I know nothing about rugby other than the fact they wear super short shorts 😀 Apparently, that was enough for me to say yes when this book appeared in my inbox from Gay Romance Reviews* (I mean, let’s be honest, are any of us really surprised by this? I do love a good MM Sports Romance, regardless of the sport).

Playing Offside is the story of Aiden, top of his game  and heading toward the end of his career who is THE starter to beat for the New Zealand National Rugby Team, and Tyler, the young phenom that has everyone talking and will challenge Aiden for the same spot on the starting lineup. (There was another way they referred to it but hell if I can remember it—something about starting 5? I feel like there are more players on the field per team, but who knows).

The first thing I noticed was that either Calder did an excellent job on her research and/or she knows A LOT about rugby. Now it could all be made up and I just have no idea, but it just all felt so real and authentic.

My stuff brushing up against Aiden Jones’s stuff. Yeah, it got me half-hard just thinking about it. Being jealous of a pair of shoes was a new low for me. (Chapter 4)

The characters really carried this novel. Aiden’s role as the Ice King and Tyler’s role as the happy-go-lucky goofball doofus just worked individually and alone. And when Tyler broke the role internally it just reiterated how much of a façade both of them were forced to wear because of societal expectations. However, Tyler’s humor was carried throughout his personal and public presentations and there were so many great one-liners I really loved:

I didn’t want to get into a pissing contest with Aiden’s best friend. But equally I wasn’t about to back down from an opposing player. My teammates would wonder why. And I was pretty sure my explanation—I want Zach to like me because he’s best mates with my secret boyfriend—wasn’t going to roll of my tongue smoothly. (Chapter 24)

Calder in general included quite a bit of humor that made me enjoy the book that much more like this line after they were outed to their teammates and one responded with a text:

And Macca’s typically blunt: Get well soon, mate. Don’t care if you like shagging obese walruses. You’re an all-right bloke. (Chapter 32)

Legit snorted when I read that 😀

I wasn’t a big fan of Tyler’s internalized homophobia and toxic masculinity. I get that it exists and that it is harmful, but it’s just not a trope I enjoy reading too frequently. Calder did a decent job of trying to make it humorous and a little lighter than it could’ve been, but in the end, I was just getting more and more upset with how Tyler saw himself and gay men in the world even though it was the exact opposite of what he was doing.

I sobered up. ‘Don’t worry. On this particular topic, I’m more serious than Greta Thunberg about global warming. If you think you’re in the closet, then I’m hidden inside the security safe that’s stashed in a closet and guarded by giant trolls.’
He chuckled again. ‘Giant trolls?’
‘Have you watched Lord of the Rings? Those things are super scary.’ (Chapter 10)

See about the humor? It doesn’t necessarily negate it, but it definitely takes away some of the acidity of it.

And then the romance, O . . . M . . . G . . . the romance, swoon. The book definitely shifts from physical, with great sex scenes and interactions, to one with a much more emotional impact and it was seamless. The characters of course spent chapters and chapters avoiding talking about their feelings and when they finally do of course someone gets injured.

In this case it was Tyler and Aiden inadvertently outs them in his sheer panic, and my heart legit stopped. I knew Tyler would be fine, but when Aiden screams what he screams I was legit in tears. AND THEN he offers to sacrifice himself so Tyler doesn’t have to come out of the closet at the cost of them never being able to be together ever in the future and I legit just lost it. I knew they’d get their happily ever after in this scene, but talk about another emotional wallop as the book ends:

‘What’s on your dad’s gravestone?’
I sucked in a breath. ‘What?’
‘What are the words engraved on your dad’s gravestone?’
My voice was quiet. ‘Loved husband of Aubrey, loved father of Aiden.’
He jutted out his chin. ‘Exactly. At the end of your life, when you have to sum everything up, that’s what’s most important. Who you love and who loves you back. And so, it doesn’t matter if I get carp on social media or in the locker room or on the field. I’ll cope with it by remembering that nothing’s more important than you.’ (Chapter 33)

UGH, it was just too perfect and I was torn between laughing and crying and celebrating, there were just too many emotions. And when you add in I totally called the protagonist of Playing at Home‘s (book two) really early on I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Recommendation: READ IT. This was my first read from Calder and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was humor, emotion, great sex scenes, and character growth that made this an overall great read. The epilogue was so adorably sweet that I cannot wait for book two, Playing at Home. I just have all of my fingers and toes crossed that we’ll get updates on Tyler and Aiden throughout the rest of the series because OMG I want to just watch their HEA forever.

*I received a copy of Playing Offside via Gay Romance Reviews in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

Opening Line: “The cocky asshole was at it again.”

Closing Line: “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)