I knew Henri would be the protagonist of book three, how could he not be after being the rock for both Carter from Shots on Net and Max from Save the Game. He’s a big teddy bear and needs his happily ever after and he gets it in this grumpy sunshine romance that was just so cute.
In On the Edge, we learn that Henri is either demiromantic and most likely asexual, without it ever really being confirmed or defined, but it’s done in such a way that provides some great comic relief for the reader and the characters. He meets his match when he’s partnered with the grumpy Atlas, who is openly bisexual, but has a chip on his shoulder (mommy abandonment issues) and hates the world.
Henri and Atlas are forced to work together for a semester-long project and it starts off on the wrong foot, but Henri the eternal optimist tries everything he can to get Atlas to open up. From bringing him an apple every day before Atlas even acknowledges him to a hilarious war between them of one-upping each other with apple themed objects after they become friendlier, there are just so many cute moments.
I think Mulder had fun with this book (and series, really) with characters as they discover their sexualities. This was a scene that I’m still giggling about weeks later between Atlas and his roommate:
“I’m not sure what you want me to say. You’ve had more gay sex than I have, apparently.’ Nate’s eyes nearly bug out of his head at that.
‘What the fuck do you mean I’ve had more gay sex than you?’ He practically shouts it, apparently on a mission to inform the entire household.
‘I’ve never slept with a guy,’ I tell him and enjoy the way he nearly goes apoplectic.
‘I thought you were bi?’ he asks, sounding so offended I can’t help but laugh.
‘I am. I just haven’t slept with any guys.’
‘Oh my god, how are you supposed to help me with this?’
I laugh again. I can’t believe this is the conversation I’m having at 6 a.m.” (88)
The scene did a couple of things, it reinforced that bisexuality doesn’t mean you have to have been with both sexes, and that college is a wild time where people find themselves and try new things.
There were a few other things that really got me in this novel, that if they weren’t there I would’ve had a bit of trouble saying it was good. When Atlas is an absolute dick and goes home for the holidays with his family and his younger half-brothers inadvertently help open his eyes to how great Henri is, and Henri’s friends and brother giving him advice on how to deal with Atlas; Atlas calling Henri early on to come rescue him from a bad party and us finding out later Henri wasn’t the first person Atlas called, there was just so much hurt/comfort that was part of this novel as well that made it work.
Henri could give Victorian etiquette lessons to gentlemen in the nineteenth century, he’s so proper. Any overtures past our virtual relationship will have to come from me. I told him to leave, which means it’s on me to ask him to come back. (279)
And I’m not always the first to eat my words, but I will this time. The epilogue for this novel was PERFECTION. Henri achieved his dream of working for the NHL in a media capacity and while he’s travelling Atlas stumbles across the engagement ring and two-year-old receipt, and it’s just an adorable quiet and sweet scene and I re-read it as I wrote this and teared up a little bit. It’s just so cute and wonderful.
Recommendation: Overall, I enjoyed this one. I don’t mind grumpy/sunshine or hurt/comfort romances, but I have to space them out because they can be a bit heavy. This one was a little lighter, but there were definite moments of sheesh, maybe I should’ve waited a bit longer after Save the Game. It was a great continuation of the SCU series and I have a vague idea of one of the final two protagonists in the series, but I’m not as sure about the other.
Opening Line: “4:45 a.m.—wake up, drink a glass of water and get dressed.”
Closing Line: “I do not need anything else, so long as I can have my Atlas.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
Additional Quotes from On the Edge
“As he pulls out his notebook and a pen, I watch his hands. Are hockey players supposed to have hands like that? They don’t look rough at all, but smooth and unblemished. Prominent veins snake their way over his wrist and up his forearm. He’s like an anesthesiologist’s wet dream.” (113)
“Silence, I have found, is the best way to get people to talk. Americans are very uncomfortable with silence, and will rush to fill it. Max closes his eyes and takes a deliberate, deep inhale.” (122)
“‘Bärchen?’
‘It is . . . little bear? Kleiner Bär. Because you are cute, and a little bit mean, yes?'” (197)
‘You are the world to me. You are a blessing, and a gift. I am the happiest man alive with you beside me. Atlas—my love, my Bärchen—would you marry me?’
‘Yes,’ he whispers. ‘Of course I will. You’re it for me, too. You’ve always been it for me, even when I was too dumb to see it.’
‘Atlas, you have been holding out on me. That sounded like a wedding vow. I thought I was the romantic one?’ (307)
1 thought on “Book 1,076: On the Edge (SCU Hockey #3) – J.J. Mulder”