In book three of Brice’s The Barracudas series we get the story of Oliver, the captain and team mom of the Berkeley Shore University hockey team, and Ryan, Jackson’s roommate and total nerd who dresses like he’s from the 1950s. They knew each other as kids, but Ryan was a military brat and disappeared one day when his dad was reassigned. This was pre-internet and I guess they couldn’t write to each other (Ryan’s dad was an ass and Oliver had a lot going on), but they’ve found each other again at school.
I look at him—this loud, barefoot, ridiculous boy who thinks swords are standard equipment for interplanetary travel. He’s everything I’m not. Messy where I’m neat, loud where I’m quiet, brave where I’m careful. And for some strange reason, he’s decided to take me along for the ride that is his life. (39)
Brice did a great job of weaving together the current and the past. Quite a few chapters started with anecdotes from their childhood that were absolutely adorable. My favorite was when Oliver found out that Ryan loved the stars and space and built them a space ship and helmets from cardboard and they explored the universe together, I mean come on how stinking cute.
As their relationship is reestablished, some of those things come up and remind them each how much they actually did love each other back then, but didn’t necessarily know it. But, this is a college novel and of course they get into shenanigans with the hockey team and have the most adorable dates because Oliver wants to do everything right for Ryan and give him the best “firsts” he possibly can. Thankfully, they didn’t cross the line into saccharine sweet because they easily could have. Brice often brought humor into those situations to keep them from being too much. My absolute favorite was when they had the most adorable picnic, but it ended in them both cumming fully clothed and having to do the walk of shame and Oliver getting absolutely run over the coals by the hockey boys.
That’s the thing about Ryan. He’s terrified of everything, but he does it anyway. Secretly, I think it’s because he has me standing next to him while he does. I wish I could tell him that I will never leave him. That no matter how far apart we may end up one day, I’ll still be right there, championing him. Reveling in his successes. Picking up the pieces when his dad inevitably disappoints him. (78)
Gerard makes a sound that’s half laugh, half disbelief. “Oliver. Dude. Have you seen the way Ryan watches you? He looks at you like you hung the moon. Which, given his astronomy obsession, is probably the highest compliment he can give.” (196)
Ryan’s character grew so much in the small glimpses we got from The Power of Love and this novel, but I found his relationship with his brother to be well done. It didn’t take up a lot of real estate in the novel, but it had a big impact on Ryan’s development. From the flashback anecdotes where his brother was a dick to Ryan putting his phone number down when he got busted as part of the skinny dipping fiasco to Ryan calling him when he realized he wanted to have sex with Oliver but had no idea what to do, it just worked really well. I can see them being friends as adults and that just gave off good vibes.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t reiterate the appreciation of Brice focusing on underwear and the mental gymnastics men go through if they want to try something that’s been deemed nerdy or dorky or old mannish. We once again had a character, this time Oliver, deciding they wanted to try out briefs (specifically tighty whities) after getting horned up seeing Ryan soaking wet in all his glory, and that scene had me laughing at the department store. And then again when Ryan clocked that Oliver was wearing them at the 4th of July party, it was just so wholesome that you couldn’t help but grin and Brice ran with it:
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning. Oliver Jacoby, flustered and fidgeting, wearing tighty-whities at a Fourth of July party. My heart swells inside me, a balloon filling with helium, lifting against the cage of my ribs and threatening to carry me away.
. . .
“Your secret’s safe with me.” Oliver presses a hand to his chest, still grinning.
“Tighty-whitie solidarity.”
“Is that what we’re calling it?”
“It’s a brotherhood now, Ryan. You, me, and Jackson. The Briefs Brigade.”
“Please never say that again.”
“The Fellowship of the Fruit of the Loom.” (227)
Recommendation: This was by far my favorite in the series so far. I adored Oliver and Ryan’s story from their childhood friendship to their getting reacquainted as college students. Ryan grows so much, Oliver gets to be the best boyfriend and nurture someone without limits—it just works. So many things had changed and yet so many hadn’t. I’m glad we finally got confirmation who the Ice Queen was (I guessed right). I’m 99% sure we’ll get their story in what I think is the final book in the series. There are still other characters that could be written about so who knows. I still believe the novels would’ve been just as good if not better without the Ice Queen portion, but it did provide some humor and some very questionable situations in the earlier novels.
Opening Line: “‘Hey, honey!’ My mom’s voice carries from the kitchen as my dad trudges in, yanking his tie loose with one hand.”
Closing Line: “To find my happily ever after.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
