A.J. DeWall

4 stars

Mitch doesn’t lack for sexual company, but the kind of guy he’s always been attracted to is a B-Boy. They just have the attitude and confidence and swagger that he admires. And the body. One night, he hooks up with Raheim, and then they keep hooking up. They go through ups and downs of new relationships and people getting to know one another until Raheim does something that may be unforgivable.
I enjoyed this as being refreshing, different from what I usually read. Mitch and his friends were funny and loving and piss-taking with each other. I wasn’t as enamoured with Raheim, just because I could see some worrying characteristics and attitudes about things that are detrimental in a society. (Everyone should be treated fairly and honourably.) I also felt as though Mitch subverted himself with Raheim a little bit, and I was glad to see B.D. call him out on it. I’m not sure how their relationship is going to go, because I feel that what was the root of their rift was kind of glossed over, but if they work on their relationship with intent and integrity, I feel as though it does have promise to be a happy one. In the midst of all this, the reader is provided with a view that doesn’t often get seen in m/m, without it feeling too much like a lecture.… (més)