The Ivy Years Book 3: The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen

The Ivy Years Book 3

What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.

Five years ago, Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then, he’s made an art of hiding his sexuality from everyone. Including himself.

So it’s a shock when his past strolls right into the Harkness College locker room, sporting a bag of hockey gear and the same slow smile that had always rendered Graham defenseless. For Graham, there is only one possible reaction: total, debilitating panic. With one loose word, the team’s new left wing could destroy Graham’s life as he knows it.

John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it’s worse than usual, because the media has latched onto the story of the only “out” player in Division One hockey. As the satellite trucks line the sidewalk outside the rink, his new teammates are not amused.

And one player in particular looks sick every time he enters the room.

Rikker didn’t exactly expect a warm welcome from Graham. But the guy won’t even meet his eyes. From the looks of it, his former… best friend / boyfriend / whatever isn’t doing so well. He drinks too much and can’t focus during practice.

Either the two loneliest guys on the team will self destruct from all the new pressures in their lives, or they can navigate the pain to find a way back to one another. To say that it won’t be easy is the Understatement of the Year.

Warning: unlike the other books in this series, this heartbreaking love story is about two guys. Contains sexual situations, dance music, snarky t-shirts and a poker-playing grandmother.

THIS BOOK IS A STANDALONE. NO CLIFFHANGERS. NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46019064-the-understatement-of-the-year

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Another great addition to this series! The story follows Graham and Rikker and it was one hell of a story. Graham and Rikker knew one another since they were kids. And when they hit high school they fell hard for one another. But after a horrible incident that left Rikker in the hospital and Graham scarred in so many ways, they didn't see or speak to one another until now. After five years Rikker transfers to Harkness and faces an unsuspecting Graham. While Rikker is out for being gay, Graham has spent the last five years trying to tell himself he isn't. He feels guilty for what happened to Riker and even more guilty for not reaching out. But he learned that hiding who you are and keeping your head down was the way to go, no matter how much it hurts. Though fighting your first love isn't easy. For either of them. It's only a matter a time before the two of them drift back to one another. Even though each one of them went through some tough challenges and still are, they slowly learn to fight for who they are and stand up. Cause love is worth the risk sometimes. This book was real and rough and you can't help but cheer for the two of them to get back together and that everything will work out. Great, great story.