Reviews

The Quarterback by Tal Bauer

cipotalectora's review

2.0

i’m clearly on the minority side for this one, so take it as you will.

i'm not going to write a full review for this, but here are a couple thoughts:

lexee9's review

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this read! It pulled me in from beginning to end and I loved getting to see Colton and Nick find their happy ending. This book can be read as a standalone though it is connected to The Jock which follows Colton's best friend and Nick's son falling in love and making things work. In this one, Colton decides to forgo the draft for a year and stay at college with Wes and his other teammates but he ends up with a major injury and surgery to his shoulder in spring training. Nick shows up and spends time with him and helps him out during the first initial part of things and has set Colton up with an internship at his company and with him for his degree. Wes and Justin head off for the summer to Wes's family ranch and Colton stays behind by himself and with Nick. They grow close and during all the time they are spending together become really good friends and Nick invites him to stay at his condo in the 2nd bedroom for the summer. Colton starts to realize that he has feelings for Nick and that he is falling in love with him. He struggles a little bit at first with understanding it since he is not attracted to men, in the past or currently, but he is attracted to Nick. He doesn't believe that there is any chance of anything happening with the age gap and the fact that Nick is straight. There are a couple of things that he just isn't sure if it means anything or not but he ends up taking a chance and making a move and things take off from there. Nick then has to struggle with his sexual identity after the first sexual interaction they have since he had never been attracted to men and hadn't been conscious of it with Colton prior to. This story is emotional since they are both dealing with big things. Colton is dealing with rehabbing his shoulder and what his future potentially looks like and all the changes happening there as well as falling in love with Nick and thinking they are building something but not knowing for sure and what it will look like. Nick is dealing with thinking Colton going back to NFL and thinking there is no way this could last with the age gap they have and being a man as well as not knowing how his son will react to it all. They take things day by day and then get smacked with a wake up call that they have to figure out. I enjoyed the way that the story developed with the characters and the action. It really allowed for it to feel genuine and believable. This is a slow burn, friends to lovers, age gap story that is really well done and really enjoyable.

richie_the_forgetful_reader's review

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

nrich's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I love this author. 

I sometimes struggle with his book's lengthy paragraphs, which slows my reading. However, his scenes are so well-written and heartfelt that I can look past them. I knew I was going to enjoy this story. There were so many impactful scenes in the book that, unquestionably, these couples love each other. I love when characters spend quality time with each other. It was evident from the start. 

The spice was a little surprising, but so good. 
The moment Wes and Justin found out about their relationship was tense. I wish they had communicated (Nick & Colton) but I understood their apprehensions. The reasoning behind everyone's arguments was valid. The silence was deafening. I knew they'd be together, but the journey was long and rewarding. 

This was such a good slow burn. 

bookschaosnart's review

4.0

some days you just really need a book to rip you up and put you back together and this is one of those books. Heartbreaking, growth, and coming of age, but also first love and age gap just a really beautiful read

juana21's review

4.0

3,5⭐️

from_paradise's review

2.0

I got attached to Colton and ended up emotionally invested... Wishing him and his beloved old man happiness

kerithesmutslut's review

4.0

There were a few things that really didn’t make sense in this book, mainly the 3rd act break up. The whole situation was one confusing mess. Why did Justin get the personality transplant of a 5 year old child? Why did Nick treat such a beautiful soul like Colton like that? Like he came in second. I don’t get it. Other than that once again I loved another Tal Bauer book.

badhorsebinks's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

kik_'s review

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

4.25