Down by Contact

4.5 stars. Devoured this in one sitting and it was so good, though I didn't love it quite as much as Illegal Contact. Hassell writes a very believable story though, and his incorporation of social justice and community service as part of his characters' growth is wonderful to see.

Romance novels aren't really my thing, so I don't think I can really offer any substantive criticism of this book. I picked it because it was one of two M/M romance novels Book Riot suggested for their 2018 Read Harder Challenge.

I think if romance novels WERE my thing, though, I'd like to read this whole series. Some random thoughts:

- This is book #2; I haven't read book #1, but I got the gist of things.

- I really like how the main character gives the finger to the notion that gay men can't also be masculine

- This book definitely has some rather graphic smutty bits, but mostly the book is about two football players having feelings for one another.

- The character arcs are VERY shallow along certain lines of conflict. Specifically, Adrian's realization of his own bisexuality to nearly ready to throw away his entire career, friends, and family for Simeon is VERY fast. And goes through strangely few iterations before the final state. But, I don't think this particular story would have supported that much development.