Review: A Gay Romance with a Difference
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 31, 2014
There's so much I'd like to say about this novel, but I'm having to choose my words with extra care. The element of the plot that most appealed to me was how it kept twisting in unexpected directions, and the last thing I want is to give too much away. What I will say is that this is unlike any book in the male/male genre I've previously read. Chase Potter clearly set out with the aim of writing a gay romance with a difference, and he has more than succeeded.Nineteen-year-old Ethan West has long dreamed of studying abroad, and finally this dream is becoming reality. After breaking up with his boyfriend so as to rid himself of any attachments, he sets off across the Atlantic to complete his sophomore year in Freiburg, a small German town steeped in history. Amidst all the planning and excitement, he never expected to spend the first weeks of his adventure feeling isolated and alone. Yet, Ethan finds it far harder to make friends than he anticipated, and his roommate Daniel is downright hostile.It's only when Ethan stumbles back to the dorm, foot cut open by a piece of broken glass at the lake, that Daniel's animosity melts. From that moment on, a connection forms between them, tentative to begin with, but quickly strengthening into a fast friendship. Despite his resolution to avoid any romantic entanglement, Ethan is irresistibly drawn to Daniel, both physically and emotionally. Moreover, although Daniel declares himself to be straight, Ethan often glimpses a softness in his expression that gives him a reason to hope otherwise.`The Race for Second' is an incredibly powerful story about love, friendship, and the potentially destructive nature of secrets. The author kept me guessing about the ending right up until the last page, and I came away feeling rather tearful, but immensely satisfied. Though not your typical m/m romance, this book has enough of the crucial components--heartache, suspense, sexual tension--to entice many fans of the genre. I thoroughly enjoyed it!