Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: The Locker Room
AUTHOR: Amy Lane
NARRATOR: Sean Crisden
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
RELEASE DATE: September 21, 2012
LENGTH: 7 hours, 40 minutes
BLURB:
Xander Karcek has only wanted two things in his life: Christian Edwards and basketball—the man he loves and the game that let him escape a childhood he’d rather forget. His two obsessions have served him well. He and Chris beat the odds and stayed together through high school, college, and right on to the NBA. But life under fame’s microscope isn’t easy, especially when two men are pretending to be frat-buddies so the world doesn’t know they’re the next best thing to married. Their relationship survives the sacrifices they make and the lies they tell to stay together, but when their secret is exposed, the fallout might destroy them when nothing else could. Chris and basketball are the two things holding Xander together. Now the world is asking Xander to make a choice. Is there an option that includes a future with the man he loves?
REVIEW:
If there’s such a thing as a classic mm romance list of books The Locker Room would surely be on it. Many readers have read and listened to it – and have had their hearts broken because of it. The Locker Room is a combination of sweet and angsty, heavy on the angst. It’s a coming of age story as well as a story about grown men making tough decisions, and facing consequences of their actions.
Xander and Chris met when they were fourteen over their shared love of basketball. The two are from two different worlds, Chris from a loving family and Xander only had his junkie and non-caring mom and he never knew when he’d get to eat next. It’s a powerful start to the story, and it’s one that grips you. You will cry for this boy, working himself to the bone to keep Chris and basketball in his life. Life shouldn’t be so hard especially for kids. But the harsh reality is that many do – and have it worse. Both of their lives changed that day on the basketball court.
I loved how their friendship developed into love, how tentative they were, but also so sure. They never once doubted in each other, or their feelings. Not as teens, young adults or as grown men. But the world isn’t always kind to gay athletes so they had to hide in order to play the game they both loved. But hiding always comes with a price. My heart broke for these guys and some of the choices they had to make. They were in an impossible situation and there were no good answers, no good alternative. It just sucks that they couldn’t be what they most wanted and needed, openly in love.
Now it wasn’t all angst and sadness, even if at times it felt like it. I love how Xander “adopted” stray women – his harem as he called it. They became such great friends and a great support system for the guys when they needed it the most. And it was fun to see Xander’s bewilderment at it all.
As with many audiobooks produced during this particular period, this too has the, frankly annoying musical interludes between each chapter. Music that drowned out the beginning of the narration for each chapter. Music that throws the listener out of the story every single time. Aside from that I really enjoyed the audio. Sean Crisden really managed to portray both Xander and Chris just right, both as teenagers in love, but also as adults. And he most definitely made you feel, the good and the bad.
No matter if you read or listen to this story you will be swept away by these boys, you’ll laugh and cry and your heart will ache in the best of ways.
RATING: 
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