Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  The Friendship Equation

AUTHOR:  J.R. Gray

PUBLISHER:  GrayBooks

LENGTH: 215 pages

RELEASE DATE:  August 25, 2021

BLURB:

America’s future first son and his virgin best-friend in a sexy forbidden romance—can feelings stay out of their experimenting? 

I never thought I’d go to college a virgin, but unless something changes, and fast, that’s what’s going to happen. In comes Harden Hart, my All American boy-next-door best friend with an offer to help in a way I’d never imagined.

The boy who turned everything he touched to gold had a filthy side to him I’d never seen. Oh, and did I mention he’s straight?

We could keep this fun but we had to hide it from both our fathers. We could smile for the cameras, focus on winning the state swimming championship and maintain Harden’s image. Easy enough, right? 

Only Harden didn’t want to hide. His addiction to our not-so-private hook-ups put everything at risk with his father’s planned presidential run, and I risked losing my best friend if anyone found out. 

But the biggest risk of all—the risk of breaking my own heart by falling for someone who was never mine to begin with.

Maybe love just isn’t in the equation.

***The Friendship Equation is a childhood best-friends-to-lovers, bi for you, forbidden sports romance standalone, featuring a dirty-talking boy next door and his sweet virginal best friend.

REVIEW:

The equation in J.R. Gray’s The Friendship Equation remains a mystery to me, unless it refers to a New Adult novel where unresolved sexual tension + two best friends recognizing their bisexuality + political pressure-driven family drama = an enjoyable, albeit somewhat flawed, M/M romance.  If that’s the equation, Mr. Gray solves it.  However, it takes some time for him to figure out the solution to the problem, as evidenced by the imbalance in the plot for the majority of the book until it settles into a satisfying conclusion.

Vance and Harden have been best friends since childhood and their deep connection shows clearly throughout the story.  The background of their relationship, particularly in light of their oft-mentioned class disparity, could have used more fleshing out in my opinion.  I prefer more context around the characters.  In particular, why they bonded despite ample reasons why their friendship seems improbable on paper.  Additionally, as the narrative plays out, we see that Vance and Harden have held back parts of themselves which ostensibly belies their solidarity as long-time BFFs almost to the exclusion of all other friends.  

Mr. Gray grapples with how to authentically portray Vance and Harden realizing they’re not straight.  The UST is certainly off the charts.  However, Vance and Harden’s recognition of this new facet of their identities seems to come without associated inquiry.  Vance’s virgin status acts as the catalyst for these two to fall into some sexual experimentation under the guise of Harden “helping” his friend.  The dance between them goes on for most of the first half of the book.  No doubt, the flirting, teasing, and pseudo-edging are super sexy.  However, it creates a dynamic where Vance acts almost like a slave to Harden’s whims.  Personally, I don’t care for Harden’s constant deflection, pushing Vance for his secrets and admission of his desires while skirting any answers to those same questions.  It creates a power imbalance that doesn’t reconcile with their purported friendship.

Once the UST is resolved, the story shifts to external conflict mainly surrounding the pressure Harden’s father, the Governor and presumed next President, puts on Harden to be the golden boy, the perfect son, and his political asset.  Vance’s conflict mainly comes from the pressure to excel in swimming so he can earn a scholarship to attend Yale with Harden.  There’s a bit of drama, but the highlight of the second half of the book is the relationship between Vance and Harden as it matures into something solid and real after Harden lets down his walls and shows his vulnerability. 

The Friendship Equation doesn’t have much of a plot.  Rather, the story focuses almost exclusively on Vance and Harden and their relationship.  It seems there is some history between Harden and his rival swimmer Woods that is alluded to, but then nothing is done with it.  I’m a bit disappointed the thread wasn’t picked up and woven into the story.  The conflict resolution is a bit rushed and somewhat anticlimactic, and the ending itself is jarringly, inexplicably abrupt. I would have loved to see more of the HEA.

Overall, The Friendship Equation provides a well-written, enjoyable story featuring two likable characters.  It’s easy to get on board with them as a couple.  I definitely rooted for them and was rewarded with a solid HEA.  It’s a quick, easy, low angst read with some sports romance thrown in for good measure.  On the whole, a nice way to spend a few hours reading.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon