Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  The Jock Script

SERIES:  The Script Club #3

AUTHOR:  Lane Hayes

PUBLISHER:  Self Published

LENGTH:  238 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 24, 2021

BLURB:

The nerd, the coach, and the hookup…

Asher-

Swipe left, swipe left, swipe left. Sure, the idea of a quick, no-strings intimate rendezvous via hookup app sounds oddly thrilling, but it’s simply not me. Or maybe it is me, because it happened…and I liked it. Until I realized he looked familiar for a reason. A bad reason. Now I’ve made a faux pas with the sexiest man on planet Earth, and my internal karma system requires me to fix it. Help!

Blake-

I may seem like I have it together, but the truth is, I’m a hot mess. I’m so deep in the closet that I can’t remember my real name some days. That’s okay. The benefit of one-night stands is anonymity. Until Asher. Not a total surprise. I’ve always had a thing for geeks, but I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s a pint-sized dynamo on a quest for perfection who can help me come out…if I follow his script.

Hmm. I’m in.

REVIEW:

Don’t judge a book by its cover. Guilty. A cover tells me a lot about what to expect from a book; problem is, I really dislike the cover of The Jock Script. The model reminds me a little too much of Ralphie from A Christmas Story, and that’s not a good thing. I had a hard time getting past this image of Asher which is wholly unappealing to me. Therefore, I’m happy to report this is a sweet book and both Asher and Blake are endearing characters who make an unlikely, but believable and appealing, couple. I was able to set the cover issue aside and picture Asher differently. 

This third book in Lane Hayes’ Script Club series features geek-to-the-max, Asher, and his one-time hookup, Blake. We previously met Asher as one of Topher and George’s roommates and friends in the previous books. He’s a brilliant scientist with plenty of self-esteem and respect, but he’s also a neurotic, germophobic perfectionist. He had a healthy sexual appetite and after a long dry spell, decides to try a hookup app to quench his thirst. Cue Blake, the hunky, athletic man of his dreams who also swipes right. The sex is explosive but Asher insists it’s a one time only thing. Blake’s profile states he’s bi-curious, but in truth, he’s known he’s bisexual for a decade, he’s just deeply closeted. He’s tired of lying about his true self so, even though Asher says they can’t sleep together again, Blake asks Asher to be his friend and help him figure out a plan for coming out. 

Thus arises the next Script Club project: a three-step process/script proposed by Asher’s psychologist mom for Blake to escape his closet.  

1. Immerse himself in gay culture by spending time with Asher and perhaps his gay friends. 

1. Involve friends and family in vague discussions to see where they might stand on LGBT issues and determine if they’ll be supportive. 

1. Come out to those trusted people first. 

Of course, as Ash and Blake spend time together, they form a close friendship and lines become blurred. Great sex happens, feelings happen, and confusion happens when they deviate from the script. Blake is a real sweetie-pie who appreciates everything about Asher and has no intention of forcing him back in the closet. By the end, Blake is living out and proud, and Ash discovers that he no longer needs to strive for perfection; it’s better to be accepted for who he is.  

This light-hearted, no angst book provides some great comedic moments, notably when Asher finally recognizes Blake as Topher’s one night stand from the beginning of Following the Rules, and during a shopping trip to Home Depot and all its orange-ness, a color that makes Ash uncomfortable. 

My primary issue with this shared universe series is how similar the books are. The premise of each book is largely the same: one of a group of genius, science grad students and roommates falls for a jock who is either experiencing a bisexual awakening or is bi and closeted. They all follow jock/geek, opposites attract tropes. The first two books also shared a brother’s best friend theme which, thankfully, this latest book does not. I fear anymore books are going to be nerd overload with all the usual clichés. These nerds are almost written as caricatures. It’s a cute formula for a standalone, but as a series, it seems a bit too much. If these are tropes you can’t get enough of, then you’ll enjoy The Jock Script and these darling men. 

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon