Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: Out in the Surf

SERIES:  Out in College, Book 10

AUTHOR: Lane Hayes

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 157 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 21, 2023

BLURB: 

The hockey player, the surfer, and a lesson neither can forget…

Luca-

I love the beach, and I’m a good athlete. Learning how to surf should be a breeze, right?

Wrong.

In a twist, hockey is nothing like surfing. That’s okay—I just need a diversion to round out my new life in So Cal while I figure out what comes next. As long as I keep my head above water, this could be fun.

Bonus…my instructor is hot.

Cal-

Teaching newbies to surf is easy money. Usually. My newest student is a wild card who seems to think his jock status should make him a natural at everything he tries, and I can see why. Luca is…special. He’s dynamic, energetic, and fun. It’s hard not to like him. But I like him a little too much.

This could be trouble.

Out in the Surf is a low-angst MM romance, bisexual-awakening story. When the teacher becomes the student, it may be time to come out in the surf.

REVIEW: 

Lane Hayes’ Out in the Surf is a delightful, easy, breezy novella with a Cali-surfer, laid-back attitude befitting Cal, the surfer/surf instructor at the heart of this story.  Cal is a loner – he loves the peace of the ocean.  It’s his home, his place of freedom and happiness.  As easygoing as he is about his life, though, he holds his emotions a bit tighter.  It’s not easy for him to let people in. That is until he crosses paths with the fiery Luca, a college student recently transplanted to California after an injury sidelined him from playing hockey. Letting Luca in is a foregone conclusion.  He’s like a force of nature, blowing the doors of Cal’s heart wide open.

Luca is exuberant, unflappable, different from Cal’s quieter, soulful embracing of the ocean life. But they perfectly balance each other. Luca has an enviable joie de vivre and doesn’t shy away from risks or from taking his shot. So, despite an ill-fated first encounter with Cal during a surfing lesson, Luca gets over his embarrassment quickly once Cal embraces the surprising pull towards Luca and acts on it.  Then, he and Cal come together effortlessly.

Despite this being a story in a series about college athletes finding their forever loves, college plays a minimal role here. Luca, who is on the cusp of graduation, possesses an attitude and demeanor much older than college-aged.  In fact, in both Luca and Cal, Hayes creates two men who act with maturity beyond their years. She gives them depth and complexity, and we connect with both of them almost instantly.  Their relationship progresses from student/teacher, to hookups, to friends, FWB, to forever love fluidly, like the ocean they inhabit. It’s evident they belong together and are effortless in how it happens.  Any bumps are mere swells in the water, easy for these two to ride like surfers harnessing the waves.  Their lack of pretension and excellent communication with each other is refreshing. As a result, the unfolding of their relationship is as easy and as joyful as the two men themselves.

Out in the Surf can be read without having read any of the other books in this series.  I enjoyed every minute in its pages.  I actually wish it were longer, but Hayes does give us a lengthy “bonus” chapter that ties things up quite nicely.  It’s a lovely epilogue to cap off a lovely story that will leave you feeling warm and happy.  I highly recommend it.  

RATING:

BUY LINK: 

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