With the recent release of Epic (brand new #Wesmie, yay!!), we thought it would be fun to go back to where it all began and revisit our reviews of Him & Us.
Take a walk down memory lane with us as we remember the goodness that is Wesmie and be sure to check out our NEW review of Epic at the end!
Earlier, I told him he’d acted like a douchecanoe. But that’s crap. I’m the one who’s in love with my best friend and pretending I’m not.
Not one, but two hunky hockey stars to fall in love with? Yes, please! I loved this book and I read it basically in one sitting, once I started I just couldn’t put it down, Wes and Jamie’s story hooked me right from the start and I loved taking this journey with them. This was such a sweet love story, it will also make you laugh, might make you tear up a little and will most definitely leave you fanning yourself at the insane hotness that practically melts the pages of this book! I’m glad that there’s a sequel to this story because I can’t wait to spend a little more time with Wes and Jamie!
Jamie Canning was my first crush and my first love. But he was never mine to have.
Some of the best moments of Ryan “Wes” Wesley’s life were the summers he spent at hockey camp where he met his best friend, Jamie Canning. These two were inseparable during the summers but as they got a little older, Wes began to discover things about his sexuality that created an issue for him because he suddenly found himself intensely attracted to Jamie, but it was clear that Jamie didn’t swing that way so he knew there was no way he could act on it. One silly bet and one drunken night are all it takes for everything to be turned upside down. Unable to deal with what just happened between them, Wes does the only thing he can think to do, run away and never look back. Jamie Canning can’t understand why his best friend would just disappear like that, it’s been four years since that time but the anger still simmers just beneath the surface. When the two finally come face to face as their college hockey teams are set to face one another in a big tournament, it’s clear that there is unfinished business between them. Wes, a seeming glutton for punishment, can’t walk away from Jamie a second time, so he manages to get a job coaching at the very summer camp where it all started and where Jamie has been spending every summer since. Jamie finally get the answers to the questions that have plagued him for the past four years, but the situation ends up raising a few big ones about himself, ones that he may or may not be prepared to answer.
“You’re saying you don’t want me?”
Aw hell. “No, I’m saying this is a bad idea.”
“You’re the king of bad ideas,” he reminds me. “At least this one ends with both of us feeling good.”
I don’t read a lot of M/M books, and I don’t know why because the ones that I’ve read, I’ve totally loved and this book was no exception. The connection and friendship between Jamie and Wes was so amazing, it leapt from the pages. It made me so sad for how things ended between them four years earlier because of fear. Wes always had such a larger than life presence so it was heartbreaking to see him so vulnerable just because of who he was in love with. Jamie was always cool as a cucumber, so it was no surprise (and a great relief to Wes) when he accepted his friend for who he was. Jamie’s journey of self-discovery was a standout moment (well more like a series of moments) for me in this book. It really shows that what matters more is who you love not what gender they are. I really don’t think that Jamie would have discovered this side of himself for anyone other than Wes. The deep bond these two developed over the years, I think, was the foundation for everything that came after for them. Of course, Wes was on cloud nine finally experiencing everything he thought he’d never get to experience with Jamie, and it was so sweet seeing him guide Jamie through the journey. But don’t be mistaken, as sweet as this story was, these were still two very manly men and I loved some of the banter between these two, even in the heat of the moment! It helped keep the story light and kept them both true to character and true to the friendship they built as teens, regardless of what went on between them in the bedroom.
My weakness is him.
There wasn’t a ton of angst in this book but there were some uncomfortable moments as Wes and Jamie had to deal with prejudice and close-minded people that unfortunately come along with their relationship. It made my heart hurt for them at the ignorance of some people, but I cheered for how they dealt with it! It’s not all smooth sailing for them, either, because as the end of summer draws near, their futures are set to pull them in two very different directions. Will the foundation they’ve built over the summer be enough for them to make it through? Or will the end of summer also mean the end of their amazing time together? You’re going to have to read it for yourself to find out! For me, I’m just glad that I can go pick up Us now and follow Jamie and Wes on the next leg of their journey!!
“I…” He clears his throat. “I’d let you do it, though.”
My hand freezes in his hair. “You would?”
Wes nods. “I’d let you do anything to me, Canning.”
I chose happiness over other people’s skewed opinions and cruel judgments. I chose Wes. But now I have to hide that choice. I have to pretend that Ryan Wesley isn’t my soulmate.
I seriously can’t get enough of these two guys! Wes and Jamie are one of the best couples ever and just like the first book, Him, I wasn’t able to put this one down and read it pretty much straight through. Of course, now I’m a little sad that I’m done but it still can’t wipe the grin off my face as I think back on how much I loved this book, actually both of these books! This book seriously tugged at my heart over and over as Wes and Jamie had to deal with some very difficult situations but my heart also rejoiced time and again at the amazing support that emerged for these two. The first book went easy on us in terms of angst, I think the authors were just saving it all up for this one because this story is loaded with it! But it’s so worth it in the end! I’m so happy that I stumbled upon this series, Wes and Jamie hold a special place in my heart and I’m so glad I had the chance to take this journey with them.
…why does everything in my life have to be a secret? I fucking long for the day when I can proudly introduce Jamie Canning as my boyfriend.
It’s been several months since Ryan “Wes” Wesley and Jamie Canning started their relationship. Being with Jamie is a dream come true for Wes, aside from hockey, it’s the only thing he’s ever wanted. Jamie is still new to being with a man but he’s accepted this side of his sexuality and is more in love than ever with his boyfriend and best friend, Wes. They’re also both living their professional dreams with Wes having a record-breaking rookie season in the NHL and Jamie coaching a youth hockey team. The fact that they get to come home to one another at night? Icing on the cake. However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows because they’ve agreed to keep their relationship a secret at least until the end of Wes’ first season in order to avoid the media frenzy that’ll surely ensue and to avoid overshadowing Wes’ accomplishments on the ice. Having to hide such a big part of themselves, combined with the stress of Wes’ traveling and problems at Jamie’s job puts a big strain on their relationship. As things start to unravel, will their love be enough to overcome the adversity they face?
I don’t know how to make things better. I love this guy, I really do. But I didn’t anticipate how hard this would be.
God, this book did a number on my heart! By the time I finished Him, I was so invested in Wes and Jamie’s relationship so to see them struggle so much really hurt! A lot of their troubles stemmed from the crappy situation they were in, I was so upset by the unfairness of their circumstances. It has to be so hard to have to hide away such a big part of yourself simply because some people might find it wrong or dirty. It’s sad that there’s still so much close-mindedness in the world and that people have to live in fear simply because of who they love. But I loved so much that there were so many people in their lives that stood by them and didn’t care what these two did in their private time. They needed that acceptance so much and I’m not going to lie, my eyes got misty on more than one occasion at the love so many people showed these guys. Not all of their problems came from external sources, though, there was a big communication breakdown between these two and it really sucked. For two guys who were so open and talked about anything and everything, seeing them so off-kilter broke my heart.
“I trust who I am with Jamie. He’s known me since I was a pimply thirteen-year-old when we used to argue about video games. He doesn’t see me as Toronto’s rookie forward. He doesn’t care about my scoring average. I don’t try to impress him.”
But don’t fret, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. The passion and intense bond between these two still shone through and this book was still ridiculously hot. There was also plenty of humor and great banter, especially with the addition of Wes’ teammates. I’m sure most people would agree that Blake was a standout character in this book! At first, he simultaneously annoyed and humored me, but he quickly grew on me and I fell in love with his character! I was insanely happy to see that the recently released book, Good Boy, features him. Because not only do we get more Blake but we also get more Jamie and Wes! I can’t even wait to laugh my way through that one! I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Jamie’s stellar family in this review. Talk about a wonderful group of people, their love and acceptance of Wes really warmed my heart and I love how they supported their relationship.
Overall, I thought this was a stellar follow up to the much-beloved Him and I am so glad to see that we don’t have to completely say goodbye just yet, the gang lives on in the WAGS spinoff series and I’m so excited about that!
The way I feel about Ryan Wesley… it’s something I thought existed only in the movies. He’s my other half. We complement each other in more ways than I can count. When he’s in the same room, I’m focused on him, and when he’s gone I walk around missing him.
Jesus, how far we’ve come. Childhood friends, to lovers, to husband and husband. Life is a beautiful thing.
More Wesmie!! What a special treat this was. I’ll never turn down a visit with two of my very favorite characters and Epic was, as the name suggests, epic! It may have only been 7 chapters and took me less than an hour to read but just being back in their world took me right back to all the feels I experienced when I first read their story. That feeling, if nothing else, would have caused me to give this story 5 stars – you can’t beat the warmth of nostalgia – but as an added bonus, this was a really fun story! Fans will be pleased to see that Jamie and Wes are living their best life in Toronto – Wes’ hockey career is still going strong and Jamie is loving his coaching gig and they are still very much in love with each other. But when one of them gets an offer to work/play for another team, their lives may get a little more complicated. There’s a teensy bit of drama as the story unfolds but it was a lot of fun seeing how it all played out. I don’t know if we’ll ever get more Wesmie but I was glad to at least get this quick visit! If you’re a fan of this couple (and let’s be honest – how can you not be?) be sure to add this story to your collection!
The Book Boyfriend Addict 
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