The first in a new adult series that explores institutionalized homophobia within competitive sports – in this series: American high school football. Can a boy who sticks to the shadows fall in love with a boy made of pure light?
Publisher’s Description:
On the cusp of his senior year at Mercy High, Elliot Donahey, an out but terminally shy gay young man who keeps to the shadows – never wanting to be seen or noticed – suddenly finds himself in the arms of the highest profile jock on campus, local star quarterback, Marco Sforza. Their lives, and those closest to them will never be the same.
Set against the backdrop of competitive sports, this character study work (the first in a series) deep dives into the lives of these young men who each must play the game so Marco can play the game he loves. They are just trying to find some small slice of happiness to call their own amidst their hellish final year of high school.
Genre: New Adult – Contemporary
Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Kayla Donahey, Cindy Markham, Sonya Lawton
Cis boys: Marco Sforza, Elliot Donahey, Beau Hopkins, Greg Lettau, Willem Mackenzie, Steven Lowry, Danny Jericho
Sexuality:
Gay: Elliot Donahey
Bisexual: Danny Jericho
Pansexual: Marco Sforza
Demisexual: Danny Jericho
Heterosexual: Kayla Donahey, Nick Donahey, Beau Hopkins, Greg Lettau, Willem Mackenzie, Sonya Lawton, Cindy Markham
Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Marco Sforza and Elliot Donahey
Race/Ethnicity:
White: Marco Sforza, Elliot Donahey, Willem Makenzie, Sonya Lawton, Nick Donahey, Kayla Donahey, Danny Jericho
Black: Beau Hopkins
Multiracial: Cindy Markham
Religion: none overtly mentioned or expressed
Location: Mercy, CA – (fictitious town set in Northern California between Big Sur and Carmel)
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia/homomisia and hate crimes. Ends with a violent attack on the MC.
Other notes: Contains descriptive sexual content
Ownvoices: This is an own voice work written by a gay male author
Ending: Cliff hanger (but the conclusion is already written/published in Volume Two: Marco)