The Locker Room

Amazing Story...once you get past the narration.

What did you love best about The Locker Room?

Amy Lane never fails to run her characters through the wringer. No matter if it's one of her sweeter, happier tales or an angsty one, all of her guys EARN their happy ending.

What other book might you compare The Locker Room to and why?

I can't compare Amy Lane's work to anything but her others, Keeping Promise Rock, and the Talker series and any other that involve such character torture leading to a happy ending that's so satisfying.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Michael Anthony?

My automatic response is Sean Crisden, but really, Michael Anthony's performance could have been much, much better if he stopped overacting. No really, you don't have to act out every sigh, gasp, laugh, sob, and (cringe) moan. The reader has enough imagination to figure out what a man having a orgasm sounds like (and if we don't, we can watch porn). Some of the part of the dialogue was really hard to hear because he was trying too hard. He's got a great voice, and I would totally get another book if he did it, only if he cut that overacting bit out.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Other than "Oh God, really?" during all the lovescenes (see my response to the narrator questions), the actual work makes me tear up at places. These boys love the hell out of each other, and their devotion make me wibble. Seriously.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

great story - bad narration

Would you consider the audio edition of The Locker Room to be better than the print version?

NO - and I have both

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love both MCs, but I liked Leo too

What didn’t you like about Michael Anthony’s performance?

the sound effects sounded superficial and fake, should have not been done.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both

Any additional comments?

I love Amy Lane's books, I wish this one's narration was better because the story is wonderful.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

the music didn't help

i hated the music, You missed the beginning of the chapters. and the story had good moments but it kinda lost the flow on the last half

A must read/listen

I feel like this story is so well known and beloved that everyone knows what it’s about and it’s hard to remember a time when I hadn’t read it or had it affect me.
But I know that’s not entirely true, and somewhere there are readers out there who have yet to experience the amazement that is this story.

So…
Xander is poor, pretty much raising himself as a teenager, keeping out of the way from mom’s “boyfriends” who want to steal his money and slap him around. The only thing that gives him any hope in the world are basketball and his “friend” Christian Edwards.

Chris is your typical all-American boy, a great family at home including a little sister, who meets a young boy playing basketball one day and sort of “adopts” him into his life and his family.

When Xander’s mother’s latest man friend forces Xander on to the streets Chris’ and Xander hatch a plan for him to work and go to school and live on his own. This lasts for a little while until exhaustion and hunger make him collapse one day on the courts, driving him to first move to a group home then later the Edwards’ house.

Everything would be perfect but for one thing: Xander and Chris have realized that they are more than friends. They don’t act upon it. A sense of morality keeps them to furtive kisses until they’re 18.

Basketball treats them both well, and sends them to be roommates in college. There, the fact that they’re so good works against them. Instead of living together as roommates as they’d dreamed, their skill lands them in the house of the varsity team, forcing them to keep their love quiet yet again.

When graduation comes they have to make the miraculous occur and get drafted by the same NBA team… they manage it, but at a cost. They can’t be gay and in the NBA. So, they manage an arrangement that … well, let’s just say they end up having to do more than just show up with a woman now and again to look like the straight celebrity athletes they are.

Finally, after years of hiding and the shame from denying their true nature, disaster strikes, eliminating basketball for one of them but opening the door to their future at the same time.

**

This book. GAH! I’ve read and listened to it so many times, and each and every time I am TORN OPEN. It is so gut-wrenching. They love each other so damn much and their pain kills me. Unlike some romances where them finding love is at least one if not the main obstacle, keeping their love quiet is the only focus in the book.

Probably the part of the story that guts me the worst is the part when they’re teenagers and Xander is living by himself and Chris’ mom finds out just how he’s been doing that… GOD I cry like a baby every time.

Then, there’s the nights the boys have to “fake it” to convince the media they are straight. It’s so heartbreaking!
Finally there’s the ending, which ends up being so bittersweet, but that interview they do with Barbara WaWa… bawling!

Amy’s ability to grab your heart and make it bleed is so amazing. She has such a way with emotion and finding just the right things that manage to have the greatest impact, even if they are small in actuality.

These guys feel like real celebrities to me – they’ve made appearances in her other books as well as some guest appearances in other author’s works. It’s as if they are truly part of basketball history.

I know Amy has mentioned a book two for these guys and I know I for one would LOVE that. They need more time and we need to see Chris healed and give them their reward for all their years of silence.

Audio

Well Sean Crisden is just awesome! He is one of my favorite narrators and he does an amazing job here. Xander is just so stolid and stoic and Chris is just the right amount of peppy and growly. This is an absolute joy to listen to.

6 of 5 stars! A true M/M must read.

wonderful read beautifully moving story

loved every word in this book such a great story of love and companionship !

WOW

If you could sum up The Locker Room in three words, what would they be?

It is a great story. I LOVED IT. Made me smile throughout the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Locker Room?

That Chris helped someone in need.

What about Sean Crisden’s performance did you like?

EVERYTHING

If you could rename The Locker Room, what would you call it?

I would leave it the same. I would not change it.

Any additional comments?

I recommend it to EVERYONE who is part of the LGBTQ+ community.

love It

Hope She writes a second book to this book please!!!! Amy Lane this is the best book ever!!!!

Not enough words.... to express my love

There is Nothing I Dont love about this story. Xander and Christian are the perfect love story

Such a great book!

So much pain and heartache without the angst. This is a really heart wrenching but beautiful story.

The narrator was perfect.

I highly recommend!!

Amy Lane does it again

What did you love best about The Locker Room?

I loved the relationship btwn the two MCs. Amy Lane does a great job in writing "love" I usually get swept away by her writing.

What did you like best about this story?

See above.

Have you listened to any of Sean Crisden’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to many of Mr. Crisden's performances, with Bear, Otter and the Kid being my favorite. He delivers another great performance here.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Without giving anything away, one of the MCs get hurt and the depth of the reaction from the other is moving. The ending is also great. I hope there is a sequel.