Gut Check

by Eric Kester

• ISBN10: 1250250773
• ISBN13: 9781250250773
• Publish Date: 11 August 2020 (first published 13 August 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Wyatt had been obscured by his football hero brother's shadow his whole life, but by some odd luck, he finally got the chance to stand alongside him on the field. He saw this as his opportunity to foster a real and genuine relationship with Brett, but as he got to know the man under the hero suit, he realized that, maybe, that connection he wanted, was there all along.

• Pro: This book was so funny! The humor ran the gamut, from nerdy and slapstick to witty and wry. It all worked for me and left me either smiling or in stitches.

• Pro: I laughed a lot, but my other emotions got a workout as well. Wyatt dealt with bullying, fat shaming, poverty, emotional abuse, alcoholism, and living in a dying town. That's a lot to chew on, but Kester navigated all the issues so thoughtfully and in a combination, which produced quite an emotional impact.

• Pro: Being in Wyatt's head was such a treat. This kid was a gem. I hated the way he always put himself down, but I loved his tender heart, the astute and keen observations he made, and how he was able to be this way despite the toxic environment he grew up in. He was easy to love and easy to root for, and I couldn't have asked for a better narrator.

• Pro: The heart of this book was the relationship between Brett and Wyatt. My happiness grew as their bond became more and more apparent. They had to deal with some tough situations, and seeing them lean on each other really tugged at my heart.

• Pro: No lie, I was wiping away happy tears as I read the last few chapters of this book. It was all so wonderful and heartwarming. My sappy self is still basking in the afterglow of all those feels.

• Pro: All I am going to say is that the cupcake scene was stupendous! That has got to be one of the most adorable scenes I have ever read. I laughed, I smiled, my heart grew three sizes. It was so good.

Never good bumping into our crush during a cupcake crisis of existential proportions.

Overall: I love football and sibling stories, and this one combined the two in a way that was perfection for me.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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