Review: Under the Boardwalk by Felice Stevens (Landmarks #1)
Note: This ARC was provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
Felice Stevens opens her new Landmarks series, which is set in the state of New York, with the Riegelmann Boardwalk along Coney Island in Brooklyn. She introduces us to Alexi Kharpov, a closeted gay man in his early twenties who spends his summers manning the frozen custard stand belonging to his family, and Cameron Maxwell, who is a couple or so years older than Alexi and who went from being an opera singer in the making to a music teacher who sings along the boardwalk during the summer months. Cam and Alexi have noticed one another before, but it isn't until the following summer that they gather up the courage to go beyond mere glances.
Under the Boardwalk's meet-cute between Alexi and Cam is one that I think a lot of people can relate to. I'm not talking about the singing or frozen custard slinging. I'm pretty sure that many of us know what it's like to notice someone across the way and to keep stealing glances whenever the opportunity strikes. Now, not all of us would dare to strike up a conversation; I should know! So, there was this strange kind of thrill I got when Alexi crossed to where Cam was singing and Cam acknowledged him. The teenage me would've high-fived both of them, and from that moment on, I was hooked on these two men who had this strong connection but who also had many secrets.
There are a couple of things that highlight the difference between Alexi and Cam, namely, Cam being out and Alexi not about their sexuality and Cam having traveled the world and Alexi having never left New York. It's those two particular differences that have them seeing things from opposite perspectives, but what does bring them together is the fact that they've never felt as strongly about anyone as much as they do with each other. I knew these two were going to get their happily-ever-after, but the author threw in a couple of surprises, and they made this an even better read than it already was. Under the Boardwalk was a strong, 4.5-starred start to the Landmarks series. ♥
Under the Boardwalk's meet-cute between Alexi and Cam is one that I think a lot of people can relate to. I'm not talking about the singing or frozen custard slinging. I'm pretty sure that many of us know what it's like to notice someone across the way and to keep stealing glances whenever the opportunity strikes. Now, not all of us would dare to strike up a conversation; I should know! So, there was this strange kind of thrill I got when Alexi crossed to where Cam was singing and Cam acknowledged him. The teenage me would've high-fived both of them, and from that moment on, I was hooked on these two men who had this strong connection but who also had many secrets.
There are a couple of things that highlight the difference between Alexi and Cam, namely, Cam being out and Alexi not about their sexuality and Cam having traveled the world and Alexi having never left New York. It's those two particular differences that have them seeing things from opposite perspectives, but what does bring them together is the fact that they've never felt as strongly about anyone as much as they do with each other. I knew these two were going to get their happily-ever-after, but the author threw in a couple of surprises, and they made this an even better read than it already was. Under the Boardwalk was a strong, 4.5-starred start to the Landmarks series. ♥
Date Read: 11 August 2017
Learn more about Felice Stevens.
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