Overexposed by Megan Erickson (In Focus #4)
Released: September 20, 2016
Contemporary M/M
Intermix

Reviewed by Mandi

It’s no secret that I’m a fangirl of Megan Erickson’s books. She just keeps writing these emotional, fun, sexy stories that I can’t get enough of. Overexposed did not disappoint! There is sex in a tent and intense kissing up against a tree, y’all! What more could you ask for?

Levi was on a reality show that allowed him to travel around the world (you briefly meet him in the previous book – but this is a stand-alone). He was the token gay guy on that show and after a year of cameras in his face, he is happy to be living a normal life again. During the time he was gone, his sister and him decided that when she was done her deployment, and he was done his reality show, they would hike the Appalachian Trail together. His sister did a ton of research and they bought all their gear, and then his sister died in the Middle East, before she could make it home. Levi is absolutely devastated. To honor her memory, he decides to hike the trail on his own.

Told all in Levi’s point of view, he is emotional and a talker and wears his heart on his sleeve. Hiking alone started well, as he could clear his head and think about things – but after a few days, he can barely stand the solitude. But one night, while having to go to the bathroom late, he sees another hiker staring at the moon. Later, he meets this same guy when he is grabbing a burger. They sit down to eat together.

This man is Thad, and let’s just say Thad is a quiet guy. Like – really, really quiet. He grunts, and gives one word answers, but Levi is so lonely he doesn’t care. They decide to hike together – and as they get to know one another, even though Thad rarely talks, he encourages Levi to tell stories.

He propped his hands on his hips and tipped back his head to stare into the sky, then he lowered it to focus on me again. “I’d intended to hike this alone. If I’d had my way, I wouldn’t have talked to a fucking soul for months. But I like your stories, and you make me laugh. I’ve had to do a lot of things that I didn’t want to do. And…right now all I know is I want to hike with you. So I wanna do that. If you’re okay with it.”

This frustrates Levi to some extent because it’s hard to have one-sided conversations – but there is something about Thad and the way he looks at the moon every night. He has pain radiating off of him and Levi wants to fix it.

Thad’s quiet intensity spills into his physical romance as well. There are bruising, hot kisses and very naughty things done in a sleeping bag.

For a moment, we locked eyes, and the air between us crackled with the promise of what could come next if we let it. I didn’t breathe – didn’t move – because this rubber band tugging at us could snap any minute, and I had no idea which way it would go.

Thad’s jaw clenched, then his hand shot out and gripped the side of my head. I sucked in a breath as he pulled me toward him. The heat of his palm seared my scalp as he closed the distance until our mouths were inches away. The tent was filled with panted breaths, pounding hearts, and every cell in my body was screaming want want want.

And beyond the romance, I love their conversations, and the way their relationship plays out. How Levi and Thad are dealing with different grief but still grief. Thad got hurt in a previous relationship and is terrified to show any vulnerability to Levi.

“Still want you. And it fucking terrifies me, because the last guy I wanted told me I wasn’t enough.”

My heart hurt, like a fucking cramp in my chest. I sucked in a breath, my eyes stinging with tears. “You’re enough,” I said. “You’re so fucking enough. And no one else gets to tell you that you’re not.”

I recommend all of the books in this series. So fun!

Grade: B+

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