Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy is a scorching, heart-soaring M/M romance that’s like The Deal on ice with a friends-to-lovers twist. Jamie Canning and Ryan “Wes” Wesley were inseparable at hockey camp every summer, bonding over pranks and puck shots—until four years ago, when Wes ghosted Jamie after a drunken bet at 18 pushed their friendship into uncharted territory. Now, college seniors and rival hockey players, they face off at the Frozen Four championship, reigniting old sparks. Wes, a tattooed, wise-cracking bad boy who’s openly gay but secretly pining for Jamie, seizes a chance to coach with him at their old Lake Placid camp, hoping to fix things. Jamie, the laid-back golden boy who’s always thought he’s straight, starts questioning everything as their summer of skinny-dipping, SUV shenanigans, and steamy hookups blurs lines. The 360-page standalone is a masterclass in banter, heat (those scenes are fire), and emotional depth, tackling coming out and self-discovery with humor and heart. Fans adore Wes’s “I’ve loved you forever” vulnerability and Jamie’s supportive family, but some say the pacing lags mid-camp or the “straight-to-gay” arc feels rushed. BookTok and audiobook fans (shoutout to Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan!) are wild for the “Wesmie” chemistry—it’s a USA Today bestseller that launches Us and Epic.