New Release Review:
Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson

BookCrushin is very excited to have been granted an eARC of Megan Erickson’s newest release, TRUST THE FOCUS! I adore Megan Erickson–not only is she such a sweetheart but her Bowler University series is exactly what I want in New Adult fiction. Trust the Focus is a new adult, friends to lovers, road-trip romance and it released today! My spoiler-free review is below and I may have gotten a bit too personal & I apologize in advance! I am just uber in love with #JusLan and hope you will be too!

 

Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson

Category: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publication: March 17th, 2015; InterMix
Purchase: Amazon

With his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.

As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.

But Justin knows he can’t escape forever. Eventually he’ll have to return home and join his mother’s Senate campaign. Nor can he escape the truth of who he is, and the fact that he’s in love with his out-and-proud travel companion.

Admitting what he wants could hurt his mother’s conservative political career. But with every click of his shutter and every sprinkle of ash, Justin can’t resist Landry’s pull. And when the truth comes into focus, neither is prepared for the secrets the other is hiding.

 

Spoiler-Free Review:

[book rating=5.0/5.0]

 

Trust the Focus is not just a friends to lovers contemporary romance. It is not just a road trip of discovery. It is not just an GLBT book. Trust the Focus is all of those things and more. It is very different than some of the LGBT books I have read in my past; and I have read a few, mainly because I am gay (shocker, right?!). I think everyone needs to read at least one gay romance in their lifetime, just like I still read many heterosexual romances, and I can honestly say that I would recommend Trust the Focus to be that book! It spans many genres and I think anyone who loves a well-crafted love story will devour this book!

This story of the post-college graduation road-trip, the last summer before growing up all rang very real and true to me. We all need that last run at freedom before we have to settle down and get a job. I know I had my post-graduation freak out, I drove all around the country, even hitchhiked a little. I withdrew from grad school during my exploration…and well I was also trying on my sexuality for size at this time too. Confused the crap out of my family that’s for sure. However, sometimes you make the best decisions at the rashest times. Nonetheless, Justin needed a lot more from this trip. It was a chance to say goodbye to his father who passed away and it was also a chance to determine who he really is and if he wanted to continue to hide his true passions in life and take the easy road already laid out before him.

Justin loves photography, just like his father, and he wanted to take this journey to honor his father’s life & work. But being in close proximity with his best friend, Landry, he has to come to grips with what he really wants in life. Landry also knows some things, like Jus is talented with his camera and he hopes this trip will encourage him to explore his passion. They both grieve for the loss of Justin’s father but they also gain a deeper understanding about themselves along the way. These characters are profound, albeit frustrating at times, and they feel like my best friends!

This book had me running a gamut of emotions. It was just so perfectly sad, funny, emotional, and damn sexy. OK…are you wondering if you can find a love story between two men sexy? Well let me tell you it’s even harder for a gay girl, and let me tell you it is really, really sexy; let me scream it at you because IT IS SO FRIGGIN’ HOTT!! Did you hear me? These two boys are sexy mofo’s! I wish I had a #JusLan all for myself! *fans self* Again, this isn’t erotica, this isn’t porn, this is a heart breaking love story. So get your tissues and chocolates ready because you will need them after this book wrecks you (in a good way).

Trust the Focus is a page turner, I read it so fast I had to force myself to stop reading just so I could enjoy it for longer and so I saved the ending for the next night because I didn’t want it to end. I just can’t handle how much I loved #JusLan together; so move over Alec & Kat (Make it Count) because I have a new Megan Erickson book couple to love forever! Well who knows maybe Megan’s next couple will usurp #JusLan. I don’t know much about the next book in this series as I just found out from a tweet by Megan that there will be another book called Focus On Me (In Focus #2) – hit that goodreads link folks!

5 fan-freaking-tastic stars!! I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of how amazing this book is…but take one thing away from this review and that is that I LOVED THIS BOOK! This has been my favorite read so far in 2015! I am sure you will see it on a lot of lists this year because it is just that good! Do yourself a favor and read Trust the Focus…like tonight.

Thank you to Penguin Group/Berkley for the eARC copy of Trust the Focus from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. 

 

Author Bio: Megan Erickson

My first stories written in crayon-scrawl on loose-leaf notebook paper were about my childhood pet — a deaf cat with dandruff. And after covering real-life dramas as a journalist, I decided I liked writing my own endings better and switched to fiction. My romance novels full of humor and heart are a far cry from those early scribblings about my hygiene-deficient pet.

I live in southern Pennsylvania, with my husband, two kids and two cats. I like a good pint of beer, a greasy bacon cheeseburger, homemade mac and cheese, and a great book with a happily ever after. When I’m not tapping away on my laptop, I’m probably listening to the characters in my head who just. Won’t. Shut. Up.

 

Author Links:

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