Fandom by Eden Finley

Fandom by Eden Finley

Narrated by Iggy Toma

Eden Finley’s Famous series about what happens to the members of the biggest boy band on the planet after they split up continues with book three, Fandom. It’s a friends-to-lovers/’gay awakening’ story that, while containing some of the author’s trademark humour and banter also touches on some serious issues – alcoholism, body image, depression, anxiety, loss – that make it feel more solemn in tone than the previous books in the series.

Since Eleven broke up, Harley, Ryder and Blake have been doing pretty well, but the same isn’t true of Denver Smith and Mason Nash. Mason released a solo album which tanked and then just fell off the grid, and Denver’s solo career is hanging in the balance so he’s taken a gig as a judge on an X-Factor/Pop Idol type show, hoping that the bump in recognition he’ll get from being on TV will get him a second album deal.

When Harley explains his plan to get Eleven back together, the idea has definite appeal for Denver – but he knows there’s no way Mason will go for it. Harley – being Harley – is undaunted and determined to find Mason and get him on board – but the problem is that no-one knows where Mason is. Well. Not quite no-one.

Throughout the seven years Eleven was together, Mason and Denver were best friends, but when, right after Eleven’s final concert, Denver kissed Mason, that friendship ended. Mason was shocked rather than angry, and explained that he loved Denver like a brother – and Denver, thinking he’d made a terrible mistake, was deeply embarrassed and fled. He ghosted Mason after that and they haven’t seen or spoken to each other in the two and a half years since that night – and Denver isn’t sure if he can face seeing Mason again.

Denver ends up accompanying Harley to visit Blake on the set of his latest movie; the visit turns into dinner, turns into a club and ends with – as usual – Denver drinking too much and passing out… but not before he’s told Harley where Mason is.

After his solo album bombed, Mason retreated to his home in Montana to lick his wounds, smarting from the sting of failure and from the fact that his best friend in the world wasn’t there for him when he needed him. He’s heard the rumours about an Eleven reunion so isn’t overly surprised when Harley finally turns up on his doorstep – but he hadn’t expected Denver to be with him. And Denver, Harley and Blake hardly recognise their former bandmate in the chunky, long-haired, bushy-bearded and unkempt mountain-man who opens the door. Not surprisingly, Mason turns Harley down. The guys leave and as far as Mason is concerned, that’s that.

Except, of course, it isn’t, because the presence of three of the former members of Eleven didn’t go unnoticed, and soon Mason is besieged by the paparazzi. Needing to get away, he manages to sneak out unnoticed, and makes his way to Denver’s place to hide out until the furore dies down.

Mason and Denver have been lonely and a little bit lost without each other, and this new enforced proximity gives them the opportunity to talk about what happened between them that night and afterwards, and for Mason – in particular – to really start to question the nature of his feelings towards Denver. He’d been so sure at the time that what he was feeling was nothing more than a deep friendship, but being with Denver now is different, somehow. And for Denver, spending time with Mason only shows him that what he’d suspected all along – that he was in love with Mason – was the truth. And still is.

I’ve been enjoying this series, and was looking forward to Fandom because I enjoy friends-to-lovers romances, but unfortunately, the romance is the weakest part of this story. We’re told Mason and Denver were best friends for seven years, but we never see anything of that friendship; we never see why Denver fell for Mason, there’s no hint that Mason might have feelings for Denver that he didn’t understand or was oblivious to, and without that background, it feels like there’s a chunk of the romance missing. That lack also makes it harder to buy their reconciliation, and that Mason – who has always identified as straight – is suddenly so open to exploring his sexuality with Denver.

I quite enjoyed the other storylines, however. Denver’s need to “remain relevant” in the industry is largely explained by his backstory (he grew up dirt poor and was abandoned by his mother), and his realisation that he has a problem with alcohol and his determination to do something about it are well handled. The same is true of the question of body image; Ms. Finley shows that Mason is happy with who he is and the way he looks – despite the disgraceful comments on the change in his appearance that are made online – and that Denver is just as – if not more – attracted to the new hot-lumberjack version of him as he ever was to the “old” Mason.

But I didn’t really ‘click’ with Fandom until the tragic event that happens in the last quarter, which takes things in a different direction. It’s tear-jerkingly sad in itself, and the strain it puts on Mason and Denver’s relationship sees them finally having to fight for each other rather than just falling back into old habits and behaviours, which made it the strongest part of the book. The ending is also very satisfying –

Iggy Toma returns to narrate this instalment in the series and delivers another intelligent, enjoyable performance. His interpretations of Denver and Mason are an excellent fit for their personalities; Mason’s gruff, deep tones work especially well to depict a big, scruffy mountain-man and contrast well with the slightly higher pitch and lighter timbre given to Denver. His portrayals of Harley, Ryder and Brix are consistent with the way they sound in the other books, and the other secondary roles are appropriately characterised and clearly differentiated. But the thing I always look forward to when I listen to Mr. Toma is the way he finds the emotional centre of the story and characters and conveys them to the listener; I had a bit of trouble completely buying into the romance in this one, and I suspect the connection between Denver and Mason in this story is considerably enhanced by his empathetic, nuanced performance.

Although Fandom is angstier than the previous books and touches on some fairly serious subjects, they’re handled sensitively and don’t overwhelm the rest of the story. It isn’t my favourite book in this series (that would be Spotlight), but the fabulous performance from Iggy Toma puts it firmly in the recommendation bracket, despite my reservations.

Caz


Buy Fandom by Eden Finley on Amazon

4 thoughts on “Fandom by Eden Finley

  1. Great review. I opted not to read the spoiler (very mature of me, I think) because I’d like to experience it. I have Pop Star checked via Hoopla on my phone now.

    1. Hah – how very restrained of you! But I think you’ll appreciate it more if you’ve read the other two. I’ve reviewed those, as well ;)

      1. Yes, I read your reviews and was happy to find Pop Star on the library website. I abandoned The Wallflower Wager for now. It was fine, but I put it down one day and haven’t felt like piking it up, so I’m putting that aside for now and starting Pop Star.

Comments are closed.