Narrated by Gary Furlong
Book four in Jay Hogan’s Auckland Med series, Against the Grain features a wonderful, ‘grown-up’ romance between two very different men whose willingness to communicate and work at their relationship is so refreshing in a genre that is often fraught with misunderstandings and miscommunication (or no communication at all!) Add in a touch of drama, a coming out story and a look at some important issues around disability and gender, and you’ve got a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable story that is my favourite book in the series so far.
Sassy pathologist’s assistant Sandy Williams (whom we first met in the previous book, Up Close and Personal) has spent his whole life (it seems) fighting to just be himself. He’s unapologetically out and proud, but beyond the fact that he’s attracted to men, he’s not interested in labels and doesn’t see why he should have to fit into any one box. He wears whatever reflects the way he feels on a particular day, be it skirts or jeans, heels or trainers, and anyone who doesn’t like it can just fuck off. It’s taken him a long time to get to this stage and he’s overcome a lot – from the kids who bullied him at school, to boyfriends who only wanted him for the novelty value and never really understood him, to the arsehole father who walked out the day after Sandy came out – and he’s emerged from it all as as someone who knows who he is and is comfortable in his own skin, despite the prejudice he still faces.
Miller Harrison has only recently taken up the position of Clinical Governance Coordinator at Auckland Med, so he doesn’t recognise the tall, totally stunning guy who nearly runs into his chair when he’s exiting the accessible staff bathroom in the ER. He’s had a long day – a punishing training session with the Wheel Blacks wheelchair rugby team has left him with a gash on the arm that needs stitches; then some idiot woman yelled at him for using a disabled parking space, and to top it all, he’s worried about a worsening pain in his hip that might be a warning sign that his intention of making it to a third Paralympics might not come to fruition. So the last thing he needs is some officious arsehole going off at him about which bathroom he’s using and then demanding to see some ID. But even through his annoyance, Miller can’t help being completely bowled over – whoever this guy is, he’s absolutely not Miller’s usual type and yet he’s absolutely smitten.
Sandy is also surprised to discover that Miller ticks so many boxes he never knew he had – but being seriously hot is no excuse for behaving like a dick. Sandy – with just a slight pang of regret – consigns Miller to the ‘jerk’ pile.
When, a few days later, they meet again, it seems at first as though this encounter is going to go the same way as the first, until they find themselves laughing together at something totally random, and the ice is broken. Miller asks if he can buy Sandy a coffee by way of an apology and if they can start again, and soon, they’re getting on well and finding lots to talk about, enjoying each other’s company and engaging in a bit of subtle flirting. From there it’s a short step to dating and spending time getting to know each other to see if this thing between them has the potential to go anywhere.
To start with however, their being an item is complicated by the fact that Miller isn’t really out. His family knows he’s gay, but after the car accident that ended his dream of playing for the All Blacks, Miller had to follow a tough regime of healing and rehabilitation and chose to focus on that, knowing it would be hard enough to adjust to living with a disability without throwing an announcement about his sexuality into the mix. As it’s turned out, it’s never really been an issue, as between work and training, Miller has never had time for more than the occasional hook-up. But now, with Sandy in his life, Miller knows he’s got thinking to do and decisions to make.
The relationship progression in this book is superb. Miller and Sandy get together fairly early on (before the half-way point), so what we get is a terrific story about two people who have never really had a stable long-term romantic relationship learning how to be in one and actually working at it. Miller doesn’t have a clue how to be a boyfriend, but he tries hard to do the right thing – which, at times, includes learning when to step back – and shows how much he cares in some truly sweet ways; and for Sandy, being with someone who sees him so clearly and loves him for exactly who he is is wonderfully liberating. They make mistakes along the way, but they realise that what they have is worth fighting for and they talk and work out their next steps together. For a romance novel, it’s a wonderfully mature relationship and I loved their openness and honesty. There’s a big hiccup near the end that threatens to derail them, but it’s not drawn out and more than anything else, serves to show Miller just how much damage being in the closet had done to him, creating an instinct in him to keep his head down and not draw attention. Listening to him confront these shortcomings and then push through his mental barriers and realise he needs to do better if he wants to make a life with Sandy had me giving a (mental) cheer, as did Sandy’s inner strength and his absolute determination to be true to himself at even the most trying of times.
There are a couple of well-rendered sub-plots and a lovely found-family element to the story as well, and fans of everyone’s favourite fabulous “Yoda of sass”, Charge Nurse Cam Wano, will no doubt be delighted to see him again.
Gary Furlong is in excellent form and delivers another thoroughly engaging performance that highlights the emotional connection between the two leads and expertly captures the essence of their personalities. His portrayals of Sandy and Miller are perfect – Sandy’s take-no-prisoners attitude is spot on, as are the insecurities that lie behind it that he works hard to hide, and the little bit of grit in Miller’s tone nicely plays up his gruffness. His obvious bewilderment at the way Sandy so discombobulates him is lovely and perfectly realised, as is the vulnerability he allows himself to show with his partner. The pacing is good, all the characters – principals and secondary cast – are clearly differentiated and easy to tell apart in conversation, and the vocal acting is superb. I know I’ve said this a lot, but I’m very much a listener who likes it best when narrators act the parts they’re playing and Gary Furlong is without a doubt, one of the best when it comes to all those little things that go towards making a real performance, rather than a reading.
Against the Grain was one of my favourite books of 2020, and Gary Furlong’s animated and obviously engaged performance adds another dimension to this already fantastic story. It’s funny, it’s intelligently written and well-researched, it’s tender, and it’s scorchingly sexy; the characters are likeable and very real, and the HEA is well-deserved. Strongly recommended.
Caz
Buy Against the Grain by Jay Hogan on Amazon
Hear, hear, Caz. A’s all the way. One of the best, if not *the.* best, audio book I’ve listened to in the last couple of years. I don’t know how Jay Hogan does it but she manages to convey so much romance, sass and emotion in her stories through her fascinating characters while at the same highlighting some very important moral issues. One of the very best MM writers out there. And Gary Furlong… what can I say. My very favourite narrator, without a doubt. These two are so well suited. I can’t imagine any other narrator/performer voicing Jay Hogan’s words.
No arguments from me on all of that!
Yes, this is my favourite of the series too! I loved the book when I read it and this is a great narration by Gary Furlong.
I hope he narrates the Painted Bay series.
Let’s just say I think your wish may be granted, and fairly soon ;)
This sounds like a great story. I’m in the mood to read about grown ups! Thanks for the review. Unfortunately, my library doesn’t have this one of the series on audio, but it’s available on KU and whispersynced, so I might get it that way.
It’s more than worth the price of admission, Carrie! Have you listened to the other books in the series?
I listened to the first book and read the second. I enjoyed them both, although not quite as much as you, I think. I’ve given the stories both B-. (Furlong’s narration got a B+.) I’ve enjoyed the southern Lights series and the Painted Bay series more than this one, at least so far. To be fair, in the Painted Bay series Hogan has hit the trifecta of excellent writing, pacing, and story line.
I’ll definitely pick this up, especially since it’s your favorite, as well as the favorite of both Wendys! High praise!
This one and ‘Off Balance’ are definitely my two favourite books by Jay Hogan, so I’m very pleased to hear from Caz that Gary Furlong will narrate the Painted Bay series.
I’m also impatiently waiting for ‘In Step’ to be released tomorrow – love me some dancing!
In Step is terrific – doesn’t quite top On Board for me, but really, really good!
Oh I really love this one! I think I may have listened to it 3 times already; it’s that much of a comfort listen. Just so good for all of the reasons you’ve listed.