Title: Thanks A Lot, John LeClair
Series: Here’s to you Zeb Pike 02
Author: Johanna Parkhurst
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Length: Novel (204 pages)
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (15 Dec 2016)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: A Companion to Here’s to You, Zeb Pike
On the surface, life looks pretty good for sixteen-year-old Emmitt LaPoint: he’s popular, doing well in school, and he’s poised to lead his small-town Vermont hockey team all the way to the state championship—and that’ll lead to attention from scouts. Emmitt might manage to follow in the footsteps of his hockey hero, John LeClair, who he’s been secretly writing to for years.
But beneath the perfect façade, Emmitt is struggling. All he wants is to hold on to the two things he loves: hockey and his boyfriend, Dusty. But Emmitt’s absentee father has recently returned to breathe down his neck, and not everyone is eager to see him succeed. Few people in town know Emmitt is gay, and it’s getting harder to stay in the closet. On top of everything, Dusty seems to be hiding his own secrets.
ISBN: 978-1-63477-429-1
Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/thanks-a-lot-john-leclair-by-johanna-parkhurst-7746-b
Reviewer: Prime
Review: Thanks A Lot, John LeClair is the sequel (or companion as said in the blurb) to the book Here’s to You, Zeb Pike. If you haven’t read the first book, I really recommend going back to it. While it probably isn’t essential, it’s a fantastic book and these stories are just the perfect duo – much like Dusty and Emmitt.
The story is told from the perspective of Emmitt LaPoint, boyfriend of Dusty Porter, who after a year in Vermont has settled in with his new family and loves his new uncle and aunt. However, things are changing, as things always must. His secret relationship with Dusty is one of the main things changing and Emmitt’s little brother, Casey, is definitely the champion of his big brother and best friend. There is some drama but Emmitt and Dusty solves their current problems with style.
This series tackles some pretty upsetting things really beautifully. I think it hits the emotions and tension and the sweetness perfectly. It’s a lot more than teen drama or angst. I’m not a fan of angst ridden books, so if you’re like me, I can totally get behind recommending this for you. If you like sport novels too, we’re talking hockey here and an NHL star in the making with Emmitt.
I’m not sure if Johanna has plans for another book in the series. We are left with a HFN ending and I would really love for there to be more stories as we get see these guys go from teens to young men.