Hold Fast

by Kris Ripper

Zack Scherzo likes his notebooks. And his pens. And, okay, he really loves to organize stuff. He’s organized his whole life into the ideal trajectory for his ten year plan, at which point his career will be solid and he’ll be ready for a husband and family. Everything makes perfect sense.

Until he meets Isaiah.

Driven entrepreneur Isaiah Carlin generally doesn’t get involved with lost causes, like the climbing gym Zack’s trying to keep afloat. But there’s something about the gym—and there’s definitely something about Zack—that intrigues him. He wants to help. He also wants to see what happens when Zack shakes loose some of his rules and allows himself to feel.

When passion collides with Zack’s regimented life path, something’s gotta give. And it looks like that thing is going to be Isaiah, unless he can convince Zack that sometimes real life is even better than the best laid plans.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Fiction, M M Romance, Contemporary Romance

181 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2018

About the author

Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars upgraded to 4
This is my first Kris Ripper and I think I've never quite read a book like that.
The cast of characters was a little confusing at times and I felt like I missed several books in a series to truly enjoy the banter and references.
The things I really liked:
Unique setting (I'd love a climbing gym inside an old church)
The MC's aren't your typical m/m romance stereotypes, their approach at life couldn't be more different but they are so good together and the journey it took them to realize and accept that was written beautifully.
I was so there for that.
The book also is super woke but in a good way?
Also there is bullet journaling and who doesn't love that 😊

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

At this point I feel silly saying something like “I didn’t expect to love this so much” when it comes to Kris Ripper’s book, because all the ones I had were at least very good. But this book hit something inside of me somehow. I think it’s a longing for that kind of meeting and that kind of relationship... this was beautifully done and I loved this a lot and then some.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

I can't think of anything less than perfect in this novel. The pivot point in the tension is beautifully set up, and the payoff is glorious.

Highly recommended.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great story of two guys who don't have time to be in a relationship at this point in their lives. And what happens when not having time just isn't a good enough reason.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, but not my favorite of Kris's. If you enjoy zir work though, do read this one.

note about race and kink behind spoiler:
The two main characters do call each other boy occasionally during sex, and one of the main characters (Isaiah) is black. The racial aspect of that is addressed, and Isaiah is fine with it, and it doesn't go into like, heavily racialized kink. It still makes me uncomfortable personally, but I don't think it's handled badly.

[Sheryl Beesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

another awesome book by Ripper.... just saying

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of an unusual romance, but one I really enjoyed. Two protagonists with their shit together, who know exactly what they want out of life, and know that they're into each other immediately. Low angst, no miscommunications. The tension is all external, and extremely relatable - how to fit a relationship into an already packed schedule. I loved how they worked through the logistics of their issues, but more than that, I loved how they were both so genuinely into the 'quirks' that people had found off-putting about the other person. This was a great read!

[Leigh Kramer]

DNF at 58%

When it comes to this author’s books, I either love them with all my heart or I’m completely bored and DNF. There is no in between. While Zack’s love of pens and planners is adorable and Isaiah has an interesting backstory as a YouTuber, I don’t sense any chemistry between them and there’s not much of a narrative drive to hold my attention. Oh well.


Characters: Zack is a white climbing gym marketing and activities director who is working on a business degree. Isaiah is a 28 year old Black entrepreneur and YouTuber. This is set in La Vista, CA.

Content notes: past misgendering of trans secondary character, family planning discussion (they both want to adopt someday), past death of Isaiah’s mom, past parental divorce, on page sex, alcohol, gendered pejorative, ableist language

[SA · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I liked the characters, the whole set-up felt so manufactured. Like, really, the whole conflict of why you can't get together despite clearly wanting to be with each other -- which they had communicated, so it's not like they were keeping their feelings secret or miscommunicating! -- is that you're...too busy. That you're focused on work/school? It just didn't feel grounded in reality, and not in that "romance reality" way. There was literally nothing preventing them from getting together apart from the will to do so, and the reasons for not doing so strained credulity.

[Ina Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars but rounded up because a) I’m quickly turning into a Kris Ripper fangirl b) these characters felt like actual people / like looking into a mirror at times c) I liked how the external conflict was just being too busy for a relationship. Life is crazy and love can be great but it also can be really inconvenient — that’s not something that is ever tackled in romance novels, really, but it sure as hell comes up a lot in real life.

[Ollie Z Book Minx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute. Not as deep/nuanced as some of zir other work but still a solid, lovely romance about people finding themselves, love, and each other. Super soft and none of the conflict I anticipated from the blurb.

Really loved the found family at the gym and wish this was a series opener about all those characters (and where they, like, buy Terrence out or something). Thanks to KR for writing all the queer gyms I wish existed in the Bay Area!

[Milly Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, Zach and Isaiah are great characters and the story flowed and had me involved. I'd like to punch Terence the owner, he reminds me of so many of my past bosses, who consider profit is more important than employees.
Excellent secondary characters in this book too, they were quirky and individual, not cookie cutter background scenery.
Another great story from Kris.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounding up

One of the things I really love about Kris' books are the details, and this one has so many sweet details, especially about Zack and his lovely notebooks. It offers so much more insight to the characters and their world.

This was a sweet book about two people just trying to make things work. Without trying to give too much away, my problem was I didn't quite buy the reason things couldn't work. It's not that it felt like a made up reason -- I believed the characters believed it at the time. It's more ... I don't know if that's how life works.

But, this is fiction, and well written, and with great supporting characters, and a lovely interracial couple.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and sweet.