Review: Focus on Me (In Focus #2) by Megan Erickson

Colin Hartman can now add college to his list of failures. On the coast-to-coast trek home from California, Colin stops at a gas station in the Nevada desert, and can’t help noticing the guy in tight jeans looking like he just stepped off a catwalk. When he realizes Catwalk is stranded, Colin offers a ride.

Riley only intended to take a short ride in Colin’s Jeep to the Grand Canyon. But one detour leads to another until they finally find themselves tumbling into bed together. However there are shadows in Riley’s eyes that hide a troubled past. And when those shadows threaten to bury the man whom Colin has fallen in love with, he vows to get Riley the help he needs. For once in his life, quitting isn’t an option.

~ Goodreads

Source: e-arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

My thoughts:

Oh how I loved this book!

Both Colin and Riley are flawed, wonderful characters that face difficult choices, responsibilities and future if they are to going work things out long term with each other.

This book gets so many things right dealing with the serious topic of mental health. Something that's not often done well in romance - especially in NA - where the magical orgasm solves all.

I totally bought into their romance and dedication to each other even though they just met. The relationship moves at a fairly quick pace but it works thanks to the road trip setup. Being stuck in a car, on the road for days will speed things up for ya! lol

There are plenty of laughs, love, fun and sexy times in Focus on Me despite the heavy topics but Erickson doesn’t shy away from the truth of depression or it's impact on loved ones. This book felt fresh, insightful and honest. Every time I thought she'd whip out a trope or line I've read a 100 times before to *fix* things, she didn't take the easy way out or use sexy times to solve things. This was no easy road for Coiln and Riley and I'm in awe of how the author made such a potentially sad story beautiful and even had me smiling this huge grin by the end.

Colin is in way over his head with Riley’s issues and he knows it – seeking outside help from *GASP* adults even though it means he might anger or lose Riley in the process. 

She also addresses something rarely discussed - men and body image. I think this is going to be a huge problem for men in the future because of our obsession with 6 pack abs - I already see young boys and men who won't walk around without a shirt on if they don't have them. Societies quest for perfection seems to be spreading despite minor progress with women in some advertising. But that's a rant for somewhere else. lol

I LOVED the first book in the series, Trust the Focus (& there are JusLan cameos) but I loved this one even more and I could have easily spent another 100 pages with these characters.