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cheye13's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was rather impressed with this one. Gay sports romances tend to fall short for me when the voice and plot are incongruous, but this one meshed perfectly. I would have preferred a smidgen more actual baseball game (rather than the politics behind the scenes), but the book painted a very full picture of the sport as the setting. The cast was also wonderfully well-rounded and standalone for the first in a series; the side characters are not only memorable, but add to the story. Picking them out in later books will feel familiar rather than like a challenge. Above all, the stakes felt significantly emotional while remaining safe & believable. Despite the conflict occurring primarily in Zach's head (as readers, we can easily predict coming out will be fine), his emotions sufficiently convey the gravity of being a gay professional athlete.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexism and Pregnancy
the major content warning is homophobia, but it's entirely internalized homophobia and primarily about the fear of coming outholtopia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
mere's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
magh's review against another edition
5.0
As a fan of both baseball and romance novels, this book is basically a dream come true. Baseball is not just the vehicle for Zach and Eugenio's romance, it's an integral part of the story. Unwritten Rules doesn't use actual MLB team or stadium names (presumably for copyright reasons), but if you're a baseball fan, you'll know which team is which, and you'll appreciate the easter eggs K.D. Casey drops for us (I'm partial to a subtle dig of Houston's team).
But you don't need to be a baseball fan to fall in love with Unwritten Rules, its MC, Zach, and the LI, Eugenio. Casey interacts baseball with standard romance tropes so that they are brought to life in new and exciting ways, which is pretty much all I ask for as a romance reader. The steamy scenes are STEAMY (don't read this in public, friends!). The relationship between Zach and Eugenio builds beautifully in both in the present and 3 years earlier timelines. Going back and forth between the two was a really great way to learn about their relationship and Zach's relationship with baseball. The side characters are fully realized and so much fun. (especially Zach's Jewish family. if you know you know etc. etc.)
I had been really excited by the premise of this book and was a little worried it wouldn't live up to my absurdly high expectations. IT SURPASSED THEM. I absolutely LOVED this story - LOVED IT - and I can't wait to read more from Casey.
But you don't need to be a baseball fan to fall in love with Unwritten Rules, its MC, Zach, and the LI, Eugenio. Casey interacts baseball with standard romance tropes so that they are brought to life in new and exciting ways, which is pretty much all I ask for as a romance reader. The steamy scenes are STEAMY (don't read this in public, friends!). The relationship between Zach and Eugenio builds beautifully in both in the present and 3 years earlier timelines. Going back and forth between the two was a really great way to learn about their relationship and Zach's relationship with baseball. The side characters are fully realized and so much fun. (especially Zach's Jewish family. if you know you know etc. etc.)
I had been really excited by the premise of this book and was a little worried it wouldn't live up to my absurdly high expectations. IT SURPASSED THEM. I absolutely LOVED this story - LOVED IT - and I can't wait to read more from Casey.
r_santabarbara's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
wumbachumba's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was good but if I wanted to experience persistent melancholy I would sit alone with my thoughts.
anniekayefic's review against another edition
I couldn’t make myself get interested.
thosemedalingkidsss's review against another edition
5.0
Was this a perfect book? No. Did it make me feel big feelings? Most definitely.
Things I was feral about:
- The slow and gradual friendship to relationship
- How patient and in love each Zach and Eugenio were, their relationship conflicts felt real, there weren't huge dramatics included for the plot.
- Domesticity and their 'in love' quiet moments together.
- Aloe plant, sharing shirts, cooking together, coffee orders and pastries
- Overall kindness and compassion each lead had for each other
- The intimacy and emphasis on their feelings, conversations, touch, and presence around each other
- So much baseball info
- Zach coming out to his parents and his mom's reaction had me bawling like a loon
Things I really appreciated:
- Zach's Hard of Hearing disability being present throughout the entire story, and no glossing over accommodations
- No forced outings, Zach getting the chance and time to come out when he was ready and, on his terms
- Eugenio knowing his own worth and ending things when he couldn't be in a closeted relationship anymore
- Eugenio showing empathy to Zach even though Zach hurt him with not being ready to come out
- Zach's redemption arc, therapy, communicating
- Eugenio's overall vibe was chef's kiss
Things I didn't love and found confusing:
- Why end on a vague HFN after walking us through 3 years of Zach's life. Give a HEA! We went through a very thorough back and forth flashback of second chance romance, only for a rushed ending.
- I think I would have preferred fade to black sex scenes compared to what was included. It was that Vaseline on lens style, but with how vulnerable and intimate they were non-sexually, it felt unbalanced and unnecessary at times the random yet vague sex scenes. It didn't add to their relationship dynamics and didn't add anything to the story.
- It felt like some of the big tension moments were said off screen? Things were alluded to, but never actually talked about, and felt like big moments we missed. Especially with how hard it is to make flash backs feel coherent, it was a big disjointed and clunky at times.
- I listened to the audiobook, and at times the narrator would use E's voice for Z or vice versa, which was a bit confusing.
I am going off of how many emotions this book brought out of me. I really empathized with Zach and his fears, and it was refreshing seeing a sports romance where everything felts slow. Slow relationship development, seeing slice of life moments in Z and E's life, their families, their friendships, their careers. Reading someone's whole arc of being closeted, self-sabotaging and not letting themselves have the love they deserve, having the time and space to come out on their terms and to the people they wanted to know, getting another chance with their person. And seeing that they're loved and cared for. Sobbing. Precious. 10/10 moments.
This was also my first book by this author, and I'm intrigued for more baseball romances in this series!
Things I was feral about:
- The slow and gradual friendship to relationship
- How patient and in love each Zach and Eugenio were, their relationship conflicts felt real, there weren't huge dramatics included for the plot.
- Domesticity and their 'in love' quiet moments together.
- Aloe plant, sharing shirts, cooking together, coffee orders and pastries
- Overall kindness and compassion each lead had for each other
- The intimacy and emphasis on their feelings, conversations, touch, and presence around each other
- So much baseball info
- Zach coming out to his parents and his mom's reaction had me bawling like a loon
Things I really appreciated:
- Zach's Hard of Hearing disability being present throughout the entire story, and no glossing over accommodations
- No forced outings, Zach getting the chance and time to come out when he was ready and, on his terms
- Eugenio knowing his own worth and ending things when he couldn't be in a closeted relationship anymore
- Eugenio showing empathy to Zach even though Zach hurt him with not being ready to come out
- Zach's redemption arc, therapy, communicating
- Eugenio's overall vibe was chef's kiss
Things I didn't love and found confusing:
- Why end on a vague HFN after walking us through 3 years of Zach's life. Give a HEA! We went through a very thorough back and forth flashback of second chance romance, only for a rushed ending.
- I think I would have preferred fade to black sex scenes compared to what was included. It was that Vaseline on lens style, but with how vulnerable and intimate they were non-sexually, it felt unbalanced and unnecessary at times the random yet vague sex scenes. It didn't add to their relationship dynamics and didn't add anything to the story.
- It felt like some of the big tension moments were said off screen? Things were alluded to, but never actually talked about, and felt like big moments we missed. Especially with how hard it is to make flash backs feel coherent, it was a big disjointed and clunky at times.
- I listened to the audiobook, and at times the narrator would use E's voice for Z or vice versa, which was a bit confusing.
I am going off of how many emotions this book brought out of me. I really empathized with Zach and his fears, and it was refreshing seeing a sports romance where everything felts slow. Slow relationship development, seeing slice of life moments in Z and E's life, their families, their friendships, their careers. Reading someone's whole arc of being closeted, self-sabotaging and not letting themselves have the love they deserve, having the time and space to come out on their terms and to the people they wanted to know, getting another chance with their person. And seeing that they're loved and cared for. Sobbing. Precious. 10/10 moments.
This was also my first book by this author, and I'm intrigued for more baseball romances in this series!
sarah_gb's review against another edition
3.0
I don't think this was for me, the romance fell flat but the coming out story was nice
nic55's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This snuck up on me. Lowkey I didn't think I was super attached to the characters....but when the last few chapters hit, I was genuinely getting emotional??? Idk. This is a quiet angsty second chance book with a shit ton of actual baseball content and some pretty great writing. Both MCs were likeable, and I appreciated seeing Zach's background being Jewish and HOH along with Eugenio's experiences as a Venezuelan player in professional baseball. I'm used to the back and forth timelines that often pops up in second chance romances, so that didn't bother me. I felt like the changes back and forth were timed pretty well too. There was an undercurrent of tenderness in their relationship that I just adored, especially when they reconciled towards the end.
Not usually a fan of single POV romances and this book didn't convert me. While staying in Zach's pov probably made him more sympathetic than he would've been otherwise, I never felt like I could really connect with Eugenio as much as I wanted to. This was probably the most noticeable when his time apart from Zach was referenced but never shown in full. I wanted to know what he was up to! And as much as I liked the more....mellow? understated? tone, it wasn't as immediately engaging to read. Took a bit more effort to read than I usually like in romances, if that makes sense.
Definitely gonna keep reading in this series, K.D. Casey has my interest!
This snuck up on me. Lowkey I didn't think I was super attached to the characters....but when the last few chapters hit, I was genuinely getting emotional??? Idk. This is a quiet angsty second chance book with a shit ton of actual baseball content and some pretty great writing. Both MCs were likeable, and I appreciated seeing Zach's background being Jewish and HOH along with Eugenio's experiences as a Venezuelan player in professional baseball. I'm used to the back and forth timelines that often pops up in second chance romances, so that didn't bother me. I felt like the changes back and forth were timed pretty well too. There was an undercurrent of tenderness in their relationship that I just adored, especially when they reconciled towards the end.
Not usually a fan of single POV romances and this book didn't convert me. While staying in Zach's pov probably made him more sympathetic than he would've been otherwise, I never felt like I could really connect with Eugenio as much as I wanted to. This was probably the most noticeable when his time apart from Zach was referenced but never shown in full. I wanted to know what he was up to! And as much as I liked the more....mellow? understated? tone, it wasn't as immediately engaging to read. Took a bit more effort to read than I usually like in romances, if that makes sense.
Definitely gonna keep reading in this series, K.D. Casey has my interest!