Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan

2 reviews

jennireadsmaybe's review

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emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. 

Add Playing for Keeps to the list of books that made me cry. It was such a beautiful and heart wrenching portrayal of grief and how grief affects our relationships with everyone around us. I was particularly drawn to June, our star baseball player, because of just how pressured she felt by everyone around her to be the best. 

June and Ivy’s romance was so sweet and heartfelt. I genuinely  felt their connection and how much they cared for each other. I felt like I was back in high school crushing on jocks and stressing over the future. It was truly the most adorable YA romance I’ve read in a very long time. 
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fanboyriot's review

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

4.5

♡ Secret Relationship
♡ Star Pitcher x Umpire 
♡ Queer Sports Romance

While baseball might not be my favorite (apologies for those who love it) this book had my interest.  Gay sports romance will always have a special place in my heart and this book lived up to the hype for sure.

Two main characters with big dreams in the sports industry, Ivy working on being a famous official referee and June working on becoming a professional baseball pitcher, they fall for one another rather quickly.  Working through things like the pressure and stress of being a woman in typically male-dominated fields create some strain and problems with their relationship at times.  Their romance is a bit messy sometimes, Ivy being the umpire for June’s team and doesn’t exactly start off on a great note, a dash of enemies to lovers at the beginning.  

Having a point of view from a referee/umpire was a unique twist to this story.  The references to the sports industry were nice too, how few women there are as referees or even how few women there are playing baseball at a more national level. While this was a rather rom-com worthy romance book I didn’t really care for all the fights between the main two characters.  I’m sure it was just to create more tension and show how stubborn both characters were, but it just seemed a bit too juvenile at times; even if they’re seniors in high school and it’s kinda expected in a YA novel at this point.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read with realistic and lovable characters.  This book also dealt with things like family loss, one of the main characters dealing with a serious injury and ignoring it due to the pressure she was under to be the best.  Both characters deal with major stress and grief in general, but it did end on a good note and things seemed to come together by the last chapter.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spice Level: n/a
POV: Duel, First Person
Release Date: 30, April 2024
Rep: Lesbian (Main Character), Bisexual (Main Character), LGBTQIA+ (Main and Side Characters), BIPOC (Side Characters)
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