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nightworldlove's review against another edition
From supposedly "hating" each other to kissing was so fast it nearly gave me whiplash... The characters also felt very two dimensional to me, and I just couldn't get into it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
justinekorson's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
3.25
Thank you to Netgally for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
This was a really cute story but a little short for my tastes. I think the actual final version is longer though. I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Ivy and June were really fun to get to know. one of my favorite parts was June making a joke about how they both have dead family members AND they're LGBTQIA+. I also enjoyed how Ivy didn't want to go to college and was actively fighting against it (though I'm a little mad that she actually agreed to go to community college in the end). Mia and Javonte were also really great characters and complemented the girls well.
Part of why the rating is a three though is because I'm not really a fan of insta-love which is kind of how this book felt. I'm not sure if that's just because the ARC was shorter than normal YA's or if it really was just insta-love. It felt like to me that it didn't take a lot for them to start dating. I really thought there'd be more conflict and more back and forth of will-they-won't-they? Instead, they seemed to agree pretty quickly that "yes we should date and hide it from everyone". WHICH IS TOTALLY FINE!!! I just thought that they'd have this whole conversation of "it's a terrible idea to date. let's be friends" and then over the course of the novel they're like "oh shit we're actually dating not just hanging out." I also couldn't get over the fact that Ivy ACTUALLY didn't do the showcase. I swore that at the last minute she'd be able to step-in but she didn't so that was disappointing. The fact that the "bad guy" was named Aiden didn't feel right either because my favorite author is Aiden Thomas and I love him (but this is just a me thing lol).
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
This was a really cute story but a little short for my tastes. I think the actual final version is longer though. I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Ivy and June were really fun to get to know. one of my favorite parts was June making a joke about how they both have dead family members AND they're LGBTQIA+. I also enjoyed how Ivy didn't want to go to college and was actively fighting against it (though I'm a little mad that she actually agreed to go to community college in the end). Mia and Javonte were also really great characters and complemented the girls well.
Part of why the rating is a three though is because I'm not really a fan of insta-love which is kind of how this book felt. I'm not sure if that's just because the ARC was shorter than normal YA's or if it really was just insta-love. It felt like to me that it didn't take a lot for them to start dating. I really thought there'd be more conflict and more back and forth of will-they-won't-they? Instead, they seemed to agree pretty quickly that "yes we should date and hide it from everyone". WHICH IS TOTALLY FINE!!! I just thought that they'd have this whole conversation of "it's a terrible idea to date. let's be friends" and then over the course of the novel they're like "oh shit we're actually dating not just hanging out." I also couldn't get over the fact that Ivy ACTUALLY didn't do the showcase. I swore that at the last minute she'd be able to step-in but she didn't so that was disappointing. The fact that the "bad guy" was named Aiden didn't feel right either because my favorite author is Aiden Thomas and I love him (but this is just a me thing lol).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Chronic illness, Grief, Sexism, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Cancer, Alcohol, Gaslighting, and Medical trauma
blovesbooks80's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
nerdybookqueen's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received a copy of this from netgalley in exchange for a review
Coming from opposite sides of the the sports world, June, the player, and Ivy, a ref, find themselves falling for each other and in a forbidden relationship. While they navigate this new love, they each have to navigate the impact the death of a family member had on them and their parents, June, losing her softball-player mother, and Ivy, losing her brother.
Though the deaths are old, the pain is very fresh, and is what at first bonds them together. But, personalities, and a bit of ethics, clash, and girls find their relationship tested.
June is left facing possibly years worth of letters her mother left, for many milestones in her life, and coping with the weight of those expectations, while her father pushes her harder and harder, in spite of an injury. Ivy has to face her parents trying to form her into a mini version of her brother, to fulfill all his dreams, though all she wants to do is ref. Both girls, through each other and through work on themselves, have to find a way to stand up for themselves and grow.
I also have to say, it's a bit nice to have a forbidden sapphic romance that isn't centered around their queer identities. It was a nice change of pace that I was quite happy to have.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel, though at times I found myself very frustrated by decision making. But then again, they're women in love, hell if I'm not familiar with that feeling.
Coming from opposite sides of the the sports world, June, the player, and Ivy, a ref, find themselves falling for each other and in a forbidden relationship. While they navigate this new love, they each have to navigate the impact the death of a family member had on them and their parents, June, losing her softball-player mother, and Ivy, losing her brother.
Though the deaths are old, the pain is very fresh, and is what at first bonds them together. But, personalities, and a bit of ethics, clash, and girls find their relationship tested.
June is left facing possibly years worth of letters her mother left, for many milestones in her life, and coping with the weight of those expectations, while her father pushes her harder and harder, in spite of an injury. Ivy has to face her parents trying to form her into a mini version of her brother, to fulfill all his dreams, though all she wants to do is ref. Both girls, through each other and through work on themselves, have to find a way to stand up for themselves and grow.
I also have to say, it's a bit nice to have a forbidden sapphic romance that isn't centered around their queer identities. It was a nice change of pace that I was quite happy to have.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel, though at times I found myself very frustrated by decision making. But then again, they're women in love, hell if I'm not familiar with that feeling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Death of parent, Cancer, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Child death
jazzyjbox's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.75
This is the Sapphic baseball YA romance I absolutely needed!
Ivy's loves sports, but her dream is to officiate a pro game. For now, she'll have to settle as a ref/umpire for her local teams. June is a start baseball pitcher with a temper and an increasingly painful shoulder. Even though the two girls don't see eye-to-eye on June's pitching, they bond over their shared loss of loved ones (June's mom and Ivy's brother) and soon find themselves falling for more than sports.
I've really enjoyed everything I've read from Jennifer Dugan, and this is no exception. As a girl who played baseball until I was no longer allowed, I loved that June got to keep playing in high school. I loved all the side stories to this romance like the pressure of living up to expectations and taking care of yourself. The best friends were fantastic, and everything wrapped up really nicely.
Rep: bi (MC), lesbian (MC)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent and Death
jaynellewags's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Penguin Teen for an eARC of the book.
Tropes: Forbidden Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Sports Romance, Loss in the Family, Forced Proximity, Miscommunication
CW: sibling death, parent death
This was a story that was cute but had some very serious concepts on dealing with grief and moving on from the death of people that are close to you. June is a pitcher for a baseball team and wants to follow her parents dreams for her- playing baseball in college.
Ivy loves refereeing and wants to be a female ump after she finishes high school. When she gets moved to umping the baseball games at her job, she runs into June. The female pitcher with an attitude problem and a killer arm. When Ivy learns that June uses the umps changing room after games, and starts getting to know her- she notices that her tough exterior is just that- a tough exterior.
June pushes herself because of the dreams that her parents have laid out for her- so much so that she has an injury and has let it get to the point where she can't play without being in pain.
When Ivy invites June to a party after a game, their relationship starts to develop when they both realize that they have lost someone close to them, and are having to determine what they want to do after high school- and if it is really their dream.
Their relationship has miscommunication which I think is understanding- they're in high school and both have trauma that they haven't dealt with. I enjoyed the sports aspect and that they were both kind of "breaking the glass ceiling" and blazing a path.
I liked that both the girls had to work through their relationships with their parents and come to terms with how they wanted to live their lives. This is a big thing that a lot of high school kids have to learn and do. Coming of age stories are one of my favorites.
I had one issue with the book- 75 mph fast balls would not cut it in college for a baseball pitcher. So the entire concept that June was able to play in the major leagues would never be plausible.
Tropes: Forbidden Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Sports Romance, Loss in the Family, Forced Proximity, Miscommunication
CW: sibling death, parent death
This was a story that was cute but had some very serious concepts on dealing with grief and moving on from the death of people that are close to you. June is a pitcher for a baseball team and wants to follow her parents dreams for her- playing baseball in college.
Ivy loves refereeing and wants to be a female ump after she finishes high school. When she gets moved to umping the baseball games at her job, she runs into June. The female pitcher with an attitude problem and a killer arm. When Ivy learns that June uses the umps changing room after games, and starts getting to know her- she notices that her tough exterior is just that- a tough exterior.
June pushes herself because of the dreams that her parents have laid out for her- so much so that she has an injury and has let it get to the point where she can't play without being in pain.
When Ivy invites June to a party after a game, their relationship starts to develop when they both realize that they have lost someone close to them, and are having to determine what they want to do after high school- and if it is really their dream.
Their relationship has miscommunication which I think is understanding- they're in high school and both have trauma that they haven't dealt with. I enjoyed the sports aspect and that they were both kind of "breaking the glass ceiling" and blazing a path.
I liked that both the girls had to work through their relationships with their parents and come to terms with how they wanted to live their lives. This is a big thing that a lot of high school kids have to learn and do. Coming of age stories are one of my favorites.
I had one issue with the book- 75 mph fast balls would not cut it in college for a baseball pitcher. So the entire concept that June was able to play in the major leagues would never be plausible.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Child death
jennireadsmaybe's review
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Medical content, Death of parent, Drug use, Death, and Alcohol
livruther's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
thanks to netgalley & the publisher for an arc!!!
i thought this was a pretty good book. i liked the start of their romance, and i was especially invested in the second half. i just did not like june as much as i wanted to. i found her to be really selfish, and while she did grow, i just didnt feel like she adequately apologized for or acknowledged the pain she caused. some of the references and phrases that were very modern weren’t my favorite either, because i think they will put too much of a timestamp on the book and make less accessible to readers years in the future.
cw: medical content, cancer, death of a parent, child death, injury/injury detail, grief
i thought this was a pretty good book. i liked the start of their romance, and i was especially invested in the second half. i just did not like june as much as i wanted to. i found her to be really selfish, and while she did grow, i just didnt feel like she adequately apologized for or acknowledged the pain she caused. some of the references and phrases that were very modern weren’t my favorite either, because i think they will put too much of a timestamp on the book and make less accessible to readers years in the future.
cw: medical content, cancer, death of a parent, child death, injury/injury detail, grief
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Death of parent, Grief, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer
fanboyriot's review
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)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Cursing, and Sexism
Minor: Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, Death, and Cancer
peterparker's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
One thing about me is I love Baseball another thing about me is I love Jennifer Dugan, I've read almost all the books she's published.
Playing for keeps is a young adult baseball romance that follows two main characters. Ivy is set on her dreams of becoming a famous official referee. June dreams of becoming a professional baseball pitcher and she pushes herself to be the best even when it's hurting her. When they start crushing on each other it becomes an ethics nightmare as Ivy is the umpire for June's team. Will their relationship make it or will June leave Ivy striking out?
While this is not my favorite from Jennifer Dugan it still manages to be a cute little YA romance. The main issue I have is with how many fights the two characters have. I get it creates tension but there's already a lot going on in this book that I could've dealt with a bit more cute moments.
I absolutely loved the baseball references and how a woman playing for a baseball team would be treated. It's really encouraging as I never knew a single women baseball player growing up. I didn't even know there was a U.S women's national league! I also loved learning more about women officiates. I really don't pay much attention to referees, or umpires so this was a nice way to learn more about them.
Overall, this was a fun romance book that talked way more about cancer than I expected it to. Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Playing for keeps is a young adult baseball romance that follows two main characters. Ivy is set on her dreams of becoming a famous official referee. June dreams of becoming a professional baseball pitcher and she pushes herself to be the best even when it's hurting her. When they start crushing on each other it becomes an ethics nightmare as Ivy is the umpire for June's team. Will their relationship make it or will June leave Ivy striking out?
While this is not my favorite from Jennifer Dugan it still manages to be a cute little YA romance. The main issue I have is with how many fights the two characters have. I get it creates tension but there's already a lot going on in this book that I could've dealt with a bit more cute moments.
I absolutely loved the baseball references and how a woman playing for a baseball team would be treated. It's really encouraging as I never knew a single women baseball player growing up. I didn't even know there was a U.S women's national league! I also loved learning more about women officiates. I really don't pay much attention to referees, or umpires so this was a nice way to learn more about them.
Overall, this was a fun romance book that talked way more about cancer than I expected it to. Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cancer, and Death of parent