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murchison's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shannonohannessian's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
Playing for Keeps is a YA romance following June, the only girl on her all boys baseball team, and Ivy, a former soccer player with dreams of becoming a professional referee. Ivy begins to ump for June's league and the two girls fall for each other, but rules prohibit them from dating due to a conflict of interest.
I adored that this was a YA queer romance without focus on coming out or sexuality as the main problem. Although for YA, it read more like middle grade to me. The pacing felt off as well. The girls were meant to start as enemies and it seemed like it was ramping up for an enemies to lovers story, but they got together incredibly quickly. A lot of the problems felt easily solvable
The book goes back and forth from the point of view of each of the girls but the perspectives sounded so similar it was difficult to distinguish who was meant to be telling the story. It was also hard for me to understand the motivations of the characters and the way their desires shifted quickly.
Overall, it still felt like a draft that needed to be fleshed out and developed more. It lacked a great deal of specificity. We never hear what state or city they are meant to live in. June's coach is referred to as just "Coach," never a name. It felt like still an idea of a story to me. However, this was an easy read that I'm sure would be more appreciated by its target YA audience.
Playing for Keeps comes out on April 30th, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.
Playing for Keeps is a YA romance following June, the only girl on her all boys baseball team, and Ivy, a former soccer player with dreams of becoming a professional referee. Ivy begins to ump for June's league and the two girls fall for each other, but rules prohibit them from dating due to a conflict of interest.
I adored that this was a YA queer romance without focus on coming out or sexuality as the main problem. Although for YA, it read more like middle grade to me. The pacing felt off as well. The girls were meant to start as enemies and it seemed like it was ramping up for an enemies to lovers story, but they got together incredibly quickly. A lot of the problems felt easily solvable
The book goes back and forth from the point of view of each of the girls but the perspectives sounded so similar it was difficult to distinguish who was meant to be telling the story. It was also hard for me to understand the motivations of the characters and the way their desires shifted quickly.
Overall, it still felt like a draft that needed to be fleshed out and developed more. It lacked a great deal of specificity. We never hear what state or city they are meant to live in. June's coach is referred to as just "Coach," never a name. It felt like still an idea of a story to me. However, this was an easy read that I'm sure would be more appreciated by its target YA audience.
Playing for Keeps comes out on April 30th, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.
kelsea_'s review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A queer baseball story sounded like a story tailored just for me, but unfortunately "Playing for Keeps" failed to deliver.
The main characters, June and Ivy, felt two-dimensional and each had one personality trait and that's all we got from them. I wanted to know more about the girls to understand them better, but the story never fleshed them out. The romance suffered from the same issues. They immediately dislike each other when they meet, but almost by the next time they hang out, they're dating. It's too quick and the readers have no idea what they actually see in each other as their encounters are almost always being frustrated with one another or being resentful.
I almost DNF'd the book around the 40% mark but finished it because I kept hoping it would improve and live up to the expectations the premise set.
The main characters, June and Ivy, felt two-dimensional and each had one personality trait and that's all we got from them. I wanted to know more about the girls to understand them better, but the story never fleshed them out. The romance suffered from the same issues. They immediately dislike each other when they meet, but almost by the next time they hang out, they're dating. It's too quick and the readers have no idea what they actually see in each other as their encounters are almost always being frustrated with one another or being resentful.
I almost DNF'd the book around the 40% mark but finished it because I kept hoping it would improve and live up to the expectations the premise set.
mpimental's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
courthrilly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
emstewart23's review against another edition
3.5
Sweet and fun and flirty. Love the queer and female rep in baseball and umpiring. As usual with YA romance, didn’t too much care for all the angst but that’s too be expected. 😉
beatlejr's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0