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bashsbooks's review
hopeful
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? No
4.0
I will admit, I was initially skeptical about The Prospects. I'm not a huge romance guy - or a huge sports guy, for that matter. But it was recommended by a nonbinary friend, so I thought I'd give it a shot. And I'm glad that I did!
I thought Gene and Luis - and many of the supporting characters as well - were good people with realistic nuances, hangups, and moments of frustration. I was interested in the baseball aspect purely through Hoffman's obvious affection and passion for the sport. And I was very pleasantly surprised to see explicit gay trans sex, which I am not used to finding in published work outside of very specific erotica, so that was a treat.
I thought Gene and Luis - and many of the supporting characters as well - were good people with realistic nuances, hangups, and moments of frustration. I was interested in the baseball aspect purely through Hoffman's obvious affection and passion for the sport. And I was very pleasantly surprised to see explicit gay trans sex, which I am not used to finding in published work outside of very specific erotica, so that was a treat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Classism
madscientistcat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Transphobia
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
This was the book club’s pick of the month for June. We went with an LGBT book for the month with it being Pride month and I enjoyed this book but some of the baseball analogy confused me a bit.
This book is about Gene Lonescu and he is content to play in the minor leagues. He's seen teammates get their big breaks, but as a gay trans man in the world of competitive baseball, he’s unlikely to share the same destiny. When Gene’s long-time rival, Luis Estrada, is unexpectedly drafted onto Gene’s team, everything changes. Luis is standoffish, talented and inconveniently gorgeous, and – to add insult to injury – his arrival puts Gene’s role on the pitch in jeopardy. This means war. The two men can barely get through a game together and the whole team suffers. But when Luis surprises Gene with a softer side to his haughty demeanour, Gene offers an olive branch. Soon they discover that their chemistry on the pitch might lead them all the way to the playoffs. And their chemistry off the pitch . . . well, that could be enough to change the game forever.
I thought this book was so sweet. This was the first book I’d read that had trans man and a trans love story and I thought it was a different but interesting read and it was so adorable. I loved the tension between Gene and Luis and how they both managed to communicate their issues. I loved the mental health aspect of it and how sports players and athletics can have anxiety and mental health issues but still be able to play at a top grade level. I am a sports fan, I follow premier league football, darts, rugby league and boxing. But I struggled with the baseball details and all the positions and the games. But I loved the teammates romance and it is very common on a female football team so I would love it to become common on male teams.
The third-act conflict annoyed me like there was no need for it. I would have loved for this to be dual POV because of Luis’s mental health and his time in Portland, I would have LOVED to hear these thoughts and how he came to the decision to quit baseball. I would have loved to see more of the public reaction to the end chapter because there was some acceptance but was there interviews? Did Gene refuse the interviews? What happened to Baker? I have more questions than answers.
Overall, I enjoyed this read I think I was just expecting or hoping for more. I might read more of K.T. Hoffman’s work if it’s in a sport I understand like a hockey or a rugby romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Deadnaming, Car accident, and Death of parent
alexelli's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Transphobia, Death of parent, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
levilore_'s review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
I'm so happy that this book exists. Gene was such a relatable character and his experiences were so relatable as a trans guy. I really enjoyed his relationship with Luis and all the other characters in the book.
I didn't think the story was the most entertaining, but that could be because I don't know anything about baseball. Overall, I thought the characters were great.
I didn't think the story was the most entertaining, but that could be because I don't know anything about baseball. Overall, I thought the characters were great.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Transphobia
finnc's review
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness and Transphobia
arlaubscher's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Deadnaming, Car accident, Death of parent, and Outing
takarakeireads's review
hopeful
medium-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
4.5
- trans MC
- gay couple
- panic attack/adhd rep
- Portland area setting
- college friends/teammates to rivals* to current teammates/friends to lovers
*keep in mind I say 'rivals' here for lack of a better term. The two MCs fall out of touch in college and upon coming back in contact years later Gene our MC is just a bit salty about how all that went down. He is kinda over hearing about Luis' semi successful career. Any 'rivalry' is totally one-sided is what I mean lol
I know for sure if I actually cared even a smidge about baseball this book would've completely knocked my socks off. Alas I am decidedly not a baseball fan - BUT this was still such a good read! On audio the baseball parts reminded me of listening to games on the radio as a child. I just kinda let the baseball parts wash over me lol [also note the audio narration is by a trans narrator!]
This book is also set in Portland area (where I live) in like an alternate reality where pdx has a MLB team and a minor league team. It was nice to read a reality in which a trans person is out and playing baseball (and there is not too much pushback about that). Gene and Luis are just two sweethearts and I love them so much. The representation in this book is just so well done. These are characters with so much depth and nuance, which made them feel supremely real. What a fantastic debut novel! I will def be looking for more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Deadnaming, Car accident, and Death of parent
Transphobia is mainly mentioned in passing and mostly from dumbasses on twitter (ya know the type)hobbithopeful's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
A book I picked up by chance, that is now one of my favorites. Funny, sweet, and with writing as great as the characters and the story, The Prospects is easily going to be one of my top reads of 2024. This is going to be a whopper of a review, because I truly adored this book.
It's difficult to know where to start, when I loved everything so dearly, so let's talk about the writing first.
Hoffman made baseball, and sports interesting, which is a testament to how great his writing is. I myself have never been one for baseball, albeit I do enjoy a hot dog on the rare chance I am dragged to a game. (Sorry Astros, I'm a terrible fan) Somehow Hoffman made the moments during games exciting and thrilling, moreso then even some actions sequences I have read, or war scenes. Even in downtime, the snappy and witty banter between characters felt so natural, so simple. I had to remind myself I was reading a book and not listening in on conversations. I wasn't sure where this book was going to go when I first picked it up, I had mistakenly assumed it was focused on Gene and Luis, when it feels narrow minded to say a book of this depth only did that. It felt more akin to reading about Gene and his journey of learning to let himself want more, and what that means.
"Wanting has always felt presumptuous-to ask for something, something unlikely and rare, and then actually, really hope to get it? All for himself? He doesn't do that."
Gene has my entire heart, as well as any other organs I can spare, my love for him overflows. It is a lovely thing, to be known when you read a book, and that is how I felt reading Gene's story. His struggles with wanting, with leaving the comfortable place he has carved for himself. Much like a nice old sock, why would you leave it and want or try for anything further when you just got to where you are? Vince was a character I felt surprising attachment to right off the bat (pun intended), be it because he not only serves as a best friend to Gene, but also as an almost father figure in how much Gene admires and looks up to him. I was glad when none of these characters were perfect, not even Gene is exempt from doing things and saying things that just aren't good, or healthy. When Vince started crying and had to leave the field, I felt my own eyes well with tears because you could feel the sheer frustration of and heart wrenching of that scene, of having that moment taken away. Even when Vince is shown to be not so perfect, it is so aching real, because while Gene goes through his own struggles, so does Vince. The ageism that Vince faces, and his own desires to keep going with the sport that has been his life and that he is in love with, made me tear up. I never considered before what aging players have to go through, gentle ribbing and teasing likely hitting spots that are sore and ache because of the countdown they have, their own bodies giving up long before they are ready.
It is admittedly rare to find a book nowadays by a white author that has not only diversity in its writing, but good diversity, where the POC characters actually read that way and aren't just thrown in randomly for that good ol, "look, I'm not just writing about white people" vibes. I was continuously reminded of Luis's skin color (in a good way), not just by the author bringing it up randomly, but by his struggles, his family, and what he goes through differently then Gene. The inclusion of Luis and his anxiety, and how others perceive him as being more standoffish then he actually is, was masterfully done.
"But instead, he has his knees hugged up to his chest, his head shoved between them, his knuckles waxy white where he grips his elbows, his arms making a bracket around his body, as if to protect himself."
I feel so often when reading books about gay romance, one of the characters will be more masculine then the other, or presented in such a way where it is so clear that one is bigger, or somehow tougher, setting gender and queer society back years and years by the reinforcement of gender roles it feels. The way Gene and Luis slide fluidly between affection and want, neither of them huge and barrel chested, just felt like such a love letter in a way I can't quite put into words. Perhaps my own self commiserating with Gene and the terrible truth that no matter what I do or how hard I work out, I will never truly be any bigger, or gain the broadness and sheer masculinity that some men just seem to have that comes naturally. I just adore how Gene still paints his nails, wears earrings, has become comfortable enough in his identity to have a space that feels like him, and not feel like he has to commit fully to any gender stereotypes.
Because I somehow managed to go into this book completely blind, I had no idea this was even an adult romance and had spicy scenes in it. I was fully prepared for that fade to black moment, and then was so blown away and happily surprised when instead I was treated to sweet and intimate scenes between Luis and Gene. I haven't read any (one, but it was very poorly written) explicit scenes before between a man and a FTM, but how they were written in this book is how I now require them to be done. I was worried for a moment, that there would be those awkward conversations and moments of awkwardness, instead I was blessed with queer joy, and it was invalidating as it was steamy.
They lie chest to chest, one of Luis's legs slotted between Gene's, pressed up close against him, kissing without any direction at all until Gene starts to rock his hips.
I flipped to the back of the book at one point to read the author blurb, because it was truly so difficult to comprehend a book this truly fantastic being a debut novel. Yet it is. Hoffman, you will never see this, but thank you for this absolute gem of a book. It reads like it came from the heart, love soaked in every line and page. For baseball, for identity, for wanting. I felt both validated and fulfilled after reading, and I know I will treasure this story for years to come.
An absolute home run, one of my favorite reads of 2024, a MUST read!
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go catch an Astros game, because I think baseball might just be more exciting now that I understand it.
It's difficult to know where to start, when I loved everything so dearly, so let's talk about the writing first.
Hoffman made baseball, and sports interesting, which is a testament to how great his writing is. I myself have never been one for baseball, albeit I do enjoy a hot dog on the rare chance I am dragged to a game. (Sorry Astros, I'm a terrible fan) Somehow Hoffman made the moments during games exciting and thrilling, moreso then even some actions sequences I have read, or war scenes. Even in downtime, the snappy and witty banter between characters felt so natural, so simple. I had to remind myself I was reading a book and not listening in on conversations. I wasn't sure where this book was going to go when I first picked it up, I had mistakenly assumed it was focused on Gene and Luis, when it feels narrow minded to say a book of this depth only did that. It felt more akin to reading about Gene and his journey of learning to let himself want more, and what that means.
"Wanting has always felt presumptuous-to ask for something, something unlikely and rare, and then actually, really hope to get it? All for himself? He doesn't do that."
Gene has my entire heart, as well as any other organs I can spare, my love for him overflows. It is a lovely thing, to be known when you read a book, and that is how I felt reading Gene's story. His struggles with wanting, with leaving the comfortable place he has carved for himself. Much like a nice old sock, why would you leave it and want or try for anything further when you just got to where you are? Vince was a character I felt surprising attachment to right off the bat (pun intended), be it because he not only serves as a best friend to Gene, but also as an almost father figure in how much Gene admires and looks up to him. I was glad when none of these characters were perfect, not even Gene is exempt from doing things and saying things that just aren't good, or healthy. When
It is admittedly rare to find a book nowadays by a white author that has not only diversity in its writing, but good diversity, where the POC characters actually read that way and aren't just thrown in randomly for that good ol, "look, I'm not just writing about white people" vibes. I was continuously reminded of Luis's skin color (in a good way), not just by the author bringing it up randomly, but by his struggles, his family, and what he goes through differently then Gene. The inclusion of Luis and his anxiety, and how others perceive him as being more standoffish then he actually is, was masterfully done.
"But instead, he has his knees hugged up to his chest, his head shoved between them, his knuckles waxy white where he grips his elbows, his arms making a bracket around his body, as if to protect himself."
I feel so often when reading books about gay romance, one of the characters will be more masculine then the other, or presented in such a way where it is so clear that one is bigger, or somehow tougher, setting gender and queer society back years and years by the reinforcement of gender roles it feels. The way Gene and Luis slide fluidly between affection and want, neither of them huge and barrel chested, just felt like such a love letter in a way I can't quite put into words. Perhaps my own self commiserating with Gene and the terrible truth that no matter what I do or how hard I work out, I will never truly be any bigger, or gain the broadness and sheer masculinity that some men just seem to have that comes naturally. I just adore how Gene still paints his nails, wears earrings, has become comfortable enough in his identity to have a space that feels like him, and not feel like he has to commit fully to any gender stereotypes.
Because I somehow managed to go into this book completely blind, I had no idea this was even an adult romance and had spicy scenes in it. I was fully prepared for that fade to black moment, and then was so blown away and happily surprised when instead I was treated to sweet and intimate scenes between Luis and Gene. I haven't read any (one, but it was very poorly written) explicit scenes before between a man and a FTM, but how they were written in this book is how I now require them to be done. I was worried for a moment, that there would be those awkward conversations and moments of awkwardness, instead I was blessed with queer joy, and it was invalidating as it was steamy.
They lie chest to chest, one of Luis's legs slotted between Gene's, pressed up close against him, kissing without any direction at all until Gene starts to rock his hips.
I flipped to the back of the book at one point to read the author blurb, because it was truly so difficult to comprehend a book this truly fantastic being a debut novel. Yet it is. Hoffman, you will never see this, but thank you for this absolute gem of a book. It reads like it came from the heart, love soaked in every line and page. For baseball, for identity, for wanting. I felt both validated and fulfilled after reading, and I know I will treasure this story for years to come.
An absolute home run, one of my favorite reads of 2024, a MUST read!
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go catch an Astros game, because I think baseball might just be more exciting now that I understand it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Alcohol
Ageismnotsobinaryart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Racism, and Car accident