Reviews

The Curveball by Megan Cousins

cynt_reads's review

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I cried for nearly the entire second half of the book. UGH. To have a partner like Jake…

felicitydisco's review

4.0

Very sweet baseball romance!

rachresilience's review

inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

princess_gtm122'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

chessandsunflowers's review

5.0

I read this book after being heavily recommended to do so from my bestie. Closed door romances aren’t my usual thing, but this book ruined me. I cried big girl tears with this one. The Curveball follows Penelope, a baseball reporter and producer, and Jake, a new host on the show that Penelope works on. These two have such adorable chemistry from the get-go. I love them so much. But then, Penelope struggles with PCOS, a disease I also have battles with, and the representation of that is just ✨chef’s kiss✨ beautiful. Her having to shave every day is so freaking real. I just loved that. But what destroyed me was the depiction of grief in this book. It’s sooooo realistic it hurts. This book is less than 300 pages long, but it feels longer in a good way with all of the greatness in it. I mean, the shattered glass motif throughout?! This is some very good stuff. I will definitely be picking up more of the series, and adding it to my TBR. It was so delightful it made me wish I liked baseball more.

audie_reads's review

3.0

To everyone with a glass ceiling to shatter. Don’t let anything stand in your way. - Book Dedication

October Baseball (Go Braves) is upon us, meaning I had to cozy up with The Curveball and I am so glad I did!

What I loved:

sarahmbookss's review

4.0

The curveball is a debut novel coming out on April 26th. This book was all I wished it could be! It had a workplace, neighbour and sports romance. The book talks about POS, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and has chronic pain representation. This book is Dual POV which I loved, and it’s a closed door romance. I overall loved Penelope and Jake’s characters, they both held such significance to the story. The plot was really well done and even the side characters were wonderful additions. There is also an introduction to Jake’s siblings who will also be getting there own books. I’m certainly going to be looking forward to the rest of the series, i can’t wait to see what’s next! I loved this book, and I’m sure you will too!

christinareadsontheroad's review

5.0

The Curveball is an ode to love - love of family, love of baseball, love of journalism, love of food (can you say cooking lessons??), love of self, and of course, love in the most unexpected places. I couldn’t put down this book - it was so heartwarming to watch Penelope gain self-confidence as she grew closer with Jake, and the heartfelt moments when Jake took care of Penelope were “bottle it up” perfection. Just like a seventh inning stretch, I was definitely “root, root, rooting” for them the entire book.

Thank you, Megan, for sharing the eARC in exchange for this review – I felt so privileged to read this #OwnVoices story (PCOS, Chronic Pain representation) and can’t wait for everyone else to read it, too!

kattiah's review

5.0

I'm not just rating it 5 stars because my wonderful, amazing, talented cousin wrote this book. I'm rating it because it is such a good book that she wrote. It's smart, funny, relevant, beautiful... I feel so seen in the characters and soft mentions of a specific ginger ale, in the fight to be heard and acknowledged as a professional. Penelope means so much to me, even from moment one, and her life and struggle and pain resonate in ways I didn't expect. It's a cheesy romance, and can be fast-paced at times, but I suppose when the pieces fit together, life moves a little faster than you'd expect.

I love it so much. I can't wait to read the next one!

read_youcleverbee's review

4.0

Penelope is trying to make her mark behind the scenes in the boys club that is sports media. She’s fielding an inappropriate boss, PCOS struggles, and a new host that stirs up her grief and warms her heart. Jake is jumping into the second part of his baseball career in broadcasting after an injury ended his pitching career. He’s trying to work out his new position, how to be the best ally to Penelope at work, and navigating his rapidly growing feelings towards her too.

Megan Cousins is a new to me author and I really enjoyed her writing. Penelope’s facial hair struggles with PCOS resonated with me—I work in laser hair removal and have seen the emotional side of this struggle. As a fellow migraine sufferer I think she really captured the absolute chaos this can cause us while we try to navigate the world during an attack—also thank gods for preventative medicine because it changed my life.

This is for the ones who love a super sweet closed door romance.