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A review by justforqueerbooks
Sidelined by Kara Bietz
4.0
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion on the book at all.*
What happens when your ex-best friend, who kinda sorta kissed you before disappearing the next day, comes back into town and joins the football team with you? Nothing good, right? Right?
Okay stay with me here: this book is a friends-to-almost lovers-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. Got it? No? Well, keep up! This book grabbed me from page one. The main thing I look for in books is a good mc. Julian and Elijah were some of the best mc’s that I’ve read in a sporty book. They are both SUCH cinnamon rolls and I absolutely adore them.
Another thing that pulled me in is the small town: both Julian and Elijah are out to their town but the thing I love most is no one cares. As important as books about coming out are, I love reading a queer book that’s focused on relationships: emotional or otherwise. There is also a moment in the story where “oh no, there’s only one tent!” So that was really fun to see.
Football is another really big part of this story, and I adored the way this author wrote it in. The story is definitely built around football but that does not take away from any of the internal struggles the characters face or their emotions! In fact, there is a sort of small town mystery that the two guys have to uncover and things only get more emotional from there.
Overall, Bietz’s characters have strong, distinct voices and form some really amazing bonds. This story is an emotional ride for sure, and there is lots of discussion of things that high schoolers deal with. IT COMES OUT SEPTEMBER 21ST, BUT YOU CAN PREORDER IT NOW!!
What happens when your ex-best friend, who kinda sorta kissed you before disappearing the next day, comes back into town and joins the football team with you? Nothing good, right? Right?
Okay stay with me here: this book is a friends-to-almost lovers-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. Got it? No? Well, keep up! This book grabbed me from page one. The main thing I look for in books is a good mc. Julian and Elijah were some of the best mc’s that I’ve read in a sporty book. They are both SUCH cinnamon rolls and I absolutely adore them.
Another thing that pulled me in is the small town: both Julian and Elijah are out to their town but the thing I love most is no one cares. As important as books about coming out are, I love reading a queer book that’s focused on relationships: emotional or otherwise. There is also a moment in the story where “oh no, there’s only one tent!” So that was really fun to see.
Football is another really big part of this story, and I adored the way this author wrote it in. The story is definitely built around football but that does not take away from any of the internal struggles the characters face or their emotions! In fact, there is a sort of small town mystery that the two guys have to uncover and things only get more emotional from there.
Overall, Bietz’s characters have strong, distinct voices and form some really amazing bonds. This story is an emotional ride for sure, and there is lots of discussion of things that high schoolers deal with. IT COMES OUT SEPTEMBER 21ST, BUT YOU CAN PREORDER IT NOW!!