A review by jazzyjbox
Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan

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) 

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