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A review by galleytrot
Rookie Move by Riley Hart, Neve Wilder

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

3.75

READ: Apr 2024 
FORMAT: Digital 

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 3.75 / 5⭐ 
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 4 / 5⭐
FINAL – OVERALL: 3.75 / 5 ⭐ 
 
In this book, Garrett gets drafted into the very same football team that his brother had been dropped from after a career-ending injury, leaving him feeling like his own career must start in his brother's shadow. It also means becoming teammates with his brother's best friend, Ramsey, who Garrett has harboured a crush on over the last four years. Ramsey has kept his bisexuality card close to his chest, having never acted on his attraction before, but it isn't long before Houston's little brother provides a very convenient outlet to explore the other half of the population, all while keeping the brash and wild rookie's head in the game instead of a lifestyle of partying hard. 
 
So I've been through dozens of queer sports romances by now, and the one thing I'm looking for when I get to my reviews is: how does this one stand out among all of the rest? And the sad truth for this one is, it basically doesn't. Not only is each story beat something I've seen before somewhere else, there were also a couple parallels in this book that I felt could have been directly nodding to another particularly well-known queer sports romance series, and I'm not sure if it was purposefully done or not. 
 
One thing I will give it, though, is that I really liked both Garrett and Ramsey's characters. I thought they were both well-written and well-rounded, even if I didn't feel like their teammates, families, career, or their world in general amounted to a whole lot. These guys had good banter and great chemistry, and I can't help but adore the way they were each other's greatest advocates for the entire run of the story, pulling and rooting for each other's successes, celebrating when the other uses their talent to full effect. I can't think of one moment in this book where one lashed out or made the other feel hurt, and that's goddamn refreshing. 
 
This book has representation for bisexuals. There is otherwise little else in the way of diversity. 
 
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail. 
This book contains:
alcohol, underage drinking; past stalking; mentions of drug abuse; emotional abuse; biphobia/homophobia, bullying; medical content (sick children); mention of past infidelity; past parent death; and, sports injuries (hard impacts, collisions) ranging from minor to severe.
 
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