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cklbrown9's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
smjwilliams2004's review against another edition
3.0
Review of the Re-release.
It was an interesting read. Not the kind of story I'm used to indulging from Keira, but this provides a glimpse of how far her strength in writing has become.
The character development gave, Luke and Jesse passion, mild angst, coupled with sports.
**I received this ARC via Gay Romance Reviews for my honest feedback.**
It was an interesting read. Not the kind of story I'm used to indulging from Keira, but this provides a glimpse of how far her strength in writing has become.
The character development gave, Luke and Jesse passion, mild angst, coupled with sports.
**I received this ARC via Gay Romance Reviews for my honest feedback.**
linkreads's review against another edition
3.0
I was given a copy of this book for an ARC of its updated re-release.
While I read and couldn’t put this down today, I had to keep reminding myself that this was Keira’s first book, 15 years ago no less. It is engaging from the beginning, and I appreciated when the MC’s connection was established because it made the conflict later in the book all the more painful but expected (not in a bad way, it’s foreshadowed). I won’t lie, if you don’t know and enjoy tennis, you might not follow a lot of this book, but I happen to LOVE tennis and the scenes where there are games aren’t too long but create its own kind of suspense which just adds another layer to this book. I also really appreciated the interludes from the commentators perspective. So unexpected but cool.
This read a lot like a 90’s romance movie and I am so here for it. Congrats to Keira on this re-release. It truly is an amazing debut novel.
While I read and couldn’t put this down today, I had to keep reminding myself that this was Keira’s first book, 15 years ago no less. It is engaging from the beginning, and I appreciated when the MC’s connection was established because it made the conflict later in the book all the more painful but expected (not in a bad way, it’s foreshadowed). I won’t lie, if you don’t know and enjoy tennis, you might not follow a lot of this book, but I happen to LOVE tennis and the scenes where there are games aren’t too long but create its own kind of suspense which just adds another layer to this book. I also really appreciated the interludes from the commentators perspective. So unexpected but cool.
This read a lot like a 90’s romance movie and I am so here for it. Congrats to Keira on this re-release. It truly is an amazing debut novel.
lucyp21's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Not my favourite of Keira Andrews' books. I enjoyed the sports part, especially where we saw people who are at different skill levels and so get different chances and pay levels because of it. I appreciated why Luke was so dubious about starting a relationship with Jesse and I did like how we saw that his worry about coming out was partly justified (it was not one of those books where he comes out/is outed and all his worries came to nothing because it's all fine), and there's an interesting conversation about coming out/being forced to stay in the closet and why that can break up relationships.
However, I do wish we could have seen Luke having proper conversations with Jesse about it, especially after we see Jesse's family reaction and that he may be telling them something different than how Luke sees it (why introduce Jesse's family like that at the last minute and do absolutely nothing with it). The Big Damn Kiss was nice but I'm definitely more of a sucker for the emotional conversations!
However, I do wish we could have seen Luke having proper conversations with Jesse about it, especially after we see Jesse's family reaction and that he may be telling them something different than how Luke sees it (why introduce Jesse's family like that at the last minute and do absolutely nothing with it). The Big Damn Kiss was nice but I'm definitely more of a sucker for the emotional conversations!
emmalthompson85's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think if this hadn't been quite short and an audiobook I wouldn't have finished.
I think part of the problem is this was written in 2006, and it feels surreal that was so recent but the world was so different. Luke spends a lot of time getting upset about being potentially outed and, I don't know, it host all sounded very dramatic. Like, we did have out gays back in 2006. She, it was nowhere near as common out accepted as it is now but Luke seems to blow it out of all proportion and that makes it hard to invest in him and understand his fear. He takes it for granted that his entire world will find to a half of he's gay in 2006 and like, it was a different world but not that different. He wasn't looking at inventing being out in public.
Second issue was Luke is a massive dick. He decides they're not coming out, forces his lover to comply "for his own good" then accused his lover of "not seeing sense" when he doesn't want to be closeted for his entire life.
Third issue for me is that their entire relationship is sex. Like, yes, sex scenes are a given in this kind of book but if they're together on the page they're largely either fighting or fucking. Give he a little something more so I can understand what they actually see in each other, please?
This was assistents Andrews first book. She's worn some of my favourites so she's definitely improved and this can stand as a lesson to us all that one mediocre book doesn't mean we should give up on an author but I won't be reading this one again.
I think part of the problem is this was written in 2006, and it feels surreal that was so recent but the world was so different. Luke spends a lot of time getting upset about being potentially outed and, I don't know, it host all sounded very dramatic. Like, we did have out gays back in 2006. She, it was nowhere near as common out accepted as it is now but Luke seems to blow it out of all proportion and that makes it hard to invest in him and understand his fear. He takes it for granted that his entire world will find to a half of he's gay in 2006 and like, it was a different world but not that different. He wasn't looking at inventing being out in public.
Second issue was Luke is a massive dick. He decides they're not coming out, forces his lover to comply "for his own good" then accused his lover of "not seeing sense" when he doesn't want to be closeted for his entire life.
Third issue for me is that their entire relationship is sex. Like, yes, sex scenes are a given in this kind of book but if they're together on the page they're largely either fighting or fucking. Give he a little something more so I can understand what they actually see in each other, please?
This was assistents Andrews first book. She's worn some of my favourites so she's definitely improved and this can stand as a lesson to us all that one mediocre book doesn't mean we should give up on an author but I won't be reading this one again.
duncks's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
readingvoyage's review
emotional
hopeful
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
3.25
bookfish1800's review against another edition
4.0
I’m such a fan of Keira Andrews
Love match reminded me of the movie Wimbledon, only MM.
I really enjoyed this a lot but it was a bit heartbreaking jeez I wasn’t expecting that. I love sports romances and this was no exception.
Love match reminded me of the movie Wimbledon, only MM.
I really enjoyed this a lot but it was a bit heartbreaking jeez I wasn’t expecting that. I love sports romances and this was no exception.