how do you write a novel that holds up to the tender beauty that is ophelia after all? a book that immediately found its place on my favorites shelf, that i can't stop talking about. despite that, you don't have a shot was one of my most anticipated reads. of course it was. it was terrifying all the same.

as it turns out, you don't have a shot is filled with the same heart. it holds its own so well, with a cast of characters i quickly grew to love, nuanced perspectives, and so much more.

i'd like to think that i know racquel's writing, especially after loving her words for so long. how immersive it is, the way it flows, and the way racquel clearly puts her heart and soul into every line. definitely a favorite and autobuy author which you don't have a shot has solidified for sure.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story follows Valentina Aka Vale. Vale’s love for soccer has been her whole life. Her parents were told they were having a boy but were surprised with a girl. Both of Vale’s parents played soccer and vale’s father always wanted a soccer son but in things didn’t work out that way with her brother Jorge so now the hopes are with 5 year old son Matteo. Vale’s loses her cool during a game against her rival Leticia, get kicked out the game and kicked out of her captains position on her team. Wanting to avoid being home and embarrassment Vale attends soccer camp in hopes of relaxation.

In this rivals to lovers story you get great character development. You really get a sense of who Vale is and how the death of her mother shaped who she is today. You also get to see how her mothers death affected her father and brothers. It bothered me a little when Vale’s father uses her mother as a weapon at times. This was a slow burn but it did not detour me from devouring this in one day.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4.75 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.

You Don’t Have a Shot has solidified Racquel Marie as one of the best writers in the YA Contemporary sphere, in my opinion. Her debut, Ophelia After All was one of my top reads of 2022, and while this didn’t quite reach the level that OAA did, it was still an absolutely phenomenal book.
The only thing keeping me from giving this book five stars right now is Vale. I could not stand her in the first 30% of the book. I know she was supposed to be unlikeable and grow on the reader as she grew as a person—and she did—but she was driving me up the wall to the point where I almost didn’t want to keep reading. If the other characters and the plot and writing hadn’t been as incredible as they were, I might have DNFed. Vale did become a better person, and I did grow to love her. By the 40% mark, I was rooting for her, and by the 60% mark, I was fully invested in her as a character.
Unlike OAA, this is a contemporary romance, and I’m glad because I love Leticia and I love her and Vale together. It’s the perfect rivals-to-friends-to-lovers, with all the angst and banter. Leticia’s banter was INCREDIBLE. Vale’s barbs were fun, but Leticia’s retorts were always next level. I adore her. But Leticia wasn’t the only lovable character in the cast. The entire team was so well developed, so easy to love. One of Racquel Marie’s skills is definitely the writing of a cast. There are few books that I find to have a cast that is as well developed as hers. I do wish we’d seen a little more of Ovie, Dina, and Vale interacting, because I think that got a little lost during the 60-90% mark, but for the most part, I think the story was really well balanced despite having such a large cast of important supporting characters.
While this book was fun and light and even a bit swoony, it also dealt with hard topics, such as cancer (off page), parent death, grief, and an emotional abusive father. These aspects were handled with such care and compassion, and added a necessary depth to the story, and to Vale’s character. I don’t have any experience with these topics, but they felt well written to me.
All in all, this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I cannot recommend it more, and I cannot wait to see what Racquel Marie does next. She is definitely one of my favorite new authors.

As I've said before, I love that reviewing books means reading outside my comfort zone. I often find books that speak to me that I would have never found otherwise. And sometimes, I find books to recommend to other people who may be more of the target audience.

Racquel Marie's You Don't Have a Shot is a good book. I just could not into all the soccer. Having played soccer as a kid, I cannot say if this book would make sense to those who know nothing of the sport, but I can say that, at least for me, not having much interest in it, I found myself skipping past some portions of the book. 

The most obvious parallel I can draw here is Bend it Like Beckham (had the creators done what they'd wanted). The difference is that it's much easier in visual media to show a game for five exciting minutes or do a montage of soccer practice set to pop music.

Niche books are sometimes written to reach beyond those interested in that field or hobby. Getting an audience who doesn't care for a sport invested in reading about it to enjoy it is daunting. I don't think Racquel Marie was aiming for that, nor should she have to. 

My point is, I recommend You Don't Have a Shot to the very specific Venn diagram of soccer and YA romance fans. I know you're out there. You'll adore this book.

You Don't Have a Shot is out on May 9, 2023. Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore or library. ⚽👩‍❤️‍👩

SO cute and real! I adored these characters and the banter! Seeing this representation was so wonderful. Racquel Marie was able to write a beautiful funny romance that had me hooked.

4.5 stars

Racquel Marie's second book is here, and it deserves *a shot* on your to-read list. I really enjoyed this author's first effort last year, and for me, this was an even better read!

Valentina, known to most as "Vale," is an ideal YA m.c. for this summer soccer camp/coming of age/romance novel. When readers first meet Vale, they learn immediately that she has some impulse control issues and that many of these are tied to her parents. She lost her mother several years ago, and she now - along with her younger brothers - has to face her challenging father on her own. It's this combo of loss, trauma, responsibility, a not excellent parent, and the typical barriers that come with her age that all create a perfect storm for her. Additionally, while Vale has a clear understanding of her sexuality, she hasn't had much opportunity to explore it with others, so she has some pent-up angst around this area building, too. When she takes off for summer soccer camp - mostly away from her dad and without a shield from her sometimes bad choices - she has a great opportunity to make mistakes, explore, and learn, and it's a lot of fun to watch her experience so many new discoveries.

There's so much to like about this novel, even for folks who - like me - may not be totally sold on the soccer backdrop. Whether it's Vale's growth, the excellent side characters, or the charming romance, any fans of a solid YA novel will get what they're hoping for in this sophomore release. I already look forward to reading what comes next from this author!

I loved this book so much! It was a super cute, fluffy, real YA soccer camp romcom. The characters were likeable but believable, it never got slow, and the soccer parts were very fun to read as a former player. I would highly recommend

'You Don't Have a Shot' was a truly romantic and heartfelt story. Full of found family, mistakes and growth from every character it involved.

I fell in love with 'Ophelia After All' the minute I read it and as such was both excited and apprehensive about how this story would follow up but I had no reason to worry.

This story was everything I wanted and could ask for, the writing style is addictive, the characters are messy (in the best way) and the story is perfect. Sports queers, working through grief, rivals to lovers, deep messages mixed within lighthearted ones.

Racquel Marie could write a grocery receipt and I'm sure I'd still love it more than anything.

The only thing that took away from this being a 5 star was just personal preference, I needed a little more variation in place than we were given and some more outside reasons for character building but! I loved it regardless and I'm sure anyone who enjoys good writing and sapphics will as well!!

Also: queer ace rep <3 Thank you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

You Don't Have a Shot is a sapphic rivals-to-lovers soccer book about a girl who is desperately trying to live up to her father's standards even as she continues to struggle with the continual grief of the death of her mother.

If there's any one thing I'm learning about Racquel Marie, it's that her books are going to make my heart soar, and at some point I'm also going to cry a little. I looooved our cast of characters, all going through various struggles, and all well-written, round, and complex. Our main character was especially well-written, an excellent narrator who spends the book learning and growing. Her journey is messy, and difficult, and ongoing even at the end of the book, but it was such an amazing experience to watch her grow, and to outgrow some of the more awful tendencies she had in the beginning of the book.

Seriously, I swear I'm not even usually a sports person, but I was cheering along with every soccer match in this book (and there were several). This was such a fun and sweet and uplifting read that I really would recommend to anyone looking for just a solid, fantastic book.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved Racquel Marie’s debut, and am equally delighted with her sophomore effort, You Don’t Have a Shot. Described as a queer version of Bend It Like Beckham, I instantly fell in love with this fun story and its wonderful characters. It perfectly walks the line between being a fun sports rivals-to-lovers story, while also touching on relevant topics, like parental abuse and the climate of being queer (especially trans) in teen sports.
Vale is a flawed protagonist that I could not help but root for. She definitely has her somewhat bitchy, mean-girl moments, but they come from a realistic place, given the amount of pressure she’s under, and how much her future depends on how her team performs. Her relationship with her father is rather toxic, and her friends don’t fully understand the full extent of what she’s going through.
Leticia is a great love interest, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between her and Vale. I like how the narrative begins with them initially being at odds, but soon getting to know each other and finding the other is more than the other thought, and they can confide in each other about their problems and find comfort in a way that they can’t with others.
I really liked this book, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a YA queer romance, especially if you love sports or enemies/rivals to lovers.

This was pretty good. I liked Ophelia After All more, but that's more of a testament to just how fantastic that book is than a statement on the quality of this one. Much like Ophelia After All, the large cast of characters in this and all their relationships is done so well. The romance was great, I'm a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers romance when it's done well and this one definitely was. Make it a sports romance on top of that and I'm sold. I can't wait to read what this author writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Fierce Reads/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and the author Racquel Marie for this e-arc to read and review.

You Don't Have a Shot is Racquel Marie's sophomore novel, a young adult contemporary sports romance following Valentine, who's vying for the captain position and winning a soccer championship to be noticed by scouters, and Leticia, captain of the rival team who is just having fun playing soccer. The two have a heated moment on the field resulting in Valentina losing her captain position and her team losing. To get away for the summer, she joins her best friends at a soccer camp and ends up being chosen to co-captain a team with Leticia. The pair butts heads due to Valentina wanting to have the best team to win while Leticia has hopes for the girls and just wants everyone to have fun. Valentina's soccer dreams seem to be at a close distance but first she must navigate her team, grief and a strained relationship with her father, her rivalry and growing feelings for Leticia.

Something that I'm really loving about Racquel Marie is how each book is a hit for me, each book has an emotional impact, and I have a connection to the characters. If you can not only sell me with the premise, have me cheesing and crying within pages of each other, and OBSESS over both the main and side characters, you are incredible and that is Racquel Marie. I told myself that I would pace myself, reading only a few chapters each day so I have time for final exams and projects. That didn't happen because I was busy reading this book. I was giggling, twirling my hair, kicking my feet, crying, throwing up, all of the above and more. I have already told her this but reading this felt like a bear hug or being wrapped in a warm cozy blanket, being safe and knowing that the story and characters are being written with care ALSO, it's young adult. If all I want to do is pick up a book and it's young adult, something was done right.

One of my favorite things while reading Racquel's books is how she allows the characters to be messy and make mistakes, be a bitch, and then allow them to grow and see their mistakes. Romance isn't necessarily the focus which gives room for the familial and platonic relationships to blossom and the internal and external conflict to rumble. You Don't Have a Shot includes many of the elements that makes a fantastic enemies/rivals-to-lovers story that I adore while also dabbling and exploring other themes such as grief, friendship, found family, forgiveness, and fulfilling expectations. 5/5 stars, Racquel is now on my auto-buy and auto-read list with two books being in my favorites of the year two years in a row!

Tropes: rivals-to-lovers, slow burn, chosen family,

Fine, Racquel Marie knows her YA niche and thrives in it. It has many of the elements that made Ophelia a great book and only some that made me dislike Ophelia (mainly some friendship dynamics).

As always Marie knows how to write flawed protagonist you identify with and root for. Like I'm sorry but Vale's inner conflicts made sense and I disagree with the book presenting her as bitch. Like if you were under that much pressure all the time you would definitely snap at people especially if you have a big part of your future depending on whether or not they perform well. Like Dina and Ovie were a lot more annoying than Vale honestly. I'm surprised that "her closest friends" don't understand how bad her relationship with her dad is and can't empathise with what she's obviously going through. And then they both do the thing I hate in romance which is best friends teasing all the fucking time like shut the fuck up.

Letitia was great and so was the rivalry but I was disappointed by how quickly it all fizzled out I expected more rivalry and dislike

This was so much fun and also so heartwarming! I felt all the emotions in this story especially as Vale messed up in her relationships and had to fix things. The slow burn between Vale and Letitia was sweet and I enjoyed them getting to know and care about each other.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Racquel Marie does it again! My soccer-loving, sapphic heart is so full after this. I loved it. From the first page to the last! Brava!

I love this book so much! Vale is a messy character who's had it ingrained in her that nothing is more important than winning. So when she goes to soccer camp where she has to work together with her biggest rival with a team that plays for fun instead of an all-consuming need to win, she has to learn to relax and stop picking apart her own flaws and that of everyone around her. I love how much she grows throughout this book!

The relationship development is fantastic as hate transitions into love. The flirting is top tier and the change in their dynamic doesn't feel rushed or forced. They have great chemistry with each other!

I am very vocal about my opinions on enemies-to-lovers and the fine line that many authors miss between making your ETL storyline believable. Racquel Marie does not have any problems weaving a rivals-to-lovers storyline that had me kicking my feet and giggling on the 15-hour plane ride I spent with this novel.

This is this author's sophomore novel and I feel like her writing has grown significantly between her debut and now. In exploring themes of cultural, familial obligations, and grief we are able to get so much insight into the characters and story. I adore these characters. I root for them and wanted them to succeed despite their faults. Brilliant storytelling and I can not wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really, really enjoyed this book! I love a good sports contemporary and this book certainly fit that for me. The characters were so loveable and the plot had me hanging on the edge of my seat. Even though I cried a few times, the ending was so satisfying. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Racquel Marie has quickly become an instant buy author for me. I absolutely LOVED Ophelia After All, it has become my favorite YA book of all time so I was so excited when I got the ARC for You Don't Have A Shot. A YA sapphic soccer romance with a rivals-to-lovers plot AND ace representation? Are you joking me right now? It was beautiful and I don't know how she keeps writing these masterpieces. We stan the soccer gays!!!

This book was perhaps one of THE most spectacular YA sapphic books I’ve read to date. The nuanced approach to self growth, breaking the cycle of abuse and trauma, finding value in the company kept over solo victories, and more was just so stunningly written. I loved how the book took the time to address all aspects of personal growth even if it wasn’t a linear or perfect process.

Vale and Leticia were deeply relatable and compelling leads who carried the story with seamless ease. The banter, rivals to lovers, and romance was just the cherry on top of an incredible YA coming of age novel.