I’m not a sports girl so parts of it were kind of boring to me. If you like sports or something sports like (Haikyuu comes to mind) then you’d like it more. It was cute though. The love interest was a sweetheart.

Great debut novel! Fun, quirky, and delightful - I was smiling the whole time. Great representation throughout, and the characters feel well developed rather than stereotypical. I could tell the author treated the characters with great care, and never shied away from the more difficult moments while still keeping true to the rom-com genre.

There’s a lot to love about this book! Overall, it wasn’t for me; that said, I’m so glad it exists, I’m sure a lot of people will love it, and I hope it achieves every success!

Some things I really enjoyed: The trans rep was wonderful! The main character is a gay trans man who is driven, relentlessly optimistic, and funny. It’s clear the author loves baseball, and his love of the sport really sings on the page. The Portland-area setting is lovely and nostalgic. There are several profound lines sprinkled throughout the book that feel like a warm hug. The romance was really sweet, and I also appreciated the nuance with which the author wrote about being queer in traditionally cis/heteronormative and queer-unfriendly spaces.

Some of the things I didn’t enjoy as much: The reason for the rivalry between the main character and love interest (or really, just from the main character and directed at the love interest) was presented in a way that made it seem silly and even a bit insensitive to the love interest. In the same vein, a lot of the conflicts in the book felt contrived and like they could have been resolved with a simple conversation.

While these are minor gripes, they made The Prospects not the best fit for me personally. I think I’m among the few in feeling this way though, and I encourage others to read this passionate, heartwarming book!

Finally, I note this book is very heavy on baseball—much more so than in other sports-based romances I’ve read. I am sure many readers will love this aspect of the book, though, and again, the author’s evident love of the sport is infectious.

A fun queer sports romance with lovable characters and a lot of joy. Fans of Casey McQuiston will love this.

2.5 rating
I was very excited about this book, and it was on my anticipated books of 2024, but I didn't like it as much as I thought it would. The book's first half was good for me, but after about 100 pages, I started to lose interest in the book. I found that many of the characters (aside from Gene) started to fall flat and repetitive; many times, I couldn't tell the difference between them because they had the same voice on the page. I think the book could have benefited from more editing; making the characters more dynamic and different from one another would have helped strengthen the supporting cast because Gene was such a dominating character (in a good way).

I also think more editing would have helped with the tensions because, for the first half of the book, it was there, and so were the stakes, but I felt that a lot of it disappeared after Luis and Gene started to get involved romantically. It was a great premise, but I think where it fell short was on some of the execution, and I think more editing would have helped with it. I think it had great potential as someone who loves a good underdog sports story. It just didn't reach the level I wanted from it.

The was literally hope core as a book.

KT killed this as his debut!!!! I had such a fantastic time reading this!

The Prospects is filled with heart, optimism, and hope. You can't help but to root for Gene and Luis from their first interaction on the page. Gene is working through his hope of being moved up to the major leagues while Luis is navigating his queerness and feelings for Gene.

This book just has so much heart to it. It's such a joy to read and the writing is incredibly witty throughout. I was giggling so many times through Gene's interactions with his teammates.

There's fantastic anxiety representation and it's really eye opening to see one account of the trans experience through the eyes of Gene. It was incredibly real and made my heart so so happy.

The Red, White, and Royal Blue fans are going to eat this up!!! Dare I say this book is wayyyyy better than RWARB, in my opinion.

If you're in the mood for a:
-sports romance
-queer romance (trans and gay partners)
-forced proximity
-anxiety rep

and just something to make you smile and feel good, I HIGHLY recommend this one. Out April 9th, 2024!

Thank you Dial Press, K T Hoffman, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

K.T. Hoffman is batting a thousand

*Thank you to Random House for providing me an E-ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

The Prospects is a novel about the romance between teammates-turned-rivals-turned-teammates again, wrapped in Minor League Baseball. Gene, the MC, is an openly trans and gay baseball player who harbors a grudge against former teammate Luis, but when Luis is moved to Gene’s team at the start of the season, the forced proximity reveals hidden feelings. They navigate their new dynamic while trying to push their team to success.

I am a trans gay man like Gene, and I find it difficult to read books with a trans POV character. It’s always felt too real or too fake. The Prospects is the first I’ve read that hasn’t made me feel weird. At no point was I cringing at an overdone conversation about transness to ‘educate’ cis readers, or a scene where the love interest had to explicitly say he’s still into the MC and justify that attraction for the sake of cis audiences. The representation was a highlight for me instead of a detriment. In the same vein, Hoffman’s ‘note from the author’ captured a lot of my feelings about being a trans author as well.

I also played baseball for years in grade school, so this was pretty much written for me (Gene even has ADHD like me). The sports aspect was easy to get into for me, and I found myself very invested in the team’s success. None of the ancillary characters felt flat or unjustified, and the chemistry between Gene and Luis was natural. I was actually rooting for them instead of just watching them, like with a lot of the romance I’ve tried reading lately.

The pacing was quick, so reading it quickly without getting bored was easy. I will say it may be harder for someone totally new to baseball terminology to follow at first, but it doesn’t get too technical. I found the inclusion of batting statistics actually really cool, though I do love numbers so that could just be me.

I think this is a fantastic debut from Hoffman and I hope he keeps it up. Trans hope is so important, especially now.

Crossposted to GoodReads

How do you describe a perfect book? How do you describe a book that was full of such joy and honesty that, by the end, my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest? I guess I'll try, but I will say that The Prospects is the best sports romance novel I've read in a very, very long time, and is simply one of the most beautiful romances I've ever read. It is the epitome of trans and queer joy, soft inclusivity, and a study in how hope can belief can be life sustaining. I fell hard for Gene from the first page, and Luis (and Dodger!) made me feel so seen. I was especially taken with the ways in which Gene and Luis discuss their history with each other, how even when there wasn't a word to describe the connection between them. The nuances of transitioning were handled beautifully -- the delicate tracing of a scar from top surgery, shots of T, photos of Gene pre-transition. I also want to celebrate the open door sex scenes for their inclusivity, consent, care, safety, and tenderness while also being really hot.
How can you not be romantic about baseball? How can you not feel your heart burst when a book is dedicated to Glenn Burke, who deserved so much more than he got? Gene and Luis' story will linger with my for a long time to come, and I hope every romance reader -- sports fan or not -- learns to cheer them on.

Do I like baseball now? I think I like baseball now.

This book is so swoony, full of romance, witty quips, and the feels. Gene's world is absolutely rocked when his college rival (and crush) gets traded to his team and takes his position at shortstop. Not only that, they're expected to work together on and off the field. This makes for a glorious romance full of conflict and SPORTS. I know nothing about baseball and still felt like I understood all of the jargon.

Also can I say that I love an LGBTQIA+ romance that doesn't traumatize its characters for plot? Gene deals with a bit of transphobia on and off the field, but his team and family are 100% in his corner through all of it. Not to mention his friendship turned lover with Luis? My HEART. There's so much representation here across the queer and neurodivergent communities and I was so sad that this book had to end. But it ended spectacularly, so I'm not too torn up about it.

*Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This is one of the most JOYOUS trans romances I've ever read, and GOSH THAT IS SO GREAT!! I mean, don't get me wrong, it's not that I dislike books that take on bigotry alongside romance, but my darling Gene is a basically happy well adjusted dude who DESERVES EVERY HAPPY AND GOOD THING IN THE WORLD, and I'm so glad that he got them!! (Also he's casually Jewish? That description of his T shots on Shabbat as being a quiet ceremony/celebration was SO GOOD, I maybe teared up a bit.)

But also I love how Hoffman portrayed differing ends to a career. Luis's t'quiet realization that he COULD quit something that didn't spark joy versus Vince's more hardwon acceptance that he wasn't going to be able to end his career on his own terms, but there were other things that he loved that would balance that disappointment out was SUCH a great and interesting contrast. Also just SO MANY configurations of people being casually queer in different ways! It's just really nice to live in a world that looks like mine, even if I never have (or ever wanted to, lol) play professional sports.

(This is an honest review given in exchange for a free advance copy of this AWESOME book.)

The Prospects

This was a home run! A grand slam? Who knows. Regardless, what an absolute treat. Hoffman’s grasp of casual, realistic dialogue and domestic imagery makes for such an immersive and welcoming reading experience. You could easily tell that the characters were comfortable and friendly with each other (at least until Luis shows up, of course!)
As a trans masc person, this was such a refreshing and beautiful story about trans joy and happiness. While there were small mentions of transphobia that would be hard to avoid in our current world, the primary conflicts never revolve around Gene’s trans-ness. Luis never questions his status as a gay man for being attracted to Gene, because everyone in Gene’s life correctly sees him as a man. Being able to read from the perspective of a trans person who loves his body right where it’s at and isn’t struggling with being trans is such a delightful experience, and really just filled my heart with so much joy.
Back to the writing: I loved the occasional use of Twitter threads and the baseball announcers to provide a more zoomed out, meta perspective of the whole team and how they are perceived from the outside. I also loved the focus on more than just the primary romantic relationship; Gene and Luis have friendships and family relationships beyond each other that experience tension, hardships, and resolution.
Finally, let’s talk about that representation!! Beyond the main leads being a gay trans man and a gay man, there’s more Achillean and Sapphic rep with Vince, Baker, and Gene’s dad; characters with ADHD, anxiety/PTSD, Down’s syndrome, a hard of hearing character who signs, and probably more I’m forgetting. None of it ever felt forced or tokenized, it was just a normal people existing in the world, and it was delightful!
This was such an incredible debut, I cannot wait to see what kind of trans love K.T. Hoffman blesses us with in the future!

I really enjoyed this book and story. While at times feeling a little long winded, overall the story and characters are good. I loved learning Gene's POV on his transness and how it has affected the world around him. I really liked Luis as a character and even teared up during part of his story line. Some of the baseball references did go over my head, but I felt the author was able to convey their meaning so that a person with very little baseball knowledge would still understand things. I will definitely be recommending this book to people and cannot wait to read the author's future works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing access to the e-Arc.

4.5 stars

This is the kind of romance that I love. There is depth to the characters and talks about being trans and queer on a baseball team in between the cute moments. It has hope in the midst of trying to find one’s self. The writing is so good. It is engaging and binge-able. It reminds me of Casey McQuiston and Anita Kelly's writing. Gene and Luis are realistic characters dealing with a lot of crap. I love that we get insight into Gene’s family. It just adds to the story.

I highly recommend it!!!

Thank you, NetGalley for sending and allowing me to read another amazing story. I'm a huge romance reader and this was absolutely amazing, The author's writing style is so brilliant and thought out. You can tell she takes a good amount of time with he books. The characters were very likable and the plot was very well crafted. I cant wait to read more from this author in the future. I'm hoping her other future books are as amazing as this one. 4 stars.

What a cute, feel good debut!! This book had me feeling so giddy. It seriously felt like a warm hug. The joyful trans representation (because trans people's lives aren't ONLY traumatic) written by a trans author was delightful. I was kicking my feet at the romance. I know next to nothing about baseball, but I could feel the author's love for it emanating from the page (i.e., my Kindle screen).

I loved so much about this book. In this review, you will see a lot of the phrase "I love(d)." Let's start with the representation. Gene is a 26-year-old white gay trans man with ADHD (it is OwnVoices trans and ADHD rep). He has Romanian ancestry (his last name is Ionescu). Luis is a 28-year-old Mexican-American closeted gay man with anxiety/panic disorder and a therapy dog. Gene's best friend, Vince, is a 38-year-old baseball player, also gay, with a Deaf/Hard of hearing husband. They are in the beginning stages of adopting a child. Gene's dad, his biological uncle, is, guess what? ALSO! GAY!

Even though we hear a little about Gene's hardships of being trans, especially those of being a trans (the first and only trans!) Minor League baseball player (namely the medical surveillance), this book is SO. HOPEFUL. Gene's transness was just as much a crutch as being a woman on a men's sports team would have been for him, in different ways. His team has always been accepting of him. He's able to change in the same locker room as all the other guys. He can access hormones (with weekly bloodwork, to make sure he's not overdosing on testosterone, which is dismissed as a ludicrous idea but a realistic requirement). He had top surgery and is proud of his scars. He is never misgendered on page (except maybe once, when a character 'unintentionally' groups him in with the WAGs/wives and girlfriends). He mentions off page experiences of people asking him WAY too personal questions. When he talks about his past, pre-coming out and pre-transition, he still refers to himself as "he" and "Gene" (through the third person narrator). We know Gene is his chosen name, and we have NO idea what his deadname was. Luis knew Gene when they were on the same college baseball team pre-coming out, and he never once slips up. I LOVE how Luis, a self-identified gay man, has no identity crises about falling for a trans man (and if he does internally, we never hear about them because it's not written in his POV). Luis still identifies as gay after falling for Gene (he's never suddenly like "oh maybe I'm bi now"), showing how he views Gene as another guy.

I loved the vulnerability both Gene and Luis showed each other. It had me SWOONING. The sex scenes were also *chef's kiss*. Gene has been on testosterone for years, but there is no talk of "bottom growth" (which I know varies from person to person and only affects the size of the clitoris and clitoral hood). Besides a deepening voice, Gene doesn't mention any other changes from HRT (e.g., increased sex drive, etc.). I'd love to see the normalization of phrases like "his pussy," and I LOVE that Gene doesn't have any dysphoria surrounding his anatomy (or none that he voices, and we're in his head). He's not insecure that Luis wouldn't want him because of it. I do wish we got to see more of their time together in college, because Gene makes it seem like they were close-ish. I understand not wanting to do flashbacks, though, because it was pre-coming out.

My biggest gripe, that I feel some Latine readers might share or have more to elaborate on than me, is that very little is known about Luis's Latinidad. All we know is that Luis's father, Luis Sr., was "an international signee out of Mexico" (his dad was also a baseball player). His skin is described as "bright and beautiful brown" (whatever "bright brown" skin tone means, haha). When Gene joins Luis on a visit to his family, it feels like just another white "culture" or household. This might be because his dad died, and I'm not sure if his mom is also Mexican or if she's white and they met in the States? Either way, Luis's dad died when he was 18, so you would think some cultural traditions would have been preserved or mentioned. This is somewhat resolved with the single POV (but that also feels like a cop out), but Luis doesn't talk about his culture (and Gene doesn't ask).

I don't really like to give stars ratings for books (because how do you quantify feelings), but if I HAD to, this would be at least four stars? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it.

Thank you to The Dial Press for an advanced copy of this book! All thoughts are my own.

this was so delightful, i know nothing about baseball but gene and luis just getting to know each other again after a decade and learning to work together and fall in love was such a sweet story

There have been a lot of baseball romances lately, but this one stands out. This is an enemies to lovers story featuring the first trans man to play on a minor league team (if only that were real), and his former teammate and rival. Watching these two figure out how to work together--and more--was a joy. Also, this book really made me want to try making my own bagels. There's even a recipe in the back.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
spice: several open-door spicy scenes
TWs: mild transphobia, mild homophobia, mental health (on page panic attacks)
standalone: yes
final thoughts: this book was equal parts sweet and sexy! So much pining and angst and it was great! Definitely a book for fans of Casey McQuiston, baseball romances, trans love, and rooting for the underdogs. A wonderful debut novel- I can’t wait to see what else K.T. Hoffman writes in the future!!

read this book if you love

😬 angst
😳 forbidden lovers (teammates)
🏝️ forced proximity
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 great side characters
🌈 LGBT+ representation
🤜 friends-to-rivals-to-lovers
🏉 sports romance (baseball)
💓 slowburn
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 found family

Thank you to NetGalley and Randomhouse for the eARC!

Wow! This was SO much better than I expected it to be. As a lover of queer books I was excited for this, however I’m so far from a baseball fan and sports romance isn’t always my genre so I was hesitant.

I NEEDED our boys to win the championship and the I was SO invested. I loved the characters, appreciated the representation and I strongly believe we need more books like this on the shelf! So engaging and a great read!

I loved this book so much!! This was my first romance read featuring a trans main character and it was just so beautiful, I definitely need to read more. Gene and Luis' relationship was so precious to see develop. Both of their characters were so well written and it was a gift to read from their two perspectives. I related a lot to Luis and his anxiety and thought his rep was so well done. I look forward to reading more from this author! This is definitely reread worthy.


thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC through netgalley :)