I am an unwavering fan of Jennifer Dugan, so receiving an early copy of her latest book was a thrill. Once again, Dugan delivers a story filled with sapphic excellence, introducing readers to Ivy and June, two well-developed characters with dreams that intertwine. Ivy aspires to become one of the few female umpires in the major leagues, while June is on track to be the first woman to play in the MLB as the star pitcher of her varsity baseball team. When Ivy officiates one of June's games, their paths converge, sparking tensions and the blossoming of love.

Dugan's talent shines through in her portrayal of these ambitious and strong-willed protagonists. While the characters are well-developed beyond their romance, the rapid progression of their relationship left me craving more of a pining, slow-burn dynamic. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the overall experience and found the novel to be a delightful read.

Having explored Dugan's YA and adult novels, I appreciate her versatility as an author. "Playing for Keeps" adds another layer to her impressive catalog, leaving me eager to delve into more of her works.

Given the high school setting and the YA genre, I grappled with the characters' immaturity and their penchant for miscommunication. However, a constant reminder of their age helped contextualize their actions. Despite these challenges, the storyline remained engaging, and I enjoyed witnessing the characters' journeys unfold. While the novel hinted at an enemies-to-lovers arc at the beginning, I wished for a more pronounced development in that direction.

In conclusion, "Playing for Keeps" is a captivating addition to Jennifer Dugan's repertoire, delivering an enjoyable story with well-crafted characters and a touch of sapphic romance. The book, provided to me in exchange for an honest review, offers a glimpse into the complexities of teenage relationships, complemented by Dugan's signature storytelling style.

Cute, quick, and easy read. Felt a little underdeveloped and as if it could have offered more...but overall, not bad. It's been a long time since I read YA and I think part of my take on this book was a me issue, not a book issue. I just wanted something more, but I've also got to remember that this was written for teenagers. It was good for what it was.

3.5 stars! This was a super cute, quick read. PLAYING FOR KEEPS follows Ivy, a student umpire who dreams of becoming a professional referee one day, and June, the star pitcher of her elite club baseball team who's working to secure a life-changing college scholarship—but also struggling with a serious injury. The girls start off on the wrong foot, but soon sparks begin to fly between them. Can their growing relationship survive the rules that forbid them from being together—and can they follow both their dreams and their hearts at the same time?

I always enjoy an enemies-to-lovers romance, so I was instantly intrigued by PLAYING FOR KEEPS! I thought Ivy and June had great chemistry and growth, and I really liked their whole banter and dynamic. However, I did feel like the pacing was a little off—their "enemies" stage was pretty short-lived before they jumped into a relationship, and I wished their journey from enemies to friends to being together had been drawn out a little more. Beyond that, I appreciated how Dugan explored some complex themes alongside the more lighthearted aspects of the story. She dives into topics like coping with grief, learning how to separate your dreams from the expectations of your parents and others around you, and breaking barriers as a woman in a male-dominated field. I also enjoyed reading about Ivy and June's different family dynamics and friendships, while I wished their best friends were slightly more developed. Overall, PLAYING FOR KEEPS was a sweet, fun read, packed with so much depth as well! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

3.5/5 star read for me.

Overall this book was very cute and had some great moments for me. Unfortunately I just don’t think this book was for me in the end. The miscommunication trope and how the girls treat each other felt unrealistic and dramatic at certain points.

This is definitely one I would recommend for younger queer people but for older people who like YA books this one was a little too young feeling for me.

3.3

Thanks so much to Penguin Young Readers and Netgalley for an E-ARC of this title. On the surface level, Playing For Keeps sounded like the YA sports romance of my dreams. A hotheaded baseball player and an umpire with a massive inferiority complex and big dreams? Who wrote out one of my ultimate YA trope fantasies. But sadly, all good things come with a price. I didn’t find myself enjoying this title due to its one glaring flaw: character compatibility. In every romance novel, the characters have to be compatible to a certain extent to make you want root for them. Whether it’s enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one night stand, or all of the above — these romance tropes exist for a reason. The problem with Playing For Keeps lies solely on the shoulders of the two protagonists, June and Ivy, having no chemistry whatsoever. So much so, to the point where I convinced myself that if these two people existed in real life they’d want nothing to do with each other. June was hotheaded past the point of endearment and Ivy was reactive like a ticking time bomb. They transitioned from enemies to friends to lovers far too quickly and it almost felt like there was a rush to get to the end. A more minor issue that could have been worse depending on how the book flowed was Javonte, June’s best friend. It felt almost too easy to have black character with a name ending in ‘-onte’ who’s story is completely sidelined in favor of the white protagonist. It felt almost too easy to call it out, but I’m still going to. Conversely, I did enjoy the whole ‘girls in sports’ aspect especially because you don’t see YA protagonists gunning to be referees of all things nowadays.

Playing For Keeps (4/5 stars) by Jennifer Dugan is a moving sapphic YA romance packing an emotional punch in a fun sports setting. As a former soccer player and youth coach (and a huge women’s soccer fan currently), I loved the representation here of the struggles of athletes and athlete-adjacent young adults, especially for girls in male-dominated fields/sports! But beyond that, I loved these two characters—June and Ivy are so different but both have a hold on my heart in such unique ways. Ivy wants to be a professional referee and she takes her responsibility in her current refereeing roles very seriously. June is the star pitcher on her baseball team—that’s right: baseball, NOT softball—but making the jump from high school baseball to being recruited for college baseball is not an easy task and comes with a TON of pressure.

Ivy and June both bond over similar lived experiences that others around them just don’t get—and it’s the emotional processing of those experiences that they get through together that really makes this a perfect coming-of-age story, in addition to a cute teen romance. June has a lot to learn from Ivy’s dedication to fighting against what is expected of her, whereas Ivy gets the chance to learn from June’s ability to be a little selfish sometimes, rather than always focusing on how to support those around you.

These two characters and their internal emotional journeys are easily my favorite thing about the book. Honestly, the internal journeys (especially June’s) outweigh the more romantic aspects of the novel.

My least favorite parts were probably the intense and detailed exposure that happened extremely quickly in the first few chapters. Despite this and some slow pacing in the first half, the second half is spectacular and I was completely sucked in. Additionally, while the conflict with the main antagonist character really got me riled up and angry, I think that conflict paled in comparison to the internal conflicts both girls dealt with and overcame throughout the story. The romantic relationship was a bit immature at times, but honestly, it does fit where the characters are at mentally and I think that will resonate with younger YA readers who can maybe learn from June and Ivy’s mistakes.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc.
If you were a sapphic girl who was too obsessed with A League of Their Own, then Playing for Keeps will steal your heart. As expected, Jennifer Dugan crafts easily relatable characters with a heartwarming romance. This is a perfect read for Valentine's Day, but we'll have to wait for April 30th.

In the world of sports, Jennifer Dugan's novel "Playing for Keeps" takes readers on an exhilarating journey of love, ambition, and resilience. At the heart of the story are two determined individuals, June and Ivy, whose paths cross in unexpected ways. June, the star pitcher of her elite club baseball team, is a formidable force on the field, fueled by unwavering confidence and a burning desire to succeed. Her sights are set on securing a college scholarship, fulfilling the expectations placed upon her by her parents. However, a nagging overuse injury threatens to derail her aspirations, leaving her at a crossroads. On the other side is Ivy, a passionate and dedicated umpire, who dreams of officiating at the professional level. Despite her parents' wishes for her to pursue a traditional college education, she remains steadfast in her commitment to her officiating career. When these two strong-willed individuals meet, sparks fly, and a rivalry quickly ensues. However, as they spend more time together, their animosity fades, replaced by a growing friendship and, eventually, a deeper connection. Their blossoming romance is forbidden, as the rules strictly prohibit relationships between players and umpires. As June's injury worsens and a rival exposes their secret, both girls find themselves facing a difficult choice: to follow their dreams or to follow their hearts. The consequences of their decision could jeopardize everything they've worked hard for, putting their aspirations and desires on the line. Dugan skillfully weaves together the themes of love, ambition, and resilience, delving into the complexities of relationships, societal expectations, and the pursuit of dreams. The story is told through alternating perspectives, allowing readers to intimately understand the emotions and motivations of both June and Ivy. The characters in "Playing for Keeps" are well-developed and relatable. June's brash confidence and determination make her a compelling protagonist, while Ivy's quiet strength and unwavering dedication are equally inspiring. Their chemistry is undeniable, and readers will find themselves rooting for their relationship to overcome the obstacles it faces. Dugan's writing is crisp and engaging, capturing the intensity of the sporting world and the emotional turmoil of her characters. The pacing of the novel is well-executed, building tension as June's injury worsens and the threat of exposure looms large. Overall, "Playing for Keeps" is a compelling and heartwarming story that explores the complexities of love, ambition, and resilience. With its relatable characters, forbidden romance, and poignant exploration of following one's dreams, it is a must-read for fans of contemporary YA fiction and sports stories alike.

Excellent, quick read! It was really well written with an engaging story line, good dialogue, and a lovely writing style. The main characters were each well developed and offered compelling narratives.

June has dedicated her entire life to baseball. Game after game, she proves that she's one of the most accurate pitchers that her team has ever seen. Despite June's shoulder injury, she's determined to get scouted by colleges and eventually pitch for the MLB.

Ivy was once a soccer prodigy, but she's realized since that her talents lie in being a referee. Ivy's parents don't take her ambition to someday ref for pro soccer games seriously, but Ivy is stubborn and set on making her love of refereeing into a career someday.

When Ivy throws June out of her baseball game, the two become enemies. But their animosity doesn't last for long; the two bond over loss and eventually decide to date. There's only one problem: umpires and players aren't allowed to date.

To start, I appreciated the themes of grief and loss that were present throughout the novel. Dugan shows that grief can be unpredictable and sometimes debilitating, but the grieving process can be easier with a support system.

I also liked that Dugan touched on feminism and the way that women are badly mistreated in fields dominated by men. Both Ivy and June must reckon with the fact that they will always struggle to be taken seriously, even if they are the best.

Their relationship was cute, but it was dysfunctional, and I don't think they'd work out in the long term. Both of them needed to focus more on themselves and their potential careers than each other, especially since June wasn't the best girlfriend.

The book also felt a bit cliche. A lot of the dialogue was uncreative and made me cringe a bit. I felt like I was reading something unfinished.

Gotta love a fast paced sports romance! I really liked this story and I loved how the author was able to balance the sweet moments and the deep moments. The discussions of sexism and grief were done really well and I had a great time reading this!

Playing For Keeps is a dual-POV sapphic romance book that took a surprisingly deep look into grief and mental health that I thoroughly enjoyed! The book follows Ivy, an aspiring professional umpire, and June, an aspiring professional baseball player who is currently dealing with a serious shoulder injury. The two initially have a meet-ugly during a tough baseball game, but eventually connect over having lost loved ones to cancer, and the relationship develops from there.

I found this book to be a realistic depiction of teenage relationships and a very deep look into grief and the different ways that it can manifest in people. June and Ivy's families both deal with grief, but they do so in very different, even unhealthy ways. However, we do see their families begin to heal and realize that things are unhealthy. June and Ivy's relationship is not perfect, but I think it is a realistic depiction of how messy teenage relationships can be.

This book unfortunately had a few weak points for me. It did feature an insta-love trope, which is not my favorite thing, however it wasn't too prevalent. The ending was not especially strong, and I wish Ivy's grief had been a greater focus. However, overall I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a fun and sweet ride!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC! This was a cute, fluffy (sort of), quick read!

I like the fast pace of June and Ivy's (also such good names) attraction, as I feel like it's interesting to read about them trying to figure out how to make their relationship work around their lives. However, I feel like sometimes there needed to be a balance between on and off page events. When there was a baseball game, every detail, every strike/out/etc was described, but then Ivy and June would leave the field and be like "I'm so excited to go on our 500th date!". I'm pretty sure (other than at the end and in the epilogue), there were only like two dates that actually went into detail, which did take away from some of the chemistry. The book also deals with heavy topics like grief, sexism, and chronic pain, while still keeping a generally light tone. I'm surprised that neither Ivy or June ended up going to any therapy, but that could be for any number of reasons. Overall, this was cute, but I just didn't love it as much as other sapphic ya books. I think this is my least favorite Jennifer Dugan book.

Playing for keeps review
*NetGalley Arc Review*
I LOVE sapphic sports romance but this one didn’t hit for me AS much. I had a hard time getting into the story but I ended up enjoying it. It was a cute and fluffy baseball player x umpire relationship!
”I kissed Ivy. And Ivy definitely kissed me back.” 😭🩷

I absolutely love every Jennifer Dugan book I pick up, so I had high expectations for this book... and it did not disappoint. June and Ivy are complicated and authentic, and I loved following along on their journey. Definitely recommend!

This was an entertaining book with realistic stakes. The romance is a fast burn. The characters get together quickly and then spend most of the book dealing with sports-related obstacles.

I liked the main characters and their banter. Their relationship was sweet at times, frustrating at others. The villain and the main dilemma he presented were sadly realistic to the world today.

I'm not an athlete or much of a sports fan but the sports parts didn't bother me and even held my attention a lot of the time. I liked the way the book dealt with some deep issues, like grief and sexism, without drowning in them.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Playing For Keeps follows Ivy and June, two high schoolers trying to follow their dreams and make their marks in the professional sports world. Ivy has big dreams of being a professional referee and June wants to follow in her parent’s footsteps and eventually become the first woman in the MLB.

I love reading Jennifer Dugan’s work, wishing I had a sapphic YA book to read back when I was younger. There was a lot of miscommunication and stubbornness between the two, but that’s just how it is being a teenager. This book also shows how people adapt differently to grief, which I believe is great for readers to see and feel. I think Dugan did a great job working this into the book in a way that is open and understanding for readers, especially YA readers who are more impressionable and may not be fully understanding in that category.

I thought this book was a really sweet, thoughtful read with characters that you’ll love and a very interesting plot. It was also a very quick read, and could easily be knocked out in a few hours!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

Thank you so much to PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Young Readers Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Playing for Keeps is a YA sapphic romance about Ivy and June, two athletes who had different responses to the death of family members.

I really enjoyed the complicated family dynamics of both characters, as well as how different their relationships were with their family and friends. I especially liked June’s dynamic with her best friend Javonte and Ivy’s over all personality. Also have the girls be connected not just by attraction but completely understanding the others sense of personal loss was a great addition.

However, the attraction between the characters and their relationship felt a little too fast, even for a high school romance. But the rhythm that the characters settled into was fun and I enjoyed reading it. 3.5 stars.

I enjoyed some parts of this book. i loved how complicated the family dynamics were and how it handled grief.

This book is supposed to be an “enemies to lovers” but i didn’t get that. They got together way too fast to be enemies and there was so much communication that i got very annoyed at times. I get that this is high school but at the same time it was just a little bit too much miscommunication for me.

I would have loved this book more if it slowed down a book. Everything happened so fast.

This was a 3.75/5 star read for me. I enjoyed it and had a good time with it. I read it pretty quickly. I definitely like that it's a YA sapphic romance, and there were parts that I was giggling at or crying at. I felt the emotions, and not many books can do that for me so the fact that this book did sets it higher for me. However, there were many problems that happened that would have been so easily solved by just talking it out. Some things like that in books are good, but it just happened too much in this book for me to consider it good. It was frustrating and made the book feel more middle grade than YA, in my opinion. But overall, the book wasn't bad and I don't feel that the time spent reading it was wasted. Would I recommend it all the time? No. But would I still recommend it to a few people? Yes. I would also be open to reading more books by Jennifer. All things considered, I would say read it but don't go into it expecting to read the best piece of literature ever written.