A queer baseball story sounded like a story tailored just for me, but unfortunately "Playing for Keeps" failed to deliver.

The main characters, June and Ivy, felt two-dimensional and each had one personality trait and that's all we got from them. I wanted to know more about the girls to understand them better, but the story never fleshed them out. The romance suffered from the same issues. They immediately dislike each other when they meet, but almost by the next time they hang out, they're dating. It's too quick and the readers have no idea what they actually see in each other as their encounters are almost always being frustrated with one another or being resentful.

I almost DNF'd the book around the 40% mark but finished it because I kept hoping it would improve and live up to the expectations the premise set.

“Playing for Keeps” is an enjoyable YA romance. Set in the world of sports, two young women battle adversity trying to succeed in male-dominated fields and end up falling for each other while also dealing with grief. Jennifer Dugan really has a knack for writing characters that have no business being together, but you really want to root for them anyway. Both of the main characters were really well developed outside of their romance, but I do wish there was more pining and slow-burn vibe because they got into a relationship really quickly. This book also showcases grief in its rawest form, the way that it hits you so long after a person has passed. It also shows numerous ways of dealing with grief, from June's outbursts to her father's mood-swings to Ivy's mother's pressure. and I think that this is important, because grief isn't linear and doesn’t look the same for everyone. It doesn't just happen for a few days after someone dies and then goes away, and I think Dugan did an amazing job at showcasing that through this book. I enjoyed that this was dual POV. It was great to be able to get inside both June and Ivy’s heads to read their thoughts and it made it easy to see why they fell for each other. I really enjoyed the side characters, Mia and Javonte, who are great examples of best friends that are loyal and supportive. This was a fun read but I wish it was a bit longer so we could see more of Ivy and June together. Thanks to Jennifer Dugan, Netgalley and Penguin for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I look forward to reading Jennifer’s next book!

Unfortunately while this had a lot of promise in the first 3-4 chapters, it quickly went downhill for me.

The insta-dating felt really strange given how these characters interact and while there were some heavy family themes introduced, it never felt like the story committed to exploring them fully. They were more like passing vignettes used to explain each of their poor behavior or coping skills.

The romance itself didn’t really sell me and felt very confusing. I couldn’t understand or pinpoint how or why things changed so abruptly for June, and Ivy felt like she was too accommodating. Then we just fast forward past their early days which felt like a missed opportunity to see how they begin to settle in with each other and their new feelings for each other.

I struggled to feel engaged or committed given they got together so early in and with so little resistance or consideration for the consequences of their coupling, given how committed each of them supposedly is to the sport and code of conduct. Overall I think this just lacked clarity in bring big a cohesive and well thought out and paced plot.

Rating: 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3.

While I was really invested in this book, I found that the main character, June, was one of the most insufferable characters I’ve ever read. While I understand her backstory and a lot of the time felt bad for her I couldn’t get past most of her decisions and how she tended to whine about everything that happened to her.

On the other hand, Ivy, was the exact opposite to how I felt about June. She was adorable, sweet, and absolutely someone I was excited to see whenever her name came up in the book.

I loved June and Ivy’s relationship and the overall storyline even if at times I debated putting it down. I’m glad I didn’t though, but this wouldn’t be a book I would read again.

i thought this was a pretty good book. i liked the start of their romance, and i was especially invested in the second half. i just did not like june as much as i wanted to. i found her to be really selfish, and while she did grow, i just didnt feel like she adequately apologized for or acknowledged the pain she caused. some of the references and phrases that were very modern weren’t my favorite either, because i think they will put too much of a timestamp on the book and make less accessible to readers years in the future.

4 stars

This was a super cute romance. June and Ivy both were flawed, and I love how the author explored that and it helped with the plot. I wish that both of their dreams came true and would play out, but other than that it was a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book!

“She told me not to plan for our breakup, but I wonder how she’d feel about me planning for our forever.”
I thought this one was super cute, I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read it early! I feel like this book definitely fit in the category of a sapphic sports YA contemporary romance, I can definitely see high schoolers really enjoying and connecting with this book!
One thing I will say about this book is June, as a character was, honestly, infuriating. She was annoying, at times whiny and just all around unbearable at times but honestly, I still found myself rooting for her. Similar to Ivy, other main character who I’ll get to, June has been through a lot in her life. More than anyone, let alone a child deserves to deal with, but June certainly does not handle or mange her trauma in a health way. I think that’s what makes June so easy to root for, while kind’ve still disliking her, because she’s real. She emotions are raw and at times reckless but also, I know June is going to get a lot of haters when this book comes out but I see her. I feel for her, not everyone’s emotions and trauma are dealt with in a healthy way, but I think June overall had a lot of character growth and that’s a main thing to take away.
Ivy on the complete other hand is easily very lovable and I can see her grabbing everyone’s heart. She was selfless and gave so many to others, chronic people pleaser perhaps- but genuinely just had a heart of gold. I can see a lot of people relating to Ivy’s story and her struggles.
I also thought the aspect of her wanting to be a sports referee and the discussions of mental health among athletes and the harm that spectators can cause was really important and well written. Too often referees get overlooked as humans and I think Ivy, being a teenage female referee, discussing the harassment she endured from parents and crowd members is a very serious issue in the sports world and was brought to light very well in this book.
This book is also heavy in the discuss of grief, it’s definitely not a light fluffy romcom. I really appreciated how this book demonstrates that grief is not linear, it’s different for everyone and just because things look a certain way that doesn’t mean that’s how they actually are. My heart aches for June and Ivy throughout this story.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! While I can see this not being the book for everyone I think it’s a fun ride! If you’re looking for a fast pace YA that is certain to piss you off (because June will) but also make you laugh and tug at your heart strings I would definitely recommend this read!

*Thank you PenguinTeen and author for a e-arc of this book! All opinions above are 100% my own!*

3.25 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for an advanced copy review of this book in exchange for my unbiased, honest review.

This book was so fun and lighthearted. I needed a fluffy read and this book was just what I needed! I've been into sports/romance type books lately and this book delivered:)

It was a bit slow at times for me personally, but I still enjoyed it and recommend it if you're into sapphic romances and need a light, fluffy read<3

Rating: 4/5 stars

I really liked this book. I love the complexity of both Ivy and June, and how they navigate life and high school following family tragedies. They find solace in each other and their chemistry and undeniable. It was really interesting to look into their lives and how they try to live up to what they think they need and how they manage to apply for college and get through senior year, especially when they try to follow outside their own dreams and what they want.

I do wish that Ivy and June had more enemies before lovers, and more of a build up, but I loved them regardless. I loved watching Ivy learn to ask for what she wants, and watch June learn to release all the pressure from living up to her parents' legacy.

I definitely would recommend if you want a quick and light-hearted read with messy characters and a definite YA feel. It's a great reset book without it being completely unrealistic.

i wanted to like this so much bc sports! and sapphics! but unfortunately it just didn't work for me :(

reading this felt like reading a messy first draft rather than a book in the final stages of editing before publication... i had 2 major issues with this book. the first being the characters. i love mia and javonte as supporting characters but the main character and the love interest were practically the same person just with vaguely different goals. there's a LOT of commonalities between them and just not enough differentiation between their voices for a dual perspective book. half the time i had to go back a few pages to the start of the chapter to confirm which POV i was reading.

another thing is the horrible miscommunication trope being used as a way to drive the plot / reach the climax of the story. there is SO MUCH miscommunication (or rather lack of communication at all) between the MC and LI that i was just yelling at both of them in my head the entire time. eventually they realize this and communicate better but of course they have to go through the dreaded third act breakup first. SIGH it's annoying

I really enjoyed this book as a sapphic YA romance, with lots of teen angst and lots of queer success and joy. As a warning, this book was very grief centric with both main characters having lost members of their immediate family, and that’s a frequent plot point. While overall I think the book was fairly joyful, it definitely had many emotional parts.

I also really appreciated that both MCs were women pushing the barriers in male-centric sport fields. Neither of them had a lot of pushback from being a woman or from being queer, which was a nice contrast to most other books I’ve read with women in sports. All of the tension was built up due to other things.

My biggest frustration with this book was the first couple of chapters. The author spent a lot of time setting the scene and building up the characters, but it felt very ‘telling’ rather than showing.

Overall I would recommend this book, and I look forward to reading any future books by this author!

This sapphic forbidden high school sports romance was so cute. I'm not a sports person at all and found this book to be so enjoyable. I really loved the similarities and differences between Ivy and June. I love that both girls are just trying to be the best they can in their male dominated roles. They are so good for each other. I really want more sapphic romances like this!!!

This was a fun read. I enjoyed Jennifer Dugan’s exploration of more positions in sports than being athletes. I enjoyed seeing Ivy and June’s relationship amidst the grief they carried in their personal lives.

This was such a great enemies to lovers romance. Sports are competitive, but even more so between these two rivals. Their heated exchanges quickly become something much more than sport.

First I want to give a huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an arc reader!

Let's all take a moment to appreciate that cover art.

Overall I really enjoyed my reading experience with this story. Ivy and June both have big dreams and can be inspiring in their own ways. I did find Ivy to be a little more likable; although, they both could be really frustrating at times. Much of the conflict could have been avoidable with a little honesty and communication but 'real life' is like that too. This story did a good job touching on grief and the pressure we put on ourselves. Recently I have found a love for sports romance and this was just enough to satisfy that without being "too much". This is just want I needed to pull me out of my slump.

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam and Sons for the gifted copy!

This was a fun lil YA read. It’s sporty, it’s sapphic, and it’s a quick read!

An aspiring umpire and a baseball star form an unlikely bond and have an instant chemistry, but they aren’t supposed to date.This was a fun read, a sometimes sad read, and overall really enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, and Jennifer Dugan for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! This book releases April 30, 2024.

Synopsis: June, star pitcher for her elite club baseball team, and Ivy, aspiring professional sports official, cross paths when Ivy takes a job at June's baseball game. After Ivy throws June out of the game for poor behavior, the two girls begin an enemies to friends to lovers relationship, despite their code of ethics forbidding their relationship. These two navigate sports, senior year, and whether or not they are living for themselves or their relatives who have recently died.

- Overall Rating: 4.25/5 (Rounded Down)

Review: I really enjoyed this book. Even though "Playing for Keeps" is a YA novel, it feels more at home in that space New Adult (if adopted as a more formal genre) would occupy. It explores themes of familial and self pressure and grief and the effects it can have on a teenager. "Playing for Keeps" was a very quick read with witty banter and realistic characters. It avoids some of the common pitfalls of modern YA of using dated language and references (though there are a few). Jennifer Dugan has a craft for creating a reality close to our own. Ivy and June have a distinct realness to them, but they are still very different from your average person or average WLW couple. Ivy, June, and their friends make me think of real teenagers in 2024. I truly commend Dugan for this! Everything for these two revolves around going pro with their sports. For Ivy, that's becoming a professional official. For June, it's becoming the first woman in the MLB. While these aspirations are not unheard of in the general populace, the success both of these girls have had all by their senior year of high school is few and far between. The stress both girls face, particularly June who is nursing an injured shoulder, leads to perhaps my biggest critique.

It was interesting watching Ivy and June come together. However, their communication was awful. This was one of the reasons I just couldn't give it a 5 star rating. Even though Jennifer Dugan did a great job of capturing how teenagers communicate (or rather don't), it was infuriating their inability to have a conversation without it turning into a fight. It did feel like the girls spent more time mad at each other than in love, but I think this is due to the dual POV. There are some moments where Ivy is downright cruel to June and vice-versa. It's not bad, but it is very clear it is "first true high school romance" with teenagers trying to balance the maturity needed to sustain a relationship. Ultimately, the miscommunication and anger were all rectified as the book concluded, but it did feel like they spent more time arguing than growing their relationship together.

The concept of this book was fascinating. I love baseball even though I'm not the most savvy with all the technical terms. Dugan does an excellent job making sure someone's lack of knowledge regarding baseball and soccer does not impede on their experience with this book. Sports talk, while there, is kept pretty minimal for a sports romance.

Jenifer Dugan did a great job capturing the stress of a teenage relationship and the external pressures that teenage athletes face. The miscommunication is frustrating, but it is painfully real and demonstrates Dugan's ability to craft a believable and realistic teenage romance. The ending provides a deserved pay off, but I do wish this novel was a bit longer so we could watch Ivy and June's relationship continue to blossom.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For a girlie who isn't a big sports romance person, I was pleasantly surprised that I liked this one as much as I did. June and Ivy's rivalry didn't last until they saw each other in secret, giving plenty of cute relationship goodness. The book does a fantastic job of showcasing grief in all its stages and how two families dealt with a major death differently but also not in the most healthy ways.

Minus a star simply for the girls not communicating with one another.

I enjoyed this sports romance between June and Ivy. They learn how difficult it is to hide their romance and eventually end up on same field. They work through their conflicts of family deaths and how it affects their determination to go for what they want.

Playing for Keeps is the next in a line of good n fluffy queer contemporaries with a side of real life from Jennifer Dugan and I was happy to receive an early copy of this one and also happy to say I enjoyed it! Real quick I have to start with the cover that immediately grabbed me when I saw the reveal on Instagram, I probably have an instagram story saying somewhere along the lines of "so so pretty" or "I am sat". I love the artist that always does her YA covers they're phenomenal, never change them out please and thank you lol.

Out of the two girls, Ivy was my favorite of them, I enjoyed her character and I thought she was a little more level headed than June which I liked better. They were both messy to be fair, they're teenagers in their senior year with a lot on their shoulders so its more than allowed, but June was definitely messier (that sounds like not a word lol) and sometimes it grated on my nerves a little bit sometimes with how she acted. I loved her best friend, Javonte, I feel like he was always around to call her on her shit. He knew how she worked and processed things and he let her do so while also staying close by to pick her up when she needed it. Everybody needs a best friend like that honestly life is a lot better that way. Circling back to Ivy, I think another reason why she ended up being my favorite is because she's kinda like me. She takes care of others before herself and she often drops and runs for those she loves when they're in need despite what its gonna cost her and I also have a tendency to do that. It hit a little close to home for me that way. The synopsis leaves out the fact that this book deals a lot with Grief and its quite an important part to the story in my opinion. June lost her mom, and Ivy her older brother, both to cancer and it's honestly a big reason why they bond. The book has a big theme of "what do we do with the after, what happens after they're gone and how do we continue" Because June's desperately trying to live up to what expectations she thinks her mom might have for her AND please her grief ridden dad while Ivy runs the opposite direction from her mom trying to project her brothers lost dreams and expectations onto her. Its a back and forth pull for a while and I think it'll hit home with anybody who's ever lost a loved one, especially to cancer.

There was only a few things I wanted to be different. Specifically, I wish June's team was included more because it was obvious in the few scenes we got that they cared a lot about June and I hoped for more. Though one specific interaction of the few we did get kinda melted my heart. And I feel like a few things built up to be important didn't keep the anticipation up or be taken seriously enough and felt a little anticlimactic in turn. Its a bummer but it didn't totally affect my enjoyment either. Overall like I said, I did enjoy this one and I look forward to reading what Jennifer Dugan publishes next. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, all opinions are of course my own!