Cat Sebastian, you ruined my life.

Again.

You Should Be So Lucky, as is typical of Cat’s work, is an absolute masterpiece. In this novel, we follow the inevitably glorious romance of Mark and Eddie, a “retired” journalist and a baseball player in a major batting slump. This is without a doubt a vibes-over-plot novel, and I say this with the highest regard because the vibes here are truly impeccable.

This is definitely one of those vibe-centric novels where there is minimal angst. While there are topics that are traditionally angst-inducing, such as the loss of a loved one in various contexts, Cat does a wonderful job of balancing these heavier aspects so as not to overshadow the romance between our protagonists. Mark has been grieving a long-term partner for over a year and Eddie has been grieving the potential death of his talent at baseball, these two factors not only build on the characters but are intertwined spectacularly into the subtext of the story. One of my notes was quite literally, “Cat Sebastian’s capacity for subtext is undefeated,” and I stand by that.

Sebastian’s ability to iterate a story through her own voice while maintaining the individuality of her characters brings a new form of life into the plot. The writing is wonderful in every way that it could be and has always been one of the defining characteristics that I love about her work. Mark and Eddie are the epitome of how the grumpy/sunshine trope is to be executed from here on out. Eddie, while having a seriously atrocious time at the start of this novel, is the walking embodiment of laid-back optimism. Even better, is that while he is our traditional “sunshine” element, he isn’t confined to this stereotype and also expresses his capacity for emotions like irritation and anger. Likewise, Mark, proves time and time again that despite the grumpiness of it all, has a penchant for kindness.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the privilege of receiving an advanced reader copy of You Should Be So Lucky!

Absolutely enthralled by Cat Sebastian's newest, historical romance! She takes two subjects I usually don't think about - journalism and baseball - and creates an engaging, earnest story of loss, struggle, hope, and second chances. I loved watching Eddie and Mark get to known each other! Eddie is a total sweetheart and it's no surprise that Mark, closed off and jaded, is soon charmed by Eddie. Meanwhile, for Eddie, he's instantly intrigued by Mark but wary due to the way his relationship with the press went from fun and casual to excruciating. For both men, trust is gradually earned and a working relationship moves towards true friendship with the promise of more. Beyond the absolute delight of reading their POVs, I also enjoyed the other characters and the depth that is brought to every part of the story. The examination of grief in all of its facets is especially powerful. There's also the ongoing debate between Mark and Eddie about what it means to be queer and high profile, how to live authentically, and how to find and embrace community. There's late night payphones calls, meals shared at diners and restaurants, baseballs stats I did not understand, a highly strung dog, and a bone deep intimacy that made my little heart melt. Truly a must read!

This was just amazing. So much to love — perfect storm of tropes (found family, jaded/hopeful, baseball slump, second love, slow burn!!); the time / setting that lent SO much to the story, for both historical interest and also just these unique, delightful touches (calls from the payphone! 60s baseball! retro air travel!); and there are these perfect intersecting plot arcs that take you through the whole story and make the baseball/journalism world feel so full. Cat Sebastian put so much research and craft into this and it shows. Mark and Eddie’s dynamic in bed was incredibly hot also — loved Mark coming into his own in a new relationship after 7 years with William and Eddie’s openness / not fitting in a tub / showing off his biceps all the time, what a gift. And finally, all the bits about baseball being a beautiful game made me cry. It IS a beautiful game. Read this nonstop cover to cover on a 6 hour flight and it was definitely one of my best plane experiences ever!!! Extremely, extremely solid and I would wholeheartedly recommend!

Thank you Avon for the ARC!

I didn’t think I could love anything more than We Could Be So Good… I was wrong.

With We Could Be So Good, I fell in love with Nick and Andy instantly. (Like, if I search my texts I think I said that I would die for Andy and I was only on page 13.)

But with this book, I started out enjoying both Eddie and Mark, nothing that stood out like with Andy, but definite enjoyment. What gets you with these two is the backstory and heart involved with the character building…. the more I read, the more I loved them 😭😭😭

By the time I was 3/4 of the way through, I was ready to risk it all for either one of them (and their little dog, too!). This book has it all… baseball, phone booths, pastries, lots and lots of fabrics, and two incredible characters that you can’t help loving by the end.

To describe You Should Be So Lucky in one word, it would be tender. This book is set in 1960s NYC, a gay historical romance between a professional baseball player and a reporter. How does it get much better than that??

This is a slow burn done so right, every small moment between Mark and Eddie made me blush and kick my feet!!😭 Not only is this so incredibly sweet and heartwarming, this book equally focuses on grief and does so really beautifully.

I’m so happy this book didn’t follow the traditional format of romance books with a huge third act breakup, and instead something so enjoyable to read even as they had to figure things out about themselves.

This was such an unexpected new favorite after requesting it on NetGalley knowing basically nothing about it, and I’m so glad I did !!!!

Huge thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I really enjoyed this book. I liked all of the major characters and the minor characters too. I'm a big baseball fan. I wanted to know more of the front office politics and what's going on. I also just want to know how the next baseball season goes!

In 1960’s New York, Eddie O’Leary is having a tough baseball season, when Mark Bailey, an arts reporter, is assigned to write about Eddie’s performance on the team.
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‘You Should Be So Lucky’ is a tender and lovely story about the struggles of being queer in a time where you have to be weary about how many personal details you share with the world. Be sure to check this out when it releases on May 7th!

Set in the early 1960s, this baseball MM romance completely surprised me and I enjoyed every single moment of it.

Mark is a reporter in New York City and has been reluctantly assigned to cover the new addition to the Robins baseball team, Eddie. Eddie is a young 22 year old baseball player who was traded to New York and doesn't want to be there. He's young, homesick, and still coming to terms with his queerness. Mark has been quietly grieving the death of a former lover when he takes a liking and a friendship with Eddie while covering his season.

This story has such great pacing with a great slow burn. The 1960s setting left a whole new element as both characters are trying to navigate their queerness while also being afraid of exposing the other. Mark seems to be more open about being gay, whereas Eddie is a Major League Baseball player and could face a much larger backlash with potential hate crimes. The ironic thing though, was that Mark seemed to be the one to care more about Eddie being discreet than Eddie did.

I really loved the dynamic that both characters brought to the table. Mark was in his late twenties and trying to grieve a huge part of his life that was lost, while Eddie is a young and happy golden retriever just wanting to spend as much time as he can with Mark.

*Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the ARC in return for my honest review

If you are looking for a beautiful story about 2 men in 1950’s trying to find their way, I recommend this book..

Eddie is a baseball player that gets traded to another team. He has a reputation of being a hot head and he’s battling a hitting slump. In comes Mark, then the beautiful story of friends to lovers begins. The care that was given in writing about a delicate topic of the 50’s was beautiful. The way the growing relationship was handled was great.
However, that’s where the story stops for me. I found myself skipping numerous pages because the plot just wasn’t holding for me. I wasn’t invested in the side characters to worry about the happenings of the team. I also feel that some of the plot was lost in words. The book seemed very word-y to me. Also, the chapters were long and I’m not someone that enjoys long chapters. I realize that’s a me thing and not a book/author thing.
Again, I loved the story between the MMC, but it wasn’t enough to keep me engaged in everything else that was going on.

This story was sooo sweet. I really enjoyed reading about their love. However, I would have liked a little more plot. It didn’t really feel like there was anything at stake with this story. That’s just my preference.

Overall, I enjoyed it. Thank you Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for this ARC!

First of all, the cover is beautiful and grabbed my attention immediately. This is a great MM romance that features Eddie, a baseball player ina slump and Mark, a reporter whose job is to follow Eddie around during his season and report on what's happening. Baseball is my favorite sport and the author does a great job describing it and the relationship between Eddie and Mark. They are opposites, but they work so well togther and they're definitely soulmates. This is so heartwarming and sweet and just makes you feel happy inside. It's such a nice palate cleanser and has quickly become of favorites.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cat Sebastian, and Avon for the eARC of this book.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading and loving We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian then devouring a bunch of her other books, I knew I had to have You Should Be So Lucky! And it did NOT disappoint. Sebastian has a way of writing romances that feel real, earnest, and tender, without going too far into feeling shmaltzy. It's such a joy to pick up a Cat Sebastian book and meet her characters.

In You Should Be So Lucky, we meet Eddie, a baseball player in a hell of a slump, and Mark, a reporter tasked with following Eddie's season. They're both prickly at first, but then they, of course, fall in love. I really enjoyed their storyline, as well as the actual baseball plot and the cast of characters. I loved that Eddie and Mark had conflict, but it never felt too strained or forced. Mark had genuine worries, and Eddie did his best to understand what he was going through, and they worked through it realistically.

What a joy! I'm definitely keeping my eyes peeled for Cat Sebastian's next book.

3.75 ⭐️

First I just want to say the cover is STUNNING I just love it!!! You Should Be So Lucky was my first Cat Sebastian book so I was super excited to receive this ARC! It’s truly a perfect sweet historical fiction book. I loved the setting being in 1960 and the romance between a baseball player and the reporter assigned to report on him despite never having written about sports was such a fun pairing! It’s a lot more than a romance with a heavy focus on two different kinds of grief and adjusting/learning how to carry on.

I really enjoyed the first 75% of the book but the last quarter dragged a bit for me. Stakes were pretty low and it felt a little receptive. I also don’t vibe that well with romance books written in third person so that’s a me problem. I think it made it feel like they were boxed into their grumpy x sunshine personalities a little too much at some points because you don’t have their true inner monologues. I think it would have translated better for me with first person POV. Just didn’t quite hit as hard for me due to those couple of factors. I definitely want to check out We Could Be So Good now which is also by Cat Sebastian along with her other books! She’s a phenomenal writer.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this I love a good MM romance where you can truly see the romance between them and it seems legit. I wanted to jump into the story and see their story unfold together. Also I’m a fan of sports romcoms and this hit that so well. I also love the cover and I need to own a copy of this when it comes out

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY by Cat Sebastian was the perfect book to finish on baseball's opening day.

For approximately three-quarters of a second, I thought this was a time travel book, because it opens with the year, 1960. That was not my finest moment, considering I did know the broad strokes of the plot, but it threw me. It's just establishing that it's a historical. What was most fascinating to me is how much *hasn't* changed in the intervening years. Most queer players are definitely still closeted! It's still hostile to the involvement of women in authority positions! We have made very little progress in that regards, which is rather a bummer.

And so some (maybe even much) of the story is about the balance between safety and authenticity. What really matters to you, and how much are you willing to lose or give up for it? But it's not all downer dealing with homophobia, because there is also just the most lovely and precious love story! And it is hilarious! There are so many good lines. I was trying to pick a favorite—that's a man who has an accountant? Wearing loafers in public is not a life boldly lived? Stopping at Bloomingdales to get in touch with his roots?—but I can't, so please tell me your favorites, if and when you read this delight.

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY comes out May 7, and dare I say we should all be so lucky to read it.

Oh, this book was EVERYTHING!!!

This book has my entire heart, and I’ll forever scream about how Eddie and Mark are soulmates. Cat did her magic with this book, it was wholesome and so heartfelt.

I could not put this book down, and cannot wait until it’s released. This is a story that everyone should read, it’s incredible.

"I don't think I could have a single feeling about you that's wasted."

It’s opposites attract, yet they’re so similar… it’s funny how it worked out that way. I’d like to end this by saying, the way Eddie understood Mark had my entire heart. They just fit… they are actually endgame. I cannot recommend this enough, ahhh, I loved it!!!

I loved this book so much. I came in knowing I would like this since I was such a fan of the Amazon series “A League of Their Own,” which is also a queer story about baseball. However, this book was so much better than I could have imagined. The romance was so sweet and heartwarming. Mark and Eddie are perfect for each other, and were there for each other in moments where the other needed support. I liked how these were fully fleshed out characters with their own background and baggage. The plot points surrounding Eddie and his baseball team were also entertaining and didn’t drag at any point, as some sports stories can. I also liked the queer found family and the other supporting characters. I had to immediately pick up “We Could Be So Good” after finishing this since I wasn’t ready to leave this world. I really hope Cat Sebastian continues to write in this universe. A book focused on Lillian and Maureen’s story would be so interesting. Overall, I highly recommend this book and now want to read everything Cat Sebastian has ever written.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the ARC.

Wow! I did not think I could like another book by Cat Sebastian as much as I liked We Could Be So Good, but here it is! There are some lovely links between the two - they take place a year apart and have overlapping characters. I actually think of New York City as a character in both of these books, and I love that. This book is a love story between two people but also a love story about baseball, and I found the reflections about the game very profound and endearing. Cat Sebastian writes characters in such a nuanced way - I swear I could meet them walking down a street - they are that real and realistic. I find the time setting so compelling - it is the cusp of a change in American society about many things, including the beginning of a move to more equal rights for many people, including queer folk - but it's just the cusp and the fear of exposure, ridicule, violence is always simmering right under the surface. All I can say is you should put this on the top of your list of books to read next. You will not regret it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

4.5 stars for this wonderful follow up to my favorite book of 2023, We Could Be So Good. Mark Bailey is Nick's former colleague from the Chronicle who frequently handed down queer literature to Nick, despite the latter's objections. We learn that two years after WCBSG, Mark's partner William died suddenly and his life pretty much stopped in its tracks. He quit his job but continues to show up at the office because he doesn't know what else to do. William was a successful attorney who remained deep in the closet, so Mark's grief is compounded by the fact that he was never able to publicly acknowledge their relationship, even in death.

Andy (still adorable), the Chronicle's publisher, gives Mark an assignment to ghostwrite the diary of Eddie O'Leary, a baseball player who was recently traded to the New York Robins, a last-place expansion team. Eddie burned a lot of bridges by going on a very public tirade about how much he hates the Robins players, management, and New York in general. His first month of the season has been a disaster; the once-promising young player now can't get a hit to save his life. When Eddie meets Mark there is a spark that is nurtured by their tacit admission of queerness. But Mark is still grieving, living in an apartment that is more mausoleum than a home. He's tired of being someone's dirty little secret, but he knows that Eddie's career is over if anyone finds out about their relationship.

Eddie and Mark give off similar sunshine/grouchy vibes to Andy and Nick from WCBSG, although Eddie's innate sweetness is obscured at first by his temper tantrums, and Mark is deeply grieving in addition to being grouchy. Their relationship arc mirrors their own journeys; Eddie is trying to recapture his baseball mojo and Mark is slowly moving past the acute phase of grief. Mark is subtly signaling that he will not hide his queerness anymore by taking small steps like letting his hair grow and dining out with his queer friends. Paradoxically, he is irrationally protective of Eddie, worrying that he will be the cause of Eddie's downfall. For his part, Eddie has always known he was queer, but it was easier to compartmentalize in a smaller city where he wasn't falling in love for the first time. There's very little third act drama - Mark tries to be a martyr but Eddie won't let him. And the HEA is very 1960s appropriate, with the men finding a community of queer friends and allies, even if they are decades away from being able to be out and proud.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention two memorable secondary characters. George Allen is an elderly sportswriter and would-be mentor to Mark. His gruff, no fucks given personality is a perfect portrayal of many of that generation's real-life heralded sportswriters like Red Smith and Jimmy Breslin. And Mark's dog Lula has her own character arc, moving beyond "still waiting for William to come home" to "claims ownership of Mark and Eddie (but especially Eddie)." The Robins players and management shine in small roles as they move past their anger at Eddie and start feeling protective of him.

YSBSL has a bit more real world angst (grief, fear of being outed) than WCBSG, which accounts for the slightly lower rating. Andy and Nick's appearances are kept to a minimum, which is appropriate even though I wanted to see more of them. I hope Cat Sebastian keeps publishing these 20th century historical fiction novels. They capture the era perfectly and are replete with passages worth underlining.
(Eddie, looking at picture of himself from a year ago) The person in that photo is a kid. He had such a simple, uncomplicated life...But it was a life that couldn't grow in any direction. It didn't allow for failure, didn't allow for honesty. He was carefree, but maybe because he didn't know what was worth caring about. Now he knows who he is and what he wants, and he knows exactly how high a price he's willing to pay for those things. He's tired and he's angry, and his contentment is something heavy and sharp, a prize that he fought for. He wouldn't exchange it for anything.
ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.

Sports romcoms can be a hard sell for me, but Cat Sebastian’s time pieces have become an endearing part of my reading journey and this was no exception. Eddie starts the book down on his luck and ostracized, a new take on the athlete narattive that quite enjoyed outside of the normal althetes are perfect specimens narrative. Marks had a rough life, losing his closeted boyfriend of years suddenly leaves him hurt and bitter. The two are definition black cat and golden retriever and watching them come together slowly was a delight