“I don’t think I could have a single feeling about you that’s wasted.”

Can you hear me swooning already?

We Could Be So Good was one of my favourite reads of last year so I told myself before going into this book that I should adjust my expectations. I knew I was going to have a great time (it’s a Cat Sebastian novel, after all) but I didn’t want to set myself up for disappointment.

Tell me why, then, Eddie and Mark somehow made me question whether I loved their story more than We Could Be So Good? What is this sorcery? Like, I can’t even be mad about it because You Should Be So Lucky only enhanced my love for We Could Be So Good.

But let’s get into it the plot first.

In the 1960s, we meet Eddie O’Leary, the star shortstop struggling with a batting slump, who finds himself reluctantly paired with Mark Bailey, a grieving reporter, for a series of interviews. Neither of them is thrilled about the arrangement—Eddie’s battling his own demons on the field, while Mark is reeling from personal loss. As they navigate the pressures of their respective worlds, Eddie and Mark can’t stay away from each other and instead find solace and connection in each other’s company, despite the challenges of secrecy and societal expectations. But with Eddie’s career on the line and Mark determined not to hide anymore, they must confront their fears and decide if their budding relationship is worth risking everything for.

How to describe Eddie and Mark’s romance in one word? Soft. Honestly, the entirety of You Should Be so Lucky feels like a warm hug on a chilly day from your favourite person in the whole world. Mark’s (for a good reason) a bit of a grump yet unapologetically himself while Eddie is truly the golden retriever cinnamon roll you can’t help but immediately want to cuddle. Both of them aren’t at their best when they meet, yet their broken parts somehow fit together so perfectly. From the beginning, you can tell that the attraction and chemistry isn’t one-sided and their careful tip-toeing around each other had me putting down the book multiple times so I could either 1) kick my feet in the air, giggling or 2) groan “kiss already, you dorks”—which to me, is the sign of an unforgettably good romance. But what I think I loved most about their romance was just how perfectly matched they were. Sure, it’s an opposites attract romance, but boy, are these two perceptive of each other’s needs and desires. Eddie sees so many small things and makes Mark’s day by doing so while Mark really comes to understand so much of Eddie without him ever telling him with mere words. Their love for each other made my heart feel so full.

As it’s the mid-century, being out and proud isn’t really a choice for either Mark or Eddie since they have very prominent jobs that they would for sure lose if the truth came out—not to mention that it’s still illegal. The careful discussions around this, especially with Mark not wanting to be hidden away due to his experiences in the past and how it affected his self-confidence, hurt in the best way possible. Sebastian combines this tough topic with heartfelt revelations about identity, safety and what it takes to be happy and how to make your own place in a world that doesn’t want to give you an inch. Mark and Eddie’s struggle feels so visceral, yet there’s always an underlying tone of hope as they find their way to a happy life together.

Beyond excellent relationship development, you also have so much personal growth. Both men are grieving in different ways for different things, yet their connection with each other is what helps them both heal the broken parts of their pasts. Mark, especially, spoke to me as he faced hiding his grief while also not wanting to be stuck in the past forever. What I think I love most is that he had this small network of queer friends that helped him to the best of their abilities yet he also found allies in the most unexpected of places. It really solidifies the notion that found family can sometimes be all you need to succeed. Eddie’s personal growth is closely related to his time on the baseball field—but less to numbers or homeruns (I have no clue about baseball, excuse me) and more to self-confidence, believing in yourself and believing in your right to the place you have stubbornly earned. Really, the personal character growth of these two made the novel stand out even more.

One note also needs to be said about Sebastian’s atmospheric writing. Now, I have a notoriously hard time picturing things in my mind while reading, yet Sebastian always manages to create such an intricate world, be it through small mentions of details that fit the decade the characters are living in, or dropping in hints about events that were happening around that timespan that influenced how everyone saw and experienced the world. To me, worldbuilding is at its best when it feels effortless (which means there was probably a whole lot of effort put into making it feel so easy).

Lastly, if you’ve read We Could Be So Good, you’ll also see a few familiar faces as we bump into them and since Mark does work with some of them (and if you haven’t read it, that’s fine, too, every connection is explained). For me, that was just the little cherry on top to get to see new characters connect with ones I’ve already come to love.

Immersive, mesmerising and altogether wholesome, You Should Be So Lucky invites you to fall in love with the best grumpy/sunshine pairing of the mid-century. Prepare for a home run of a slow-burn romance and an emotional reading experience like no other.

Once again, Cat Sebastian has knocked it out of the park (yes that’s a baseball pun). You Should Be So Lucky is a follow up to her 1960s queer New York book, We Could Be So Good and it’s like Sebastian looked at me and said, “baseball? Journalism?” and then churned out this warm hug of a novel.

Eddie is a baseball rising star whose batting average took a nose dive when he was unexpectedly traded from Kansas City to a new- terrible - expansion team in New York. Mark is a journalist who’s been mostly hiding out and avoiding the world as he mourns the death of his partner - one he was unable to acknowledge. The two are pushed together when Andy (of We Could Be So Good) assigns Mark to write a weekly diary “by” Eddie as an attempt to increase readership of his struggling paper.

As is often the case with queer historicals, the risk of Eddie and Mark even acknowledging they—uh—play for the same team is a risk that can have enormous career and even legal repercussions. Sebastian explores their dynamic with such gentleness and care that it’s truly wonderful to watch as the two develop feelings and learn how to communicate with each other, understand one another’s risk tolerance and navigating the desire to be true to themselves, fair to each other and trusting that their love is worth - not taking the risk, exactly, but working together to mitigate those risks.

Just a lovely, lovely story. Some expected traumas, but almost all of it is off-page and in the past. Sebastian’s story manages to thread the needle between cozy for the reader but true to history.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon/ Harper Voyager for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“He’s a mess, but you get to be as old as me and you realize damn near everyone goes through a time when they’re a mess. Problem is that most people who haven’t had it happen to them yet think it’s virtue and clean living keeping them out of the gutter.”

Well, Cat Sebastian's YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY is one of the sweeter MM romances I've read in a hot second. No annoying third act miscommunication, just growth and understanding and patience. I loved Eddie and Mark's story and was rooting for them the entire time, even when they had a hard time rooting for themselves. But, “Sometimes you want to look at a guy and say: Well, he’s fucked, but he’s trying.” Cheers to that! I also loved how sweet the sex scenes are, not explicit whatsoever and you barely see anything, it's just implied and you know what, I still enjoyed the romance of it all. Sometimes you don't need hardcore porking for the romance to still land. It's way beyond the physical with these two. The themes of opening up post heartbreak, trusting people to stay and accepting your identity and not staying hidden even if you’re on display for the world to see were very relatable and timeless.

I loved that this was a period piece set in the 60's and the commentary on being closeted and how it effected the character's relationships with themselves and others, as well as their sport, was interesting. I know we've seen the whole closeted period piece thing before, but this was so cute I was gushing over the boys, instead of rolling my eyes. MAINLY because Eddie has the perfect puppy dog, golden retriever energy. And Mark is cold, but smart and secretly has a lot to give. These two elevate themselves together and learn many lessons from each other and it's just...squee. I'm in no way a huge sports guy, but the way Cat Sebastian writes about baseball is filled with love and reverence. I know why people have been watching it for decades and why it's one of America's largest institutions.

The fact that Eddie wouldn’t be able to do anything that revolves around kids as a career post baseball was painfully sad and accurate to read. We've come a long way since the 60's when it comes to human rights, but man do we have a lot further to go. But hey, at least we can celebrate the growth. I know Eddie and Mark are. Cheers to you queers! Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyage for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another absolute gem from Cat Sebastian. I enjoy her regency romances very much but I feel like she's really found her peak genre with these mid-20th century romances, and not a lot of other romance writers are covering this time period. I love the dive into earlier eras of both baseball and journalism, both of which have had their ups and downs in the intervening decades, and may or may not be better than they were in 1960. I hesitate to call it the golden era of either, because both are more diverse and integrated today. But there were magical aspects of both baseball and print media at that time, so I enjoyed the throwback immensely.

Sebastian's stories are often described as books where not much happens (I think even she has said this!) but I disagree. There's plenty happening here, it's just the little stuff rather than the big dramatic moments. I like books with drama but I also appreciate stories that feel like our real lives - spaghetti at a classic NY Italian restaurant, walking the dog, sharing books with a friend. And, there really is a lot happening here that gives the story some drama - Mark's grief, which he's mostly had to do privately, and Eddie's batting slump and the other mysteries of baseball, drive a lot of the plot and are also provide metaphors for the struggles of being gay in an era when you couldn't always be "out."

Set in the context of all of that, the romance here is just lovely, no surprise for anyone who's read and enjoyed any of her other books. Eddie is such a kind character - gotta love a midwest ballplayer who feels out of sorts in the big Apple and misses and loves his mom; of course he is good boyfriend material! Mark is by contrast rather bristly and particular, and for those of us who like things to be a certain way, VERY relatable. Together they're sort of opposites, though in my opinion not really, because they are both good people and both see and listen to each other (and their friends and family too). The romance is supported by some great side characters and found family vibes. And, despite the fact that society was still stacked against open gay relationships at that time, there are no antagonists homophnic or otherwise, other than some toxic family members (all interactions that happen before the story). Really the true antagonists are the shitty things that life can throw our way - and funny how losing a loved one and losing a baseball swing have so many commonalities. I adored these characters and really enjoyed their romance develop with the backdrop that life is never perfect but it can be really beautiful.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book!

I will say the blurb for this book has me expecting something entirely different, but it really surprised me in the best way. The exploration of grief, what it is to allow yourself to love again and the absolute love for queerness you can feel that Sebastian has make this book easily on of my favorites this year. That Eddie just wanted to be near queer people was so relatable as just the closeted experience. I adored this book, even with the Phillies slander

We're living, laughing, loving Cat Sebastian!

I've completely fallen in love with historical romances due to Cat Sebastian, actually. Not only are they humorous, sexy, and completely captivating, but it never felt <i>Old</i> if that makes sense. YSBSL is a modern historical romance, for sure. (I just made that up.)

Cat is freakin' exceptional at characters and character development. All of Cat's characters are fully realized, so thoroughly fleshed out that it feels like you're reading about real people. And I could only WISH that Eddie and Mark were real because I fell soooo hard for them.

Eddie O'Leary. Omg. That big, himbo baseball player. UGH. And I use himbo in a very gorgeous and cute way. Eddie O'Leary is actually incredibly smart. He's also so incredibly in love with Mark Bailey. I, too, am in love with Mark Bailey. I think I see myself a lot in him, especially at how easily Mark cares for other people, but will fight tooth and nail to let anyone take care of him. It was so beautiful to watch Eddie not only figure Mark out (and play him SO well), but to actually care enough TO stick around and figure Mark out, regardless of how hard Mark tried to push Eddie away.

I was so glad that Nick and Andy made cameos, along with Maureen and Lilian. This world that Cat has created is so lovely. It slows down time. It's atmospheric. It will claw its way into your heart and you will have a helluva time trying to get it out. Most likely, you won't even want to!

Cat Sebastian has knocked it out of the park with YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY. I absolutely feel incredibly fortunate to have read and experienced this book. I have been solidified as a Cat Sebastian STAN, baby!

Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #YouShouldBeSoLucky by Cat Sebastian in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This is quite the book! Cat's book are like a great big hug the whole time you are reading them. What I loved the most about this book is that it featured two MCs that are loveable but not always likeable. They make mistakes and then aren't sure how to fix them - in other words, they are like all of us. It was a joy watching them fall in love against all odds. Another thing I really liked about this book was the different time period for a historical piece and I loved the baseball aspect of the story. Cat really did her research and it made the book all the more enjoyable.

I highly recommend Cat Sebastian's books. They always make me smile.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is my second Cat Sebastian book and I think I'm hooked! I enjoyed every moment of this lovely story about a Mark, a grumpy journalist and his reporting subject, Eddie, a baseball player who is down on his luck and garnering negative publicity. Romance novels are fairly formulaic by nature so for me its all about loving the characters and these are well formed characters who I instantly enjoyed. I also love a book with interesting side characters and Mark finds his way into a friendship with one such character. There is quite a bit of humor in this book as well as some darker subject matter dealing with loss. You can't go wrong with this book and I'm excited to read another from this author.
Goodreads Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6456671684

I adore Cat Sebastian and have read twelve of her books at this point. And after loving We Could Be So Good, I was excited to see her returning to midcentury New York. There's a lot of heart in this novel, including depictions of grief and what's on the other side of it, the reality of managing a hyper-public career as a queer athlete, and the way everyone at any given moment is just doing their best. But I never quite connected with it.

I think what I struggled with most was the lack of conflict: not once did I expect there to be any real threat regarding Eddie and Mark's relationship, even though the fear of Eddie being outed perpetually plagues Mark. Based on Sebastian's storytelling, I don't think she intended for this to ever be the case, but because there was no external threat, the internal conflict really needed to carry the weight, and it fell short. Although I enjoyed their dynamic (Mr. Crabby Reporter and The Overgrown Labrador Retriever), their romance was a bit anemic, with the few tense moments between them never being tense enough. Honestly, their interactions with the secondary characters (George, Ardolino, and Price [don't get me started on the lack of Lillian and Maureen, because of course the women got sidelined]) was where the conflict often came in, as these conversations forced the protagonists to acknowledge things about themselves and one another that they might not have otherwise. I was also impressed by how Sebastian portrayed the process of grieving a partner but realizing life doesn't end with them; the way William's presence was handled within the relationship Mark and Eddie built was beautiful.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

MM romance book are my favourite one and this being a grumpy sunshine trope and settings in old times. The book starts slow but gradually picks up its pace.
Historical queer books have a soft place in my heart and I am glad I was able to add up this book to that collection.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was one of the most beautiful and tender romances that I've read recently. This book was an incredible depiction of love and grief. Due to the fact that this book set a period piece in a time where queer love was suppressed and hidden - in the 1960s - the modern reader is forced to sit with Mark's grief after losing his lover; we are left bereft alongside Mark as he struggles to come to grips with William's death and his inability to process it the way we would today: alongside friends and family, and/or even the public.

Additionally, Cat Sebastian has Mark grapple with both wanting his identity to be known, but also feeling terrified about what may happen to himself and to Eddie if people were to find out they were queer. It was done in such a relatable way and careful way, that you could not help but truly understand where Mark was coming from, even if you did want to grab that lovely man by the shoulders and shake him at times.

Eddie is such an gentle, wonderful, sometimes goofball of a character that I could not help but feel endeared to him right from the very beginning. At first, I was hesitant about his character; he is introduced as someone who throws temper tantrums on the field and trash-talked his new team the moment he found out he was traded, after all. Yet, Eddie's story only partially touches on maturing and apologizing to his teammates, and instead we're provided a deeper layer of Eddie's character that deals with a different type of loss: the loss of his talent with his sudden inability to play baseball as he used to, and the loss of his home, comfort, and privacy after he had to move to New York for the Robins.

Together, Mark and Eddie help each other through their deeper turmoils, and while their interactions are laced with banter and humor throughout the book, there is caution there, accompanied by sweetness, tenderness, and even sadness that makes their relationship that much more beautiful to witness on the page.

Cat Sebastian can literally do no wrong. I was a little nervous about this book - I loved We Could Be So Good and I really wanted to enjoy this book just as much. I’m pleased to say that I wasn’t disappointed. You Should Be So Lucky was like a warm hug sprinkled with sports. A lovely Spring/Summer read!

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Cat Sebastian
Avon
Paperback ISBN: 9780063272804
May 7, 2024
Historical Gay Romance

1960- New York City


Eddie O’Leary is a shortstop who has been traded to the baseball team, the Robins in New York City, and he is not happy about it. He is told that he is supposed to be traded by a reporter, and Eddie loses his temper. He calls the Robins a team of bad players and losers, so when he moves to New York City, none of the players on the team is interested in talking to him. On top of all that, his baseball swing has gone to the dogs, and he can’t hit. He is in a slump.

Mark Bailey is a reporter for the Chronicle in New York City, and he is being asked to ghostwrite the diaries of Eddie O’Leary. He agrees. When he researches the shortstop, he develops sympathy for the player. Mark gets that he did not want to leave his old team and that he was hurt that he was traded. When Eddie sees Mark in the locker room after a game, he is immediately intrigued.

Besides not being talked to by his teammates, Eddie is queer and that causes another set of problems since he is half famous he can’t go, if he knew where to go, to find other queer people. Mark is queer too, but he is still grieving for his partner who died suddenly a year and a half ago.

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY is a book that will have readers rooting for Eddie, Mark, and the Robins. With the backdrop of baseball, the story takes you on an emotional ride through the relationship of Eddie and Mark. It is well written, and you really come to love the characters. Mark had to stay in the background with his former partner and Eddie, being well known, knows he is going to have to do it again if they are going to be together, but he takes risks for Mark’s sake, so he is not completely in the background.

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY is a book that is well worth reading and then worth reading again. I highly recommend this book and suggest you run out and grab a copy.

Avis Yarbrough

4.5! I loved, loved, loved this book. This was such a sweet romance with so much more depth and meaning to it than I could have ever expected. Eddie and Mark are such a pure representation of grumpy/sunshine that isn't too stereotypical. I love them sm and I loved how the growth of their relationship helped them work through their own internal conflicts.

You Should Be So Lucky is a charming historical romance detailing the relationship between Eddie, a professional baseball player, and Mark, the reporter assigned to cover him. It is a celebration of queer love that isn’t scared to delve into the difficult and sometimes dangerous consequences of living authentically in 1960s America.

This novel contained multitudes. Simultaneously, it is love letter to baseball as well as a portrait of grief. Eddie’s patience and care for Mark was incredibly tender. It was especially poignant to uncover the depths of Mark’s grief and how he learned to open his heart again. I also loved the way Eddie’s team rallied around him, lifting him out of a batting slump to recover his courage on the field.

Even if you’re not the biggest baseball fan, there is so much you can get out of this story. The sense of community one finds in sports is reminiscent of the camaraderie present in ones own found family. The search for acceptance and assurance is universal and I think this book emphasizes these notions beautifully.

Highlights
-Grumpy reporter x sunshine shortstop
-Queer love story
-Historical 1960s NYC
-Multifaceted Baseball players

Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

<i>I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you publisher for the copy!</i>

<b>The Good</b>
After reading 'The Prospects" the idea of baseball sports romances have become more appealing to me. I immediately loved Eddie and Mark. Eddie is homesick, embarrassed, lonely, and so terribly awkward. I loved how sweet he was even if he could be a hot head at times. Mark is so grumpy and is trying to be distant and cold but can't. He is dealing with grief and fear. I really understood why was so hesitant to do it all again. There's a lot of interesting plot points in this. Eddie is trying to figure out what is causing his slump and finding what really makes him happy and makes playing worth it. Mark and Eddie's relationship had such a natural build up. Eddie was so patient with Mark and knew what he wanted. Mark was more reserved and unsure. He liked Eddie and wanted him so bad but also knew he didn't want to live as a secret again which is a really reality for them in the 1960's. I loved seeing their individual arcs as well and their journey together. The ending was so great as they finally found a way that made they both happy and feel loved.

<b>Tropes:</b>
— Golden retriever x black cat
— MM sports romance
— Historical Romance

<b>Horn Level:</b> 3/5🌶️
<b>Format:</b> Ebook

<b>The Rating</b>
I give this book a <b>5/5🌟 rating.</b> This was so fantastic how will I ever recover?

Check out my socials <a href="https://beacons.ai/buffyreads"> here</a> for more reviews!

AMAZING. Probably my favorite book of the year so far. Before I get to the romance, I want to talk about the way in which this novel is a love letter to baseball and the people who love it. I was not a baseball fan before reading it and have been watching baseball games since finishing it. Cat Sebastian has converted me to a baseball fan with the way she wrote about it.

More importantly, Mark and Eddie are so, so wonderful. I loved the slow burn, I loved how patient Eddie was and how he let there be space for Mark's grief. I want a romance novel to convince me why these two people belong together and Cat Sebastian succeeded where a lot of authors fail. I love love love every character in this book but especially Mark and Eddie.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Mark is grieving and not able to show it, while Eddie is struggling quite publicly after being transferred to a new team. When Mark is assigned to write a series about the young shortstop who lost his swing, they find they have more in common than they originally thought.

You Should Be So Lucky is a charming and poignant love story and companion novel to We Could Be So Good. It delicately discusses grief, found family and the challenges of being a queer person in early 1960s America. I loved these characters, and felt for their struggles. Mark and Eddie’s interactions felt genuine, and I like their grumpy/sunshine dynamic. The baseball and journalism elements were both really fun and provided great structure for the characters to grow. A few plot points or details may have been glossed over for the sake of time, but overall, I liked the pacing and flow of the story. Cat Sebastian really knows how to hit a reader in the feels, and I would love to read more romances taking place in this world she created.

Words fail me sometimes when it comes to Cat Sebastian, particularly where the mid-century queer NYC universe she is creating is concerned. This book (and its predecessor, We Could Be So Good) is a pure delight between two covers. The main characters are charming and irresistible, and you are rooting for them the whole time. There are few books in which I want to crawl into and live, but this is one of them. I can't recommend the book enough. I loved it - simple as that. It is indisputably a home run!

Thank you to @NetGalley for letting me read the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this book!! They were too cute. I love the shyness and hesitation between the pair. Then Eddie being a big sweet bear with Mark.

Loved the ending!