This is the second book in the Midcentury NYC series. While you don’t need to read book 1 in the series, I recommend it because it’s good. This book follows a completely different couple but there are a few appearances by Nick and Andy. The story is told in third person and follows Mark and Eddie in 1960s New York City.

Mark lost his partner last year and has resigned from his position writing for the arts pages at the New York Chronicle but still keeps going to work and keeps somewhat of an office there. Andy asks him to write something different about the new shortstop the New York Robins have acquired who made a bit of a splash in the headlines when he was informed of his trade on national television.

Eddie O’Leary loved his life with the Kansas City Athletics. He was close to his hometown, his mother could come up for games all the time, his teammates had his back, and he knew where to go to stay safe as a closeted player. He’s having a bit of a hard time adjusting to New York City and the new team he insulted in front of everyone is giving him the cold shoulder. It’s effected his game and he’s in the worst slump of his career. The last thing he needs is a reporter all over him, but he also needs someone to talk to since his teammates won’t.

This book was an extremely slow burn. I really enjoyed the characters and the story. And I loved the time period nostalgia, especially all the pay phone calls. I will admit that the first half really dragged for me. The relationship between Mark and Eddie builds slowly into a solid friendship based on communication and trust. Eddie even walks Mark’s dog, Lula, who misses Mark’s partner but never really attaches to him. Mark ends up writing a weekly diary style article from Eddie’s point of view filled with his impressions of the city, his new team and his difficulties and triumphs as the new shortstop. What I found lovely about this book was the portrayal of Eddie’s loneliness and fears about moving to a new city and Mark and Lula’s grief.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

This book is so sweet and heartfelt. I would not have guessed that one of my favorite romances of the year would revolve around baseball in the 1960s, but here we are! The story is so beautifully layered, and the character development was incredible. My heart literally ached for Eddie and Mark as they worked through their own individual issues, and eventually came together. And, my god, how could I not love the dog that is still in mourning, too???
This book was written with such tenderness and care for its queer characters who have to remain mostly closeted due to the time in which they exist, and yet still have an incredible community and love story. I also appreciated how Cat Sebastian portrayed the power of words, by having Mark's articles about Eddie truly change the public's perception of him throughout the story. The secondary characters also really added to this story.
If you're looking for steam, I would suggest something else. That being said, this book was incredible and I can't wait to read more by Cat Sebastian.

Tender in a way that absolutely warms your heart. A love story that feels adult without the need for unecessary, added drama that does little more than move characters from point A to point B. Evocative, and deeply empathetic — You Should Be So Lucky is a profound love story that proves Cat Sebastian’s voice is a necessary one. This world is fully lived in and grounded with rich characters whose individual stories are just as interesting and engaging as the central romance. It’s how they move separate and together throughout the story that make it an absolute must read.

I am slightly obsessed with Sebastian's We Could Be So Good. You Should Be So Good did not quite made me feel that way but it was still so good and swoony.

Let me start with what I didn't like:
• Too much baseball. It is a sport romance so I guess it is expected that there would be a lot of baseball talk.

• The pacing. The slow burn was real slow. I like the progression of their friendship and then the will they/won't they but it felt a tad too long.

What I liked:

•1960s New York setting

• There is depth in this story. Eddie's career struggles. Mark's grief. Mark's baggage.

• There is also added pressure of Eddie's public persona. His career is on the line. He is in the closet. While Mark doesn't want to put Eddie's career in risk, he also wants to live his life as his true self and he doesn't want to hide behind closed doors as he did in his previous relationship.

They have stuff to figure out and man, they do! They talk. They communicate like grown ups.

• The characters are fully formed. Eddie is the ultimate sunsine-golden retriver to Mark's prickly grumpy self. Eddie's mom and George Allen are great side characters.

• I found myself highlighting so many passages. The writing is beautiful.

• Lastly, there is a scene that was so touching that will stay with me. The jars of cocktail cherries... IYKYK. No jealousy, no annoyance. Just a simple "I'm just glad you were loved!" Oh, sweet Eddie.

Even though this one did not dazzle me as much as the first book in the series, I found this story very sweet and swoony. Cannot wait to read more queer romances from Cat Sebastian.

*4.5

I’m so so in love with Cat Sebastian writing. She’s so good! She’s a extraordinary writer and her books are an autobuy for me. In fact I requested the arcs only because I cannot wait to read this beauty!
I really love Mark and Eddie love story. It’s beautiful and sweet with the characteristic optimism that I love in those type of stories. Yes, in those years the world was scary for us queers, BUT there was hope. And we deserve hope, even today.
I also enjoyed the set. Sport romance are not my favorite thing in the world but I enjoy it and in this case I enjoy it a lot because it feels so real. The atmosphere is insane, I was totally captivated and I though I was there too.
This book is so good and I’m really happy to have read it.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the arc.

3.75 stars

Objectively, this is a great book, and I really love what was being done here. I just didn't quite vibe with this book for some reason. I really liked how the author addresses grief, and especially in this setting. How during this time, Mark didn't feel safe or comfortable being open about who he was grieving for. Mark and Eddie are amazing characters. They are both very complex and have a lot of depth. They feel very real and believable. The writing is great, and even the side characters are more than just mannequins in this story. I struggle to put my finger on what it is exactly that just didn't click in my brain. I think it just felt like the story dragged on a bit at times. This is a great story that just isn't for me.

After reading 'We Could Be So Good' last year and falling in love with Cat Sebastian's writing - I knew I would love this one. There's just something about the way this author writes these grumps very stubbornly falling in love that pulls at my heartstrings. These characters are just so fleshed out and so incredible, I love them so much. Historical queer romance such a special place in my heart <3

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review.

This isn't really a book about baseball. Though I definitely am more interested in watching a game after reading it. Instead, this is a book about life and love after loss, living in the 1960s as two queer men, being a gay baseball player, finding friends you can rely on, a sassy little spoiled dog and the grown men who love her, sharing book recommendations, finding your community, and finding what you want to love out of life.

I couldn't be more pleasantly surprised that this book is about so much more than baseball. Cat Sebastian can do no wrong. They gave us We Could Be So Good and we said, I love this queer little love story in the 50s!" Then they said, "Oh yah? Just wait!" And gave us You Should Be So Lucky as if we dared them to do better and they took that challenge head on.

It's sweet and full of tender moments that made my heart twist with pain and flutter at the same time. It's not overly sad, but instead focuses on the how we continue to live. This is book is SO GORGEOUS with how it handles hard topics that I just don't know if anything else could top it. Favorite book of 2024.

I was gifted this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review by NetGalley.

I am honestly so torn by this read. I absolutely love the concept and I loved the two characters and the premise and saved various lines to look back on, but the pacing and flow was driving me crazy and I can’t even pinpoint why. It’s baseball season and it’s the perfect timing to pick up this read, an early/mid-1900s story about a professional baseball player in a slump and a journalist grieving a previous relationship who are both queer and have found each other through a story assignment. Their personalities differ so much, but I love the joy and beauty they find in each other and I love how they’re both trying to overcome their own personal strifes to better themselves and to possibly be with each other but there were parts that I felt were filler or just unnecessary that took away from the strength of the characters with extraneous details that made me want to put down the book or skip ahead to more substance. I loved the allusions to literary references like Hill House and the appreciation of queer literary folks who have helped us all discover who we are and that we’re not alone.

(3.5 rounded down)

4.5⭐️
I enjoyed this, grumpy sunshine is a favorite of mine and this author has a lovely take on the trope. I also enjoyed the 1960s setting, I don’t read much historical romance but this really adds so much to Mark and Eddie’s story. I enjoyed the backstory, reporter Mark’s job provides the reader with a wonderful behind the scenes feel. Getting to live the slump and seeing how hard being traded is for Eddie added such weight to the story. The author writes with such charm and skill, perfectly capturing how much Eddie and March chafe under life in 1960, how absolutely frustrating it is for them to have a kind of half life. I will say it felt too long at times but these characters are so wonderfully brought to life, their connection absolutely lovely I can’t mind too much. This was wonderful, I loved the setting, the couple, all the baseball, and especially the excellent writing.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

“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.