I'm going to round my rating up just for the sake of it not negatively affecting the author's launch. I wasn't a big fan of this, which says a lot since I love baseball, and just like the mmc I'm a catcher. I found many inconstancies in the whole mlb realm, and lots of things don't actually happen. The relationship felt purely physical, they bang 12% in and it's like that the rest of the book. I didn't feel an ounce of a emotional connection between the too. I think the author should have focused less on the spice and more on the conversations they should have been having. Also the mmc's best friend is horrible and so is the fmc's mother.

A super fast read with a pop star x pro baseball player love story!

I loved how feisty Lacey and Jimmy were, and their dialogue back and forth had me completely entertained. I do wish it was a bit longer to add more development to some of the different plot points, but for a quick romance read it was great.

This is a popstar-pro athlete romance, and I absolutely loved it. Does it have Taylor/Travis vibes? Yes-ish. There are some pieces of their story, but this is also a story that is Lacey/Jimmy (the main characters)-centric, and you cannot help, but get swept away in their love story. Jimmy is a baseball player thinking about life after the game, and Lacey is getting ready for a big tour. And then, they have a chance encounter, and things go from there. Again, this was just a delightful read. I love the way their romance developed as they navigated the world of celebrity and real-life. I needed something light and fun and swoony, and this checked all those boxes. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this August 2024 release!

The premise of “Heavy Hitter" seems a guaranteed grand slam — an international pop star and a major league baseball player meet one night in the city and the rest is hot and heavy history. And Katie Cotugno’s attempt to blend humor, sizzle, and a ripped-from-the-headlines vibe does occasionally hit the mark. Unfortunately, there are plenty of swings and misses in this story.

When characters are not-so-loosely-based on two real people as famous as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, character development in the fictional versions becomes extremely important.

One of the primary issues with "Heavy Hitter" is its third-person, present-tense narrative. This choice creates a significant distance between the reader and the characters, making it difficult to feel connected to Lacey Logan and Jimmy Hodges, the fictional Taylor and Travis.

Their emotions are told to us via a third-party narrator, who inevitably becomes more detached observer and unreliable narrator than someone intimately familiar with these character’s inner lives. This detachment undermines the romance at the story's core, leaving Lacey and Jimmy’s feelings toward each other flat and unconvincing. We are told they care, but do they really?

The present tense aspect makes this problem worse, each person often lashing out like children or working through their moment-to-moment feelings on page. They aren’t growing in our view as people. They are just bodies in motion doing stuff.

Not to mention that these two characters spend almost no physical time together in the story. Their relationship exists as more of an idea they have in their head, and in casual texts, and in wondering if the other person is on their way out the door than it does in togetherness. The relationship and the love isn’t real in any definable way. We are told it’s real and are supposed to accept it’s true.

But reality, as it goes here, is subjective in many ways. Lacey, with her perfectly curated Instagram feed and high-profile celebrity woes, never quite emerges as a fully rounded person. Jimmy, the scruffy baseball player with the banged-up knees, a bruised ego, and maybe a decent heart, feels half-baked. Their interactions and budding relationship lack the depth and complexity that would make their romance feel genuine and compelling.

Moreover, the pacing of the story is breakneck. Key moments in their romance are glossed over until they are slammed into an abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion. While the book does end on a happily ever after note, it feels incomplete and hastily wrapped up, leaving many threads unresolved.

“Heavy Hitter” is a first draft of an amazing book I would have no doubt loved, and a second draft of a very good book I would have liked. But as it stands, this is an intriguing concept which failed to deliver a true home run of a love story.

A fun romance, perfect for summer reading. (You do not need to be a TS superfan to enjoy this.)

Lacey and James have tons of chemistry and it was lovely to see their relationship develop. We get dual POV and therefore a good sense of both Lacey’s and James’s true feelings and their doubts. The novel is short but I felt the pacing worked (even though I would have loved to spend more time with the characters). It’s charming, there’s a bit of drama, humor, celebrity romance - what more can you ask for?

I enjoy the author’s writing style and adored Birds of California and Meet the Benedettos - I’m looking forward to reading whatever she writes next. 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I really enjoyed this book! The style of writing was different, but when I started reading in Desperate Housewives narration everything clicked for me.

This is great for a quick, happy romcom read! I hope we will get more sports romance from the author.

Dual POV
(I am ambivalent towards the whole Taylor/Travis thing and I thoroughly liked this book!)

I would like to thank Netgalley for the copy of this book in return for an honest review. Although a short read, this was a DNF for me. The story is mirrored to Taylor Swift/Travis relationship and written in the third person. I’m not a fan of that writing style and it ended up throwing me off and it was basically a fan fiction. I gave it two stars for those that are swifties and want a quick read.

Heavy Hitter by Katie Cotugno was a homerun for me!

I know it was intentional, and it absolutely worked with me - making the main character, Lacey Logan, have a lot of characteristics of Taylor Swift, at least superficially. I was easily able to picture Lacey in my mind, but I'm glad that I was able to picture Jimmy Hodges as I wanted to.

I was hooked from the beginning and stayed up late into the night, finishing this in one sitting, because I just didn't want to put it down.

Pop-star Lacey and MLB catcher, Jimmy meet at a night club and uncharacterstically for both of them they leave together and are both left wanting more from their single night together. The story follows their relationship, that mainly develops from weeks of texting and then talking on the phone to the awkwardness of translating that not-in-person connection to real life.

I was able to feel their angst and the awkwardness they felt when suddenly being there in real life, as opposed to the intimate detachment that you can get from a relationship that isn't in person all the time.

The book had a good flow, was easy to relate to and made me want more! I want to know what happens in the aftermath of the World Series and Jimmy's retirement. I'd love a follow up novella, at least, of their (hopefully) adventures through the European leg of Lacey's tour.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own. I enjoyed this so much that I'm off to buy the author's backlist.

This was a perfect summer read - a quick and easy romance that's sassy and a little steamy. Each reviewer is probably going to say something about a very blatant Taylor Swift (super famous popstar with very avid fanbase with insane level of dedication to her work, concert prep, and fans)/Travis Kelce (pro athlete - even though he plays football & not baseball) romance comparison. I say - who cares? It was fun. Unless you truly hate pop culture, you can either embrace it or get past it. Could it have been longer, with more backstory & more "meat" from the side characters? Absolutely, but I still think it was good as is. Would I like it as much in five years - not sure, but it certainly feels sweet right now. Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC opportunity.

I loved the premise of this book, because I like a well written romance and I love baseball.
Neither of those things were good in this book.
The writing style is just not for me, and the baseball was there for the sake of the story.
Overall, didn’t love it. I am not the target audience for this book.

5 stars

If you're looking for a Taylor Swift-coded pop star x pro athlete romance then you should definitely check this book out.
I could not put this book down. These characters just felt so real and relatable that I wanted more of them. This was a super quick read that was light and fun but had enough serious moments to feel interesting and authentic.
Because this book was so short you don't get super in depth to the characters backstories and things like that but I found it didn't take away from the story. This book feels like mix of romcom and literary fiction. It was like watching two regular people (or as real as celebrities can be) fall in love while dealing with their own lives and all the things that entails.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!!

HEAVY HITTER is a homerun!!!! I was instantly hooked into James and Lacey's story... I'm telling you.... their banter and chemistry was some of the finest I have ever read in a romance (and I've read an embarrassing amount of romance). Immediately after finishing it, I wanted to read it all over again which rarely ever happens to me. I would have done anything to have this book be 200 pages longer... who am I kidding.... I would do anything for just one more page. If it's coming across like I am an addict to this book, it's because I fully am. Even being about a international pop star and a major league baseball player, it still felt so real and grounded (which is what I always want in a romance), and I was easily able to connect with and love the characters.

I have no interest in Travis and Taylor, but am a forever fan of James and Lacey, who will always have a special place in my heart. It felt like a privilege to witness their story. This book makes me want to start watching baseball and I could care less about baseball. The author knocked it out the park and I don't know how long I can wait (I can't at all frankly) to read whatever she decides to grant us with next.

Many thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book is clearly a representation of the current "Tayvis" phenomenon in pop culture. This book felt rushed and not well thought out. It seems unrealistic that an athlete with over a decade in the major leagues would be quite so clueless about the media machine surrounding this singer.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advanced copy.

Heavy Hitter is about a pop star who falls for a soon to be retired professional baseball player. The main characters try to navigate their famous careers and navigate their new romance. I loved these characters but the ending was too short for me.

I was so enthralled with this story! The characters were enjoyable and entertaining. I liked their banter and a look into their celebrity lives. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I thought this was really cute. This was a really cute baseball romance novel. We have a popstar, Lacey Logan, and MLB's hottest catcher for the Baltimore Orioles, Jimmy Hodges. Think Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. To me, this was more of a 4.5. I enjoyed this and thought it was cute, as I said earlier. This is a perfect beach read.

This was such a cute book! Very short, read in one sitting, maybe 3 hrs- it could have been expanded on a LOT because the story is so good, but feels unnecessarily rushed!

Other posters have already said it, but this book gives strong Tayvis vibes- if you’re sensitive about that pairing, be warned. If not, this book is a very sweet fictionalized version- even the FMC’s workout regimen is familiar :)

Lacey was so cool and strong- confident without being self absorbed. I loved her personality and looked forward to her chapters. Jimmy is an athlete, but luckily not a boring or overly macho one, as many sports-romance MMCs tend to be. He had a personality and depth that sometimes is missing in other books. Their whirlwind romance was sexy, believable (and realistic for their ages) without being gross. Minor, but present, spice 🌶️.

Some parts felt underdeveloped- the first chapter felt confusing, mentioning several characters with no introduction, but quickly that shook itself out. In the last/HEA/ILY chapter, I got really confused- one person says “ILY too” but (I thought) the first person never said it. Seemed like it was missing something, I even looked for missing paragraphs- I had to go back and use my kindle search- I overlooked the first person saying ILY completely. That’s on me, but it maybe was too rushed! Finally, the ending was too abrupt! Definitely could have used a few more chapters or even just a long epilogue. Is someone telling Katie to wrap it up quickly? It doesn’t work! She’s a great writer, let her cook!

I’ve loved all of Katie’s books so far and I’m very thankful for this ARC! Keep up the great writing.

I devoured this one. It is heavily Taylor Swift inspired, but also touches on the pressures of being in the public, athletic injuries, and addiction.

A super smart and fun take on Taylor and Trav. Cotugno is a must read for me. The characters were different enough than their inspirations but the points where they overlapped was fun to read about.

This was a really fun book to read and I really enjoyed the characters and the story. I'm grateful I got to read this book thanks netgalley for allowing me to read this book