An overall 4.8 star read? I didn`t love the pacing in the first quarter and also thought sometimes the story, as well as the character development dragged a bit. I think the second part really pushed me over the 4 star mark, as i was actually interested in the ending. It finally felt like the stakes were a bit higher. In the end the author was spitting straight facts, and in such a poetic and relevant way too.

I was a bit confused in the beginning, because it was obvious that the basketball was a big metaphorical part of the book, and me not even knowing the rules of. Basketball, i was kinda lost on that part.

I really liked the familial relationships that were shown in the book, especially livs relationship to her mom, since it reminded me of lucy and her mom from the book sunburn (which is my fav book as of late).

The book also touched on a bunch of topics that were pretty serious but not explored well, like eating disorders in sports or drug addictions. Especially with addiction, when its not further touched on you feel as if addiction was instrumentalised for entertainment. I thought maybe the author could have simply stated the fact if mack was clean or not in the end, instead of just forgetting that plot point.

I did think the end was written in the best way it could have been, and the story ended on the perfect note. She could have ended the book on each of the last 4 chapters and have a completely fine ending, even if incomplete or sad. But im glad she stuck to her idea, because now looking back, you could see those chapter endings as alternate endings and appreciate that we got to experience such character growth.

The story is set in a small town in the early 2000s. Mack is a senior in high school and plays basketball. Her father passes away, and at the funeral, she meets Liv, her future teammate. Mack immediately feels drawn to Liv but keeps it to herself.

The book features a lot of basketball, and Marisa Crane describes it masterfully. It turns out she is a former college basketball player, so that makes sense. I liked that the author touched on many important themes: coming-of-age, self-discovery, dealing with loss, coming to terms with one's sexuality, and parent-child relationships.

But unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. The characters frequently consume alcohol and various drugs throughout the book. I understand that it’s about teenagers, but for high schoolers aiming to become professional athletes, it felt inappropriate to me. I also didn’t particularly like any of the characters, and the ending felt rushed, leaving me with so many unanswered questions. After finishing the book, I can't even say for sure—does it have a happy ending?

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House (The Dial Press) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

On the surface, this book is about basketball, but at its core, it’s a powerful coming-of-age story about grief, love, friendship, longing, and identity. Basketball is woven seamlessly into the narrative—not just as a sport but as a lens through which the characters’ emotions and struggles unfold. The love for the game is evident, making it immersive even for readers who aren’t sports fans. The writing is strong, the kind of style that really engages me, the characters are clearly drawn, and the relationships capture the intensity of high school friendships and romance and just "all the things:. The characters' connection is messy and overwhelming, capturing the rawness of young love, even if at times I struggled to feel like I fully understood their feelings (then again, that's adolescence in a nutshell). The secondary characters, like Grayson and Katrina, add depth, making the plot and story more realistic to the daily life and contexts of high schoolers.

That said, the book has some uneven parts, which might be intentional if we are really trying to get into how adolescences feelings and the oddness that was the late 90s and early 200os (I know of which I speak). While Mack is a compelling protagonist, being inside her head can be frustrating at times (again though teenagers and growing up are this way). The heavy presence of drug and alcohol use felt somewhat unrealistic, especially given the lack of consequences from coaches or parents. I also wanted more from the actual time period, I saw this in other reviews and I agree, something was missing about the why of this time/setting though it was relevant to identity and coming of age themes in the story.

Despite these issues, this is a nuanced and emotionally resonant novel that captures the pressures of senior year, the complexities of identity, and the quiet, defining moments of adolescence. While it follows a high schooler, it doesn’t read as YA, tackling mature themes that make it just as compelling for adult readers.

3.5/5

This book is a powerful coming-of-age story that effortlessly blends a queer sports romance with raw emotional depth. Mack and Liv’s connection is intense and fast, capturing the messy, overwhelming nature of young love, though a bit more buildup at the start would have been welcome. Still, their dynamic is captivating, making the journey feel authentic and gripping.

Even if you're not into sports, the sharp writing and immersive atmosphere make this book worth picking up. It’s got a bit of Challengers intensity mixed with Euphoria-like grief, and it works perfectly. The side characters, like Mack’s friends Grayson and Katrina, are also thoughtfully developed.

For anyone who’s ever navigated identity and love, this book hits hard. Mack’s confidence in her masculinity is empowering, showing that there’s beauty in embracing all parts of who we are. It’s a poignant reflection on self-discovery, love, and finding your place in a world that can feel both vast and confining. The more I sit with this story, the more it resonates. It’s a book that lingers long after you’ve finished.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

“A Sharp Endless Need” is by Marisa Crane. What I liked about this book - the tension and chemistry between the two main characters. The teenage years are difficult, but Ms. Crane did a good job with the awkwardness and not always communicating needs/wants of people that age. I also liked how the feelings of the main character (Mack) were explained on the page via the internal monologue. What wasn’t so great was all the drug/alcohol usage - I know there’s experimentation and usage, but there was a lot including parents contributing to underage abuse. If you are unfamiliar with basketball terms, like I am, the terms may become a bit overwhelming for you. While I liked some of the themes - especially in the struggle for young people trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in - I also found myself being frustrated because it didn’t hold my interest in a way I hoped it would.

Coming-of-age, queer, and intense — “A Sharp Endless Need” follows the story of Mack & Liv as they navigate queerness surrounded by opposing forces. I think the journey these two go on together, and individually, explores the complexity of young love and discovering oneself in a way many can relate to. I also enjoyed the narrative style and the pace at which this book flowed. Every page was captivating and I could not put it down once I got into it; this is a very character driven story, which I love. Definitely a book I would revisit in the future! Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC. Excited to see what this author writes next.

This book is a complex and powerful experience. It's a nuanced exploration of a high school athlete's senior year, capturing both the intense pressure and the quiet, internal struggles. It's about everything – pressure, identity, relationships – and yet, in a way, it's also about the subtle, almost intangible moments that define us. Don't be fooled by the high school setting; this is a story with real depth and mature themes, offering a compelling read for adults as well.

A sharply written coming of age novel with lesbian representation that I thoroughly appreciated. Crane's writing style is so beautiful and poetic, I couldn't stop highlighting lines. The sports was also entertaining as it was woven through the girls' relationship and I thought that was executed so well. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did, so even if you have an apprehensions about this, trust the author to take you on the journey. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the ARC!

This book is a beautifully written coming-of-age story that’s both smart and addictive….. A tough balance to strike, but it pulls it off effortlessly. Even with so many side characters only getting a few chapters, I have still found myself thinking about where the story left them.

At its core, this is a queer sports romance that feels incredibly real, capturing that messy, intense, and sometimes unhealthy kind of relationship you can only have when you’re young. Mack and Liv’s connection is compelling, though their relationship develops fast.

I would’ve loved a bit more buildup at the start.
But I still loved how their dynamic was raw and emotionally charged, making their journey feel both gripping and genuine.

Even if you’re not into sports, this book is worth picking up. The writing is sharp, the emotions hit hard, and the atmosphere is so immersive. There’s a bit of Challengers-style intensity mixed with the hazy grief of Euphoria, and it just works. Some side characters, like Mack’s friends Grayson and Katrina, are especially well-drawn.

Overall, this book absolutely deserves the hype. It’s intense, thoughtful, and lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page. Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC!

"It was as if we'd been playing together our entire lives. We didn't even have to say anything; we knew when the other's blood was hot with fury. We were alone together; we were a crowd all our own. We were ethereal; we were of the world. We were untouchable; we were touching each other all the time, with every pass, every play, every time-out, every steal." (loc. 1339*)

Another time and another place: When Mack and Liv meet, it's an instant connection. They're both basketball players with Division I dreams and the skills to back it up. The air sizzles between them, on and off the court. But: It's a different time. Liv has a boyfriend; heterosexuality is the only option that has ever been modelled for them; Mack, too, is unwilling to take that first step out of bounds.

This is set in 2004, putting Mack in her last year of high school around the same time I was in mine (though I was a sports-averse nerd, and Mack sees college primarily as a vehicle to play basketball at a higher level). The year is there in the details: Mack and her mother share a flip phone; communication via AIM (or AIM away status) is the norm; social media isn't yet a thing, but word gets around anyway. Word always gets around.

For whatever reason, most of the basketball books I've read have been about queer girls figuring it out. This reminds me strongly of Nina Revoyr's "The Necessary Hunger", which remains one of the best queer-girls-figuring-it-out books I know and also features characters whose lives revolve around the next basket. Different settings, different time periods, different plots, of course. But both of them with this push-pull of will they and won't they and how much does it cost to put yourself forward, to be open about want.

There are a few things here that I'm still puzzling over after finishing the book (what was up with Liv's father? And the end—where does that leave them, both individually and together?), and I think I might have liked a slower timeline—Mack and Liv have one of those teenage relationships (platonic/romantic/sexual, doesn't matter) that burns so bright and so fast that it's clear that something will have to give—but this makes for a dynamic coming-of-age story.

Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.

This one just wasn't for me. Partly because I'm not really into basketball and partly because I think I'm just not that into coming of age stories. Or perhaps just not coming of age stories set in high school? That said, I think if you are into either of those genres, you will like this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC.

I don’t know that I’ve ever read a more intelligently written book. The truth, the pain, the real parts of it all. There aren’t a lot of authors willing to write the truth, which seems like exactly what this book was. The difficulty of being young and gay and not knowing what to do with those feelings or how to cope is not lost on me. Excellent book.

This is such a sweet and realistic look at young love and the lengths young people will go to to try to hide it or change themselves!

A Sharp Endless Need is a coming-of-age literary fiction novel centered on Mack Morris as she enters her senior year of high school while dealing with the death of her father and the arrival of transfer student Liv. Mack faces both her grief and desires head on as she wade through looming college decision and the intoxicating chemistry with Liv.

This book touched on such real topics in such a respected and serious way. This coming-of-age book was about more than first loves, and a desire to be grate and play a game. It was about desire, intimacies, figuring out oneself, grief, complicated parental relationships, sexual identity, gender identity, and perfectionism all set in a small backwoods town in Pennsylvania in 2004. Crane delivers all these topics in such a poetic way, that it just seeps into your brain.

A Sharp Endless Need is a beautiful sapphic coming-of-age story, focused on two basketball players who live in a small conservative town. The dialogue and writing here was sharp and thought provoking, and I loved how the author wove together sports and grief. A lot of the characters and their struggles will stick with me, as will the ending. If you aren't into sports like me, there's still plenty to like and connect with, and I recommend giving it a try if you like coming of age stories. The writing was my favorite part of the book, and I hope to read more from this author!

I'm going to be honest, I really wanted to like this but the basketball talk lost me as I don't really care or connect with that; I feel like if I did I could have enjoyed it better. Personally I didn't connect with the characters either and that's the most important thing to me, not because I don't identify with them, but because I felt disconnected from the writing itself.

throughly (and surprisingly) enjoyed this book! this wasnt something I would have picked out for myself but I found myself really enticed with the story!

thank you netgalley for the arc!

Oof.

This book was incredible. Both about so much, but also, kind of nothing at all?

We follow a highschool basketball phenomenon throughout her senior year, and see the highs and lows that come with it - the pressure, the lack of self assurance, the relationships, the discovering of yourself.

Despite being about a highschooler, this isn’t a YA book - there’s real adult issues being faced and discussed (not saying it’s not appropriate for a highschooler, but if you’re an adult who usually doesn’t read young main characters, give this one a try!).

I love this author. I appreciate, as a lesbian, having lesbian representation. Being almost 40, there wasnt much when I was growing up. If I had this kind of work in my early 20s I might not have made some choices I did and regret. I find this author so funny. Her humor is smart, genuine and if you are a lesbian, even funnier bc its all so true. Theres also a lot of heart in this work. Connection is everything. Lack of it is toxic. Sometimes the wrong connections are toxic too and I think thats the growth humans are tasked to choose.

Rated 4.5 on StoryGraph.

A Sharp Endless Need follows star basketball player, Mack, as she starts her senior year and is struggling to decide what D1 school to commit to. Her father has just died and left her and her mother drowning in gambling debts. At his funeral she meets Liv, who is also a star basketball player and transferring to her school; the two instantly connect on and off the court. This emotional and heart wrenching book explores Mack's complicated and intense friendship with Liv, questioning identities, drug use, the pressure of perfection, regrets, grief, complicated parental relationships, the overwhelming question of the future, and basketball.

I am not a sports person at all, but I decided to give this book a try because I loved Marisa Crane's I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself so much. Basketball is not an insignificant easily overlooked aspect of this book, it is an ode to basketball as much as anything else. However, the book spoke about basketball with such intensity, passion, and poetry that I could overlook my usual boredom about sports. The plot and the characters were compelling and beautifully written. While most of Mack's high school experience was extremely different from mine, I still related to her so much. I would highly recommend this book.

Thanks to Random House, The Dial House, and NetGalley for this advanced copy.