They say he got anger issues. Is it true? Because how come a son of a living legend who soon will follow his dad's footstep has anger issues?

Strong Like You, the author's debut novel, is one of male protagonist YA books that stay in my heart and mind, so it's no surprise that I anticipate Cope Field to do the same. Spoiler: it does wonderfully! It's a blend of similar elements from previous work—view on masculinity, father-son relationship, Arkansas setting, crime mystery—and a new spin that is (emo) romance. The narrative voice is a bit different too, more informal though still personal. Here we follow Crawford as he tries to understand what's happening to him, to his father, to his baby brother, and how he can survive if he lets everything go.

I liked the villains, the heroes, and the villains that dress up like heroes. I liked that there are notable improvements from the first book such as more believable development of Craw's character and clearer character description. I liked that it is more inclusive, too. Hannah's playlist is fire and if I would have a complaint about it, it's because I needed to sing the song (the chapter title) first thus interrupting my reading LOL. It's a 2000s alt music mixtape so it doesn't limit to pop punk/emo only, though I noticed it dominates. And it surely makes my teenage and current self very happy.

I liked Crawford, Hannah, Big Time (he's a National Treasure), but what sticks the most for me is Shotgun's character. After the conflict peaks and the tension heightens (I did NOT see it coming, but having read Strong Like You I should have known better), I found myself thinking about him. He's the perfect example of how much evil and good an antagonist tends to have, how to make him a threat as well as a helper. It's the same with Hunter. Both do something that harm and nurture their children in a different way, but it's damaging still and none of the children deserve that.

This story deals with heavy themes that progress gradually, so it may be a shock to some readers when things escalate rather quickly, but it is handled well too so please be patient. Again, I didn't mind if Crawford and Hannah have to end up like in 3/4 of the book, buuut I was glad the ending is better. With Strong Like You and Cope Field being my favorite cups of tea, I'm afraid the next book will be specifically written for me... LOL we'll see.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flux for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Important novel about parental overinvolvement in youth sports. But the novel feels really heavy and the loose ends are tied up too neatly.

Having read the author's debut novel, "Strong Like You," I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review an ARC of "Cope Field."

Crawford Cope is an angry kid who's sentenced to community service after a violent altercation with his father. As readers get to know Crawford, we find a lot of pain behind his anger. For one, his famous athlete father isn't the role model everyone assumes he is to Craw.

As he performs community service on a baseball field to be named after his dad, Craw spends time with Hannah, a girl who wouldn't have turned his head before. She might be the only one who can help Craw break down the walls of his anger before it destroys the people he loves.

This novel is beautifully written and gets deep into the thoughts of its male teenage protagonist. I highly recommend this novel to children 12 and older and adults who enjoy a good story with love, strong emotions, and a surprising twist.

Trigger warning: The novel contains realistic descriptions of child abuse and drug use.

✰ 3.25 stars ✰

“Only by understanding our hurts can we truly overcome them.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Cope Field illustrates what it feels like when you're faced in a violent situation that you have to learn to cope on your own. No one to turn to - no one to trust - no one who will believe you, when the very person inflicting said violence is hailed as a hero. A hero that makes a small Ozark town in Arkansas hailed as the greatest person that ever came out of their small town. A baseball legend that has only his name and his memory - his legacy that keeps him afloat from sinking into the walls of despair and drug, but sadly, still not enough to hold off the abuse or the rage that pales in comparison to Crawford's own volatile hatred.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I liked - no, I loved - how subtly the author slowly built the case - shifted the tone. How 'Crawford Cope, son of a living legend, with more money than could be spent in a hundred lifetimes over' finds himself doing community service for an act of violence directed towards his father. But, there is so much more to just hitting him that is buried - one that slowly seeps out as we get a glimpse into their family life and history. 'You can look at a person a million times and see nothing but what everyone told you to see.' 😥 A missing mother, an explosive father, an uncertain memory - it highlights that Craw has not felt safe for quite awhile, and it is only through said community service that he finally finds someone he can open up to. Find some basis of connection - more so than he expected - and he found that with Hannah. 🫂

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Craw and Hannah's friendship was very believable. She was different, but she never shied from it. She loved her interests and she was proud of it. She was willing to listen and she tried to be a friend to Craw. She knew who he was and wanted to be there for him, a novel feeling that made it difficult for Craw to even accept that someone would listen. Someone cared enough for him - and just him - not just the progeny of a famous father who basically owned this town and was the honorary namesake of the very field they were both hired to work on. 🥲 'Happy moments are fleeting. But they are precious.' She was an escape and a reprieve from the burden that he carried - a chance to feel his age and feel loved and appreciated without expectations - to be himself. She taught him that there is no shame in being honest - to be true to what is right, even if it hurts.... ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

“And that is the bit that hurts the most, I reckon. To know there was a whole universe of love in this world meant for us.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Crawford's initial fear and trepidation in acting out more than he should was captured in a gripping way that makes you feel his fear - sensing something amiss, but can't quite put it into words. How he cowers - not deliberately - but having to ensure that he meets his father's expectations on the ballfield - knowing that failure is not an option, if he can save himself from the wrath of a parent, who covers it up with blatant ignorance or acts of random kindness the next day to keep his sons silent. 😟

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Oh yes, there is another son. An eight-year-old brother, Sutton or Big Time, as he is not so affectionately called, because he is the one that Crawford fights for most. Knowing that speaking out in public can endanger their family - a family that has already witnessed enough trauma unwittingly - and that any misstep can cost them their survival. How he fights to restrain himself - 'I don’t have anger problems. In this moment, I am anger personified' - it's such a battle of willpower - burning with such a desire to hurt - hurt for the hurt being done to them. The sadness and shame was so heartbreaking - because you know, no matter what, you'll still be alone. 💔💔

“When people look up to someone, and that someone does something terrible . . . sometimes it’s easier to believe that terrible thing never happened than it is to admit you were wrong about your hero.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The writing is visceral in capturing the fear; the fear of what Hunter is capable of doing to his sons - never writing it aloud, but having the audience and the characters gauge Big Time and Crawford's reactions and appearances, afterwards. It clings to your skin - this grittiness that speaks volumes of how unfair his life was and how fearful Crawford has been for so long - that even being the strong silent type is only a mask to one who is alone and afraid.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ What hurt me was that Craw never had a safe place to talk about his anger after all is said and done; a way to not control it, but express it in a positive and helpful light. Perhaps it was a way to show that even in the town where he hesitated to say anything opposing his father, because he knew no one would ever believe him, prevented him from trying. 😕 There were a few characters who did offer their support and weight of knowledge, but I would have liked it to have been at least suggested - even if passing. The story moved swiftly to reach a basis of closure for the romance, rather than shedding some depth into his own mental health and physical state. I know not everyone feels that they need extra care or need therapy, but it felt odd that it was never addressed. 🤔

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ There was one significant plot line that caught me off-guard and also out of place. But, as the plot thickened, I kinda understood the need for it, but if only, the ending could have been a bit more fleshed-out, rather than the abruptness of it. I know it felt like it was more important for Craw's relationship with Hannah, but the eventual fallout also felt rushed and just kinda jumped. 😮‍💨 I felt like something was missing - something unaddressed that prevented it from being a more conclusive read.

“I love and hate this man at the same time. And it is emotional whiplash trying to discern which side I am sitting in right now.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I also wavered with Hunter's characterization; he is a father. A father whose behavior was that not of a father. But, at one point I felt that the author wanted to justify his actions for what he has suffered in his own life; the Glory Days gone and the pains that followed after. 😒 Drugs and drinking are not a solution, but it's there. And then, at the same time, I wanted to retaliate just as badly as Craw. I know, it's wrong. But the sense of helplessness that follows from witnessing abuse and being unable to help - be it a family matter or reluctance to interfere - it's something that weighs on your conscience. So, I don't know why we also had to offer him a chance to redeem himself; I was conflicted with that outcome, considering what transpired. 🙎🏻‍♀️

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ But, in the end, after a somewhat slow start, this proved to be a memorable read. Memorable because I cannot shake the feeling I felt while reading - that crippling unease of when the truth comes out, that aching tension of how desperation can lead to aggression. 😢It depicts how a façade can cover up so much; how we convince ourselves that someone so perfect could not truly be the monster that others are painting him to be, even if it is too painful to accept. Craw may not have had a choice of who was his father, but he had a chance to take matters into his own hands, before things escalated further than they already had for too long - falling into matters out of his control. It takes a lot of bravery and courage to let go of the fear of being hurt, as well as the fear of the unknown, to speak your truth. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This uses the sports element well in the romance genre, I thought the overall feel worked with what I was expecting. The characters had that overall feel that I was looking for and was enjoying the romance overall. T. L. Simpson has a great writing style and thought it worked well overall.