Ryan Betancourt has got
it made: he’s reached the top tier of the tennis world thanks to a
wild-card entry to the US Open. Ryan is meeting players he has idolized
for years, including his teenage crush, Josh Andrews. But he isn’t ready
for the politics and manipulation that come with life at the top. Josh Andrews is closeted, private, and difficult to get to know. He’s been playing tennis since he could walk, won his first tournament at five, and was sent to Spain at thirteen to attend a tennis academy. Before a knee injury forced him into a year off, he was ranked the number one player in the world. Now he’s back—and intent on winning.
Josh and Ryan first meet at a tournament in Brisbane. Ryan excitedly greets Josh only to be ignored. Crushed, he realizes the golden boy of tennis isn't all he seems. Only in the team-building environment of training for the Davis Cup does Josh open up enough for them to grow closer. Their developing relationship is everything Ryan ever wanted, and he is blissfully happy. But inevitably they have to play against each other, and everything changes.
Comment: This book interested me because I don't dislike the idea of sports romance, even though the majority of them center around the same types. This one featured two tennis players and I was curious to see how the sport itself would be included in the story, considering so very often the sports content is just a minimum and not really part of the plot.
In this book we follow the thoughts of Ryan Betancourt, a young tennis player, not starting his career but only now coming to the attention of the big tournaments after his well done play after gaining a wild card to a tournament.
Now Ryan's finally going to be able to play with people he has admired and looked up for, such as is the case of Josh Andrews, barely two years older but already a huge name in the game. After a not so positive meeting, Ryan is left thinking most big players aren't as friendly and welcoming as they seem but training for Davis Cup makes him see a different Josh and sparks fly. Will they be able to face the professional lives meshing with a personal one?
Thinking about this story globally, I liked it a lot.
There were some details I wasn't as fond of, such as:
- only having Ryan's perspective, although thankfully it was narrated in third person;
- the behind the scenes politics of tennis although they can be understandable and realistic;
- the miscommunication of the main couple at some point, instead of just talking about their doubts and future.
Besides some situations revolving around these issues, practically the rest of the book was all interesting for me.
I think the best detail about this book is Ryan himself. He is bubbly, eager to do things right, eager to make friends and proof his coach his hard work can be paid off and he wants to enjoy tennis now as much as he did when he was a boy and first started being interested in it. His personality is very approachable and I didn't mind that much the fact his thoughts are the only ones we get because he is very likable and easy to root for.
The other main character is Josh, who obviously presents a much more reserved and quiet personality. The author also did a good job showing the guy's backgrounds without too much exaggeration of melodrama so Josh's childhood and teenage years following in the hopes and firm hand of his father make it understandable why he isn't as joyful or playful.
The relationship of the two of them starts off in a very interesting way, I liked the little details that show the reader there's some sexual tension and chemistry between them but I'm very glad things never went into erotica levels or porn ones. I mean to say, when they get intimate things between them are a part of the relationship, it's not all consuming, all seeing as if sex is the only things to ever exist between two people.
I was also very happy the author included so many tennis talk. Not only do the characters work and play in tournaments and games and we often have Ryan discussing that with his friends, those around him, but we get to learn a few things about the way things work in this field. I don't think it's too much because the plot is well developed in my opinion, but it does offer an interesting side of things. I liked that tennis wasn't just an excuse for them to be near one another or a good match in terms of understanding the other's career demands. I think the details the author used give a good enough feel that Josh and Ryan were, indeed, tennis players interested in their careers.
As expected, there some obstacles in their path to happiness and stability and it felt like there weren't any other more logic alternatives but I still think the miscommunication could have been an avoidable tactic. Nevertheless, I'm just happy I've read this story, the pacing felt very well done and the end of the book hopeful in several areas. Not perfect but close, for my taste.
Grade: 8/10
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