This sapphic sports romance features two young women who are trailblazing in their respective arenas. This story is very timely and realistically looks at the challenges women face in the sports world, and the expectations placed on them by coaches, peers, and their families.

Both Ivy and June are high school students planning for their futures after graduation. June is laser focused on being recruited by a top college baseball team, while Ivy plans to work her way to a position as an umpire in the NFL.

I found more connection with Ivy than with June. She is feeling pressure from her family to go to college and focus on a career rather than umpiring. Ivy feels like her parents expect her to take over the life her older brother had planned before he died. Ivy struggles with fighting for her dreams while not disappointing her parents, plus the risk to her potential career if her relationship with June is discovered. Ivy continually puts June’s needs ahead of her own, risking her future and ultimately their relationship when resentment builds between them.

June also has a lot that she is battling, though most of her battles are internal. She feels that she has to live up to her late mother’s dreams for her and that not getting recruited to a great college baseball team would be letting both of her parents down. She pushes herself so hard, risking her health and relationship with Ivy, all because she thinks everyone needs her to win.

There is a lot of miscommunication happening between the characters and their friends and families. Fear keeps both Ivy and June from making decisions that would alleviate the stress.

Thankfully both Ivy and June have amazing best friends who have their backs and support them throughout the whole experience.

Disclaimer: I received a DRC through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.