I cannot tell you how excited I was to see this show up on my kindle. I think anyone familiar with Eden Finley’s books has been waiting for the King Sports spinoff for ages.
Thad is bitter over losing his baseball dreams. But, he’s trying to move on by getting an internship with Damon King. His back-up plan: become a sports agent. But, the struggle is real, and he’s having a hard time seeing those who succeeded where he didn’t. People like Kelley. Kelley is living Thad’s dream. He’s got talent and the money that comes with it. Kelley just came out recently, and he’s struggling with that. When Thad and Brady are sent to babysit Kelley, Thad has to actually take the time to get to know who Kelley really is.
This book is all about growth. Thad learns so much about himself throughout this story. He has to let go of the resentment and learn to open up. Kelley also has to grow up some. His battles with anxiety were sometimes hard to read in their relatability. Eden wrote the struggles of both really well. I did get a bit frustrated with Thad at the beginning. I wasn’t sure I could get invested in his character. But, Eden turned it around as both characters opened up to each other. I loved the little bits of humor throughout. And the book fits perfectly into the larger world that Eden has created.
I loved getting to see Brady and Damon again. Those little peeps of past characters are always my fave. Can’t wait to read what comes next.
Thad
Failing to make it in pro ball left me absolutely devastated. Baseball has been my life, my dream, but it’s time to move on.
Becoming a sports agent was always my backup plan, and now that I’m interning at the biggest queer-focused firm in the country, I’m doing my best not to let my bitterness toward baseball affect my future.
That’s really difficult when I’m assigned to babysit Kelley Afton, hotshot rookie pitcher for Philly. He has everything I ever wanted, and he doesn’t even appreciate it. I didn’t become an agent so I could soothe the ego of diva athletes.
His constant need for validation from others frustrates me to no end, but that’s probably a good thing. Because if he didn’t have that, I’d find him irresistibly my type.
Attraction could lead to crossing lines which would put my position at King Sports in jeopardy, and I can’t have that.
I don’t have a backup for my backup plan.
