I’ve always loved watching tennis, and I love gay romance stories so choosing The Open Era by Edward Schmit for our Hoppily Ever After book club was an easy pick!

Rising star of tennis Austin Hardy has always dreamed of playing in tournaments like the US Open, but he’d rather be known for his abilities than for being the first openly gay player to qualify. Diego Cruz is the darling of the sport at number two in the world rankings, and hoping to win a championship to secure the top spot. Austin admires Diego’s play – and his looks – but is curious when Diego starts paying attention to him and wanting to be his friend. is there more to it, or is Austin’s crush just another example of his history of unrequited crushes?

This story also dives into mental health struggles, with Austin’s anxiety playing a huge role in his life. But it also deals with a lot of themes of love, and how it shows up in so many different ways. Love of the game, love of your family, and love for yourself are all just as central to the story as romantic love.

I found this book so refreshing. Austin’s voice was so easy to relate to. It didn’t have all the typical romance elements, and the ending didn’t get tied up into a perfect little bow. But it felt real and genuine in a way that the genre sometimes doesn’t with all its flourishes.

Book Club Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice rating: Zero peppers