Queer historical romance author Cat Sebastian (The Queer Principles of Kit Webb) hits a home run in You Should Be So Lucky, a sexy and heartwarming will-they-or-won't-they set in the world of 1960s New York baseball.
When rising baseball star Eddie O'Leary gets traded to the New York Robins, his performance craters, and the team arranges for journalist Mark Bailey to improve his image with the fans. One reason Eddie hates New York is that there's no trusted outlet for his sexuality; the societal constraints of the era are more than window dressing. The illegality of homosexuality raises the stakes in Eddie and Mark's burgeoning romance beyond the threat of disapproval from baseball fans. Through stolen glances across crowded diners and locker rooms, Sebastian shows readers a world where love has to grow in the shadows.
But this novel isn't just about stolen kisses. Sebastian excels at light, smart prose to develop relatable characters like Eddie, with his moodiness, infectious enthusiasm, and vulnerability. He's a hitter in the midst of a slump whom readers can't help but root for. Mark, burdened by grief following the recent death of his partner, presents a gruff, jaded façade to the world that slowly melts under Eddie's persistent charm. Their courtship rounds the romance bases as opposites attract for all they're worth. In this story about healing, Eddie helps Mark confront his grief, while Mark becomes Eddie's anchor during his professional struggles.
You Should Be So Lucky is about finding solace in unexpected places, second chances, and the courage to swing for the fences, whatever the odds. --Elizabeth DeNoma, executive editor, DeNoma Literary Services, Seattle, Wash.