Review: The Open Era by Edward Schmit
Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I am SO glad I saved this book to read during the US Open. It hit so much harder with the matches playing in the background while I read and kept the images of the iconic landmarks fresh in my mind. It felt like getting the behind the scenes look at the tournament while seeing the on air interviews and stress from the players in real time. SO good.
Synopsis:
“Recently-turned-pro tennis player Austin Hardy has been out since high school and it’s never been a big deal. That is, until he becomes the first openly gay man to compete in a Grand Slam tournament. Suddenly, being gay is a huge deal, with headlines to prove it.
Unprepared for this new spotlight, Austin’s anxiety disorder hits a breaking point, and he trips and falls at practice. Right next to the very attractive, very talented, and probably straight Diego Cruz, ranked second in the world.
The two professional rivals start a friendship off the court. But between their flirty banter, mixed signals, and looming showdown, Austin is thrown further off his game by Diego.
With the eyes of the world on Austin, the weight of history on his shoulders, and Diego across the net, he must decide whether love means nothing or if it means everything as he battles for the trophy during an electric two weeks at the US Open.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Mental Health Rep—Mental health and athletes are SO important and I think something overlooked. I think that’s on the road to changing but I was glad to see Austin actively in therapy.
The Tribute to the Tournament—My family and I went to the Open every year when I was growing up and I have so many fond memories of being there! I was the perfect audience for this book.
The Characters—I loved them all! I hope this gets made into a movie cause the Kirsten Dunst movie Wimbledon is one of my favorites.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
At times the writing felt a little clunky, but I could look past it!
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2.5/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
anxiety, anxiety attacks, homophobia