The Changeup. Nicole Falls. 2019. 144 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.]
You throw like a girl is usually meant as a stinging insult, insinuating a lack of power. That is absolutely the opposite of what it would mean referencing Geffri Robinson, a former college baseball pitcher.
Geffri finds herself a viral sensation after winning a competition at a baseball game, which puts her on the radar of sports blogger/internet troll Noah. What starts as a contentious set of tweets instead turns into a battle of wills to see who’s the better sports(wo)man.
First, I have to admit sports isn’t really my thing. I’m usually only as familiar with what’s happening as I catch on the morning news and what I scroll by on twitter. But I am loving how some of my indie faves have been making me eat my words! Here, Nicole Falls has made baseball accessible and interesting. I think it’s because while this is a book about baseball, it’s not all about baseball. There’s a good balance of exploring the world behind the bullpen (I hope I used that reference correctly), getting a feel for league politics, and what players go through in and out of season.
The characters throughout the book were endearing and I enjoyed how peripheral stories had me intrigued and suspicious all at once. Geffri’s close friends Parker and Blair add thoughtful perspective and plenty of lightheartedness in their scenes. I definitely would love to see some of their stories (no pressure …). I particularly enjoyed seeing the relationship Geffri had with her father. They were all they had and I loved seeing their shared interest being nurtured; I also loved how they made space for new people to come into their circle … lots of warm fuzzies for me.
Overall, I enjoyed The Changeup as a funny, refreshing take on romance with a backdrop of baseball. It wasn’t at all typical and I loved that about it. No question, it gets my recommendation.
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