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Wild Pitches #1
The Curveball
Penelope:
I love baseball. And I get paid to talk about it. Sure, I'm behind the scenes of the best baseball talk show on television, but that's where I'm comfortable. Where I'm safe. And then Jake Hutchinson showed up and I started dreaming again. Dreaming of so much more than being behind the scenes. He reminded me of why I got into this business in the first place. I was determined to put my head down and do my work, and not get involved...but the closer I work with him, the harder I fall...
Jake:
I was determined to come in and make a good first impression. Though, soliciting a free meal from my producer probably wasn't the way to do that. And then she started talking about the game I love, the game I played, and I was hooked. I could listen to her talk about baseball for the rest of my life. I can't get involved with my producer, can I? With her talent she won't be a producer for much longer, and what's life without a little risk, right?
The Curveball is a closed-door, friends to lovers, workplace romance featuring a baseball loving heroine and former baseball player hero. The Curveball is very much a love letter to baseball and the bonds created when it is shared. The Curveball also features #OwnVoices Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and chronic pain representation, written by an author who lives with PCOS and the associated chronic pain.
I love baseball. And I get paid to talk about it. Sure, I'm behind the scenes of the best baseball talk show on television, but that's where I'm comfortable. Where I'm safe. And then Jake Hutchinson showed up and I started dreaming again. Dreaming of so much more than being behind the scenes. He reminded me of why I got into this business in the first place. I was determined to put my head down and do my work, and not get involved...but the closer I work with him, the harder I fall...
Jake:
I was determined to come in and make a good first impression. Though, soliciting a free meal from my producer probably wasn't the way to do that. And then she started talking about the game I love, the game I played, and I was hooked. I could listen to her talk about baseball for the rest of my life. I can't get involved with my producer, can I? With her talent she won't be a producer for much longer, and what's life without a little risk, right?
The Curveball is a closed-door, friends to lovers, workplace romance featuring a baseball loving heroine and former baseball player hero. The Curveball is very much a love letter to baseball and the bonds created when it is shared. The Curveball also features #OwnVoices Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and chronic pain representation, written by an author who lives with PCOS and the associated chronic pain.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2022
42 people are currently reading
1,022 people want to read
About the author
Megan Cousins
9books94followersMegan is a Michigan native who loves books, board games, baseball, and her family - not necessarily in that order. She loves books with wit and banter and scenes that wouldn’t make her grandma blush...so she wrote one.
Megan’s stories are filled with humor and heart, sometimes obscure baseball references, swoon-worthy heroes, and heroines who aren’t afraid to speak their mind.
Connect with Megan on Instagram: @authormegancousins
Or Twitter: @Meg_mcuzz
Megan’s stories are filled with humor and heart, sometimes obscure baseball references, swoon-worthy heroes, and heroines who aren’t afraid to speak their mind.
Connect with Megan on Instagram: @authormegancousins
Or Twitter: @Meg_mcuzz
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
May 17, 2023
2/3-ish stars, personally. (Mainly because of the fade-to-black scene)
After going to a ball game, I was in the mood for a cute and clean baseball rom-com. Thankfully, I knew about this series from Bookstagram as there isn't a lot of baseball romance books--hockey is the trending sport for sport romances. (This baseball fan thinks that's weird.)
While I would have preferred more baseball, it was a cute book. Jake was very much a written-by-a-female-author male lead and I'll admit to Penelope annoying me a bit at times. I can't say I loved either of them, but they had their cute moments together. There was cheesiness with the romance and comments, but let's be honest, that has to be expected for a book like this. ;)
I appreciate the author showing a main girl with struggles--in this case with Penelope it was PCOS--though it did feel like her entire personality was that, not letting others in, baseball, & wanting to shatter the glass ceiling (which was talked about a lot). It never felt like feminist-vibe, thankfully, but it was discussed a lot and I did get tired of it towards the end. However, I'm not a female in a male dominated workplace, so my opinion probably is biased in a different direction. A young woman working in that kind of field would probably relate to Penelope.
Main Content:
Lots of kisses (some up to semi-detailed or 3-4 sentences long); A fade-to-black scene of a wedding night with kissing and undoing the other's clothing; Jake spends the night with Penelope when she's sick (nothing sexual happens and he stays on the couch); Lots of Touches, Embraces, Cuddling and all of that (semi-detailed); Lots of Noticing & Smelling (including him noticing her curves and Penelope noticing his arms and him showing off his arms a lot because of her reaction, up to semi-detailed).
No language used strong than 'holy crap'/'stupid'/'idiot', etc; God or Jesus' name is not taken in vain at all; Besides the mention of a pastor at a wedding and Jake thanking God for something, there are not religious/Christian elements.
Many mentions of Penelope dealing with hateful and misogynistic comments (online and in person) due to her being a woman and her appearance (we only see a few written out and the majority are hinted to); Penelope is very much grieving the deaths of her parents (who passed away a month after the other because of cancer); Penelope has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and we see her in pain and struggling with it; Penelope has a few anxiety attacks on the pages (Jake helps her come out of them).
After going to a ball game, I was in the mood for a cute and clean baseball rom-com. Thankfully, I knew about this series from Bookstagram as there isn't a lot of baseball romance books--hockey is the trending sport for sport romances. (This baseball fan thinks that's weird.)
While I would have preferred more baseball, it was a cute book. Jake was very much a written-by-a-female-author male lead and I'll admit to Penelope annoying me a bit at times. I can't say I loved either of them, but they had their cute moments together. There was cheesiness with the romance and comments, but let's be honest, that has to be expected for a book like this. ;)
I appreciate the author showing a main girl with struggles--in this case with Penelope it was PCOS--though it did feel like her entire personality was that, not letting others in, baseball, & wanting to shatter the glass ceiling (which was talked about a lot). It never felt like feminist-vibe, thankfully, but it was discussed a lot and I did get tired of it towards the end. However, I'm not a female in a male dominated workplace, so my opinion probably is biased in a different direction. A young woman working in that kind of field would probably relate to Penelope.
Main Content:
Lots of kisses (some up to semi-detailed or 3-4 sentences long); A fade-to-black scene of a wedding night with kissing and undoing the other's clothing; Jake spends the night with Penelope when she's sick (nothing sexual happens and he stays on the couch); Lots of Touches, Embraces, Cuddling and all of that (semi-detailed); Lots of Noticing & Smelling (including him noticing her curves and Penelope noticing his arms and him showing off his arms a lot because of her reaction, up to semi-detailed).
No language used strong than 'holy crap'/'stupid'/'idiot', etc; God or Jesus' name is not taken in vain at all; Besides the mention of a pastor at a wedding and Jake thanking God for something, there are not religious/Christian elements.
Many mentions of Penelope dealing with hateful and misogynistic comments (online and in person) due to her being a woman and her appearance (we only see a few written out and the majority are hinted to); Penelope is very much grieving the deaths of her parents (who passed away a month after the other because of cancer); Penelope has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and we see her in pain and struggling with it; Penelope has a few anxiety attacks on the pages (Jake helps her come out of them).
Want to read
April 23, 2022a book with PCOS rep? GIVE IT TO ME NOW
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December 3, 2023I hope you love Jake and Penelope as much as I do. I'm excited, and also a little nervous, to finally be able to share this story with you. The Curveball is my heart on the page; Penelope's story and journey with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and chronic pain is very much my own story. I'm excited to finally be sharing this outside of my circle of beta readers, and finally getting this book (AH!! It's an actual book!) into your hands.
March 8, 2022
4.5 rounded up to 5! This book was a big hug with the most wonderful own voices representation and a heroine who deserves the WORLD. Pick this one up, ASAP!!!
I am choosing to not think too much about how in my reviews I typically obsess over book boyfs (me failing the bechdel test every day) SO it is as a true pleasure to read a book where I genuinely only want to focus on the female MC! Penelope works in a male dominated profession and is the most competent person in that office and I just wanted to beat the hell out of the men who doubted her (mike, it’s on SIGHT my guy I hate you) because she was so STRONG and COOL. She was a top notch sister and neighbor with a heart of gold and I just want her to be happy
I guess I should mention Jake 🤪 since I do love him so very much, but Penelope really was the star of the show. Catch me going to baseball games and keeping score 😎 just kidding I could never but I’d like to because of her!!
Also I would be remiss not to mention Jax, the literal love of my life, even if this wasn’t his book. This is me staking my claim before everyone catches on bc he’s MINE
I am choosing to not think too much about how in my reviews I typically obsess over book boyfs (me failing the bechdel test every day) SO it is as a true pleasure to read a book where I genuinely only want to focus on the female MC! Penelope works in a male dominated profession and is the most competent person in that office and I just wanted to beat the hell out of the men who doubted her (mike, it’s on SIGHT my guy I hate you) because she was so STRONG and COOL. She was a top notch sister and neighbor with a heart of gold and I just want her to be happy
I guess I should mention Jake 🤪 since I do love him so very much, but Penelope really was the star of the show. Catch me going to baseball games and keeping score 😎 just kidding I could never but I’d like to because of her!!
Also I would be remiss not to mention Jax, the literal love of my life, even if this wasn’t his book. This is me staking my claim before everyone catches on bc he’s MINE
December 6, 2022
Quick Stats
Over All: 3.25 stars
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 3.5/5
Writing: 2/5
Disability Rep: 5/5
Spice Rating: 0/5
My feelings about this book are� complicated.
The disability rep? Phenomenal. You can tell that it’s based on lived experiences, and PCOS is such a common yet underrepresented chronic illness, I loved seeing this rep.
The characters were likeable, and while they weren’t the most fleshed out, they were easy to root for.
The writing?
…well. Next question, please?
This book reads like a first draft. The aspects of the story are here, however it doesn’t come together very well, and the grammar and punctuation are borderline atrocious at times. There is so much potential in this book, but it needs a few more drafts, several betas, and then a full editing work up (developmental, line, copy, all of it.) There were comma splices and run-on sentences in just about every paragraph. The wording of sentences was often clunky, and the scenes rarely flowed together well.
I wanted so badly to love this book—and I didn’t hate it—but the punctuation errors made it hard to read, and it was lacking any real cohesion.
There was also a serious case of telling instead of showing. I felt such a disconnect from the characters experiences and emotions. I never got to experience, to really feel what Penelope and Jake were going through. There was a surplus of emotional baggage in Penelope’s life, but because of the detached way that it’s written, it comes off as shallow, despite the subject matter being anything but.
This, combined with the lack of tension in most aspects (there was tension at work, but nowhere else) alongside the impersonal narration and severe overuse of the info-dump made the book� boring.
Another thing that bothered me was the description of Work Penelope. Work Penelope is described as “guarded� and an “ice queen.� Those descriptions do not at all match the portrayal we are given of Penelope in the work environment. Jake constantly says, at work, Penelope is guarded and aloof. However both his descriptions of her stature, posture, words, are excessively timid, like a kicked puppy. Penelope also describes herself as guarded, walled off, aloof. Her internal monologue and descriptions of her own mannerisms are the same as Jake’s. Timid, submissive. That’s a perfectly valid reaction to workplace harassment, but its portrayal needs to be intentional and done well in order to have the necessary impact. This is neither of those things.
Every work scene made the same points in essentially the same way—women in sports have it hard and Mike is a misogynistic asshat. Both of these things are true, but we see these scenes every chapter or two, with only the slightest variation, making these same two points, over and over and over again. Mike says basically the same insult in slightly different wording every single time he comes on page; Penelope has the exact same reaction. It gets repetitive fast.
There are more critiques I could make, but I honestly feel sick of being so negative. Honestly, the issue is that it needs major editing. The book needs to be cut down, because so much of the scenes are repetitive, and the remaining scenes and plot points, and the general narration need to be fleshed out. I see so much potential in this story and in Megan Cousins as a writer. I just don’t think that this book was ready to be published yet.
However, if you are a huge fan of books with disability rep, or you have PCOS, and/or you aren’t super picky about the grammar and quality of writing that you read, I really do recommend picking this up and giving it a shot.
Over All: 3.25 stars
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 3.5/5
Writing: 2/5
Disability Rep: 5/5
Spice Rating: 0/5
My feelings about this book are� complicated.
The disability rep? Phenomenal. You can tell that it’s based on lived experiences, and PCOS is such a common yet underrepresented chronic illness, I loved seeing this rep.
The characters were likeable, and while they weren’t the most fleshed out, they were easy to root for.
The writing?
…well. Next question, please?
This book reads like a first draft. The aspects of the story are here, however it doesn’t come together very well, and the grammar and punctuation are borderline atrocious at times. There is so much potential in this book, but it needs a few more drafts, several betas, and then a full editing work up (developmental, line, copy, all of it.) There were comma splices and run-on sentences in just about every paragraph. The wording of sentences was often clunky, and the scenes rarely flowed together well.
I wanted so badly to love this book—and I didn’t hate it—but the punctuation errors made it hard to read, and it was lacking any real cohesion.
There was also a serious case of telling instead of showing. I felt such a disconnect from the characters experiences and emotions. I never got to experience, to really feel what Penelope and Jake were going through. There was a surplus of emotional baggage in Penelope’s life, but because of the detached way that it’s written, it comes off as shallow, despite the subject matter being anything but.
This, combined with the lack of tension in most aspects (there was tension at work, but nowhere else) alongside the impersonal narration and severe overuse of the info-dump made the book� boring.
Another thing that bothered me was the description of Work Penelope. Work Penelope is described as “guarded� and an “ice queen.� Those descriptions do not at all match the portrayal we are given of Penelope in the work environment. Jake constantly says, at work, Penelope is guarded and aloof. However both his descriptions of her stature, posture, words, are excessively timid, like a kicked puppy. Penelope also describes herself as guarded, walled off, aloof. Her internal monologue and descriptions of her own mannerisms are the same as Jake’s. Timid, submissive. That’s a perfectly valid reaction to workplace harassment, but its portrayal needs to be intentional and done well in order to have the necessary impact. This is neither of those things.
Every work scene made the same points in essentially the same way—women in sports have it hard and Mike is a misogynistic asshat. Both of these things are true, but we see these scenes every chapter or two, with only the slightest variation, making these same two points, over and over and over again. Mike says basically the same insult in slightly different wording every single time he comes on page; Penelope has the exact same reaction. It gets repetitive fast.
There are more critiques I could make, but I honestly feel sick of being so negative. Honestly, the issue is that it needs major editing. The book needs to be cut down, because so much of the scenes are repetitive, and the remaining scenes and plot points, and the general narration need to be fleshed out. I see so much potential in this story and in Megan Cousins as a writer. I just don’t think that this book was ready to be published yet.
However, if you are a huge fan of books with disability rep, or you have PCOS, and/or you aren’t super picky about the grammar and quality of writing that you read, I really do recommend picking this up and giving it a shot.
April 11, 2022
The Curveball by Megan Cousins is a love letter to both baseball and PCOS warriors. Megan poured her heart into writing this story, and it's reflected on every page, with sweet soft moments that weave together to create a feel-good narrative, while still managing to deal with heavy topics.
I would recommend this story especially to those who love baseball or are hungry for #OwnVoices chronic illness representation.
I am very neutral on this as an element, but I know that this can make or break a book for many readers so I would note that beyond being a closed door romance, the kisses are sweet, but brief, and a bit rare, so use that information as you will to best guide you.
Other things in this novel worth noting include:
-Death of loved ones
-PCOS and migraine representation
-A misogynist boss who uses his hands inappropriately on page
-A career ending sports injury
-Cinnamon Roll Baseball Player/Analyst
-Tough Cookie Heroine determined to pursue her dreams in a male dominated profession
-Conversations about possible infertility
and Strong family bonds
Disclaimer: I know the author personally and received an arc of The Curveball in exchange for my honest review.
I would recommend this story especially to those who love baseball or are hungry for #OwnVoices chronic illness representation.
I am very neutral on this as an element, but I know that this can make or break a book for many readers so I would note that beyond being a closed door romance, the kisses are sweet, but brief, and a bit rare, so use that information as you will to best guide you.
Other things in this novel worth noting include:
-Death of loved ones
-PCOS and migraine representation
-A misogynist boss who uses his hands inappropriately on page
-A career ending sports injury
-Cinnamon Roll Baseball Player/Analyst
-Tough Cookie Heroine determined to pursue her dreams in a male dominated profession
-Conversations about possible infertility
and Strong family bonds
Disclaimer: I know the author personally and received an arc of The Curveball in exchange for my honest review.
March 10, 2022
Megan Cousins has said this book is her love letter to baseball.
Well, let me tell you, it is a BEAUTIFUL letter. If you know nothing about Megan before you read this, by the end, you’ll learn she knows baseball. Like, *really* knows it. That’s the only way someone can describe in such detail the intricacies of a pastime as beloved as baseball. It’s amazing.
She channels this passion into the story, as the main character, Penelope, tries to find her footing in an industry known as a boys club. But she knows more about baseball than any of the boys. Watching her navigate this world with the grit, passion, and determination she shows would be enough.
But Megan doesn’t stop there.
Penelope is a PCOS warrior. I always thought people with this condition were tough, but I had no idea what they go through. It’s a lot. But Penelope is fights with an unfathomable strength that’s truly admirable.
And then there’s Jake. He’s as lovable as they come. While he’d love nothing more than to fight for Penelope in the workplace and take away her pain, he can’t. But his unwavering support and willingness to stand beside Penelope in the face of adversity makes him a hero all heroes should emulate.
I could go on, but I don’t want to spoil anything. Let’s just say that if you’re missing baseball like I am and/or you’d like to read a book that will make you laugh, cry, and do several mental fist pumps (seriously, Penelope will make you do that), this is the book for you!
Well, let me tell you, it is a BEAUTIFUL letter. If you know nothing about Megan before you read this, by the end, you’ll learn she knows baseball. Like, *really* knows it. That’s the only way someone can describe in such detail the intricacies of a pastime as beloved as baseball. It’s amazing.
She channels this passion into the story, as the main character, Penelope, tries to find her footing in an industry known as a boys club. But she knows more about baseball than any of the boys. Watching her navigate this world with the grit, passion, and determination she shows would be enough.
But Megan doesn’t stop there.
Penelope is a PCOS warrior. I always thought people with this condition were tough, but I had no idea what they go through. It’s a lot. But Penelope is fights with an unfathomable strength that’s truly admirable.
And then there’s Jake. He’s as lovable as they come. While he’d love nothing more than to fight for Penelope in the workplace and take away her pain, he can’t. But his unwavering support and willingness to stand beside Penelope in the face of adversity makes him a hero all heroes should emulate.
I could go on, but I don’t want to spoil anything. Let’s just say that if you’re missing baseball like I am and/or you’d like to read a book that will make you laugh, cry, and do several mental fist pumps (seriously, Penelope will make you do that), this is the book for you!
March 6, 2022
This was such a sweet read! I immediately loved our main characters, they had layers to them more than just their jobs. The way Jake was there for Penelope from the get go, always being just a *good man* was so special. He’s the kind of guy I would want my best friend to marry!
April 5, 2022
You wouldn't know this is the author's first book by how well crafted and thoughtful the narrative is. As someone who suffers from chronic pain related to endometriosis, I can appreciate so much the struggles the main character goes through with PCOS and the insecurities she faces as a result. While they don't produce identical symptoms, the damage they do to one's self esteem is great, and I loved how Megan Cousins wove this amazing representation into such a romantic story. I also found it impressive that she made me really excited about sports, when I usually don't read any sports romance. I often find it boring and difficult to relate, seeing as how I am not into any one sport enough to make it my living, but the way she described the importance of baseball in the main characters' lives made me want to be more into the sport. There are so many themes that strike a chord within me, and I'm sure they will for you as well. I'll include trigger warnings at the end, for your review.
Penelope Nichols dreamed of making a career in sports since she was a young girl, watching baseball with her father and learning how to score a game. When she finally gets the opportunity to be the Executive Producer on the American Sports Network's only baseball focused show, she is thrilled...if only it weren't for the constant ridicule she receives from her boss, Mike Fletcher, who is never one to let an opportunity for a snide remark about her appearances pass him by. Despite this, she perseveres, even working on a pitch for a new show that focuses on women in baseball. Things get even more interesting when a new co-host arrives to join the show she produces. He's none other than her late father's favorite player...and his name is on her t-shirt when she brings food to her neighbor and sees him standing in the doorway...shirtless. Jake Hutchinson's career on the field is over after a devastating injury to his pitching arm. Now finding new purpose in working in front of a camera as a commentator, he is thrilled to discover his new boss is also his neighbor. She cooks amazing food, she is obsessed with his favorite sport, and in her she sees a beautiful light that he wishes would shine more at work. Together they are going to make dreams come true...starting with her own.
I adored Penelope and Jake together, they were the sweetest and most supportive couple. I can't tell you how many times my eyes teared up when Jake would do something sweet, and then my blood boiled when Penelope had to go through so much at work. The fact that she had PCOS wasn't immediately apparent until her symptoms showed up one day, and Jake spent time helping her through them. Finding a supportive man like that has always been a big concern for me, so seeing a hero like that really affected me. He accepted Nellie for who she was, without any doubts in his mind, and it was such a special moment when she realized he saw beauty where she saw imperfection. His complete acceptance of her and his desire to be her protector against those who seek to bring her down was swoonworthy. While I do usually like my stories with some angst and more steam, I have to say it wasn't missed here. This is the perfect book for a day when you just want to relax, ease the tension in your body, and read a book that makes you believe in fairy tales again. Jake was the prince we all wanted as little girls...and he was Nellie's Prince Charming for sure.
I can't wait to read what Megan Cousins writes next! I have no doubt that it will be just as lovely and sweet.
Some trigger warnings for you to consider before reading...besides the obvious chronic illness, which moved me to tears several times, there was the death of loved ones, workplace harassment, and adoption.
**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**
Penelope Nichols dreamed of making a career in sports since she was a young girl, watching baseball with her father and learning how to score a game. When she finally gets the opportunity to be the Executive Producer on the American Sports Network's only baseball focused show, she is thrilled...if only it weren't for the constant ridicule she receives from her boss, Mike Fletcher, who is never one to let an opportunity for a snide remark about her appearances pass him by. Despite this, she perseveres, even working on a pitch for a new show that focuses on women in baseball. Things get even more interesting when a new co-host arrives to join the show she produces. He's none other than her late father's favorite player...and his name is on her t-shirt when she brings food to her neighbor and sees him standing in the doorway...shirtless. Jake Hutchinson's career on the field is over after a devastating injury to his pitching arm. Now finding new purpose in working in front of a camera as a commentator, he is thrilled to discover his new boss is also his neighbor. She cooks amazing food, she is obsessed with his favorite sport, and in her she sees a beautiful light that he wishes would shine more at work. Together they are going to make dreams come true...starting with her own.
I adored Penelope and Jake together, they were the sweetest and most supportive couple. I can't tell you how many times my eyes teared up when Jake would do something sweet, and then my blood boiled when Penelope had to go through so much at work. The fact that she had PCOS wasn't immediately apparent until her symptoms showed up one day, and Jake spent time helping her through them. Finding a supportive man like that has always been a big concern for me, so seeing a hero like that really affected me. He accepted Nellie for who she was, without any doubts in his mind, and it was such a special moment when she realized he saw beauty where she saw imperfection. His complete acceptance of her and his desire to be her protector against those who seek to bring her down was swoonworthy. While I do usually like my stories with some angst and more steam, I have to say it wasn't missed here. This is the perfect book for a day when you just want to relax, ease the tension in your body, and read a book that makes you believe in fairy tales again. Jake was the prince we all wanted as little girls...and he was Nellie's Prince Charming for sure.
I can't wait to read what Megan Cousins writes next! I have no doubt that it will be just as lovely and sweet.
Some trigger warnings for you to consider before reading...besides the obvious chronic illness, which moved me to tears several times, there was the death of loved ones, workplace harassment, and adoption.
**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**
September 18, 2022
I was lucky enough to meet the author of this novel at a signing in my local independent bookstore. She is honestly just as sweet as this novel.
Pros:
I love that this is a book that an entire family can sit down and read without anyone getting embarrassed by cursing, sex scenes, raunchy behavior. I would say this may be the book version of a Hallmark movie where everyone can have some fun and you know that you’re going to walk away with a warm feeling in your chest.
While the book does include a lot about baseball, going in with little to no knowledge doesn’t seem to be an issue. There aren’t points that get overly technical or drag on endlessly with over explaining. There is no talking down for people who don’t know things and no going over people’s heads as I had worried it could.
Cons:
I know some people think Penelope cries too much and I have to agree for me personally, she cries a ton. But, I think it’s important that we remember the author’s note that everyone handles pain (physical and emotional) differently. This is just how Penelope deals with things and while it might be too much for some it is still honest.
I love the plot-point of Mike and his harassment. I wish we knew a little more about the repercussions not because they are necessary to the story of Jake and Penelope but because I think knowing why he faces for all the things he has done wrong is a strong way to explain to others what can happen when they behave badly.
Spoiler thoughts:
I think it is very important and beautiful that Jake and Penelope end the book adopting a child. They haven’t given up on a biological kid of their own, but adoption is often overlooked until there are no options as if it is somehow lesser. It isn’t and the pure love and joy shown in theirs is beautiful and inspiring.
Pros:
I love that this is a book that an entire family can sit down and read without anyone getting embarrassed by cursing, sex scenes, raunchy behavior. I would say this may be the book version of a Hallmark movie where everyone can have some fun and you know that you’re going to walk away with a warm feeling in your chest.
While the book does include a lot about baseball, going in with little to no knowledge doesn’t seem to be an issue. There aren’t points that get overly technical or drag on endlessly with over explaining. There is no talking down for people who don’t know things and no going over people’s heads as I had worried it could.
Cons:
I know some people think Penelope cries too much and I have to agree for me personally, she cries a ton. But, I think it’s important that we remember the author’s note that everyone handles pain (physical and emotional) differently. This is just how Penelope deals with things and while it might be too much for some it is still honest.
I love the plot-point of Mike and his harassment. I wish we knew a little more about the repercussions not because they are necessary to the story of Jake and Penelope but because I think knowing why he faces for all the things he has done wrong is a strong way to explain to others what can happen when they behave badly.
Spoiler thoughts:
I think it is very important and beautiful that Jake and Penelope end the book adopting a child. They haven’t given up on a biological kid of their own, but adoption is often overlooked until there are no options as if it is somehow lesser. It isn’t and the pure love and joy shown in theirs is beautiful and inspiring.
April 28, 2022
I am normally not a romance reader…but this was my daughter’s first book, so I wanted to read it - - and I didn’t want to put it down!! Without giving away the plot, I loved how the story was told from the points of view of both protagonists, getting two different insights of the same event! I loved Jake’s family, and could see their interaction in my mind’s eye. And the food!! Oh, the food!! The author could make you smell the garlic in the pasta primavera!! The New York references take me back to a fun family vacation!! The baseball references take me back to Comerica Park, where I remember sitting next to the author on warm, sunny days and teaching her how to keep score!! It’s a “Jim Valvano ESPY Speech� Book: You will think, you will laugh, and you will be moved to tears!! This “love letter to baseball� was a home run!!
August 8, 2022
How do you coherently review something that made you so emotional? And I mean, alllll the emotions. This book is like a big warm cozy hug. I couldn't put it down. I laughed, cried, swooned, and sobbed. Seriously, all the emotions. It even made me miss being on the field! So good. 🧡
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙:
✨️ Penelope. Wow. She is a shattering-the-glass-ceiling kind of woman and I adored her. What a badass.
✨️ Jake. Jake freaking Hutchinson. Jake is a top-tier book boyfriend, friends. He's just a genuinely kind soul.
✨️ Baseball. I *loved* the love of baseball. In many books, we get so much of just the players (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!) and not too much of the sport itself. I just...ugh. This had all the "Yes, this is why I love baseball" vibes, and I loved it. 🧡
✨️ The meet-cute ☺️📝
✨️ All the cooking + cooking lessons!
✨️ The tight sibling relationships. Love this. I miss mine!
There's a lot of thoughtfulness, care, and love that went into writing this, I'm sure of it. You can feel it through the pages. I hope you consider adding this to your Must-Read list.
CW: death of parents (off page), grief, anxiety and anxiety attacks, chronic pain/illness, discussion of infertility, workplace harassment.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙:
✨️ Penelope. Wow. She is a shattering-the-glass-ceiling kind of woman and I adored her. What a badass.
✨️ Jake. Jake freaking Hutchinson. Jake is a top-tier book boyfriend, friends. He's just a genuinely kind soul.
✨️ Baseball. I *loved* the love of baseball. In many books, we get so much of just the players (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!) and not too much of the sport itself. I just...ugh. This had all the "Yes, this is why I love baseball" vibes, and I loved it. 🧡
✨️ The meet-cute ☺️📝
✨️ All the cooking + cooking lessons!
✨️ The tight sibling relationships. Love this. I miss mine!
There's a lot of thoughtfulness, care, and love that went into writing this, I'm sure of it. You can feel it through the pages. I hope you consider adding this to your Must-Read list.
CW: death of parents (off page), grief, anxiety and anxiety attacks, chronic pain/illness, discussion of infertility, workplace harassment.
August 7, 2022
This is exactly the type of book that will be counted as a comfort read. To say I loved it would be an understatement. This book had heart, it was emotional and it was so real. I think it's so important to highlight topics that people deal with in real life and shed more light and information to those who don't deal with these issues. Penelope had PCOS and it was a big part of her backstory and growth but Cousins didn't diminish her worth in any way and I really valued that. I loved the meet cute between her and Jack and the love for baseball that the two of them shared. I also loved how important it was to showcase things that happen to women who have careers in sports media. I loved how heartfelt this was and how family oriented as well. I am definitely invested in this series and these characters. I truly adored this story.
March 17, 2022
This delightfully cute debut felt gentle and sweet, while also tackling complex topics like grief and chronic illness. It follows the story of Penelope, sports producer, and Jake, former MLB star turned sports anchor, as they navigate workplace drama, letting down walls & building trust, cooking adventures, and, most importantly, shattering glass ceilings!
I highly appreciated both the PCOS & anxiety representation in the story. Cousins showed both the visible and invisible parts of chronic illness and how they affect work, relationships, and more. It also had one of my absolute FAVORITE tropes - caretaking while sick.🥰
I can’t wait for the rest of Jake’s siblings� stories!
I highly appreciated both the PCOS & anxiety representation in the story. Cousins showed both the visible and invisible parts of chronic illness and how they affect work, relationships, and more. It also had one of my absolute FAVORITE tropes - caretaking while sick.🥰
I can’t wait for the rest of Jake’s siblings� stories!
April 17, 2023
This was a mega sweet romance, which was both the best thing about it and the thing I disliked. It was sweet. Too sweet. (Words rarely spoken by me). I know the author very intentionally made this a clean romance, and I’m not even someone that enjoys super spice in novels, so I’m not sure why I didn’t *love* it…but I didn’t. It was somehow too clean? I mean they kiss for the first time and then don’t again for two more weeks! That felt weirdly unrealistic..or just weird. It was just cheesy super sweet and I didn’t feel like there was a true climax. The best comparison I have is that it was like watching a low drama episode of “The Bachelor�. There was SO.much.build up surrounding the characters saying, “I love you�. (A personal annoyance. Just say it! Or don’t! I do NOT put much stake in “those three little words�.) And then there was build up to a proposal. On “The Bachelor� that’s exactly what you know you’re getting� people falling in love, people say it, and then they get engaged. Some great representation and a sweet concept, but nothing I felt invested in or got excited about at any point.
March 2, 2023
This is about to be the most chaotic book reviews I’ve ever written because I have a lot of feelings about this book�
I’m a big time baseball nerd, I’ve always wanted to work on the media side of the game and the main character did just that. Penelope broke all the glass ceilings in a male dominated workplace, it took her a lot time and stress but she did it- proving to be not only a great role model for the young girls in the book, but also for readers.
Penelope has PCOS, so not only is the working her hardest at work, she is in pain for parts of the book.
This book has the sweetest workplace romance, with gentle and caring Jake right next door to talk all things baseball at all times of the night- it’s just perfect.
There’s so many things in this book I’d like to point out, but it would be a total ramble (as if I already didn’t do that).
I’m a big time baseball nerd, I’ve always wanted to work on the media side of the game and the main character did just that. Penelope broke all the glass ceilings in a male dominated workplace, it took her a lot time and stress but she did it- proving to be not only a great role model for the young girls in the book, but also for readers.
Penelope has PCOS, so not only is the working her hardest at work, she is in pain for parts of the book.
This book has the sweetest workplace romance, with gentle and caring Jake right next door to talk all things baseball at all times of the night- it’s just perfect.
There’s so many things in this book I’d like to point out, but it would be a total ramble (as if I already didn’t do that).
January 6, 2023
An extremely emotional read, not a light story
Really interesting points of view. I really enjoyed the book and the look into a woman working in the men’s field of sports broadcasting. It was super sweet. However as the book went on past the half way point we mostly read about her having breakdowns, crying, and being emotionally overwhelmed. It’s briefly mentioned that they’ve enjoyed these great happy moments together. But all the dialogue and scenes written in the last half are emotionally charged where she’s really struggling to keep it together for one reason or another. I didn’t like that. It felt like she was a emotional mess.
The story was good I just didn’t like the extra emotional drama that weighed down the story in the last half. I wish it was written in a little bit lighter way with the character trying to make light of the situation or find some humor in the circumstance so I could’ve enjoyed it more. There was heavy grieving of the death of family from years before as well.
Rating: PG, clean, just some pecks as far as kissing went.
Really interesting points of view. I really enjoyed the book and the look into a woman working in the men’s field of sports broadcasting. It was super sweet. However as the book went on past the half way point we mostly read about her having breakdowns, crying, and being emotionally overwhelmed. It’s briefly mentioned that they’ve enjoyed these great happy moments together. But all the dialogue and scenes written in the last half are emotionally charged where she’s really struggling to keep it together for one reason or another. I didn’t like that. It felt like she was a emotional mess.
The story was good I just didn’t like the extra emotional drama that weighed down the story in the last half. I wish it was written in a little bit lighter way with the character trying to make light of the situation or find some humor in the circumstance so I could’ve enjoyed it more. There was heavy grieving of the death of family from years before as well.
Rating: PG, clean, just some pecks as far as kissing went.
September 30, 2022
"He kept me steady. Kept my head above the water. He gave me a place to run to, without running away. He brought me to this place of peace. Of comfort and family and... belonging."
the ✨highlights�
+ comfort trope
+ the meet-cute🥺
+ Hallmark movie vibes
+ Sunshine. Stormcloud.
+ THE GOOIEST MMC
+ zero third act break-up!!
+ the whole Hutchinson family
JAKE AND PENELOPE. Gosh. The ease of their relationship. It's just... SO sweet. They simply get each other. It truly felt like I was following along with a real-life relationship. And can we talk about NO third act break up?!
Former pro baseball player meets off-screen baseball analyst and enthusiast (and sports network TV producer) through a post-it note. On his neighbor's door. Who turns out to be the love of his life. YEAH, it's perfect.
Their friendship blossoms through cooking lessons, New York outings, and (of course) a love of baseball. They have a genuine connection and I will forever stand by the statement that Jake is the gooiest, sweetest, kindest MMC in existence. He's so respectful and truly believes in Penelope.
Together, they freaking shatter the glass ceiling.
Read if you like:
+ workplace romance
+ cooking lessons
+ found family
+ interconnected series
+ closed door romance
the ✨highlights�
+ comfort trope
+ the meet-cute🥺
+ Hallmark movie vibes
+ Sunshine. Stormcloud.
+ THE GOOIEST MMC
+ zero third act break-up!!
+ the whole Hutchinson family
JAKE AND PENELOPE. Gosh. The ease of their relationship. It's just... SO sweet. They simply get each other. It truly felt like I was following along with a real-life relationship. And can we talk about NO third act break up?!
Former pro baseball player meets off-screen baseball analyst and enthusiast (and sports network TV producer) through a post-it note. On his neighbor's door. Who turns out to be the love of his life. YEAH, it's perfect.
Their friendship blossoms through cooking lessons, New York outings, and (of course) a love of baseball. They have a genuine connection and I will forever stand by the statement that Jake is the gooiest, sweetest, kindest MMC in existence. He's so respectful and truly believes in Penelope.
Together, they freaking shatter the glass ceiling.
Read if you like:
+ workplace romance
+ cooking lessons
+ found family
+ interconnected series
+ closed door romance
January 2, 2023
IM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK
megan cousins, thank you for writing this! i feel so seen😭
megan cousins, thank you for writing this! i feel so seen😭
December 16, 2023
“hang in there, Nell. Someday you’ll shatter the glass.� 🥹
March 12, 2022
I had the pleasure of getting to read an advanced copy of The Curveball and I really enjoyed it! Penelope and Jake have wonderful chemistry and are definitely couple goals, and it was great to see Penelope as a character grow from someone who dreamed to seeing those dreams fulfilled. Megan does a wonderful job of keeping the reader in the moment and her voice and way she weaves through each scene is absolutely fantastic. If you are a fan of sweet romances, baseball, and/or stories with a female lead, I think you'll really enjoy this book!
July 4, 2023
What a DEBUT! Megan truly knocked it out of the park with this book (yes, that is a baseball pun). Penelope and Jake pull you in from the moment they have their meet cute.
Penelope is a producer on a baseball talk show, but she eventually begins to wonder about being in front of the camera. Jake is retired from baseball to injuries but he makes his return to the sport he loves by becoming the new host on the talk show Penelope is the producer of. And what a beautiful slow burn they have. Jake falls first, but their realization of how they care for each other is just so beautiful.
Not only does he fall first, it’s friends to lovers, a workplace romance, MCs in their 30s, dual perspective, there are cooking lessons 👀, and Jake is an absolutely perfect book boyfriend. This book is closed door, but Jake and Pen have a beautiful story regardless of whether or not there is spice!!
Another thing I want to mention is that The Curveball features OwnVoices representation in regard to PCOS. Megan truly shows her soul with Penelope. Having gotten to know Megan after reading this book, so much of her heart is in these pages. She shows both the days filled with sunshine and the ones thick with storm clouds. Other trigger warnings are listed right at the beginning of the book. 💛
I hope that you will read this book. It is the first in a series full of such lovable characters. You can find it on KU or through the link in Megan’s bio 😊
Penelope is a producer on a baseball talk show, but she eventually begins to wonder about being in front of the camera. Jake is retired from baseball to injuries but he makes his return to the sport he loves by becoming the new host on the talk show Penelope is the producer of. And what a beautiful slow burn they have. Jake falls first, but their realization of how they care for each other is just so beautiful.
Not only does he fall first, it’s friends to lovers, a workplace romance, MCs in their 30s, dual perspective, there are cooking lessons 👀, and Jake is an absolutely perfect book boyfriend. This book is closed door, but Jake and Pen have a beautiful story regardless of whether or not there is spice!!
Another thing I want to mention is that The Curveball features OwnVoices representation in regard to PCOS. Megan truly shows her soul with Penelope. Having gotten to know Megan after reading this book, so much of her heart is in these pages. She shows both the days filled with sunshine and the ones thick with storm clouds. Other trigger warnings are listed right at the beginning of the book. 💛
I hope that you will read this book. It is the first in a series full of such lovable characters. You can find it on KU or through the link in Megan’s bio 😊
February 24, 2024
This one just wasn't for me. It definitely had some great elements...dealing with a chronic health condition and women in a male-dominated industry. But the story dragged and didn't quite click with me.
April 26, 2023
This was such a sweet read. I loved the strong message behind it and how Megan Cousins incorporated the topic of disabilities, as well, into it.
We have Penelope - a strong minded but sometimes shy, baseball loving woman who also struggles with PCOS and her insecurities. I loved the fact that she works as a producer for a baseball commentary show; something you almost never read about in books. Then there's Jake - a former baseball pitcher who's injury landed him in an early retirement. He's sweet and gentle with a heart of gold. The two of them just so happen to be neighbors in their apartment building and Jake ALSO just so happen to be the new co-host of the show that Penelope produces. There may be many books about work romances BUT there isn't much about baseball and I haven't come across one just like this.
There are many topics that are addressed in this book so I may forget to touch on something.
I absolutely loved the representation of women and women in baseball, a "man's sport" that you rarely see women be a part of. Penelope has made it her life's mission to make her late father proud by achieving her goals in the world of baseball; a pastime they enjoyed together. Her passion to "break the glass" was so nice to read about. You're rooting for her, truly. I also love the support she had from Jake about this as well as the two other co-hosts, and her family. They all saw how bad she wanted her special to make it to air and they all did what they could to make it happen. I really loved when she told Mark where to go because enough is enough with men belittling women in the workplace. He had more than a punch to the face coming.
There was also representation of PCOS, another thing you rarely read about. I enjoyed how Cousins portrayed this for Penelope. You got to see someone with it live day to day and how it can effect a person and their life. Jake was so supportive throughout it all, of course...because he's just the perfect male lead! The fact that he called his brother to ask questions about it was so CUTE.
The bond that Penelope and her father had was so endearing. The fact that the father wasn't alive but we felt his presence through this tells you a lot. You couldn't help but love his character and that's just a testament to how he was written. The memories that those two shared with each other had me emotional, for sure.
Jake and Penelope were cute together. At first I was getting impatient with how long it was taking for a spark to ignite but when she runs into his place and confesses she wants to date him, I was loving it. SUPER CHEESY MOMENTS so be prepared for that. Were there times when I felt like things for moving too fast in retrospect? Yeah, but it was still cute.
There were a few things that did bother me, as well. There was a lot of cheesy moments that definitely had me rolling my eyes. When she tells Jake she loves him for the first time and you hear his siblings cheer in the background...I mean if that was my family, I would be mortified that they were listening in on such a private moment. I liked that Jake had nickname for her but there was no need to give him one as well. Again, just cheesy. I also wish there was a better way to distinguish the timeline. Time started jumping and I didn't know how many days or weeks had passed. One minute they're making their relationship official and the next he's asking for an engagement ring. How long in between the two? I don't know. Also, what happened to the bucket list she made?? They accomplished one day's worth and never did it again.
Once their love "blossomed", things happened fast. It was a slow burn until it wasn't at all anymore. There were definitely moments where Penelope's insecurities started getting too much for me to read about. It just started to feel repetitive. Jake having to remind her how great she was and how much he loved her constantly started to make her feel needy towards the end and that was not the vibe I initially had of her. There were definitely times where I felt her strongmindedness was lacking and she looked weak instead.
Regardless, I enjoyed this book. It was a super quick, cute, and fun read. I absolutely love that it had a baseball focus to it. I loved the main topics addressed and the overall story. Once again, prepare for the cheese factor!!
We have Penelope - a strong minded but sometimes shy, baseball loving woman who also struggles with PCOS and her insecurities. I loved the fact that she works as a producer for a baseball commentary show; something you almost never read about in books. Then there's Jake - a former baseball pitcher who's injury landed him in an early retirement. He's sweet and gentle with a heart of gold. The two of them just so happen to be neighbors in their apartment building and Jake ALSO just so happen to be the new co-host of the show that Penelope produces. There may be many books about work romances BUT there isn't much about baseball and I haven't come across one just like this.
There are many topics that are addressed in this book so I may forget to touch on something.
I absolutely loved the representation of women and women in baseball, a "man's sport" that you rarely see women be a part of. Penelope has made it her life's mission to make her late father proud by achieving her goals in the world of baseball; a pastime they enjoyed together. Her passion to "break the glass" was so nice to read about. You're rooting for her, truly. I also love the support she had from Jake about this as well as the two other co-hosts, and her family. They all saw how bad she wanted her special to make it to air and they all did what they could to make it happen. I really loved when she told Mark where to go because enough is enough with men belittling women in the workplace. He had more than a punch to the face coming.
There was also representation of PCOS, another thing you rarely read about. I enjoyed how Cousins portrayed this for Penelope. You got to see someone with it live day to day and how it can effect a person and their life. Jake was so supportive throughout it all, of course...because he's just the perfect male lead! The fact that he called his brother to ask questions about it was so CUTE.
The bond that Penelope and her father had was so endearing. The fact that the father wasn't alive but we felt his presence through this tells you a lot. You couldn't help but love his character and that's just a testament to how he was written. The memories that those two shared with each other had me emotional, for sure.
Jake and Penelope were cute together. At first I was getting impatient with how long it was taking for a spark to ignite but when she runs into his place and confesses she wants to date him, I was loving it. SUPER CHEESY MOMENTS so be prepared for that. Were there times when I felt like things for moving too fast in retrospect? Yeah, but it was still cute.
There were a few things that did bother me, as well. There was a lot of cheesy moments that definitely had me rolling my eyes. When she tells Jake she loves him for the first time and you hear his siblings cheer in the background...I mean if that was my family, I would be mortified that they were listening in on such a private moment. I liked that Jake had nickname for her but there was no need to give him one as well. Again, just cheesy. I also wish there was a better way to distinguish the timeline. Time started jumping and I didn't know how many days or weeks had passed. One minute they're making their relationship official and the next he's asking for an engagement ring. How long in between the two? I don't know. Also, what happened to the bucket list she made?? They accomplished one day's worth and never did it again.
Once their love "blossomed", things happened fast. It was a slow burn until it wasn't at all anymore. There were definitely moments where Penelope's insecurities started getting too much for me to read about. It just started to feel repetitive. Jake having to remind her how great she was and how much he loved her constantly started to make her feel needy towards the end and that was not the vibe I initially had of her. There were definitely times where I felt her strongmindedness was lacking and she looked weak instead.
Regardless, I enjoyed this book. It was a super quick, cute, and fun read. I absolutely love that it had a baseball focus to it. I loved the main topics addressed and the overall story. Once again, prepare for the cheese factor!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2022
Book: The Curveball
Author: Megan Cousins
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
Penelope: I love baseball. And I get paid to talk about it. Sure, I'm behind the scenes of the best baseball talk show on television, but that's where I'm comfortable. Where I'm safe. And then Jake Hutchinson showed up and I started dreaming again. Dreaming of so much more than being behind the scenes. He reminded me of why I got into this business in the first place. I was determined to put my head down and do my work, and not get involved...but Jake is the curveball I never saw coming.
Jake: I was determined to come in and make a good first impression. Though, soliciting a free meal from my producer probably wasn't the way to do that. And then she started talking about the game I love, the game I played, and I was hooked. I could listen to her talk about baseball for the rest of my life. I can't get involved with my producer, can I? With her talent she won't be a producer for much longer, and what's life without a little risk, right?
The Curveball is a closed-door, friends to lovers, workplace romance featuring a baseball loving heroine and former baseball player hero. The Curveball is very much a love letter to baseball and the bonds created when it is shared. The Curveball also features #OwnVoices Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and chronic pain representation, written by an author who lives with PCOS and the associated chronic pain.
Review:
I absolutely loved this book! This is the first novel in the Wild Pitches series, but can be read as a standalone novel. I am a huge baseball fan and live with chronic pain myself, so it felt like this book was written specifically for me. I related a lot of Penelope with feeling like she always had to prove herself as a baseball fan, and as a professional in the baseball industry, just because she is female. I loved how the author portrayed the chronic pain and PCOS own voices storyline, as it was handled in a way that wasn’t too much or too little, and made me feel very seen, as it is not often where I read a book that I see myself represented, even though my condition is different from Penelope’s.
I loved Jake! His background and storyline was very interesting to see unfold, and I loved how protective he was of Penelope, as well as how caring and loving he was to her. This book had a friends to lovers storyline, which is my absolute favorite romance trope. I also loved the side characters, especially Jake’s family (his nieces were just adorable!) I adored all the bits of baseball that were included in the story, and one scene in particular made me flash back to a not so great ending to a game by my favorite team in the last few years, and wouldn’t be surprised if that scene was based off of that game lol!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend that you give it a try!
Thank you to Megan Cousins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Curveball releases on April 26, so preorder your copy today!
Author: Megan Cousins
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
Penelope: I love baseball. And I get paid to talk about it. Sure, I'm behind the scenes of the best baseball talk show on television, but that's where I'm comfortable. Where I'm safe. And then Jake Hutchinson showed up and I started dreaming again. Dreaming of so much more than being behind the scenes. He reminded me of why I got into this business in the first place. I was determined to put my head down and do my work, and not get involved...but Jake is the curveball I never saw coming.
Jake: I was determined to come in and make a good first impression. Though, soliciting a free meal from my producer probably wasn't the way to do that. And then she started talking about the game I love, the game I played, and I was hooked. I could listen to her talk about baseball for the rest of my life. I can't get involved with my producer, can I? With her talent she won't be a producer for much longer, and what's life without a little risk, right?
The Curveball is a closed-door, friends to lovers, workplace romance featuring a baseball loving heroine and former baseball player hero. The Curveball is very much a love letter to baseball and the bonds created when it is shared. The Curveball also features #OwnVoices Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and chronic pain representation, written by an author who lives with PCOS and the associated chronic pain.
Review:
I absolutely loved this book! This is the first novel in the Wild Pitches series, but can be read as a standalone novel. I am a huge baseball fan and live with chronic pain myself, so it felt like this book was written specifically for me. I related a lot of Penelope with feeling like she always had to prove herself as a baseball fan, and as a professional in the baseball industry, just because she is female. I loved how the author portrayed the chronic pain and PCOS own voices storyline, as it was handled in a way that wasn’t too much or too little, and made me feel very seen, as it is not often where I read a book that I see myself represented, even though my condition is different from Penelope’s.
I loved Jake! His background and storyline was very interesting to see unfold, and I loved how protective he was of Penelope, as well as how caring and loving he was to her. This book had a friends to lovers storyline, which is my absolute favorite romance trope. I also loved the side characters, especially Jake’s family (his nieces were just adorable!) I adored all the bits of baseball that were included in the story, and one scene in particular made me flash back to a not so great ending to a game by my favorite team in the last few years, and wouldn’t be surprised if that scene was based off of that game lol!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend that you give it a try!
Thank you to Megan Cousins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Curveball releases on April 26, so preorder your copy today!
April 13, 2022
I adored this debut romance from Megan Cousins! It’s sweet and lovely and full of the best characters, promising that this will be a series that knocks it out of the park (baseball pun�.)
Penelope Nichols lives and breathes baseball. She grew up watching the game with her dad, and now she’s the producer of a nightly sports show dedicated to the sport. When she runs into her new neighbor - who happens to be the new cohost for her show - she finds herself face to face with her father’s favorite baseball player, Jake Hutchinson. Jake was a baseball star whose career ended too early with an injury. From their first meeting, he can’t deny how he’s drawn to Penelope.
Jake and Penelope are so sweet together. Jake worships the ground Penelope walks on, and is such a strong and stabilizing presence in her life. This is an Own Voices novel by an author with PCOS who wrote elements of her experience into Penelope’s character which made the whole story arc so authentic and tender. I loved how Jake was so devoted to showing up for Penelope and learning how to love her in exactly the ways she needed most. Jake’s family is amazing and I look forward to seeing more of them in future books.
Content warnings: death of parents and grieving that loss is a strong theme throughout the book; the female MC has PCOS so there are scenes with chronic pain, painful periods, migraines, and associated fertility struggles; verbal and borderline physical harassment in the workplace.
Disclosure � I’m friends with the author on social media and voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Penelope Nichols lives and breathes baseball. She grew up watching the game with her dad, and now she’s the producer of a nightly sports show dedicated to the sport. When she runs into her new neighbor - who happens to be the new cohost for her show - she finds herself face to face with her father’s favorite baseball player, Jake Hutchinson. Jake was a baseball star whose career ended too early with an injury. From their first meeting, he can’t deny how he’s drawn to Penelope.
Jake and Penelope are so sweet together. Jake worships the ground Penelope walks on, and is such a strong and stabilizing presence in her life. This is an Own Voices novel by an author with PCOS who wrote elements of her experience into Penelope’s character which made the whole story arc so authentic and tender. I loved how Jake was so devoted to showing up for Penelope and learning how to love her in exactly the ways she needed most. Jake’s family is amazing and I look forward to seeing more of them in future books.
Content warnings: death of parents and grieving that loss is a strong theme throughout the book; the female MC has PCOS so there are scenes with chronic pain, painful periods, migraines, and associated fertility struggles; verbal and borderline physical harassment in the workplace.
Disclosure � I’m friends with the author on social media and voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 23, 2022
I loved this book. It's a closed door romance, (clean) with the sweetest guy ever and a strong heroine.
Can I just start by saying that first meeting was gold! It's so good.
Then because that first meeting wasn't enough, you have the second meeting! The banter, the admiration both have for each other, him being so smitten 🥰.
Jake is the sweetest cinnamon roll. Not only is he kind, but he is fierce, loyal, straightforward, smart and just sexy. He is protective, attentive, and so supportive. I love that he had his head so clear on his feelings. No drama. His family is the best😍.
The chemistry between Jake and Penelope was 🔥. The pace is 👌🏻 and has both of them pinning for the other. It seems quick but they are 24/7 together haha so it just flowed right.
💙 Jake just wins your heart. He's an absolute sweetheart. And I loved Nell! She has guts! You go girl. I love their small moments together. Loved the tv segment, family support, small kitchen and sofa scenes.
I loved the depth of the story with Nellie having Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. This book educated me so much. How she opens up, it's so raw and his reaction is the perfect way to validate someone's feelings/insecurities and reassure them they are so much more than that. I love seeing her shine on her moment of truth!!
Lastly, that final chapter. The cherry on top. I loved this book so much because it's so authentic. You really have to check this one out.
I can't wait for Jenna's! 💚
Things I loved:
� Baseball
✔️ Bucket list
☶︳ܲԲԱ
🌯Meals together
⚠️TW: harassment, body shaming, death of a loved one, cancer.
Can I just start by saying that first meeting was gold! It's so good.
Then because that first meeting wasn't enough, you have the second meeting! The banter, the admiration both have for each other, him being so smitten 🥰.
Jake is the sweetest cinnamon roll. Not only is he kind, but he is fierce, loyal, straightforward, smart and just sexy. He is protective, attentive, and so supportive. I love that he had his head so clear on his feelings. No drama. His family is the best😍.
The chemistry between Jake and Penelope was 🔥. The pace is 👌🏻 and has both of them pinning for the other. It seems quick but they are 24/7 together haha so it just flowed right.
💙 Jake just wins your heart. He's an absolute sweetheart. And I loved Nell! She has guts! You go girl. I love their small moments together. Loved the tv segment, family support, small kitchen and sofa scenes.
I loved the depth of the story with Nellie having Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. This book educated me so much. How she opens up, it's so raw and his reaction is the perfect way to validate someone's feelings/insecurities and reassure them they are so much more than that. I love seeing her shine on her moment of truth!!
Lastly, that final chapter. The cherry on top. I loved this book so much because it's so authentic. You really have to check this one out.
I can't wait for Jenna's! 💚
Things I loved:
� Baseball
✔️ Bucket list
☶︳ܲԲԱ
🌯Meals together
⚠️TW: harassment, body shaming, death of a loved one, cancer.
October 5, 2022
To everyone with a glass ceiling to shatter. Don’t let anything stand in your way. - Book Dedication
October Baseball (Go Braves) is upon us, meaning I had to cozy up with The Curveball and I am so glad I did!
What I loved:
📣It is an #OwnVoices book! The main character, Penelope, walks through life with PCOS and Megan beautifully writes how strong PCOS warriors are in every struggle they face daily.
⚾️BASEBALL. I love how connected the game was in the story as well as how important that women who loved the game are slowly shattering the glass ceiling that has been in place for far too long.
🤗Hallmark meets Sports Movie meets RomCom with a workplace romance with friends to lovers (and tons of cooking and food) - truly a warm hug of a book!
🧢But, wait…there’s more! The Change-up featuring MMC Jake’s sister Jenna is coming out October 26th, 2022 meaning we will get to be reunited with the sweet Hutchinson Family once again.
Even though there was a lot I did love about this book, there were a few things that I wasn’t a huge fan of…It was a slow burn that was a little too slow moving and at some points a little too predictable. But, the author truly did a phenomenal job tying in so many emotionally heavy topics and resolving them with such grace and poise within her characters. This book will be not only a comfort read, but a source of healing for many!
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.⭐️ (3.5 Stars)
Maturity Rating:
PG/PG-13
Closed Door Romance with Adult Themes
Trigger Warning:
PCOS/Chronic Illness, Anxiety, Workplace Harassment, Loss of Parents, Grief, Infertility Discussion
Enjoyed this book review?
Want to explore some other great book recommendations? Check out my blog:
October Baseball (Go Braves) is upon us, meaning I had to cozy up with The Curveball and I am so glad I did!
What I loved:
📣It is an #OwnVoices book! The main character, Penelope, walks through life with PCOS and Megan beautifully writes how strong PCOS warriors are in every struggle they face daily.
⚾️BASEBALL. I love how connected the game was in the story as well as how important that women who loved the game are slowly shattering the glass ceiling that has been in place for far too long.
🤗Hallmark meets Sports Movie meets RomCom with a workplace romance with friends to lovers (and tons of cooking and food) - truly a warm hug of a book!
🧢But, wait…there’s more! The Change-up featuring MMC Jake’s sister Jenna is coming out October 26th, 2022 meaning we will get to be reunited with the sweet Hutchinson Family once again.
Even though there was a lot I did love about this book, there were a few things that I wasn’t a huge fan of…It was a slow burn that was a little too slow moving and at some points a little too predictable. But, the author truly did a phenomenal job tying in so many emotionally heavy topics and resolving them with such grace and poise within her characters. This book will be not only a comfort read, but a source of healing for many!
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.⭐️ (3.5 Stars)
Maturity Rating:
PG/PG-13
Closed Door Romance with Adult Themes
Trigger Warning:
PCOS/Chronic Illness, Anxiety, Workplace Harassment, Loss of Parents, Grief, Infertility Discussion
Enjoyed this book review?
Want to explore some other great book recommendations? Check out my blog:
February 23, 2024
I started The Curveball by Megan Cousins last night, but I began to nod off, so I restarted it this morning. Penelope works in sports reporting, which is still a men-dominated world—the injustice of being devalued for your gender. She’s doing all she can to change that. Penelope suffers from PCOS, which can cause access and unwanted hair, among many other systems. The unwanted hair can cause issues with self-image and self-esteem.
PCOS is an unbalance in hormones, in simple terms. Sadly, it is prevalent among female and trans folks. My GYN misdiagnosed me with it, and I felt very alone, so representation of any kind is essential. However, ŷ listed it as a disability, and I disagree. Yes, it is a condition that may cause discomfort physically and mentally, but in my opinion, it isn’t something that enables you to live your life independently. I loved how supportive Jake was with everything. Here is a favourite quote (one of the longest ones I ever highlighted):
“Sometimes the Sunshine needs a break. It can be exhausting to try and be sunshine all the time. Sometimes, Sunshine needs a Stormcloud to come in and give her some cover. And even though we’ve only known each other for a few months, you somehow already know when that is. Thanks for being my Stormcloud. Stormcloud doesn’t know what to say. Stormcloud wants to march across the hall, take Sunshine in his arms and kiss her. Stormcloud also knows that would be wildly inappropriate for a number of reasons...but it doesn’t make me want it any less.�
I’m not the biggest sports romance fan, so I’m sort of shocked about how much I like it. Plus, this novel is my 100th read this year.
PCOS is an unbalance in hormones, in simple terms. Sadly, it is prevalent among female and trans folks. My GYN misdiagnosed me with it, and I felt very alone, so representation of any kind is essential. However, ŷ listed it as a disability, and I disagree. Yes, it is a condition that may cause discomfort physically and mentally, but in my opinion, it isn’t something that enables you to live your life independently. I loved how supportive Jake was with everything. Here is a favourite quote (one of the longest ones I ever highlighted):
“Sometimes the Sunshine needs a break. It can be exhausting to try and be sunshine all the time. Sometimes, Sunshine needs a Stormcloud to come in and give her some cover. And even though we’ve only known each other for a few months, you somehow already know when that is. Thanks for being my Stormcloud. Stormcloud doesn’t know what to say. Stormcloud wants to march across the hall, take Sunshine in his arms and kiss her. Stormcloud also knows that would be wildly inappropriate for a number of reasons...but it doesn’t make me want it any less.�
I’m not the biggest sports romance fan, so I’m sort of shocked about how much I like it. Plus, this novel is my 100th read this year.
November 6, 2022
The Curveball is the first book in the Wild Pitches series by Megan Cousins. A book about women in baseball, PCOS representation, and, of course, romance, this book is a must read!
Read if you also enjoy:
* Dual POV
* Own Voices representation (with PCOS)
* Cinnamon roll hero
* Workplace romance
* Cooking lessons (we recreated one of the recipes .)
* Neighbors to more
* Former pro-baseball athlete MMC
* Awesome chapter titles (They are worth mentioning.)
* FMC working on shattering the glass ceiling in sports media.
* Sweet endearments/nicknames
* Slow burn
* No 3rd act breakup (and an amazing ending.)
We had the opportunity to write a blurb about our love for this book to include in The Changeup, and I hope it can help convince you to read this wonderful book so that you can fall in love with it, too.
“The Curveball is all the best things about reading combined. There is Own Voices representation, there is baseball, there is romance. It is real life with real love woven throughout every page of the book. We are reminded that life isn’t always easy or what some would consider “picture perfect,� but is is so beautiful.
We love Megan for so many reasons, just one reason being the way she brings real life to her books in a refreshing way that reminds us to aim for the sky, and if a ceiling is in your way- you shatter it.�
Romance/Steam Level:
one teacup-kisses only.
***For our tea recommendation and any potential triggers, visit us on our website.
Read if you also enjoy:
* Dual POV
* Own Voices representation (with PCOS)
* Cinnamon roll hero
* Workplace romance
* Cooking lessons (we recreated one of the recipes .)
* Neighbors to more
* Former pro-baseball athlete MMC
* Awesome chapter titles (They are worth mentioning.)
* FMC working on shattering the glass ceiling in sports media.
* Sweet endearments/nicknames
* Slow burn
* No 3rd act breakup (and an amazing ending.)
We had the opportunity to write a blurb about our love for this book to include in The Changeup, and I hope it can help convince you to read this wonderful book so that you can fall in love with it, too.
“The Curveball is all the best things about reading combined. There is Own Voices representation, there is baseball, there is romance. It is real life with real love woven throughout every page of the book. We are reminded that life isn’t always easy or what some would consider “picture perfect,� but is is so beautiful.
We love Megan for so many reasons, just one reason being the way she brings real life to her books in a refreshing way that reminds us to aim for the sky, and if a ceiling is in your way- you shatter it.�
Romance/Steam Level:
one teacup-kisses only.
***For our tea recommendation and any potential triggers, visit us on our website.
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