YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY is a stunning entry in this historical series about being queer in the late 50s/early 60s in New York. Cat Sebastian is the absolute best at making characters feel so real that you physically ache to know they aren't, but the story is so readable you simply cannot put it down. Once started, a Cat Sebastian book is one that stays in motion and YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY is no exception. Filled with grief, joy, and everything in between, I forgot that I loved baseball romance until I read this—and this is the best of them.

This is a fun low angst queer romance set in 1960. That said, there is grief, death, and legitimate fear of being outed in a society where you could lose everything if found out as major plot elements. This is the 2nd book in this series-- the first set a few years earlier featuring Andy and Nick who are minor characters in this one.
I enjoyed Mark and Eddie's story. Mark's wariness to love again and to put Eddie's reputation at risk felt real. And Eddie was lovely in his enthusiasm for life.

3.5 rounded up. This book is a beautiful love letter to baseball and queer love - those aspects I enjoyed. I loved getting to know Mark and Eddie and reading so much about baseball history sprinkled throughout the narrative. There were some great side characters too like George Allen and Eddie's mom - the entire cast was endearing. I also appreciated thinking more about what it must have been like to be queer in the 1960s and the debate over wanting to tell friends/family yet wondering if it was safe to do so.

However, the book was painfully slow and repetitive. I felt like the relationship and narrative was going around in circles. I wish the story had progressed a bit faster and the book had been a bit shorter. Overall though, I still enjoyed the book and will recommend it to my audience - especially to those who love baseball.

This was such a unique romance unlike I've ever read before; queer in the 1960's. I loved this story and the way it was told.

A slow-burn, grumpy/sunshine, queer mid-century romance--how could I resist? The story takes place in 1960 between a reporter and a baseball player in a major slump. This is my second book by this author and I love her writing. It’s one of those that has a deeper, more meaningful story behind it than just the romance (which is top notch by the way). It’s about loss and acceptance, it has great character dialogue and development, and it’ll just put a big smile on your face

QUEER. HISTORICAL. ROMANCE

This story is set in the 1960’s where Eddie O’Leary and Mark Bailey fall in love while both dealing with heavy personal lives. However, they develop a chosen family of coworkers, teammates, and friends who are safe, affirming people and help pave the path for Eddie and Mark to be their best selves, together.

My rating: 4.25 STARS

Cat Sebastian wrote a queer love story that feels like an anxious person wearing a comfy sweater while drinking a hot coffee and serving a demanding dog. It is definitely a book I will be revisiting on a fall day. Her writing style is reminiscent of your best friend who has dry humor but is also your safe place. Thank you Cat for this ARC through Netgalley.

Y’ALL! When I read @catswrites’ perfect historical romance We Could Be So Good last year, I could only hope that she’d write another one I could love as much. Not only did she do that, but it’s about a Major League Baseball Player. I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY!!!!

I requested the ARC for her forthcoming You Should Be So Lucky on @netgalley, and I actually shrieked when I got the email that I had been approved. Though I had one of the busiest work weeks ahead of me, I made the very good/bad decision to stay up way past my bedtime reading it because I cannot control myself. It was extremely worth it.

This image (courtesy of the author) tells you everything you need to know—alongside my shrieking—about how perfect these messy idiots are and how deeply devoted I am to them. Eddie, the ballplayer, and Mark, the journalist, have no business being as wonderful as they are for each other, and (like Nick and Andy in WCBSG) their lack of boundaries in circumstances that absolutely require very clear boundaries will inspire you to chuckle so fondly!!! I also cried several times; in all seriousness, her depiction of Mark’s grief felt so realistic, as it hit at unexpected times with unexpected potency. (If you are actively grieving a partner who could not publicly acknowledge you, this book may take you where you do not wish to go.)

I cannot wait for you to read this book when it comes out May 7, nor can I wait to read the ARC 12 more times between now and when my pre-ordered copy arrives. Will there be more in this universe from Cat Sebastian? It would be so good and I would be so lucky.

I cracked this galley with great trepidation. I loved "We Could Be So Good" so much that I couldn't imagine anything could live up to it. Well, I should have trusted Cat Sebastian. This book, like its predecessor, is fast becoming one of my Emotional Support Romance Novels.

My favorite thing about Cat's books is how real the characters feel. I ended the story feeling like I'd just spent a couple of hours with close friends. Even better, they're all good people despite their very human flaws. It's a pleasure to spend time with them.

If Cat Sebastian writes it, I will read it.

I didn’t think anything could too We Could Be So Good, but You Should Be So Lucky is an incredible follow up to Nick and Andy! Set in the same world, Mark (from the Chronicle) has the unfortunate audacity to fall in love with a closeted queer famous mouthy baseball player on the world team in the league, superstar turned super slumper Eddie O’Leary. What could possibly go wrong?

💙 Athlete x Reporter
💙 You’re a nightmare (affectionate)
💙 Golden Retriever BF x Black Cat BF
💙 Late night phone calls
💙 Mutual Pining
💙 Secret relationship (but they’re both terrible at keeping it a secret bc they can’t stop smiling at each other)
💙 Sarcasm as a love language
💙 Lovingly antagonistic relationship between spoiled diva dog and surly dog owner

Luckily for Mark, nothing goes wrong - which seems wrong to him because everything in his life has always gone wrong. So how could this possibly go right? He should cut his losses while he can…right? If only he could stay away from the adorably positive, exasperatingly naive Eddie O’Leary. It doesn’t help that Eddie is increasingly fond of Mark, calling at all hours of the night just to talk, waking up ungodly early just to walk Mark’s dog, and taking up space unapologetically in Mark’s life that he has no hope of getting rid of him…and he truthfully doesn’t want to.

It’s a novel length love letter to second chances, to surviving heartbreak, to figuring life out, and to learning how to accept the love you’re worthy of. Eddie’s baseball slump and gritty comeback is a metaphor (because baseball is always a metaphor) to Mark’s journey from complete heartbreak to understanding and accepting that he can fight for the life he wants and he can have it. The parallels in their stories underscore everything, making it impossible not to root for them both, separately and together.

Their love is so soft and tender, a stark contrast to the gritty, tough fights they’re both facing. Yet it makes sense, that in the privacy of their relationship the walls come down and the soft underbelly of both these mouthy, sarcastic men is shown. Mark with his fears, his caustic biting remarks that preempt any show of vulnerability and Eddie with his usual nonchalance shucked for the serious particularity with which he cares for Mark, claws and all. And Mark returns this unmovable affection with his own unwavering belief in Eddie, in his worth beyond baseball.

All couched between snide remarks and flippant jokes, Mark and Eddie are a testament to the bravery of queer people in an age that didn’t accept them, that actively targeted them, that…well it’s different yet not so different from today. While queer people have way more freedom in today’s society, it was still tragically depressing to read about the struggles of Mark and Eddie, Nick and Andy, Lillian and Maureen, and see those struggles reflected in today’s society. While we’ve come far, we are still far from truly free.

Thank you Avon and Netgalley for the ARC. YSBSL is out May 7th.

Cat Sebastian is one of my favorite storytellers, and I've been loving her latest books set in NYC in the 50's! First of all, Mark Bailey had my whole heart. Prickly and coming out of a deep grief, Cat Sebastian wrote him with a tender touch that it made me ache and laugh with him, sometimes within the same scene. When Mark loaned a lonely baseball player a queer horror book, I knew I'd adore watching him open back up to love, even while contending with the era-typical homophobia. Here, NYC played an incredible role of making me believe their happily ever after, even in the 50's.

Now onto the sweetest, most quick tempered creampuff of a short stop, Eddie O'Leary. As someone who knows very little about baseball (I had to look up what a doubleheader meant in terms of baseball, and then I found out sometimes there are tripleheaders?!), I enjoyed how baseball played a part in their love story. Initially, I was mad at his team for shunning him after some boneheaded statements he made, but I grew to really love Ardolino and Price ("Is this baby's first time experiencing things that don't make sense? Price asks, his face a mask of faux sympathy even as he hands Eddie a beer. "Baby's first injustice?"). I sighed in such happiness at the end and thus give this one my highest recommendation!

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon, for granting me an advanced reader copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

When the romance novel eases your anxiety more than your actual medication. Thank you, Cat Sebastian.

This book has me so soft. It was a truly beautiful reading experience, seeing these two lonely souls connecting and slowly not feeling quite as lonely anymore. The writing was absolutely beautiful and turned my heavy heart into mush. I was expecting to love this, but I'm also so attached to Nick and Andy, and I wasn't sure I'd end up loving Mark and Eddie as much. But I really, truly do.

If I had to give one piece 0f constructive feedback, it would be that I'd have adored actually reading Mark's columns. But that's a minor detail, of course!

Cat Sebastian, you ruined my life.

Again.

You Should Be So Lucky, as is typical of Cat’s work, is an absolute masterpiece. In this novel, we follow the inevitably glorious romance of Mark and Eddie, a “retired” journalist and a baseball player in a major batting slump. This is without a doubt a vibes-over-plot novel, and I say this with the highest regard because the vibes here are truly impeccable.

This is definitely one of those vibe-centric novels where there is minimal angst. While there are topics that are traditionally angst-inducing, such as the loss of a loved one in various contexts, Cat does a wonderful job of balancing these heavier aspects so as not to overshadow the romance between our protagonists. Mark has been grieving a long-term partner for over a year and Eddie has been grieving the potential death of his talent at baseball, these two factors not only build on the characters but are intertwined spectacularly into the subtext of the story. One of my notes was quite literally, “Cat Sebastian’s capacity for subtext is undefeated,” and I stand by that.

Sebastian’s ability to iterate a story through her own voice while maintaining the individuality of her characters brings a new form of life into the plot. The writing is wonderful in every way that it could be and has always been one of the defining characteristics that I love about her work. Mark and Eddie are the epitome of how the grumpy/sunshine trope is to be executed from here on out. Eddie, while having a seriously atrocious time at the start of this novel, is the walking embodiment of laid-back optimism. Even better, is that while he is our traditional “sunshine” element, he isn’t confined to this stereotype and also expresses his capacity for emotions like irritation and anger. Likewise, Mark, proves time and time again that despite the grumpiness of it all, has a penchant for kindness.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the privilege of receiving an advanced reader copy of You Should Be So Lucky!

Absolutely enthralled by Cat Sebastian's newest, historical romance! She takes two subjects I usually don't think about - journalism and baseball - and creates an engaging, earnest story of loss, struggle, hope, and second chances. I loved watching Eddie and Mark get to known each other! Eddie is a total sweetheart and it's no surprise that Mark, closed off and jaded, is soon charmed by Eddie. Meanwhile, for Eddie, he's instantly intrigued by Mark but wary due to the way his relationship with the press went from fun and casual to excruciating. For both men, trust is gradually earned and a working relationship moves towards true friendship with the promise of more. Beyond the absolute delight of reading their POVs, I also enjoyed the other characters and the depth that is brought to every part of the story. The examination of grief in all of its facets is especially powerful. There's also the ongoing debate between Mark and Eddie about what it means to be queer and high profile, how to live authentically, and how to find and embrace community. There's late night payphones calls, meals shared at diners and restaurants, baseballs stats I did not understand, a highly strung dog, and a bone deep intimacy that made my little heart melt. Truly a must read!

This was just amazing. So much to love — perfect storm of tropes (found family, jaded/hopeful, baseball slump, second love, slow burn!!); the time / setting that lent SO much to the story, for both historical interest and also just these unique, delightful touches (calls from the payphone! 60s baseball! retro air travel!); and there are these perfect intersecting plot arcs that take you through the whole story and make the baseball/journalism world feel so full. Cat Sebastian put so much research and craft into this and it shows. Mark and Eddie’s dynamic in bed was incredibly hot also — loved Mark coming into his own in a new relationship after 7 years with William and Eddie’s openness / not fitting in a tub / showing off his biceps all the time, what a gift. And finally, all the bits about baseball being a beautiful game made me cry. It IS a beautiful game. Read this nonstop cover to cover on a 6 hour flight and it was definitely one of my best plane experiences ever!!! Extremely, extremely solid and I would wholeheartedly recommend!

Thank you Avon for the ARC!

I didn’t think I could love anything more than We Could Be So Good… I was wrong.

With We Could Be So Good, I fell in love with Nick and Andy instantly. (Like, if I search my texts I think I said that I would die for Andy and I was only on page 13.)

But with this book, I started out enjoying both Eddie and Mark, nothing that stood out like with Andy, but definite enjoyment. What gets you with these two is the backstory and heart involved with the character building…. the more I read, the more I loved them 😭😭😭

By the time I was 3/4 of the way through, I was ready to risk it all for either one of them (and their little dog, too!). This book has it all… baseball, phone booths, pastries, lots and lots of fabrics, and two incredible characters that you can’t help loving by the end.

To describe You Should Be So Lucky in one word, it would be tender. This book is set in 1960s NYC, a gay historical romance between a professional baseball player and a reporter. How does it get much better than that??

This is a slow burn done so right, every small moment between Mark and Eddie made me blush and kick my feet!!😭 Not only is this so incredibly sweet and heartwarming, this book equally focuses on grief and does so really beautifully.

I’m so happy this book didn’t follow the traditional format of romance books with a huge third act breakup, and instead something so enjoyable to read even as they had to figure things out about themselves.

This was such an unexpected new favorite after requesting it on NetGalley knowing basically nothing about it, and I’m so glad I did !!!!

Huge thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I really enjoyed this book. I liked all of the major characters and the minor characters too. I'm a big baseball fan. I wanted to know more of the front office politics and what's going on. I also just want to know how the next baseball season goes!

In 1960’s New York, Eddie O’Leary is having a tough baseball season, when Mark Bailey, an arts reporter, is assigned to write about Eddie’s performance on the team.
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‘You Should Be So Lucky’ is a tender and lovely story about the struggles of being queer in a time where you have to be weary about how many personal details you share with the world. Be sure to check this out when it releases on May 7th!

Set in the early 1960s, this baseball MM romance completely surprised me and I enjoyed every single moment of it.

Mark is a reporter in New York City and has been reluctantly assigned to cover the new addition to the Robins baseball team, Eddie. Eddie is a young 22 year old baseball player who was traded to New York and doesn't want to be there. He's young, homesick, and still coming to terms with his queerness. Mark has been quietly grieving the death of a former lover when he takes a liking and a friendship with Eddie while covering his season.

This story has such great pacing with a great slow burn. The 1960s setting left a whole new element as both characters are trying to navigate their queerness while also being afraid of exposing the other. Mark seems to be more open about being gay, whereas Eddie is a Major League Baseball player and could face a much larger backlash with potential hate crimes. The ironic thing though, was that Mark seemed to be the one to care more about Eddie being discreet than Eddie did.

I really loved the dynamic that both characters brought to the table. Mark was in his late twenties and trying to grieve a huge part of his life that was lost, while Eddie is a young and happy golden retriever just wanting to spend as much time as he can with Mark.

*Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the ARC in return for my honest review

If you are looking for a beautiful story about 2 men in 1950’s trying to find their way, I recommend this book..

Eddie is a baseball player that gets traded to another team. He has a reputation of being a hot head and he’s battling a hitting slump. In comes Mark, then the beautiful story of friends to lovers begins. The care that was given in writing about a delicate topic of the 50’s was beautiful. The way the growing relationship was handled was great.
However, that’s where the story stops for me. I found myself skipping numerous pages because the plot just wasn’t holding for me. I wasn’t invested in the side characters to worry about the happenings of the team. I also feel that some of the plot was lost in words. The book seemed very word-y to me. Also, the chapters were long and I’m not someone that enjoys long chapters. I realize that’s a me thing and not a book/author thing.
Again, I loved the story between the MMC, but it wasn’t enough to keep me engaged in everything else that was going on.