A wonderful follow-up to We Could Be So Good, I thoroughly enjoyed You Should Be So Lucky. Set after the events of that book, this follows Mark Bailey, a newspaper reporter, and Eddie O'Leary, a baseball player on the Robins. Mark is grieving the loss of his partner, when he's assigned to follow the baseball season and their new player -- Eddie. Eddie didn't want to be traded and has a bad attitude, but immediately clicks with Mark. This book follows Mark as he leaves his cave of grief and connects with coworkers and friends, Eddie as he learns to accept his new team, and them together navigating being queer in New York in the 1960s. It's a gorgeous novel, that is heartwarming but never saccharine. The plot is intricate, but extremely well-paced. I really appreciated how clear the explanation of baseball was! It really benefited me as a baseball novice.

Cat Sebastian is a true leader in the romance genre, and I'm so excited to read what she puts out next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avon/HarperCollins Publishing, and the author, Cat Sebastian, for this digital ARC!

When I say that receiving the approval for this ARC made my entire week last week, I am not exaggerating. I absolutely and completely loved this novel.

You Should Be So Lucky is set in the same ‘universe’ as Sebastian’s novel We Could Be So Good (which was one of my favorite reads last year, and one of my favorite novels of all time), and follows the beautiful, angsty, slow-burn romance between baseball star Eddie O’Leary and reporter/writer Mark Bailey.

I will not give any spoilers because I want this novel to be as thoroughly enjoyable for everyone else as it was for me, but I will say that Cat Sebastian is the absolute queen of queer historical romance. Eddie and Mark’s love story unfolds so delicately and they treat each other with such tenderness, that I could feel my heart squeeze - in the best way - multiple times throughout reading this. There are so many gorgeous, wholesome, loving moments between them, and they are so perfectly balanced with snarkiness, sarcasm, and adorable banter. For me, it is so refreshing to read a romance novel where the love story is built on gentleness, trust, and the complexity of grief, fear, and self-preservation. This book is cozy like a hot cup of your favorite tea, wrapped up in your favorite blanket, and will bring the happiest tears to your eyes. I cannot WAIT for everyone else to have the privilege of meeting and falling in love with Mark and Eddie.

You Should Be So Lucky is set in the early 1960's NYC (the same world as We Could Be So Good, though a bit later) with a fictional expansion team, The Robins, and a fictional newspaper, The Chronicle. We Could Be So Good was my favorite book last year because of its soft, quiet, SAFE, slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance. You would not need to read the first to dive in here, but it helps if you want to know the overlapping side characters.

This book is very much in the same tone as WCBSG with the focus on the everyday development of an unlikely friendship that naturally, so carefully, grows into a romance. Mark is a bit adrift as a writer with no urge to write. He maintains his job at the newspaper despite no longer needing the money, due to an inheritance from his late partner. Editor Andy pushes him to write a weekly human interest story about newcomer Eddie O'Leary who has made a splash when he was quoted spewing venom about his trade to The Robins--including some choice remarks about the team manager. Add to this, Eddie's sudden inability to hit a single ball, and he's not feeling too welcome on his new team. Alienated from his teammates, Eddie clings to Mark at first as the one person in the city who will give him the time of day, even though the dynamic is interviewer/interviewee. But something about Eddie, his kindness, his thoughtfulness, a gentleness that belies the temper he's now famous for, tugs at Mark's cynical heartstrings, and the bond between them outlasts Eddie's alienation and improving circumstances with his team.

There is a whole lot more going on throughout this story with a bevy of side characters, like elderly writer George Allen, several teammates, manager Tony, Nick and Andy from WCBSG, the ghost of Mark's lost love, Eddie's mother, and a dog with passive-aggressive tendencies. Still, I wouldn't call this book plotty. Months pass as the characters meet in locker rooms, in hotels as the team travels, in Mark's apartment. Eddie walks the dog. They discuss books. This feels more like living alongside the characters for a year of their lives, and that may sound tedious, but there's something compelling in watching these events unfold, rooting for Eddie to improve his game, hoping those longing looks will lead to a kiss, a kiss to professions of love. These books are like a warm hug.

This line about baseball really could be said about these books: "But the glacial pace and the low stakes give you time to look at each individual component of the game and properly appreciate it."

I used the word "safe" to describe this series because while there is an ever-looming threat of outing in both books due to the era, it's never a cheap plot point. The people in this world are a safe haven. It would be magical thinking to allow these characters to live as openly as they might today, but this is acknowledged and then left to simmer without ever coming to a boil. It's nice not to have to worry about such a toxic possibility while reading these. Instead, we get to enjoy watching them figure out how right they are for each other, how despite superficial differences, they just fit.

There's so much I love about these books. I hope this series continues forever.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC.

Five hours after receiving You Should Be So Lucky in my inbox, I sit here writing a review. That in of itself should recommend the book. You Should Be So Lucky is a heart wrenchingly beautiful love story. Cat Sebastian creates an immersive universe with rich supporting characters - piquing my interest in baseball is no easy feat.

[Y'all—I don't know what Cat Sebastian put in this book, but I am STILL tearing up as I write this review. This book is one that will stick with me. I feel so deeply attached to the characters and their struggles and successes. I'm absolutely smitten with everything about it.]

You Should Be So Lucky is this: it’s about hope. It’s about healing. It’s about the impressive resilience of the human spirit and finding that little pocket of space in life where you can just be yourself. If you have ever felt the weight of hiding your true self, fearing the rejection of the people you are closest to, this novel will resonate with you so deeply.

Mark and Eddie are two of the best characters I have ever read about. Every single one of their interactions with each other left me giggling or watery-eyed. Sometimes both. They felt so real to me. Their motivations and intentions and fears and hopes. I could feel them all and it was such a wonderful ride. The narrative was compelling and I was rooting for them the whole time I was reading. I’m still rooting for them. If I was offered a chance to read 100 more books about these two, I would snatch it up immediately.

This was a heartfelt love story about embracing one’s true self. It’s about accepting that maybe things won’t work out the exact way you hope or plan for, but the alternatives can be just as great. You Should Be So Lucky in an inspiring love story about hope, love, and authenticity in the face of adversity and it should be on everyone’s radar.

This is the story of Eddie O'Leary, a baseball player in 1960 New York who has just been unexpectedly traded to New York and is not pleased about it. Meanwhile, Mark Bailey has been charged with reporting on Eddie's season. As the season goes on, well, there are the feels.

I always enjoy Cat Sebastian's work. This one is no different. I loved the Grumpy Mark Bailey and how he softened around Eddie as the book went on. I loved how just... ridiculously adorable Eddie was, especially when Mark was around.

Much like other books by the same author, outside of the romance there is a good story as well. This one follows a baseball season in 1960 and is as far as I could tell, pretty accurate in it's description. Eddie's team evolves just as Eddie does, and I found myself liking characters that I normally don't think I would have.

If you like Cat Sebastian's work, especially  We Could Be So Good (as it takes place in the same universe) or like a good M/M historical romance with a New Yorky vibe, you are going to like this one!

This took me a while to finish mainly because I didn’t want it to end! I love baseball and I love romance books so the two being together was a delight. I enjoyed this book a lot there were a lot of cute moments.

You should be so lucky is multiple POV and follows both Nick and Eddie O’Leary in 1960. Nick is a reporter that isn’t doing much reporting, after a rough patch in his life he doesn’t find passion in writing a story anymore. However, Nick is convinced to write a story about Eddie after his boss/friend insists. Eddie is a baseball player who has been experiencing the worst slump of his fledgling career. After being a star rookie Eddie is traded to New York, Eddie didn’t react the best to this news insulting everyone in New York. The team refuses to acknowledge his existence.

If you like the relationship that Ted and Trent have in Ted Lasso but wish it were gay I feel like you’d like this book. It’s very reminiscent of their relationship with its own identity and differences. I especially love the later chapters of this book but do not want to spoil it.

This is a really cute m/m romance set in a time that is not very kind to the LGBT+ community. Despite this the book does everything it can to not only properly represent those in the community but also act as commentary on how gay people would’ve had to act back then. I think this whole book is really well done and will definitely be buying it when it comes out.

StoryGraph rating: 4.5

I was drawn in by the cover and the idea of historical fiction about queer baseball. I was not disappointed. This story truly captured my attention. Eddie and Mark grow immensely throughout the story and don’t manage to lose their essence in the process. So many stories involving romance show characters that change who they are when they’re in love. Eddie and Mark help one another to become the best version of themselves. The realness of having to hide in a world that isn’t kind to queer people but still finding love was beautiful.

The list of good things I have to say about this book is honestly endless. I loved the first book in this series and was really hoping to get an ARC of the second one, and could not have been more delighted to get it. I adored the main couple that this book was about. Cat Sebastian knows how to write funny characters; the way she wrote Mark and Eddie had them playing off each other really well. I was invested in their relationship and could not put this book down. The romance in this book had me kicking my feet in the air, giggling, the whole nine yards. t really hit everything I could ask for in a romance novel. If I could have read You Should Be So Lucky in one setting I absolutely would have. I'll for sure be recommending this book to my friends once it's released!

I don’t think I will ever get over this book. First you got Eddie professional sweetheart/baseball player that love who and how he loves, and Mark not quite cynic not quite sports writer. This love story is everything you could want from a baseball romance.

I love this book. It makes me feel hope. It has replenished my dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. It gives me hope.

"You Should Be So Lucky" by Cat Sebastian is a remarkable tale that seamlessly blends romance, identity, and societal expectations in 1960 New York. From the moment you dive into the pages, you're transported into the lives of Mark Bailey and Eddie O’Leary, two individuals grappling with their own inner turmoil and the complexities of love in a world where secrecy is the norm.

Sebastian's narrative is gripping from start to finish, drawing readers into the world of baseball, journalism, and the struggles of navigating one's true identity in a society that demands conformity. As Mark is tasked with ghostwriting Eddie's diary for a highbrow sports feature, the sparks between the two are undeniable. Eddie, the talented but troubled baseball player, and Mark, the writer haunted by his recent loss, embark on a journey of self-discovery and love that will leave readers breathless.

What sets "You Should Be So Lucky" apart is its poignant exploration of themes secrecy, acceptance, and the power of love to overcome adversity.

As Eddie and Mark navigate the complexities of their relationship, readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster filled with heartwarming moments of connection and heart-wrenching decisions driven by fear and insecurity. But amidst the challenges they face, there is a sense of hope and resilience that shines through.

In the end, "You Should Be So Lucky" is a captivating and beautifully crafted novel that will leave you enchanted long after you've turned the last page. Whether you're a fan of historical romance or simply enjoy a captivating story filled with depth and emotion, this book is a must-read.

Eddie is understandably hot tempered when gets the news he’s being traded to a new baseball team during a public press conference. Uprooted and dumped on a new team that’s completely shut him out, he’s left tragically lonely and to top it all off he’s lost his swing.

Mark, who you’ll remember from We Could Be So Good, might as well be retired for as much work as he’s been putting in lately. His few friends worried about how much he’s shut himself away, mourning a partner in ways he can’t express to even a handful of people. Still, he gets talked into writing a season long sports feature as Eddie’s ‘diary’

The two have an undeniable draw, only getting stronger as the season progresses and they spend more and more time together. Late night phone calls to stolen kisses, quite swoony.

Due to the historical setting it shares with the first book, there’s the continuing struggles of trying to balance a need to live their lives authentically but still protect themselves from legit dangers of living their lives as queer men in that time. The high public profile that Eddie’s career brings and the grief that Mark still feels but can’t freely talk about drive this home even more.

As far as the sports aspect, I know nothing about baseball. But if you follow any sport at all there’s the universal constants like the anxious depression of a slump, the hell of unexpected trades, management issues etc

I love this book. So freaking much. It is easily as good as the first in the series. I’m into this story 100+ percent, rooting for the underdogs and living for the domestic moments.
If this doesn’t end up one of my top books for this year, then I greatly look forward to seeing what could possibly top it.

If you liked We Could Be So Good, then this book should absolutely be on your radar. And if you haven’t read that yet, what are you waiting for??

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

i'm so in love with this world cat sebastian has built. i went into this book skeptical that i could love its main characters as much as I do nick and andy, but of course i needn't have worried. i should've trusted in sebastian's exceptional ability to create lovable characters. these four (eddie, mark, nick, and andy) are so real to me now, and i'm so glad for it. i'm so glad they exist. queer historical fiction is so powerful.

4.5 stars rounded up. Unsurprising that I loved this— it’s so similar in humor and tone to We Could Be So Good, which I adored (every Nick and Andy sighting made me so very happy.) I love that Eddie and Mark feel so different from them while still encountering some of the same problems, and I like even more that this book does what We Could Be So Good doesn’t, which is capture a realistic approach to a period-accurate happily ever after while still giving the reader the warm fuzzies. There are some truly gorgeous pieces of writing in this book as well— the humor and banter is top notch (even if occasionally feels a little 2020s) but there are also a lot of moving musings on grief and failure that I truly appreciated.

Truly the grumpiest of grumpy reporters reluctantly falling in love with an actual literal ray of sunshine. There is an aggressive amount of baseball and Italian food. Also a cute dog.

Cat Sebastian truly casts a spell when she writes queer historical romance. Mark and Eddie are my new favorite couple she’s written and seeing their love bloom for each other was such a joy! Eddie is a baseball player who isn’t having a great season and Mark is the writer for the chronicle tasked with writing about him. They are a bit standoffish at first, then a friendship blooms and they, love. Sebastian writes some incredible domestic scenes and sometimes deep emotions and proclamations come out when her characters are doing mundane activities like washing dishes. I also love when Sebastian has her characters reading queer novels, in this book, it’s The Haunting of Hill House. The convo these two have about the book is just spectacular! Also there’s no third act breakup so if you’re a reader who feels like the breakups are thrown in for no reason, no worries here! Loved it and highly recommend!

this is the most beautiful love story i’ve ever read… and i’ve read a fuckton of love stories. the love between Mark and Eddie is my roman empire.

** spoiler alert ** An absolutely precious, so cute it hurts romance from the author of We Could Be So Good (set just a couple years later, with a different pair of lovers, and some of the previous cast popping in here and there to say hi).

This was fine, and very, very cute, but not my favorite Cat Sebastian so far. I generally prefer the Victorian romances (Seducing the Sedgwicks in particular) and this was kind of long on baseball and short on plot for me to really love it.

The romance was believable and all the characters were about as likeable as possible, even the supposed "bad boy of baseball," Eddie who could not have been more charming or vulnerable. I really loved crabby journalist Mark's journey of figuring out how to write with love and kindness instead of pure snark, and the characterization of George Allen (an elderly sportswriter for the Chronicle) was unexpectedly beautiful.

This is definitely a book that relies more on the journey of personal development than any exterior plot. I enjoyed it, but the lowest of low stakes (sorry, I guess the baseball stuff as the central stakes just missed me, and the constant fear of homophobia, while realistic, never actually manifested at all, and everyone who figured out the characters were gay were lovely and accepting) didn't really work for me in this.

Thanks, Avon and Harper Voyages and Netgalley for this ARC and the opportunity to get my grabbers on this early. I am a HUGE Cat Sebastian fan and even though this didn't really make my top favorites ever rank I still really enjoyed it and will read everything Sebastian ever writes, probably twice.

I’m not the biggest fan of historical romance unless it’s queer and bonus if it is written by Cat Sebastian. I absolutely loved this book. While it is connected to We Could Be So Good, you don’t miss anything if you haven’t read that one yet. This book was a tender love story in the midst of loss and grief along with the fear of being discovered as queer in 1960. I really felt for Eddie’s struggle in losing his instincts in baseball and for Mark dealing with his grief and some anger about having been such a secret with his late partner. Eddie is such a sweetheart in handling Mark’s grief and fears, I wanted to hug them both throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I loved this book from first page to last — in fact, I loved it so much I started advertising it to my friends as “I thought nothing can top Hither Page on my personal list of favourites, but Cat Sebastian went and wrote a book so wholly for me that I am helpless”. It has gay baseball! Queer bookclub! A gentle and accepting take on what it means to struggle - with grief, loneliness, setbacks, lack of a space to be yourself. It made it so so easy to cheer for its leads - actually, scratch that, for everyone in the book - and the way tension and release was handled in the narrative made me feel so grateful, because it’s very true to what kind of story this is. Needless to say, I bawled my eyes out in everything that touched on grief. Cat Sebastian gets it. She got us.

10/5 stars, no comments, will absolutelh read again and buy fifteen copies for friends.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC.