Mackenize “Mack” Morris is entering her senior year of high school when her father dies and a transfer student, Liv arrives. Mack is one of the best basketball players in the area, and it turns out, so is Liv. But aside from their off court chemistry, there’s something else there between them, no matter how much they might not want to admit it.

It was such an interesting time to read this book as it was during the NCAA basketball championships so I was engulfed in basketball. This book is a coming of age story with Mack not only trying to understand her sexual identity, but also if she is even a person without basketball. She’s trying to decide what’s after high school, where she wants to be, and if Liv will be there alongside her. The angst of all of the characters, and especially Mack, ran off the pages and the questionable choices she makes have you shaking your head wondering when she’ll get it together.

There is a lot of drug and alcohol use in this book which took me by surprise. I’m not naive enough to believe that high schoolers aren’t using drugs but the amount that it was shown in this book felt really overwhelming to me. It felt like every day Mack and her teammates were drunk or high and, maybe it’s just the parent in me, but I kept asking myself WHO IS WATCHING THESE KIDS?! I think without so much of that, this book would’ve been five stars for me.

I really loved the ways Mack was trying to figure herself out and the stumbles along the way felt understandable to me. Plus, as a huge basketball fan, the on-court descriptions of the games really hit for me.

Perhaps best for readers who enjoy a coming of age story set around a basketball theme. Although the writing is descriptive and at times evocative, I didn’t enjoy the book due to the sophomoric nature and at times, the language.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC.

4.5 stars

While this book has been on my list for a while, I was slow to crack it because I am not usually interested in sports related content. Prospective readers who share these hesitations should set them aside. While there is a lot of basketball happening tangentially, the focus is truly on the main character, Mack, and their journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

Mack goes through a difficult life experience near the beginning of the novel, and while this shapes them for obvious reasons, there is already some internal turmoil happening relating to their identities. As a small town resident, Mack and their community have limited access to folks who are open about their identities, especially when those identities in any way deviate from what is widely accepted in their region. Mack not only grapples with aspects of their sexuality but also with other elements of themselves, and readers get a look into their thoughts and experiences. I found myself enthusiastically rooting for Mack on and off the court.

This novel will appeal to folks who enjoy reading coming of age, identity studies, and books focused on character development. While there are romantic and sexual elements present throughout the book, the central focus is always in how those tie to Mack's self discoveries. I enjoyed this one, will recommend it, and will absolutely be reading more from this author.

Throughout the entire book, there isn’t a single word that is misplaced or wasted. Crane writes beautifully, creating such an intricate and intimate portrait of grief, love, and dedication. Mack and Liv exist in a bubble, absorbed in each other and in basketball - seeing each other wholly while never being honest with each other about anything.

A Sharp Endless Need shares the similar, all-consuming honesty like those evoked in Call Me By Your Name and Normal People.

wow wow wow! this is not normally a book I would gravitate towards but this had me extremely pleased! I loved the queer basketball storyline and love the characters so much! I am so excited for this book to come out and for the characters to get all of the love they deserved!

I first want to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing for giving me the chance to read A Sharp Endless Need by @marisa_crane. This review is solely my own opinion. So I'm going to start with, this is definitely not my normal happy sappy read. This book definitely pulls at your heartstrings. It's one of those books where you feel emotionally drained after reading. That said, this book was very well written, and the story was engaging. The story follows Mack, she's a high-school senior, star basketball player for her school, life pretty much an open road for her. Her biggest decision at the beginning of the book is which D-1 University is she going to sign with. Then, tragedy strikes, and Mack's dad suddenly passes away. At her father's "Death Day" celebration, in walks Liv. As soon as Mack sees her, she knows she is done for. Liv transfers to Mack's high school for her senior year, and they are the Dream Team on the court. The story is emotionally charged, with way more downs than ups. The story is very well done. I gave the book a 3.75, only because it had an ambiguous ending, and I hate ambiguous endings. I definitely recommend this book. Just be aware you're not gonna get your Happily EverAfter.

3.5

Cranes prose is beautiful, vivid, she nailed the millennial teen and hammered home the feelings of grief, young love and growing up.

My main issue lies with the pacing it has moments of riveting chapters then large lulls that made me want to skim. The writing was so craveable that I was able to hang onto the sentences when feeling bored.

The story is quite melancholy and a lot of uneasy things happens but it held a tone of hopefulness that became a bit of a let down with the ending and I’m still not sure how I feel about those finals chapters.

I look forward to whatever Crane writes her prose is succinct and dreamy.

3 1/2 Stars

A Sharp Endless Need is a coming of age book about a relationship between two basketball teammates. Set in the early 2000's Mack is a high school basketball player heading towards college D1 sports. Shortly before her season, her father unexpectedly dies and a new teammate, Liv, enters her life as a member of her team.

Told in the first person from Mack, the story really captures the angst and confusion of this time for a youth, especially one struggling with their sexuality. Mack doesn't feel whole anywhere but the basketball court and it shows.

The writing was beautiful throughout and I think the author really captured the overall feeling she was going for. I detested the ending of the book. As other readers have noted, the depiction of drug and alcohol use of all the characters was questionable. I wasn't an athlete at that time, but I was a teen and maybe I'm naïve, but I do not think it was a realistic portrait of that time. I did love how Crane captured just the absolute wild nature of that time period - something a little feral that you can't put your finger on.

Thank you to The Dial Press for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Basketball, small towns, discoveries, this book has it all. The writing was well done for a quick and meaningful read.

A Sharp Endless Need is such a great coming-of-age story. A basketball queer love story? Yes please. I really enjoyed following Mack as she worked through grief, identity, and first love while dealing with small-town expectations and the intensity of high school sports. The writing felt honest and emotional, and the connection between Mack and Liv was believable and tender. This one stuck with me in the best way.

I read Exoskeletons last year and absolutely loved it, so when i found out Crane had a new book coming out this year I was desperate for an early copy and I'm so thankful Dial approved me.
Sharp Endless Need is another searing exploration of grief, but this time through the lens of Mack a teen basketball player wrestling with her father's unexpected passing and her own struggles with her identity in a small town. Sharp Endless Need has more of Crane's evocative and present prose that I loved so much in Exoskeletons - their mastery of communicating emotional turmoil makes the book a gut wrenching read as you accompany Mack on her spiral.
The book is also an incredible portrait of what i remember being a teenager is like - the big emotions, the way a crush can feel all consuming in a debilitating way, the looming and unknowable future that is both exciting and scary and haunts all of your time.
Basketball is the real heart of this story and Crane uses it to every advantage to build Mack and Liv's relationship. And while i don't think you need to know a ton about basketball in order to enjoy this one (I certainly don't - i was using context clues about much of the terminology) i think you'll get the most out of this if you have at least a good understanding of the game.
This book has solidified Crane as an autobuy author for me.

Unfortunately I accepted this Netgalley arc from the publisher right BEFORE reading Marisa Cranes debut novel. If I had read it first I would have known that her style of writing is not for me. A Sharp Endless Need has beautiful prose, it's well written, it's an objectively good book... I just didn't like it. I just didn't find it particularly engaging and I didn't really relate to the story.

If you liked I Keep My Exoskeletons To Myself, and if you are interested in an intense sapphic sports romance, you will most likely enjoy it and I recommend giving it a try.

2.5 stars rounded up

This is a coming of age story about Mack and Liv, basketball teammates who are trying to find themselves and who they really are with their already established identities of basketball players. I love an angsty coming of age story and this one was written beautifully. The the concept was there and it was well written, it felt long and short at the same time, short in that I wish there had been more to the story or the supporting characters had been a bit more developed. It was relatively short for a novel but still dragged a bit.

I was hoping for more at the end, I was invested in Liv and Mack but didn't fell like I got closure on their stories, or even on that chapter of their journey.

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC! This book follows Mack as she navigates grief, identity, and first love at the end of high school. She deals with more challenges than your average teen at a time of life that is already so difficult, and following her through it really resonated with me. I’m not a big basketball fan, but the way the sport was written was so poetic and made me look at it in a new light. It was a very well-written and engaging read.

“A Sharp Endless Need” by Marisa Crane immerses readers in the early 2000s in a small Pennsylvania conservative town's stifling atmosphere, a backdrop to a compelling story about basketball and self-discovery. Despite my unfamiliarity with the sport, Crane expertly blends sports commentary with vivid imagery, creating scenes that resonate even with those less versed in basketball—a testament to the author’s engaging writing.

At the heart of the story is a complicated exploration of Mack and Liv's passionate yet tragic love. Their relationship is marked by intense longing, depicted through a slow burn that evokes sadness and desire. The suffocating environment they inhabit amplifies their struggle to be together, and the escapist fantasies they share serve as bittersweet reminders of their reality. The build-up of their feelings culminates in an unavoidable climax, capturing the intricacies of young love in a constrained setting.

Mack emerges as a rich, multifaceted character wrestling with significant challenges—grappling with the pressures of adolescence, the loss of her father, and her sexuality. His death serves as a pivotal moment that shapes the narrative. The subtle yet poignant exploration of grief is woven throughout her experiences, particularly in her fraught relationships with her mother and coach. A decisive moment reveals her mother’s indifference to her struggles, further deepening Mack’s emotional turmoil.

The story unfolds from the perspective of a future Mack, who occasionally offers insights that enhance the narrative while intensifying key moments. This choice of narration allows the past to feel immediate and relevant.

Liv is equally compelling, with a home life marred by her father’s departure and her mother’s coldness. The complexity of her feelings for Mack leads to moments of vulnerability, as her fear of being seen becomes a chaotic backdrop to their relationship. While Liv’s actions sometimes elicit frustration—pushing Mack away yet yearning for closeness—they ultimately foster empathy, revealing a young woman struggling for acceptance in an unwelcoming environment. A profound revelation about her family dynamics brings depth to her character, making her journey of self-discovery resonate.

Katrina is a strong side character, initially perceived as unlikeable but evolving through her narrative arc. However, some other secondary characters felt a bit underdeveloped, lacking the influence they could have had on the larger story.

Overall, the book is a powerful examination of love, grief, and the struggle for identity within the confines of societal expectations, making it a profoundly moving read.

Expected publication Date is May 13, 2025

I want to thank Random House Publishing Group—Random House | The Dial Press for providing an e-arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I was under no obligation to provide a review.

This was another slam dunk by this author! The tension and longing and banter was top tier and I wish I could dive into this all over again for the first time. I cannot ever say enough good things about this author and their work. They are an auto buy author until forever!

Thank you Net Galley for this arc! I really wanted to like this book, considering I absolutely adored Marissa Crane’s previous book I keep my exoskeletons to myself. I felt like this book was just okay. I like basketball enough to know some lingo and such. I did love the yearning between the two main characters and how it’s hard to come to realize one’s sexuality. I also felt like it wasn’t a complete ending. It felt a bit rushed. Overall, an okay book for me.

Wow. This has been the maddest of Marches. Marisa Crane knocked it out of the park with this one. I keep trying and utterly failing to write a coherent review. I feel nauseous. No really, I’m going to throw up. A dizzying kaleidoscope of queer adolescence, of those unmoored years where external expectations and internal confusions and terrifying desires all threaten to tear you apart (but also, all ultimately are what mold you at your core).

I don’t really know how to talk about the basketball of it all — it feels both utterly central to these characters' identities yet also utterly interchangeable with any other intensely committed practice. I know everyone has already said “challengers but for lesbians,” but in case there are any goodreads algorithms out there listening, it’s worth repeating.

I have many mini gripes (some fuzzy story threads, an ending I didn’t quite think was fitting, sections that could use tighter editing), but they are all outweighed by the sheer intensity of the journey this book took me on. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow. Love, basketball, obsession, angst: we’ve got it all here, folks! This book was an addicting, propulsive coming-of-age story full of obsession, struggles of all kinds, and most importantly, basketball. You don’t have to like basketball to like this book, but if you do, you’re in for a real treat. I loved everything about this.

Thank you to the publisher, The Dial Press, for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Star point guard Mack Morris’s senior year of high school begins with twin cataclysms: the death of her father and the arrival of transfer student Liv Cooper. On the court, Mack and Liv discover an electrifying, game-winning chemistry; off the court, they fall into an equally intoxicating more-than-friendship that is out-of-bounds for their small Pennsylvania town in 2004, and for Liv’s conservative mother. As Mack’s desire and grief collide with drugs, sex, and the looming college signing deadline, she is forced to reckon with the disconnect between her past and her future—and fight for the life she wants for herself, whether or not Liv will be on the court beside her.

Thoughts
I could see why this was written this way, it was poetic, but it wasn’t for me. I also get how this was probably a perfect portrayal of the angst and the confusion of coming of age and self discovery especially as a queer high school athlete. It just read too long for me, for a book that was under 300 pages, it took me too long to get through. The story was original and well thought out but I just didn’t love it.