We're living, laughing, loving Cat Sebastian!

I've completely fallen in love with historical romances due to Cat Sebastian, actually. Not only are they humorous, sexy, and completely captivating, but it never felt <i>Old</i> if that makes sense. YSBSL is a modern historical romance, for sure. (I just made that up.)

Cat is freakin' exceptional at characters and character development. All of Cat's characters are fully realized, so thoroughly fleshed out that it feels like you're reading about real people. And I could only WISH that Eddie and Mark were real because I fell soooo hard for them.

Eddie O'Leary. Omg. That big, himbo baseball player. UGH. And I use himbo in a very gorgeous and cute way. Eddie O'Leary is actually incredibly smart. He's also so incredibly in love with Mark Bailey. I, too, am in love with Mark Bailey. I think I see myself a lot in him, especially at how easily Mark cares for other people, but will fight tooth and nail to let anyone take care of him. It was so beautiful to watch Eddie not only figure Mark out (and play him SO well), but to actually care enough TO stick around and figure Mark out, regardless of how hard Mark tried to push Eddie away.

I was so glad that Nick and Andy made cameos, along with Maureen and Lilian. This world that Cat has created is so lovely. It slows down time. It's atmospheric. It will claw its way into your heart and you will have a helluva time trying to get it out. Most likely, you won't even want to!

Cat Sebastian has knocked it out of the park with YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY. I absolutely feel incredibly fortunate to have read and experienced this book. I have been solidified as a Cat Sebastian STAN, baby!

Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #YouShouldBeSoLucky by Cat Sebastian in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This is quite the book! Cat's book are like a great big hug the whole time you are reading them. What I loved the most about this book is that it featured two MCs that are loveable but not always likeable. They make mistakes and then aren't sure how to fix them - in other words, they are like all of us. It was a joy watching them fall in love against all odds. Another thing I really liked about this book was the different time period for a historical piece and I loved the baseball aspect of the story. Cat really did her research and it made the book all the more enjoyable.

I highly recommend Cat Sebastian's books. They always make me smile.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is my second Cat Sebastian book and I think I'm hooked! I enjoyed every moment of this lovely story about a Mark, a grumpy journalist and his reporting subject, Eddie, a baseball player who is down on his luck and garnering negative publicity. Romance novels are fairly formulaic by nature so for me its all about loving the characters and these are well formed characters who I instantly enjoyed. I also love a book with interesting side characters and Mark finds his way into a friendship with one such character. There is quite a bit of humor in this book as well as some darker subject matter dealing with loss. You can't go wrong with this book and I'm excited to read another from this author.
Goodreads Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6456671684

I adore Cat Sebastian and have read twelve of her books at this point. And after loving We Could Be So Good, I was excited to see her returning to midcentury New York. There's a lot of heart in this novel, including depictions of grief and what's on the other side of it, the reality of managing a hyper-public career as a queer athlete, and the way everyone at any given moment is just doing their best. But I never quite connected with it.

I think what I struggled with most was the lack of conflict: not once did I expect there to be any real threat regarding Eddie and Mark's relationship, even though the fear of Eddie being outed perpetually plagues Mark. Based on Sebastian's storytelling, I don't think she intended for this to ever be the case, but because there was no external threat, the internal conflict really needed to carry the weight, and it fell short. Although I enjoyed their dynamic (Mr. Crabby Reporter and The Overgrown Labrador Retriever), their romance was a bit anemic, with the few tense moments between them never being tense enough. Honestly, their interactions with the secondary characters (George, Ardolino, and Price [don't get me started on the lack of Lillian and Maureen, because of course the women got sidelined]) was where the conflict often came in, as these conversations forced the protagonists to acknowledge things about themselves and one another that they might not have otherwise. I was also impressed by how Sebastian portrayed the process of grieving a partner but realizing life doesn't end with them; the way William's presence was handled within the relationship Mark and Eddie built was beautiful.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

MM romance book are my favourite one and this being a grumpy sunshine trope and settings in old times. The book starts slow but gradually picks up its pace.
Historical queer books have a soft place in my heart and I am glad I was able to add up this book to that collection.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was one of the most beautiful and tender romances that I've read recently. This book was an incredible depiction of love and grief. Due to the fact that this book set a period piece in a time where queer love was suppressed and hidden - in the 1960s - the modern reader is forced to sit with Mark's grief after losing his lover; we are left bereft alongside Mark as he struggles to come to grips with William's death and his inability to process it the way we would today: alongside friends and family, and/or even the public.

Additionally, Cat Sebastian has Mark grapple with both wanting his identity to be known, but also feeling terrified about what may happen to himself and to Eddie if people were to find out they were queer. It was done in such a relatable way and careful way, that you could not help but truly understand where Mark was coming from, even if you did want to grab that lovely man by the shoulders and shake him at times.

Eddie is such an gentle, wonderful, sometimes goofball of a character that I could not help but feel endeared to him right from the very beginning. At first, I was hesitant about his character; he is introduced as someone who throws temper tantrums on the field and trash-talked his new team the moment he found out he was traded, after all. Yet, Eddie's story only partially touches on maturing and apologizing to his teammates, and instead we're provided a deeper layer of Eddie's character that deals with a different type of loss: the loss of his talent with his sudden inability to play baseball as he used to, and the loss of his home, comfort, and privacy after he had to move to New York for the Robins.

Together, Mark and Eddie help each other through their deeper turmoils, and while their interactions are laced with banter and humor throughout the book, there is caution there, accompanied by sweetness, tenderness, and even sadness that makes their relationship that much more beautiful to witness on the page.

Cat Sebastian can literally do no wrong. I was a little nervous about this book - I loved We Could Be So Good and I really wanted to enjoy this book just as much. I’m pleased to say that I wasn’t disappointed. You Should Be So Lucky was like a warm hug sprinkled with sports. A lovely Spring/Summer read!

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Cat Sebastian
Avon
Paperback ISBN: 9780063272804
May 7, 2024
Historical Gay Romance

1960- New York City


Eddie O’Leary is a shortstop who has been traded to the baseball team, the Robins in New York City, and he is not happy about it. He is told that he is supposed to be traded by a reporter, and Eddie loses his temper. He calls the Robins a team of bad players and losers, so when he moves to New York City, none of the players on the team is interested in talking to him. On top of all that, his baseball swing has gone to the dogs, and he can’t hit. He is in a slump.

Mark Bailey is a reporter for the Chronicle in New York City, and he is being asked to ghostwrite the diaries of Eddie O’Leary. He agrees. When he researches the shortstop, he develops sympathy for the player. Mark gets that he did not want to leave his old team and that he was hurt that he was traded. When Eddie sees Mark in the locker room after a game, he is immediately intrigued.

Besides not being talked to by his teammates, Eddie is queer and that causes another set of problems since he is half famous he can’t go, if he knew where to go, to find other queer people. Mark is queer too, but he is still grieving for his partner who died suddenly a year and a half ago.

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY is a book that will have readers rooting for Eddie, Mark, and the Robins. With the backdrop of baseball, the story takes you on an emotional ride through the relationship of Eddie and Mark. It is well written, and you really come to love the characters. Mark had to stay in the background with his former partner and Eddie, being well known, knows he is going to have to do it again if they are going to be together, but he takes risks for Mark’s sake, so he is not completely in the background.

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY is a book that is well worth reading and then worth reading again. I highly recommend this book and suggest you run out and grab a copy.

Avis Yarbrough

4.5! I loved, loved, loved this book. This was such a sweet romance with so much more depth and meaning to it than I could have ever expected. Eddie and Mark are such a pure representation of grumpy/sunshine that isn't too stereotypical. I love them sm and I loved how the growth of their relationship helped them work through their own internal conflicts.

You Should Be So Lucky is a charming historical romance detailing the relationship between Eddie, a professional baseball player, and Mark, the reporter assigned to cover him. It is a celebration of queer love that isn’t scared to delve into the difficult and sometimes dangerous consequences of living authentically in 1960s America.

This novel contained multitudes. Simultaneously, it is love letter to baseball as well as a portrait of grief. Eddie’s patience and care for Mark was incredibly tender. It was especially poignant to uncover the depths of Mark’s grief and how he learned to open his heart again. I also loved the way Eddie’s team rallied around him, lifting him out of a batting slump to recover his courage on the field.

Even if you’re not the biggest baseball fan, there is so much you can get out of this story. The sense of community one finds in sports is reminiscent of the camaraderie present in ones own found family. The search for acceptance and assurance is universal and I think this book emphasizes these notions beautifully.

Highlights
-Grumpy reporter x sunshine shortstop
-Queer love story
-Historical 1960s NYC
-Multifaceted Baseball players

Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

<i>I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you publisher for the copy!</i>

<b>The Good</b>
After reading 'The Prospects" the idea of baseball sports romances have become more appealing to me. I immediately loved Eddie and Mark. Eddie is homesick, embarrassed, lonely, and so terribly awkward. I loved how sweet he was even if he could be a hot head at times. Mark is so grumpy and is trying to be distant and cold but can't. He is dealing with grief and fear. I really understood why was so hesitant to do it all again. There's a lot of interesting plot points in this. Eddie is trying to figure out what is causing his slump and finding what really makes him happy and makes playing worth it. Mark and Eddie's relationship had such a natural build up. Eddie was so patient with Mark and knew what he wanted. Mark was more reserved and unsure. He liked Eddie and wanted him so bad but also knew he didn't want to live as a secret again which is a really reality for them in the 1960's. I loved seeing their individual arcs as well and their journey together. The ending was so great as they finally found a way that made they both happy and feel loved.

<b>Tropes:</b>
— Golden retriever x black cat
— MM sports romance
— Historical Romance

<b>Horn Level:</b> 3/5🌶️
<b>Format:</b> Ebook

<b>The Rating</b>
I give this book a <b>5/5🌟 rating.</b> This was so fantastic how will I ever recover?

Check out my socials <a href="https://beacons.ai/buffyreads"> here</a> for more reviews!

AMAZING. Probably my favorite book of the year so far. Before I get to the romance, I want to talk about the way in which this novel is a love letter to baseball and the people who love it. I was not a baseball fan before reading it and have been watching baseball games since finishing it. Cat Sebastian has converted me to a baseball fan with the way she wrote about it.

More importantly, Mark and Eddie are so, so wonderful. I loved the slow burn, I loved how patient Eddie was and how he let there be space for Mark's grief. I want a romance novel to convince me why these two people belong together and Cat Sebastian succeeded where a lot of authors fail. I love love love every character in this book but especially Mark and Eddie.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Mark is grieving and not able to show it, while Eddie is struggling quite publicly after being transferred to a new team. When Mark is assigned to write a series about the young shortstop who lost his swing, they find they have more in common than they originally thought.

You Should Be So Lucky is a charming and poignant love story and companion novel to We Could Be So Good. It delicately discusses grief, found family and the challenges of being a queer person in early 1960s America. I loved these characters, and felt for their struggles. Mark and Eddie’s interactions felt genuine, and I like their grumpy/sunshine dynamic. The baseball and journalism elements were both really fun and provided great structure for the characters to grow. A few plot points or details may have been glossed over for the sake of time, but overall, I liked the pacing and flow of the story. Cat Sebastian really knows how to hit a reader in the feels, and I would love to read more romances taking place in this world she created.

Words fail me sometimes when it comes to Cat Sebastian, particularly where the mid-century queer NYC universe she is creating is concerned. This book (and its predecessor, We Could Be So Good) is a pure delight between two covers. The main characters are charming and irresistible, and you are rooting for them the whole time. There are few books in which I want to crawl into and live, but this is one of them. I can't recommend the book enough. I loved it - simple as that. It is indisputably a home run!

Thank you to @NetGalley for letting me read the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this book!! They were too cute. I love the shyness and hesitation between the pair. Then Eddie being a big sweet bear with Mark.

Loved the ending!

I absolutely adored this sweet love story between two men navigating different sorts of grief.

It was such a pleasure to read about Eddie and Mark and get to know them on such lovely and personal levels. My favorite part of the book had to be the relationship the two young men formed with George. I'm a BIG believer in community care and that all we really have is each other. The love and tenderness shown in the way the men cared for George and the way George showed them warmth and respect in return just really warmed m heart, so much.

This was a great read and an excellent companion to We Could be So Good. To be totally honest, I loved this significantly more!

"Still, this book is something solid that Eddie can hold in his hands, real proof that queer people exist, that /he/ exists.

It is such a gift to me that I found Cat Sebastian after she has already created quite a backlist! There is so much I loved about You Should Be So Lucky: the baseball, the grumpy/sunshine, the SETTING. I loved the midcentury setting of We Could Be So Good and it was so fun to return to that world.

What I love about Cat's books is she doesn't shy away from the hard parts about being queer: she doesn't attempt to rewrite history into a utopia. Instead, she finds ways for our characters to have pockets of joy, to make sacrifices and take risks for love and for their lives. What I especially loved about this book was Mark's storyline: trying to grieve a partner that only a handful of people even knew about, grieve a person when nobody in the world can ever know who you were to one another. And at the same time, he's opening himself up to Eddie, to joy, to living again. Grief is ever present in this book and it packs a punch without weighing down the narrative: the romance, Mark's friendships, and an underdog baseball team keep this book light.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the ARC of this book!! YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY has now been out for a week and I'm so glad to have found a new favorite historical romance!!

What I loved: So much. Woof. Hard to even think of how to explain it all. I’ll start by saying that mostly, I love these two characters, and most especially I love Mark, who is a snarky reporter with a squishy heart, who simultaneously so appreciates the way his deceased partner William made him feel worthwhile and loathes the way William’s political ambitions meant that they could never seem even at all possibly queer. I just love him so much. I imagine him as a young Trent Crimm (from Ted Lasso, in case you’re not familiar).

I love Eddie, too, his inability to hide his feelings just ever. His willingness to throw caution to the wind and let his blossoming friendship with Mark just exist in the world without constantly looking over his shoulder about it. His beautiful relationship with his mother and his own bruised heart in the face of learning he was about to be traded to a team that would take him far from his home and everything he knew.

What I wanted more of: Let’s be clear. There is nothing that I’m like, “Cat Sebastian didn’t do enough of that,” because Cat Sebastian is awesome. But let’s also be clear. I will read more of whatever Cat Sebastian wants to write, and if she wrote a lovely Christmas novella about Nick and Andy (from We Could Be So Good) and Mark and Eddie all being at a Christmas party together, I would read it so hard.

What I need to warn you about: This book is about two dudes falling in love, so if you don’t want to read about that, skip it. There is some spice but the language isn’t very explicit. I’d say, medium-ish, maybe slightly less than medium spice? There are some of the kind of things that people usually want content warnings about: death of a partner before the book starts, period-appropriate homophobia, parents kicking a son out due to their own homophobia.

Who should read this: People who want a romance with a lot of interiority, minimal conflict between the two main characters, people who like baseball mixed in with their love.

I enjoyed Mark and Eddie as they slowly made their way to each other and through their own issues. Basically pushed together, they need to find their way and accept the feelings between them. At moments, I felt that we were bogged down in too much minutiae, details. This was definitely a slow-burn, but their journey was an interesting one in the long run.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of Avon Books, and this is my unsolicited review.

I adore Cat Sebastian's books and I love the fact that she's one of the few Historical Romance authors who branches out to times that are not the Regency/Victorian era. And listen! I love those eras but I love this mid-century era she's playing in with this and We Could Be So Good and I need more. I adored this one and it goes on the list of another one of my favorite romances from Cat Sebastian.

Tropes/Keywords: love after loss, grief, golden retriever/black cat couple, coming over at 8am to walk your dog, baseball, dogs, writer hero, baseball player hero, New York City, discussion of alcoholism, discussion of parental rejection after coming, one hero has expensive taste, the other is living out of a suitcase

Eddie is a young up and coming baseball player who is a bit of a hothead going through a hitting slump once he's traded to the New York Robins. Mark is grieving the loss of a partner and in a writing slump of his own. Due to period-accurate homophobia, he's inherited after his partner's unexpected passing but had to grieve privately as he was basically a secret. Mark is sent to write fluff pieces each week about Eddie and they strike up a friendship. This is such a lovely, tender romance. Mark and Eddie fall in love partly over phone calls from pay phones when Eddie is playing on the road. They fall in love through having conversations with their colleagues about baseball and writing but really they're talking about love. The sex is not spicy but the kind of writing where you feel the tenderness and your heart aches a little because there's just great character and relationship development going on there. There's just internal conflict here, but not miscommunication, more like "am I really ready to take this step? Does this person really love me? thoughts from one character and the other one saying, "yes you dummy 2 weeks not talking to you doesn't change how I feel."