The Game Can’t Love You Back by Karole Cozzo is full of swoons and baseball, making it perfect for spring. As a fan of books about sports, the enemies to lovers trope, strong female characters, and Karole Cozzo, The Game Can’t Love You Back just screams recipe for success. This book is empowering and follows the story of the only female athlete on a school baseball team. It is both cute and significant, and it lived up to my every expectation.
Title: The Game Can't Love You BackAuthor: Karole Cozzo
Also by this author: How to Say I Love You Out Loud
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: May 15, 2018
Rating:
Eve is used to being the odd woman out. As the only girl on her school’s baseball team, she knows exactly how to put sweaty, macho baseball players in their place, and she’s focused on one thing and one thing only—being the best pitcher she can be.
But when a freak accident forces her high school to be absorbed by the neighboring town, Eve has to contend with a new group of guys who aren’t used to having a woman on their team. And the new team’s star pitcher, Jamie, has no interest in being ousted from his throne. He can’t afford to give up his starting slot to a new pitcher—even worse, to a girl.
As the competition between Jamie and Eve starts to heat up, so does their attraction to each other. Can they keep their heads in the game, or will they end up getting played?
Buy from TO Comix Press 
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: The Game Can’t Love You Back by Karole Cozzo
❀ A Powerful Feminist Message
This book tells the story of two school baseball teams who end up merging after an accident at one of the schools. Eve is especially unhappy about the situation, and she has to adjust once again to being the only girl on the team. Things get more complicated as she earns herself a new rival and a new competitor for a trophy. This is a story about sports rivalry but also teamwork, and it shows what baseball is truly about. I loved the alternating perspectives and the enemies to lovers trope. As well, I haven’t read very many books about female athletes, and this is absolutely something I would love to see more of. Overall, this is a story with a powerful feminist message that I would definitely recommend.
❀ Enjoyable Narrator
I adored Eve’s character throughout the book. She is so hardcore and doesn’t tolerate any sexism. As the only girl on the baseball team, she deals with a lot of oppression and people who consider her as less, but she works ten times as hard to prove herself. Honestly, she has some selfish moments, but that makes her more believable. Eve’s dedication to sports is admirable, and having her as a narrator was so enjoyable.
❀ A great message
The Game Can’t Love You Back by Karole Cozzo is a drama-filled sports book with a passionate main character. There is a great message, and Eve is so inspiring. I am so glad to report that Karole Cozzo has done it again!
About Karole Cozzo
Karole lives outside of Philadelphia, PA with her loving husband, exuberant little girl, and smiley little boy. She adores YA Romance, because it would be awesome if life in general had a requisite feel-good happy ending rule. Vices include obscene Haribo gummy consumption, addiction to Starbucks NF vanilla lattes, and tendency to hoard Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, novice New Yorker, & professional bibliophile.
This book sounds so cute!
It is super cute! 🙂
Great review this sounds entreating and perfect for the beach! 🙂
Thanks, Giselle! 🙂
I HAVE to read this book! It sounds so adorable! Great review!
I think that you will enjoy it! 🙂
I love enemies to lovers so much! But I feel I haven’t read a book with that in ages…
Stephanie – Bookfever recently posted…Review: Eagles in the Storm by Ben Kane
It’s one of my favourite tropes, for sure! 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that you loved this book! I’m looking forward to read it! I just read a negative review about it so I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t like it. I really hope I enjoy it as much as you did! Great review! 🙂
Raven recently posted…Spies, Lies and Allies By Lisa Brown Roberts [Review]
I have always enjoyed Karole’s writing. I think that if you have enjoyed any of her other novels, you will love this one, too. 🙂
The whole concept of this book is winning for me, and I am a fan of Cozzo’s writing. I have to push this one up my TBR, because you made it sound utterly wonderful. Great review!
Sam@WLABB recently posted…Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Summer of Us – Cecilia Vinesse
It is wonderful! I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. 🙂
Great author! Thanks for sharing.
sounds like a fun one
Would like to win!
Thanks for the giveaway!
This sounds like a great book and I love the cover!
Sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway!
It sounds great. Here’s hoping for a happy ending.