The Open Era

Schmit's compulsively readable debut finds openly gay tennis phenom Austin Hardy, 20, preparing to compete against “world number two,” Diego Cruz, at the U.S. Open. Though rivals, the pair strike up an unexpected—and potentially romantically charged—friendship in the days before their big match. Austin, who suffers from anxiety, is confused about Diego’s intentions as he pays frequent visits to Austin’s hotel room and takes him on outings that feel like dates (including go-kart driving and Ping-Pong games), but also appears to friend-zone him with fist bumps and abrupt drop-offs in communication. When Diego divulges that spending time with Austin has made him realize he is “not not” gay, the men’s relationship improves, but their complicated feelings prove distracting as they prepare to face off. With pressure mounting both on and off the court, Austin’s mental health struggles are as central to the plot as the romance, and it’s sometimes overwhelming to exist inside his head. Still, Schmit handles the verbal volleys between Austin and Diego well, especially when they bare their souls or comfort each other. The nimble action on the court earns points, too. This is a welcome addition to the growing subgenre of tennis romances. (June)