Sidelined

In this middling contemporary sports romance (after Trouble Brewing), a renowned football coach’s daughter gets the job everyone thought would go to a man, with mostly predictable consequences. Charlotte “Charlie” Gibb grew up studying football strategy and worked for her father at Georgia Tech. When she gets her first head coaching position at a high school, she is confronted by antagonism from her staff—including Connor McGuire, a history teacher and the team’s offensive coordinator, who expected to land the gig—as well as students and parents. Connor is impressed by Charlie’s football knowledge and surprised when their constant (and adolescent) sniping turns into stolen kisses and a secret relationship. Charlie comes across as immature, but her new friends and Connor’s loving family add depth. Readers may find it inappropriate that Charlie is romancing a direct report, and those cheering for Charlie to have both a coaching career and romance will be disappointed by the ending. There’s plenty of flirtatious banter to keep the plot moving, though, and even readers who aren’t sports fans can enjoy Charlie and Connor’s story. Agent: Sharon Pelletier, Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret. (Aug.)