Special thanks to Netgalley and Post Hill Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

While this book had an interesting premise and was clearly well-researched on the topic of baseball, I was not a fan of the dual POVS. Not only did I have trouble figuring out which POV parts of this book where supposed to be from, but I also found myself bored when reading certain POVS.

Curveball is a bit of a mess. The baseball parts rang true, the gay characters rang true but lacked depth, the coming out seemed well done, but where was the gay community? What didn't work for me at all was the intergenerational parts where religion was brought in for little purpose and too much emphasis was placed on the senior citizens sex lives.
As for reading the story, scenes would change without warning, often mid-paragraph! All in all, this novel needs a rewrite.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

I really wanted to like this book, especially as a queer baseball fan, but it wasn’t doing it for me and I eventually had to DNF. I’ve been a follower of baseball since I was a kid, but I found this book to be jargon heavy in a way that distracted me and detracted from the story. Beyond that, I wasn’t invested in the multiple stories taking shape. Ultimately, there wasn’t enough to hook me into finishing this book.

The baseball aspect was done well and as someone who has a basic knowledge of baseball I was comfortable following it. The only part I had a hard time with was the changing POV sometimes mid chapter, but overall it was an enjoyable read and i would recommend it to someone who's looking for a sports romance.

honestly i wanted to really like this story because the premise sounded like something i would be invested in... sadly this book just did not work for me, it got to the point i just did not really care about it because it felt dragged beyond belief. that does not mean it was a badly written book, just not what i needed to read at the moment. the writing and background was interesting but the kindle format kinda confused me *for chapters* i felt very taken back 3/5 stars

"Curveball" by Eric Goodman presents a sports-themed narrative centered on Jess, a minor league pitcher, and his catcher Rah. The story delves into Jess's personal journey, including his struggle with his hidden sexuality and the dynamics of his relationships, particularly with Rah and his father.

One of the book's strengths lies in its portrayal of the camaraderie and challenges within the sports world. Goodman captures the essence of athletic competition and the emotional highs and lows that come with it, making the sports elements of the story feel authentic and engaging.

However, while the book succeeds in creating a compelling sports backdrop, I found that certain plotlines, such as Jess's relationship with his father, could have been explored more deeply. The dynamics between Jess and Rah, although touching, could also benefit from further development to fully capitalize on their emotional complexity.

Overall, "Curveball" offers an enjoyable read for fans of sports-themed stories, with its authentic depiction of athletic life and heartfelt explorations of friendship and personal growth. I rate it 3.5 stars, appreciating its strengths while acknowledging areas where additional depth could have enhanced the narrative further.

Thank you to the publisher and net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this story! I look forward to seeing what else Eric Goodman writes!

This was definitely a #baddecisionsbookclub book - DO NOT START BEFORE BED. I fell in love with all of the characters and the love stories occuring at all ages. It ends, not really on a cliffhanger, but one of those books where to tell the final result would spoil the story - but you're still frustrated that you don't know - DID THEY WIN?

“Curveball” by Eric Goodman offers a compelling narrative intertwining the dreams and struggles of Jess, a talented minor league pitcher, and his catcher and best friend, Rah. Their journey, colored by Jess’s hidden sexuality and unspoken feelings for Rah, is both heartwarming and hopeful. However, while their dynamic is engaging, the book falls short in fully exploring their relationship, leaving readers yearning for more depth and insight into their connection.

The subplot involving Jess’s father, Joe, and his strained relationship with his own father, Jack, adds layers of complexity to the story. Joe’s fall from grace due to gambling accusations, juxtaposed with his unwavering silence, raises questions about loyalty and sacrifice. Yet, despite its potential, this aspect of the narrative feels underdeveloped and at times, distracting. The repeated references to Jack as “the bookie” hint at deeper intrigue, but the lack of exploration leaves readers wanting.

Moreover, the inclusion of an additional storyline centered on Jess’s father feels extraneous and detracts from the main narrative. While it hints at familial secrets, it fails to significantly impact Jess’s journey, serving as a mere distraction that slows the pacing of the book. This subplot, feels disconnected and unnecessary within the broader context of Jess’s story.

Overall, “Curveball” offers a touching portrayal of friendship, identity, and the complexities of familial relationships. While it excels in depicting Jess and Rah’s bond, the narrative falters in fully capitalizing on its secondary plotlines. Despite its shortcomings, Goodman’s novel leaves readers with a sense of optimism and a desire for deeper exploration of its characters’ lives.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206099994-curveball" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Curveball" src="https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/111x148-bcc042a9c91a29c1d680899eff700a03.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206099994-curveball">Curveball</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14134984.Eric_Goodman">Eric Goodman</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6376453141">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />

What an outstanding experience for my first ARC review. A multi-generational tale akin to a condensed version of Eugenides' Middlesex, this book follows the perspectives of the Singer patriarch: one of them gay, two of them older than your average literary protagonist, and all three Jewish. This certainly laid out a unique frame for a baseball-centric story. Not only do we experience Queerness in a hyper-masculine public spotlight, we also see complex family dynamics, realistic responses to major health diagnoses, and the soothing cradle of good support systems. I'm impressed this book was somehow able to retain a lighthearted and hopeful portrait despite its heavy topics. Not going to lie, I was totally expecting an absolute whump fest by the second chapter, but was pleasantly surprised to see the characters actually given positive experiences in such touching ways that I could feel the impact too. Did I cry? None of your business.<br />
Unlike a baseball game, the pacing of the story was reliably energetic. Each character had their own hardships, but the rendering of their stories remained intertwined throughout. You couldn't go a page or two without our protagonists interacting with or thinking about each other. Unfortunately, the fluid switching between narrators took some time to adjust to and caused some confusion, especially in the beginning stages of the book. Though I loved the cohesiveness, I fear the mid-chapter unannounced narrator switching was a bit overzealous. <br />
Even with my minimal knowledge or interest in baseball, I was enraptured by the grip this book had on the direction of these characters and their lives. Can’t say it’s convinced me to buy Mets tickets anytime soon, but it’s cute that it tried. The subtle insertion of Jewish culture and traditions was something that really elevated this book for me (though they were by no means especially devout- one of our mains flew in a plane during Rosh Hashanah… the chutzpah!). It was that crucial piece that bound the characters and their circumstances together, filling the gaps where time and distance between them could have created emptiness. My absolute favorite scene has the characters throwing bagel bits into the Hudson river for Tashlich to cast away their sins, a perfect setting for a heartfelt resolution. I wasn’t the only one who cried!<br />

Fantastic release, will be keeping up with Goodman for future releases! Read this book, k bye<br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/141524597-charlie-and-books">View all my reviews</a>

In this fresh and unique book, Jess's baseball career is just getting started. His father and grandfather have been involved in his development, and the difference in the way they show support makes this a complicated and genuine family story as well as a romance.

firstly, I’ve got to admit that the formatting wasn’t the best to read from, but this is certainly something that will not affect the book in the grand scheme of things.

I have never been really attracted to sports romances, but then again I’m always open to trying out new things. I’ve really enjoyed the characterization and story overall, but I’ve got to admit that I was a little lost at times when it comes to the actual sport, because the descriptions were very pointy and most certainly accurate, which sometimes lost me a little as a casual reader.

overall however; this was a lovely book!

This book tells a Story about a gay Baseball player that struggles with having to hide a part of himself with not being out.
The author did really well showing the struggle and how it is for a person to not be out and having to hide a part of yourself.
The book doesn't just follow Jess but also his Grandpa Jack and his father Joe. This is at times confusing because the POV switches mid
chapter. One moment its Jess the next it's Jack which especially at the beginning confuses you a lot as a reader.
The baseball aspect was done really well and as someone who doesn't has an in depth knowledge of it you knew a lot about baseball at
the end of the book. Overall it was an enjoyable read and i would recommend it to someone who's looking for a sports romance.

If you enjoy a sports romance that is clearly written by someone who has a vast knowledge about said sport, I think you’ll enjoy this book. Especially if you have an interest in baseball. I loved the multi-generational plot, and how humor was interwoven throughout. I would definitely read another book by this author.

This author tried, really tried it would seem to give us a comprehensive story but fell along the way. The editing and book format needs real work and the story characters jump back and forth without proper transition leaves the reader hanging. I hope the author can make corrections and brings this book to its greatness.

I really enjoyed this book! I’m a huge baseball fan, so when I saw this I couldn’t wait to read it, and it certainly did not disappoint!! This was a solid read, and I enjoyed the perspectives from the three generations of men in the Singer family.

While the baseball parts of the story were well developed, the ending didn’t fully wrap up the storyline.