I'm struggling to know how to describe/review this story. There was a lot I liked about it, but I kept feeling that something wasn't working for me. I suppose, for starters, I didn't buy the whole concept that this poet can't possibly keep a writing implement and paper handy, and I found the various scenes where he raced about trying to find some random item to write with more disturbing than convincing. I also didn't understand why the age difference was treated as SUCH a big deal. Yes, there's a world of lived experience between 18 and 24, but it doesn't seem to me an insurmountable chasm. Finally, I didn't feel the reason for the big breakup (the reason the POV character was holding himself back) was supported by the text. Oh, and if I can have one more past "finally," I thought the recovery from illness was treated far too cavalierly. I don't believe that someone still getting over mono could even try to play a game of tennis (much less against a Grand Slam–level pro), and the idea that the POV character would encourage that to happen struck me as horribly reckless.

After all those complaints... I mostly enjoyed the book? I really did like reading it; I just thought maybe the author needed to push harder on some of the motivations and make them more believable.

My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy.