I loved it. ALL OF IT!!! This entire book was executed perfectly! The characters were well developed and we didn’t have to wait forever to find out why Mike was how he was. I love how he took trauma and bad decisions when he was 19 and used it to change himself and how he cares for others. He was so mature about everything that happened and all the situations he was put in like when Jake showed up at Honey’s. I enjoyed Danielle’s character too, but was disappointed in her with the way she reacted to what was in Mikes glove box. My favorite part was probably when Mikes dad showed up to the baseball game and they had their moment of clearing the air. Overall great book

Fans of contemporary sports romance with a touch of family drama and strong narration will likely enjoy Out of Left Field, especially if you appreciate stories with second chances, themes of addiction, and a cinnamon-roll hero. On the other hand, readers who need strong chemistry, smoother pacing, or a deeply fleshed-out heroine may find themselves frustrated. Personally, I found it challenging to be immersed in the story. I appreciate the narration but felt sad that I simply didn’t care enough about the characters. Thank you NetGalley and Binkies and Briefcases for the ALC!

Such an incredibly sweet story! Both MCs were real and raw and so kind! I love the support and honesty throughout the entire book! Andi and Brandon were amazing as well! There are some darker themes present so be sure to check the TWs, but they are handled with such care and compassion. Definitely give this a read!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this advanced listener copy!

🎧ALC review🎧
📚OUT OF LEFT FIELD by Stephanie Giese
🎤Duet narration Andi Eloise & Brandon Francis
💘 Thank you Netgalley and Binkies and Briefcases, LLC for this ALC

I don’t usually read romances with characters under 25 so take this with a grain of salt. The story felt a bit immature to me, especially given that the mmc’s addiction and sobriety is a huge part of the plot and conflict. Despite that, it’s a really great low stakes baseball romance and I had fun with it!

I really didn’t love the fmc which really can make or break an entire story for me, and here I found that I couldn’t really pin point who she really is. She did not have a lot of personality and the way she reacted to the pills incident really turned me off. That argument/conflict felt way too intense for how early the relationship was but that could just be me preferring a slow burn almost all the time lol. I still had a good time and appreciated a quick read you can do in a day and get that satisfying HEA with a great found family and cast of characters.

The audio is done in duet and it’s absolutely perfect - really glad I was able to listen to this one as the narrators had excellent performances and it really made you feel immersed in this world. Audio alone is 5/5 and would highly recommend if you are unsure whether to read traditionally or listen.

Baseball romance
Small town
Short romance
Addiction recovery rep

Duet narration - Andi Eloise & Brandon Francis
These two are great together.

A great Romantic comedy short listen. It’s full of hilarious dad jokes and heart.

The character development is on point. I started the audio and could t stop. I did not want it to end but was so pleased with the HEA.

Stephanie’s writing is cute, fun, and easy to follow.

Narrators did excellent job. Their voices fit so well together.
When it comes to the actual story, it was lacking.
First half was really good, but around the point of one conversation, which was a miscomunication, it went all downhill. I could not enjoy it anymore. The characters were dull and unfinished. Almost DNFed the book. One thing that kept me going were narrators. Again, so good.
The book ending felt rushed, and I wanted more.
2,5 stars.
Thank you to net gallery shelf for earc of this book.

3.5⭐️ 1.5🌶️ 5🎧

This was such a cute and cozy book that dipped its toes into some deeper topics and spice. I did really feel the soul deep connection that typically comes with loving someone. So I was feeling kinda shocked when they said it to each other, like it, came out of left field, lol.

Mike and Danielle were so cute together from the very beginning. Mike was so great and open with Danielle and the way he handled certain situations and reassured Danielle that she has nothing to worry about was swoony! I wish Danielle would have had more trust in Mike, but we’re not all perfect. Jake made me angry most of the story, but he had a good redemption arch. I hope we see more growth from him further in the series!

This book is narrated in DUET by Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis and they did a great job bringing this story to life!

THANK YOU NetGalley and Binkies and Briefcases, LLC for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Out of Left Field is the first book in The North Bay series. It was my first experience with this author, both narrators, and a dual narration format. I absolutely loved it—it added an extra layer of depth to the story. It’s a well-written, perfectly narrated, slow-burn sports romance with just the right balance of humour and spice. This rom-com also delves into real-life challenges and authentic relationships. I’m excited to dive into the next instalment in the series. 4 ½ stars
I would like to thank the author, narrators, Binkies and Briefcases and Netgalley for my free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#OutofLeftFieldBook #NetGalley

This was a really easy and enjoyable read. The characters were likable and I thought they had pretty interesting backstories. I liked how the MMC was a green flag born out of a lot of past issues. They were both pretty mature for young 20-somethings, and that made it more enjoyable to read. The FMC’s actions were a bit frustrating sometimes, but I think that was all part of the storytelling. It was a pretty short read, and I think that left some parts feeling a bit shallow, where there was potential for more depth… but that can be the nature of shorter books.

Im really looking forward to reading the next books in the series. We’ve got some good set up that has me quite curious!

I actually picked up this duet audiobook because I saw Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis were the narrators. They did a great job differentiating between characters and I just had a lot of fun listening to their performance.

3 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Binkies and Briefcases for the ARC

🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧

I listened to Out of Left Field on audio and ended up giving it 3 stars. The narrators did a great job bringing the story to life and kept me engaged throughout. I enjoyed their performances and felt they really suited the tone of the book.
As for the story itself, while it had some enjoyable moments and a premise that caught my attention, parts of it didn’t fully connect with me. There were times when I wanted a bit more depth from the characters and pacing, but overall it was still a solid listen.
If you enjoy contemporary romance with good narration, this might be worth adding to your TBR.