Recently-turned-pro tennis player Austin Hardy has been out since high school and it’s never been a big deal. That is, until he becomes the first openly gay man to compete in a Grand Slam tournament. Suddenly, being gay is a huge deal, with headlines to prove it.
Unprepared for this new spotlight, Austin’s anxiety disorder hits a breaking point, and he trips and falls at practice. Right next to the very attractive, very talented, and probably straight Diego Cruz, ranked second in the world.
The two professional rivals start a friendship off the court. But between their flirty banter, mixed signals, and looming showdown, Austin is thrown further off his game by Diego.
With the eyes of the world on Austin, the weight of history on his shoulders, and Diego across the net, he must decide whether love means nothing or if it means everything as he battles for the trophy during an electric two weeks at the US Open.
This is a debut that’s already getting buzz, and for good reason! Although marketed as a sports romance, it’s much more layered, with compelling themes of mental health, grief, public pressure, identity, fame, loneliness, self-acceptance, and trauma. And if you’re a tennis fan like me, you’ll be delighted to know that the story takes place over the entire course of the U.S. Open, from qualifying rounds to the final. There’s also lots of New York in the book, from hotels and restaurants to touristy locations and more. The story is packed with tropes—rivals to lovers, queer awakening, emotional pining, public pressure, anxious protagonist, flirty banter, emotional healing, found family, and more (PHEW!!).
Told in Austin’s 1st-person POV, the author does an excellent job of drawing you right into his anxious mindset and constant overthinking—especially during his panic attacks, which are so vividly written that they may be triggering for some readers. You slowly learn that Austin has unresolved trauma from the death of his father, along with emotional wounds from a past relationship. He feels everything deeply and is very emotionally reactive in some scenes when he can’t handle things—you may find his behavior childish, but it feels deeply human.
From their first encounter, where Austin suffers a major anxiety attack and crashes to the court and Diego rushes to help him, you sense there’s going to be a strong connection between them. I loved that this book didn’t make their romance their relationship’s main driving force. They secretly spend time together as the U.S. Open progresses, but their relationship is filled with awkwardness, texting anxiety, mixed signals, and miscommunication. Austin has no idea what Diego’s intentions are for a large portion of the book, especially since Diego isn’t openly gay or bisexual and has dated women before. You may find Diego frustrating at times like I did or even unlikable, but he feels real, especially with the media scrutiny he’s under. It’s also worth noting that this is a closed-door romance and there aren’t many intimate scenes.
Another compelling part of the story is Austin’s relationship with his coach Robbie, who was his late father’s best friend. Their relationship has many ups and downs and is just as interesting as the romance. Robbie pushes Austin but also really cares about him. The mental health representation feels authentic, not only in how Austin’s anxiety is conveyed but also in his raw therapy sessions during the tournament—there are powerful exchanges, outbursts, and realizations in these sessions that will linger!
And for tennis fans, there’s a LOT of tennis in this book. Austin’s matches are grueling, emotional, and very immersive. He plays on pretty much every court, from the qualifying bleachers to the grand stand to the incredible Arthur Ashe Stadium, and you can feel the electricity during intense points just like you’re there with him.
The pacing is strong throughout, and with short chapters and lots of intense dialogue/drama, it’s hard to put down. The second half is more about the fallout of a major event for Austin and the mental health repercussions. The final chapters are a bit predictable, but the ending is satisfying, and you’ll be thinking about these characters long afterwards!
If you enjoy character-driven sports stories with emotional depth, realistic anxiety representation, and messy relationships, you’re going to love this book!
Narrator Performance
The Open Era is read by seasoned narrator Shawn K. Jain. He portrays Austin with a youthful voice that feels emotionally vulnerable and constantly on edge to perfectly convey Austin’s anxious personality. In Austin’s inner monologues, you can literally hear his overthinking in Jain’s delivery, especially in matches where his thoughts spiral or when he’s trying to figure out Diego’s intentions. The anxiety representation in this audiobook feels very realistic, the panic attack scenes are so convincingly performed that they may even feel triggering for listeners who have similar anxiety disorders.
For Diego, Jain uses a strong, more grounded voice, which contrasts the two characters and emphasizes the opposites attract trope. Jain also layers Diego’s voice with an uncertainty it whenever things become more emotionally complicated between him and Austin. Their chemistry feels extremely palpable throughout the audiobook, and even though the heated scenes are few, they stand out for authenticity.
A highlight of the performance is the relationship between Austin and Robbie. Jain really brings out the complicated father-like dynamic between them. In Robbie’s voice you can hear the protectiveness, frustration, and love he has for Austin beneath their arguments and difficult conversations. Their interactions are just as compelling as the romance storyline itself.
Jain also paces the audiobook well. Tennis matches are energetic, fast-paced, and exciting to listen to. If you’re considering The Open Era, the audiobook is a highly recommended way to experience the story, as Shawn K. Jain’s narration adds so much emotional depth and realism to Austin’s journey that it’s difficult to stop listening!
Narrator Performance
The Open Era is read by seasoned narrator Shawn K. Jain. He portrays Austin with a youthful voice that feels emotionally vulnerable and constantly on edge to perfectly convey Austin’s anxious personality. In Austin’s inner monologues, you can literally hear his overthinking in Jain’s delivery, especially in matches where his thoughts spiral or when he’s trying to figure out Diego’s intentions. The anxiety representation in this audiobook feels very realistic, the panic attack scenes are so convincingly performed that they may even feel triggering for listeners who have similar anxiety disorders.
For Diego, Jain uses a strong, more grounded voice, which contrasts the two characters and emphasizes the opposites attract trope. Jain also layers Diego’s voice with an uncertainty it whenever things become more emotionally complicated between him and Austin. Their chemistry feels extremely palpable throughout the audiobook, and even though the heated scenes are few, they stand out for authenticity.
A highlight of the performance is the relationship between Austin and Robbie. Jain really brings out the complicated father-like dynamic between them. In Robbie’s voice you can hear the protectiveness, frustration, and love he has for Austin beneath their arguments and difficult conversations. Their interactions are just as compelling as the romance storyline itself.
Jain also paces the audiobook well. Tennis matches are energetic, fast-paced, and exciting to listen to. If you’re considering The Open Era, the audiobook is a highly recommended way to experience the story, as Shawn K. Jain’s narration adds so much emotional depth and realism to Austin’s journey that it’s difficult to stop listening!
The Open Era is read by seasoned narrator Shawn K. Jain. He portrays Austin with a youthful voice that feels emotionally vulnerable and constantly on edge to perfectly convey Austin’s anxious personality. In Austin’s inner monologues, you can literally hear his overthinking in Jain’s delivery, especially in matches where his thoughts spiral or when he’s trying to figure out Diego’s intentions. The anxiety representation in this audiobook feels very realistic, the panic attack scenes are so convincingly performed that they may even feel triggering for listeners who have similar anxiety disorders.
For Diego, Jain uses a strong, more grounded voice, which contrasts the two characters and emphasizes the opposites attract trope. Jain also layers Diego’s voice with an uncertainty it whenever things become more emotionally complicated between him and Austin. Their chemistry feels extremely palpable throughout the audiobook, and even though the heated scenes are few, they stand out for authenticity.
A highlight of the performance is the relationship between Austin and Robbie. Jain really brings out the complicated father-like dynamic between them. In Robbie’s voice you can hear the protectiveness, frustration, and love he has for Austin beneath their arguments and difficult conversations. Their interactions are just as compelling as the romance storyline itself.
Jain also paces the audiobook well. Tennis matches are energetic, fast-paced, and exciting to listen to. If you’re considering The Open Era, the audiobook is a highly recommended way to experience the story, as Shawn K. Jain’s narration adds so much emotional depth and realism to Austin’s journey that it’s difficult to stop listening!
