Book Review: Playing The Field, Ivy Bailey

PLOT

The story follows Sadie, who wants to make it into a National football team to make his dad proud. She doesn’t want to focus on love, but everything changes when she meets Arlo, the new addition to the male team who seems to only get on her nerves. They slowly fall in love as she tries to get scouted before her final match.

The book is fast-paced, with short chapters told in first person, present tense from the main character’s POV. It is told in chronological order to follow the love story naturally and has a clear introduction, middle and end. This is great, it allows the reader to form a necessary and strong bond with both characters through Sadie’s thoughts and the actions that follow.

The plot is well-developed and benefits from the distinct personalities of the characters, who don’t fall into cliches. One of the bigger strengths of the book is the complexity of Sadie, through who the reader explores themes of love, resilience and friendship, adding depth to the story. It works as a rom-com because of its nonchalant tone, which is never lost throughout the story. The comedic elements are spot on and reflect the sense of humour of both the YA target and the characters. On the contrary, some sections of the book might feel a bit rushed, and the conflict that incites the climax feels like an easy-to-solve misunderstanding, which lowers the stakes.

The writing style is direct but descriptive, allowing the reader to delve into the internal struggles of the main character. The conversations between the characters feel realistic, and the rhythm flows smoothly, maintaining the interest. There are cliffhangers at the end of some chapters to add to that feeling, and the growth seen in Sadie and Arlo makes the reader invested in the outcome of their relationship. Its vocabulary is simple and accessible to the target audience, yet it doesn’t fall flat. Some chapters are told in text format, which adds to the realism and strengthens the personality of each character.

Playing The Field is suitable for upper-YA readers since it includes mature themes and vocabulary, and it is comparable to big international hit sports romances like Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, Behind The Net by Stephanie Archer, or Collide by Bal Khabra.

CHARACTERS

The main character, Sadie, is a bisexual girl studying at Durham. She has clear goals. This makes her a strong character who stands up for herself. Her motivations and fears make her feel real and relatable.

Her friend group is diverse: there is Jade, an amiable posh girl, and Hayley, her ex, a selfish girl who only thinks about herself. They have a small role but mimic very well the different kinds of people who live on a campus, where everyone has different backgrounds.

The love interest, Arlo, is a Zimbabwean-American boy who is dealing with grief and coming to terms with his complicated relationship with football. He is hot-headed and makes mistakes proper for his age, but he tries to make up for them by being empathetic. As a result, he forms a strong bond with Sadie. These flaws make him a relatable character. Sadie’s relationship with him is complicated throughout the book, but it is clear both understand each other and are willing to make an effort and sort their differences out.

COMMERCIAL HOOK

Its commercial hook is strong. It benefits from trending tropes such as enemies to lovers and sports romances while exploring a side of YA literature that is often overlooked: college students. There, the book finds a niche to explore inside the YA rom-com market. It is also a palatable rom-com that tackles all its themes positively, which makes it easy to approach by a wide variety of readers. Culturally, the book captures universal experiences and emotions that reason with people from different backgrounds. Besides, the inclusion of a bisexual main character and a Zimbabwean love interest can help readers feel seen and validated in YA literature.

OVERALL

The stakes should feel higher (the climax could benefit from other than a simple misunderstanding). This way, the resolution would feel more satisfying, making the end of the book more impactful for the reader. Nonetheless, Playing The Field is a good book with an engaging premise and a light-hearted tone, appropriate for the target audience. It is a good international sell considering the boom of similar books in global markets, and the characters are diverse in race, background and sexuality, which makes it more relatable for a wider public.

GET THE AUDIOBOOK HERE AND A PHYSICAL COPY HERE

YA ROMANCE

320 PAGES

A footballer has to help a boy she can’t stand in order to improve her skills and get scouted by a big team, accidentally falling in love in the process.