A Slam-Dunk Sapphic Sports Romance About … Mens Basketball?

Oops. That’s what I get for judging a book by its cover. I felt a smidgeon of disappointment when I realized early on that this book is centered around a collegiate men’s basketball team. “They expect me to root for these men?” I whined.

Nevertheless, I read on in search of the promised sapphic love story. And thank the romance gods I did, because it turned out to be my favorite romance of the year.

Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar

When former WNBA player Jordan D’Amato is named the first woman coach of a D-1 men’s basketball team, it creates a media frenzy. Commentators and fans openly wonder whether she’s got what it takes to lead Oregon’s David Douglas University Bulldogs to the championship. Behind closed doors at training, things are even worse. Some of the players refuse to take Jordan seriously, and the university’s athletic directors are ready to fire her at the slightest mistake.

But one person is rooting for Jordan. Caroline Beck knows what it’s like to fight your way through the boys’ club of sports culture. She’s been fighting her way up the ladder of sports journalism for years, and she believes an exclusive interview with Jordan could take Beck to the next level. The media world has burned Jordan and avoids reporters, but Beck charms her into taking it to the court. If Beck can beat Jordan in a shootout, she’ll get her interview.

Jordan and Beck quickly realize there’s more between them than their shared love of collegiate basketball. But falling for each other is a massive conflict of interest. Jordan can’t reveal the team’s secrets, and Beck can’t show favoritism to the Bulldogs. Even worse, their relationship could jeopardize both of their hard-earned careers. How long can they keep their love a secret when they’re both in the spotlight?

Play You For It won me over right from the start with its richly layered characters, high-stakes drama, and riveting romantic tension. Author Samantha Saldivar is an award-winning broadcaster with a background in sports reporting. The world she builds around her characters and the problems they face feel remarkably real. By the end, I found myself cheering for the Bulldogs like I had courtside season tickets.

In the span of one book, I’ve become Saldivar’s biggest fan. Lucky for me, I won’t have to wait long for my next chance to fall in love with her characters. Her sophomore novel Running Home to You is set for release next May, and I’m sure she’ll knock it out of the park.