This One’s a Keeper (Pun Intended)

5 out of 5 stars

Well, that was adorable. And wow, it certainly dealt with a lot. I love a YA book that not only feels authentic to that age but also layers in just enough wisdom, whether through friends, adults, or those little flashes of self-awareness. That “end of the world” intensity is something only teenagers seem to master, and Kit Rosewater captured it perfectly here.

This story is impossible not to love. Evelyn and Rosa are the perfect yin and yang. Evelyn, the unshakable goalie, keeps everything out, including her emotions. While Rosa, the determined scorer, is all about breaking through walls. I loved how that dynamic spilled over into their relationship off the field.

Their rivalry-turned-secret-friendship had such great energy, especially with the whole “we can’t be seen together because of rival schools” angle that Evelyn added. It made their banter and stolen moments feel all the more fun.

It definitely gets pretty angsty at times, but that’s part of the charm, and it feels true to their age. The “childish” reactions made sense in context, and a few moments went in directions I didn’t fully expect. Even when it leaned into familiar tropes like the inevitable fight-and-silence stretch, it still managed to surprise me in the end.

I grabbed this one with a credit a few months back, and I’m so glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a huge fan of sapphic sports romances, this hit all the right notes for me—up there with two of my other favorites, Cleat Cute and She Drives Me Crazy (ironically named in one of the bylines).

I thought that Dominique Salvacion’s narration added a bright, energetic spark that fit the tone so well. I know that voicing teenagers cannot be easy, but as an adult, I found it very enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a YA sapphic sports romance with heart, humor, and a swoony rivalry, this one’s definitely a keeper… pun intended.

Book Description:

Evelyn was raised to see field hockey as war.

Before she could write her own name, her family’s legacy on the field was already spelled out. Every step Evelyn takes toward glory is within a footprint her mother left behind. And no step matters more than this next one, with Evelyn about to lead her varsity team into their final battle season. Evelyn is beyond ready to score the Nationals title and win the critical scholarship to her mom’s alma mater that comes with it.

This year, she’s out for blood, and nothing can stand in her way…

…except for Rosa Alvarez, the highly talented new recruit on her biggest rival’s team.

After a humiliating homecoming game and follow-up prank leave the two enemies in a stalemate, they grudgingly strike a deal to help each other overcome their weaknesses on the field. But the more time Evelyn spends with Rosa, the more she finds herself casting her hardened armor aside, until she begins to wonder what life might be like if she left the battlefield behind and fought for love instead.

“This one’s definitely a keeper!”—Jennifer Dugan, bestselling author of Some Girls Do

A high school field hockey star must choose between her love of the game and her new, distractingly beautiful rival in this queer YA romance perfect for fans of She Drives Me Crazy and Cleat Cute!

“A masterclass in romantic tension.”—Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

All's Fair in Love and Field Hockey by Kit Rosewater
Narrator: Dominique Salvacion
Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
Published by Listening Library on May 5th 2025
Genres: Coming of Age, Enemies to Lovers, Sports Romance
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