The Dugout by Meghan Quinn

Category: New Adult Romance
Publication date: 09/19/2019
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: No

The first 70% of this book is so awesome I was ready to award it 6 stars. Then the end happened and it did a bit of a face plant. But seriously, y’all, that beginning... 

Plot overview: Down-on-his-luck-and-sexily-grumpy Carson seeks the help of tragically-awkward-yet-Yoda-like-in-her-knowledge-of-baseball Milly to recover from an injury and figure out what’s gone wrong with his baseball swing. Slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance ensues. ​

Like I said, the beginning of this book is pure genius. Carson is deliciously grumpy because of an injury that postponed his being drafted. But as it turns out, Carson is actually a really great guy once you scrape off the self-pity. He doesn’t ever look down on Milly or expect her to change anything about herself. He treats her with the utmost respect at all times. He’s a total cinnamon roll, frankly. (Up until the 70% mark of the book, mind you) And best of all, he’s not a manwhore. There weren’t scads of disgusting hookups in his past, or even any jealous ex girlfriends determined to ruin Carson and Milly’s relationship. It was refreshing, really.

And Milly is a delightful heroine. She’s PAINFULLY awkward, but so knowledgeable and such a great, giving person (she coaches little league, for God’s sake) that you can’t help but love her. I even loved her two male friends. She doesn’t have girlfriends, and that’s OK. There aren’t a lot of other women in the book, and normally that would bug me, but I’d rather have very few women in a story than horribly portrayed women, which is something that happens all too often in romance novels. It made sense that Milly would have guy friends versus girlfriends, and that was just fine with me.

The romance is fairly slow burn, which I always enjoy. They get to know each other and become friends before any sexy times ensue. Then when sexy times DO ensure, they are of the oh-holy-hell-that’s-hot variety. 

And then...the 70% mark of the book happens. Something terrible happens to Carson and he shuts down emotionally and treats Milly horribly. Frankly, I wouldn’t have forgiven him if it had been me. But after what I found to be an entirely unsatisfying grovel, she takes him back. That whole thing lost the book a whole star. *stern frown-y face* 

But, because the beginning was so good, I’m still giving this one a solid 4 out of 5 ranking. What can I say? It’s a great read. Might I suggest that you stop reading at the 70% mark and just take my word for it that it all works out beautifully? It’d save you some aggravation.         

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
No rehab needed. This one’s clean and sober.

Other reading suggestions

New adult romances even the grumpiest of old readers can get excited about

Sexy new adult romance athletes who will get your heart racing

Plain Jane gets her sexy stud romances that give normal women hope