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The Open Era
AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER
“Heated Rivalry for the tennis set…charming, funny, and big-hearted.”—Town & Country
"[A] debut romance novel that will capture your heart."—Cosmopolitan
Love evens the score between two tennis players in this stunning debut romance.
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.
“Heated Rivalry for the tennis set…charming, funny, and big-hearted.”—Town & Country
"[A] debut romance novel that will capture your heart."—Cosmopolitan
Love evens the score between two tennis players in this stunning debut romance.
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.
Audible Audio
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Edward Schmit
1 book119 followersEdward Schmit is an author based in New York City. From theatre kid to graphic designer to creative director, he’s always exploring new ways to tell stories. A passionate mental health advocate, he’s worked in the nonprofit space for over seven years. The Open Era is his debut novel and combines three things close to his heart: queer love stories, mental health awareness, and the most beautiful sport in the world—tennis.
Find him on Instagram @edwardschmit and at edwardschmit.com.
Find him on Instagram @edwardschmit and at edwardschmit.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 773 reviews
June 14, 2026
I wish this were longer. And what a beautiful ending!
Before I started reading, I already knew The Open Era isn’t a romance. It’s a contemporary story with romance sprinkled throughout, a story about anxiety and the loss of a parent, a story about public scrutiny and friendship, a story about being the first out gay tennis player. And that last part is what everyone wants to talk about instead of how fabulously Austin is playing in the US Open. It’s also a story with a funny meet-cute, great writing, and two characters who read like real people.
From the first sentence on, I swooned over Austin’s story, sitting on the edge of my seat, wanting to read on and on and on, longing to finish it in one sitting. I couldn’t, and while I was working, cooking, or doing whatever else I had to do, I desperately wanted to be back with Austin and Diego. I grinned, and sometimes my heart clenched, but then warmth bubbled up in my chest and a smile spread across my face again.
Edward Schmit’s writing just splashes off the page. I’ve seen other people say this too, but is this really a debut??? What a fantastic one!
If I could compare this beauty to other stories that made me feel the same way, I’d say Here We Go Again, The Charm Offensive, Stars in Your Eyes, and Like Real People Do. It’s layered, and it’s just so good!
And please, Edward, can you write a sequel? Because I’m not done with these guys yet!
Follow me on Instagram
Before I started reading, I already knew The Open Era isn’t a romance. It’s a contemporary story with romance sprinkled throughout, a story about anxiety and the loss of a parent, a story about public scrutiny and friendship, a story about being the first out gay tennis player. And that last part is what everyone wants to talk about instead of how fabulously Austin is playing in the US Open. It’s also a story with a funny meet-cute, great writing, and two characters who read like real people.
From the first sentence on, I swooned over Austin’s story, sitting on the edge of my seat, wanting to read on and on and on, longing to finish it in one sitting. I couldn’t, and while I was working, cooking, or doing whatever else I had to do, I desperately wanted to be back with Austin and Diego. I grinned, and sometimes my heart clenched, but then warmth bubbled up in my chest and a smile spread across my face again.
Edward Schmit’s writing just splashes off the page. I’ve seen other people say this too, but is this really a debut??? What a fantastic one!
If I could compare this beauty to other stories that made me feel the same way, I’d say Here We Go Again, The Charm Offensive, Stars in Your Eyes, and Like Real People Do. It’s layered, and it’s just so good!
And please, Edward, can you write a sequel? Because I’m not done with these guys yet!
Follow me on Instagram
June 14, 2026
Franchement c’était cute et à l’inverse de Heated Merdalry, le fait que le personnage soit gay a une importance aussi quand il ne sert pas que de réceptacle à fétichisme en tout genre
On voit que le livre a été écrit par un homme gay et j’ai trouvé ça super cool que le thème LGBT ait une vraie importance dans le contexte sportif
Pas le livre de l’année et pas le mieux écrit mais une romance vrmt cute que je recommande
Heated rivalry de merde
On voit que le livre a été écrit par un homme gay et j’ai trouvé ça super cool que le thème LGBT ait une vraie importance dans le contexte sportif
Pas le livre de l’année et pas le mieux écrit mais une romance vrmt cute que je recommande
Heated rivalry de merde
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The open era is on my list of most anticipated releases of 2026, and I'm very grateful for the free copy I received from Berkley, I couldn't believe it when I saw it!
A few months ago a friend got the ARC and they told me it was very different from what they(and I) expected. And now I'm very grateful for the warning because it changed my whole experience with the book. The open era is a romance, but that's not the focus of the story. Don't get me wrong there is romance, but it is far from the focus of the book.
This is a story about a man struggling with anxiety, with unprocessed trauma and trying to navigate a public life with the hell that is the social media era. It is very relatable if you are in the LGBTQIA+ community, some of those comments are things we hear frequently and I cannot imagine how awful it is to public figures.
I love our main character, he felt very real to me, with flaws and just trying to live his life. I wish we got more time with him, got to see him getting better and overcoming what he is going through in this book.
The story is told in a short period of time, just a couple weeks. It mirrors real life in the way something can happen and just change everything for you.
The open era is the author's debut and I'm impressed, it deals with anxiety in an authentic way(coming from someone who struggles with it) and even though I wish it leaned more in the romance part I get why it doesn't. I will for sure keep an eye out to see where Edward Schmit goes next.
Thank you Berkley for the ARC!
A few months ago a friend got the ARC and they told me it was very different from what they(and I) expected. And now I'm very grateful for the warning because it changed my whole experience with the book. The open era is a romance, but that's not the focus of the story. Don't get me wrong there is romance, but it is far from the focus of the book.
This is a story about a man struggling with anxiety, with unprocessed trauma and trying to navigate a public life with the hell that is the social media era. It is very relatable if you are in the LGBTQIA+ community, some of those comments are things we hear frequently and I cannot imagine how awful it is to public figures.
I love our main character, he felt very real to me, with flaws and just trying to live his life. I wish we got more time with him, got to see him getting better and overcoming what he is going through in this book.
The story is told in a short period of time, just a couple weeks. It mirrors real life in the way something can happen and just change everything for you.
The open era is the author's debut and I'm impressed, it deals with anxiety in an authentic way(coming from someone who struggles with it) and even though I wish it leaned more in the romance part I get why it doesn't. I will for sure keep an eye out to see where Edward Schmit goes next.
Thank you Berkley for the ARC!
June 4, 2026
There is clearly a current momentum for male-male rival players tennis romances: in the past months at least 3 romances came out. and I tried all 3 (spoilers for the review already: this I would rate in the middle). All 3 books from debut authors, two of those including this one put out by big publishers with big marketing campaigns (but the book I really liked was In Your Court which is indie published). The 2 traditionally published stories are both set during the US open, which is actually my least favorite grand slam but I guess sells way more books in the US?
I guess I am the audience for this book since I tried all 3 books. This one launched just in the middle of Roland Garros (and what a crazy year this has been! As dramatic as last year in a totally different way!) and I could not resist. Spoilering the review: meh. 2.5 stars, but rounded down, because it was all so trite..
It's polished but kind of banal and it totally feels YA which I did not expect. It does not help counter that YA feeling that it is written in first person present PoV and it is basically chaste, one sex scene inserted almost awkwardly, the courting preceding that feeling very sweet and far younger than their nominal age (20 and 23 I think. No Heated Rivalry hornyness for example), insta love, left on read, big presents worn publicly....
It also feels YA in a kind of naivete and the self-centredness of the main character. It feels also a bit like a book meant for a reader (one who likes books, is a tennis fan, has anxiety and/or panic attacks, has a mobile phone addiction) to project into and the rest of the characters are kind of just around as supporting for our MC to be brave and open and loved. The love interest is instantly smitten - the big idol who the moment he meets our MC is instantly devoted and questioning his sexual orientation (and making a huge coming out gesture, all in the space of the two weeks of a tournament!) and feels completely generic. The more interesting relationship IMO, would have been the non romantic relationship, the complex ties with the former tennis pro and family friend who is the MC's unpaid coach (and who IMO the MC treats pretty badly) but that is not sufficiently explored.
This book also does that very common thing nowadays which is therapy and the holy therapist as the path to enlightenment and personal growth on real short timelines (not sure if this is a healthy portrayal for anybody who actually would profit from therapy, nevermind crazy expectations for therapists...).
Ah, and more disorganized rambling, our MC has panic attacks as a professional competitive athlete, which spoilers, are just a problem now when the book starts, and are not supposed to prevent him having a career. This is not the first book I encounter with such a scenario, but not sure how realistic it is, or to be realistic I kind of need more of a setup to why it was not a career ender before the highest level. Reaching the top level of a big professional sports will filter out a lot of physical and mental conditions in the athletes who reach it and coming out, being open, would likely be a big disadvantage (there is a dirty player with mind tricks in the book...) And the action all compressed into two weeks, which is not nearly enough for both character growth nor for the HEA kick of the reader who bought a romance novel.
Sorry for having strong feelings about this, but if this is being sold as a romance, it needed an epilogue, does not matter how many years down the line, rather than just going all "this is just the prologue to the rest of our lives" (paraphrasing the feeling. Pfh. Not good enough... They are too young and it was like 2 weeks and no real test of their relationship)
Fun setting but as a romance it did not click, as an exploration of mental health and sports, it was way too shallow for it to work. And real strong YA vibes, but not in a good fun way!
I guess I am the audience for this book since I tried all 3 books. This one launched just in the middle of Roland Garros (and what a crazy year this has been! As dramatic as last year in a totally different way!) and I could not resist. Spoilering the review: meh. 2.5 stars, but rounded down, because it was all so trite..
It's polished but kind of banal and it totally feels YA which I did not expect. It does not help counter that YA feeling that it is written in first person present PoV and it is basically chaste, one sex scene inserted almost awkwardly, the courting preceding that feeling very sweet and far younger than their nominal age (20 and 23 I think. No Heated Rivalry hornyness for example), insta love, left on read, big presents worn publicly....
It also feels YA in a kind of naivete and the self-centredness of the main character. It feels also a bit like a book meant for a reader (one who likes books, is a tennis fan, has anxiety and/or panic attacks, has a mobile phone addiction) to project into and the rest of the characters are kind of just around as supporting for our MC to be brave and open and loved. The love interest is instantly smitten - the big idol who the moment he meets our MC is instantly devoted and questioning his sexual orientation (and making a huge coming out gesture, all in the space of the two weeks of a tournament!) and feels completely generic. The more interesting relationship IMO, would have been the non romantic relationship, the complex ties with the former tennis pro and family friend who is the MC's unpaid coach (and who IMO the MC treats pretty badly) but that is not sufficiently explored.
This book also does that very common thing nowadays which is therapy and the holy therapist as the path to enlightenment and personal growth on real short timelines (not sure if this is a healthy portrayal for anybody who actually would profit from therapy, nevermind crazy expectations for therapists...).
Ah, and more disorganized rambling, our MC has panic attacks as a professional competitive athlete, which spoilers, are just a problem now when the book starts, and are not supposed to prevent him having a career. This is not the first book I encounter with such a scenario, but not sure how realistic it is, or to be realistic I kind of need more of a setup to why it was not a career ender before the highest level. Reaching the top level of a big professional sports will filter out a lot of physical and mental conditions in the athletes who reach it and coming out, being open, would likely be a big disadvantage (there is a dirty player with mind tricks in the book...) And the action all compressed into two weeks, which is not nearly enough for both character growth nor for the HEA kick of the reader who bought a romance novel.
Sorry for having strong feelings about this, but if this is being sold as a romance, it needed an epilogue, does not matter how many years down the line, rather than just going all "this is just the prologue to the rest of our lives" (paraphrasing the feeling. Pfh. Not good enough... They are too young and it was like 2 weeks and no real test of their relationship)
Fun setting but as a romance it did not click, as an exploration of mental health and sports, it was way too shallow for it to work. And real strong YA vibes, but not in a good fun way!
June 15, 2026
This is NOT a genre romance book.
I am floored it's being marketed that way. There is no HEA. There is barely a hypothetical bubble gummy stretch and make a small leap to a HFN.
This is NOT a coming-of-age story, don't those center around character growth?!
“Heated Rivalry for the tennis set…charming, funny, and big-hearted.” —Town & Country
Something tells me Town & Country hasn't really watched or read Heated Rivalry.
I need another day to organize my Austin rant and add quotes for examples.
Oh, and the mental health rep was ridiculous. 🙄
I did enjoy the tennis and the first 30% or so of the book, until Austin's behavior started to really pile up into inexcusable territory.
Lovely cover.
With no convincing romance arc, almost zero character growth, and no concrete mental health plan, I think this book is best enjoyed as a book about queer tennis players and their struggles with anxiety, grief, and immaturity (Austin only, Diego was a pretty reasonable adult).
Long RTC
MC Names: Austin Hardy (Hardy Boy, Auz) & Diego Cruz
Add full tags later:
CWs: grief, off-page death of a parent (5 years in the past, ALS), panic attacks, anxiety attacks, diagnosed with GAD (past, off-page, Generalized Anxiety Disorder)
I am floored it's being marketed that way. There is no HEA. There is barely a hypothetical bubble gummy stretch and make a small leap to a HFN.
This is NOT a coming-of-age story, don't those center around character growth?!
“Heated Rivalry for the tennis set…charming, funny, and big-hearted.” —Town & Country
Something tells me Town & Country hasn't really watched or read Heated Rivalry.
I need another day to organize my Austin rant and add quotes for examples.
Oh, and the mental health rep was ridiculous. 🙄
I did enjoy the tennis and the first 30% or so of the book, until Austin's behavior started to really pile up into inexcusable territory.
Lovely cover.
With no convincing romance arc, almost zero character growth, and no concrete mental health plan, I think this book is best enjoyed as a book about queer tennis players and their struggles with anxiety, grief, and immaturity (Austin only, Diego was a pretty reasonable adult).
Long RTC
MC Names: Austin Hardy (Hardy Boy, Auz) & Diego Cruz
Add full tags later:
CWs: grief, off-page death of a parent (5 years in the past, ALS), panic attacks, anxiety attacks, diagnosed with GAD (past, off-page, Generalized Anxiety Disorder)
March 20, 2026
I am just a puddle of emotions right now. Tears in my eyes as I write this.
If Labyrinth by Taylor Swift was a book …
”I thought the plane was going down, how’d you turn it right around?”
Not only is this a fucking stellar, grand slam of a novel — this is a debut. Which is wild. It is well-crafted, well-written, moving, and meaningful. Books like this take some authors ages to craft. I am stunned.
Austin Hardy is one of my favorite characters in recent memory. I loved him so much. I loved how human he was — imperfect, stressed, and hurting. But also strong, resilient, brave, and steadfast.
The exploration of mental health and anxiety in this story was so thoughtful, introspective, and genuine. You can tell how much heart was put into writing Austin.
I loved that this plot wasn’t formulaic. It branches out in new directions from the standard MM / sports romance book. I loved the complexity of Austin and Diego’s dynamic and relationship. I was intrigued by Diego in general — he was just as human as Austin, for different reasons. And I loved him, too. These 2 boys are absolute gems.
Incredible story. Memorable characters. Written with purpose. Filled with glimmers of hope and optimism. A show-stopping, striking finale. What more can you ask for?
I’m calling it now. Edward Schmit will be an author to watch.
Anyway, my lunch break is almost over, so I have to collect myself and stop crying and somehow be a normal person while this book is fresh in my mind and heart!
I really hoped I’d get an eARC of this book when they were available for request — and thank you, NetGalley, for hooking me up!
Out in June 2026 — add this to your TBR.
Gonna tell my kids this was my Challengers 2.
If Labyrinth by Taylor Swift was a book …
”I thought the plane was going down, how’d you turn it right around?”
Not only is this a fucking stellar, grand slam of a novel — this is a debut. Which is wild. It is well-crafted, well-written, moving, and meaningful. Books like this take some authors ages to craft. I am stunned.
Austin Hardy is one of my favorite characters in recent memory. I loved him so much. I loved how human he was — imperfect, stressed, and hurting. But also strong, resilient, brave, and steadfast.
The exploration of mental health and anxiety in this story was so thoughtful, introspective, and genuine. You can tell how much heart was put into writing Austin.
I loved that this plot wasn’t formulaic. It branches out in new directions from the standard MM / sports romance book. I loved the complexity of Austin and Diego’s dynamic and relationship. I was intrigued by Diego in general — he was just as human as Austin, for different reasons. And I loved him, too. These 2 boys are absolute gems.
Incredible story. Memorable characters. Written with purpose. Filled with glimmers of hope and optimism. A show-stopping, striking finale. What more can you ask for?
I’m calling it now. Edward Schmit will be an author to watch.
Anyway, my lunch break is almost over, so I have to collect myself and stop crying and somehow be a normal person while this book is fresh in my mind and heart!
I really hoped I’d get an eARC of this book when they were available for request — and thank you, NetGalley, for hooking me up!
Out in June 2026 — add this to your TBR.
Gonna tell my kids this was my Challengers 2.
June 15, 2026
I can’t believe this is a debut novel! The way Austin’s character had me in a chokehold, his sense of humour, his inner monologues, his jokes and self-deprecation were extremely endearing.
I agree with everyone who said this book is not really a romance. Don’t get me wrong, there is a romance storyline, after all, Austin has a crush on gorgeous Diego with an 8-pack, and his love life (or lack thereof) is definitely important for his mental health.
The way this book is written is super compelling. It starts strong, letting the reader know something bad has happened and Austin has to deal with the reckoning in what is the most important game of his life. We get to experience alongside Austin a very confusing crush that turns into a quick but deep friendship and then, of course, heartbreak. Diego is a confusing character. I wanted to like him, and he had his good moments, and while I completely can empathize with his fears, I have to side with Austin. I also didn’t like how he was treated or the ghosting. I haven’t fully forgiven him yet.
Robbie, Charlotte and Helen were amazing characters. I love how much they comforted and cared for Austin in their own way with his mental health struggles. The book certainly doesn’t shy away from showing the reader how awful Austin feels and the uncertainty he faces.
I really wish the book had been longer; I could have continued reading about Austin and his journey in pro-tennis for longer. I just hope the author gives us a sequel. Lastly, I have to give props to the author, because that part where Diego sings to Austin “La rata vieja” felt so real, like that was something my mom did when I was a child, too.
I agree with everyone who said this book is not really a romance. Don’t get me wrong, there is a romance storyline, after all, Austin has a crush on gorgeous Diego with an 8-pack, and his love life (or lack thereof) is definitely important for his mental health.
The way this book is written is super compelling. It starts strong, letting the reader know something bad has happened and Austin has to deal with the reckoning in what is the most important game of his life. We get to experience alongside Austin a very confusing crush that turns into a quick but deep friendship and then, of course, heartbreak. Diego is a confusing character. I wanted to like him, and he had his good moments, and while I completely can empathize with his fears, I have to side with Austin. I also didn’t like how he was treated or the ghosting. I haven’t fully forgiven him yet.
Robbie, Charlotte and Helen were amazing characters. I love how much they comforted and cared for Austin in their own way with his mental health struggles. The book certainly doesn’t shy away from showing the reader how awful Austin feels and the uncertainty he faces.
I really wish the book had been longer; I could have continued reading about Austin and his journey in pro-tennis for longer. I just hope the author gives us a sequel. Lastly, I have to give props to the author, because that part where Diego sings to Austin “La rata vieja” felt so real, like that was something my mom did when I was a child, too.
June 9, 2026
“Sometimes there isn’t a breakthrough. Sometimes you just wake up one day and feel a little bit better - not because you’re lucky, but because you put in the work.”
DEVOURED this. also really appreciated all of the one direction references.
DEVOURED this. also really appreciated all of the one direction references.
May 31, 2026
This is a debut?! Oh I loved this.
If you're going to tell me your characters are professional athletes, I want to actually SEE them do the sport. I want sweat. I want competition. I want crushing losses and impossible victories. And The Open Era absolutely delivered. The tennis wasn't just a backdrop for the romance. It was woven into every aspect of Austin and Diego's lives, careers, identities, and relationship. As someone who gets irrationally annoyed when a sports romance forgets the sport exists, I was eating this up like courtside strawberries at Wimbledon.
But then Edward Schmit had the audacity to make me FEEL things.
Austin's anxiety felt so painfully real and nuanced. Watching him navigate the pressure of professional tennis while carrying the lingering grief and trauma surrounding his father's death absolutely wrecked me. His struggles never felt reduced to a plot device. They felt so unbelievably, deeply human.
And Diego? My heart. His coming-out journey was handled with so much care and authenticity. The fears, the uncertainty, the weight of public perception, and the desire to simply exist as himself had me rooting for him every step of the way.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel was how honestly it explored social media. In so many contemporary romances it's either ignored or used as a convenient plot device. Here, it felt like a living force in both characters' lives, capable of creating connection, community, and support while also amplifying pressure, scrutiny, anxiety, and self-doubt. It was messy, complicated, and incredibly relevant.
What really elevated this book for me, though, was the character work. Austin and Diego felt like complete people, not just romance archetypes. Every victory felt earned. Every setback hurt. Every step of their growth mattered. Even the side characters were given enough depth that I became invested in their journeys too. By the end, I felt like I'd spent an entire season following this tour and these people.
Come for the tennis.
Stay for the emotional damage.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the gifted arc :)
If you're going to tell me your characters are professional athletes, I want to actually SEE them do the sport. I want sweat. I want competition. I want crushing losses and impossible victories. And The Open Era absolutely delivered. The tennis wasn't just a backdrop for the romance. It was woven into every aspect of Austin and Diego's lives, careers, identities, and relationship. As someone who gets irrationally annoyed when a sports romance forgets the sport exists, I was eating this up like courtside strawberries at Wimbledon.
But then Edward Schmit had the audacity to make me FEEL things.
Austin's anxiety felt so painfully real and nuanced. Watching him navigate the pressure of professional tennis while carrying the lingering grief and trauma surrounding his father's death absolutely wrecked me. His struggles never felt reduced to a plot device. They felt so unbelievably, deeply human.
And Diego? My heart. His coming-out journey was handled with so much care and authenticity. The fears, the uncertainty, the weight of public perception, and the desire to simply exist as himself had me rooting for him every step of the way.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel was how honestly it explored social media. In so many contemporary romances it's either ignored or used as a convenient plot device. Here, it felt like a living force in both characters' lives, capable of creating connection, community, and support while also amplifying pressure, scrutiny, anxiety, and self-doubt. It was messy, complicated, and incredibly relevant.
What really elevated this book for me, though, was the character work. Austin and Diego felt like complete people, not just romance archetypes. Every victory felt earned. Every setback hurt. Every step of their growth mattered. Even the side characters were given enough depth that I became invested in their journeys too. By the end, I felt like I'd spent an entire season following this tour and these people.
Come for the tennis.
Stay for the emotional damage.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the gifted arc :)
June 6, 2026
First a warning, as somebody who reads romance novels, I am not sure I would automatically classify this as a romance, regarding a HEA or even a HFN. Its setting is about two weeks, the duration of the US open (in tennis) and while there is a romance subplot as lever, the feel is mostly YA and about mental health and the importance of being totally open about one's mental health struggles and sexuality and all and so on. All this in the context of two weeks for a 20 and a 23 year old... I think it is not enough time for the reader to get a grip on really feeling they are soulmates or in love or that tey will be together and happy in 10 or 30 years. There is no personality to the love interest and the MC (first person present, very tiktok) feels awfully immature and downright unlikeable to me sometimes.
So mileage may vary, but I was very underwhelmed that this is what is getting marketed as a romanced. Very very YA -not a lot of sex, no burn at all, and very plastic like in its pro mental health by being super open to the media message (personally; i would tell any 20 year old to think a bit longer about said openness, but hey...)
So mileage may vary, but I was very underwhelmed that this is what is getting marketed as a romanced. Very very YA -not a lot of sex, no burn at all, and very plastic like in its pro mental health by being super open to the media message (personally; i would tell any 20 year old to think a bit longer about said openness, but hey...)
June 2, 2026
WHAT A DEBUT NOVEL!! One of my favorite romance books of the year I need everyone to read asap!! Thank you to @berkleyromance @berkleypub for the free early copy. #berkleypartner 🤍 A gay romance following two tennis players?? I ate this up! Happy pub day to this gorgeous book.
The Open Era is a gay sports romance, following two tennis rivals, Austin and Diego. Austin, our main character, is someone who has recently shot to fame in the tennis world as he has climbed the ranks and came out publicly. As a result of all the attention, his anxiety and mental health have taken a turn for the worst. When he suffers a panic attack during practice, Diego comes to the rescue, and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. But Austin can’t figure out what Diego wants and whether Diego even likes men…
I loved this book so so much, I truly couldn’t put it down!! It felt so intimate and emotional and I connected SO MUCH with Austin’s character. It is so rare that we get authentic, well rounded male characters with mental health representation and I just fell in love with Austin. I loved his journey going through therapy, finally opening up about his repressed trauma and grief, and his struggles with relationships.
I also loved the focus on mental health representation in sports. Professional sports come with SO much pressure and stress and I think both Austin and Diego represented the pressure that comes with being a public figure and trying to excel in your sport.
And the romance?? My favorite part was the genuine friendship that Austin and Diego formed. All the time they spent together, playing games, getting to know each other, opening up about their vulnerabilities. It built such a strong foundation for them to slowly fall in love and start their relationship. With SO MUCH angst and will they won’t they 😭
I could not believe this is a debut, it was so well written and truly one of my favorite recent romances. A must read this summer!!
The Open Era is a gay sports romance, following two tennis rivals, Austin and Diego. Austin, our main character, is someone who has recently shot to fame in the tennis world as he has climbed the ranks and came out publicly. As a result of all the attention, his anxiety and mental health have taken a turn for the worst. When he suffers a panic attack during practice, Diego comes to the rescue, and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. But Austin can’t figure out what Diego wants and whether Diego even likes men…
I loved this book so so much, I truly couldn’t put it down!! It felt so intimate and emotional and I connected SO MUCH with Austin’s character. It is so rare that we get authentic, well rounded male characters with mental health representation and I just fell in love with Austin. I loved his journey going through therapy, finally opening up about his repressed trauma and grief, and his struggles with relationships.
I also loved the focus on mental health representation in sports. Professional sports come with SO much pressure and stress and I think both Austin and Diego represented the pressure that comes with being a public figure and trying to excel in your sport.
And the romance?? My favorite part was the genuine friendship that Austin and Diego formed. All the time they spent together, playing games, getting to know each other, opening up about their vulnerabilities. It built such a strong foundation for them to slowly fall in love and start their relationship. With SO MUCH angst and will they won’t they 😭
I could not believe this is a debut, it was so well written and truly one of my favorite recent romances. A must read this summer!!
June 4, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Definitely the prettiest book cover I've seen all year! But did the contents match...? yes! Kind of! It's hard to explain!
First off, I don't know anything about tennis, but I had no trouble following what was happening in the story. The subject matter felt very approachable. At its core, this book is as much about the sport as it is about grief and anxiety, and now these, these are subjects I know lots about: it hit really close to home for me. I "enjoyed" the portrayal of panic attacks, the spiralling fear of dying, the out of control, explosive feelings that mix with your grief when you're still mourning a parent. The portrayal felt true to my own experience, and so I thought the character work was brilliant. Not just for the MC, but for all the characters around him, too.
However, my first complaint started in chapter 1: I think beginning in medias res (the overdone "you probably wonder how I ended up in this situation") was a mistake. Right from the opening scene, I already knew far too much about how the first of the book would unfold, which undercut a lot of the upcoming tension. After all, it's hard to take his struggles seriously early on. This really bothered me, and even more so when I reached the clear demarcation of where chapter 1 was "cut from": it becomes very clear that the opening chapter was meant to slot directly between two later chapters and its absence there is jarring. It all just felt so awkward.
I understand that starting in medias res is standard when there are concerns readers will get bored with a book's slow start, but I don't think this cliché was needed here. The pacing is sharp, with strong romantic/sexual tension and banter between the main character and the love interest, interesting dynamics with his entourage, and solid character building throughout. The story absolutely could have stood on its own without that structural choice, and would have been even more compelling for keeping its mysteries intact.
Now, speaking of character work, I found the MC unlikable in the best way. He isn't a villain or beyond redemption, he's just genuinely flawed. He's awkward, stubborn, and often treats the people who love him dearly like shit. He's immature and cringe. And all of this comes through without the narrative having to spell it out for you, it's all shown slowly, scene by scene, in little pieces of interior musing or dialogue. This, too, felt realistic and relatable to me: he really read like a well-rounded character. Like we were only with him for a brief glimpse into his life, and that he's lived before and will keep on living after the book ends. That, to me, felt like a technical prowess from the author.
Ultimately, while I was expecting to give the book 5 stars, I felt like the final quarter was missing something. The story builds to a fever pitch but doesn't quite sustain that level of intensity throughout the ending, and some elements needed to fully resolve the character arcs/character relationships felt absent. I understand why the book ends the way it does (and, in a way, respect that decision), but it didn't deliver what I personally wanted from it. This isn't so much a critique of quality as it is a matter of preference. I didn't need everything wrapped up neatly in a pretty little bow, but I did want just a bit more and was left feeling slightly bereft. Overall, I don't think this book should be marketed as a romance per se.
All in all, this was a great book with superb pacing and character work. I was really impressed by how alive the story felt. And of course, I can't wait to pick up more from this author!
Definitely the prettiest book cover I've seen all year! But did the contents match...? yes! Kind of! It's hard to explain!
First off, I don't know anything about tennis, but I had no trouble following what was happening in the story. The subject matter felt very approachable. At its core, this book is as much about the sport as it is about grief and anxiety, and now these, these are subjects I know lots about: it hit really close to home for me. I "enjoyed" the portrayal of panic attacks, the spiralling fear of dying, the out of control, explosive feelings that mix with your grief when you're still mourning a parent. The portrayal felt true to my own experience, and so I thought the character work was brilliant. Not just for the MC, but for all the characters around him, too.
However, my first complaint started in chapter 1: I think beginning in medias res (the overdone "you probably wonder how I ended up in this situation") was a mistake. Right from the opening scene, I already knew far too much about how the first of the book would unfold, which undercut a lot of the upcoming tension. After all, it's hard to take his struggles seriously early on. This really bothered me, and even more so when I reached the clear demarcation of where chapter 1 was "cut from": it becomes very clear that the opening chapter was meant to slot directly between two later chapters and its absence there is jarring. It all just felt so awkward.
I understand that starting in medias res is standard when there are concerns readers will get bored with a book's slow start, but I don't think this cliché was needed here. The pacing is sharp, with strong romantic/sexual tension and banter between the main character and the love interest, interesting dynamics with his entourage, and solid character building throughout. The story absolutely could have stood on its own without that structural choice, and would have been even more compelling for keeping its mysteries intact.
Now, speaking of character work, I found the MC unlikable in the best way. He isn't a villain or beyond redemption, he's just genuinely flawed. He's awkward, stubborn, and often treats the people who love him dearly like shit. He's immature and cringe. And all of this comes through without the narrative having to spell it out for you, it's all shown slowly, scene by scene, in little pieces of interior musing or dialogue. This, too, felt realistic and relatable to me: he really read like a well-rounded character. Like we were only with him for a brief glimpse into his life, and that he's lived before and will keep on living after the book ends. That, to me, felt like a technical prowess from the author.
Ultimately, while I was expecting to give the book 5 stars, I felt like the final quarter was missing something. The story builds to a fever pitch but doesn't quite sustain that level of intensity throughout the ending, and some elements needed to fully resolve the character arcs/character relationships felt absent. I understand why the book ends the way it does (and, in a way, respect that decision), but it didn't deliver what I personally wanted from it. This isn't so much a critique of quality as it is a matter of preference. I didn't need everything wrapped up neatly in a pretty little bow, but I did want just a bit more and was left feeling slightly bereft. Overall, I don't think this book should be marketed as a romance per se.
All in all, this was a great book with superb pacing and character work. I was really impressed by how alive the story felt. And of course, I can't wait to pick up more from this author!
June 6, 2026
Advanced Copy Review
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
Honestly? This is miss-genred. It’s a coming of age story, not a romance novel. If I would’ve known that going in, I think my expectations would’ve been much different. Comparing it to Heated Rivalry is a huge mistake.
The book is about tennis, grief, mental health and navigating sexual identity in the public eye. There is some extremely slow-burn romance sprinkled in with virtually no romantic character development.
The dialogue is often clunky, unrealistic and felt like it was trying too hard to be Gen Z. The result was characters in their 20s that felt immature.
Oh, and also Robbie sucks. And don’t go to a therapist who has another connection to your life.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
Honestly? This is miss-genred. It’s a coming of age story, not a romance novel. If I would’ve known that going in, I think my expectations would’ve been much different. Comparing it to Heated Rivalry is a huge mistake.
The book is about tennis, grief, mental health and navigating sexual identity in the public eye. There is some extremely slow-burn romance sprinkled in with virtually no romantic character development.
The dialogue is often clunky, unrealistic and felt like it was trying too hard to be Gen Z. The result was characters in their 20s that felt immature.
Oh, and also Robbie sucks. And don’t go to a therapist who has another connection to your life.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I remember telling a friend at the start of last year that we'll be seeing a rise in queer tennis romances after the popularity of challengers and I'm so glad to have been right!
Tennis is not a sport I know anything about so I really appreciated how the author weaved exposition about the sports rules and terminologies into the narration without making it too obvious or glaring. Another thing about the writing was how palpable it made everything seem. From the setting descriptions to the emotions of Austin...it all felt very real to me.
I loved Austin as a character. The author did an amazing job writing in him in the in-between age where you feel old enough to do a lot of things and make decisions for yourself but also are naive and juvenile still. Austin was a very believable 20 year old to me. His struggles with his depression and anxiety was another aspect that made him very compelling to read about, especially when it intersected with his being a sports star with the weight of so many people's expectations coupled with his own on him.
As for his relationships with his family, beautiful! Tens all across the board. I was in tears when he had that talk with his coach/uncle, such wonderful connections with each of them. I can't say I feel the same for his relationship with Diego. One one hand I understand why it's surface level and infatuation at best given that the book takes place over the course of 10 days and given the set up for the open ending, on the other hand, I wish their relationship had been just more... especially since the book is being marketed as a slow burn.
All in all, this was a really interesting read with incredible character work. If you go in expecting more on the romance, you'd be a bit disappointed like I was but still an enjoyable read overall! Thank Berkeley Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tennis is not a sport I know anything about so I really appreciated how the author weaved exposition about the sports rules and terminologies into the narration without making it too obvious or glaring. Another thing about the writing was how palpable it made everything seem. From the setting descriptions to the emotions of Austin...it all felt very real to me.
I loved Austin as a character. The author did an amazing job writing in him in the in-between age where you feel old enough to do a lot of things and make decisions for yourself but also are naive and juvenile still. Austin was a very believable 20 year old to me. His struggles with his depression and anxiety was another aspect that made him very compelling to read about, especially when it intersected with his being a sports star with the weight of so many people's expectations coupled with his own on him.
As for his relationships with his family, beautiful! Tens all across the board. I was in tears when he had that talk with his coach/uncle, such wonderful connections with each of them. I can't say I feel the same for his relationship with Diego. One one hand I understand why it's surface level and infatuation at best given that the book takes place over the course of 10 days and given the set up for the open ending, on the other hand, I wish their relationship had been just more... especially since the book is being marketed as a slow burn.
All in all, this was a really interesting read with incredible character work. If you go in expecting more on the romance, you'd be a bit disappointed like I was but still an enjoyable read overall! Thank Berkeley Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2026
That was underwhelming. I had my hopes so high about this book, I expected a lot of tension, emotions, and hesitation, and of course, HEA in the end, but this.
This is not what I expected to receive.
The MC Austin is one of the most insufferable main characters I have ever read about. He is absolutely ungrateful, selfish and spoiled brat, who is only concerned with himself. He is hot-headed and never actually thinks and/or cares whether his words may hurt someone else. The only person he cares about is he himself.
The way he treated his coach Robbie, reminded me of all the videos of spoiled white children, who throw tantrums and make scenes in the shops, when they do not get what they want to. It was awful, I hated him every time he told anything bad to Robbie - the most selfless and sincere person in that book. I felt so bad every time Austin opened his mouth and spoke some shit to him, unbelieveable. Idk, maybe all the tennis players are like that, or maybe it is just this character. I understand the desire to be the best, to be on top, but this was hard to read. When he told him to fuck off, I wanted to crawl into the book and smack his ass. It was absolutely awful and not deserved at all. How dared he treat a person, who was so helpful and generous, like that. Absolutely horrible.
Another problem with this book is the insta love stuff. When Austin called Diego "the love of his life" I laughed out loud. Dude, you kinda know him for 2 weeks, what the hell are you talking about. I did not get any emotions, how and why Diego fell in love with him, Austin too. He was only talking about how hot Diego was and that was pretty much it. No deep connection, nothing.
Another enranging moment was the way he treated hit therapist - Helen. Awful behavior. How do you expect to solve a problem, which a lot of people suffer from for a lot of years in less than two weeks. wtf? And he blamed her and his coach (once again) for insisting on therapy. I would have left him the second he spoke to me with that attitude.
No romance here, the book was about a guy, who was reluctant to get help and love from people around him, that is it.
This is not what I expected to receive.
The MC Austin is one of the most insufferable main characters I have ever read about. He is absolutely ungrateful, selfish and spoiled brat, who is only concerned with himself. He is hot-headed and never actually thinks and/or cares whether his words may hurt someone else. The only person he cares about is he himself.
The way he treated his coach Robbie, reminded me of all the videos of spoiled white children, who throw tantrums and make scenes in the shops, when they do not get what they want to. It was awful, I hated him every time he told anything bad to Robbie - the most selfless and sincere person in that book. I felt so bad every time Austin opened his mouth and spoke some shit to him, unbelieveable. Idk, maybe all the tennis players are like that, or maybe it is just this character. I understand the desire to be the best, to be on top, but this was hard to read. When he told him to fuck off, I wanted to crawl into the book and smack his ass. It was absolutely awful and not deserved at all. How dared he treat a person, who was so helpful and generous, like that. Absolutely horrible.
Another problem with this book is the insta love stuff. When Austin called Diego "the love of his life" I laughed out loud. Dude, you kinda know him for 2 weeks, what the hell are you talking about. I did not get any emotions, how and why Diego fell in love with him, Austin too. He was only talking about how hot Diego was and that was pretty much it. No deep connection, nothing.
Another enranging moment was the way he treated hit therapist - Helen. Awful behavior. How do you expect to solve a problem, which a lot of people suffer from for a lot of years in less than two weeks. wtf? And he blamed her and his coach (once again) for insisting on therapy. I would have left him the second he spoke to me with that attitude.
No romance here, the book was about a guy, who was reluctant to get help and love from people around him, that is it.
June 5, 2026
Tennis romance of the queer variety is having a moment, and even though I know absolutely nothing about it as a sport, I'm enjoying the learning process. This was a really charming read that was more underdog story than romance. And it was hilarious. I laughed out loud like an abnormal amount reading this book. Our hero is Austin Hardy, a twenty-year-old tennis ace who qualified for the US Open for the first time and is trying to be cool about it. But Austin is just a ball of anxiety in a trench-coat and he is not managing it well. Most of this book is us just spinning around in the drain of Austin's brain as he navigates the tournament, his anxiety disorder and the big fat crush he develops on Diego Cruz, heartthrob and no 2 men's player in the world. I found Austin to be pretty self-centered and kind of immature, but he is just so fucking funny that I was genuinely charmed. The book is laced with a kind of gen-z, online humour that I actually really enjoyed. The romance is mild and tentative, Diego befriends Austin and they spend a fraught week working out their feelings for each other, and it was cute and frustrating and definitely not the entirety of the book. This was a great debut that I think kind of captured this particular moment in time quite well. Definitely looking forward to more from this author.
June 3, 2026
The Open Era is, without a doubt, the best sports romance I’ve read this year so far.💖
I was completely immersed in this story from beginning to end. Edward Schmit captured the atmosphere of professional tennis so vividly that I genuinely felt like I was sitting in the stands, watching every match unfold in real time. The tension on the court was electric — I could feel it in every point, every rally, every moment that mattered.
Austin completely stole my heart. It broke alongside his over and over again. I cried with him, held my breath with him, and found myself wishing I could step into the pages just to tell him how strong, brave, and inspiring he truly is. His journey felt incredibly real and deeply personal.
What makes Austin such a remarkable character is his authenticity. He isn’t perfect, and that’s exactly why he’s so compelling. Watching him struggle, make mistakes, face consequences, learn, grow, and continue moving forward despite everything was both heartbreaking and inspiring. His courage to be himself in a world full of expectations made me root for him every step of the way.
The entire cast felt real — flawed, complex, and human. Every relationship, every conflict, and every emotional moment felt genuine.
One of the most powerful aspects of this novel is its exploration of mental health. The book shines a light on the immense pressure professional athletes face and how difficult it can be to navigate success, expectations, and personal struggles while carrying invisible battles of your own.
This story is packed with emotion, drama, heartache, hope, and the thrill of competition. It made me laugh, cry, and feel every victory and defeat alongside the characters.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It will absolutely break your heart, but it will also fill it with hope. 💘
Tropes:
• Sports Romance
• MM Romance
• Professional Tennis Players
• Rivals to Friends to Lovers
• Slow Burn
• Mental Health Representation
• Self-Discovery
• LGBTQ+ Representation
• Found Family
• Hurt/Comfort
• High Stakes Competition
• Personal Growth
• Emotional Rollercoaster
• Learning to Be Yourself
I was completely immersed in this story from beginning to end. Edward Schmit captured the atmosphere of professional tennis so vividly that I genuinely felt like I was sitting in the stands, watching every match unfold in real time. The tension on the court was electric — I could feel it in every point, every rally, every moment that mattered.
Austin completely stole my heart. It broke alongside his over and over again. I cried with him, held my breath with him, and found myself wishing I could step into the pages just to tell him how strong, brave, and inspiring he truly is. His journey felt incredibly real and deeply personal.
What makes Austin such a remarkable character is his authenticity. He isn’t perfect, and that’s exactly why he’s so compelling. Watching him struggle, make mistakes, face consequences, learn, grow, and continue moving forward despite everything was both heartbreaking and inspiring. His courage to be himself in a world full of expectations made me root for him every step of the way.
The entire cast felt real — flawed, complex, and human. Every relationship, every conflict, and every emotional moment felt genuine.
One of the most powerful aspects of this novel is its exploration of mental health. The book shines a light on the immense pressure professional athletes face and how difficult it can be to navigate success, expectations, and personal struggles while carrying invisible battles of your own.
This story is packed with emotion, drama, heartache, hope, and the thrill of competition. It made me laugh, cry, and feel every victory and defeat alongside the characters.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It will absolutely break your heart, but it will also fill it with hope. 💘
Tropes:
• Sports Romance
• MM Romance
• Professional Tennis Players
• Rivals to Friends to Lovers
• Slow Burn
• Mental Health Representation
• Self-Discovery
• LGBTQ+ Representation
• Found Family
• Hurt/Comfort
• High Stakes Competition
• Personal Growth
• Emotional Rollercoaster
• Learning to Be Yourself
June 5, 2026
My golly this was stellar. I felt such a connection to both boys -- I definitely was each of them in a weird way at some point in my life. I feel like this is a pinnacle explanation of growing up queer, even from two different povs. I love love loved everything that happened in this story and how well Edward Schmit was able to explain the queer experience that I don't think gets shared enough.
June 11, 2026
It's hard not to compare this book to Thirty Love, another recent M/M tennis romance by a debut author. They both feature one MC who is out and one who is not, and MCs with father issues (one dead, one disabled, both former tennis stars) and mental health concerns. They both have climactic scenes at the U.S. Open tournament.
I rate Thirty Love slightly ahead of The Open Era, primarily because of the former's decision to make the narrator the closeted character. Because of this, we see his internal struggle about coming out and understand why he makes missteps with his love interest. But in The Open Era, Austin is out and proud, while Diego is not, and we don't know what is going on in his head. When he runs hot and cold it's logical to think he's an asshole. So the ending, grand gesture notwithstanding, is barely HFN. In fact the whole book spans just two weeks, which gives the plot a propulsive forward momentum but is not enough time to fully invest in the romance.
Bottom line is that both are very readable, with competent writing, sympathetic MCs, a good mix of snark and poignancy, and a lot of tennis match scenes. There are literally scores of M/M hockey romance novels, so I can't quibble that these two novels were published within two months of each other. I suspect there are more to come.
I rate Thirty Love slightly ahead of The Open Era, primarily because of the former's decision to make the narrator the closeted character. Because of this, we see his internal struggle about coming out and understand why he makes missteps with his love interest. But in The Open Era, Austin is out and proud, while Diego is not, and we don't know what is going on in his head. When he runs hot and cold it's logical to think he's an asshole. So the ending, grand gesture notwithstanding, is barely HFN. In fact the whole book spans just two weeks, which gives the plot a propulsive forward momentum but is not enough time to fully invest in the romance.
Bottom line is that both are very readable, with competent writing, sympathetic MCs, a good mix of snark and poignancy, and a lot of tennis match scenes. There are literally scores of M/M hockey romance novels, so I can't quibble that these two novels were published within two months of each other. I suspect there are more to come.
Currently Reading
June 7, 2026i've been waiting for this book to come out ever since i saw it on my fyp back in february
June 9, 2026
Resharing my review from November now that the book is officially out!
Edward Schmidt’s “The Open Era” is a fun, thoughtful tennis-season journey that follows an out player, Austin Hardy, as he navigates the pressures of his first Grand Slam, the spark of something new with a fellow player, and the weight of his own anxiety. Like author Schmidt himself, Austin is almost successful at keeping everything in balance—almost.
The story is easy to follow, and Schmidt does a great job placing you squarely in the shoes of an excited but anxious tennis player stepping onto the stage of his first Open. Hardy wants to be seen as a great tennis player, but given his sexuality, the media and organizations holding/sponsoring the Open, he is held up as a gay man, who happens to be playing tennis. It is a difficult place for him to be and something he deals with throughout, working with his coach Robbie and therapist, Helen, to get to the root of (along with mental health). Elsewhere, I especially enjoyed watching the friendship build between Austin and Diego. Their early interactions are awkward in the most relatable way—those uncertain moments when you’re not sure what “this” is, followed by the shock and thrill of realizing the other person feels the same.
While the book handles mental health with sensitivity and honesty, I sometimes felt that focus overshadowed what I was most hoping to see: the romance between these two players and how they managed it under the bright, unforgiving lights of the US Open. Still, “Open Era” offers a heartfelt look at competing, connecting, and coping, and it makes for a compelling read both on and off the court.
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.
Edward Schmidt’s “The Open Era” is a fun, thoughtful tennis-season journey that follows an out player, Austin Hardy, as he navigates the pressures of his first Grand Slam, the spark of something new with a fellow player, and the weight of his own anxiety. Like author Schmidt himself, Austin is almost successful at keeping everything in balance—almost.
The story is easy to follow, and Schmidt does a great job placing you squarely in the shoes of an excited but anxious tennis player stepping onto the stage of his first Open. Hardy wants to be seen as a great tennis player, but given his sexuality, the media and organizations holding/sponsoring the Open, he is held up as a gay man, who happens to be playing tennis. It is a difficult place for him to be and something he deals with throughout, working with his coach Robbie and therapist, Helen, to get to the root of (along with mental health). Elsewhere, I especially enjoyed watching the friendship build between Austin and Diego. Their early interactions are awkward in the most relatable way—those uncertain moments when you’re not sure what “this” is, followed by the shock and thrill of realizing the other person feels the same.
While the book handles mental health with sensitivity and honesty, I sometimes felt that focus overshadowed what I was most hoping to see: the romance between these two players and how they managed it under the bright, unforgiving lights of the US Open. Still, “Open Era” offers a heartfelt look at competing, connecting, and coping, and it makes for a compelling read both on and off the court.
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.
October 7, 2025
This is pretty much right down the middle for me. Nothing objectionable but also not a lot that really stood out which is a shame since after Challengers I've thought we've been in desperate need of a queer tennis romance!
Full review to come closer to publication.
Full review to come closer to publication.
June 3, 2026
(3.5 stars) 2026 seems to be the year of queer tennis romances. This is my third one so far (after Thirty Love - which I liked but not loved - and In Your Court, which I really enjoyed) and for me it fell a bit in between the first two.
I quite enjoyed Austin and the mental health representation, his struggle with anxiety attacks and that there was no miracle cure in the end, but a constant work that needs to be done. His character development felt realistic for a 20 year old. But his romance with Diego fell a bit flat for me - I guess because this takes place during a short period of 10 days it was hard to build a more meaningful connection. There is a bit of angst but also some miscommunication which could've been avoided. Also, the MCs are both quite young, so at times it felt more YA than adult romance to me.
I quite enjoyed Austin and the mental health representation, his struggle with anxiety attacks and that there was no miracle cure in the end, but a constant work that needs to be done. His character development felt realistic for a 20 year old. But his romance with Diego fell a bit flat for me - I guess because this takes place during a short period of 10 days it was hard to build a more meaningful connection. There is a bit of angst but also some miscommunication which could've been avoided. Also, the MCs are both quite young, so at times it felt more YA than adult romance to me.
June 11, 2026
4.75★
goddddd i love tennis so much. truly the greatest sport of all time!!!! and this story!!!! so beautiful! i love austin, he's my baby and i'll protect him with my life and diego!! i love him! the ending was beautiful. fuck i love this book so much! and also i love the fact that the author also loves tennis because the sport part of the book was really accurate!
goddddd i love tennis so much. truly the greatest sport of all time!!!! and this story!!!! so beautiful! i love austin, he's my baby and i'll protect him with my life and diego!! i love him! the ending was beautiful. fuck i love this book so much! and also i love the fact that the author also loves tennis because the sport part of the book was really accurate!
May 20, 2026
2⭐️ This is not a romance novel. This is more of an anxiety disorder awareness novel. Which is fine, but not what I was expecting. Especially with such an open ending.
Honestly, the only character I liked was Robbie. Austin pissed me off and I would never forgive Diego.
Also, I don’t understand why there is no discussion of Austin going on anxiety meds? Seems like that’s an option that should be considered. (Unless I missed it. I was skimming the last 30% of the book).
Honestly, the only character I liked was Robbie. Austin pissed me off and I would never forgive Diego.
Also, I don’t understand why there is no discussion of Austin going on anxiety meds? Seems like that’s an option that should be considered. (Unless I missed it. I was skimming the last 30% of the book).
March 20, 2026
The ending of The Open Era? Genuinely jaw-dropping and, more importantly as a reader it’s worth the wait because the characters have earned that moment.
With the cultural ripple effect of Challengers still making waves it’s also having a moment in the literary world. There’s a surge of tennis romance novels popping up everywhere and they hone in on everything: the intensity, the inner monologue of athletes, and the insurmountable pressure. However, in my observation many tennis romance novels often miss that the world of tennis operates with hierarchy, and has a history and culture that is built on privilege. There’s this unspoken mist of WHO gets to belong in the sport, and Edward enters that mist beautifully with Austin and Diego.
The Open Era doesn’t shy away from this and it accepts sports psychology and identity as key pillars to the narrative. We touch on the pressure of rankings, sponsorships, and an athlete’s public image. So much expectations are placed onto one person in tennis, it’s not a team sport, you don’t have someone to share these burdens with, the stakes are different.
I read another LGBTQ+ tennis romance this year, , which shares a similar tone and pairing dynamic. Thinking on it now, I left the book feeling….uncertain because key elements were missing. For me, The Open Era feels more authentic.
One detail that stayed with me is how both books I’ve read this year have paired a white lead alongside a Hispanic player. In , the resolution felt uncomfortable in ways I couldn’t initially articulate, the Hispanic character’s arc ultimately bends in service of the white protagonist’s victory.
In contrast, The Open Era refuses that imbalance and it’s ending delivers an equitable character arc for both.
Overall, this review is long but The Open Era raised the bar for me and I loved it (also this is a debut novel? OH MY).
My thanks to Berkley Romance and Berkley Publishing Group for the early digital copy, always and honour to say #berkleypartner
With the cultural ripple effect of Challengers still making waves it’s also having a moment in the literary world. There’s a surge of tennis romance novels popping up everywhere and they hone in on everything: the intensity, the inner monologue of athletes, and the insurmountable pressure. However, in my observation many tennis romance novels often miss that the world of tennis operates with hierarchy, and has a history and culture that is built on privilege. There’s this unspoken mist of WHO gets to belong in the sport, and Edward enters that mist beautifully with Austin and Diego.
The Open Era doesn’t shy away from this and it accepts sports psychology and identity as key pillars to the narrative. We touch on the pressure of rankings, sponsorships, and an athlete’s public image. So much expectations are placed onto one person in tennis, it’s not a team sport, you don’t have someone to share these burdens with, the stakes are different.
I read another LGBTQ+ tennis romance this year, , which shares a similar tone and pairing dynamic. Thinking on it now, I left the book feeling….uncertain because key elements were missing. For me, The Open Era feels more authentic.
One detail that stayed with me is how both books I’ve read this year have paired a white lead alongside a Hispanic player. In , the resolution felt uncomfortable in ways I couldn’t initially articulate, the Hispanic character’s arc ultimately bends in service of the white protagonist’s victory.
In contrast, The Open Era refuses that imbalance and it’s ending delivers an equitable character arc for both.
Overall, this review is long but The Open Era raised the bar for me and I loved it (also this is a debut novel? OH MY).
My thanks to Berkley Romance and Berkley Publishing Group for the early digital copy, always and honour to say #berkleypartner
October 30, 2025
I friggin’ love this dang book so much! 🎾🥹❤️
June 4, 2026
Full disclosure: I picked this up because my good friend Bonnie G. had posted a lovely review about a gay tennis book and I thought, I like tennis and gay love, it’s pride month, and I know nothing about the romance genre. Why not?
So, coming on here again it turns out Bonnie read a completely different gay tennis book. So I guess this will be my first of two!
But you know what, that’s ok, because this was actually very cute. And I have to remember to approach these kinds of books with the understanding that tropes are there for a reason and not necessarily to be subverted because this isn’t trying to be groundbreaking literature. And I think I had an important romance reading experience because I found myself hoping for certain tropes to be fulfilled in the hopes of a happy ending because the alternative was just too sad!
It helped that the writing was snappy and fun and the narrating character was really well drawn. He seemed like a real 20 year old—sweet, bratty, immature, cocky, humble, giving, and selfish by turns (I teach college kids, okay? I know a realistic one when I see him. A realistic, genuinely likeable one, actually!).
I did find myself rolling my eyes a few times at the absolute lack of bigotry or prejudice because as a gay person that’s not a world I recognize. But again, I reminded myself that this was a feel-good experience. One can’t always be a cynic!
And I must also add that I genuinely did not predict many of the twists and turns, so in a way, tropes were subverted after all.
Also I had at least one micro-swoon. So that seems like a success on the author’s part.
Here’s to my second gay tennis book, which will make an interesting instant comparison and may confuse me into some over generalizing about the genre. But, should be fun!
So, coming on here again it turns out Bonnie read a completely different gay tennis book. So I guess this will be my first of two!
But you know what, that’s ok, because this was actually very cute. And I have to remember to approach these kinds of books with the understanding that tropes are there for a reason and not necessarily to be subverted because this isn’t trying to be groundbreaking literature. And I think I had an important romance reading experience because I found myself hoping for certain tropes to be fulfilled in the hopes of a happy ending because the alternative was just too sad!
It helped that the writing was snappy and fun and the narrating character was really well drawn. He seemed like a real 20 year old—sweet, bratty, immature, cocky, humble, giving, and selfish by turns (I teach college kids, okay? I know a realistic one when I see him. A realistic, genuinely likeable one, actually!).
I did find myself rolling my eyes a few times at the absolute lack of bigotry or prejudice because as a gay person that’s not a world I recognize. But again, I reminded myself that this was a feel-good experience. One can’t always be a cynic!
And I must also add that I genuinely did not predict many of the twists and turns, so in a way, tropes were subverted after all.
Also I had at least one micro-swoon. So that seems like a success on the author’s part.
Here’s to my second gay tennis book, which will make an interesting instant comparison and may confuse me into some over generalizing about the genre. But, should be fun!
June 4, 2026
This book was not what I expected, but in a good way. Romance is a subplot, and this is more of a coming-of-age story with excellent mental health representation. And even though I just read an entire book about tennis, I still have no idea what's going on out there on the court!
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