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15-Love
A heartfelt, sharply funny coming-of-age debut about chasing dreams, navigating crushes, and finding your voice—both on and off the court.
Rion Miller has two win on the tennis court and survive sophomore year. Simple enough. But with financial pressure mounting, a part-time job draining his energy, and a very real crush on his best friend’s older brother, life suddenly feels more complicated than nailing a clean forehand.
Between juggling work, high school chaos, and high-stakes matches, Rion’s sophomore year becomes more tangled, electric, and emotionally charged than he ever imagined. With every serve and sidelong glance, he’s forced to question what really matters—and whether chasing your dreams means standing your ground… or learning to let go.
15-Love is a deeply relatable story of first loves, fierce friendships, and the quiet courage it takes to go after what you want—even when the odds are stacked against you.
Rion Miller has two win on the tennis court and survive sophomore year. Simple enough. But with financial pressure mounting, a part-time job draining his energy, and a very real crush on his best friend’s older brother, life suddenly feels more complicated than nailing a clean forehand.
Between juggling work, high school chaos, and high-stakes matches, Rion’s sophomore year becomes more tangled, electric, and emotionally charged than he ever imagined. With every serve and sidelong glance, he’s forced to question what really matters—and whether chasing your dreams means standing your ground… or learning to let go.
15-Love is a deeply relatable story of first loves, fierce friendships, and the quiet courage it takes to go after what you want—even when the odds are stacked against you.
194 pages, Paperback
Published December 8, 2025
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 8, 2026
This was a cool story for the most part and Rion is an amazing character. I loved his voice and his beautiful relationship with his mom.
The tennis aspects of the book were also fairly well done. As a huge fan of tennis myself, I could literally picture Rion's matches in my head. That's how well described they were.
My main gripe with this book, though, is the writing. It really could've benefited from a 2 or 3 more rounds of editing.
The book was also too short, in my opinion. Because of that, everything just felt rushed and very surface level.
As for the side characters, they were all underdeveloped and stereotypical.
I really didn't like Sarah as a character. She gave off a very strong pick-me energy that just kept rubbing me the wrong way. She was also very controlling towards Rion and shockingly inconsiderate of him and their friendship. She did redeem somewhat herself with that Law and Order moment, so she wasn't all bad, I guess.
Shawn... I don't know, he was just there. I still have no idea who he is or what he's about besides the fact he has feelings for Rion, too. We don't really see the two of them form a real, substantial connection on page; we're just told about it in passing. As a result, it's hard to believe in their friendship, let alone in their romance.
Now, the whole Jason thing... I really don't know what to think about it. On one hand, I love how Rion handled his bullying and stood up for himself. On the other hand, we really need to stop with this popular-jock-bullies-the-queer-kid-because-he's-also-secretly-queer trope. It's really tired. I also need authors to stop writing about bullies who get away with shit. The fact that there wasn't even a suspension doled out to Jason and that bitch Ashley for what they did to Rion is just mind-blowing to me.
I don't know if there will be a sequel to this, but I'd be glad to read more about Rion for sure.
The tennis aspects of the book were also fairly well done. As a huge fan of tennis myself, I could literally picture Rion's matches in my head. That's how well described they were.
My main gripe with this book, though, is the writing. It really could've benefited from a 2 or 3 more rounds of editing.
The book was also too short, in my opinion. Because of that, everything just felt rushed and very surface level.
As for the side characters, they were all underdeveloped and stereotypical.
I really didn't like Sarah as a character. She gave off a very strong pick-me energy that just kept rubbing me the wrong way. She was also very controlling towards Rion and shockingly inconsiderate of him and their friendship. She did redeem somewhat herself with that Law and Order moment, so she wasn't all bad, I guess.
Shawn... I don't know, he was just there. I still have no idea who he is or what he's about besides the fact he has feelings for Rion, too. We don't really see the two of them form a real, substantial connection on page; we're just told about it in passing. As a result, it's hard to believe in their friendship, let alone in their romance.
Now, the whole Jason thing... I really don't know what to think about it. On one hand, I love how Rion handled his bullying and stood up for himself. On the other hand, we really need to stop with this popular-jock-bullies-the-queer-kid-because-he's-also-secretly-queer trope. It's really tired. I also need authors to stop writing about bullies who get away with shit. The fact that there wasn't even a suspension doled out to Jason and that bitch Ashley for what they did to Rion is just mind-blowing to me.
I don't know if there will be a sequel to this, but I'd be glad to read more about Rion for sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2025
15-Love Is such a refreshing and heartfelt debut! Vincent Russo delivers a coming-of-age story that feels both fun and genuinely meaningful. Rion feels relatable in all the best ways — navigating his sexuality, facing down bullies, sorting through friendship dynamics, and even wrestling with a crush that brings an extra spark to his story. His relationships with others (like his best friend and his mom) are written with so much warmth and honesty that I found myself rooting for him from page one.
Russo sprinkles in plot twists that caught me off guard (in the best possible way!) while still weaving everything together seamlessly. The tennis backdrop is fantastic — and as someone who knows absolutely nothing about tennis, I never once felt lost. Russo strikes the perfect balance between being accessible to total newbies like myself while still giving the sport the representation it deserves.
What really stands out, though, is how inclusive and authentic this book feels. Russo crafts LGBTQ+ characters who are easy to relate to and easy to feel represented by, without ever resorting to clichés or heavy-handed messaging. It’s simply a great story about a teen figuring himself out, in a world where identity, friendship, and belonging matter.
Overall, 15-Love is charming, heartfelt, and just plain fun. For a debut novel, Russo knocks it out of the park, or rather, hits it right down the line! I highly recommend this for anyone who loves YA, queer stories, or just a really good coming-of-age journey. 🎾 💖
Russo sprinkles in plot twists that caught me off guard (in the best possible way!) while still weaving everything together seamlessly. The tennis backdrop is fantastic — and as someone who knows absolutely nothing about tennis, I never once felt lost. Russo strikes the perfect balance between being accessible to total newbies like myself while still giving the sport the representation it deserves.
What really stands out, though, is how inclusive and authentic this book feels. Russo crafts LGBTQ+ characters who are easy to relate to and easy to feel represented by, without ever resorting to clichés or heavy-handed messaging. It’s simply a great story about a teen figuring himself out, in a world where identity, friendship, and belonging matter.
Overall, 15-Love is charming, heartfelt, and just plain fun. For a debut novel, Russo knocks it out of the park, or rather, hits it right down the line! I highly recommend this for anyone who loves YA, queer stories, or just a really good coming-of-age journey. 🎾 💖
December 10, 2025
This book was actually really good I couldn't put it down. I actually finished in like 2 hours. Rion's story was very captivating and had me on the edge of my seat. The way he handled life from bullying,following his dream,being betrayed, having to much on his plate,worrying about his mom,overcoming his fears, and dealing with grief. Showed true passion, integrity, strong will, motivation, compassion and determination. Rion was amazing through and through and got to accomplish some of his goals with hard work. And got more opportunities along the way. I hope his future shines brighter.
November 10, 2025
I had the chance to read 15-Love before release, and it immediately pulled me into Rion’s world. The book has that true slice-of-life feel—quiet, vivid, and emotionally honest. Where you experience every high and low right alongside Rion. It’s the kind of storytelling that makes you forget you’re reading and instead feels like you’re living someone else’s sophomore year.
As a queer reader, so many moments brought me right back to my own high-school years: the uncertainty, the pressure to fit in, the small victories that meant everything. Rion’s journey captures all of that with sincerity and warmth.
There’s romance, too—soft, awkward, slow-burn moments that feel exactly like real teenage crushes. Rion’s dynamic with his friends, and even with his rivals, evolves in ways that feel surprising but authentic (because let’s be honest, teen emotions shift faster than a gossip text thread). The relationships are charming, messy, and completely relatable.
Even if you know nothing about tennis, the matches are written with such energy and clarity that you feel the tension of every point.
Overall, 15-Love is a genuine, grounded YA read perfect for anyone who loves character-driven stories, emotional honesty, and that nostalgic “I remember feeling just like this” connection.
As a queer reader, so many moments brought me right back to my own high-school years: the uncertainty, the pressure to fit in, the small victories that meant everything. Rion’s journey captures all of that with sincerity and warmth.
There’s romance, too—soft, awkward, slow-burn moments that feel exactly like real teenage crushes. Rion’s dynamic with his friends, and even with his rivals, evolves in ways that feel surprising but authentic (because let’s be honest, teen emotions shift faster than a gossip text thread). The relationships are charming, messy, and completely relatable.
Even if you know nothing about tennis, the matches are written with such energy and clarity that you feel the tension of every point.
Overall, 15-Love is a genuine, grounded YA read perfect for anyone who loves character-driven stories, emotional honesty, and that nostalgic “I remember feeling just like this” connection.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews