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Half Court Shot: A Sapphic Sports Romance
Not yet published
Expected 9 Feb 26Daniela Da Costa is working to become the greatest women’s basketball player. But seven years into her professional career, she’s more known for her tragic love life than her skills on the court. When she’s traded to the Jersey Jaguars, and reunited with an old flame, she realizes she’ll do whatever it takes to change her image and the team’s failing odds.
Perry West Reiss has come a long way from the girl she used to be. Mommy issues aside, she’s dedicated her career to the Jaguars—even if they haven’t had a winning season in years to prove it. When the team’s put in a dire spot, she agrees to fake date Daniela, someone Perry hoped she’d never see again.
As Perry and Danny grow closer in the public eye, their private lives get messier as old feelings emerge. But both are determined to fight for the team they love and each other’s hearts, despite their red flags.
Perry West Reiss has come a long way from the girl she used to be. Mommy issues aside, she’s dedicated her career to the Jaguars—even if they haven’t had a winning season in years to prove it. When the team’s put in a dire spot, she agrees to fake date Daniela, someone Perry hoped she’d never see again.
As Perry and Danny grow closer in the public eye, their private lives get messier as old feelings emerge. But both are determined to fight for the team they love and each other’s hearts, despite their red flags.
318 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 9, 2026
10 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Kimani Mae
1 book1 followerKimani Mae is a writer from the newly recognized Central New Jersey with deep Southern roots- although she calls Brooklyn home. She is a 2022 WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Quarterfinalist and 2023 Atlanta Film Festival Short Screenplay Competition Quarterfinalist.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
review coming soon
Review of advance copy received from Author
“There is no timeline, no place in this world that you aren’t in with me, Perry. So be it now, six months, or even a year from now. Your heart was always the one for me.”
As a black girl, I always have a little fear when I open a POC-written basketball romance, that I’m gonna get some of the “Love & Basketball” bs that was pushed down the throats of earlier generations. “Half Court Shot” is SOOO far from that.
“The perfect makings of a teenager with an anxiety disorder, and what I suspected to be undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder.” (Chapter Two)
“I was also pretty sure the paper towels I had stuffed onto my armpit were drenched and threatening to break free.” (Chapter Ten)
Above all, as a fellow anxiety girly, I loved the representation primarily with Perry (she’s OCD too, but I can’t really speak to the representation).
Kimani Mae goes beyond just telling us these characters have had life experiences that have left scars. It shows up in their temperament, how they interact with the world, THE INNER DIALOGUE.
I did want Perry to, but cut a little slack for leaving Danny in middle school. Did she, herself, really leave? They were kids. I understand how that could’ve been upsetting, but Perry was dealt a pretty shitty hand from her mother. I would also argue that her dad didn’t do a really good job of acknowledging her feelings, despite being the parent who stepped up. Any person in that situation would have some dysregulation and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
(Also, how many others had their first taste of heartbreak in middle school?)
Slow burn, but totally worth. You have to earn it, but once it happens *confetti & roses* Perfectly placed and timed. Deffffff sapphic.
🌶3/5 ⭐️3.80/5
There were times the dialogue got a little chunky, but I’m not sure if I would’ve paid much attention to it if I weren’t reviewing this book.
“You see me in a way that makes me uncomfortable. Like, every time we’re together, you see how my heart flutters around, or how my fingers tighten with the need to touch you. You hear my thoughts even when I’m not ready to say them, and yet you’re patient with me. I think I fell in love with you when we were kids, but I know I love you now.”
**I received this book as an ARC, but my review and opinions are completely my own**
As a black girl, I always have a little fear when I open a POC-written basketball romance, that I’m gonna get some of the “Love & Basketball” bs that was pushed down the throats of earlier generations. “Half Court Shot” is SOOO far from that.
“The perfect makings of a teenager with an anxiety disorder, and what I suspected to be undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder.” (Chapter Two)
“I was also pretty sure the paper towels I had stuffed onto my armpit were drenched and threatening to break free.” (Chapter Ten)
Above all, as a fellow anxiety girly, I loved the representation primarily with Perry (she’s OCD too, but I can’t really speak to the representation).
Kimani Mae goes beyond just telling us these characters have had life experiences that have left scars. It shows up in their temperament, how they interact with the world, THE INNER DIALOGUE.
I did want Perry to, but cut a little slack for leaving Danny in middle school. Did she, herself, really leave? They were kids. I understand how that could’ve been upsetting, but Perry was dealt a pretty shitty hand from her mother. I would also argue that her dad didn’t do a really good job of acknowledging her feelings, despite being the parent who stepped up. Any person in that situation would have some dysregulation and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
(Also, how many others had their first taste of heartbreak in middle school?)
Slow burn, but totally worth. You have to earn it, but once it happens *confetti & roses* Perfectly placed and timed. Deffffff sapphic.
🌶3/5 ⭐️3.80/5
There were times the dialogue got a little chunky, but I’m not sure if I would’ve paid much attention to it if I weren’t reviewing this book.
“You see me in a way that makes me uncomfortable. Like, every time we’re together, you see how my heart flutters around, or how my fingers tighten with the need to touch you. You hear my thoughts even when I’m not ready to say them, and yet you’re patient with me. I think I fell in love with you when we were kids, but I know I love you now.”
**I received this book as an ARC, but my review and opinions are completely my own**
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely adored this book. it had a little bit of a slow start, but it was genuinely worth it. i fell in love with both the main characters and the background characters (except the one named after the month). i loved that both the main characters weren’t just perfect. they have their flaws but that gave them a depth that just made me fall in love to the point that i wanted to protect them. i’m so happy i got an arc for this book because the previews just didn’t do it justice.
Review of advance copy
**ARC Review**
This was decent for an easy read.
Some questionable logistics for one of the spicier scenes, and a little slow at times, some typos here and there, but nothing too terrible for me.
Some conflicts that could have been easily resolved with half a sentence, but would recommend for a quick, cute sports romance.
Overall a solid 3.75 stars for me.
This was decent for an easy read.
Some questionable logistics for one of the spicier scenes, and a little slow at times, some typos here and there, but nothing too terrible for me.
Some conflicts that could have been easily resolved with half a sentence, but would recommend for a quick, cute sports romance.
Overall a solid 3.75 stars for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
WNBA player Danny is traded to New Jersey where her high school crush is the head of marketing. A fake dating scheme is hatched by the head of PR to revive Danny's struggling reputation. Sapphic slow burn fake dating/ friends to lovers/ second chance romance.
There were times when the writing felt a bit clunky to me, but overall I loved the story.
There were times when the writing felt a bit clunky to me, but overall I loved the story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews