The 19th Hole

by Evelyn Latrice

Zaire Cooks knows the game.

The eighteen holes that made him a star, and the quiet rules that were never written for someone like him. He’s sharp, rooted, and too damn visible for a league that only wants his swing, not his voice. When the headlines get loud and the pressure turns political, a colleague tells him about this magical place where golfers go to refocus themselves. Juniper Falls.

Meadow Green is running out of room to breathe.

Her family’s land is on the brink of foreclosure, her mama’s health is slipping, and every unpaid notice feels like another clock ticking. She grew up on the green. Dirt under her nails, expectations on her back, carrying a legacy that never cared if she was tired. Being the only daughter taught her how to hold things together, even when they’re falling apart.

What starts as friction across the fairway turns into something neither of them planned.

Golf ends after eighteen holes.

But Zaire and Meadow are about to learn what waits after the scorecard runs out.

Genres: Romance, African American Romance, Sports Romance, Sports, African American, Book Club, Fiction

496 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 8, 2026

Reviews

[Mika Verrett]

3.6 Stars – Black Love on the Green 💚

First off, I absolutely loved the concept of this story! A Black golfer?? YES, PLEASE! We need more sports romances with US front and center in spaces we’re not typically seen—especially a sport like golf that’s been historically exclusionary. Evelyn Latrice did a great job weaving in the racism and elitism that exists within the golf world. It was real, intentional, and necessary. Everything isn’t always sweet for these athletes, and this story didn’t shy away from that.

Zaire was a MAN, okay?! He showed up for Meadow in the softest, most grounded way. He held her down without her even having to ask—love that for her. It was a beautiful depiction of Black love without trauma being the only path to a happy ending. Their relationship gave soft, safe, and secure, and that alone makes this story worth reading.

The supporting characters were a highlight too! Meadow’s bond with her best friend Tia had me cracking up and tearing up. Their friendship was authentic and ride-or-die in the best way. And let’s talk about Zaire’s mama—she had me hollering. A true LA momma if I’ve ever seen one. The vibe? Chef’s kiss.

So why 3.6 stars?

Honestly, while I enjoyed the story overall, a few things just didn’t click for me. The pacing dragged a bit at times, and some of the emotional beats felt repetitive—like the weight Zaire and Meadow were carrying was mentioned on almost every page. I got the heaviness, but after a while, it started to feel more like telling than showing.

Also… and I say this with love, if Meadow asked “what do you mean?” one more time, I was gonna scream. Girl… you are too smart for that. Either rephrase the question or use that context clue muscle. 😂 It started to feel like a lazy dialogue loop that interrupted the flow of otherwise great scenes.

And speaking as a real LA native—some of the “LA” elements were just not LA-ing. The whole “Black Crip golfer” angle felt more like an aesthetic than an actual thread. Zaire didn’t read like a gang member at all—he just liked the color blue. The “cuh” thing was also out of pocket. It’s cuz with a hard Z, not “cuh” every five seconds. That took me out a bit. If you’re gonna claim LA, it has to feel like LA, you know?

But all that said—I genuinely respect what Evelyn did with this story. The story was fresh. The love was intentional. The characters had depth, and the vibes were strong. There were just some elements of the writing and characterization that could’ve been a little tighter.

Still, I love that this book is being celebrated because it’s doing something different. It’s putting Black love on a golf course, and that’s dope. So if you want something unique and heartfelt, The 19th Hole is definitely worth a read.

[Jahda]

4.5 ⭐️I love when authors give us sports romance outside the norm. Love the creative but most importantly the black love. I enjoyed this one. The characters and to story telling. Zaire and how he didn’t play about Meadow and just loved her out loud. Meadow took a minute to receive and accept the love, but what’s love without alittle doubt. It was interesting to see the prospecting of a black golfer.

[ReadnliftwithShar]

Zaire - My Man, My Man!

I expect nothing less than stellar from Evelyn. Who knew I needed a black golf player who is 100% secure and authentic in himself at all times! But here we are, loving another fictional character. The 19th Hole was different but in the best way. It is healing; it speaks to those who are carrying everything by themselves, feeling burned out, and suffering in silence. There is light at the end of the tunnel.. ❤️

I loved that Evelyn shined awareness on caregiver burnout, racism in the sports industry and how challenging it can be to just breathe when you wear so many hats. I also thought speaking on the corporate vultures who constantly want to “take” things that don’t belong to them, in this case Meadow’s family was at risk of losing their property, and it made me sick because that happens so often. Speaking of Meadow, I saw so much of myself in her story - I’m so happy she allowed Zaire to love her. The story is layered with complex characters, thought provoking, and life changing gems. At times it was heavy but the healing and all black, everything was heavier! I loved this story so much! Another banger from Ev!🥰

[Annette Williams]

DNF at 33%

The author referring to the golf course as the greens pissed me off. 😠

[AlexTRBG]

I wanted to like this so much but it just didn’t hit the bar for me tbh.

This book was entirely too long and I wished there was more to the storyline. I really wanted more actual golf scenes fr. I also wish there was more development with our love interests. Zaire and Meadow were sweet and sexy at most times. But at others time, I thought they were lowkey immature and doin the absolute most. Meadow would really do everything under the sun except explain how she felt and Zaire was honestly too much for me. I thought he was a great lover and supporter to meadow and her fam, but all that Cali shit was cringe tbh 😅 and I’m from LA so don’t get it twisted. I just felt like all of that could’ve been done better.

[*Ebony I*]

Blackety black love

I absolutely loved everything about this book. I am a lover of Sports Romances and the balance of love and sport was done perfectly. The fact that it was blackety black black was the icing on the already delicious cake.

Zaire a pro golfer is looking for a reprieve. The sport he loves isn't loving him back because how could a black man that bangs blue with 360 waves, gold chains, and the most beautiful dark skin be welcomed into a white sport. Everything he does is scrutinized and it's wearing him down. When he refuses to dumb down his blackness and allows the competition to knock him off his square, his livelihood is compromised. A retired black golfer recommends an old school golf green that many pro golfers have went to find their swing again. He finds his swing and his future. 

Meadow has inherited a legacy, 39 acres of land that has been passed down from her Grandfather. This beautiful golf course is where her family lives and makes a living. She teaches children to play golf and sometimes they house golfers looking for a retreat. With her mother falling ill and her father being older, slower, and almost choosing obliviousness the upkeep has fallen on her shoulders. She is barely hanging on by a thread and then Zaire shows up and her entire world shifts. 

Lawd when I say this man was EVERYTHING to her. He fell first hard, confidently. Meadow struggled to truly open up and trust him, because she was scared. However, he kept showing up despite his own fears and he carried her. He carried her parents and his parents with ease. The way he loved her, her family and expanded their legacy was just so beautiful. I loved the way he spoke life into her and encouraged her to lean on him and she did her best to give him a place where he was fully accepted and loved. 

This is a story I wish was true lol. I know that sounds crazy, but a talented black man allowed to live in his truth with a beautiful black woman and family at his side just sounds perfect.

P.s. I loved the cameo with Noodle and Bu ❤️

[Kyeatta H]

This book was soft, It was love, It was Black boy and Black girl wins in the most beautiful, intentional way. It’s been a long time since I’ve had this many highlights in a book. Zaire speaking life into Meadow and at the same time doing his own self-reflection! That did something to me. The way he loved her wasn’t loud or performative. It was steady, Intentional and Safe. And Meadow? That quick tongue of hers becoming his peace? Whew. That balance was everything. She didn’t have to shrink. Honestly, He didn’t need her to that’s that grown love. I loved every minute of it. Honestly, this was a five-star read before I was even 20% in. Every scene felt purposeful. Nothing wasted or forced. I also appreciate how the story gently but honestly touched on dementia and the emotional weight of it. How it can strain the family, the quiet heartbreak of it all. And the way it highlighted something very real, how Black men and women are constantly navigating the pressure to either overperform or make themselves smaller to fit someone else’s narrative. This book pushed for being unapologetically Black. Authentically yourself. No code-switching your soul. It wasn’t just romance. It was affirmation. It was softness without weakness. It was love without shrinking. Easily five stars. No hesitation.

[Bathabile Ralitsela]

Evelyn Lattice Will Never, Ever Steer You Wrong.

Oh My Goodness, This Is One Of The Most Beautiful Books I Have Ever Read, I Was Damn Near Within Tears The Whole Time!!

Zaire Fine Ass Cooks, Mr Big Money. LET HIM COOK Forreal 🤪🔥🤝🏽

The Most Perfect Man Paired With The Most Beautiful Hardworking,Deserving Lady That Meadow Is. BLACK LOVE!!!

Love How The Book Potrays How It Is Like Being In White Dominated Spaces As Black Person, And How To Overcome It. Ate Down.

There's No Evelyn Latrice Book I Do Not Love But This One? Hands Down My Favorite. Probably Going To Be One Of My Favorites This Year. 🥺🥺🥺🥺🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

[Brisace]

4.5/5 ⭐️

I love me some Evelyn Latrice because one thing she can do is write the HELL out of an MMC. Whew Zaire… I love me some HIMMMMM. 🤭 The way he showed up for Meadow had me cheesing because, baby, he was not playing about his woman.

And when I read, “Is this the key to success… fall in love with a gang member?” GIRL PLEASEEE, because at this point… Meadow might be onto something.

[Shan Yvonne]

6 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t think I’ve ever highlighted and annotated so much in a book. Zaire is a man that knows exactly what he wants and doesn’t shy away from letting it be known. WHAT A FREAKING MAN! Whew 😰 I’m still recovering from how great this writing was. My goodness, read the dang book!

[Andrea]

2.5✨

This book felt very flat for me. The copious amounts of telling the audience about the struggle rather than showing us was getting on my nerves. The author using CUH instead of CUZ whole point gone for that. I liked what she was trying to do, but there was definitely a better way to do it.

[kiriahsbookshelf]

ahh this book was too damn good. easily in my top read for February and I just know it’s gonna be in my overall top read for 2026. i was immediately pulled into Zaire story and background! Zaire baby that’s a black king right there. The way he showed up for Meadow? Effortlessly! Evelyn did that. I love that we got to see a BLACK GOLFER! Something that we don’t see in real life.

I found myself kicking and grinning throughout a lot of scenes in this book. I really enjoyed this book. The growth that BOTH characters had was PHENOMENAL!! And the parents amazing?!?

[LexRead]

3.5/5

I have a lot of thoughts about this book. Overall, I’d say the second half is what really carried the story. From the start, the pacing felt a bit off. I don’t mind insta-love in general, but in this case, I think the romance would’ve benefited from being allowed to simmer a little longer. Being 20–30% in and already head-over-heels felt a bit far-fetched.

Things I loved:

First of all — WE LOVE A MR. HANDLE IT AROUND HERE!!!

Some of the monologues were real tea. Meadow praying over and for Tia, Zaire’s press conference — those moments made me pause and really sit with the weight and magnitude of what was being said. The emotional depth in those scenes was strong.

While I had mixed feelings about the early pacing, I truly enjoyed how the relationship developed over time. The quiet moments where the main characters simply showed up for one another were some of my favorites.

I loved Tia and Meadow’s relationship. Their dialogue was hands down the best in the book. Through those interactions, we got a clear glimpse of who Meadow is at her core — free of the pressure and weight she usually carries.

I also appreciated that Zaire was committed to healing and breaking generational trauma, even without a clear blueprint for how to do it. That effort felt genuine and meaningful.

And yes… the ending. 💙

Things I didn’t love:

The constant use of “cuh” and “on set” felt repetitive and unnecessary. I’m not gang-affiliated in any way, but the Crips elements read as surface-level and under-researched. The story would’ve landed just as well without it. Zaire would be deep in a swoony, emotional monologue and then randomly reference his set and it was just… ick.

I had a love-hate relationship with Meadow. She irritated me for more than half the book and only redeemed herself once we finally saw her true personality come through. She fought Zaire for far too long, and it became frustrating — especially since he wasn’t just talking, he was consistently showing up. There were several moments where she berated him when his efforts deserved appreciation.

Lesha asking if her son “put it down” was completely unnecessary, out of pocket, and — again — ick.

Overall, I would still recommend this book, but with a warning: you need to stay the course. The payoff is there, even if the journey is a little uneven.

[NeneReads]

DNF’ed at 19%.

I’m bored. That’s honestly the best way to put it. It felt fast and slow at the same time.

A lot of over explaining (reiterating things that were already made clear). The editing could use some work as well. I just didn’t feel super connected to either of the characters.

[Vonetta Evans]

I liked how Zaire showed his authenticity in the golf world and didn't let the pressures of sponsors and the commentators change his image. That being said, I did empathize with him at times because you could tell that everything was getting to him and he didn't know if he was meant to be in "their world" since he didn't fit in and then when we found out what happened to cause his father to be in prison that was taking a toll on him as well. He had a lot he was dealing with so the time away in Juniper Falls was exactly what he needed.

Once Zaire got to Juniper Falls and met Meadow, the romance between the two of them took awhile to build and was a bit of a slow burn; however. once it started to me that is where the book picked up. Zaire definitely was a man and I loved how he wanted to love on her. Meanwhile, she was getting on my nerves a little because she came off as very prideful and didn't want to take a helping hand from him when he was offering it even when she was drowning. When he told her I got you he meant it and I was like girl just let him help you especially when it came to the finances. What he winded up doing for her and her family on their land was beautiful because he just wanted to see it grow and prosper so I was so happy when she finally got on board with allowing him to take care of things that she couldn't by herself.

When he came back to the game, he came back with a clearer head and genuine support behind him and I loved to see it. I would've liked to see a little but more of the timeline to make it a little more clear when certain activities took place and I also would've wanted to know more about Meadow's friend situation since it was brought up in the book. Other than that, I enjoyed the book and I was happy when Meadow finally accepted the love Zaire wanted to give her and how they supported each other through their struggles. I appreciated the explanation of what the 19th hole meant to Zaire and how it came full circle at the end too.

[castinareads]

ARC Review

5⭐️

Evelyn gave us a Cinderella-meets-Charming spin about two people carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, yet somehow finding solace in each other. The FMC is used to cooking, cleaning, and making something out of without complaint. The MMC, on the other hand, just needed peace. A safe place. Somewhere he could exist as the man he is without pressure or expectation. Together, they were exactly what the other needed.

Y’all… this book was sooooo good. Evelyn delivered a perfect sports romance wrapped in a hood Cinderella retelling, and I DEVOURED it. It had me feeling all the emotions as two people carrying the weight of the world found solace in each other. He was all for her, she was all for him, and their connection was everything!!

Highly Recommend 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Lex]

I’m sorry, but I don’t like the writing of this book. It’s so repetitive and it’s irritating me. The repetition and the syntax of her sentences makes me feel like she used AI for the dialogue. I really hate to DNF this because it was highly recommended and has so much potential but I can’t get into it.

[Akilah King]

This is the kind of romance where the chemistry is felt, not forced. The banter? On point. The attraction? Immediate. But what really had me hooked was the emotional maturity. These characters come with life experience, baggage, and walls and watching those walls come down was EVERYTHING.

The vibes were giving:
✨ healing love
✨ soft but strong romance
✨ “I didn’t know I needed you” energy

And don’t even get me started on the conversations… the communication alone deserves a standing ovation 👏🏽 because we LOVE adults acting like adults.

[Nicole]

3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ .75 stars!

['The Book Queen']

The story was interesting

The story was pretty good. However, it was slow and mostly held my attention. The MFC was annoying as all get out. The constant usage of cuh was odd for an LA slang, according to my LA friends. Overall, the story was a 3.5 star read.

[Janay Hall]

Good

I liked the writing and the plot but the book could've been shorter honestly. I would've gave it 5 if it was only 250 or 300

[Candyce Adkins]

I see the vision, it’s just that the execution was lacking

I really appreciate this story for telling the story of a Black man, specifically from the inner city and a gang member, thriving in a sport that’s typically associated with whiteness and white people. I appreciate the position the book was taking in showing readers that Black people have the right to take up spaces some folks don’t believe we belong in. I also appreciate the demonstration that Black women don’t have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, we can be loved and supported all the same without losing the core of who we are.

Here’s my issue:

The story got preachy and repetitive. Especially at the end, it didn’t flow naturally or feel natural, it felt like Zaire got on a soapbox at that press conference when his presence in the space was all the “radical” we needed. It also made the ending drawn out bc he’s preaching after we saw him not only win the tournament dressed the way he is as a Black man but then crip walking in celebration? It was, in my opinion, too much and not necessary. We were already shown the Black revolution, we didn’t need Zaire to follow up and tell us in a play by play what was going on.

Meadow got on my last nerve because why are you crying when your bills are piling up, not paid and you’re being served pink slips…then crying when your man pays your bills bc you’re guilty and scared. My sister in Christ, CHOOSE. You cannot have it both ways! Her insecurities around Zaire’s adamance and willingness to take care of her financially persisted for waaayyyyy too long throughout the book and it told me that she had no character growth. It was also hard to get through her tearing up and crying every other page. I get it, some people are very emotional, but it’s a drag when I read hyper emotional people in books.

Lastly, it is never appropriate for Lesha to ask/try to pull information out of Meadow about her sex life with Zaire…HER SON. No less, trying to have this conversation with her literally 30 minutes after they met! Then walking up in her room without knocking, knowing & seeing Meadow’s indecent after just having sex with Zaire the night before. Please, never write anything like this because it’s weird.

There were grammatical errors, moments when Zaire’s name was spelled incorrectly which was irritating. I pushed through, though. I saw so many good reviews about this book, so I wanted to give this new to me author a fair chance.

[Cassandra Jerido]

Mixed Emotions!

It was definitely good but Ms. Latrice dragged it out. The first 40% of the story was a repeat of chapter 1, over and over again. Ms. Latrice found every way possible to inform us that Meadow and Zaire couldn’t breathe. It was too much. Then Meadow was frustrating. She was funny and feisty but her fear was overwhelming. It just dragged on and on. I hate prideful people. I see that as a serious character flaw. Anyway, there was some comedic relief. I absolutely love Lesha. She was hilarious. All in all, it was a good book, it just dragged a bit here and there.

[Jasmin White]

This book had so much potential to be an amazing love story but there were a lot of elements that made it hard to keep my interest. It felt over-told in so many ways that looked over the romance aspect of it. The story line of black representation overshadowed so much because it felt forced instead of allowing it to flow naturally through the characters. I enjoyed seeing how their love story worked out but I don’t really enjoy the book, if that makes sense.

[KiKi]

This is what I mean when I say I miss when men used to yearn for you 😩🥲🥰

[ThatsJustJada]

An insta-love but slow burn at the same dang time, lol.

I enjoyed this story so much. This was my first sports romance, and I did not expect it to come from a hood golfer? YES MAAAAM!!!! A great story of the woes of trying to be the golden child or the only child or the strong child. A story I didn't realize I needed to read. It spoke of the fatigue of being the strong one, the fatigue of having to save your tears for the shower or the rain so no one knows when you're crying, the fatigue of fighting off love because you don't know if you have the energy to give it back properly.

Not only that, the story spoke of the racism in the golf world. And how much of an impact it can make on someone to have to constantly be beat down when you're just trying to do the one thing you're passionate about, the one thing that helps you feel comfortable and free.

Idk. I might just need a crip walking golfer in my life now chile.

Story lost stars because of the amount of editing/spelling errors in the book. It distracted me quite a bit from the story with having to reread lines a few times to understand what the author was trying to say. Also, at some points the story felt a tiny little bit repetitive. Despite the errors, the story was still amazing. Easily a 4.5-5 star book if it went through another round of editing.

[ChapterswithChance]

Under the crushing weight of life and racism in sports, survival becomes a daily fight—forcing two guarded souls into an uneasy companionship where control, buried family secrets, and vulnerable truths threaten everything they’re trying to protect, including love and loyalty.

This story embodies the often-unseen struggles of Black men navigating spaces not built for them—specifically the world of professional golf. When Zaire meets Meadow, she ignites something within him he didn’t even realize was missing. In return, he becomes the one person she allows herself to truly open up to in ways she never has before. Life may have brought them together, but love, choice, and loyalty are what keeps them standing side by side through it all.

[perfectlyamberb]

A Northstar to guide you!

So this is my second read by Evelyn Latrice, and I really love her storytelling. The way she weaved in Zaire's pain while highlighting the celebration of Black joy and also showcased the burden of Black daughters carrying their family was a masterclass of talented writing. Zaire and Meadow's romance was subtle but swift. It was love without limits. Love that sets you free to just breathe and exist. It was beautiful, and this book is a celebration of not just Black love but Black existence and how we're allowed to take up space in any and every way.

[Latrice Maria]

4 ⭐️ This was a really sweet love story that made me smile and made me literally laugh out loud a bunch of times. BUT I have never read a book where a character cried THE ENTIRE BOOK! My gawd today fix it!!

Zaire, Zaire, Zaire…🩷A black man in golf was so nice to read about. I loved that aspect, the need to uplift the black community, healing yourself and the deep, rich black love is magical vibes the most. However, there was so much repetition in this book I thought I read the same thing just reworded a few times and a lot of harping on the same issues.. like girl let than man take care of you so I can go!

[Bria]

What a beautiful story filled with black love, legacy, and not conforming to the mold that people expect of us. There are so many quotes in this story that will have you highlighting for days. It was so poetic, filled with wisdom from elders, and truly a breath of fresh air. Taking up space in industries that aren’t “meant for us” is my thinggg, so I was immediately sold when I saw it surrounded golf.

Was it long? Yes. But after reading in entirety I can see why each and every scene was necessary. Well done (but very spicy fyi 🌶️🫠)