The Way We Swing

by Logan Lane

Tanner Quinn has two goals for senior year: win a state title in baseball… and make sure no one finds out he’s gay.

He’s spent years perfecting both plans—training with ruthless discipline, keeping his head down, and locking every piece of himself behind a perfectly curated mask.

But everything shifts the moment Easton Chase walks into summer workouts. Quiet, intense, and wrestling with a past he won’t talk about, Easton slides into Tanner’s world with alarming ease. He shows up with no notice to a morning workout. Then it’s late-night Mario Kart. Then it’s Easton becoming part of the Quinn household—with Tanner’s chaos-gremlin of a little brother determined to glue them together.

And suddenly, the lines Tanner drew in permanent marker aren’t looking so permanent.

Teammates. Friends. Something more.
Tanner’s number-one rule—never fall for a teammate—was supposed to protect everything he’s worked for. His reputation. His championship run. His secret.

But the closer Easton lets him get, the harder it becomes for Tanner to decide who he’s protecting… and why.

As old wounds surface, team pressure intensifies, and Tanner’s carefully built life begins to wobble, he’s faced with the hardest choice he’s ever had to make:

Is a shot at love worth risking the dream he’s built his life around?
And if the truth comes out, what does he stand to lose… and what might he finally gain?

Genres: LGBT, Young Adult, Sports, Queer, Romance

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 1, 2026

Reviews

[Miglė | Perskaičiau ir aprašiau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Time of death: 42%. I'm way too old for this story.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I’ll start off this review by saying this is very YA, bordering on middle grade, so I am probably not the target audience for this. If I was younger I maybe would have eaten this up, but I am not totally sure on that. It was missing a lot for me to fully enjoy this.

There were some hints at sexual content, but nothing super graphic.

I didn’t think Easton and Tanner had any chemistry. At first I was excited to see them falling in love, but we didn’t get that at all. If I would have known how the book was going to go, I probably wouldn’t have read it.

I was relieved to see there would be more books, not that I will read them, but at least we could actually get a romance. I would not say this is a romantic book. Everything was very flat and there was no chemistry at all.

It ended super abruptly too! I was like is that it? I thought we would get more of a conclusion between Easton and Tanner. Which again is why it is good there will be a sequel for people who want more, since this first book was not enough.

It is very realistic for someone to be scared to come out or even admit they have feelings for the same gender. I sympathize with Easton and his fears I really do. I’m not rushing to out him, but it was sad and frustrating to see him get Tanner’s hopes up only to say he wasn’t gay and push him away. That went on for most of the book. It would be okay if we actually got to a point where Easton accepted his feelings for Tanner, but we never got there, so it felt like a waste.

There was a good amount of baseball in there so if you like the sport you will enjoy that extra aspect of it.

I would have liked less drama of them getting together and more so the build up of the relationship. Dive deeper into why Tanner likes Easton so much other than just his looks. I know they hung out a lot, but we didn’t really see that as much or really get into depth about it.

For such a short book, it took a while for me to work myself up into reading it.

One thing I especially didn’t like, was the use of the f slur. Not only did Easton call Tanner that even after they hooked up which is not okay at all, but Tanner’s teammates also used it in a “joking way” even AFTER Tanner came out to them and said to not make any more gay jokes. That was so horrible to me, even if Tanner played it off as a joke.

I loved Zach and Gavin. They were good supporting characters. I love a good sibling dynamic. Tanner was lucky he has such a good family. I feel for Easton that his family is so terrible.

This one sadly was just not for me!

[The Reading Frog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Logan Lane, Split Finger Imprint & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review

Rating: 4/5 ⭐
CW: Explicit Past domestic abuse.
Moderate Off-page past suicide, internalized homophobia, sexual content, use of homophobic language (including the f-slur).
Mild Toxic masculinity, mention of slut-shaming, underage drinking, and some depression symptoms.
My chosen soundtrack: Back To Friends - Sombr | Distractions - Wild Painting | Wonder Wander - Bella Kay

Everything that had happened this weekend confirmed what I already knew. I’d broken my one rule. I’d flown past it, really. He couldn’t be gay. And I couldn’t unfeel any of it.

Representation
╰┈➤ Gay MC, Tanner Quinn
╰┈➤ Unspecified Queer MC, Easton Chase
╰┈➤ MLM dynamic, Tanner and Easton
╰┈➤ Unspecified Queer SC, Bella Zink (she used to have a girlfriend)
╰┈➤ Unconfirmed but implied Latinx SC, Coach Berrios

Themes
Being queer in a highly masculine environment, living closeted, baseball/sports, hypervigilance, repression (of emotions), internalized homophobia, found family, 'Who are you when you are not performing?', (secret) situationship, coming of age, coming out, the positive effects of having representation, safe/unsafe homes.

Tropes
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Slow burn
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Queer athletes
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ (Found) family
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ First love
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Coming-of-age / self-discovery


What I liked
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ I felt very much represented by the hypervigilance and constant effort that Tanner goes through to hide his queerness. It really does a good job of taking the reader along on the anxiety that comes with constantly thinking about how to present oneself. It's an obstacle introduced early in the story, and it becomes clear instantly that this conduct isn't sustainable. I personally felt very seen by this author's way of writing Tanner's thoughts, not wanting anyone to notice his interest in people of the same sex, specifically when in dressing rooms or when crushing on a friend. (Been there, done that, Tanner, I feel you.)

I looked at my ceiling. The glow-in-the-dark stars I’d stuck up there when we’d moved in still held strong. Childish? Maybe. But they reminded me of a time when I didn’t have to worry. When I didn’t feel the need to be on alert at every moment, terrified of who was watching my actions. When I didn’t know I was gay.

‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Though this book does highlight some heavier themes, it doesn't lose its funny, lighthearted aspects. There is a good mix there.
‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on the homophobic language that can often be found in locker rooms/team sports.

“Nice catch, princess!” Maddux shouted. “Did your boyfriend teach you that?”Laughter. It was just noise to them—a throwaway line, really. But it confirmed what I’d known for ages—that there was zero chance they’d accept me being gay. (...) I didn’t look at anyone, but these comments weren’t unique. They were why I had to hide who I was. In the minds of my teammates—my best friends—being gay meant being weak, second rate, inadequate.

‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ I personally enjoy that even though Tanner is down bad for Easton from the start, this doesn't take from the slow burn. There is definitely a lot of yearning and pining this character goes through. Which sucks for him, but is great for me since I'm a reader who enjoys such dynamics.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ I know nothing about sports, but that has never held me back before. I've read other queer sports stories, and I personally think that a team setting is a great environment to explore the concept of found family, which this book does as well.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ There is also a focus on blood-family bonds. The writing between the Quinn brothers isn't lazy; it doesn't let their blood-bond carry the weight of their dynamic. They feel like actual brothers, with actual love for each other, and the scenes they have together are actually fun to read. (Gavin is hilarious and I adore him.)
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ It doesn't drag. If a situation doesn't add anything to the plot, it will just be summarized and moved past. Which is a pacing I personally enjoy, we really don't need to know specifics of each game this team plays.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ This book is lowkey giving 'Babys first homo-erotic friendship/situationship.' and I'm here for it.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Very character-driven, which is not everyone's cup of tea, but I personally love it.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on the complexity of finding a safe place in a family that isn't officially your own and the protectiveness, caution, and perfectionism one might develop as a result.

After a second, he started walking with his bag strung over his shoulder, slowly and quietly, like he wasn’t sure if he belonged here and was trying to give himself permission to move forward. He hesitated again at our steps—not for long, just a half second longer than he needed to—and I realized something. He’d been holding back since I’d met him and was tired from keeping up his game of confidence.

‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on how someone was raised could negatively/positively impact someone's self-image. Someone's comfort level with (their own) queerness is nuanced. Actions we take at face value could be the result of the belief system someone grew up with, and breaking free from those views can be extremely difficult and take time.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ For a moment, I didn't feel like everyone's reaction to Tanner's coming out was realistic due to it being so unanimously positive, but you know what, who cares? There is enough devastating queer content out there, and we deserve some hopeful and happy stories as well. Besides, regardless of my own experience, this could be someone's actual real-life experience, which would be beautiful. Unlikely doesn't mean impossible, and I personally think that younger me would have appreciated being offered such a hopeful POV.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Discourse on the importance of positive representation.

I’d never understood the gay pride movement before, but maybe it was about this: not trying to change people like Easton’s dad but showing people like Easton that they were loved, no matter what. Maybe that was my role in his life. Maybe I was not the person he ended up with, and that had to be okay. But I could still be someone who made sure he knew he was loved, just as he was. That was who we fought for.

‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The preview for the next book really intrigued me. I LOVE that we're getting Easton's POV. I suspect that it will be a little darker than this one, which I welcome wholeheartedly since that one single chapter already sucked me in completely. I will definitely read the next installment once it comes out.


What I didn't like/felt lackluster about
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ Easton pissed me off at times, but I think that fits well due to us, the readers, seeing him from Tanner's POV. There is a lot of opportunity to understand and sympathize with Easton once we get to crawl into his headspace. But yes, his hot and cold behaviour, as well as calling Tanner the f-slur, made my blood boil a little. Though it does later feel somewhat balanced because of Tanner's threat to out him. Which, yes, is horrible, but there is some reflection on this later on. Also, I lowkey cheered for the fact that Tanner grew a backbone.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ The ending didn't leave me fully satisfied, but that's, of course, because it's going to be a trilogy. The sneak peek for the next book made me very excited, so this is not actually a complaint.

Conclusion/Notes
As you can see, my complaints are very minor, and though this book is a little lighter than what I normally read, I highly enjoyed it. I even finished it in one reading session.

I think it's great that more hopeful queer stories are being published. This book was charming, personal, and introspective. I really loved getting to know our characters as they were also getting to know themselves. I'm glad we'll be reunited with (some of) them in the future.

I am VERY excited for the rest of this trilogy!




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[phoenix *ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Way We Swing by Logan Lane follows Tanner Quinn during his senior year of high school as he tries to balance two things that feel equally important to him: winning a championship with his baseball team and keeping the fact that he’s gay completely hidden from the people around him. Everything starts to shift when Easton Chase joins the team and slowly becomes part of Tanner’s life.

I’m so sorry, but I did not enjoy this. At all. From the very first chapters, I could tell this wouldn’t be a great read for me, maybe a three star, but I didn’t hate it. I gave it a chance. But as the story progressed, I got worse. The start had potential, but I had several problems with the execution.

First, I start off by talking about the things I did enjoy: Tanner’s relationship with his brothers. Those scenes felt much more natural and warm than the romance, and Gavin in particular stood out to me. I liked the overall family dynamic. I liked Easton's backstory and was actually interested in finding out more about his family. I also thought the coming-out storyline had a few strong moments that worked well emotionally, even if the overall execution didn’t fully land for me. There were parts of this book that I liked—but unfortunately, they weren’t enough to make the story as a whole work for me.

I couldn’t connect with the characters, especially Tanner. Even though the story is told from his perspective and we spend so much time inside his head, I never connected with him on a deeper emotional level. The author struggles to show emotions. Tanner tells the reader what he feels, but I don’t see that. He says he’s in love with Easton, but I simply cannot feel his emotions. When did he develop feelings? The writing doesn’t show that.

Because of that, his relationship with Easton didn’t feel convincing to me. I could see that the story wanted their connection to feel intense and important, but I actually didn’t feel anything while reading. A lot of the emotional scenes that should have carried the story just didn’t land for me, which made it difficult to stay invested in what was happening between them.

Part of that problem, for me, came down to the writing style itself. Lane's writing style isn't for me. I didn't think it was very good. As I said, I don’t think the author managed to communicate emotions in a strong or immersive way. Important scenes felt flat, and moments that should have had weight passed by without much impact. Instead of feeling what Tanner was going through, I often felt like I was being told about it from a distance. That made the romance especially difficult to believe, because emotional depth is what makes a story like this work—and here it just wasn’t there for me. I kept waiting for the writing to really let me feel something, but it never quite happened.

Another major issue I had was with Easton as a character. I did not not like him, but I definitely didn’t love him. He was okay. [Spoiler: But after he used the f-slur, I honestly couldn’t make myself like him at all. For me personally, that crossed a line that the story never properly addressed, and which didn't make his behaviour feel forgivable. I don't care that he was drunk. He eventually apologized, but that also didn’t land for me.]

What frustrated me even more was how other characters seemed to push Tanner toward making up with Easton, as if that reaction should be expected. Tanner had every right to step back and protect himself after that moment, and it bothered me that the narrative didn’t seem to fully respect that boundary. I have to say, though, the characters didn’t really know what happened, but even then they have to respect Tanner’s choice not wanting to talk to Easton. Instead of feeling like a meaningful conflict that was handled thoughtfully, it ended up making the relationship harder for me to root for at all.

The pacing also didn’t work for me. The book is fairly short, and because of that, it felt like there wasn’t enough time for proper character development or relationship growth. Their relationship overall just felt too rushed and unbelievable. I don’t know if it’s just me, but their first kiss had such bad timing. Easton opens up about such an important topic and they just kiss?? 😭 Sorry, this was so random and out of nowhere. And from there on their relationships develops so quickly (and as I said, I couldn’t connect to Tanner’s feelings nor made their relationship sense to me). They kiss and kiss and kiss and have sex and then they don’t talk to each other at all for a third of the book.

This is what bothered me the most: THE TIME SKIPS. SO MANY TIME SKIPS. I’m never a fan of that in books, but that was too much. For a 200-page novel, skipping a few weeks every other chapter feels odd. And then there’s this month's long time skip. Why make this narrative choice? Everything moved quickly without giving the emotional space to breathe, which made the ending feel especially abrupt. Even knowing this is part of a trilogy, the conclusion still felt unfinished. It is frustrating for a romance. I want some kind of emotional payoff at the end, and here it just wasn’t there. It left me wondering what the point of the build-up was if there wasn’t any real reward for the reader by the final pages. For some romance it makes sense to make the characters break up at then end of book one and let them reunite in book two, but in this case it didn't work me. There wasn't enough relationship developement. It does not make me want to pick up the next book. I don’t want to see where the story goes.

Overall, I didn’t like the writing or the choices the author made. I really wanted to like this one, and I’m sure other people do and will. It makes me sad to write a negative review of an indie debut. But I just didn’t like this one. I didn't hate it. It had good parts. But it simply land for me. :(


This book comes out on June 1st, 2026.

Thanks to the author for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*I also received a copy from NetGalley

[☾arina⭐︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tanner and Easton are two boys who are dealing with their sexuality differently. Tanner knows he’s gay but is scared to come out because of what others might think. He doesn’t want his family to disown him or his friends to act differently around him because they might think he’s checking them out. Easton is in denial. He’s attracted to Tanner but refuses to acknowledge it. He doesn’t believe he’s gay, even though his actions say otherwise. The way the characters are portrayed does a good job of showing how difficult it is to come out and accept who you are. Tanner has a support system that, in the end, accepts who he is and loves him. On the other hand, Easton has been raised in a toxic environment where being who he is is seen as wrong. The way people are raised and their environment, have a lot to do with how they deal with their inner turmoil. Not everything is black and white, and I love seeing that here with these teens who are still trying to figure themselves out.

One thing that did bother me, though, was how Tanner kept seeking Easton even though his feelings were being ignored. Easton kept wanting to fool around with Tanner, but wanted him to forget about it once they were done. Tanner had real feelings for Easton, and Easton was so dismissive of them. I wanted Tanner to stand up for himself and know his worth, but he kept going back. And as frustrated as that made me, I understood where he was coming from. This was the first time someone knew his secret and didn’t run away from him after learning it. Especially when it’s someone you’re catching feelings for, it can feel exhilarating and make you want to keep it at whatever cost. There does come a point where he’s finally had enough and realizes his worth. Maybe Easton isn’t the right person for him, but he’ll be there for Easton as a support system. The book ends in something of an open-ended ending. I wasn’t sure if the next book would continue the story or follow different characters, but I got my answer when I got to the author’s note. The next book will be in Easton’s POV, which I feel was much needed in this book. I needed to know more about Easton and what he was feeling in some pivotal moments. There was also a sneak peek of the next book, and it completely changed my mind about Easton. I liked him in this book, but like I said, some of his actions bothered me, and I knew it was because I still didn’t know a lot about him. The preview was a continuation of the events at the end of the book and a glimpse of a flashback, which was so heartbreaking to read. I can’t wait to finally be able to understand more of him and see how his relationship with Tanner develops.

The sibling relationship and Easton’s relationship with Tanner’s brother Gavin were so wholesome and felt like a true sibling dynamic. No matter how many times they tease each other, they will always have each other’s backs.

I will definitely be continuing with the series and am excited to get into Easton’s POV.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Luca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

The review will contain spoilers!!

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It's a solid young adult and coming-of-age story. The writing is okay, clunky at times, but easy to read and smooth. There were scenes that were written in a way I really enjoyed, especially the time Tanner ran from that party after Easton insulted him. I think it's a good story, it's one of the first young adults that doesn't end with everything working out. I really liked that. I liked that nothing really happened with Tanner and Easton at the end - it just wasn't time, I was really glad the plot didn't push them together just for the sake of it. It's also the first time I've seen this amount of rep for internalized homophobia, I think it was a really interesting character choice, one I enjoyed. It was something I hadn't seen before in young adult novels.
Baseball was intertwined with the story and maybe I missed a little bit of that because I know nothing about baseball. Here I thought it'd be interesting to maybe explore Tanner's relationship with the sport a little more (why it was baseball and not anything more, when he had started, why) because at times it felt like it could be any other sport and that wouldn't change much of the story.
One thing I can say I didn't really like was how everyone reacted to Tanner's coming out with words that they knew. I thought it was out of place and didn't give the comfort it thinks it does. It's one of my least favorite things in queer books. Easton pissed me off and I also wished Tanner didn't forgive him so easily - it's an explanation not an excuse.

The cover is so gorgeous and one of the prime things that drew me into this book. I'd love to get to know more of Easton's story and explore his trauma and coming to peace with it in the next book so if I manage to get my hands on the second book I'd definitely enjoy reading it. While it's simply a short young adult novel I think it's worth reading - I enjoyed my time with it.

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This was a really cute and enjoyable read! Tanner has one goal for his senior year of high school, he wants to take his baseball team to the state finals and be the first team to win from their school. He also has two rules no one can find out that he’s gay and never fall for a teammate. He doesn’t think his family will care that he’s gay but you never know, never mind his teammates. He’s not worried about rule two he’s played with the same people his whole life but then a new kid shows up. He’s name is Easton and Tanner is instantly captivated with him. They become fast friends and it doesn’t help that Easton his attraction that Easton is so good with his younger brothers especially the youngest Gavin who seems to idolize Easton. Tanner can handle this though, that is until him and Easton kiss. What does it mean? Apparently to Easton nothing if the way he pretends it never happened is anything to go by. As the year goes by things become more complicated between the two as Easton keeps coming to Tanner and then pretending that nothing happened. Will the pressure of winning at baseball and the confusion of his first crush/love be too much for him? Or will Tanner finally get what’s he been working towards? A sweet, charming, story about first love, heartbreak, disappointment, goals, and being true to yourself! Easton made me mad through much of this story, but like I get it… and the ending left me wanting more luckily the series has two more books in it! Logan Lane’s story is fast paced and sucked me in, it deals with grief, internalized homophobia, abuse, love, and heartbreak! Highly recommend!

[Celina (celina.monique.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Way We Swing by Logan Lane isn't a romance in the traditional sense. There is no HEA at the end of this book, but that's because it's part of a slow burn trilogy with the final book set to come out in December. That said, it is a coming of age story about queer identity, self-acceptance, and allowing other people to love you.

The story follows Tanner Quinn, who has two goals for his senior year: win a state championship and keep his sexuality a secret. Then Easton Chase, a talented new teammate shows up and throws a wrench into those plans.

As their friendship grows through summer practices, late night Mario Kart sessions, and family chaos, Tanner finds it harder to keep his feelings for Easton in check. Worried that a relationship could tear apart his team and expose his secret, Tanner is faced with putting himself or his team first.

I LOVED this book. As a queer kid who grew up playing sports (softball and hockey), I dimmed my own light and self-edited in a futile effort to fit in. Reading The Way We Swing healed something in me. Seeing Tanner learn to accept himself and allow people in was deeply moving. The Quinn family is amazing and exactly what every kid deserves. I also loved that baseball was at the center of this story and often used as an analogy for life.

I'm very much looking forward to the next two books in this series, especially getting to see everything from Easton's POV. As an adult, I wanted so badly to comfort this kid, and I'm eager to see him grow and learn to accept himself.

[Max C · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Nice catch, princess….It was just noise to them–a throwawayline, really. But it confirmed what I’d known for ages–that there was zero chance they’d accept me being gay.”

The Way We Swing (Out at Home Book 1) by Logan Lane is a fantastic read. I would like to say there are some trigger warnings about some of the content including domestic and physical abuse, suicide, and alcholism. If any of these topics would make you feel uncomfortable you may want to skip this book. That being said You are going to love Tanner and Easton

Tanner is the one with all the rules, the secret and the goal to win the state playoffs.
Easton is the new kid with the dimples who finds a friend and a second family in Tanner’s family

The trauma of having to hide yourself because you know people would view you differently. That they would reject you, they would hate you, is hard enough as an adult but as a child it is unbearable. Add on that the uncertainty of whether or not your family will accept or reject you is another level of stress that most people just do not understand. Logan Lane is able to take all that doubt and fear, and hope and yearning and create a beautiful story. About these two athletes. As they come to terms with their feelings and sexuality. I whole heartedly recommend reading this beautiful story!

I received this as an advanced readers copy via booksirens for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Karlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the author for the ARC! My opinions are my own.

I realized pretty early on that as a non-sports fan, I'm not exactly the target audience. (The book was pretty baseball heavy.) Although, as I kept reading I got pulled into the characters lives and didn't want to put the book down. I liked Tanner okay, although the book (and the excerpt for the next one) really left me more intrigued about Easton and his background. Since it took several chapters to win me over, I started off thinking I'd finish the book, write my review, and likely not read the sequels, but now that I've finished it I'm definitely interested in reading the next one.

I think it really is a perfect book for queer teenage sports fans (which I would suspect is the target audience). It's giving Heartstopper vibes (but with a heavier baseball focus than Heartstopper had for rugby).

(Potential spoiler: I was disappointed that Tanner didn't talk out his feelings with Bella. Maybe it wouldn't be the realistic choice (teenage boys aren't exactly known for their emotional maturity), or the best choice from a story building perspective, but I just wanted to yell at him that he didn't have to bottle it all up, that there's a queer kid right in front of him who'd be willing to listen and keep his secrets. I hope she plays a larger role in the later books! )

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I want to say thank you to the publishers who approved my request for this ARC!!

Review:
!Contains slight spoilers!
I really enjoyed this book honestly. It was super heartwarming but I was disappointed at some points like with Easton stopped talking to Gavin even tho he idolized him. And I get he was worried he would say something but he was just a kid honestly. I was also a little sad that Easton and Tanner didn't get their happily ever after but I get it was a good thing for them because even though they didn't get together they still learned and helped each other out. I gave this a 4 star partially because their was a lot of baseball scenes that I didn't understand since I don't really watch base ball. What I did like about the book was the fact that Tanners family and his friends didn't kick him out like how he originally thought, and instead were supportive or learning how to be. Over all a really cute book and I"m glad I got to read it because I got hooked on it really quickly!

Edit: After reading some of these reviews I found that this is going to be continued so I REALLY REALLY HOPE THAT TANNER AND EASTON GET THEIR HAPPILY EVER AFTER PLEASEEE!! And i hope it shows Tanner teaching his family and friends how to be more supportive for him! okay bye for now! Ciao!!

[Quilted.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprisingly soft in a lot of moments, especially for a sports romance.The story follows Tanner Quinn, a high school senior with two very clear goals: win a state championship in baseball and keep the fact that he’s gay completely hidden. He’s spent years controlling every part of his life to make that happen. But everything starts to unravel when Easton Chase joins the team. Easton is quiet and a bit guarded, but he quickly becomes part of Tanner’s routine first as a teammate, then a friend, and eventually something more.What I liked most was Tanner’s internal conflict felt. He’s not just scared of coming out he’s scared of losing everything he’s worked for, from his reputation to his future in baseball. That pressure is constant throughout the story, and it makes every interaction between him and Easton feel higher stakes. You can really feel how much he’s holding back, even when he doesn’t want to. The relationship between Tanner and Easton is definitely the heart of the book. It develops slowly and naturally, starting with small moments working out together, playing video games, spending time with Tanner’s family. I especially liked how Easton fits into Tanner’s home life, and the dynamic with Tanner’s little brother adds some humor and warmth to balance out the heavier themes.Overall, this is a really strong coming story mixed with a sports romance. It deals with identity, pressure, and fear in a way that feels honest, while still giving you those softer, hopeful moments. If you like slow burn romance, teammates to lovers, andstories about learning to be yourself even when it’s scary, this is definitely one I’d recommend.

[Belen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐
1🌶️

.Coming of age
.Friends to lovers
.Baseball
.Single POV

While this book wasn't quite the right fit for me, I do think it will resonate with other readers. Tanner’s introspection and the support he finds in his environment are real highlights. His character growth is both relatable and heartening.

That said, I struggled with Easton, the other central character. I understand he’s a teenager, and perhaps that was part of his arc, but his dismissive attitude toward Tanner left me feeling disconnected.

The romance, which I expected to be the emotional anchor, never quite took off for me.

I also felt there was a bit too much baseball jargon. The sheer volume of it made the pacing slow down for me.

In terms of writing style, the book leaned more toward telling rather than showing, which kept me at a bit of a distance. Still, I did enjoy the overall positivity. Tanner’s support network is great, and it brings warmth to the story. I also loved the secondary characters, they added a nice balance.

I suspect this book might be aimed at a younger YA audience, even if it’s not explicitly labeled as such. I’m hopeful that as the series continues, we’ll see more nuance in Easton’s character and perhaps a deeper exploration of the romance.

While it wasn’t a personal favorite, I appreciate the author’s voice and look forward to seeing how their writing evolves.

[Amanda Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶
HEA ....?

OK. First things first, this is a good book. it is story about high-school seniors with big baseball dreams and hard life decisions. it is a MM romance. I read it in a day and regret nothing. its not spicy, they do stuff but it's fade to black or not really detailed. which is GOOD. Again, HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. Still, a good book.
Second, what the freak?!?! that ending was not what I expected. it is a cliffhanger. not an epic one but still a cliff. I was upset and it took me a day to write this but I paused and let logic win. I looked. there is more. its not over. so dear gods of baseball and young love tell me Tanner and Easton get their HEA.
Third, that was tough. the fears and insecurities these two face is heartbreaking to me. I hate that it is reality for others. no one should have to worry about the things these two did.

bring on book two...and three...and all the others. I am currently invested in the well being of these two prescious young men.

[So Not Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'm not really the perfect target for this story, as I think it's more directed to a teen/young adult audience.
Having said that, the book is really sweet, and I found the author is very delicate, and empathic, in how they approach the characters of Tanner and Easton. They are very young, and sometimes clumsy in espressing their emotions, and sometimes they're their own worst enemy, yet they're so tender and engaging.
I have to say, even if I don't know if this was the author's intention, I found this book particularly charming as a parent of teenage kids - it's a sweet, caring portrait of a difficult age.
I'm not giving a full 5 star because unfortunately I don't know the first thing about baseball and sometimes the description was too technical to follow, and I already had to learn ice hockey this month, so please cut me some slack!

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me be upfront about one thing: I would have enjoyed the book more if the boys in this book had been playing football. Baseball was a good second choice, I guess. I’m just glad it wasn’t basketball.

Tanner, Zach, and Gavin are brothers who play summer ball in a league. Easton is a new guy on the team. Tanner is gay (but not out) and there’s nearly instant friendship and attraction between Tanner and Easton. But Easton says he’s not gay.

THE WAY WE SWING is an okay story. It suffers from the reader knowing there’s more to come, making it more of a teen drama (think: soap opera) than perhaps the author intended. There is more to come (two books).

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I received an advance reader copy from the author through BookSirens, for which I thank them. All opinions are mine.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to netgally for the arc. What an absolute beauty of a book I loved this so much that I read it in one sitting it actually hit really hard and just oh my god how I love Easton and tanner especially Easton . I wish we got more insight into him but honestly this was exactly what I wanted it was perfect and not what I expected but I'm so glad I applied for the arc and then picked it up please pick this up when it's released I loved it with ever fibre of my being. I especially loved the found family dynamic between the Quinn family and Easton I think I'll be thinking of this book long after it's released it was so much deeper than just a standard sports romance so I implore you to check your triggers and if this sounds up your street regardless of what you know about baseball please pick this up because it broke my heart and is so much more than a baseball LGBTQ+ romance

[Tristian Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

**thank you to the author for allowing me to read this. ARC received from the authors social media page**

Probably a 4.5 rounded up because, well, baseball.

The writing was more punchy/less descriptive, which I’m a fan of, but probably isn’t for everyone. I fell into the story quick an it hooked me within two or three chapters and didn’t let go.

Easton was the most complex character of the story, and there were times I hated him, but seeing him as the MC in the next book already looks really good. Though I expect it to be a little darker than this first story.

Gavin was probably my favorite of the Quinn brothers, though Tanners internal narration was really nice to see.

Thanks again to Logan for letting me have an advanced copy!

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little book filled with a lot of heart, and once I got into the swing of reading it (pun delightfully intended), I found I couldn't put it down. It was a comforting read with the right amount of dry humor for me, where bittersweet moments and the messiness of hard truths felt thoughtfully done. The dialogue progressed nicely from the beginning chapters. I enjoyed Tanner, and I think I'll enjoy reading the next book in the series!

A kind thank you to Netgalley and the author for this ARC!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book, it was so well written.
A coming of age YA romance about identity, book one of a slow burn trilogy, found family and brotherly chaos.
This is written from Tanner’s POV who is so driven for someone his age to achieve his Baseball dreams.
Easton moves to the area and joins the team, he has a complex history and finds a family he needs.
I loved this story, it was so sweet. I loved the MCs and the side characters and look forward to the next two books.

[Eileen Murphy-Schmehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tanner is a high school baseball star hoping to lead his team to a state Championship. He’s determined to reach his goal, and he is driven to keep a secret- He meets Easton, and all of Tanner’s plans are forever changed.

Tanner has a great relationship with his family and is close to his brothers. Will they support him ? Will Easton be just a teammate?

A great story about accepting yourself and living authentically.

I received a copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carleycatandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww this was adorable so cute.
I loved Gavin and Eatsons friendship and what ever Eatson and Tanner had .
I loved Tanner so much. Definitely My favourite character. I wanted to project him and fight for him so much.
This is absolutely my new obsession in books .
I got earc for an honest review and honestly I loved it . As rocky would say I loved this statement.
Question do I want more. Yes statement!

[Caleb Byrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun and enjoyable and tugged on my heartstrings at times. It was enjoyable and i cant wait for the 2nd and 3rd book. I hope they release soon--thanks for the eARC from netgalley it was a fun read and i ended up finishing it in a few hours!

[Garrett Huckabay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much! It captures the essence of being gay and figuring it out as you go. If you love baseball that’s a plus too!


Thanks netgalley for the arc!!!

[Roe Hocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, it made me angry and happy. A beautiful story of hope, love and acceptance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alix · Rating 3 out of 5]

review on Storygraph! Thank you for the ARC