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The One Percent
Richard Lucas joined the famous academy to pursue his dream of playing professional football. He made progress on the pitch and won over his teammates through sheer drive and determination, but he was never truly happy when a major part of him had to be hidden away.
Everything was to change completely when he encountered the team’s latest recruit, the young speedy left back.
How would Richard’s footballing journey unfold if he was to fall in love with a teammate? How would his friends, rivals, and most importantly, the public react? Would he be able to cope with the inevitable attention and pressure that came from his rise to fame?
An epic sports romance filled with actions, passion, heartbreaks and glory.
Everything was to change completely when he encountered the team’s latest recruit, the young speedy left back.
How would Richard’s footballing journey unfold if he was to fall in love with a teammate? How would his friends, rivals, and most importantly, the public react? Would he be able to cope with the inevitable attention and pressure that came from his rise to fame?
An epic sports romance filled with actions, passion, heartbreaks and glory.
- GenresQueer
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 11, 2023
3 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 2, 2023
Jake Lewin – The one percent
Football is important for me. Apart from that, I love reading, hence I read a lot of books about Football, the beautiful game. When I saw this book, I registered to become an early reader. A story about coming out in a game that is quite homophobic, there is more to the game than just 22 players and a ball.
So optimistically and curious I started reading this novel. Surprisingly I noticed it was quite a big novel, not a couple of hours. On the first page we get to know Richard, a future star, most experts agree. He gets selected by a professional team, starts in their youth team and rises through the ranks. He meets Layne, a bit younger than himself, mostly plays in the same category. They fall in love, first secretly, but soon their teammates find out. And obviously, as their fame rises, the public finds out as well. Predictably opponents and even worse their fans turn out to be not as tolerant as the other players on their own team.
This could be the whole summary, but the book goes on for years. And after the first hundred pages I asked myself who the book is written for. Its language, its descriptions make me think it is aiming at youngsters. The love scenes are extremely moderate, no parent could take offence if their child read this book.
Descriptions of football matches take full pages, the team finds a third gay player, giving it a far higher percentage than society, whereas the percentage in football is estimated below average. Anyway, a good reason to throw in some drama.
The thing is, I want to like this book, I think it might be necessary to change the world of football, where bigots and racists still man the stands, with their 19th century world views. But it just kept going, it never made me curious what would happen next. And the endless lists of summaries. Every starting lineup, as if I can remember all the teammates Richard and Layne played with for four years running. Every single day off ends with a dinner with friends and we get a detailed description of the menu. No team has a name apart their own, so they play a team from northwest London, a team from south London, a team from Teesside, a blue team from Manchester, a red team from Merseyside and so on. Every single foreign trip goes to cities where Richard visits the top ten by trip advisor in one afternoon. You get the idea.
Even some opponents get named, always by their first name, because one of them played with (or against) the particular player with an England youth side. Impossible to remember. Halfway through I decided to read the complete book regardless. I lost my curiosity, still didn’t know if it was written for me and had my mind made up: nice try, but nothing more than that. Which is a shame, because I also feel that this book could help to eliminate a lot of misery on the stands. It could help raise more tolerant football supporters. But please hire an editor, skip half of the pages and go with less characters.
Quote: “Richard and Tom formed their usual wall in the middle, with Richard amazingly winning all his six defensive duels and making five interceptions. His intensive strengths training during suspension was paying great dividends as he sustained the strong challenges by his German counterparts.” (p.179/180)
Football is important for me. Apart from that, I love reading, hence I read a lot of books about Football, the beautiful game. When I saw this book, I registered to become an early reader. A story about coming out in a game that is quite homophobic, there is more to the game than just 22 players and a ball.
So optimistically and curious I started reading this novel. Surprisingly I noticed it was quite a big novel, not a couple of hours. On the first page we get to know Richard, a future star, most experts agree. He gets selected by a professional team, starts in their youth team and rises through the ranks. He meets Layne, a bit younger than himself, mostly plays in the same category. They fall in love, first secretly, but soon their teammates find out. And obviously, as their fame rises, the public finds out as well. Predictably opponents and even worse their fans turn out to be not as tolerant as the other players on their own team.
This could be the whole summary, but the book goes on for years. And after the first hundred pages I asked myself who the book is written for. Its language, its descriptions make me think it is aiming at youngsters. The love scenes are extremely moderate, no parent could take offence if their child read this book.
Descriptions of football matches take full pages, the team finds a third gay player, giving it a far higher percentage than society, whereas the percentage in football is estimated below average. Anyway, a good reason to throw in some drama.
The thing is, I want to like this book, I think it might be necessary to change the world of football, where bigots and racists still man the stands, with their 19th century world views. But it just kept going, it never made me curious what would happen next. And the endless lists of summaries. Every starting lineup, as if I can remember all the teammates Richard and Layne played with for four years running. Every single day off ends with a dinner with friends and we get a detailed description of the menu. No team has a name apart their own, so they play a team from northwest London, a team from south London, a team from Teesside, a blue team from Manchester, a red team from Merseyside and so on. Every single foreign trip goes to cities where Richard visits the top ten by trip advisor in one afternoon. You get the idea.
Even some opponents get named, always by their first name, because one of them played with (or against) the particular player with an England youth side. Impossible to remember. Halfway through I decided to read the complete book regardless. I lost my curiosity, still didn’t know if it was written for me and had my mind made up: nice try, but nothing more than that. Which is a shame, because I also feel that this book could help to eliminate a lot of misery on the stands. It could help raise more tolerant football supporters. But please hire an editor, skip half of the pages and go with less characters.
Quote: “Richard and Tom formed their usual wall in the middle, with Richard amazingly winning all his six defensive duels and making five interceptions. His intensive strengths training during suspension was paying great dividends as he sustained the strong challenges by his German counterparts.” (p.179/180)
September 24, 2023
📚 Book Review: "The One Percent" by Jake Lewin
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5 stars)
📖 If you're searching for a spellbinding journey that seamlessly merges the worlds of professional football and an epic romance, look no further than "The One Percent" by Jake Lewin.
🥅 Richard Lucas, the protagonist, enters the famed academy to chase his dream of becoming a professional footballer. But amidst the cheers of the crowd and the thrill of the game, he finds something unexpected - love within the team. The story takes a daring twist as he falls for a teammate, sending shockwaves through the football world.
💔 This novel beautifully explores the complexities of love, ambition, and societal expectations. It's a heartfelt portrayal of the challenges faced by young footballers living outside conventional norms. Jake Lewin masterfully navigates these themes, making them feel incredibly relevant to today's football landscape.
🔥 "The One Percent" is not just a love story; it's an emotional rollercoaster filled with action, passion, heartbreaks, and moments of glory. The characters are so well-crafted that they'll linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page.
📚 This chunky book might seem intimidating at first, but trust me, you'll savor every page of this beautiful love story. It's a testament to the author's skill that the book flies by, leaving you craving for more.
👏 Jake Lewin has carved a niche for himself in the world of sports romance, and I'm eagerly looking forward to returning to his works time and again. "The One Percent" is a must-read, offering a deep dive into the lives of athletes, the power of love, and the courage to be true to oneself.
📣 Share this post if you're a fan of sports, romance, or just a good, heartwarming story. "The One Percent" deserves a place on your bookshelf, and in your heart. 📚❤️ #BookReview
#TheOnePercent #JakeLewin #SportsRomance #MustRead
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5 stars)
📖 If you're searching for a spellbinding journey that seamlessly merges the worlds of professional football and an epic romance, look no further than "The One Percent" by Jake Lewin.
🥅 Richard Lucas, the protagonist, enters the famed academy to chase his dream of becoming a professional footballer. But amidst the cheers of the crowd and the thrill of the game, he finds something unexpected - love within the team. The story takes a daring twist as he falls for a teammate, sending shockwaves through the football world.
💔 This novel beautifully explores the complexities of love, ambition, and societal expectations. It's a heartfelt portrayal of the challenges faced by young footballers living outside conventional norms. Jake Lewin masterfully navigates these themes, making them feel incredibly relevant to today's football landscape.
🔥 "The One Percent" is not just a love story; it's an emotional rollercoaster filled with action, passion, heartbreaks, and moments of glory. The characters are so well-crafted that they'll linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page.
📚 This chunky book might seem intimidating at first, but trust me, you'll savor every page of this beautiful love story. It's a testament to the author's skill that the book flies by, leaving you craving for more.
👏 Jake Lewin has carved a niche for himself in the world of sports romance, and I'm eagerly looking forward to returning to his works time and again. "The One Percent" is a must-read, offering a deep dive into the lives of athletes, the power of love, and the courage to be true to oneself.
📣 Share this post if you're a fan of sports, romance, or just a good, heartwarming story. "The One Percent" deserves a place on your bookshelf, and in your heart. 📚❤️ #BookReview
#TheOnePercent #JakeLewin #SportsRomance #MustRead
December 15, 2023
Captivating and emotional, this sports romance takes you on a rollercoaster ride through Richard Lucas's journey, skillfully blending the highs of his football success with the complexities of falling in love with a teammate.
The author weaves a compelling narrative that explores the challenges of hiding one's true self in the competitive world of professional sports. As Richard faces the scrutiny of friends, rivals, and the public, the story unfolds with heartbreaks, passion, and the relentless pursuit of glory.
A must-read for those who crave a powerful tale of love, courage, and the price of fame in the world of football.
The author weaves a compelling narrative that explores the challenges of hiding one's true self in the competitive world of professional sports. As Richard faces the scrutiny of friends, rivals, and the public, the story unfolds with heartbreaks, passion, and the relentless pursuit of glory.
A must-read for those who crave a powerful tale of love, courage, and the price of fame in the world of football.
May 8, 2024
Good Read
Really enjoyed this one. Great story, excellent characters, and interesting setting (football).
I found the writing descriptive and rather easy to follow. Richard is a lovable and endearing character. I liked that while he is a star and main character, others also had their shining moments.
I did wish physical characteristics of the characters were included.
Really enjoyed this one. Great story, excellent characters, and interesting setting (football).
I found the writing descriptive and rather easy to follow. Richard is a lovable and endearing character. I liked that while he is a star and main character, others also had their shining moments.
I did wish physical characteristics of the characters were included.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews