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Love and Other Scores

Abra Pressler

Start date: January 15, 2024

Finish date: February 15, 2024

Discussion: Love and Other Scores

Discussion leader: Pan Macmillan Australia

Why we're reading this: Their worlds collide and sparks are flying, but Gabriel and Noah both have so much to lose - can love sti…more
[close] Their worlds collide and sparks are flying, but Gabriel and Noah both have so much to lose - can love still win the day? A sexy, surprising queer romance from a bright new Australian voice, for fans of Carrie Soto is Back and Red, White & Royal Blue.

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Love and Other Scores

First Impressions
By Pan Macmillan… · 1 post · 11 views

last updated Jan 22, 2024 08:06PM

What Members Thought

Jan 24, 2024 Emily Rainsford rated it really liked it

Shelves: gifted, australian, contemporary, lbtqi, 2024, romance

I'm a fairly hard sell on contemporary romance. It's not my favourite genre and I can be pretty picky about it. But I did actually quite enjoy this one.

Having lived a couple of years in Melbourne and even been to the tennis at Rod Laver, I loved the very Melbourne setting. There was a great sense of place without being over described.

Noah and Gabriel were both wonderful characters and their love story was very sweet and endearing. There was enough depth to both Noah and Gabriel's situations indi I'm a fairly hard sell on contemporary romance. It's not my favourite genre and I can be pretty picky about it. But I did actually quite enjoy this one.

Having lived a couple of years in Melbourne and even been to the tennis at Rod Laver, I loved the very Melbourne setting. There was a great sense of place without being over described.

Noah and Gabriel were both wonderful characters and their love story was very sweet and endearing. There was enough depth to both Noah and Gabriel's situations individually to give the story some meat on its bones. Margie was my favourite side character 💕

I have to admit, my eyes glazed over a little bit during the lovingly and play-by-play described tennis matches, but it made sense for them to be there.

I also would have loved to *see* the boys' connection form a little more, as I felt it jumped from "hot guy I just met and had a couple of conversations with" to "I love you and no one else gets me like you do" a little quickly for me, without having seen on-page much depth of conversation, especially from Gabriel's side.

I could really have done without the virgin trope, it's just a trope I find really unnecessary in adult novels, and overdone.

While there are external obstacles to the relationship, there is no big messy third act fight and break up which I loved, because I hate when drama is injected for the sake of it. Gabriel and Noah are two big sugary cinnamon rolls (doughnuts?) for each other and that was adorable.

I'm not sure how I felt about the ending? It felt like the falling action (after what felt like the climax, the final tennis game/Noah's situation) dragged on a bit and the resolution of their relationship... I dunno, I just didn't totally love the way it was tied up.

Also just a personal bug bear, but I don't understand why Noah would go from "haven't played the piano in years" to "I'm gonna study this at university". Like, he literally got a paying gig - do that! Go on Tiktok! It's 2024, why would you need a degree, just go do the actual piano playing!

Lastly, I thought a "grand slam" was when you win all four titles in one year?? Like, I'm not a sport person at all, but that was my understanding? It seemed to be used repeatedly to describe winning just one of the big titles, which seemed a bit odd?

Overall though, I do think this is a really solid debut, I had a good time reading it and it gave me feel good vibes. ...more

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Mar 20, 2024 Caitlin (Caffeinated.and.reading) rated it liked it

Love an Other Scores is set during the Australian Open amid a scorching Melbourne summer, and if I’d been better prepared I definitely would’ve read it back in January when the Aus Open was on.

Gabriel is a global tennis superstar and heart-throb. As he eyes his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, the pressure is getting to him. After an intense practice session, Gabriel finds refuge in a bar, where he meets Noah. The more time they spend together in the blazing heat of a Melbourne sum ...more

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Nov 26, 2023 Brooke rated it it was amazing

A sexy queer sports romance full of heart.

Tennis superstar, Gabriel, is in Melbourne for the Australian Open. After a punishing training session, he retreats to a bar, where he meets the gorgeous Noah. Noah has no interest in sports and so doesn’t recognise this tennis heart throb, but there is definitely chemistry between them. As they spend time together, with Noah giving Gabriel his tour of Melbourne, it’s evident that they have feelings for one another. However, both have their reasons for w ...more

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