A review by nyquillll
Coach by Devney Perry

challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I think I really enjoyed reading this story, maybe because its plot veered slightly from the typical path that these sports romances take. 

What I enjoyed: 
  • The positive single-dad representation. The clear establishment that Ford's daughter, Joey, came first over everyone. He did everything he could in her best interests, and also through the story had to learn how to balance that with inviting some of his own interests. 
  • I'm a sucker for the "she fell first, he fell harder" trope, and I would say this book could be categorized as that. I also am a sucker for "you run, I run" and that was Millie and Ford to a T. 
  • The covering of topics of: learning how to single parent when your ex-partner is inconsistent and inattentive to your child, moving to a new town/state and settling in, how pivotal some moments in our lives can feel and how they can shift the whole trajectory of our future, learning to break down walls that have previously kept us safe, the catch-22 of your job being at risk but wanting to pursue the romantic relationship, how women are treated in male-dominated fields, how ugly custody battles can sometimes get - or how a lack of resistance can be heartbreaking too, the unique opportunity of being able to give sage advice to a young person that you would've needed, learning to stand up for yourself - "What's the worst that could happen?" mentality, calling people on their bullshit, and having the determination to not let something good slip from your grasp.
  • I like that both Millie and Ford, though they didn't discuss it specifically with one another,
    were willing to give up their job for the other so they could be together
    and that it wasn't just one of them expected to do it. Their relationship and how it was portrayed seemed very healthy, balanced, and unselfish. 

Some critiques: 
  • Some of the plot points felt like they had a lot of potential but the way they were resolved was a bit lackluster. For example, I spent most of the book looking over my shoulder waiting for
    Kurt
    to pop his head up and
    catch Millie and Ford
    . I also thought that maybe
    it would be revealed that Kurt had blackmailed the previous coach, or had more of a nefarious angle
    . Similarly, at multiple points in the book, I thought
    it would be revealed that Sienna sabotaged Millie and Ford's relationship by going through Ford's phone or answering his door and being rude to Millie
    . Though in a way, I'm really glad this didn't happen - and I'm glad that for the most part, there was no heavy reliance on a communication error trope. Ford encouraged Millie to be direct and face problems head on, together. 
  • The ending felt a bit too convenient. I know it was hinted earlier on that
    President Cruz liked Millie, but for her to show up just in time for a conversation to reverse Millie turning in her resignation? Felt too perfect
    . 
  • I don't know if I'm jaded from other books, but some of the unexpected twists thrown into a book can not only help the plot along, but they liven up the journey. I kept waiting for a little hint of something, and it never came. That's not to say there had to be more twists, but I spent a lot of time expecting some. 
  • It felt like the main conflict - confronting why Ford stopped talking to Millie several years ago - was resolved super quickly and the rest of the book was just building up angst. I was along for the ride, but I felt the conflict could've been stretched a little bit more. And then, I do think adding in a twist could've helped with the pacing of the book. It felt very steady toward an ending we already knew was going to come with no real interesting forks in the road. 
  • I almost wish that there were flashbacks that showed what happened in the past instead of the brief, quick snippets we get in the actual reveal from character dialogue. Just so we could have more context and detail.
  • Also, the side-plot, if that, of Millie's mom and her sister? The
    favoritism
    ? That was completely forgotten at some point, not tied into at all. Felt like someone dropping a cookie on the floor and leaving it, thinking the other person wouldn't ask questions and would forget. I could guess it was meant to highlight how lonely Millie feels and just how deep her fear and insecurity is of being left and being someone's second choice?
  • I wish the best friend had been included more as a sounding board for Millie, especially considering how close they were described as being.
  • I don't think it ever was truly confirmed who
    was lodging complaints against Ford
    . It was alluded to and there was an accusation at the end, but never a confirmation.
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