The Harper Effect

April 30, 2018
Australian tennis player Harper turns pro when she is 16, but before her 17th birthday, she is dumped by her coach, who believes she is not “good enough to make it to the top.” That isn’t the only crisis occurring in Harper’s life. She’s fallen in love with her sister’s ex-boyfriend, but to let anyone know would be a disaster. Then Harper gets a new coach on the condition that she plays doubles with Colt, an arrogant, less-privileged player. Harper can’t deny her physical attraction to Colt, making her more confused and miserable than ever. There’s more than one love triangle that needs to be resolved in this story about a rising star athlete. Sports fans might crave more on-the-court action, but romance buffs will revel in the book’s plethora of passionate scenes and will be on the edge of their seats waiting to find out a secret that Colt is hiding. The plot is somewhat drawn out, but debut author Bashford captures the conflicting emotions of a teen facing more than her share of dilemmas. Harper’s struggle to sort out priorities, understand the meaning of love, and emerge a winner will be strongly felt. Ages 14–up. Agent: Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

May 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-Harper's life has always been tennis-starting each match at love-love, where both sides have no score. At 16, though, Harper has never proceeded into the semi-finals, always clutching before her big break. Her coach says its a mental weakness and drops her. Her father finds a new coach but she'll have to play doubles with the rising star-Colt. Dark, brooding, and secretive, Colt's mood seems to slip into her life and she begins harboring secrets. She continues to train but has a hard time focusing. She seeks comfort at home through her sister Aria and their neighbor Jacob, but can't reclaim the past. As Jacob looks at her with more than friendship and her new coach puts more pressure on her, Harper has a hard time figuring out how to juggle all of it. This sports romance will have readers asking all the right questions about growing up. Fans of Simone Elkeles's Perfect Chemistry will enjoy the dialogue and bildungsroman style. VERDICT A good choice for sports fiction and romance shelves.-Cathleen Ash, Manor High School Library, TX

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2018
An Australian teen struggles for success on and off the tennis court while trying to navigate personal relationships.Sixteen-year-old Harper started off as a promising junior on the tennis circuit, but turning professional has been hard, and her coach drops her, calling her mentally weak. This disappointment is compounded by upheaval at home: Her older sister, Aria, and her boyfriend, Jacob, a young man who has been part of their family since they were children, have split. Her father finds a new coach who pairs her with a rising male tennis star, Colt Quinn, who harbors intriguing secrets. Meanwhile, Jacob tells Harper that his feelings for her are the real reason he ended the relationship with Aria. Harper's guilt about betraying her sister is almost too much to bear, but she concentrates on tennis and her growing relationship with Colt, gaining glimpses into his background and drive to succeed. When Aria recognizes the closeness between Harper and Jacob, the breach between the sisters seems permanent. Details about tennis and the struggles of teens on the cusp of adulthood are nicely balanced. Harper is well-characterized, and the secondary characters, including coaches and parents, ring true. Colt and his backstory are compelling, and the revelations are skillfully handled. The match action is pitch-perfect. All major characters are white.A layered romance in a unique setting. (Sportsromance. 14-18)

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January 1, 2019
In this sports romance, sixteen-year-old Harper, an Australian tennis pro, is dropped by her harsh coach. In crisis mode, she simultaneously falls for her sister's ex-boyfriend and is attracted to Colt, her new training partner, who harbors secrets from his past. Harper is a likable character, and her conflicting emotions, struggle to navigate the high-pressure world of professional sports, and ultimate perseverance will resonate with teens.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)