THE OPEN ERA

Twenty-year-old Austin Hardy is the first openly gay man to play in one of tennis’ Grand Slam tournaments. But he’s competing against much more than his opponents.

After Austin takes a very public fall at practice caused by an anxiety attack 10 days before the U.S. Open, some big changes happen. His coach insists he see a therapist, who suggests that reading the comments on articles and videos about his sexuality isn’t helping his mental health, so he takes a break from social media. He also becomes fast friends with Diego Cruz, a very hot rival—ranked No. 2 in the world—who leaped the net to check on him after the fall. As they grow closer, the tension and mixed signals between them grow until Diego confirms that he’s romantically interested in Austin as well. Unfortunately, Diego’s not ready to come out and decides he can’t afford to be distracted from his pursuit of winning. After an important victory, Austin’s ranking changes and he lands in the top 100. Now he must also juggle media appearances, potential sponsors, the responsibility of being an out and proud gay celebrity, as well as a complicated relationship with his coach, all of which exacerbates his anxiety. This novel takes place over 10 days, which is a whirlwind romance under any circumstances, but following Austin’s highs and lows is like watching an especially fast tennis match. There’s a lot to like here—excellent familial relationships and character development, compelling tennis action, and sensitive mental illness representation—but the love story fails to deliver on any sort of happily-ever-after or happy-for-now ending.

While the romance takes a back seat, Schmit’s handling of mental health advocacy and trauma is nuanced and admirable.