Unwritten Rules

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY SEP 13, 2021

Casey makes an auspicious debut with this sensitive coming-out story set in the world of baseball. The All-Star Classic game throws Zach Glasser, the Jewish, hard of hearing catcher for the Oakland Elephants, back into contact with Venezuelan catcher Eugenio Morales, whom Zach met three years ago during spring training when Eugenio was a rookie vying for Zach's spot. Despite their rivalry, the men bonded when Zach helped Eugenio work on his skills, teaching him how to make a ball look like a strike. Soon, they were sharing meals—Eugenio is a fabulous cook and a foodie—and eventually acted on their mutual attraction. But Zach's reluctance to come out led Eugenio to end their relationship. The narrative toggles between the present-day friction and the slow burn of three years ago, an approach that makes the guys' sleepovers bittersweet but interrupts the momentum of the romance, asking readers to recalibrate ever chapter. Still, Casey ably builds the tension of the pair playing against each other and thoughtfully handles Zach's struggle to come out. There is arguably as much baseball as sex here, which may overwhelm readers uninterested in the sport but will delight devotees of America's pastime and passionate gay romance. Casey is a writer to watch.