Breakpoint: A Sapphic Rivals to Lovers Romance

Breakpoint is a well written novel that offers an insight into the intensity of the behind the scenes world of high level tennis players' lives. The author has created strong and impressive characters who are drawn to each other romantically, despite their competition on the tennis court. Their love story was a welcome addition to their individual growth privately and professionally. I appreciated the in-depth perspective into the challenges faced by black athletes, as well as the issues involved with interracial relationships. It was touching to see that the couple overcame the challenges they faced in the public eye, as they chose to follow their hearts, in creating a committed and loving life together.

Jaz is a highly competitive pro tennis player who eats, sleeps, and breathes tennis. Jaz doesn’t have time for a personal life when her life revolves around tennis and being the best. At the age of thirty-five, she feels the pressure to pass the racket and retire, but she’s not ready to do that. To make matters worse, the media are already calling Daniela Kappas, also known as America’s Sweetheart, her successor. Oh, but it doesn’t stop there. The Olympics Committee has paired Jaz with Dani to play a doubles match. What does Jaz think about that? Absolutely not. Dani, an up-and-coming pro tennis player, is a sweetheart and loved by all. Well, everyone except Jaz. Dani strives to make a name for herself and leave her mark in the tennis world despite already being from tennis royalty. So when Dani receives big news that she made it onto the Olympic team on her own merits, she’s beyond excited, at least until she’s told it's a doubles match. The important thing is that she made the team though… so who’s her partner? Oh, just the pro tennis player who is known for being an ice queen… Jaz. Now, you see Dani has her reasons for disliking the older woman, so there is not a chance. Unfortunately, with no real say in the matter, the women reluctantly agree to train together for the Olympics, but they start off on the wrong foot. Jaz and Dani make it pretty clear that they won’t be making friendship bracelets. Seeing no real progress, the two decide to put their animosity aside for…

What a great story.. two professional tennis players Jaz at the end of her career, Dani just starting are picked to be doubles partners for the Olympics. The tension was obvious from the beginning. Jaz disciplined, Dani thinking she could still party and win tournaments. As they started to connect, they found a friendship which developed into more. The book was well written, showed a side of tennis you really forget the hours of practice, travel, preparation, and dedication it takes.

The book was just okay. I didn’t care much for the writing style; there were too many flashbacks when it would have made more sense to narrate the events as they occurred. At times, I found it confusing to determine who was speaking, which made me have to go back and re-read sections. Overall, it was primarily an age-gap romance with very little angst. While the book was decent, it just wasn’t for me.

The narrative captivated readers with its seamless storytelling and compelling character development. The protagonists, Jaz and Dani, were crafted with depth and nuance, allowing readers to form strong emotional connections and see reflections of themselves within the characters' experiences and interactions. Their authenticity and relatability transformed the story from a mere narrative into an immersive journey that resonated with the audience. i highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author.