Book Review: ‘Thirty Love: A Novel’ By Tom Vellner

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The book is in stores on Tuesday, March 10th from Alcove. Click on the link to buy a copy. https://amzn.to/3McjZMY

The setting is the men’s tennis tour and focuses on Leo Chambers, one of the United States’ top male players. His rival on the court is Gabe Montoya, whom he has never beaten. He loses to him in the first round of the U.S. Open, on what he thinks is a bad call. Leo’s father, who is his coach, suffers a stroke, and he takes time off to be with him. When he comes back, Gabe has come out as gay, something Leo wishes he could do; he’s secretly gay. As he puts his feud with Gabe to rest, and they become friends, then something else, he has to balance his personal and professional lives. As they become more involved, his tennis game gets better, and then, when a scandalous picture is released of the two of them right before his match in the finals of the U.S. Open, Gabe makes a gesture that might just make Leo a champion. This is an intense, well-written rom-com, with two characters you enjoy following on their adventures on and off the court. If you’re a fan of the TV show Heated Rivalry, this will be right up your alley. One of the best romantic novels of the year.