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Carrie Byrd's Loser of the Year

Carrie Byrd’s Loser of the Year This is a contemporary love story about enemies turning into lovers, which is very exciting.

After a failed acting career, a recent divorce, and an overall feeling of worthlessness, Maddie Bellman returns to her hometown where at least she can make some money teaching high school drama and maybe start over.

Jillian Reed is a hometown hero who coaches a football team that has won enough championships that she can be as bad as she wants without any accountability. Jillian disagrees that Marty’s musical is a distraction from the championship players, but Marty doesn’t care what Jillian has to say about it. Jillian declares war, and Marty’s whole vibe says “bring it on.”

No matter how rude Gillian tries to be, Mattie can’t resist the attraction. As Gillian gradually lets her guard down, Mattie learns there’s more behind the bravado than she imagined.

Santa Rita’s employee contracts contain a morality clause that means both women could lose their jobs if they act on their mutual attraction. But is that enough to negate the chemistry that has awakened the two women over the years?

writing

Jenna: Wow! This is an absolutely wonderful story that encompasses so many different themes, each handled with such professionalism and care. The difficulties of starting over are intertwined with religious beliefs and homophobia in a high school musical, allowing each theme time to air and allowing the reader to fall in love with Mattie and Jillian. Elements of humor and satire smooth out the edges of these tough topics, making the stories more complete and relatable. Insightful and humorous writing make this story unforgettable.

Tara: I couldn’t agree more! The writing style of this book captured my attention and I marked it on my Kindle over and over again because it has so many wonderful, evocative turns of phrase. One of my favorites is this: “Mattie couldn’t quite put her finger on how Jillian stood straight when she was already standing straight, but she did.”

I was also impressed by the depiction of small town homophobia and religious homophobia. Based on the synopsis, I wasn’t expecting this, and considering my past religious trauma, I started to worry that it might trigger such emotions. But it didn’t, because the story has a strong view on the boundaries between religious beliefs and what those beliefs mean to other people, including teenagers. For me, this elevated the book from merely enjoyable to an important and potentially life-saving level, because we live in a time when a small number of people with certain religious beliefs try to impose those beliefs on everyone else.

Pros and my favorite part

Jenna: Maddie hasn’t had an easy few years. As a newly divorced, struggling actress, she decides to return home to lick her wounds, try to find some perspective, and plot her next steps. Teaching high school drama at an all-girls Catholic school sounds like the hardest thing a Jewish lesbian could do. She struggles, but tries to do the best she can. Luckily, she keeps her sense of humor. Her interactions with Jillian, especially her ability to step up when needed, add depth to her character. At the outset, I’d like to say that I love the witty banter between them, but that would be a complete understatement. I think it’s safe to say that most of the dialogue between them is some of the wittiest quips I’ve ever read! This dynamic makes their relationship develop so beautifully!

Tara: Maddie and Jillian’s relationship is a highlight of the book. Everything is told from Maddie’s perspective, so we can see how she sees and responds to Jillian, and can compare it to how some of the other teachers treat Jillian. Jillian can be rude, but it’s clear that she has her own reasons for being that way. So, the more Maddie gets to know her, the more I like Jillian.

Jenna: There was something oddly charming about Gillian’s character that immediately drew my interest in. From her first words, I was compelled, as was Maddie, to discover what lay beneath her arrogant, selfish exterior. As the layers of the story unraveled, I was struck by the stories behind them. Gillian’s witty remarks added a lot of personality and humor to the story.

Tara: Yes, exactly! I found it especially fun to see their dynamic when Mattie was fighting back. Mattie was the new kid in school with no social value. Jillian had played professional soccer and led the school’s team to 13 consecutive championships, so she was able to get whatever she wanted, even though she was hated by the other teachers and administrators. Mattie, however, refused to cater to Jillian and wasn’t afraid to say “no” outright. It was so fun and fresh to see them go at each other, with Jillian pushing back in the most arrogant way and Mattie standing firm because that’s when Jillian came alive. Jillian had been wanting someone to fight back for years, and Mattie wanted someone to see her, so it was really fun to watch them blossom with each other’s attention.

Jenna: As a teacher, I am grateful that Mattie and Jullian take the time to nurture their students, helping them overcome challenges and grow. Some of the impacts Mattie and Jillian have had on their lives highlight the transformative power of educators who value building relationships with their students.

careful

Tara: As I mentioned above, this story embraces homophobia that is rooted in small town life and religion. We see the impact it has on teachers who are bound by the moral clause, and how much it can hurt you when your family doesn’t accept you wholeheartedly, even if they stay in your life.

If you have experienced religious trauma you may need to be gentle with yourself while reading this book, especially if you were raised in a conservative Catholic church. I found the homophobia in the book to be realistic, not exaggerated or glossed over with romantic overtones, and it was well worth the read.

in conclusion

Tara's favorite fanfictionBook Reviews Lesbian Reviews Jennas Favourite Books

Jenna: Loser of the Year is a riveting romance with well-crafted characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. The challenges in the book are intertwined with a profound storyline that moved me deeply. The emotions conveyed in the book range from shame, regret, and complacency to joy, happiness, and love, making for an unforgettable reading experience. This story will make you laugh and wipe the tears from your eyes (sometimes at the same time). It is a layered story that will keep you turning pages until the end. So pick up your book, sit down at your favorite reading spot, and enjoy this wonderful book!

Tara: This story went straight into my to-read folder on my Kindle and will definitely be one of my top 10 favorite books of the year. It’s funny, sweet, sexy, and directly contributed to a few sleepless nights for me. If you like fire queens, strong women in tank tops, conflict and then falling in love, and stories with surprising twists, I highly recommend Loser of the Year.

Excerpted from Carrie Byrd’s Loser of the Year

“That’s right,” Jillian said, as if no one had moved. “That’s because before I got here, St. Rita’s was a school where desperate Catholic parents abandoned their temperamental children in the faint hope that their daughters would absorb some real faith amid the mold spores growing within these ancient walls. Now, look at it.” Jillian pointed at the three-story building behind her. “Sure, it’s still falling apart. Sure, a pipe burst last May and flooded the cafeteria. But none of that matters. What matters is that for thirteen years, the Pennsylvania Women’s Athletic Association championship banner has been affixed to the peeling lead paint. And it’s all thanks to me: the best women’s soccer coach in the history of this mediocre state.”

“They let her talk like that?” Maddie asked as quietly as she could, turning slightly toward Gabe Martinez, the history teacher standing next to her. “I’m sure you and I would be fired before we even get to say half of it.”

Gabe smiled a little too loudly.

Another faculty member near them turned and frowned.

“I’m sorry.” Gabe didn’t sound sorry at all. Then, as the woman turned to look at Jillian, he leaned toward Maddie. “Jillian is a whole other category. If you or I saw St. Rita’s name in the local media often, the administrators would probably let us say whatever we wanted.”

That made sense. Mattie hadn’t even met her students yet, let alone done anything noteworthy at St. Rita’s. Aside from spilling a bottle of soda on her white shirt at last week’s orientation, it could have been a lot worse if Gabe (who was giving her the tour) hadn’t been so quick to fetch a tissue and offer a friendly smile.

Gillian, on the other hand, does seem a bit unfriendly.

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ISBN Number: 978-3963249235

Publisher: ilva publishing house

Carrie Bird Online

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Note: I received a free review copy The Loser of the Year Award was presented by Carrie Byrd. No money was exchanged for this review. When you purchase using our links, we earn a small commission which helps support the operation of this site.

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