Publishers Weekly
06/17/2024
Bestseller Cotugno (Birds of California) delivers a sweet and spicy romance that feels ripped from the headlines about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Internationally known pop star Lacey Logan and pro baseball player Jimmy Hodges meet cute at a hotel bar in Manhattan and start a very newsworthy romance. As a teenager, Lacey had a photo of the then-rookie hanging on her bedroom wall—but that was before she became the most famous musician in the world, or “the benevolent dictator of a densely populated nation comprised entirely of screaming girls,” as Jimmy, who is five years older, opines. Jimmy, who’s insecure about his age and impending retirement, struggles to understand what she sees in him. Meanwhile, Lacey’s most recent relationship went down in flames after her live-in boyfriend got another woman pregnant and revealed a well-hidden cocaine addiction, so she’s understandably a little cautious about men—but she can’t resist Jimmy’s charisma and self-deprecation. Though their chemistry is immediate, how will they build a relationship when they’re rarely in the same time zone? Cotugno answers that question with some creativity and plenty of spice and gives readers a tantalizing peek into the world of the rich and famous, with both the perks and the downfalls illustrated in painstaking detail. Readers won’t be able to resist this charmer. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"Author Katie Cotugno — who plumbed the joys and pains of celebrity romance in her novels Birds of California and Meet the Benedettos — brings us this ripped-from-the-headlines version of a delicate romance that’s guaranteed to hit different" — People
"This book feels like candy in the best possible way: delicious, addictive, and impossible to put down. Heavy Hitter is a celebrity romance that’s both joyfully escapist and achingly real — Katie Cotugno is at the top of her game. A smart, sexy confection.” — Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times Bestselling author of The Ex Talk and Business or Pleasure
“Though their chemistry is immediate, how will they build a relationship when they’re rarely in the same time zone? Cotugno answers that question with some creativity and plenty of spice and gives readers a tantalizing peek into the world of the rich and famous, with both the perks and the downfalls illustrated in painstaking detail. Readers won’t be able to resist this charmer.” — Publishers Weekly
"Compulsively readable...A must purchase." — Library Journal
Library Journal
06/07/2024
Lacey Logan, one of the most famous women in the world, meets a friend for dinner after singing for sold-out crowds at MetLife Stadium. She's a little lonely and restless and craves an unscheduled diversion after her ex debuts his new baby with another woman. A chance meeting with Orioles catcher Jimmy Hodges, whose poster used to hang above her bed in high school, creates her distraction for the night. Their instant chemistry leads Lacey and Jimmy to find a dive bar, where things get steamy away from prying eyes. Jimmy, awestruck by Lacey and the ease of their connection, is unprepared and intimidated by the strategies Lacey must employ to keep her inner circle, her fans, and the media happy. Will the pressure of public scrutiny and conflicting schedules ruin what could be the best romance ever? This is compulsively readable, although plot details involving Lacey's mother and Jimmy's career could have been expanded upon a bit more. VERDICT Cotugno's (Meet the Benedettos) straight-from-the-headlines plot is undeniably inspired by a certain megastar/athlete romance. A must purchase for most libraries and Swifties.—Nicole J. Suarez
