Book Review: Chasing Headlines by J. Rose Black
As I picked up Chasing Headlines, I was drawn in by its intriguing premise and the promise of an enemies-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of baseball—who wouldn’t want to dive into that mix? Huge thanks to J. Rose Black and BookSirens for the ARC! With excitement bubbling under the surface, I settled in for what I hoped would be a delightful read. Spoiler alert: it didn’t turn out that way.
From the onset, the book’s length—over 500 pages—loomed like an unwelcome guest at a party. It felt as if it dragged on for eternity! At points, I found myself wishing for a solid edit to trim at least 150 pages. I mean, there’s a fine line between character introspection and filler, right? Endless inner monologues and repetitive scenes had me trudging through chapters at a painful pace. For someone who usually devours books like candy, spending three days on this one was a red flag.
Now let’s talk characters. Olivia, our protagonist, was meant to be relatable, but her melodrama crossed into ‘insufferable’ territory for me. I genuinely wanted to root for her; however, her incessant angst about every little problem left me rolling my eyes. Breslin, on the other hand, was pleasant enough, though the chemistry between them felt almost nonexistent. If I’m promised an enemies-to-lovers journey, I expect more than just a background romance that barely sizzles.
One of my biggest disappointments was the lack of spice—an area where I anticipated more heat. There were hints of passion through dreams and internal thoughts, but when it came time for some real-life drama, it felt like a dry desert. Why tease the idea when there’s no payoff? I’m not even a spice-obsessed reader, but c’mon!
Also, while I understand the importance of baseball in the plot, it felt predominant as if the book was more about “Baseball and Feelings” than an engaging romance. The climax built up to a conclusion that felt rushed, like the author had run out of time to finish the race. After wading through what felt like an endless trek, the ending arrived abruptly, leaving me unsatisfied.
However, there was a bright spot—Dottie! She was the one character I truly enjoyed, bringing some much-needed energy into an otherwise lackluster story.
Reflecting on my experience with Chasing Headlines, I wish I could have loved it as much as some others have. If you’re a die-hard baseball fan or a lover of super slow burns, you might find more to appreciate than I did. But for me? It just didn’t resonate.
In the end, my feelings for this book can be summed up in a few words: Too long, too slow, too bland. Yet, even in disappointment, I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore J. Rose Black’s world. Just maybe next time, we could skip the filler and get to the good stuff.
So, fellow readers, tread carefully. If you’re looking for fast-paced romance with a touch of spice, you might want to think twice before chasing these headlines.