You Should Be So Lucky

A Novel

By: Cat Sebastian

Narrated by: Joel Leslie

Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

An emotional, slow-burn, grumpy/sunshine, queer mid-century romance for fans of Evvie Drake Starts Over, about grief and found family, between the new star shortstop stuck in a batting slump and the reporter assigned to (reluctantly) cover his first season—set in the same universe as We Could Be So Good.

The 1960 baseball season is shaping up to be the worst year of Eddie O’Leary’s life. He can’t manage to hit the ball, his new teammates hate him, he’s living out of a suitcase, and he’s homesick. When the team’s owner orders him to give a bunch of interviews to some snobby reporter, he’s ready to call it quits. He can barely manage to behave himself for the length of a game, let alone an entire season. But he’s already on thin ice, so he has no choice but to agree.

Mark Bailey is not a sports reporter. He writes for the arts page, and these days he’s barely even managing to do that much. He’s had a rough year and just wants to be left alone in his too-empty apartment, mourning a partner he’d never been able to be public about. The last thing he needs is to spend a season writing about New York’s obnoxious new shortstop in a stunt to get the struggling newspaper more readers.

Isolated together within the crush of an anonymous city, these two lonely souls orbit each other as they slowly give in to the inevitable gravity of their attraction. But Mark has vowed that he’ll never be someone’s secret ever again, and Eddie can’t be out as a professional athlete. It’s just them against the world, and they’ll both have to decide if that’s enough.

©2024 Cat Sebastian (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

A hug in book form

I loved every second of this, and honestly would listen to a hundred more hours of Eddie and Mark’s life together.

Wonderful Author and Narrator!

This is so good! Cat Sebastian and Joel Leslie are a match made in audiobook heaven, I adore them! The contrast of feel good moments and powerful emotion is woven so expertly by Sebastian, and Leslie gives life to the characters, and allows the reader to know them.

Homerun for author and narrator

Cat Sebastian makes 20th century queer romance into an artform. A worthy sequel to We Could Be So Good in which characters find themselves and healing through relationship. This time, the main development occurs in a character with grief, and as someone who has loved and lost, it really struck me. This is a rich story that I had no qualm recommending to some of my biggest literary snob friends. There's no surprise twist or shock, but I still couldn't put it down. The little moments become such a vehicle for emotional development. She just has a way with writing romance that elevates the genre. This book in particular has an impressive depiction of baseball in the 60s that creates a rich texture.

Joel Leslie is a blast to listen to. There are so many great accents and voices - it's pretty remarkable. You can't mistake a single character from others, for one, and the different New York actions are pretty hilarious at times (in a great way). It's so perfect for NYC in the 60s in a baseball setting. Beyond the humor, he reads with emotional power. I read and listened at the same time (a rarity for me) because I was so engrossed in both the narration and the writing.

Probably a top read of 2024

Eep! I love them both so much. The baseball guy is so sensitive, honest and sincere. The reporter isn't 'nice', but he does love fiercely and he is so protective. They are both working through different types of feelings of loss while they form their friendship. The type of story where I was smiling because everything was so lovely unless they were hurting, and then I was hurting too. I cried, swooned laughed and sighed. Loved this whole thing so much.

One of the best audio books I’ve listened too in awhile

Just like the title says this book is a must listen if you want to smile the whole ride on a train.

Always amazing

My favorite author/narrator combination. The writing is excellent and the performance is flawless. Car never disappoints.