A review by lizanneyoung
Let the Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

4.5

 

TROPES

🥇 Sports Romance

🥇 Enemies to Lovers

🥇 Forced Proximity (in Olympic Village!!)

I’ve been waiting so patiently for this release, and I couldn’t have read it at a better time. With the opening ceremonies for the 2024 Olympics tomorrow, I am officially in the mood after reading this amazing debut romance. 

What’s beautiful about Zeke and Olivia’s story is that they both realize that they’ve been keeping parts of themselves, genuinely good parts, hidden behind closed doors for various reasons. Zeke’s level of fame dictates a certain persona, which means his personal life is often on full display, giving him little to keep for himself. Olivia is so focused on her plan to make her parents’ journey worth it that she forces herself into boxes of her own design. But in coming together, they become the truest version of themselves, even at what is arguably the biggest event of their careers.

My favorite scene is easily the one that involves an elevator. I’m not one for getting stuck in elevators, but in this case, maybe it was a good idea.

I am crossing my fingers that Haruki gets his own story told. I need to see him have his moment, too.