A review by tristatereader
Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue by Cat Sebastian

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

So I finished my first Cat Sebastian book (We Could Be So Good) and loved it. And then I saw this book (Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue) posted on my friend’s IG stories and was immediately intrigued. Historical romance? Cat Sebastian? Baseball?! Say less please. I couldn’t hit the buy button fast enough.

The year is 1953 and Phillies baseball player Luke Novac has just suffered a serious head injury at the hands of a wild pitch. After being discharged from the hospital, Luke disappears. He takes his phone off the hook and plunges into to isolation. His teammate Billy Reardon tries everything to see and speak to him. But Luke remains holed up in his apartment with no contact to the outside world. Luke’s behavior has Billy angry, frustrated, and scared. 

When the off season arrives, Billy begrudgingly leaves Luke in Philly and travels to his family’s home in the woods of North Carolina. The house is old and in desperate need of repairs since the passing of his father. It’s also extremely secluded and currently empty (as his sister and mom have temporarily relocated for pregnancy safety). As Billy begins to make mental notes of all the projects he needs to accomplish during his time off, Luke suddenly shows up on his front porch. After weeks of no contact and fearing the worst, Billy experiences a range of emotions and feelings that he just may need to look into a little deeper. 

This story was adorable. Billy and Luke were such fun and sassy characters. Their chemistry was so organic and I found myself cracking up at their witty banter. They loved with their whole hearts and it was so refreshing to see. This is a novella so it was a very quick read and I was desperate for more. Currently living for the idea of domestic Lully in Philly 🥹 Highly recommend this sweet story for an instant serotonin boost!