Making a Play

And the last Abbi Glines book that I had in my cue: "Making a Play"

["Ryker Lee is finally enjoying his senior year—he has great friends, hangs out with hot girls, and is on track to get a football scholarship that will set him up for college. Despite this, a small part of him wonders if there’s more to life than parties and meaningless hookups—and if football even means as much to him as it does to his fellow teammates. And when he meets the new girl at school, his world totally changes…

Aurora McClay is new to Lawton. She’s grateful that her twin brother, Hunter, is star of the football team and can help her adjust to her new school, but she’s not grateful at how overprotective he is over every person she meets. Just because she is deaf does not mean people have to treat her differently. When she meets Ryker Lee, the two of them spark an instant and intense chemistry, one that proves to be controversial not only because of Ryker’s reputation as a player, but also because of Aurora and Hunter’s father’s bigoted views about who Aurora can and can’t date.

Aurora and Ryker know in their hearts that they are meant for each other. But can their relationship endure the turmoil of rumors and prejudice?"]

This one was, on the surface, much less problematic than the other two Abbi Glines's books I read recently. It tackled racism and ablism. On the surface. Under neath it all, it kind of...didn't. I had zero problems with the falling in love within a week thing (my parents fell in love that fast--engaged within 3 months, married within a year), but I know others did. 

I had problems with how there was so much racism and then it suddenly vanished. Aurora's father didn't want them dating because Ryker is black. Okay, I get it; they're in the South where racism is still strong (well, interracial dating is still "unseemly" anywhere, but you get what I mean). But (major ass spoilers ahead (I need to get this venting out)) all of a sudden, he helps their school wins states and the race thing isn't an issue anymore.

I also had problems with issues of consent. Again, coming from Aurora's father. Major asshole, really. He didn't change. Everyone changed to fit him (again, major spoiler--more even more coming). You except the asshole to change near the end of the story, or, in an even better world, the protagonists being utterly free of the toxic person in their life. Aurora said that she didn't want a cochlear implant. That it might not work for her, that all of the risks wouldn't be worth it, that she didn't need it really. Straight up said she didn't want it, that she wouldn't change her mind. Then, all of a sudden, at the end of the book, she reveals that she got one. Granted, she could have changed her mind all on her own, did more research, saw another doctor, etc. But she comes out and says that she did it mostly because it would make her father happy and less likely to tear her and Ryker apart due to his skin color. Like...no.

MAJOR TRIGGER WARNINGS: racism, suicide attempt, toxic relationships, domestic abuse, possible drug abuse, issues of consent, all under the guise of Southern Hospitality and romance (again, as if romance can sure things like major racism)

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