Whatever Life Throws at You

Life loves a good curveball…

Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas's life is completely upended the moment her dad returns to the major leagues as the new pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. Now she's living in Missouri (too cold), attending an all-girls school (no boys), and navigating the strange world of professional sports. But Annie has dreams of her own—most of which involve placing first at every track meet…and one starring the Royals' super-hot rookie pitcher.

But nineteen-year-old Jason Brody is completely, utterly, and totally off-limits. Besides, her dad would kill them both several times over. Not to mention Brody has something of a past, and his fan club is filled with C-cupped models, not smart-mouthed high school “brats” who can run the pants off every player on the team. Annie has enough on her plate without taking their friendship to the next level. The last thing she should be doing is falling in love.

But baseball isn't just a game. It's life. And sometimes, it can break your heart…

Author: Julie Cross (Website, Facebook, Twitter)
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Buy online: Amazon
Ebook purchased on Amazon
(Actual) Rating: 2 of 5 stars


Whatever Life Throws at You follows the life of Jim and Annie Lucas in Arizona moving to Kansas City, Missouri without any delay so as to coach ballplayers of the Kansas City Royals. Frank Steadman, manager of the major league baseball KS Royals, has helped and offered Jim to take up the coaching for the team as Jim is the best person who could do a neat job in pitching staff as well as anyone in the league. Particularly, Jason Brody amazed Jim that motivated him to accept the job. Without feeling guilty carrying off Annie and his wife's mom from life in Arizona, he decided to trust Frank for what will their life be like in Missouri.

What I like about the book is really just that family is everything. No matter what it is, family is the first thing you have to remember that will always be on your side. This book has demonstrated the importance of family. Family stay together. For example, Annie encourages and support her dad's decision because she believes in him and he's all she's got. Besides, her dad knows better than her what will be best for her and his family. Jim wants the best for her future and accomplished more than he did himself. That being said, he's also encouraging Annie to go for the dream she wants and he'll always be there for her every step of the way.

Here comes the things about this book that I didn't really agree on. Annie and Brody's relationship... it was nice at first because they were both friends and Annie's crush on Brody is truly adorable. After the crush phase, I just feel that everything that was happening in the book was redundant. Especially, the relationship is just not for me. Too fast too many body contact and all. Such a rush, in my opinion. I didn't even feel that there is something so steamy about it. I find it mediocre, to be honest. Nothing significant. I think this is the first time I have ever felt like I've got nothing interesting to say for the hot couple in the book. Disappointed, that is.

Furthermore, the relationship of Brody with his family never got fixed. I hope to have heard something about them that they have somehow acknowledge Brody part of the family. Even a glimpse of a life of Brody's happy life before moving on. As for the game, I may not be a huge fan of baseball but I wish there's more to the game. Like teamwork or the fact that Brody's not the only pitcher for the Royals. I thought Annie's dad would have made an unexpected appearance to play to help Brody to trade him with another pitcher or even better for HIM to do the pitch just for a great measure to win the game. Impossible. Brody, the one and only pitcher. Lastly, the book was definitely predictable. That part is inevitable. I have high hopes for this book, in the end it was truly unbelievably impossible for me to give 3 stars because it's just an okay read.

Whatever Life Throws at You may not be have satisfied my weekend reading, however to anyone who still insist reading the book, please do. If you are looking for a sports-theme book, this may or may not be the best book you will read this year.