Review copy provided by the author, who is a friend I met through being represented by the same agent.
Back in the day, one of my friends grumpily reviewed a book by saying, “too much boyfriend, not enough roller derby.” They would never have to have that reaction to Blood Sweat Glitter, which is absolutely full of roller derby, and also the romantic connection builds between two women, zero boyfriends involved.
Eleanor is a charge nurse who pours her heart and soul into her roller derby team. The stress of the job comes out in the rink. Her team isn’t one of the big ones–their league is pretty small-time–but she loves the game for itself, and she keeps hoping to build a team that will love it with her. When new girl Robin shows up–and shows off–Eleanor finds her abrasive and annoying. She’s constantly acting silly and ditzy, and why is she even in roller derby? She’s a good skater, though, Eleanor has to admit that….
As the team’s season progresses, Eleanor realizes that Robin is not the airhead she appears–and her candy-pink bubbly presentation is covering over some trauma. Nor is Eleanor entirely free of it herself. If she can get past some of her prickly habits, they might make a pretty good team, on the rink and off. Lovely fun read but–like the character of Robin–not an insubstantial piece of cotton candy after all.