The Open Era by Edward Schmit

The Open Era

Edward Schmit

Penguin Publishing Group · Paperback · June 2, 2026

“Heated Rivalry for the tennis set…charming, funny, and big-hearted.”--Town & Country "[A] debut romance novel that will capture your heart."--Cosmopolitan Love evens the score between two tennis players in this stunning debut romance.

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Who it’s for
readers interested in contemporary sports romance
Themes
sports rivalry, LGBTQ+ identity, romance
Pacing
Mixed

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About this book

“Heated Rivalry for the tennis set…charming, funny, and big-hearted.”--Town & Country "[A] debut romance novel that will capture your heart."--Cosmopolitan Love evens the score between two tennis players in this stunning debut romance. Recently-turned-pro tennis player Austin Hardy has been out since high school and it’s never been a big deal. That is, until he becomes the first openly gay man to compete in a Grand Slam tournament.

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Suddenly, being gay is a huge deal, with headlines to prove it. Unprepared for this new spotlight, Austin’s anxiety disorder hits a breaking point, and he trips and falls at practice. Right next to the very attractive, very talented, and probably straight Diego Cruz, ranked second in the world. The two professional rivals start a friendship off the court. But between their flirty banter, mixed signals, and looming showdown, Austin is thrown further off his game by Diego. With the eyes of the world on Austin, the weight of history on his shoulders, and Diego across the net, he must decide whether love means nothing or if it means everything as he battles for the trophy during an electric two weeks at the US Open.

Who it’s for

  • readers interested in contemporary sports romance
  • readers looking for LGBTQ+ inclusive love stories

Where it sits

Sports Fiction76%
Sports Romance68%
Gay Romance49%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Gay Romance
  • New Adult Romance
  • Sports Romance
Authors
Edward Schmit
Publisher
Penguin Publishing Group
Published
June 2, 2026
Format
Paperback
Theme
sports rivalry · LGBTQ+ identity · romance
Reading lane
Gay Romance