by John Grisham
First published 2003
Neely Crenshaw was once the best quarterback Messina, Texas, had ever seen. Now he's back in town to face the demons of his past - and attend the funeral of his former coach, Eddie Rake. As Neely sits in the bleachers sharing memories, the town he once left behind slowly comes into focus. Neely's high school glory days are long gone, but the impact of his coach's win-at-all-costs philosophy still lingers. As Neely reconnects with old friends and rivals, he is forced to confront the choices he made and the price he paid.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, sports
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: second-chance, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Messina, Texas
Period: Past
229 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Dell