First published 2018
Anton Stratis grows up in wealthy Philadelphia suburbs with one purpose: becoming the world's number one tennis player. His obsessive father, a former athlete, controls every minute of Anton's existence. Removed from school and friends to focus solely on tennis, Anton trains relentlessly while dreaming of greatness yet resenting its crushing demands. He explodes onto the professional circuit from nowhere, quickly climbing to the top ranks with his coach, trainer, and entourage. But as Anton navigates the pressures of stardom while trying to balance family relationships, he starts making dangerous compromises. First he compromises with himself, then with his health, and finally with tennis rules themselves. These choices threaten to destroy everything he has sacrificed to achieve. The story follows Anton from childhood through the finals of Wimbledon, the US Open, and tournaments worldwide as he struggles to defy his parents' ambitions and forge his own path.
Genres: coming-of-age, contemporary, sports, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, family-drama
Setting: Philadelphia, Wimbledon, US Open
Period: 21st-century
288 pages · Paperback · St. Martin's Griffin
Content warnings: abuse, mental-illness