Why Does 'There'S Always This Year' Have Mixed Reviews?

2026-03-09 15:10:10
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5 Answers

Hannah
Hannah
Book Clue Finder Nurse
The divisiveness makes total sense—this book wears its heart on its sleeve, flaws and all. Some passages read like fever dreams, blending stats with childhood memories, while others overexplain simple truths. I adored its audacity, like comparing a basketball court to a therapist’s couch, but I winced at a few clunky metaphors. Fans of traditional sports journalism might bounce off its experimental style hard, but those open to something different will discover moments of brilliance. That last chapter about fatherhood and faded jerseys? Chef’s kiss.
2026-03-11 07:33:12
4
Xander
Xander
Twist Chaser Pharmacist
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just a book about basketball. It’s about obsession, mortality, and why we keep cheering for teams that break our hearts. The mixed reviews likely come from its genre-bending approach—one minute it’s analyzing playoff strategies, the next it’s dissecting middle-aged regrets. I laughed out loud at the bit comparing NBA drama to soap operas, but some sections felt like inside jokes only superfans would get. Still, even when it misfires, there’s authenticity in every page. It’s like that one friend who won’t shut up about the ’90s Knicks—annoying at times, but you love them anyway.
2026-03-11 09:40:50
14
Adam
Adam
Story Interpreter Photographer
Reading 'There's Always This Year' felt like riding an emotional rollercoaster—some chapters left me breathless with their raw honesty, while others dragged like a slow-motion replay. The book's unconventional structure is part of its charm, bouncing between memoir and cultural critique, but I can see why it polarizes readers. Those expecting a linear sports narrative might feel disoriented when it veers into poetry or social commentary.

What stuck with me, though, was the way it captures the agony and ecstasy of fandom. The author’s love-hate relationship with basketball mirrors how we all grapple with hope and disappointment—not just in sports, but in life. Some reviews call it 'self-indulgent,' but I think that’s missing the point. It’s supposed to feel personal, messy, and unresolved, like yelling at the TV during a playoff game.
2026-03-14 12:52:20
2
Vivienne
Vivienne
Sharp Observer Nurse
I picked up this book expecting another underdog story. Boy, was I wrong—in the best way possible. The mixed reviews probably stem from its refusal to fit into a neat genre box. It’s part elegy for lost dreams, part love letter to pickup games, and part existential rant. The prose swings from lyrical to fragmented, which might frustrate readers craving straightforward storytelling.

But when it hits, it’s electric. There’s a chapter about shooting hoops alone at midnight that perfectly captures how sports can feel like a religion. Critics calling it 'pretentious' might’ve missed the humor—like comparing NBA trades to bad breakups. It’s not for everyone, but if you’ve ever stayed up late arguing about free-throw percentages, you’ll find something to cherish here.
2026-03-14 15:04:06
12
Piper
Piper
Reply Helper Accountant
What grabbed me was how the book turns sports clichés inside out. Instead of triumph, it dwells on near misses—the shots that rimmed out, the seasons that almost were. That’s probably why reactions are split: it rejects easy inspiration. The stream-of-consciousness rants about aging and athletic decline won’t resonate if you want feel-good underdog tales. But man, when it connects—like describing a buzzer-beater as 'time travel for the hopeless'—it’s pure magic. Critics who call it disjointed aren’t wrong, but that’s exactly how fandom feels: beautiful chaos.
2026-03-15 04:39:35
14
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