If you’re anything like me, one week without Ted Lasso is a week too many. While it’s unclear if we’ll see the Richmond crew again, plenty of books are out there to give you the same emotions and laughs as an episode of Ted Lasso. Read on for six recommendations to help fill the football-sized hole in your heart.
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Beartown is about to be swallowed up by the forest, but thanks to the ice rink down by the lake, people think the town has a chance. The junior ice hockey team made it to the semi-finals, and they may actually win. All of Beartown’s hopes rest on a few teens. But after a violent act that leaves a young girl traumatized and the town in turmoil, accusations and secrets threaten to tear Beartown apart.
The themes of unity, loyalty and camaraderie in Beartown will definitely appeal to Ted Lasso fans. The plot takes some dark turns, but events force the residents to confront whether their collective moral standards line up with the truth. Fredrik Backman deftly shows how strength and resilience can give way to anger and pain and the necessity of dealing with these problems.
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Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen
Kin Stewart is an everyman. He lives in 1990s San Francisco with his teenage daughter, Miranda, and his wife and works in IT. In a previous life, however, he was a time-traveling secret agent from 2142. Stranded after a botched mission, he kept his past hidden despite increased blackouts and memory loss he’s experiencing. When a rescue team arrives to take him home 18 years too late, he’s instructed to return to a family he can’t remember and leave his new one behind. Torn between two lives, Kin is desperate for a way to stay connected to both, even if it means breaking all the rules of time travel.
Ted Lasso fans are obviously familiar with the story of a good-hearted man separated from his family and desperately trying to stay connected. Here and Now and Then adds the element of time travel to the mix, but at its core, it is about a man trying to do right by the people he loves.
The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons
After getting bullied out of his old school, Spencer is thrilled to start somewhere no one knows he’s trans. He can join the soccer team, make new friends and maybe even find love. Everything comes crashing down when the coach benches him for the season because of the F on his birth certificate. If fighting for the right to play means outing himself, will Spencer risk everything or stay on the sidelines?
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The Passing Playbook is full of new beginnings, the power of taking a stand and, of course, soccer. It’s charming and uplifting without becoming too sweet. Author Isaac Fitzsimmons addresses challenging topics while mainly focusing on joy instead of pain in a way Ted Lasso fans will surely enjoy.
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
Camilla’s fútbol team just qualified for the South American tournament. Success could lead to all of her dreams coming true, including an athletic scholarship to a North American university. But Camilla has been playing without her parents’ permission, something she needs to go any further. When a boy she once loved returns to Argentina from playing internationally for Juventus, her life becomes even more complicated. However, Camilla doesn’t have time for distractions if she will achieve her dreams and forge a path for herself.
Furia won the 2021 Pura Belpré Young Adult Award for portraying, affirming and celebrating the Latino cultural experience. It features a future fútbol star with a heart full of dreams who will definitely go far with the right team at her side.
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Dust Bowl Girls by Lydia Reeder
During the worst drought and depression in American history, Sam Babb dreamed of something more. He traveled from farm to farm in the Midwest, recruiting talented, hardworking young women to play basketball for the Cardinals in exchange for a free college education. As the women found a passion for the game and each other, they began to win. During historic hardships, the Cardinals became a beacon of hope and inspiration.
Ted Lasso fans love an underdog story, and Dust Bowl Girls is no exception. Author Lydia Reeder captures a moment in history when female athletes faced intense scrutiny from those who denounced women’s sports as unhealthy and unladylike. This story of unlikely trailblazers is excellent for those who love A League of Their Own, too.
Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
Eric “Bitty” Bittle may have gotten his start as a figure skater, but he’s determined to make a name for himself on the Samwell University ice hockey team. But freshman year is harder than expected, especially when he meets the stoic Samwell captain, Jack. He may be the smallest guy on the ice, but nothing can stop Sam from winning over the entire team.
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Like Ted Lasso, Check, Please! has a good-hearted lead, thrilling sports match-ups and a delightful cast of characters. It also doesn’t shy away from heavier topics. Ngozi Ukazu touches on coming out, family drama, mental health and more with kindness and care in a way Ted Lasso fans will love.
Nothing can replace our love for Ted Lasso, but hopefully, these books can come close. Each of them is available at your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org. What books give you the best Richmond vibes? Let us know below!
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