Would you read a Sapphic "Enemies to Lovers" sports drama set in a toxic professional tennis circuit?
Hi everyone! I’m currently working on the first draft of my novel I've started almost a half year ago and could really use some outside perspective and motivation. I’d love to know if this premise sounds like something you’d pick up.
The story follows two young women competing in a high-stakes, fictional tournament called the East Line Open. It’s a dual-POV drama about the "golden cage" of professional sports and the price of fame.
Character A: A world No. 1 and the "Golden Girl" of the circuit. On the outside, she has everything, but she’s controlled by her father/manager who treats her wins like stock market shares. She’s exhausted, lonely, and suffocating under the weight of a system she never chose.
Character B: A fiery Wild Card with zero money, a lot of rage against the system, but loves tennis. To survive, she’s given a chance to sign a contract with a sponsor, only to realize she’s traded her freedom for a different kind of cage.
They are supposed to be rivals. They are supposed to be "products" for the cameras. But through shared trauma and the realization that they are both being exploited by the same powerful men, they find a dangerous connection.
Key Themes: System vs. Individual: It’s a "Gritty Sports Drama" first. They aren't just playing against each other; they are trying to dismantle the system that treats them like racing horses.
Queer Romance: It’s a slow-burn Sapphic romance. It starts with tension and resentment but evolves into the only genuine thing in their fake world.
My Question: Does a "Sports Drama with a Sapphic Side-plot" appeal to you? Or do you think readers in this genre prefer the romance to be the absolute main focus?
I’d love to hear your honest thoughts on the plot!