The Harder We Fall by Mina V. EsguerraMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This campy story centers around a media-arts contest and the trials of an alumni rugby player. The story is told as a vignette, a slice of life, during the last two weeks of Daria Kramer's college career where she submits her final video project to compete for an internship.
Her instructor made sure to pick topics outside of the students' comfort zones and Daria got the Addison Hill Rugby team. She meets a few of the players, finds out about how underfunded the team is, and then comes to an understanding about how this sport helps the players assert themselves in their lives.
A particular player, Nicholas, becomes closer to her, and in the process of filming, they begin a sexual relationship. It is a standoffish kind of relationship in that communication is done through the interview and even though issues of great personal importance are made known, neither party seems to pursue these weighty issues or make an attempt to really break through.
This isn't what I'm used to from Ms. Esguerra's characters who are usually very caring, even to the point of nosiness and surrounded by busybody best friends. The story felt... lonely.
I received an ARC for this review.
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