Fangirl Down: A Rollercoaster of Love, Desire, and Golf

When I first picked up Fangirl Down, it was out of curiosity. Personally, it’s not every day I see the word “fangirl” used outside of Tumblr or mean tweets.

That, and I was intrigued by the book’s premise: a washed-up professional golfer — aka “golf’s resident bad boy” — hires his one and only fan to become his caddie. Suffice to say, she’s overjoyed to help revive his love for the game.

Now, when it comes to sports romance books, golf is not the first thing I think of. Typically, this genre places more focus on the conventionally attractive Adonises of sports: spicy soccer stars, rugged rugby champions, and hot-headed, hockey-playing heartthrobs, among others. “Fangirl”, too, isn’t a term I would use to describe even the most passionate female golf enthusiasts.

With all this in mind, how would this story pan out? Like an absolute rollercoaster, as I soon discovered.

When Linking Up on the Links Quickly Turns Steamy

Written by Tessa Bailey, Fangirl Down follows Josephine Boyle, a young woman who is a huge fan of Wells Whitaker, a disgraced pro golfer who is one temper tantrum away from quitting the sport forever. Unfortunately for Josephine, she faces the brunt of his outburst during a tournament, leaving the self-proclaimed “Wells’s Belle” disillusioned for a short while.

Yet beneath Wells’ grouchy exterior lies a glimmer of kindness, one that shines in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane that destroys Josephine’s family’s golf shop. Desperate to make amends with his last remaining fan and regain his former glory, he asks Josephine to be his caddie.

For Josephine, it’s two dreams come true: to showcase her own golfing knowledge and talent and to work for golf’s own version of Edward Rochester. On a serious note, the money she earns with each win will not only go a long way in rebuilding the shop but will also help cover the costs of her type I diabetes treatment.

However, no sooner is the partnership formed than the line between boss and employee becomes thin, leaving Wells and his “belle” to indulge in many steamy moments, both on and off the putting green.

Fore! It’s Wells’s Way or the Fairway

While the chemistry between the pair is undeniable, it is irksome — and at times extremely uncomfortable — to see their relationship constantly switching between strictly professional and over-the-top sensual.

Repeatedly throughout the story, Wells insists they are nothing more than “boss” and “employee”, only for him to exhibit controlling, jealous behavior minutes later when he sees Josephine casually talking to other golfers and caddies or wandering the course alone (as part of her caddying duties).

From butting into her conversations to demanding that she remains within his line of sight, these are the hallmarks of a toxic relationship, as seen in Wells’s and Josephine’s relationship.

Combined with his use of misogynistic language during their most intimate moments, Wells would hardly endear himself to hardcore rom-com readers who are accustomed to smooth-tongued, soft-hearted sportsmen.

Fangirl Down: A Rollercoaster That’s Worth the Ride

Despite being nearly 400 pages long, Fangirl Down is surprisingly a quick and easy read. Bailey is adept at breaking up the action with flirty, witty banter. And, once you get past Wells’s dubious language, the love scenes are genuinely passionate, leaving Josephine feeling less like a hapless fangirl and more like somebody who deserves to be loved because of her strengths.

Plus, there are enough inner thoughts to make the main characters relatable, from Josephine’s anxiety about keeping up with her healthcare expenses to Wells’s outbursts stemming from depression. Unfortunately, you don’t get to see these themes expanded upon, which would have gone a long way in adding more emotional depth beyond the “fangirl/bad boy” dynamic.

Development of the side characters is also half-hearted at best. Even at the story’s pace, there could have been room to delve deeper into Josephine’s budding friendship with Ricky — a fellow caddie who helps ease her into the male-dominated world of pro golf — or into Wells’s estrangement from his absentee parents. Otherwise, it’s easy to forget they even existed.

And Bailey’s descriptions of golf may or may not be accurate. Technicalities aside, however, the game serves its purpose in the narrative. For tenured readers of the sports romance genre, a story about love that unfolds over 18 holes instead of on a soccer pitch is a novel concept, making it a refreshing change from the usual sticks, studs, and cleats.

Those who are new to the genre or are familiar with mature fanfiction would also find Fangirl Down a good starter read, although they may be floored by the overtly sexual content, which tends to drag on longer than it needs to. It’s a book that prioritizes physical aspects of relationships, so it’s best to keep that in mind as you’re reading.

A Hole in One for Fangirl Down

Satisfying and frustrating in equal measure, Fangirl Down is nonetheless an engaging read, offering a unique take on the sports rom-com genre. If this book sounds like an ace in the hole, then you can find it on AbeBooks. It’s also available at Bookshop.org in a variety of different formats.

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