Sidelines

A gripping exploration of ambition and its cost in junior sports.In suburban Australia, a seemingly ordinary kids' soccer team becomes a battleground for parental aspirations and personal demons. Thirteen-year-old Audrey, a talented player, grapples with her father Ben's overbearing ambitions, while her mother, Jonica, questions the impact of high-stakes competition on her daughter's well-being. The arrival of Griffin, a naturally gifted player, intensifies the pressure, exposing hidden rivalries and testing the limits of loyalty.As tensions escalate, a violent brawl erupts, forcing families to confront their own desires and the true meaning of success. Sidelines asks: At what cost do we push our children to excel, and can empathy survive in a world obsessed with winning? For readers of Liane Moriarty and Jodi Picoult.Explores the dark side of junior sports and parental pressure.Features complex characters and relatable family dynamics.Offers a timely reflection on ambition, competition, and the pursuit of dreams. Read more