A story isn’t the what, it’s the why and the how.”
Kate Fagan’s Instant Classic is subtitled A Love Story, and I initially assumed I was picking up a romance. Instead, it’s something much more expansive. This is a story about the love of basketball, the bonds between women across generations, the friendships that shape our lives, and the power of telling stories that deserve to be told.
The novel weaves together several timelines centered on the legendary Hanes Hosiery women’s basketball program. Harper Kidd dreams of escaping her small-town life through basketball before eventually becoming both a coach and a mentor to future WNBA superstar Jaz Jones. As Jaz’s remarkable career attracts the attention of a filmmaker hoping to bring her story to the screen, the novel shifts beyond the court into a thoughtful exploration of legacy, representation, and whose stories Hollywood chooses to tell.
One of the themes that resonated with me most was Fagan’s commentary on women’s sports—both on and off the screen. She points out how few films center female athletes, and even fewer celebrate queer women. That absence gives this novel an added layer of purpose. One quote in particular stayed with me: “The number of men holding back women’s sports while telling themselves they were its protectors was infuriating.” Fagan makes a compelling case that these stories matter, not simply because they’re about sports, but because they’re about people whose lives have too often been overlooked.
You don’t need to know anything about basketball to appreciate this novel. While sports provide the backdrop, the emotional heart lies in the relationships, the mentorships, and the determination to preserve history before it’s forgotten.
For me, the book truly came alive in its third act as the characters fought the Hollywood machine to get this story made. Those chapters were deeply moving and highlighted the importance of authentic representation in film. I also appreciated how Fagan explored the many different ways love can manifest outside of traditional romance.
My biggest reservation was the structure. While I enjoyed each timeline individually, I found myself wishing for a stronger thread connecting them throughout the novel. I also would have loved a bit more time spent developing the characters, as I occasionally felt at a slight emotional distance from them.
Even so, Kate Fagan continues to be one of the strongest voices writing about women, sports, and identity today. I still prefer her memoirs to her fiction, but her compassion, insight, and passion for these subjects shine through on every page. If you enjoyed Carrie Soto Is Back but are looking for something less about competition and more about legacy, storytelling, friendship, and the enduring love of the game, Instant Classic is well worth picking up.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance electronic copy. Instant Classic publishes January 26, 2027.
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