Let The Games Begin – Rufaro Faith Mazarura

It’s the Athens 2024 Olympics and Zeke and Olivia are there to win.

Zeke Moyo is the star athlete of Team GB. He’s in Athens to claim the title of fastest man in the world.

Olivia Nkomo has landed a career-making internship, finally earning her seat at the table.

Then Zeke and Olivia collide – literally – on the first day of the games, and something unexpected begins.

But the competition is stirring up uncomfortable memories from Zeke’s past. And Olivia’s dream job is turning into a nightmare.

Will love become a hurdle? Or could running beside the right person change the whole game?

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House, please read our disclaimer policy for more information.

The Review:

This book is what I call perfect timing.

Hats off to everyone involved. As timing this book to come out just before the Paris Olympics 2024 is chef’s kiss!

And the UK cover? Oh I was sold the moment I saw it. From the Black couple embracing on the front to the Olympic rings colour in the title… everyone deserves awards for this entire cover.

Growing up, I’ve always loved the Olympics and not just because I’m Jamaican and knew we were going to dominate in Track and Field…

But also because of the entire atmosphere. The way everyone unites from different walks of life, cultures and experiences. People across the world are tuning in to watch their country and you can’t help but feel patriotic. Young children are even more inspired to achieve more in sports. It’s beautiful.

And Rufaro does such a brilliant job at capturing that feeling with this book.

We’re introduced to Olivia, who has landed a career-making internship with the Olympic International Relations and Diplomacy team for the summer. She’s determined to make her parents proud and pay them back for all the support, money and love they pour into her. There’s no time for a relationship.

“Just put one foot in front of the other, but faster than you ever have before…”

Zeke is the star athlete of Team GB and he’s ready to claim his title as the fastest man in the world. He’s also excited to see his best friend, his ex-girlfriend turned friend and of course, make his family crazy proud. Accept he’s becoming more and more anxious as the final draws closer.

Zeke and Olivia collide on the first day. Sparks fly and something unexpected begins.

Rufaro did such a fantastic job of capturing that Olympics feeling. The way the entire world gets so excited and are unified through sports is truly beautiful. Through Zeke we get to see how different cultures come together. He had friends from all over the world and the atmosphere Rufaro described reminded me of the first year at university or college, when you’re staying in student accomodation meeting all sorts of different characters and people.

It’s so exciting.

I liked how Rufaro looked at grief with Zeke and how that translated into internal pressure. The weight of grief is substantial. It never goes away, although the strength of it ebbs and flows. He’s already carrying the pressure of the whole country on his shoulders and so to see how grief played into that was so interesting.

Also the ending for Zeke!! Loved it. 10/10. No notes.

I never saw it coming but as soon as I read it, I understood exactly why Rufaro had written it the way she did. I can’t talk too much about it without spoiling the book so I’ll leave it there.

Olivia carried the pressure of being the daughter of first generation immigrants on her shoulders. Now, if you’re Black british, you can definitely relate. The pressure might not necessarily come from our parents directly. But it’s just the knowledge that our parents came over here seeking a better life and have had to work (in some cases) degrading jobs, or jobs that are below their skill level, just to put a roof over our heads and make sure we have all we need.

We feel like we should pay them back.

Olivia embodies that so well. I felt her pain and her determination to make her parents happy despite knowing (deep down) that they wouldn’t care.

“Nothing about her or her life was effortless. And finally allowing herself to admit that gave her more freedom than she’d ever felt before…”

I loved how her and Zeke came together and balanced each other out. He was patient. She was much more impulsive. But their love for their families and a determination to do the ones they love proud was so sweet. They just seemed to work so well and their chemistry was fantastically written. I loved how Olivia challenged Zeke out of his comfort zone and they both helped each other grow/fight for what they wanted.

All in all – I really loved how wholesome and sweet this book was. Perfect read in light of the Olympics and the magical feeling of unification is captured so so well.