What I was expecting: a funny romance in a sunny setting, with perhaps a few quirky characters along the way.

What I got: a story that didn't quite know if it wanted to be women's fiction or romance, featuring far too many misogynists.

I honestly don't know how I made it to the end of this story. I came close to DNF'ing multiple times, kept reading despite my better judgement and then suddenly found myself at the end of the book with nothing to show for it except the mountain of other books I could have been reading instead.

Heidi Stephens is a must read author and this is one that I have consumed in just one sitting.

This is super cute and has definitely improved my mood. I found myself smiling as I’ve been reading. The characters are great. The chemistry between Rob and Hannah has oozed from the pages.

Hannah has really grown throughout this one. I found myself wanting great things for her as I’ve been reading.

The tennis element makes this a book unique from others in the genre. I have really enjoyed this and found myself wanting more.

I’ve read all of this author’s books and this is definitely a favourite. This is a must for the TBR.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

"Game, Set, Match" by Heidi Stephens is a thrilling sports romance. Stephens' storytelling serves up passion both on and off the tennis court, making it an exciting and engaging read.

This was an enjoyable and feel good slow burn. The setting makes this an ideal summer read.

Hannah was a very relatable character and the way she was written you feel connected to her and want the best for her new start.

Rob was such a gentleman and I really liked him.

Luke was a brilliant side character and scrumpy the dog was a great addition.

As the story went on there were moments of drama which were brilliant and they really had me hooked.

This is one of the first sports romances I have read and I’m never usually that bothered about sport but I found that the tennis parts were written well and were making me interested in the sport.

Overall I really enjoyed this and will definitely be looking to pick up more from this author.

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for the eArc and #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me and there was much on the pages that I didn’t agree with. The story and the characters all had the potential and I’m sure with the appropriate reader, this is a fun read.

This was a really nice and light read, I was really engaged from the beginning, however at some point, the story fell a little flat, but still an enjoyable read nonetheless.

I honestly am shocked that I even managed to finish this book. Filled with misogyny, sexism and so many scenes that were simply unnecessary. Also, there were no flying sparks between the love interests. I had no care for if they ended up together or not.

Game, Set, Match had a lot going for it - a very cute premise with tennis at the heart, a cast of lovable characters, the inevitable antics of getting whisked away by a whirlwind love story, a dog! And I did enjoy those things, but overall, this one fell a little flat for me.

I loved both Hannah and Rob solo, but by the end, they really still felt like pals and doubles partners to me rather than soulmates so I don't know if I was really rooting for them. The timing did feel off for their chemistry - I understand that was part of the point here but Hannah went through some serious trauma in the like month we were following her - I think she needs a therapist, not an affair with a tennis coach. And those heavy moments didn't necessarily match the tone of the writing style. The plot felt like a bunch of slightly long interconnected short stories rather than being one cohesive narrative - the things that happened at the beginning felt like they were happening in a totally different book rather than feeling like character growth.

The writing was still lovely and in the moments where the relationships were given the space to thrive, the novel was able to shine!

Loved this book from beginning to end. The banter between the characters is funny and relatable.
Really liked watching Hannah grow and move on.
Rob was just lush 😍 and I loved that they were able to communicate with each other.
The ending was a little rushed for my liking.
Will definitely be reading more from this author.

This was a fun, summer fuelled read that kept me entertained and laughing. There is a lot more to this plot than I initially thought as well, I liked the variety and there is definitely more of a story than I was initially expecting. The group of friends are likeable and it was entertaining getting to know them and learning about their lives. This book is all about a summer of love and tennis and it will definitely put a smile on your face.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance copy.

Hannah is ready for a new adventure after discovering her husband has been having an affair, and Rob is ready for a summer of coaching tennis at a fancy resort on the coast of Spain. When these two meet at the resort, their connection is immediate and undeniable.

Overall, I thought this story was really cute! I loved the themes of female friendships and family and true independence. The setting was absolutely beautiful, and the adventurous nature of the story made it very exciting overall.

I struggled to follow the story at points as it seemed to jump suddenly between different times and locations, sometimes even mid-dialogue. I thought the author did a great job building the relationship and tension between Hannah and Rob, but I felt the build up lasted longer than was really necessary or realistic.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Hannah, a recent divorcee, embarks on an adventure abroad to prioritize herself and indulge in a long-awaited vacation in the sun-drenched Spanish lands while playing tennis. However, her coach, Rob, is a well-known player and a charming dreamboat. Will Hannah take a leap of faith and pursue a romantic relationship with him?

Stereotypes are made for a reason and it seems this books knows it. I wasn't enthralled with this book.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review. As I am my own person, all opinions are my own.

Want a cute holiday read this summer? Then this is definitely one for you!

Game, Set, Match is a fantastic read for anyone looking for the slowest of slow burns and a gorgeous trip around the Spanish sun!

Hannah is longing for a new life after a stale and confined relationship of 14 years and she definitely got it! I loved that this book was filled with a woman who wants to live her single like and see where a change of scenery can take her.
I didn’t enjoy the side characters, I did find them quite insufferable and I didn’t particularly enjoy their interactions. However, I LOVED the interactions with Rob and Hannah. They have such beautiful chemistry and I was excited every time I saw Ron’s name pop up. It was refreshing reading about these two characters when all the other ones were bland and judgemental.

This is a slow slow burn of a book and I love that trope, however it is a closed door romance, so to my fellow spicy readers this will not be one for you if you are specifically looking for that release. I enjoyed it, a little spice would have been nice but overall I loved seeing Hannah’s journey on how she found herself and had some fun! The tennis element was interesting, great for the plot line and a nice twist on engagement for the characters.

Not my favourite from Heidi but definitely worth a read if you’re looking for a light hearted, gorgeous romance, summer read that doesn’t take itself too seriously!

Game, Set, Match is a super fun romance book which is perfect to pick up this summer! ⁣
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I really liked Hannah and her story of starting over after spending 14 years in an unhappy relationship. I loved watching her take control of her life and grow as character. She's funny, relatable and you cannot help but root for her. ⁣
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I really liked the slow burn of this romance but the thing I loved the most is that there was absolutely no miscommunication between Hannah and Rob. They're both very honest with each other and when it seemed like it was going to happen they communicated like adults! I cannot tell you how happy this made me! ⁣
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Overall this was a enjoyable romance that I ended up reading in one day! As I said before this is the perfect summer read so go pick it up and allow yourself to be transported to Spain! ⁣

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for a cute rom-com and I think Carrie Soto Is Back is the only other book I’ve read that centres around tennis, so I was really happy to be sent a copy of this by the lovely people at Headline and I loved soaking up the sun with it!

Hannah has been married to Graham for 14 years and he’s the only man that she has ever been with. Now they’re separated and she is looking for a new start to focus on. So she jumps at the chance to accompany three ladies from her tennis club on a Spanish tennis retreat and she’ll probably throw in a solo road trip while she’s there too. Enter handsome tennis coach Rob, who has had his fair share of casual girlfriends but never anything serious. Neither of them are looking for love -just tennis in the sun!

I definitely giggled at various points in the book, usually during the conversations between Hannah’s holiday pals. I can totally believe that these horny 30-something mums exist and although some of their chat was super cringey, it was amusing! I will tiptoe around spoilers and say that I definitely thought that something would happen to at least one of these women that didn’t. So, that’s a huge thumbs up to Heidi Stephens for not being predictable!

I had no idea that tennis coaches have a reputation for being promiscuous. It is a bit awkward to think about as my younger brother is one but I’ve also never heard of it before, despite knowing of several of them? This idea was mentioned several times, so it’s clearly an opinion that the author holds!

I loved how the lull before the finale got a bit philosophical while still being about tennis. The parallels between tennis, a game where you don’t have to win every time to still win overall, and Hannah and Rob’s romance felt really profound and it was lovely how the sport that brought them together was there throughout. It’s unlikely we’ll get something as complex as love right on our first try, so of course we all deserve a second serve.

Game, Set, Match is a warm, sunny rom-com with many likeable characters, an easy to root for romance and a beautiful setting. It actually made me want to properly get into Wimbledon this year for the first time, so I may actually do that with endless bowls of strawberries and cream!

Heidi Stephens is one of my favorite discoveries over the last year -- her books are fun, funny, definitely romantic and sometimes spicy. I love all of the heroines she writes because they feel true and true to themselves. While her latest was probably my least favorite of all her books, it is still great and I loved the Spanish setting. Definitely add this one to your TBR pile!

Game, Set, Match comes out next week on June 22, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

'We need to talk,' said Hannah, pulling the pin out of each word and tossing it over the furniture like a tiny grenade. She hovered in the doorway between the lounge and the kitchen, wondering if any phrase in the English language was a bigger red flag for impending doom. Nothing good ever followed we need to talk.

3.5 ⭐️
Game, set, match is a feel good book about growth, family, tennis, love and so much more. I’m enjoyed it. I love how both characters are portrayed— authentic and imperfect. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading about perfect characters that are always too good to be true but reading stories about characters who feel real makes me enjoy books in a completely different way. The side characters are a pain but the main characters somehow make up for it. And, I also like how Tennis is incorporated brilliantly into the story.

I really enjoyed the second half of this book, where the romance comes into play much more prominently. I say prominently, it is still the slowest of all slow-burn romances ever, but it was cute. I enjoyed the two characters getting to know each other on their road trip, and both coming out of their shells more. But I was hoping for more romance.. [potential spoiler]- they don’t even kiss til the very end of the book..

I found the first half of the book to be a little tedious and even more of a slow burn. The male characters at the tennis resort were complete arseholes and I couldn’t wait to get rid of them (I think you’re meant to hate them though!) The other female characters weren’t much better I’m afraid. I found their behaviour to be quite hard to believe in places, especially when they were making misogynistic comments about themselves?

There were a couple of other elements that I found quite unbelievable and therefore detracted from my engagement with the story - [potential spoiler] they basically force these people into a bet to ‘win’ their mistreated dog, which I just found weird. And I’m supposed to believe this woman dropped everything to fly back to Spain to live a life with a guy she hadn’t even kissed yet? Nah come on now 😅

I was a little concerned it might be too tennis focussed, and that as I’m not really into tennis I wouldn’t be able to follow it. However it was very light on the tennis stuff really and it was more just a prop for the setting. I enjoyed the summer holiday vibes and it would be the perfect read to take on your holidays for a quick fun read whilst out at the beach or by the pool!

Not my favourite Heidi Stephens book, but if you don’t mind things being a bit unrealistic and very slow burn, you’ll definitely enjoy this one!

Thank you to Headline Eternal for the gifted copy and NetGalley for the gifted e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! Game Set Match follows recent divorcee Hannah who sets off on an adventure abroad to put herself first for once and enjoy a long-awaited holiday in the Spanish sun playing tennis. Enter Rob, dreamy and charming, but her tennis coach and a known player - will she take a risk on love?

This book started off really strongly, with Hannah leaving behind her dull, man-child of a husband (not to mention a serial-adulterer!) for a week playing tennis in sunny Spain followed by a solo trip around the country. I loved her new-found independence and determination to now live life solely on her terms. Hannah is really funny and I loved her one-liners, it was great to see her begin to grow into her own person away from her intensely religious childhood and dreary marriage. I thought the exploration of the church upbringing and Hannah’s different relationships with her family was really interesting. You could see how it shaped her and why she now wanted to take more chances and be spontaneous with life.

However it began to feel quite stilted and stop-start as the plot developed; it seemed more like a compilation of scenes the author wanted to write about, rather than a naturally flowing timeline of events. There were often chapters where an event very clearly only happened so that the next event could happen, which had a tendency to take me out of the story.

I would have loved to see more of the book take place over the week Hannah was at the hotel playing tennis with Trish, Gaynor, and Jess. I really enjoyed reading about the female friendships and seeing Hannah opening up to them, so much so that I actually think it would have been great to see their group holiday and Hannah’s new-found independence take prevalence over the romance storyline. Especially since Hannah had literally just ended a 14-year marriage, I would have loved to see her take a break from men and ‘find herself’ and explore personal growth, instead of fall for the first guy she sees in Spain.

That being said, I really did like reading about Hannah and Rob navigate their feelings whilst staying true to what they wanted at heart, though it did lack some chemistry and tension for my personal preference. Those who enjoy more slow burn romances and ‘traditional’ views will love this though! Not to mention the introduction of the adorable Scrumpy - books with dogs in are always better in my opinion!

The only other thing I noticed was how strongly stereotyped each of the characters were, almost unnecessarily so. There was no need for Rob to be so consistently labelled as a player, a womaniser; there was even a line from Hannah about how she had only shared her bed with one man and she pondered if Rob could even remember how many women he’d shared a bed with… I felt the player stereotype didn’t really fit the rest of Rob’s character to be honest, which was a shame because other than that I really liked him.

Overall, a fun romcom holiday read that touched on female friendships and familial relationships quite nicely without it being too heavy or sad, fitting the tone of the book well.

I thought that this was a really enjoyable story

The book had a well developed storyline that kept me engaged

The story is a slow burn romance and a will they, won’t they kind of read

It has well developed characters that were honest and likeable

A holiday fling that turns in to something else…

It is 4 stars from me for his one – highly recommended!