Pre-pandemic, my local recreation department sponsored a lunchtime pickleball tournament for town employees. A long-time badminton fan, I’d tried pickleball in Arizona back in ten years previously, when I was on the consulting circuit and staying with a dear friend in her 55+ community, and really enjoyed the pace of the game. So, I paired with our custodian to form a team that made it to the finals, but didn’t win (spoiler: he carried the weight of our team and made me look good!). Fast forward a few years, and I was sitting in a department head meeting hearing a supervisor bemoan “the pickleballers” in town who were creating conflicts over taking over tennis courts, taking turns to play their matches, and advocating for designated marked courts—with lights—at a park in a quiet residential neighborhood.

In Pickleballers, divorcée Meg Bloomberg is still smarting from the termination of her brief marriage. She’s fortunate to get support from her bestie Annie, who drags her into a local Pickleball League, where Meg finds community and makes friends—and frenemies— on the courts. An artist making her living from bespoke crafting, Meg meets a cute guy on the ferry while returning to Seattle from Bainbridge Island (where pickleball started!) and has a cute, then hot, then funny moment with him. He’s the first one to make her feel a tingle in months. She’s surprised and disappointed when they next meet:it turns out Ethan Fine is the environmental consultant on a school renovation project, and the courts she and her friends play on at the school is under threat, as the project will include reclaiming of the wetlands where the courts are.

The timing of this potential closure is terrible, because Picklesmash, a pickleball competition, has just been announced, and the league members need to practice! To encourage beginners, each league must feature a pair who’s never competed before; the $10,000 prize money could help build new courts in a non-protected location. Meg assumes she and Rooster, her retired partner, are the league choice of newbies—until her ex Vance (apt name for a villain) shows up with his new girlfriend to claim the spot.

While the tone is tongue-in-cheek and hyperbolic, playing up Meg’s flair for the dramatic, liberal use of alliteration, inserting the word “pickle” anywhere possible, and her funny exclamations, the content is serious. Long weaves in two histories of Bainbridge island: the lightness of pickleball is offset by the history of Japanese residents who were first in our country to be shipped off to interment camps in Idaho during WWII. The setting comes alive in the richly described flora and fauna, terrain and cuisine of the Pacific Northwest. Part of Meg’s healing is picking up a paintbrush again and making time for fine art; the reader can sense that the author deeply understands art from the way Meg paints and thinks about painting.

Female gaze abounds: Meg is lusty and Ethan is literally fine, and she does a lot of ogling. He hams it up when they play Truth or Dare during a pickleball scrimmage, trading facts for lost points. When he accepts her dare to do an interpretative pickleball dance, hilarity ensues. The multigenerational cast have distinctive personalities. Rooster dispenses both pickleball tips and ice advice; mean girl Jeannie is shocking but a breath of fresh air; kind inn-proprietor Mayumi, who hires Meg to paint her fence; eccentric Marilyn, who owns the original pickleball court; and ride-or-die Annie, who gets her own subplot as she pines for her playing partner.

The pickleball play is nicely balanced with the relationship, and titling sections of the novel with pickleball terms is clever. My own brief foray into pickleball was fun, but I don’t recall any rules, terms, or even why it’s called pickleball. A glossary might have been helpful in reading this sports novel about finding romance post-divorce, but having to pause and look things up didn’t diminish the joy Long conveys about this hugely popular sport, described as a fairy dust that coated everyone with happiness and good cheer.

I received a free advance readers review copy of #Pickleballers via #NetGalley courtesy of #Berkley. This review will post on HLBB on 11/18/2024.

Do you play pickleball? I have never played but admit I would like to try it once, at least. When offered a chance to read Pickleballers by Ilana Long, I thought it would be a fun introduction to the game as well as a fun romance to give me a smile.
‌
There was a lot of pickleball. A lot. Not surprising with a title like Pickleballers, but I did feel marinated in it. I did get a glimpse of the characters a bit off the courts, even there, comparisons to pickleball were rampant. I think if you are a fan of the sport, you will enjoy it a lot. I feel like I need to be out learning the game and playing right now.
‌
I enjoyed the setting of Seattle and Bainbridge Island so much. That is such a beautiful area that I have only visited briefly and would really enjoy seeing again.
‌
I loved the sense of community the pickleballers had. The author portrayed that well, as well as the friendships formed outside of the main group. The romances were okay, there was chemistry, but too many misunderstandings and miscommunications for me to ever feel like they were going to get it right.
‌
I think I let some petty things get in the way of my pure enjoyment of this book, but I definitely think there is a big audience out there that will love it. So check it out for yourself, especially if you like pickleball or want to know more about it.

This is a very sweet, enemies to lovers rom-com filled with punny pickleball jokes and facts, and a leading lady that you are really going to adore!

As an art therapist, I was immediately drawn to Meg. When you meet her she’s getting dumped and smelling these cat collars but has a huge passion for painting that she’s let fall to the wayside. She’s also kind of shy and tagging along on her journey of self-discovery after divorce was really fun. She gets into some pretty tricky situations that will sometimes make you blush and other times make you LOL. (I laughed out loud when she had a seatbelt malfunction.) The way she uses pickleball as an outlet was an entertaining storyline. You get to meet a sometimes fun, sometimes nurturing and supportive, and sometimes sassy cast of characters that really brings this story to life.

I also enjoyed the setting of this book so much. Seattle is always a place I love to visit and Bainbridge Island is now on my bucket list. Long really makes you feel like you are there, and I loved that so much.

The themes of hard things not defining us and taking charge of your own life really made this story for me. I found Pickleballers to be the perfectly lighthearted and thoughtful read I needed!

This works best as a novelty romance for those who are looking for something light, and probably specifically those who are already are fans of the sport. The cover is super adorable, and I think it will make a nice gift book this season, but it is pretty much exactly the book you expect it to be.

I had a difficult time connecting with the characters in this one. Despite trying to set up the enemies-to-lovers scenario, there wasn’t much to it. Meg herself wasn’t likeable so that might have been a major issue for me. I’ve never played pickleball but I actually enjoyed the camaraderie between the players and the descriptions of the play. Overall, I couldn’t get lost in this story because there wasn’t much there.

I need to say up front I have a deep aversion for pickleball. I tried to not hold that against this book, but it was difficult. The author really gets into having pickleball being a character in this book because she uses so much of the terminology. I will give her credit for knowing so much about the sport and actually delivering on having it in the book. However, that is what made me not like the story as much at the same time. Overall, it is a quick, light read.

If you like pickleball you will love this book. Especially if you also love romance reads. Thank you to netgalley and Berkley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, PRH Audio and Berkley Publishing Group
for providing me with an advanced copy of this book and audiobook for free in exchange for my review! @prhaudio #PRHAudio #PRHAudioInfluencer
All opinions are my own.

I thought this was a fun book that brought me back to playing pickleball in my high school gymnasium. I loved the chemistry between Meg and Ethan in this book, and overall this book just made me happy and put a smile on my face. If you love enemies to lovers as a book trope, then this book is for you!

On the audiobook side, I thought it was fun that the author of this book, Ilana Long narrated the audiobook herself, and it made the audiobook even more fun to listen to. I hope Ilana continues to narrate more of her audiobooks in the future!

Overall, if you are looking for a fun sports themed romance novel, I highly recommend this book!


Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

********


If you are interested in seeing more of my reviews and other content feel free to connect with me here <3:

https://linktr.ee/bookreviewsbyjules (links to my Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, Storygraph, My blog and Substack newsletter, etc)

If you are a publisher or author who has questions about my reviews (as well as questions about my stats, reach or engagement), please free to email me. I am also open to requests for book reviews from authors or publishers. Thank you again for taking time to read my review, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Thank you @prhaudio for my gifted ALC. Today is pub day for Pickleballers!!

Meg’s short marriage implodes when her husband leaves her on a receipt from Home Depot. She takes up pickleball as a new hobby and something to do in her free time. She becomes very into it, and is even considering entering a local amateur competition. When she meets Ethan, he’s handsome and environmentally conscious. But is he the one who is trying to destroy her beloved pickleball courts?

This is a debut novel and it was super cute. The amount of pickleball references did get overwhelming at time, but Meg seemed genuine and definitely needed a pick me up after what her ex did to her. This was a good audiobook and it’s actually read by the author herself, @ilanalongwrites. I also absolutely love the cover- very eye catching.

This book was just OK for me. I have never played pickleball. If I were into the sport I may have found it charming, but it was a little too silly for me. There were a lot of “slapstick” elements and overly-coincidental occurrences. I’m usually good at suspending disbelief as a reader, but there were a few things here that were over the top. That being said, I loved the setting as I consider Seattle my third hometown (adopted by marriage). The book did a great job conveying the beauty of the PNW.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#Pickleballers:⁣
⁣
Thank you @berkleyromance for my gifted copies. #BerkleyPartner⁣
⁣
Me before: “IDK about this. Have we taken pickleball too far?”⁣
Me after: “FOMOOP!!” (Fear of missing out in pickleball) ⁣
⁣
Honestly, this was fun. I didn’t know how I’d feel about it with pickleball being the center of it all. While, yes, it’s a lot about it and I hope to never hear that word in the next 5-7 minutes, I really enjoyed it. ⁣
⁣
I loved Meg and Annie. I think their friendship was my favorite part. The banter was definitely there as well, and Meg with her post divorce life was definitely such an understanding character. ⁣
⁣
Overall, heavy of the pickle, heavy of the banter, heavy of the friendship, a solid laugh and read.⁣
⁣
Out now!⁣
⁣
QOTD: What’s a sport you’ll watch? Not a sports ball person, name your current read!

Vividly depicted with many themes and stories in this one book, Pickleballers by Ilana Long introduces readers to the popular sport by the same title.

Ethan and Meg take center stage, and we get to know them a little at a time. The core issues revolve around their serious lack of communication skills. Meg comes out of her comfort zone with Ethan repeatedly after meeting by chance on a ferry a few months after her husband divorces her unexpectedly. But when her and her ex’s paths keep crossing on the pickleball court, she has something to prove—to him and herself.

There are beautiful descriptions of the Pacific Northwest, particularly Bainbridge Island. Long paints a vivid picture of nature, assisting the reader to appreciate the sights that residents see and enjoy daily. The story has twists and turns, as well as laughter, tears, and cringe-worthy moments. Throughout it all, Meg is evolving and enjoying her art once again. There is closure with the epilogue that takes place a year later with some happily ever afters and a surprise or two.

Pickleballers is filled with pickleball matches, players, and lessons set in a picturesque setting that made me want to get out on the court.

The review is posted on NovelsAlive.

Pickleballers by Ilana Long
Rating: 3.5 stars
Pub date: 11/12

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley for my advanced copy!

Meg is having a rough time after her divorce, so she and her best friend Annie head to Bainbridge Island for some pickleball therapy. It’s supposed to be a carefree getaway, but things take a twist when Meg meets Ethan. He’s charming, handsome, and seems perfect—until Meg realizes he’s the guy responsible for tearing down her home pickleball courts.

This debut novel is full of lively characters and a plot that keeps you turning the pages. Meg and Ethan’s connection is instant and electric, and the drama that unfolds makes their story even more compelling. Meg’s friendship with Annie is one of the book’s highlights, with lots of laughs and pranks.

Listening to the audiobook was a pleasant surprise since the author narrates it herself. Her voice fits the vibe of the book perfectly.

If you’re in the mood for a cute, breezy romance with a unique twist involving pickleball, this a great choice. It’s perfect as a light read to break up more serious books, and I’m excited to see what this author writes next!

This is just my opinion and I think it might have to do with me not a fan of pickleball.
This book sounded like it was gonna be cute, and it was but there was wayyyy too much pickleball info for me. Then again it is all in the name lol
Some of the characters are a bit lame and need more depth, character development and info I think.
The female friendship between Annie and Meg was fantastic and I think it really took 1st place (star of the story). I didn't really feel anything for the characters and the chemistry seemed off and kinda forced.
This first part of this story is very pickleball-heavy heavy then we go into another part of the book and its an adventure (hiking in the mountains and camping) then hopped right back to the pickleball tournament. It hopped around to some extreme things. A lot going on when it came to subplots. I felt like I was in a rut that I couldn't get out of in this book bc the conflicts just kept coming back and it was repeating, making it hard to read and get into.
This was a quick read for me and I am sad to say that it wasn't bc it was really interested in it it was bc I was trying to get to the good parts and to the end as soon as I could. sorry
Even though it wasn't a book for me, I am glad to have the opportunity to read it.

‘Get out of her own way.’

A pickleball primer combined with a Hallmark worthy rom com is what you get when you pick up this book. Whether you know the game or don’t, you’ll find yourself hurting with laughter as Meg navigates post divorce life on her way to finding her HEA. So much fun!

Pickleballers serves up (pun intended) a perfect mix of sporty fun, spicy romance, and laugh-out-loud moments that make it a total ace of a read!

Set against the backdrop of an ultra-competitive pickleball community, this story introduces us to a fiery, determined heroine who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty on the court. Enter the hero: a handsome, skilled player with an irresistible bad-boy edge and just enough swagger to make things interesting. Their chemistry is undeniable from the first match, sparking with every clever comeback, competitive rally, and flirtatious glance.

Long brings the pickleball world to life with vivid descriptions and pulse-pounding game sequences that make you feel like you’re right there, rooting from the sidelines. But it’s not all fun and games—beneath the surface, “Pickleballers” explores personal growth, trust, and the complicated dance of letting someone in. Their steamy encounters are as satisfying as a perfect serve, with plenty of heat and humor that make the romance feel genuine and thrilling.

If you’re looking for a feel-good story with plenty of athletic action, sexy tension, and unforgettable characters, “Pickleballers” is a winner. Ilana Long has crafted a tale that celebrates competition, passion, and the joy of finding someone who can keep up both on and off the court. A must-read for sports romance fans who love a good rally of wit, charm, and heart!

Thanks so much to Berkley Romance for my ARC!

Pickleball is the hot trend now and it was refreshing to see a rom com novel using a sport other than hockey. Funny enough I have never played, hocky or pickleball, but a day before I started reading Pickleballers, my mom who does play was explaining the ins and outs of pickleball to me. And honestly it made reading the book a little more enjoyable because I understood the basics and what terms like "the kitchen" meant. I was able to form a better picture in my head and it made it more relatable. I think fans of pickleball would really like this novel. I did find it to be all a bit silly at times, the main character always trying to hide, and the bickering of the pickleball community. But there were many laugh out loud moments and the love interest was sweet and interesting. I like the friendships of the main character, especially Annie and Rooster. One aspect that didn't work for me was the side love interest story of Annie. But the main characters had a cute and sweet developing enemy to lovers story arc, and fun banter between them. I think this would appeal to folks that like to play pickleball, but to anyone that just a little competitive love story.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review an advanced early copy.

✨ Review ✨ Pickleballers, written and read by Ilana Long

Thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Meg starts playing pickleball with her bff Annie after her sudden divorce from her crummy husband (he alerts her he's leaving on the back of a home improvement store receipt). She begins to fall in love with the sport, and she becomes part of a local pickleball community, which is under threat of destruction as a school renovation that plans to remove their courts to restore the wetlands. Alongside this, Meg's challenging for a beginners spot at the local picklesmash tourney to help her group raise funds for new courts.

Meg, early on, encounters a hottie on the ferry back to Seattle, and they hit it off with their banter and fun immediately. When he appears again though, her skepticism grows -- is he a friend or a foe?

Much of the book takes place on Bainbridge Island as Meg tries to reestablish her identity post-divorce. The book is full of painting, pickleball, hiking, and adventures galore, and I loved the banter between Meg and Ethan throughout the book. This was a perfect light read for a hard week!

(Note I loved how this worked in this history of Bainbridge Island - from pickleball to Japanese internment. I thought the author did this really well without it becoming a distraction from the plot!)

🎧 This was really such a fun read and I love that the author read the audiobook too. Minus Annie's chipmunk voice (that admittedly she executes as promised), I loved listening to this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: f/m contemporary romance
Setting: Seattle and Bainbridge, Washington
Length: 10 hours 50 minutes
Pub Date: November 12, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ pickleball
⭕️ sports romances
⭕️ Seattle and the outdoors
⭕️ banter-filled relationships

This book is not for me, though I’m sure others will enjoy it. It’s called a rom-com, and the humor comes from slapstick rather than wit. I found the pace to be slow and the tone to be pretty depressing (especially given the opening, with the main character’s boyfriend abandoning her). This was too much drama and not enough fun for me. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

What I did like was the female friendship between Annie and Meg and how they lifted each other up in their times of need and also when to pull back and let them shine on their own. I liked this book in theory more than actuality. I found some of the characters' actions and plots immature, as well as so "high school." This is a freaking rec sport, you're all middle age. Everyone needed to calm down! I also felt like this book was a bit disjointed it started off so hot about pickleball, and then midway through switched to a vacation romance where she's painting and hiking mountains and putting down roots in a whole new city, then randomly was like oh yeah this is a book about pickleball and hopped back in at the pickleball tournament. The main reason I didn't rate this higher is because I found myself skimming a lot.

Read if you like enemies to lovers, sports romances. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 11/12!

my thoughts:
in her debut novel, Ilana Long dives right into the world of pickleball, blending sports with small-town charm and plenty of quirky characters!

Pickleballers brings lighthearted fun to the page, filled with court-side drama, friendships, Pickleball history and a splash of romance. It’s easy, breezy, and packed with moments that’ll make you smile—perfect for a quick escape if you’re a fan of the sport or just looking for something a little different.

while it didn’t quite keep me hooked all the way through, Pickleballers was a solid 3-star read, scoring points for its unique premise and playful vibe—a great pick if you’re in the mood for something light and fun!!

Kate’s rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
spice level: .5