Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Publishing & Kate Spencer for sending me an advanced copy of All’s Fair In Love And Pickleball

I’ve read my fair share of sports romances, but All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball was my very first dip into the world of pickleball romance and it was absolutely adorable!

The story follows Bex, the feisty and passionate owner of a struggling pickleball club, and Niko, a former tennis star trying to stage a comeback. Their worlds collide when Niko shows up to visit his Aunt Loretta, one of Bex’s beloved club members. When Loretta gets injured, Niko sticks around to help out… and naturally, needs a place to practice. And naturally chooses Bex’s club.

Let’s just say, Bex is not impressed. She’s heard all about Niko: the golden grandson Loretta can’t stop bragging about. But to Bex, he’s arrogant, dismissive of pickleball, and just kind of… ugh. Meanwhile, her club is in trouble, and the last thing she needs is some hotshot tennis guy judging her turf that’s in dire need of repair.

But, their chemistry?? Off the charts. Even when they’re bickering, sparks are flying. And when they agree to team up for a competitive pickleball match that could benefit them both, things start to shift in the cutest, flirtiest way.

This book was such a fun, breezy read! I loved learning about pickleball along the way, and the banter between Niko and Bex was top tier, like reading a rally of quick wit and swoony tension. If you’re looking for a fresh twist on your usual sports romance, this one’s a total ace.

This was so unbelievably mid🥲

I’m not the biggest fan of sports romances, but about once or twice a year I get the itch to try them again hoping to find one I like, and this wasn’t it.

Sports aside, the pacing for the romance was really off. Within a span of 5 pages the FMC goes from hating the MMC (rightfully so bc he really was an ass. I still didn’t really like him by the end) to saying “our bickering was my favorite part of my day” and then KISSING. Like what?!

Plus the MMC as I mentioned before was literally the worst. So hot and cold and cocky and rude?! But we love him🙄

Plus the FMC did the absolute DUMBEST thing ever at the end. Like what did you expect?! That and the reasoning for third act break up felt super stilted and weak.

I think if the characters were more likable I would have enjoyed this more- pickleball and all!

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book was great if you are wanting a stress free book that you don’t want to over analyze. I will say that the lust at the beginning of it was kinda unrealistic. They hate each other and having the FMC thirst for the MMC wasn’t too realistic. But it was cute and carefree. I also love pickleball so that would make me giggle a lot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
This book is pure joy! All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball is charming, witty, and packed with heart. Kate Spencer serves up sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, and the kind of feel-good romance that leaves you smiling long after the final page.

A perfect blend of love, laughs, and a little sporty spice—an absolute win! 🎾💘

This book is so fun! As she grieves the loss of her mother, and tries to save the family pickleball courts, Bex teams up with ex-tennis player Niko to try and salvage both his reputation and her pickle ball courts!

Story didn’t really grab you at all - predictable discount romance book. Pickleball aspect was a bit trendy.

Thank you to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @hachetteaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

I love sports romances, so I was immediately captivated by the fresh premise of All's Fair in Love and Pickleball. Plus fake dating? That's an immediate yes from me!

This book was an absolute blast! The rivals-to-lovers dynamic between Nico and Bex was perfectly executed. Their banter was witty and full of chemistry, and the tension between them kept me utterly hooked. Bex was instantly lovable, and Nico’s unexpected vulnerability completely won me over. Bex’s determination to protect her family's legacy made her incredibly easy to root for. And yes, the spicy moments were definitely worth the wait! What truly impressed me was how the story skillfully wove in themes of grief and healing without ever feeling overly heavy.

The senior community at the pickleball club added a delightful layer of humor and warmth, creating a cozy found-family vibe that beautifully balanced the emotional depth.

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw's narration was fantastic. Her delivery felt so natural and confident. This was my first audiobook by her, but it certainly won't be my last!

If you're searching for a fresh take on the sports rom-com genre with heart, heat, and excellent character growth, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your summer TBR.

4 stars

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I downloaded and read this book for work. (I'm a publicity assistant at LEO PR.) It's why I won't be reviewing.

This had the perfect premise for me - grumpy tennis player meets sunshine pickleball player with fake dating and a mission to save the pickle ball club while the tennis player rehabs his injury for a big comeback, with a sprinkle of a recently passed mom - this was all so relatable to me as my mom just passed in October and I play tennis and I love a grumpy/sunshine trope! However, this fell a little flat for me. I'm not sure if this was the wrong time for this book - I have been busy and in a slight reading slump or if this book just didn't work for me. I had high expectations because it just seemed to fit me so perfectly but I just didn't get that into it. I enjoyed the characters and I liked the way the relationship unfolded but I just didn't feel much that I usually do for romances. I might try it again at a different time to see if it was just me. It had all the ingredients perfect for a great summer read!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

Kate Spencer serves up a delightful romantic comedy in All’s Fair in Love & Pickleball! With charming characters, witty banter, and just the right dose of competitive tension, this book is a perfect blend of heart and humor. Whether you’re a pickleball pro or a total newbie, you’ll fall for this fun, feel-good story that proves love—like pickleball—is all about timing, teamwork, and taking a few chances. A total winner! 🏓❤️

Sigh, while I loved In A New York Minute, this one really missed the mark for me. It was a very hard sell that these two people just automatically loved each other after hating each other for the first half of the book. A pretty weak book in the world of contemporary romance. I still will read everything she writes though. Her previous 2 books were very strong! 3 stars.

this was my first pickleball romance and it was so fun and easy to follow! this was definitely a fast paced read especially for summertime.

however, what’s preventing this from a higher rating is the third act breakup, it annoyed me. i also thought while it was fun, it doesn’t stand out for me.

while this story has great banter and numerous moments, it has a deeper element. this story explores more than just romance, it touches on themes of career struggles, grief, and financial hardships. i enjoy when books have deeper elements to it such as this because it feels more relatable.

bex is a peppy pickleball coach struggling to save her family business (racquet club). the club is facing financial difficulties and needs repairs. niko is the bad boy injured tennis pro who wants to attempt a comeback therefore he needs a win. they team up together for a high-stakes pickleball tournament in order to save her club while fake dating for publicity. will these two competitive characters fall in love off the court too?

tropes: fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, sports romance, just one court, enemies teaming up together, spice

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Well wasn't this book just adorable! I loved the main character. And that the story takes place while playing pickleball. This is the perfect beach read.

What a cutie cozy read. I died. I believe this was my first Kate Spencer book so THANK YOU, forever , for putting this in my hands. It was absolutely my jam with the low stakes, the day to day, the elements of grief. Single pov but WORKED. you can feel the tension and frustration and I absolutely adored bex and Niko together. It was short and sweet and side characters were immaculate. I love the geriatric best buds. It's such an under rated trope. Now I can imagine bex and Niko in the desert living their best lives and playing pickleball. It was also nice to have Niko learning pickleball too because I know nothing about the cultural phenomenon but here we are. And now I love it as the setting to this cute lil love story. Between Niko and bex. But also between bex and her childhood and bex and her community and bex and her grief. And bex and her growth. I loved it.

this charming rom-com serves up the perfect mix of sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, and heartfelt stakes. bex and niko’s fake relationship adds just the right amount of tension to their on-court partnership, making every match feel like a battle of both wit and will. with pickleball as the surprisingly delightful backdrop, this story is full of playful banter, slow-burn romance, and a heroine you’ll cheer for all the way. a must-read for fans of sports romance with heart!

I loooooooved Kate's previous two books so much. Despite my exhaustion with the hype of pickleball, I felt like if any author could get me on board with it, it would be Kate.
Bex takes over her family business but with the upkeep and immediate fix-it needs, she's on the hunt for a way to raise money and quickly.
Unfortunately, this didn’t work for me. I didn’t like the love triangle all that much and I was hoping for more quirky and less drama. I’ll definitely try Kate again (see above love for her previous work) but this was a lost serve for me.
Mia had a great voice to encapsulate Bex's personality and struggles/triumphs.
Thank you Forever and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This is a cute summer read if that’s what you’re looking for. I did enjoy the tension between the love interests and the story overall. I loved diving into a new sport read with an unlikely sport and it just had me wanting to start playing pickleball.
The story is told exclusively from Bex’s point of view and that left me wanting. I want to know so much more about Niko. Their chemistry is good, but I felt like I needed to know what he was thinking and just more about him in general.
The story had a good flow until the end; I felt it end too abruptly and that third act breakup - argh… but it did play out with some fun dramatics.
I recommend this book as a good in-between and it is a fun, light summer read perfect to kick off your summer reading. I would definitely read more pickleball romances 😊
Many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for a digital advanced copy of the book. The opinions expresses are honest and my own, as well as given freely.

I was highly anticipating this one, and it did not disappoint! It’s fast-paced, super easy to get into, and the perfect beach read for summer. The characters were so fun, the banter was on point, and I loved the mix of tropes, sports romance, enemies to lovers, and fake dating? Yes, please. Such a fun and feel-good story. I highly recommend checking it out!

Bex and Niko meet at a hospital when Niko’s grandmother sustains an injury at Bex’s pickleball club.
From there, they become pickleball coach/student to pickleball partners. They fake date to make Niko’s life more interesting and to bring publicity and attention to Bex’s failing club. But was it ever really fake?

Niko was such a sweet, tender, thoughtful MMC. I wish we could have gotten to know more about him. This was such a cute, fun, fast-paced summer read!

yeah i LOVED!!!!!! this book. so much.

i read my first kate spencer last summer and immediately added her to my -need more from this author- list. when i found out she was writing a pickleball romance, i was downright giddy with excitement. i love pickleball and i love romance and i love kate so like… perfect combo?

all’s fair in love and pickleball was so much fun and i enjoyed every minute. the tension between bex and nico had me locked in from moment one. it was deliciously good. technically not enemies to lovers because the enemies phase was really short but like that energy that makes the tension and yearning hit. i also am gonna fall for fake dating x real feelings every time and they took it to the max. let me just tell y’all… the court scene? GIRL. i was sweatingggg!!!

this story also speaks very poignantly about grief. bex grapples with the loss of her mother even though she’s been gone for some time already and it was beautiful reflection of the power of a mother-daughter relationship. one of the primary points of this book is bex’s desire to keep the club alive even though it is financially struggling because she wants to keep the memory of her mom alive for sunset springs. i thought this was really special and the way it plays in to all the different elements of the plot is really well done.

this was such a fun, sweet, sporty summer read that is perfect for romance lovers. thank you kate spencer and forever for the early copy!