Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC. I love a grumpy sunshine romance so this was a slam dunk for me. The bits about her mom tugged on my heart, and the older people made me smile. This was a joy.

This was super cute. Not my favorite of hers, but a fun read and perfect for summer. Will recommend to friends looking for a good warm weather read!!

All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball is a cute light-hearted Rom-Com. I’ve read a previous book by Kate Spencer, and once again this one didn’t disappoint. There’s something special about the way she writes her characters that you just can’t help but relate to them and want to see what’s in store.

We’re introduced to Bex, who’s taken over a racquet club once her mom passes away. As we learn about her own struggles with grief as well as guilt in trying to keep the club afloat, we get to learn about her support system of friends. They’re also members of the club and quite a bit older in age. The different personalities of them all lead to some pretty funny moments throughout. Nikolaus is a tennis star trying to get back into the game after an injury. The two of them meeting by chance at first doesn’t go well, which lets the rest of the story unfold. This is an easy light hearted read with some really relatable moments for the characters. There’s a bit of spice but not over the top. It’s just a really cute story that left me smiling at the end for the whole world created by Kate Spencer in this one.

I loved this story so much I really related to the character Bex and her relationship with her mom also as well as losing a parent to cancer I felt her emotions in every page this story was so moving and captivating each page had me reading more and more.

Honestly we love to see a pickleball romance lmao one of my first sports romance I wouldn’t have it any other way 😂💕 10/10 Loved loved loved

I enjoyed immersing myself in the world of pickleball. Bex and Niko had a fun dynamic; if you enjoy enemies to lovers plots, this is the novel for you! Each of Kate Spencer’s novels has been a delight to read—can’t wait for the next one.

A cute little romance that made me smile. Was it cheesy at times? Yes. But it was easy and low stakes - a perfect book pallet cleanser

A pickleball romance made my ears perk up, being that I’ve only seen one other one based on that concept. I enjoyed main character Bex as she was easy to root for and had a fun personality. The only thing was that I could not get into Nico until his grand gesture at the end. It made reading a lot of the romance scenes a bit dull for me, unfortunately. I also did not like this dumb mistake Bex makes towards the end of the book that I thought was out of character.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

An incredibly fun read, who knew Pickleball could be hot?

There were so many great moments and people in this book, I especially loved the cast of older characters. There is something to be said for getting older and just stopping giving a f*ck about what people think. The main characters also were fantastic, they had some great chemistry and there was a lot of witty banter that made me giggle.

I wasn't expecting from the cover to have as much grief is included about Bex and the loss of her mother. I do think that seeing her healing journey was lovely though, and the dichotomy of her sunshine character with the grumpiness of Niko is well done.

I think my one critique is that they stared to be a bit wishy-washy in their relationship towards the end of the book. It felt a bit like Bex was just looking for a reason to put distance between them, but it wasn't fleshed out. No matter what though, I read this book in about 34 hrs so obviously I had a great time.
Read if you love:
grumpy x sunshine
fake dating PR stunt
Pickleball princess x Tennis prince
Is he a 10 or is he just the only man in the area under 60?

This is the pickleball version of "The Cutting Edge," and I loved it! Former tennis star and struggling business woman fall in love mixed in with a little bit of pickleball? Yes please! Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I just finished *All's Fair in Love and Pickleball* by Kate Spencer, and I absolutely loved it! Spencer has officially become a must-read author for me—I know when I pick up one of her books, I’m in for something witty, warm, and full of heart.

This story was such a delight from beginning to end. I’m a huge fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and this one delivered all the slow-burn tension and emotional payoff I could’ve hoped for. Niko was a layered, frustrating, and incredibly lovable character. I found myself mad at him more than once, but I also deeply wanted things to work out for him. He felt real and flawed, and that made his growth even more satisfying.

Bex was just as compelling—strong, funny, and easy to root for. I especially loved watching her find her confidence again after some personal and professional setbacks. The dynamic between her and the quirky, tight-knit pickleball club members added such a cozy, community vibe to the book. It was heartwarming to see how they became her chosen family and helped her heal in unexpected ways.

I’ve found myself gravitating toward sports romances lately, and this one hit the sweet spot. It had just enough action on the court to make it fun and dynamic, but the real game was all the emotional back-and-forth between the characters. The humor, the banter, the tension—it was all pitch-perfect.

This book had me smiling, swooning, and even tearing up a little. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished the last page. If you’re looking for a charming, feel-good romance with heart, humor, and just the right amount of spice, *All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball* is a must-read. It’s the perfect beach read—or anytime read, really!

Unlike every other millennial, I knew nothing about pickleball. The tournament was a great development to help save the club. The best part of this story is the cozy, sweet and romantic story. I love/hated how fast I read this because I had such a great time but am sad now it's over.

Another breezy and fun romcom from Kate Spencer! Bex is in hot water as the racquet club she inherited from her late mother is in dire need of some TLC. Bex does not have the coin for it. Enter Niko, the nephew of one of her beloved club members, and a former tennis star whose career derailed after an injury. He's grumpy and meticulous to her sunshiney brightness (and her literal bright fashion sense). He also despises pickleball, of which Bex is a goddess at. But,Bex needs money, and Niko needs image rehab so he convinces her to enter a pickleball competition that has prize money that could save the club. This was a fun read, and perfect for summer. Thank you Forever, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC for my honest review.

Wasn’t sure about a story centering on pickleball…but it was great!! Kate Spencer delivers a sweet story with a lot of heart. Really enjoyed this ine’

Adding pickleball to my list of sports represented in romance (and yes, I think it’s a sport!). Wow I ate this up. Niko and Bex are both grieving, both coming to terms that they are struggling with where they are in life. Their connection is immediate — Niko DEFINITELY fell first. She was literally the color in his sea of boring white.

“We’re shockingly oppositional, but there’s also something about us that fits together. Perhaps I could add a little bit of color to him. Maybe he could help me stay in the lines.”

I loved the Tennis Prince and Pickleball Princess!

If you love found family, fake dating with real partnership, and two people growing together and not trying to fix each other’s lives, this is for you. I know I’ll be picking up a copy when it publishes for that cover alone.

Thanks to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7460431659

I love Kate Spencer and I wanted to love this book. Unfortunately I could only give it 3 stars. I loved Bex and I loved Niko, but the book itself dragged for me. The spicy scenes were great, I just really couldn’t connect and find momentum with the plot. I’ll still read anything Kate puts out, but this was my least favorite so far.

Oh man. I loved this book.

The banter. The innuendos. The chemistry. The characters. Even the pickleball, which I knew nothing about before going into this book, but now am mildly intrigued by. This will be one I turn to again, and will definitely be one of my top recommended for the year.

Kate Spencer’s writing is always fun. Even with heavy topics like grief and burnout, they don’t feel exploitive or out of place. She has this ability to gracefully handle difficult topics in a way that feels natural but doesn’t weigh you down as the reader. Bex is messy and chaotic in all of the best ways, and she doesn’t know how to ask for help. Then there’s Niko who is brooding and frustrating, but so deeply lovable once you crack his exterior. Every book I just fall in love with her protagonists and side characters. As someone who spent a lot of time with her grandmother and the residents of her retirement home, I’m always going to love a book that shoves some twenty or thirty somethings in with sexta- and septuagenarians.

It snapped me out of my reading slump, and I’m so glad. I can’t wait to reread it.

Thank you to Forever Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball
By Kate Spencer

All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball is the perfect summer rom-com — charming, funny, and full of heart!
Bex is doing everything she can to hold together her family’s crumbling racquet club after the passing of her mother. She’s coaching, paying bills, and keeping the place afloat single-handedly. Enter Niko: a grumpy former tennis star trying to make a comeback. Their worlds collide after a pickleball accident sends Niko’s aunt to the hospital, where Bex just happens to be her coach.

Bex and Niko are total opposites: she’s bold, colorful, and all about pickleball; he’s buttoned-up, brooding, and strictly tennis. But when an opportunity arises to revamp Niko’s image and win a serious cash prize in the Paddle Battle tournament, hosted by a rival club, the two agree to fake their way to victory.

I give All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball 4 out of 5 stars. I adored the witty banter, the opposites-attract chemistry, and the delightful pickleball puns peppered throughout. It’s a breezy, feel-good read that hits all the right notes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the opportunity to read All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball.

This was such a fun read! Bex and Niko were cute, funny, and great characters. I loved the setting of a racquet club and the high stakes pickleball tournament! This is a great summer read!

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC.

I honestly did not know much at all about pickleball before this but this was a cute little book! Can't say I would want to play it myself lol but not the point. Niko was such a lovable broody/grumpy MMC and I found myself invested in he and Bex's budding romance. The banter and tension were done well and helped keep me interested in how things played out with them. There are themes of trauma and grief so definitely check out the content warnings before going in if you are easily triggered by certain situations (specifically regarding the big C)
The older folks at the club were such a funny and quirky part of the story and I loved them.