I wanted to love this book so badly, but it just didn’t happen.

I’m a huge tennis fan—I’ve been watching it since early childhood, which isn’t that surprising when you come from a country that gave the world Novak Djokovic. That’s one of the reasons I genuinely expected to enjoy this story. However, after reading 57% of the book, I have to DNF it—which I almost never do.

Right from the beginning, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of names and felt like I’d been dropped into the middle of a story. That might be my fault since I haven’t read the first book in the series.

There were a few things that bothered me during “Set One,” but that part wasn’t terrible, and I figured I’d probably rate the book four stars. (DNF-ing it wasn’t even on my mind.) Among other things, the way the author handled sets, games, and points really threw me off—as if she herself wasn’t entirely sure of the difference. Points were referred to as games, games as sets. I know ARCs are not final versions and that some mistakes are to be expected, but this felt like a pretty major error for someone writing a tennis romance. Still, since the actual scores were shown numerically most of the time, I was willing to let it go.

Also—Avery is a really shitty friend. I’m sorry you were in a car accident, but Dylan owes you nothing. If she wants to end her career, she has every right to, and you have no right to tell her she should just be grateful to have the opportunity to play. That opportunity didn’t just fall into her lap—she earned it with hard work and training.

Then there’s the part where a professional tennis player oversleeps on the day of a tournament final and is late to the arena. I honestly can’t believe that would happen. And even less believable is a coach—no matter how awful—allowing their player to go on court right after a car crash, instead of taking them to the ER. And don’t even get me started on someone playing tennis (and winning a set) with broken ribs. I was still willing to overlook all of that for the sake of the story.

But then “Set Two” started, and I just felt like I was dying of boredom. It took until 57% for Oliver and Dylan to even have their first training session together after he became her coach, and I had no more patience left. The story is way too slow and drawn-out, and there’s absolutely no reason for this book to be over 400 pages long.

Plus, the chemistry between Oliver and Dylan just wasn’t strong enough to justify slogging through so many unnecessary scenes. I’d read over 200 pages and still hadn’t connected with either of them. I saw someone say that the story really picks up at 65%, and I considered pushing through since I wasn’t far off—but honestly, I just don’t want to torture myself over one book when there are so many others I’d probably enjoy a lot more.

I’m really sad I didn’t enjoy this one, but thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for an arc copy and a chance to read it before the release date.

Game Point was a nice follow-up to the initial Clean Point. However, I found it slightly lacking. I will admit, I absolutely loved Scottie and Nico from book one and was happy with how much they appeared in book 2. I didn't mind this focusing on Dylan and Oliver was a lovely addition. However, it felt like the vast majority of tension we had in Clean Point was gone. This was much more laid back and while it still had some tension, it was definitely a lot less than Clean Point. All that said, I'm really enjoying this series and very much looking forward to the next two books. 3.75/5.

This was a great book about second chances and the people who help you have them. Oliver was the perfect person to help Dylan through her slump and encourage her to pursue her dreams while Dylan was the perfect person to help Oliver through his divorce. The banter, side characters and even the tennis talk were thoroughly enjoyable and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a friends to lovers sports romance.
4 stars

This book is an absolute page-turner! It delivers intensity, emotion, and authenticity. Dylan's journey is both thrilling and human and I found her so deeply relatable. The pacing is flawless, the dialogue sharp, and the romance is .both spicy and deeply emotional. Five stars without hesitation!

Meg Jones crushes it with the second book in this tennis saga. After years reading hockey romance books, the tennis professionals have now stolen my heart. Dylan had a special spot in my heart after book one, so I loved getting her story this time. From the Australian family to the spider moment, this book had me turning pages the second I picked it up. Oliver was a perfect male star (and coach).

Thank you NetGalley, Meg Jones and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

This book was so fun to read! I loved the opportunity to read a tennis book and the characters did not disappoint. I felt like Dylan's character was really well done, there was depth to her character and it felt like we could be best friends! I also really loved reading Oliver's character, he was such a teddy bear and if I had him for a coach I would be loving life. I appreciated that this book had actual tennis gameplay within it, so many times I have picked up a tennis book and there was no actual tennis being played. I loved the differing viewpoints and how we got a look inside Dylan's head as she coped (or didn't) with playing professional tennis. Meg Jones did a great job at setting the scene and I could envision the setting as I was reading which only added to the enjoyment of the book. The only downfall to the book was that it took so long for the characters to come together, we had a lot of backstory and, at times, it felt a bit repetitive. Overall, a solid 4 star read and one that I will be recommending!

I've read this book twice and I love it more each time!
Friends to lovers at an elite level!
The coach x player dynamic was so fun and I love them so much!

I really enjoyed this! Dylan and Oliver had great banter throughout the whole book. I’m a sucker for friends to lovers. And oddly enough, I think I’m also a sucker for the nickname “brat.”

I went in to this book with no expectations other than I love a good sports romance & boy, did this deliver. I love when a MMC knows how to use his words. ;)

In this story, we follow Dylan Bailey, a professional tennis player struggling with 'getting the job done' on the court (i.e., winning Grand Slams), and Oliver Anderson, another professional tennis player coming off a big US Open win and coasting into his next era. I absolutely loved Dylan & Oliver's dynamic, the slow-burn, friends-to-lovers really worked for me. The friendly banter was everything.

I loved that we got dual POV chapters and the playlist continuing throughout each chapter was a win in my book. I mean, songs at the beginning of every chapter?! Yes, please. (Ahem, looking at you So High School) It really brought each chapter to life for me.

I feel like Meg Jones did a good job setting the scene for the tennis matches we were reading about. The stakes were definitely high, and there were times I felt like I was right on the court with Dylan. However, I don't necessarily care too much about the nitty gritty details of tennis, so I found myself sometimes skimming the tennis-heavy chapters. This is my one main critique!

Otherwise, if you are looking for a sweet & spicy sports romance read, I would highly recommend you pick this up. This was great!

Thank you NetGalley, Meg and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts & review.

4/5 stars

Oliver is such a sweetie. He believes in Bailey and takes care of her well being. He is a golden retriever to his black cat, Bailey. I love when romance isn’t just the vocal point of the story but their love of the game shines.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own

The book showcased impressive writing, yet I struggled to stay engaged and found myself drifting away from the story. The book did not quite capture my interest and was a bit challenging to get through. The dynamic between Dylan and Oliver was quite tumultuous, with their primary connection relying heavily on phone calls for approximately 40 percent of the narrative.

While I do not play tennis, I found that aspect of the book to be both interesting and engaging. The way Dylan approaches the sport adds depth, although I did find her behavior regarding losing to be quite unbearable at times. Losing is undoubtedly disappointing, but there comes a moment when one must reflect on the situation.

Ultimately, the narrative left certain aspects feeling incomplete, with a pacing that could be described as sluggish. The character development did not quite meet my expectations, and overall, it did not resonate with me; however, it is evident that the story was skillfully written.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the Earc in exchange for an honest review.

i am living for the tennis romances this spring and can’t wait for more this summer. i hadn’t heard of this author before and now i’m so glad i requested this ARC!

Book Two in the Game, Set, and Match tennis romance series wins at love! Dylan Bailey, Clean Point’s redeemed villainess, tosses her racquets aside after yet another major final loss. Talented and deeply competitive, she steamrolls her way through tournaments then struggles in the finals. Enough is enough.

Until she meets Oliver and the two strike up a friendship—and make a bet that pulls her right back into tennis. Oliver’s ready to retire from tennis and jumps into coaching Dylan, pushing these friends into close proximity and high-stress moments. And the chemistry is on fire, but will they blur the lines of coach and player with so much at stake?

LOVED Game Point. First, I’m a huge tennis fan and was a competitive tennis player years ago (sadly, not on the professional circuit), so all the tennis was right up my alley and brought me back to some crazy times. I loved how the author brought the characters and their personalities together. Dylan is such a fireball and competitor, a little (or a lot) stubborn and prickly, and carries a lot of love and tenderness for the people who matter to her. Loved her tenacity and her softer side as well. Oliver is just such a good guy and the perfect balance for Dylan. The thoughtfulness and maturity they both showed (most of the time) communicating and thinking of each was perfection.

The plot was fun too—not just about the romance but competitive sports, the physical and mental toll, the emotions, family dynamics, all of it made the book that much more compelling!

Overall, I adored this book and highly recommend.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Rating: 4.5
Themes and Tropes: Sports Romance (Tennis), Friends to Lovers, Coach/Player, Slow Burn, Great Banter, No Ridiculous Third-Act, Character Growth
Steam: Low to Medium

2.75***

this was okay. not great, not horrible - truly just very mediocre. i found myself never wanting to pick this one up and that contributed to it taking me over 2 whole weeks to read.

i didn’t mind the characters (i really do love a “ruthless” anger-fueled FMC) but again, the romance was just very meh. it fell super flat to me and i never once felt the tension or chemistry between the two main characters. their dynamic felt more like platonic love rather than romantic love.

also: i unfortunately got the ick a few times & also was so irritated that the FMC did not know how to use a washing machine…. or that neither of them could cook & had to rely on her mother to give them meal prepped food.

i LOVED the tennis world/setting that the author puts us in & i really did enjoy the chapters describing the matches.

i seem to be in the minority for this one but i’m so glad people have been loving this!!

I really wanted to love this, I swear. I'm in my tennis era and I thought this was just perfect. I actually liked the book, don't get me wrong. I just had the expectation that I was going to like it a lot more.
The main problem is that I wasn't hooked until almost the end. Which for me, is one of the main things I look for when I choose a new read, to be hooked.
Most likely I just wasn't in the mood for this book.
I did like how it dealt with self-demand and the mental pressure that comes from such a competitive environment as playing any sport professionally.
I also really enjoyed Dylan's point of view and being able to get inside her head.
Overall, I liked the book but I didn't love it, although I can see why other readers might enjoy reading it.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC. In a world full of F1 and Hockey romances, it was refreshing to pick up a book about tennis. Exploring the dynamics between friends to coach/player to lovers was very well done, and you could feel the chemistry coming off the page. There was a good balance between the will they/won’t they romance line and the sport, which the sports girls will appreciate!

4.5 stars!
Meg Jones has done it again! I loved Clean Point and I was sooo excited to be gifted an ARC of this book.
I loved Dylan and Oliver! Such great characters! Well developed characters and so likeable! It was easy to connect with them and they were relatable.
The plot was so well structured. This book is written so well. The pace of the story was perfect.
I loved the chemistry, the friendships, the drive of the characters!
I got so many of the ingredients I love in a sports romance - tension, slightly slow burn, friends-to-lovers, emotional growth, banter for days, spice, forced proximity, and coach-player vibes.
Just the right mix of sport and romance in the plot.
Thank you so much to NetGalley & Meg Jones for the opportunity to review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

such good characters and a wonderful story! I loved it so much and would definitely recommend!


I know you all will love it too!

The author crafted an engaging story in Game Point that perfectly blended sports drama, slow-burn tension, and emotional depth. Dylan Bailey was a relatable and resilient heroine, grappling with the weight of professional failure and the terrifying prospect of walking away from the sport that shaped her. Oliver Anderson, with his easy charm and steady support, made for the ultimate book boyfriend—especially as their coaching dynamic slowly, deliciously shifted into something more.
The tennis backdrop, particularly leading up to the Australian Open, added a fresh and exciting layer to the romance. The author captured both the exhilaration and the exhaustion of professional sports really well, grounding the characters' struggles in authenticity.
While some pacing issues occasionally slowed the momentum, especially in the middle of the book, the chemistry between Dylan and Oliver kept me hooked. Their friendship felt genuine, and watching it blossom into something deeper was incredibly satisfying.
Overall, Game Point was a charming, heartfelt romance that balanced sweet moments with just the right amount of spice. Fans of sports romances and slow-burn love stories will absolutely want to add this one to their shelves!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

📣ARC Review
📖: Game Point
@megjoneswrites
Release date: 08.05.25

I saw this on @netgalley and was intrigued so I requested it. I love a good sports romance and a romance set in the tennis world always piques my interest! (Big fan of the movie Wimbledon and loved Carrie Soto Is Back!)

Dylan and Oliver! Love them ! Dylan is a highly competitive tennis star who is struggling with her game. Oliver is also a pro who is feeling uninspired and wondering what comes next. These 2 meet at a party, become friends and continue that friendship long distance while they are competing. I really love Dylan’s character. She is headstrong, and usually knows what she wants, but her game is suffering and so is her confidence. Oliver is a supportive friend who eventually becomes Dylan’s coach.

These two have a slow burn with both of them having feelings for the other without either knowing! I really loved Oliver’s patience with Dylan as she tried to work through her issues on the court. I really like how Dylan kind of lets down her guard and lets Oliver in and lets him help her with her game. These two were really great together! ❤️

This was a good, solid sports romance and I enjoyed it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

🎾pro athletes
🎾friends to lovers
🎾long distance
🎾celebrity romance
🎾roommates

Many thanks to @netgalley for the ARC