Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

As someone who grew up playing tennis and has followed international tournaments on TV for ages, I loved reading a sapphic romance set on the courts! It was so much fun to spot all the little details I recognised from real tournaments, even with the dates shifted to fit the narrative (as the author clarifies at the start of the book).

The characters were generally fun, although I found Juliette insufferable for the first third or so of the story - she was bratty and outright mean to Luca for absolutely no reason! I'm glad she eventually thawed and started reflecting a bit more before speaking. Luca was my favourite - I really enjoyed reading her character development and learning more about her struggles with relationships, anxiety, and past experiences. Her bond with her coach was especially sweet.

The romance is rooted heavily in the idea that the two women are soulmates (a surprising but interesting touch of magical realism!), and I felt we weren’t given enough other reasons for their connection to develop early on. That said, once the spark began to grow, I could definitely feel the chemistry between them, which made it fun to read.

I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy sports romances and sapphic love stories, especially with a unique twist!

**Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review!**

3.5 stars rounded for star rating

I really enjoyed this!! First of all, I LOVED how tennis heavy this was. As someone who plays tennis and watched the tennis circuit all year, I loved having the inner monologues of Juliette and Luca and I think it added a lot to their characters. I did struggle to get into this book for a bit and I think was because of Juliette's unlikeable characters (which I know was intentional). HOWEVER, I loved the growth that both characters had, individually and in their relationship. Touching quickly on the magical realism, I wasn't expecting it which is definitely my fault. Because of this, it kind of threw me for a loop and made it a bit difficult to get into the book. Overall though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what else this author writes.

Backhanded compliments is a rivals to lovers tennis sports romance! Luca and Juliette are rivals but they’re also soulmates! There was lots of tension, chemistry and spice. If you’re a huge tennis fan I think you will eat up the play by play scenes. Which for me I struggled to keep reading on because I felt like it slowed the story. After the 60% mark I felt like the story got a little flat. But I love the magical realism aspects of this story and would definitely read more from the author.

I was so excited for this one but unfortunately it didn’t entirely work for me.

For starters, the dual POV was not as distinct as I would’ve hoped. I found our two character’s voices to be a bit too similar, which ended up taking me out of the story at times.

Overall I also just was not a fan of Juliette. It made it a bit tough for me to root for her.

I loved the idea of soulmates and this universe that is much like our own, but as it stands it unfortunately didn’t bring much more to my overall enjoyment of the story. I was hoping it would be a bit more fleshed out, but this mostly just reads like any other contemporary romance as this aspect didn’t change much else about the universe in the book. It felt a bit like a plot device to bring the characters together.

There were sections of the story that went on a little too long as well, but that is more of a personal preference.

Finally, classic miscommunication which is never my favorite!

Definitely still pick this up if you’re interested. I desperately wanted to love a sapphic enemies to lovers and I know a lot of readers will definitely enjoy this one!

Backhanded Compliments started with some great tension and chemistry between Juliette and Luca. As the book continues, both of these characters give me "mean girl" vibes, and I didn't care for either of them. This book had great potential, but fell flat for me. I'm disappointed because I was looking forward to this book. I will not be posting this review on my social media accounts as I only promote books I love there to keep the space positive for everyone.

Backhanded Compliments was such a struggle for me. I was sucked in easily by the concept of a sapphic tennis rivals-to-lovers romance, which sounds so fun and to my taste - but was more dubious about the soulmate/soulmark trope that I've never been a fan of when it shows up in fanfiction. Unfortunately, the weakness of this plot device overcame my appreciation for the romance and sports side of things.

The sports element is done well - unlike some sports romances I've read, there's enough actual sports in this to justify the label - but the characterization suffers a little for me. A quarter or so into the book I still couldn't tell the two protagonists apart; plus, both their enmity and attraction felt too high, too quickly, without development or reasonable justification for either.

But ultimately, it's the soulmark trope that I just can't enjoy. It feels like a goofy cheap device to force the characters together, but there are other factors in their lives pushing them together (namely the tennis matches!), and I'd be far more interested in seeing their feelings, both antagonistic and romantic, develop through those means than through the soulmate mark.

All that being said - if this is a trope you like, you will probably get more of a kick out of this than I did. I just couldn't get into it with that plot device driving the story.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

✨ Sapphic Adult Romance
✨ Third Person, Dual POV
✨ 3/5 Spice Level
✨ Modern Soulmates
✨ Rivals to Lovers
✨ Standalone
✨ Rep: bisexual rep, Croatian MC, Italian, MC

> micro-tropes and content warnings after review

I wasn’t 100% sure if I was going to like this book because I didn’t realize at first it included the soulmates trope. I am a big fan of sport romances, and I used to play tennis (which I’d never seen before as part of a sapphic sports romances). However, I find the soulmates trope can be a little… cheesy, for lack of a better word. They often require me to suspend disbelief which I’m not always able to do… luckily I was able to do that with this book.

I enjoyed the two main characters, Luca and Juliette. Luca was likable from the beginning. She definitely gave the vibe of a hopeless romantic. Juliette on the other hand was kind of mean… but I felt like she was just rough around the edges. Considering how her father coaches her it is not particularly surprising, and through the book she experiences some character development and growth. I thought both MCs had good chemistry with each other that developed into more, and of course there is the influence of their soulmate-bond. Even with them being soulmates it didn’t feel overly forced as they did have a very important part of their lives in common: professional tennis.

Speaking of tennis, this is definitely a sports romance, emphasis on “sports”. The beginning of the book is heavy on the sports and lighter on the romance. I think this might not be as enjoyable for some readers (especially if you aren’t into tennis), but seeing as tennis is so important to both characters I think the inclusion of tennis on a larger scale makes sense. It is important to note though as it may not be what some are expecting when compared to other sports romances I’ve read where the sport takes a backseat to the romance.

I decided on 4 stars because this was an enjoyable read that I didn’t have any major issues with. I would have like a bit more from the book though. More depth to Luca and Juliette’s backgrounds/character arcs would have made this book even better. Seeing as this is the author’s debut novel, I am curious to see where future works go, and I’d be interested in reading more by Katie Chandler.

(beware potential spoilers below)

Micro-tropes
✨ edging
✨ ✂️
✨ keeping it a secret

Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
emotional child abuse (off page, past), anxiety/panic attacks, explicit content, de*th of parents (mentioned)

Great plot inspiration, unfortunately I wasn't the most invested in this story!

Competitors, tennis, sapphic romance, this hit all the fun themes but was a middle of the road story for me.

I am obsessed with sports romances. I can't get enough of them. Kate Chandler some how knew that and threw in the soulmate trope to boot. This ode to fanfiction elements was a surprise and welcomed change up. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Backhanded Compliments was my first tennis romance but definitely won’t be my last. I’ve always been a big fan of sports romances, especially ones with rivals to lovers. The other trope I love is a soulmate au. There is something so fun about our characters finding their person through coincidence or accident that hits every time.

While I wouldn’t say this was the best romance I have ever read, I did have fun reading about Luca and Juliette and watching their relationship blossom throughout our story. The one thing I do wish we had gotten more of was depth and backstory. I feel like there was more about each character that we didn’t know and could’ve endeared us to them even more.

All in all, super fun sports romance that I would recommend to anyone looking for a quick easy read.

Sapphic rival tennis player romance and soulmate ship? What more could you want? Juliette Ricci and Luca Kacic are two players who are competing to become the women's best tennis player in the world. Yet the only problem is that despite their insults and media fights, they are actually soulmates, with their names on each other's wrists. Juliette is jealous of everything Luca has and she refuses to have anything to do with Luca or even being her soulmate meanwhile Luca wants a soulmate, she wants all or nothing. Yet the more they clash the more they begin to grow close... but can they have a relationship when only one of them can be number one in the competition. I was so excited to read a sports romance with a soulmate AU but this kinda fell flat for me. Like Juliette just didn't feel like she deserved Luca after everything she did. I did not feel the romance or chemistry between these two in the way I wanted. I am all for a soulmate AU but this one just wasn't giving in a way I wanted. I unfortunately just didn't vibe with this and despite me being a tennis player, being someone who adores sapphic romance and soulmate AUs... this just didn't live up to my expectations. While this wasn't for me if you are looking for a unique sports romance, definitely give it a go.

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This book sounded really good but I guess I just don’t know enough about tennis 😅 I also didn’t love the magical realism soulmate subplot… I think I would’ve liked it more if they had developed feelings for each other outside of knowing they’re soulmates. Overall it’s a well written sports romance with plenty of spice!

This was such a good slow burn romance! I learned a lot about tennis, and the soulmate aspect of the world was fun and interesting. Luca and Juliette hating each other in the beginning set the story up for a really strong romance. Some bits of the book were a little slow to me, but they were definitely necessary to build the character arcs seen throughout the book. Thank you to Atria Books for an early copy!

In "Backhanded Compliments," Katie Chandler delivers a sharp and emotional sapphic romance about two young women navigating rivalry, pressure, and unexpected connection with a bit of magical realism included.

The story follows Juliette Ricci, a focused and ambitious professional tennis player determined to reach the top, and her longtime rival, Luca Kacic, a laid-back fan favorite dealing with her own struggles. When they finally compete against each other in a major match, tensions are high, but so is something neither of them expected - instant attraction. From there, the story moves along briskly, balancing banter, tension, and moments of vulnerability. Chandler adds a magical twist with the idea of soulmates being marked by fate, which deepens the emotional stakes for our two main characters. Their romantic relationship builds slowly and believably, as Juliette and Luca learn to see past their assumptions and find common ground beyond the tennis court.

Chandler's writing feels warm and honest, giving both MCs their own distinct voices and emotional depth. Their chemistry feels realistic, as do the challenges they face, making their journey satisfying to follow.

I couldn’t have asked for a better story to kick off my foray into tennis romance! The sports angle was so well done—expertly written, accessible, and genuinely exciting. As a total novice, I was surprised by how immersed I felt. I could follow the matches, feel the stakes rise, and get swept up in the adrenaline of it all.

Even more surprising (and delightful) was the addition of soulmate marks. I’ve read this troped in a few webcomics, but seeing it play out in a full-length sapphic novel was magical. Rising stars Juliette and Luca have each other’s names marked on their wrists—a clear sign they’re soulmates—but they keep it hidden from the media frenzy. Still, Juliette’s jealousy of Luca’s ranking and raw talent on the court creates distance between them… until a charity match in Naples brings them back into each other’s orbit.

This felt like the sapphic equivalent of BookTok favorites like Twisted Love or The Maddest Obsession (remember Gianna?)—it hits that same perfect mix of pacing, passion, and spice. While the tennis stakes are high, the personal drama stays relatively low-angst, and conflicts are resolved with a lighter hand. The third-person POV occasionally pulled me out of the story during quieter moments (I usually struggle with that) but overall, I was deeply invested.

Juliette’s bold, impulsive nature made her a standout for me—especially in contrast to Luca’s calmer, more introspective vibe. I also loved Juliette’s three sisters, each bringing their own flavor to the story with their differing takes on tennis and soulmate marks. If this turns into an interconnected series, I’ll absolutely be first in line.

2.5 stars

I’m going to try to keep this review from getting away from me, but I have a lot to say. Which is no surprise since this book took me a week to read and I usually would take 1 – 2 days to read a sports romance of this length. That doesn’t mean it was bad or I didn’t like it, but there were issues. So why didn’t I DNF this one? First, it seems to be this author’s publishing debut, and I wanted to give her a fair shake. I also wasn’t sure if it was a me thing or a problem with the book, so I was trying to figure that out.

Let’s start with the good. I’m glad there have been more sapphic sports romances popping up lately. The concept of this story was intriguing. As someone who only has a rudimentary idea of the rules of tennis, the author did a good job of getting the idea across. And if you’re someone who wants the sport in your sports romance to feature more than a page or two, this delivers on that. Although both Juliette and Luca aren’t very likable in the beginning, they grew on me once the author showed their true natures. I also enjoyed the camaraderie and friendship among the women’s tennis players.

All of those good things lead me to problems, though. I felt the particulars of the tennis matches and sets were sometimes too detailed. I found myself wanting to skim over that, but sometimes something important was happening so I couldn’t. There were often too many people on the page before the characters’ personalities were clear enough for that to happen. Which sister was which? Which players were currently on the circuit and which were the retirees? And why did it take eight chapters for Juliette and Luca to interact in any significant way? Even then, they were constantly pushing each other away. That made it very hard for me to believe their chemistry. It was a lot of telling (they are soulmates) and not nearly enough showing. It wasn’t until the last quarter of this book that I started feeling a true connection between the women.

Speaking of telling…it is alluded to that both Luca and Juliette have had partners in the past who hurt them. Their upbringing is also meant to be something that is prominent in how they think of soulmates. Yet there is no follow-through. I have no idea if Juliette’s mom is even alive, yet her dad is her tennis coach. She isn’t mentioned other than for the fact that her mom and dad aren’t soulmates, yet have a “great love.” What happened to Luca’s parents, and how did they hurt her so badly? It’s clear they did, but how? When? Quite honestly, for this being a newly published author, I blame her editor for these holes and dangling plotlines.

There is a lot done with Juliette’s sisters that makes me feel this will be a series. Especially her younger sister, who said she was going to introduce her beau to them all, and that never happened on the page. I did end up loving all of the women in this book. I would love to see their stories. But unless I know things are tightened up in the next book, I may have to pass.

I enjoy sports romances and I like tennis. I thought this would be an easy story to love. Juliette Ricci and Luca Kacic are tennis rivals. Both are top ten stars playing at the highest level of the sport. Juliette feels a lot of pressure to rise to be number one. Her father is a demanding and strict coach which adds to her anxiety. Luca is just as driven. Now in her mid twenties she is wondering if love could fit into her world.

All of that was working for me but the story involves soulmates. Not just I feel like we were meant to be, but that a your soulmate’s name will appear on your arm like a tattoo. They don’t have to choose their soulmates but there are benefits to being with your fated person. Because of their initial hostility it was hard to see them being a couple. And I usually love busy body sister’s but they didn’t click for me. And the last act break up and fix felt very rushed. I did like the tennis and the tension in the games.

Thanks to Atria for the advanced copy of Backhanded Compliments by Katie Chandler!

I really enjoyed the intense rivalry between Juliette and Luca in the beginning of this book and the drama throughout, but I felt like many of the emotions between the two were only surface-level and could have been explored deeper. I admit the most fun I had towards the end of the book was Livia's secret and I'm not sure that was even revealed by the end.

(4.5 rounded up) This is an absolutely perfect summer romance! If you’ve been looking for a tense, sapphic, sports romance— look no further!! I really loved the aspect of “soul marks” (your soulmates name on your wrist which magically changes color when you find them 🥰). There was *a lot* of sports BUT I do think that the scenes were necessary, especially the ones directly involving the MCs, so you could understand the rivalry.

I think “Backhanded Compliments” was wonderfully done and a great debut for Katie Chandler. It makes me think of “Cleat Cute” but tennis instead of soccer. I laughed, I cried, and I simply fell in love with an amazing story. The banter was top notch and a loved the little fantasy element of soulmates. You have a tattoo-like mark (they call it a “soulmark”) on your inner wrist with the name of you soulmate! It was something that makes this book feel so different from other sports romances I’ve read before. I liked the slow burn, rivals to lovers dynamic and liked how they slowly became friends first and then became more. You also get a lot of tennis without it being overly technical and you also get a lot of travel as a result of them being on their tennis competition tour. I also liked the side characters and their dynamic with the main characters. I loved the spicy scenes but the sweeter more poignant scenes made me melt. I enjoyed watching them bounce off of each other and the dual POV aspect. I liked being able to get both FMCs thoughts and feelings. I made it so much easier to see why they were falling for each other. I also really appreciated how the complications in the relationship are resolved through clear communication. This novel has a great representation of anxiety that really made me happy to read, and felt refreshing to read, one of the many reasons to love it. Thanks to Katie Chandler, Atria Books and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I can’t wait to see what Katie publishes next!