I was pleasantly surprised by this book. What I thought would be mainly of pickleball, was more like a story splashed with pickleball 😂

City, cowboys, hamptons, sports, romance, and the MC is a writer. It had a little bit of everything, but the romance was so cute!

I absolutely loved both MCs.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoyed the pickle ball focus of this book. I thought it was cute for a romance and a fun way to bring two characters together. I am, however, really not a fan of love triangles. And although this was maybe a possibility in my mind after having read the synopsis, I was hopeful that the the plot would not take us in that direction. Since it did, I was unfortunately disappointed.

3.5 stars

As a romance author, Brooke knows quite a bit about a meet cute and what the most romantic stories are made of. After a chance encounter at on pickleball court, she is determined to impress her new crush by learning how to play and enlists the help of a local pickleball coach. Behind the Adam Sandler-style basketball shorts and ratty t-shirts, could the romantic hero of her story be hiding in Owen instead of her assumed knight-in-shining-athleisure across the court?

Utterly realistic to what modern dating looks and feels like today, Pick Me is a great example of what happens when a romance enthusiast tries to orchestrate her own story. Full of laugh out loud moments, Victoria Schade has written a sweet story that reminds readers that not all romance heroes are the perfectly sculpted big shot billionaires.

We follow Brooke, a romance ghost writer who begins playing pickleball to try to get over her writers block. She starts taking lessons from, Owen, a coach at the local pickleball club to try to get inspiration from her new muse, Kai. Eventually, Owen and Brooke find themselves falling for each other making Brooke realize she didn't need a muse after all.

I hadn't read a pickleball romcom before so this was a cute pallet cleanser. Overall, I would rate is 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley & Avon and Harper for giving me this ARC!

I just read this all in one sitting. I love the banter, the distrust, the ultimate romance and the burning sexual tension in between. So maybe giving pickleball sports romance a chance was a good choice?

I hadn’t read a pickleball romance before I picked up Pick Me, but I absolutely am going to read more now! Sports romances are some of my favorites, and this book is an easy add to that list. Brooke and Owen’s dynamic on the court is so real, and I loved his gentle but firm coaching style. It felt so true to who he is as a character!

Brooke, as a ghost writer, is highly relatable to me. Her search for inspiration in others is toooooo real, and it made her an easy character to understand. I loved seeing her realize the inspiration was not coming from her crush, but from Owen & the way Owen treated her. It felt so true and fitting for Brooke as a character!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a very real romance and the characters were so perfect together. Brooke and Owen are a couple I would love to hang out with, and I may have to try pickleball now… though like Brooke, I fear it may be an uphill battle at first!!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was so stinking cute! I apparently love a good pickleball romance! This has me laughing out loud so much!!! It has romance writing, humor, heat and all the pickleball references you could ever want! It was such a cute sporty romance! Great for a summer read too!

-3.75 Stars-

"I'll wait for you, as long as it takes."

I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of this book. See, at the beginning I had my doubts because the way the first one or two chapters were written felt rough. But then I got deeper into the story, got to know the characters, and I enjoyed it so much. There's something so warm about this book. Something so relatable, and when you find a romance novel that's relatable who truly does something to the heart strings.

No, this isn't a masterpiece. And no, it's not so fantastical but it was good. The romance was sweet, though it felt slow at time, and nothing felt half-attempted. Victoria Shade knew what she was talking about in the pickleball lessons, she knew what she was talking about in the horse scene, and she knew how to describe the struggles of a writer. And I really liked that, because that isn't always the case.

However, though there's lots to praise that doesn't mean this was all cupcakes and rainbows. As I stated before the beginning wasn't very hooking. To be completely honest it felt as though dialogue had been written and then descriptive paragraphs were put in to fill space. And that was in a way, disappointing. The writing style did improve though early after (maybe somewhere around the second more likely third chapter) so it didn't last long, but it still was there.

But ANYWAYS, moving onto the couple of the hour....
╰┈➤ ❝ 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓮 & 𝓞𝔀𝓮𝓷 ❞
Let's just give a moments to them hehe:
"Do you remember what you asked me at our first lesson?"
"I'm sure I asked you a lot of stupid questions, so take your pick."
"You asked me if I'd ever had an immediate reaction to a person. A 'bam' connection, I think you called it...I need you to know I had the reaction when I first saw you."

Ugh, they were actually really cute. I mean the way Owen consistently, from the very beginning, cared for her and wanted the best for her was very heart warming. They weren't over the top and they didn't stand out, they were real. (I feel like that word is going to come up a lot in this review because it perfectly describes this book AND the way it makes you feel). And that's what made them special. The fact that their case, story, didn't seem SO impossible; that their emotions weren't dramatized made it all so much sweeter. I mean they never even technically said "I love you", but they didn't need to. They said with actions, with the unspoken words, and that was enough. Much like in real word scenarios. They don't need words to explain or reason what they feel, they just feel it.

He helped her get out of her head, he was ALWAYS there for her, and that was something she needed without even knowing. He was everything she needed and more, it just took her a little while to figure out it was him and not Kai. And by a little while I mean a WHOLE LOTTA WHILE. And then when they finally followed through their happiness lasted for about a chapter and then it ended and that was just so deflating. I would've loved to see more of their time together before their breakup but other than that (and how excruciatingly long I had to wait for them to finally 'get together') they were nice.

*AHEM*
Mr. Owen Miller
»----► "You have my heart, Brooke. Since the very first moment I saw you."
Oh honey, we could tell.

This man was head over heels in love with Brooke before he even knew her name. And that's not even an exaggeration. He truly did fall in love at first sight with this girl, and it was obvious. But it was obvious in a cute way. He kind of gave off the vibe of that one Notting hill scene where Julia Roberts is standing in his book store and says: "I'm just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." Obviously Owen didn't say anything like that -like at ALL- for some reason I got the same from him as I got from that scene.

He did everything he could for her because he wanted her to have what she wanted. THAT'S how much he cared.

Now, he's not my type in a man and he wasn't what I expected but I grew to love him. Not as a book boyfriend, but as a character. As him. He didn't make me swoon, he made me smile.
He was precious in a boy-ish way, and I like that :)

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Now enter
↳ Brooke Murphy ༉‧₊˚✧
Our cutesy writing queen.
She was honestly so relatable, I saw my own personality in her. (Which is why at time I felt embarrassed FOR her, because I felt LIKE her). There were moments where she either annoyed me because she kept mentioning how she's not athletic (like girl, it comes to a point), and then there were moments where I frustrated with her because I wanted her to realize Kai wasn't who her muse was Owen was! She eventually realized it, and I was very proud of her :)

But anyways, back to her character. I'm going to be completely honest, there were moments where she was just utterly delusional. (Can't protest though because as hopeless romantics aren't we all?) I specifically noticed it when she was talking about Kai and referred to him as her future husband. It was at that moment that I knew, she was me and I loved her character. She was so simple, chill, and fun while also showing the complexities and difficulties of a writer and just a girl in love. It was wonderful.

<><><>

Overall, this was a really cute and quick read. The feels were fun and happy, and if you're looking for a nice rom-com add this to your tbr :)

I LOVED this one -- a different type of rom-com that I cannot stop thinking about . As someone who’s read their fair share of rom-coms, this one was the perfect mix of humor, heat, and heart -- and I absolutely loved it.

The premise alone felt unique and different which was nice: a romance writer in a bit of a creative rut decides to take up pickleball to chase inspiration (and maybe a man), only to fall her sarcastic, low-effort, high-skill coach. I adored Brooke's character. She was determined, delightfully chaotic, and very relatable (especially when it comes to her athletic skills).

And Owen. OH, OWEN. He's just perfect. The chemistry between Brooke and Owen was built in such a satisfying, slow-burn way that I couldn’t stop reading. Also, the pickleball terms? Hilarious. I have never played, but now I want to learn how to play. :-)

I really enjoyed the emotional growth and depth of the main characters. Brooke's creative journey mirrored her personal growth, and I appreciate how the romance wasn’t just about finding someone, but rediscovering herself in the process. This was a beautiful story and one I will continue to recommend to everyone to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the chance to read Pick Me!

Brooke is a writer who’s been stuck in a creative rut ever since breaking up with her boyfriend. But everything changes when she meets Kai during a game of pickleball — a walking muse, perfect on the outside and exactly the inspiration she needs for her next book. There’s just one problem: Brooke has absolutely no idea how to play pickleball.
Determined to get closer to Kai, she starts taking lessons from Owen, a sweet, golden-retriever-type of a coach who’s still carrying a few emotional bruises from his past relationship. What follows is a heartwarming and funny story about finding yourself, healing, and of course, love — even when it shows up in unexpected ways.
I really enjoyed this book. It made me laugh, it made me a little emotional, and it kept me turning the pages. A big thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.
If I had one note, it’s that I wish this book had been released in May or June. The story takes place in the summer, and it has all the vibes of a perfect beach read.

Pick Me was cute cute cute! Brooke is a down on her luck cowboy romance author looking for inspiration in all the wrong places and Owen is the black cat pickle ball coach that offers her a bid at finding her muse! Brooke and Owen keep finding themselves tossed together and end up finding something that was not at all what they thought they were looking for. Pick Me has lovable characters, hot banter, and is the perfect flirty summer read!

I’ve read a lot, and I truly do mean a LOT, of sports romances - but this was my first pickleball romance. The characters were witty, relatable, and felt like real people. Definitely a cute cozy read!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this ARC which I’ll gladly recommend ten times over!!! It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book that has kept me so interested that I stayed up late into the night to finish. Trust me when I tell you you’ll hit a certain age and sleep becomes a necessity and not just a luxury, so it’s not often I indulge into the late hours. But Pick Me by Victoria Schade, a new to me author, had me double checking the time because it didn't even feel like “bar hours.” What I liked most was you were essentially reading three stories unfold within one epic love story. Oh and this new phenomenon called Pickle Ball, which I’ve heard in passing but most likely wouldn’t have cared to learn about it if wasn’t for reading Pick Me! I, like Brooke, am not the athlete in my family. MMC Owen was all over the place personality wise, but his Golden Retriever side easily draws you in and has you rooting for this couple against all odds. A must read in my book!

"I promise not to lure any sailors to their deaths tonight."

"Too late," he said softly. (Pick Me, Chpt. 26).

Highlights: 735😲
Spice Level🥵: 2/5
Overall⭐: 4/5

Tropes:
💚 Strangers to Friends to Lovers
💚 Pickleball
💚 Coach x Student
💚 Forced Proximity
💚 Rom-Com Vibes
💚 He Falls First
💚 Writer FMC
💚 Slow Burn

Let me just start by saying… Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, and He Falls First are usually my least favorite tropes. I’m an Enemies-to-Lovers ride or die, that being said...I absolutely loved this book!

The dedication (which hit way too close to home—yes, I also loathed PE) instantly hooked me.

What really sealed it for me was the FMC, Brooke. She's a ghostwriter for a spicy cowboy romance author, but she's battling a brutal case of writer’s block after a messy breakup. Her love life is on pause, and so is her book. That is… until her amazing bestie Meredith convinces her to step outside her comfort zone and chase down some new inspiration.

Enter: Kai—the potential muse. But then, surprise! In swoops Owen "The Big Gripper" Miller, her adorably nerdy, endearingly awkward pickleball coach with rom-com main character energy. And let me tell you, I was Team Owen from their very first scene.

Smart. Charming. Sweet in that “ugh, why are you so lovable” way.

This book was everything I didn’t know I needed. The banter? Chefs kiss. The slow burn? Delicious. The romance? Heart-eyes forever. Plus, there's an adorable little dog in the book who is hands down one of the best characters!

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for this opportunity! 💚

A very cute sports romance!

-Coach/Student
-He falls first
-Love triangle

Brooke, a Cowboy Romance ghost writer, is dealing with a severe case of writer's block after just getting out of a relationship. Upon discussing it with her roommate, she convinces her that the best thing for her to do would be to get out of their apartment. They go and play doubles at a pickleball court where Brooke spots Kai, her ultra hot new muse. With her roommate's help, they come up with a plan that she'll start taking pickleball lessons in order to get closer to Kai.

During her lessons with Owen, the pickleball coach, she reveals the real reason she's there and "operation muse". In an attempt to spend more time with Brooke, Owen agrees to continue free lessons with her and even trying to set up a "meet-cute" on the court for her and Kai.

But the more she spends time with Owen both on and off the court, Brooke starts to wonder if she even really wants to see her original plan through...

I really enjoyed this read. I think the only thing that would've made this better would a POV from Owen, perhaps just a chapter or two. I'd love to know exactly what he was thinking from his end. But overall this is great if you're looking for a quick romance read to finish in one sitting!

I couldn’t put this down! I had never read any of Victoria’s work before this, but now I can definitely say I want to check out more of it.

I loved Brooke and Owen’s strangers to friends to lovers journey. I enjoyed the pacing. The side characters were great support. I loved Victoria’s voice. I appreciated her sense of humor and the she incorporated bookish slang.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I don't play pickleball, but I feel like I am an expert after this.

Brooke is a ghostwriter looking to branch out on her own and make a name for herself. She hit a writers block after a devastating breakup and was on the hunt for a new muse. She never thought that he would be found at a high-class pickle ball club or that the guy she thought was her muse was all wrong.

Owen is so cool. He has a vibe to him that just makes you instantly obsessed with him. You can tell from the start that he is attracted to Brooke and will do whatever he can to help her.

I usually like it when the book is written in duel POV, but for this one, I didn't need it. It was predictable with the right amount of drama and spice. For me, this is a win.

Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager, for this ARC

I devoured this book! We meet sweet Brooke who is a ghost writer in a slump. Her best friend/roommate convinces her to just say yes for everything. She winds up meeting our cute Owen and golden retriever Kai. She thinks that Kai is going to be her muse. We fall in love with the slow burn and the development of realizing that Kai isn't who she really wants. This sticky love triangle is absolutely cute! There is some spice but not overly spicy. I wish I knew more about Owen and B and also her brother. This isn't a typical book I would pick up but I couldn't put this down. I didn't hate any characters and didn't feel like pickleball over took the story. It helped B realize that she is more confident and capable than she believes. We can thank Owen for helping her realize and come out of her little shell.
Thank you netgalley and publisher and author for letting me be an arc reader for leaving my own honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved that it was a pickleball romance. I actually took pickleball lessons last fall, so this sport really connected with me. Brooke being a beginner and taking lessons made me connect with her more. I will say her falling for Owen was really predictable, but isn’t that kind of what we expect in a romance? Overall I really enjoyed it.

Pick Me by Victoria Schade is a contemporary romance novel about a writer who gets into pickleball and attempts to get her writing mojo back by impressing a randomly chosen muse. I enjoyed the pickleball aspect as I haven't read a book about it before, and you definitely do not need to know how to play to read it which is great. Unfortunately, I found their romance to be lacking a bit - he fell for her instantly and she had noooo idea (it was so obvious). I was annoyed with the FMC's random obsession with this hot stranger she had no connection to when Owen was right in front of her and she clearly had chemistry with him. The "love triangle" trope didn't exactly hit for me. Overall, the book was a good read and made me want to start playing pickleball more.