Cute and charming rom-com that was a great palate cleanser. Brooke is a bit awkward and frustrating at times, but Owen is a delight.

I wish this book had about 25-50 more pages of Owen & Brooke actually in their relationship together and having some of the necessary conversations needed to resolve some of their miscommunications rather than all the pickleball talk. I know nothing about pickleball, and after this book, I still don't really feel like I know all that much. While it does make up a large portion of the plot, I know the terminology but not definitions. So don't ask me what a dink is or where the kitchen is cause I know they exist, but I couldn't tell you what they are.

But would recommend. It was cute.

Special thanks to NetGalley & Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read & review this ARC.

loved this romance of a writer needing to get out of the funk and gets lesson on pickleball with Owen and trying to meet another guy. she ends up falling for Owen and working on the book. loved that she went out of her comfort zone with the coach and found love. Loved this romance and about trying new things.

I loved this book! I cannot say enough good things about it. Especially with pickleball becoming popular the last few years this book has a sport theme I have not seen very often. I also enjoyed how much we got to see them bond and grow together throughout.

The story explores themes of identity, relationships, and personal growth, making it a thought-provoking and emotional journey.

I highly recommend "Pick Me" to anyone looking for a compelling and well-crafted story. It's a must-read!

The cutest, quickest read to pull anyone out of a reading slump!

I was in a serious slump, and this book completely turned things around for me. I loved Owen—he’s the sweetest, most thoughtful MMC. He cared so deeply for Brooke and was willing to put his own feelings aside just to make her happy. There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake Brooke and yell, “He’s perfect for you!” But watching her come around and finally realize how amazing he was and her do some of her own pining was worth it. The HEA was so cute and the pickleball aspect was perfectly done. I’ll definitely be reading another one of her books!

4 stars!

3.5 stars rounded up

even though i enjoyed this book, i cannot get past my personal opinion that pickleball is the least sexy sport ever. however, this book did grow on me!! i enjoyed the relationship between the MCs but felt like we only knew them on a very surface level way. this was a nice quick read for summer!

thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this one. I liked the characters, I enjoyed the plot. I did get a little annoyed that she couldn't see who her real muse was until the end, but still a fun read.

🎙️Live from Court One: It’s Book Review Time! 🎾

And whoa baby, we’ve got a real page-turner in play today. I came into this one expecting a nice little rally of light banter and casual flirtation, this book had that and just a touch of spice.

The match started slow I'm talking dink rally slow as a Starbucks drive through on black Friday. Thought we might be stuck in warm-ups forever. But just when I was about to call a timeout and come back to in a month? Boom it finally started to get good. with a Slow burn activation mid set. The chemistry lit up like a paddle to a power shot, and suddenly I was in it, eyes wide, flipping pages like I was returning serves in a championship tiebreaker.

Now let’s talk intensity. Moments of passion? Oh, they hit harder than a kitchen-line smash. You think you're just vibing and then BAM heartstrings yanked, emotions spinning, and you're sweating like you're two points down in the final game. culminating in a HEA Happy Ending Alert!

The kicker? It’s an author writing about an author. Meta magic, people. Layers on layers. It’s like watching someone narrate their own serve-and-volley rally risky, intimate, and totally engaging.

And between the banter, the longing, and that swoony, slow-build romance? I gotta admit... I’m seriously considering taking up pickleball. Why? Because now I, too, want to meet my own hot bucket hat cutie across the court. I am manifesting my page to life arc here :) klutzs can be sporty right?

This book brought the heat, the heart, and left me ready to rally for love. Game Match Set solid 4 star maybe 4.5 star read I really liked the alicorns. iykyk ;)

This was such a fun, feel-good read! The story follows a super relatable main character who's trying to figure out life and love, plus there’s a cute pickleball twist that I totally appreciated as someone who plays. The male lead? Loved his energy. He was flirty, confident, and just really fun to read. Not overly spicy, but it definitely made me laugh out loud. Perfect if you want something light and entertaining.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I picked up this book because I hadn't seen any romances related to pickleball and was intrigued. Going into summer I figured it could be the perfect quick, fun read. This book delivered!

The premise was enjoyable to read - an uninspired romance writer attempts to learn pickleball in order to make a connection with a cute guy to spark her creativity after a breakup. Enter the pickleball coach who agrees to help her improve her skills and get the cute guy to notice her...it goes exactly how you'd think and I have no complaints. The connection Brooke and Owen build throughout their training was very well done and both characters had strong personalities which were enjoyable to see. Being in only Brooke's POV throughout the story allows you to pick up on her humor and understand the way she overcomes challenges.

The third act conflict wasn't my favorite; however, I appreciate that the story wasn't stuck there for too long before it was resolved. Overall, a perfect read if you're looking for something quick, fun, and flirty (especially recommended for pickleball playing season!).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book just proves that when it’s real, it is easy. It may not FEEL easy because we all tote baggage and scars around with us but…all those Owen and Brooke were easy together. 🫠 I love that the hard was heavy but never unbearable and the way O saw B was so beautifully intentional and safe. It also made me miss the sounds of the City. The characters we're so easy to relate to and I loved the whole story line!

I’m so glad and grateful I got to read this early! I can't wait to get a hard copy when it’s out because I need it on my shelf to read over and over again. ❤️

This is a super cute easy read. Just the perfect length for a palate cleanser between books.

I had no previous knowledge of pickle-ball, but enjoyed that the author used key terms and gave bits of direction about the game itself. It gave me a new understanding of the game and those who play it.

I am typically not a fan of slow burn or miscommunication tropes but the chemistry between the FMC and MMC made it super enjoyable. All characters (main and side) were likeable and relatable. I love that each of them had the FMC best interests at heart all through the book. Conflict was minimal and, in the end, easily resolved.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Brooke and Owen are two really likeable leads and the author does well with making you root for them from the start!

This was such a fun book. I love reading all types of sports romances, so when I saw this book about pickle ball I thought, why not? Plus I love when the FMC is an author. I know some people don't enjoy that, but I'm a sucker for it. Plus the fact she was a ghostwriter made it extra interesting to me. Brooke was a little bit of a mess, but that's what I found relatable about her. Our MMC Owen was such a mystery and I loved learning more about him as the book went on. I still feel like he has some secrets though. Let us in Owen!

I thought the story was a good balance between the sports aspect and the relationship building. The side characters were fantastic as well. This was my first time reading this author and I'm ready to grab another book! The writing flowed really well, the plot was solid and the pacing was spot on. The book is Single POV (her), I would've loved to have had a chapter or two from Owen's POV.

Thanks to Avon and Harper voyage and NetGalley for this arc!

I thought this was such a cute little rom com! I absolutely loved it! It was so sweet!

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for this ARC!

I’ve never read a pickle ball romance, so this was a fun change! Brooke is a ghost writer in need of a muse. After finding Kai playing pickle ball, she wants to date him for inspiration. She doesn’t know how to get closer to him, so she decides to learn to play pickle ball!

Her coach, Owen, works with her to get better at pickle ball and with her cowboy romance! He clearly has feelings for her, but Brooke is interested in Kai. But soon she learns she never wanted Kai at all. Owen doesn’t want to be in another love triangle, so Brooke has to show him that they can have love off the court!

This is a single POV from Brooke’s perspective only.

Wow the chemistry these two had was amazing!
This was a random book I found and I’m so glad I was approved for an early copy.
I was invested in Brooke from the very first page. She’s smart, funny and honest.

Wow the chemistry these two had was amazing!
This was a random book I found and I’m so glad I was approved for an early copy.

This book was such a cute book! It takes a different perspective on a sports romance! I loved how the FMC Brooke learned to be confident in her athletic abilities and quit having negative self-talk!

This was delightful! Brooke is facing a deadline but is in a writing slump. When she encounters a handsome stranger at a pickleball court, she thinks he may be the solution to her creative block. The best way to the stranger’s heart is via pickleball so she enlists the best trainer in the city to help her out. It doesn’t hurt that the trainer seems to understand her, support her, and that he’s easy on the eyes.

I adored this! It was interesting to see Brooke grapple with being from a sports family but not feeling at all athletically inclined. Owen is a darling and a perfect match for Brooke. It was lovely to see how their relationship developed and I enjoyed learning a little more about pickleball. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I loved this book so much 😭 for being a pickleball rom-com, it was SO CUTE. Great tropes: coach-student, fake dating, sports romance, he falls first. There's even time at a horse ranch. One POV. I can't wait until this comes out so I can buy it for my shelf! I'm so glad I got picked for an ARC!

Pick Me by Victoria Schade is an utterly charming and heartwarming romance that delivers just the right amount of humor, healing, and heat. This feel-good story follows Brooke, a writer battling a serious case of writer’s block (and a broken heart), who unexpectedly finds inspiration—and more—on the pickleball court.

What starts as a playful ploy to spark her creativity by finding a new muse turns into something far more meaningful when she meets Owen, her charismatic and unexpectedly deep pickleball coach. Their chemistry is instant, but it’s the slow burn of emotional connection and shared vulnerability that truly drives the story. Watching Brooke rediscover her voice and passion—both in her writing and in life—is deeply satisfying.

Victoria Schade has crafted a story that’s as cute and fluffy as it is emotionally resonant. The witty banter, lovable characters, and lighthearted sports backdrop make this book a delightful escape. Whether you're a romance junkie or just need a sweet story to lift your spirits, Pick Me is an absolute must-read.