3.5 stars!!

This book was a fun time! Interesting plot that had a super cute romance. I wouldn't say that it got particularly deep, but with everything that was going on in the story, I don't think was necessary to either! I had the best time reading about two people falling in love over pickleball lessons!

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the eARC!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC! As soon as I saw this cover, i knew I needed to read this book! So happy to have received the notification that I was approved to read it!
Pick Me by Victoria Schade is going to be released on November 18th and it's delightful! Brooke Murphy, a cowboy romance ghostwriter in need of inspiration, signs up for a mixed doubles pickleball game hoping it’ll spark ideas for her next book. There, she meets Owen, a grumpy but talented coach who reluctantly agrees to help her learn the game. As Brooke’s pickleball skills improve, so does her writing—and maybe, just maybe, her heart starts falling for her coach too. This book served everything I wanted and more! A romance set around pickleball lessons? Yes please—we need way more of that! The short chapters kept me hooked, the tension was 🔥, and Owen (our swoony, grumpy MMC) totally stole the show. If you're into fun, flirty romances with heart, I 100% recommend—and I’ll definitely be grabbing more from this author! 🎾💘

Brooke, a romance writer in a writing slump, finds her Muse, Kai, in the pickleball court. Everything goes to plan. The meet cute check, Run in the same circle check. To impress him, she takes lessons with a professional coach, Owen.

The premise is great. That’s why I picked up this ARC. A writer taking up pickleballs lesson to impress someone only to fall for her coach. There are too many guys. There’s Kai, the muse. Leo, her ex, which doesn’t come to play but the reason why she’s in a slump, Owen, actual MMC. I don’t feel the chemistry between them. It wasn’t really opposites attract. He’s sporty, she’s a nerdy writer, but they both love reading.

Owen also had trauma of being in a love triangle and doesn’t want to get with Brooke. That’s valid! Brooke was playing him along honestly. While she is still pursuing Kai, she kisses him. He says no and puts space because he knows this is a telltale sign of love triangle. The pining could have work when there is undeniable chemistry or the other man is a jerk.

Kai, the other guy, had nothing particularly wrong. He was a rich guy who went to Yale to continue his family company. He doesn’t like reading 😑 He isn’t a match for Brooke. I don’t think not having the same hobbies as you is a red flag, not respecting your career is though. It didn’t work because Owen and Kai are both equally bland. So, I wasn’t rooting for any of them

It wasn’t bad but I’m just sad because it could be so much more. I see potential.

🏓 Pickleball coach, ex tennis pro
🏓 romance ghostwriter
🏓 love triangle
🏓 both are readers

This book was FUN and whip smart! It sucked me in from literally the first sentence. Brooke was so funny and relatable. And Owen! Whew. What a man. They were hot and romantic and cute and just everything! Such a fun read!

Pick Me by Victoria Schade is a friends-to-lovers, slow burn romcom that was such a fun read! Brooke is an author, currently ghostwriting cowboy romances but struggling with her current novel after a recent break-up. Owen is an elite pickleball instructor who agrees to help teach Brooke how to play, in order to impress a guy and hopefully get her writing mojo back. Although I know nothing about pickleball, I thoroughly loved this book! The build up of the friendship and relationship between Owen and Brooke was so sweet and fun and I loved every minute of it. The author did a great job of incorporating the characters back stories throughout the novel and she had me rooting for these two to finally get together!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon & Harper Voyager, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

this was super cute!! i’m not a sports romance girlie but this book was such a slay, and now i kinda want to try pickleball....

Pick Me is the perfect summer read! I’m a sports romance girly, but I was hesitant on the pickleball focus instead of the usual sports, but I LOVED it! Brooke is an author who is in a slump after having her heart broken. Her best friend talks her into joining her for pickleball at the local club to get her out of her slump, and Brooke reluctantly tags along even though she’s terrible at sports. While playing, she runs into Kai, who she instantly decides is her romance muse and needs to get closer to him ASAP. She decides pickleball is her in, but she absolutely sucks at it, so what happens? Owen, who is Kai’s pickleball instructor offers to help her learn the game! This book was definitely a slow burn, but I love watching the characters grow and finding out more about both Brooke and the somewhat mysterious Owen! Brooke definitely finds her muse along the way with lots of changes to her writing along the way as she finds herself more confident with the help of Owen! This is definitely a lighthearted, perfect sports read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions and rating are my own!

A student-coach budding romance? Yes! Pick Me is entertaining and easy to get lost in. The story is cute, and I liked the banter between characters. Also, the cover is perfect. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Cute pickleball romance with the perfect amount of tension, character development, and slow burn 🔥💞 this is officially the third pickleball romance I’ve read and each has been different and cute in its own way! loved the romance writer FMC and pickleball coach MMC- could not have picked a better situation than the free lessons he keeps giving her because he wants a reason to see her 🥹🫶🏼 in love.

it was a perfect light and funny sports romance read! definitely recommend it!

Pick Me by Victoria Schade is a delightful romantic comedy that blends the excitement of pickleball with the complexities of unexpected love. As someone unfamiliar with pickleball, I found the sport’s introduction both informative and engaging, adding a fresh twist to the classic rom-com narrative.

The story follows Brooke Murphy, a cowboy romance ghostwriter seeking inspiration after a breakup. In her quest, she dives into the world of pickleball to impress a new crush but unexpectedly finds herself drawn to her gruff coach, Owen Miller. The dynamic between Brooke and Owen is both humorous and heartfelt, capturing the essence of opposites attracting.

What I appreciated most was the character development and the subversion of typical romantic tropes. Brooke’s journey to rediscover her muse leads her to unexpected places, emphasizing personal growth and genuine connection over superficial attraction.

Victoria Schade’s writing is witty and accessible, making Pick Me an easy and enjoyable read. Fans of lighthearted romances with a sporty twist will find this novel a perfect addition to their reading list.

Enjoyed my time with Brooke and Owen. I don’t play pickleball but I liked the sporty, activity dynamic it gave the story. A solid read.