An incredible follow up to Pickleballers!!! Some authors may fall victim to the "sophomore slump" on their second book....Ilana Long does NOT have that problem. Pickle Perfect blew Pickleballers out of the water for me! There is just enough Pickleball content in there to keep the fans of the sport happy, but it's not overloaded enough to alienate those who maybe aren't the biggest fans **cough cough me**. I love an older (ish) FMC who has seen some shit (we're talking single mom territory) and a childhood second chance/enemies to lovers plot line. It is pretty closed door for those who prefer less spice, but that doesn't mean it's without the yearning, tension, and banter that you romance girlies love. Ontop of all that this book is FUNNY! It had some one liners that truly had me laughing out loud.

✨🏖️ Review ✨

Pickle Perfect
by Ilana Long

Okay, who knew pickleball could be THIS romantic?? 🎾🥒 Pickle Perfect is a second-chance romcom that’s equal parts swoony, hilarious, and heart-squeezing.

Lulu is a single mom whose carefully ordered life gets flipped upside down by a tropical pickleball vacation (yes, you read that right: picklecation 👏). Enter Tyler (the high school fling turned pro bad-boy of paddle sports) who’s just as infuriating (and irresistible) as ever. 🌊🔥

What I loved:
🥒 The tropical Costa Rica vibes (sun, beaches, cocktails, courts!)
🎾 Sports romance banter that had me grinning like an idiot
💘 Second-chance tension and Lulu and Tyler’s chemistry is OFF the charts
😂 Adorkable humor + pickleball puns for DAYS
👩‍👧 A heroine who balances mom life, career stress, and rediscovering herself

This one is perfect for readers who love funny, flirty, second-chance sports romance with a tropical twist. I devoured it like a beachy cocktail with sweet, fizzy, with just the right amount of bite. 🏖️✨

#PicklePerfect #PickleballRomance #SecondChanceRomance #SportsRomance #RomComReads #RomanceReaders #BerkleyRomance #RomanceCommunity #Bookstagram #BookTok #RomanticComedy #BeachReads

4 ⭐️

I’ll admit, I didn’t think a Picklecation Retreat was real until I picked up Pickle Perfect—and now I kind of wish it was. This book is part travel story, part sports romance, and part second-chance love.

Lulu Gardner is a single mom who’s been running on fumes, and when she joins her aunt on a trip to Costa Rica, she’s ready for a reset. Instead of lounging by the pool, she ends up trekking across the country on a pickleball tour. Throw in Tyler, her old high school flame turned pro player, and suddenly Lulu’s vacation becomes a lot more complicated (and entertaining).

The strongest part of this book for me was the setting—it made me want to pack a bag and hop on the next flight to Costa Rica. The author does a great job weaving in the adventure side of things: the beaches, the jungle, the spontaneity. Lulu was a relatable heroine, juggling her responsibilities with her desire for something just for herself. I didn’t always love her choices, but I appreciated her arc. Tyler was charming, if a bit too smooth at times, but their banter and on-court chemistry worked.

Where the book really shines is in the balance of humor and heart. The pickleball angle was quirky and fun (no prior knowledge needed), though I sometimes wished the emotional beats—especially around Lulu’s single motherhood—were given more depth. Still, it’s an easy, breezy read perfect for when you want something light, tropical, and romantic.

Expect:
🥒 Second chances
🌴 Adventure across Costa Rica
🎾 Enemies-to-lovers sparks on the court
👩‍👧 A mom learning to put herself first
✨ A vacation vibe with heart

Thank you NetGalley & Ilana Long for the ARC 🎾

A delightfully cute second chance romance!

This was so much fun. The characters, plot and setting all just worked for me. Lulu is a fantastic heroine. I enjoyed her POV and could totally relate to her. I also liked that she was a single mom (I feel we don't get enough single moms in romance). It was nice to see her out of her comfort zone and do something for herself. Plus she reconnects with her high school fling Tyler who is a professional pickleball player. Their chemistry and banter was great. I enjoyed this second chance romance. I also really liked the setting. I mean Costa Rica? I would go too girl!

A lighthearted fun sports romance with plenty of heart and laughs. Would be a perfect vacation or beach read.

He is married yet fliriting with her , Im really confused. Also I got into 30% but I can't figure out who her ex boyfriend or husband is since she has a child . improper miscommunication

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.

I was so excited to read a pickleball romance, but unfortunately this wasn't everything I wanted it to be. 

I enjoyed the romance, but I wish we got to see more of Lulu's daughter, it didn't feel like much of a single parent romance with the kid being gone for so much of the book and not really interacting with the love interest. 

The book also required a lot of suspension of disbelief for certain things, but I think that can be fine if you go into it with the right expectations. 

It's a cute romance overall, but just wasn't exactly what I was expecting from it.

Ilana Long delivers yet another amazing pickleball romance 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Pickle Perfect has got a tropical atmosphere, second chance romance, and characters that you can really connect to. Plus the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

I loved how well Long was able to balance lightheartedness and comedy with more serious topics. While this book is a romance, it’s also about learning from your past mistakes and growing as a person.

I also loved how swoon worthy Tyler, the MMC, is. I think he compliments Lulu really well. I loved their romantic connection and their banter. I always eat up banter.

This was an enjoyable read. I read through this one pretty quickly. I liked the tension between our main characters, it kept me engaged. I'm still thinking on the ending, but for me in the moment it personally felt a little long at the end. We went along the emotional roller coaster of our MFC through the entirety of the book so the end as she is still working through her feelings just felt a bit long. Not saying that it made it bad by any means just felt a little drawn out. Our MFC is trying to protect her heart and keep things in a tidy box. So at the very end her turmoil almost overpowered the chemistry between the main characters. Still overall an enjoyable read and I will definitely recommend it to others. I know a lot of people who will really enjoy it.

This was a great addition to the first book in the series. I think I would've understood it a little more if I knew more about pickleball, but it was a great read anyway!

Books have always been my “happy place.” For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of traditional romance. Lately, I have started to become a huge fan of “sports romance,” so I was glad to get a chance to read this.

As someone who has not played pickle ball since high school, I was a bit shocked about the huge “craze” that is currently going on. This book definitely piqued my interest a bit in regards to trying to play again.

In regards to the book, I hate to say that this is one where I didn’t really get a strong attachment to either of the main characters. I just couldn’t really get invested in this one, if I’m being honest. This book doesn’t have a prologue, and normally I’m really disappointed in not getting a “glimpse” of their future. With this book, I didn’t have that feeling at all.

All in all, this book was ok. I do feel like some POV from the MMC may have added to my enjoyment of the story.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Pickle Perfect by Ilana Long is fresh, fun, and full of flirty pickleball fueled chaos. It’s a Costa Rica retreat and second chance romance with a paddle wielding heartthrob redemption arc. All I could ask for!

Lulu’s voice had that perfect mix of vulnerability and millennial banter. I adored the sporty setup because pickleball deserves its romcom moment too. As for Tyler he brought serious charm. I did wish we got a little more clarity on their big fallout. Still, I flew through this one and totally see it being a beach bag favorite.

📖 Book Review 📖 I did not know a Picklecation Retreat existed until this book and now I am 💯 convinced I need one as soon as possible! Single mother Lulu Gardner is in desperate need of a change of scenery and is thrilled to tag along with her aunt for some sun and sport in Costa Rica. Embracing the Pura Vida, she even goes with a last minute change, leaving behind the resort and her daughter with family to embark on an adventure pickleball tour around the country. She’s not even going to let the fact that her high school fling, Tyler, also a former tennis player, now pickleball pro ruin this opportunity for her. Being back on the court together again is something neither of them imagined, but the spark is not left in the past. No pickleball experience is necessary to indulge in this delightfully delicious second chance romance with a heavy dose of adventure in the jungle. Ilana Long delivers a true golden pickle both on and off the courts in Pickle Perfect

This book is such a delightful, feel-good escape. It’s everything I wanted in a romantic comedy. It doesn’t try too hard to be funny; it just feels natural, like you’re hanging out with people who are genuinely fun to be around. What really made this story work for me was how it balanced lightheartedness with deeper themes about moving on from past mistakes and learning to take risks again. It’s not just about romance but about personal growth, and I loved seeing both Lulu and Tyler challenge each other to be better. I couldn’t put it down and found myself grinning like an idiot the whole way through.