*Sports Romance
*Fake Dating
*Amazing Chemistry

This was definitely a fun book! While I do not play Tennis or Pickleball, I enjoyed reading about Bex and Nico, and how they work together (and fake date)!

This book is the perfect definition of a beach read. It's a fun and flirty story and I enjoyed the narration of the book as well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley this advanced copy of the audiobook. I initially picked this up because I had interest in reading something from this author, but is book was not for me at all. This is a sports romance where you have to really enjoy the sport(s). I have no experience or interest in Pickleball or Tennis so I probably should have not picked this up. The characters felt so flat, each person had one bad thing happen to them in their past and now that is the one thing that impacts all of their decision making now. The romance escalated from annoyance to obsession in the span on two seconds. The third act breakup pissed me off so bad. It took so long to get through this book I low-key should've DNF'd but wanted to give my NetGalley feedback so I didn't.

This was such a fun and entertaining listen
the
narrator brought all the sass that was needed and I enjoyed every moment and every accent W never imagined pickle ball could be so steamy I can't wait to read more by Kate Spencer

3.75 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the #gifted copy of this audiobook.

I had an absolute blast with this one. It was short and sweet sports romance about a tennis player and a pickleball player. It was a short timeline that dealt with navigating grief, finding yourself and finding love in one sweet package. I'm always a sucker for older meddling people in a story and this had all of that and more.

The narrator did a great job with the story and would listen to other books she narrated in the future.

Closed Door Mods: 23,24

I had such a great time reading this book! It pulled me in right from the start and kept me turning the pages. The writing flowed so well, and I found myself completely invested in the story and characters. It’s one of those reads you just don’t want to put down.
huge thanks to the publisher for sending me an early copy!! I’m so glad I got to read it ahead of the release day and can't wait for the world to get to enjoy it too!!

This was such a fun audio!

Witty, well paced book and a fun listen.

The back and forth between the characters, the clap backs were definitely my fave part of the book, they had great chemistry and I always enjoy the fake dating trope. This made for a great rom com from Kate. And a big shoutout to Mia Hutchinson-Shaw who did a fantastic job bringing this story to life and I’ll definitely be checking more of her audio work out.

The narrator was awesome! I loved the dynamic between the two main characters and their love was sweet! I loved the pickleball setting! I’m so happy they saved the racket club!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ARC of All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball! This was a super cute, fast paced summer romance and it included PICKLEBALL! I loved all the pickleball chatter and especially the senior citizens friends. One thing that really annoyed me …the way Niko called Bex PRINCESS. Yuck! I also wish we got more of the big pickleball tournament at the end. Overall a fun read though!

What an excellent read! Kate Spencer has such a voice that is all at once vulnerable and strong, lighthearted and deep. This story had enough plot lines and layers without being messy. Steamy but not gratuitous. Highly recommend!

I didn’t expect to end up reading this book with tears in my eyes as I laughed and cried my way to the perfect happily ever after. Niko is the always appealing blend of cool, aloof, snarky, and tough on the outside, but between the cracks you can see rays of sunlight and the soft glow of a steady beating heart. Exactly what Bex needs. Having ADHD myself I loved the representation in this book and the way it's used as a superpower, which it totally is. Bex is a wildly fun, unique character that I couldn't help relating to and admiring, inspiring me to keep working on my own journey. The audiobook, narrated by Mia Hutchinson Shaw, is amazing and a wonderful way to enjoy this delightful romantic comedy.

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!

All’s Fair In Love And Pickleball by Kate Spencer was a cutie little romance about Bex, a struggling racquet club owner, and Nikolaus, a prickly and egocentric tennis star who fell from grace after an injury. Bex is facing a repair bill she can’t afford, but selling the club goes against everything her late mother would have wanted. Nikolaus is in town to help his aunt and is looking for a way to break back into the sports world, but this time with better PR. The two team up with a plan to benefit them both: they fake date and team up for the pickleball tournament that’s coming up: one with a big cash prize. The only issue? They can’t stand each other.

I really enjoyed this book! I am going to criticize it in the same way I criticize most books advertised as “enemies to lovers” though: this really wasn’t enemies to lovers and I feel like it falls more under the miscommunication trope. They both assume they know the other one and can predict their intentions but once they get to know each other they realize they’re wrong and fall in love. That is not enemies to lovers!!! And they’re not truly enemies if they’re making not of how hot and sexy their enemy is!!!!! Otherwise this was a very typical and predictable rom com. There wasn’t much that really stood out to me about it, but I did still definitely enjoy it! You don’t have to be a pickleball person to enjoy this, either. I am one of the few remaining white people who knows jack all about pickleball and I never felt lost in the sauce. If you’re looking for an easy, breezy, cutie little summer read, this one checks all the boxes!!

3.5⭐️

One part pickleball, one part romance, all the feels. I adored this cute rom-com about a grieving tennis and pickleball club owner struggling to save her family business after her mom’s passing. She meets an unlikely ally in a former tennis pro and they agree to form a partnership (both on an off the court). The elderly side characters made me laugh and reminded me of Everything’s Coming Up Rosie. Thanks to @netgalley for the advanced listening copy. This book is available now!

Read this if you like books with:

- Enemies to lovers
- Fake dating
- Pickleball puns
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Found family
- Finding hope after grief

FYI - There is some language and two open door scenes.

story itself was a 3.5 but the narration was fantastic!

My first pickleball romance 🥹 and as a pickleball girlie I was so giddy that we get a romance that has it as a focus!!

Bex is left running the pickleball club her mom bought after her death & is trying to save it from needing to be sold. In comes a grumpy, injured pro tennis player, Nick, to potentially save the day. He happens to also be one of the youngest people around her as most of them happen to be older pickleball players. A competition is announced at a competing pickleball facility and the two team up as Bex coaches Nick so they can be doubles partners and hopefully win the grand prize. But in between all this, we get some enemies to lovers vibes and some fun banter & tension 🔥

The third act break up/a few things that happened before it really irked me so my rating went down half a point but overall the story was really cute!!

The ending was amazing & it made my heart really happy! And we get soooo many amazing side characters that had me laughing my booty off!!

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Grumpy x sunshine
Pickleball romance

🎾 Review: All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball by Kate Spencer
🎧 Narrated by Mia Hutchinson Shaw

Fake dating? Check. Enemies-to-lovers vibes? Double check. High-stakes pickleball rivalry? Surprisingly addictive.

Kate Spencer serves up a charming, laugh-out-loud rom-com with All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball, a story that blends heartfelt stakes with swoony chemistry and a whole lot of paddle-smacking fun. Bex Martin is the fiercely loyal owner of her late mother’s racquet club, trying desperately to keep it afloat. Enter Niko Karras—a former tennis heartthrob turned pickleball wildcard—whose swagger clashes with Bex’s guarded practicality from the moment he steps onto her court.

When a misunderstanding sparks rumors of romance, Bex and Niko lean into a fake relationship to get what they each need: prize money for her, redemption for him. But as they train together, banter turns into tension, and the line between fake and real starts to blur. Their chemistry crackles both on and off the court, and the buildup is immensely satisfying.

Narrator Mia Hutchinson Shaw brings this rom-com to life with the perfect mix of snark, charm, and emotional depth. Her performance makes every flirtatious exchange and heartfelt moment hit even harder.

Whether you’re a diehard pickleball fan or don’t know a thing about the sport, this book will win you over with its lovable characters, quick wit, and just the right amount of heat. It’s a love match you won’t want to miss.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Perfect for fans of fake dating, sports romance, and a little on-court grudge-flirting.

Arc received from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bex is just trying her best to keep her mothers pickleball gym open anyway she can. After her mother passed all Bex wanted was to continue her mothers legacy to feel close to her still. She coaches and runs the gym, just skating by every month. When one of her elder athletes gets injured and her grandson accuses Bex of being responsible with the shape of her courts being so bad, Bex is forced to start looking for ways to make improvements. But with what money? Niko, the grandson, is a famous tennis player who needs somewhere to practice while looking after his grandmother. After butting heads repeatedly, Niko and Bex decide to work together in a pickleball tournament to raise money for renovations.

I liked to see how both Bex and Niko grew throughout the book. Having also lost my mother, sometimes you cling to whatever you can just to still remain close to them. It was good to see how she fought past the greif and learned to start living for herself again.

When it came to the narrator, I thought she did an amazing job with this story.

🏓 Bookish Thoughts
I knew I was going to love this audiobook the second I saw Mia Hutchinson Shaw was narrating. She always delivers, and her performance here was no exception. She always brings so much life to the audiobook!

This was such a fun and quirky romcom! Living in Utah where pickleball is everywhere, I’ve somehow avoided the craze… but after this, I might be reconsidering. And the fake dating? I’m never saying no to a fake dating romcom. Ever. It was charming, funny, and had just the right amount of heart.

🧡 What to Expect
• Fake dating
• Pickleball rivalry
• Small town drama
• Quirky side characters
• Reluctant allies to lovers
• Family expectations

🎧 Audio Score: 5 stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
📅 Pub Date: June 3, 2025

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

Where is the tension? Where is the yearning. It feels as if we fast forward through all the important parts when it comes to the romance in this romance novel. They hate each other and then out of no where are kissing and telling each other how much they want each other.

However, the ADHD mannerisms are extremely on point. I found the plot of saving the athletic club more interesting than the romance and that was what caused it to be a bit of a disappointment.

All in all this is a low stakes predictable romcom and wasn’t for me. It is still cute and may be for you so if you do pick it up, I hope you enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio arc of this book.

All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball is a delightful blend of romantic comedy and sporty sass that brings a fresh twist to both the rom-com genre and the surprisingly cutthroat world of pickleball. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the paddle sport or barely know the difference between a dink and a drop shot, this book will charm you with its wit, heart, and unexpected depth.

The story follows two fiercely competitive leads — one a pickleball newbie with a lot to prove, the other a local legend with a chip on their shoulder — as they're reluctantly paired for a high-stakes mixed doubles tournament. Sparks fly (on and off the court), and what starts as rivalry quickly morphs into flirtation, banter, and eventually something a lot messier — and more real.

What makes this book shine is the way it handles tension: not just romantic tension, but personal growth, vulnerability, and learning to trust someone else. The dialogue is sharp and funny, and the supporting cast — particularly the quirky group of senior players at the local rec center — adds genuine heart and humor. There are some laugh-out-loud moments, especially when the characters’ egos clash mid-game, and more than one heartfelt scene that sneaks up on you.

If there’s a flaw, it’s that the pacing sags slightly around the midpoint, and a few plot turns are a bit predictable. But honestly, that’s par for the course in this genre — and the charm more than makes up for it.

For starters, I don't play pickleball, I never have. But this book made me want to play haha. This book was SO fun! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The characters were lovable and it made me want to keep listening. The narration was amazing too. I can't wait to read more by this author.

Which is superior- Tennis or Pickleball?
And how do two people on opposite sides of this debate learn to get along? (Answer: mostly due to a meddlesome Grandma and a combined disdain for a mega tennis club that is trying to buy out theirs.)

I learned more than I thought about both sports without it being about the sports. The audio was good and kept me wanting to find out how it all worked it out.