All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball 🥒🎾🏓
4 ⭐️
3🌶️

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio for the chance to listen to and enjoy this advanced copy!

This book was SO FUN!! As a recent pickleball girlie myself, I really loved how the game was the backbone of this story, but how the characters really took center stage.

I really liked the character that Bex was, and I think that her development was really great. I also liked Niko as a character, and how readers got to see his walls come down over the course of the book. Grief is a big topic in this story, but I think it was handled really nicely.

I listened to this book on audio, and I LOVED the narration! Mia Hutchinson Shaw delivered a really moving performance while narrating this book, and I really enjoyed the inflections and cadence. The narrator can really make or break a story, and Mia definitely made this book great!

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC audiobook. I really enjoyed this book, it was cute and perfect for a summer beach read.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Forever and NetGalley for the advance listener copy of All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball by Kate Spencer!

Bex inherited a racquet club from her mother and Bex needs money for necessary updates to ensure the club’s future. Through the connection of a beloved club member, Bex meets Niko, a former tennis player who experienced a career ending injury. He’s looking for a comeback in Tennis. Through a series of events, Bex and Niko end up as pickleball partners practicing together to enter a tournament and hopefully win the prize money Bex will need for the club. Not only are they pickleball partners but everyone thinks they’re dating.

This story was absolutely adorable!!! I LOVED how the fake dating trope was used in this story. Bex and Niko have an engaging dynamic as their relationship forms. I love the humor, the tension, and the pickleball! I learned a lot about pickleball. There are also multiple side characters to adore. As soon as I started I wanted to keep going. This is such a fun easy read!

I had an opportunity to read an ARC and adored this book just as much listening to the ALC! The narrator was fabulous! A great choice to bring Bex, the rest of the characters and story to life! Highly recommend checking out this book and you won't go wrong checking out the audiobook!

If you enjoy a fake dating trope and a rivals to lovers vibe, this is one to check out!

𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑰𝑭 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑳𝑰𝑲𝑬:
♡ sports romance
♡ fake dating
♡ forced proximity
♡ pickleball (duh)
♡ HEA

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺:
I thought this one was really cute! We have Bex who is trying to save her mom’s pickleball business and Nico, who’s a tennis player is trying to get his mojo back. They immediately butt heads but because of their common love for Nico’s aunt, find themselves spending more and more time together. When a reporter catches them in a compromising position, they’re suddenly fake dating! Chaos ensues lol

Bex and Nico had a fun relationship, filled with lots of banter and tension. I also really enjoyed the side characters because they were silver foxes who aren’t afraid to say what they think LOL. And even though their relationship was fake, everyone was rotting for them because they were good for each other!

I also selfishly loved that Nico was a tennis player because as a tennis player, I had they same feelings about pickleball initially 😅 the author kind of bridged the gap, showing how he warmed up to pickleball. I can’t wait to play!

All's Fair in Love and Pickleball presents a fake dating situation where club owner Bex and sidelined tennis player Niko are in cahoots trying to win a pickleball tournament. The fake dating trope is one of my least favorite because the concept always seems half-baked at best, and this was no exception. There was also a lot of pickleball talk. Like, a lot a lot. I learned some things about a sport I have no experience with, but the excessive detail took me out of the flow of the story. All of this, combined with the narrator's borderline frenetic energy (which, admittedly, suited the character) made this book an overall miss for me. If you enjoy the fake dating trope and pickleball you may have a completely different experience.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for gifting me with an ALC to review. All opinions are my own.

This book was released at the perfect time of year. This book is great romance beach read. The novel is fast-paced, has grumpy-sunshine, MMC protective of those he loves, she falls first and he falls harder, funny senior center found family, and sports romance tennis/pickleball. Really what more could you ask for? Loved the development of the relationship between Bex and Nico. The audiobook had perfect pacing and I couldn't put the book down once I started. Finished the book in one day!
Thank you Hatchette Audio for providing audiobook this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this book! It was such a fun, cute, lighthearted, romcom that is perfect for the summer. The romance was very cute and organic. I really appreciate the great communication they had and there was no miscommunication trope that unfortunately is way too common and romcoms. I connected with the main character on such a personal level when it comes to her grief with her mom. Really made me feel like I’m not alone, even though this is a work fiction, but it felt so real. Really the only downside for me was the frequent use of God‘s name in vain in which I don’t appreciate and I find completely unnecessary. The audiobook was done perfectly with the narrator doing an excellent job. Overall, I highly recommend for an easy quick summer read!

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for the free alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I have really enjoyed kate Spencer's book, I loved it was unexpectedly spicy and done very well. The narrator did a great job, and look forward to more by narrator.

Pickleball is a newish mainstream sport so I loved that it was referred to as a long standing sport. I lovednthe emotional part.

I look forward to Kate's next book

4.5/5☆

Not the biggest fan of the concept. Seemed very lust forward, which is fine when done well but not ideal in a romance. I also found it to have a lot about Pickleball — like a bit too much to be honest. I rather have more plot than sports related. But if you love this sport then this is for you!!

I enjoyed the narration. I wouldn’t say she’s my favourite as I found some parts made the FMC seem younger (though it could be the writing). Overall the audio is decent.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Forever and Hachette Audio for the review copies of All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball by Kate Spencer!

audio specific: I loved the narration and pacing, this is perfect for listening by the pool, drowning out the chaos in an airport, or wherever summer takes you!

This one had me smiling, swooning, and tearing up—sometimes all at once. The romance between Bex and Niko is charming and full of chemistry, with top-tier banter and that irresistible slow-burn energy. Their relationship is packed with favorite tropes: rivals-to-lovers, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, and two very lovable, stubborn idiots figuring it all out.

But this rom-com doesn’t just deliver the laughs—it also hits emotional notes with honesty and care. Bex’s grief over the loss of her mom is tenderly explored and deeply relatable, and the mental health rep (ADHD and anxiety) is refreshingly well done. It adds meaningful depth without weighing down the light, fun tone of the story.

The found family vibes from the supporting cast are another highlight—warm, funny, and fully invested in cheering on the main couple. I wanted to hang out with this whole crew! Whether or not you play pickleball, this is a sweet, witty, and emotionally satisfying story that’s perfect for a summer read or a reading reset.

All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball by Kate Spencer
Contemporary romance.
The racquet club is Bex Martin’s legacy. She grew up in the club run by her mother, and runs it now that her mother is gone. Bex never realized the stress and upkeep needed for running a business and she’s getting hit hard now with expenses and competition. The pickleball courts all need to be rebuilt and, she’s also getting offers to sell which she would never have imagined even thinking about in the past. Her regulars are the main reason she needs to keep the courts up and running but safety is becoming an issue too. Until
Nikolai’s Karras convinces Bex he’s ready to switch from tennis to pickleball and that she needs to be his partner. It’s is a huge enough prize that might get her courts fixed. She agrees to train and play with him, conditioned upon her receiving the prize. Of course he agrees. He has his own agenda and it’s not the prize money.

🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook narrated by Mia Hutchinson Shaw. The performance was entertaining and lively, bringing Bex’s vivid love of color and Niko’s grumpy facade exploding to life. The story is all from Bex’s POV so the single narrator is appropriate and it does include character voices for Niko and others.
The audiobook is entertaining and held my attention well. I did increase to my preferred speed of 2.5 so I was able to read along with a print version at times.

Repartee was plentiful and entertaining. A romping game of pickleball without the heavy exhaustion after the fact. I worried for the cliche of the place needing the funding and playing for the save, but still enjoyed the twist and solution at the end.
Banter, love and pickleball. So trendy. And so much fun.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Hachette Audio

As a longtime fan of this author’s work, I was thrilled to receive an early copy of All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball—and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint. In fact, it was a breath of fresh air and exactly the kind of rom-com I love to escape into.

This story blends some of my favorite tropes—fake dating, enemies to lovers, and sports romance—into a fun, feel-good read full of heart and humor.

We follow Bex, who is still grieving the loss of her mother and has inherited her family’s beloved pickleball courts. The courts are deeply tied to her childhood and identity, but they’ve fallen into disrepair—and she lacks the funds to save them. Enter Niko Karras, a retired tennis star with a chip on his shoulder. What starts as a fake dating arrangement quickly evolves into something much more, and the chemistry between Bex and Niko is undeniable.

The banter, the slow-burn tension, and the laugh-out-loud moments made this book such a joy to read. I especially appreciated how unique the pickleball setting was—it added a fresh twist to a classic rom-com structure.

If you’re looking for a light, entertaining read with heart, humor, and a dash of sporty charm, this book should definitely be on your TBR. Highly recommended!

4/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this is my favorite Kate Spencer book so far!

I had a lot of fun with this one! I wasn't sure about Pickleball romance going into this, but it added a really fun element to the story and wasn't too much.

Niko and Bex are so cute together! I like they are a opposite in some ways (i.e her fashion and love for colors vs him wearing all white tennis attire) and that they have a bit of a grumpy x sunshine dynamic going on, but that they can also relate to each other in a lot of ways too. I also really enjoyed their chemistry.

I loved almost all of the side characters; they all had such fun personalities. I liked that this book touched on real issues too. It was a good balance of everything.

I mostly listened to this on audio and finished off with the e-book. I really enjoyed the narrator for this book! I felt like she was the perfect fit for Bex.

Definitely add this to your summer tbr!

4.5⭐️
I really loved this book. The narrator’s voice was so calming and just perfect for the story—it made listening to it such a nice experience. There was great chemistry between the characters, even though the romance started off a bit fast for my taste. Thankfully, it slowed down a bit and ended up feeling really well-paced.

I also loved her old friends—they were super sweet and added a lot to the story. The characters overall were just so lovable. The nickname was really cute and just perfect. The length of the book was also so perfect.

There was even a small twist near the end that I didn’t see coming, which I really enjoyed.

THE CRAYON BOUQUET.

Overall, this book was such a cozy, heartwarming read. I really loved it.

This was such a fun one! I am so embarrassed to admit I knew nothing of pickleball before reading this book

All's Fair in Love and Pickleball by Kate Spencer is a charming, lighthearted romance with just the right touch of emotional depth. Thanks to @HachetteAudio and NetGalley for the advance listener copy—I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The narrator was fantastic and truly brought the story to life. She handled the range of characters with ease, giving each their own voice and personality, which made the listening experience even more engaging.

I loved the fun, playful tone throughout much of the story, especially the hilarious and heartwarming group of senior citizen pickleball players—they were a highlight! The romance between Bex and Niko was sweet and believable, with touching moments and witty banter that made me smile.

That said, the book also explored some deeper themes. Bex’s grief over her mother’s passing and the pressure Niko feels from his father added meaningful layers to the characters. I really appreciated how vulnerable Niko became when expressing his feelings for Bex—it made me root for him even more.

While I wasn’t a fan of some of Bex’s choices near the end, and I do wish we had gotten more insight into Niko’s tension with his old tennis rival, overall this was a delightful, feel-good romance that left me smiling.

This is a cute and easy to read romance. I finished it within 24 hours and never felt bored while reading. I love how the characters focus on themselves and their own goals and not just them falling in love.

Such a fun romance! The main character Bex is both funny and insightful, her narration the perfect balance between the two. Loved the storyline and the development of the romance throughout. Each character was carefully crafted and felt real.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was 10/10! Perfect voice for Bex with her mix of sarcasm and introspection.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you @netgalley & @katespencer for a copy of this audio in exchange for my honest review!

Hot on & off the court- this is a fun and fresh romance that tackles pickleball’s most frequently asked question. Is it anything like tennis?

I loved the chemistry between Bex & Niko. Their banter was fast paced & witty but felt very natural, especially while they were in a match together egging the other on. The energy between them kept me invested in all the games they were playing - pickleball, their fake dating, the schemes to save Bex’s family business.

The audio narration was wonderful. While I prefer dual narrators, I didn’t find myself missing it here. The story was fast paced but grounded in realistic conflicts, balancing between Bex’s love of pickleball while also questioning how much of her life work is out of obligation to her mother’s memory?

This was a fun romcom-esque read! Bex could be a bit thick headed at times (like still bringing up how fake everything was despite previous actions saying things were a bit too real... like hello!?!?!) but Niko balanced it out well. I really loved the found family aspect as well as the growth between the two main characters. Bex and Niko had their own goals and were supportive of each other which felt quite healthy.