TITLE: PICKLEBALLERS
AUTHOR: Ilana Long
PUB DATE: 11.12.2024

Meg Bloomberg is in a pickle. When Meg’s ex turns out to be a total player, she and her bestie take off for a mood-lifting pickleball excursion to Bainbridge Island. It’s supposed to be an easy lob, a way to heal, not the opening serve to a new courtside romance that’s doomed to spin out.
 
No matter how Meg tries, she can’t shake her feelings for Ethan Fine. A charismatic environmental consultant and Bainbridge local, Ethan seems like the real dill. But when Meg discovers that Ethan is sabotaging her home court, she decides the match is over.
 
It’s time for Meg to take control of her own game. And maybe, just maybe…love will bounce back.

THOUGHTS:

I was so excited when we had a Posh Pickleball event at work when I received this book in the mail, while also having just learned to play the sport from my sister. Who knew I had a knack for dinking the ball in the kitchen.

The book was a fun read, and had all the pickleball puns in an uplifting story full of heartwarming moments that was sweet and romantic.

If you love a sports romance romcom set in the beautiful PNW surrounding pickleball, with a tender romance, and the occasional hilarious scenes that will make you belly laugh? Be sure to pick up Pickleball - it’s good for your soul.

Pickleballers by Ilana Long offers a fun and lighthearted look at the world of pickleball, capturing the excitement of the sport and the quirky personalities of its players. The writing is easy to follow, and Long does a good job of bringing the sport to life with humor and enthusiasm. The characters are likable, and their interactions are relatable, offering a nice mix of competition, friendship, and personal growth.

However, while the story is enjoyable, it lacks the emotional depth or complexity that could have made it truly stand out. The plot feels a bit predictable at times, and the character development doesn’t go as deep as it could have. Some readers may find themselves wanting more from the narrative, particularly in terms of the stakes and emotional investment in the characters’ journeys.

Overall, Pickleballers is an entertaining, easy read for fans of sports fiction and lighthearted stories. It’s a fun way to pass the time but doesn’t fully reach its potential in terms of depth and emotional resonance.

Rating: 2.5/5

I’ll start by saying that I was not the target audience for this book. Pickleball has taken over the country—everyone seems to be playing, buying gear, or generally obsessed with it. I am not one of those people. So, a book that was about 85% pickleball just didn’t work for me.

That being said, if you love the sport or want to learn more about it, this might be right up your alley. However, for a romance, I felt the sports focus took away from both the romantic connection and character development. I couldn’t connect with the two main characters, and the “enemies” aspect of their relationship felt weak. I wanted more depth, more tension, and more emotional investment.

If you’re looking for a light read that’s heavy on pickleball with a side of romance, this could be for you. But if you’re here primarily for the romance, you might find it lacking.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Pickleballers by Ilana Long!

The Pickleballers by Ilana Long –2.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️✨🥒🏓

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, the only reason I finished this book was because of that agreement. The characters took pickleball so seriously that it became laughable-I found myself rolling my eyes throughout.

The moments I enjoyed most had nothing to do with pickleball; the hiking chapters with goats were the real highlight for me. I can see how this book might appeal to dedicated fans of the sport, but maybe I’m just not a sports romance reader. The chants of “Pickleball!” at the end were the final touch on my ongoing frustration with the story.

I also found Meg’s friend Annie incredibly annoying, and the confusion between the two Michaels felt far-fetched. While I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC, this one just wasn’t for me.

These two have great chemistry and I loved the PNW setting. I thought the author nailed the feeling.

I am such a great fan of tennis, that I was excited to see how pickleball could translate into a rom com. Loved the pickleball puns.

There were some laugh out loud moments, but I really wished there was a little more touching moments.

It’s a new sport to throw into the sports romance genre.

This is a sports book first while the romance takes a backseat. If you are interested in pickleball, you'll likely enjoy the book as there is extensive explanation of the sport, play-by-play, etc. If (like me) you don't give a fig, it may be less enjoyable to read and you'll be skimming those parts but if you want a quirky take on a sports (semi) romance book, this may be the book for you!

Many thanks to Berkley & Netgalley for the ARC.

This is a cute book which uses Pickleball as the background for a romance. Meg is recovering from an ex relationship and finds herself in Bainbridge, but the person that she finds herself getting close to is going to be a hindrance to her home court. The characters are pretty cute, but I did feel like the romance was a little slower than I usually enjoy. But all in all if you are looking for a cute romantic comedy set in the exciting world of Pickleball this could be the book for you.

Hm, while I thought I was ready for a really silly book, I found myself not loving this one. Neither of the main characters really stood out to me or interested me. I also found the pickleball scenes to feel kind of annoying, but that might be because I don't know much about that sport. This was fine, but definitely one I recommend you grab from the library or on sale.

I love pickleball. I love romance. But unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book - hence why it took me so long to pick up and get through. My biggest issue with it was there was just so much going on - a romance, a pickleball competition, a bit of a self-discovery journey, a community project and some activism - it was just so much to juggle. And because there were so many different plot points, it was difficult to enjoy all of them completely, because they all felt slightly underdeveloped.

Additionally, there were so many scenes that were nothing but play-by-play descriptions of pickleball matches, which took away from the story and various plot lines.

Ultimately, this was just not the book for me and, in the end, I was not invested in the relationship or main character.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I wanted to love this book but the Pickleball narrative and weird relationship between the two main characters just didn't do it for me. I did enjoy the few laugh out loud moments, but I really wanted her to finally stick it to her husband. Call him out for cheating on her when she found out!

I also felt like the relationship between the two main characters built up so weirdly, their conflict didn't feel real and it was all over the place.

Overall on the surface this book was fun but it just felt too all over the place.

This had a lot of pickleball game descriptions and terminology! I think if you knew pickleball it would have flown better. For me, I only played pickleball in middle school and I did not remember any of the terminology and information! It really took me out of the story.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

While I appreciate the reality of Meg’s journey it got rather tedious after a while; just about the time she started to move forward she went right back to a “poor me attitude”. I much prefer strong FMCs. It also leaned into miscommunication as a story driver, which is my least favorite trope. I also felt the pickleball overwhelmed the characters; as a non-player the references overdone and confusing. Worth a read for die-hard pickleballers.
2.5 stars

When I picked up Pickleballers by Ilana Long, I expected a fun, lighthearted romance with a unique backdrop. Instead, I found myself wading through an overwhelming amount of pickleball terminology that completely overshadowed the story.

The romance between Meg and Ethan is sweet and has moments of genuine chemistry, but any momentum their relationship builds is constantly interrupted by lengthy, detailed descriptions of pickleball rules, strategies, and play-by-play action. There’s a balance to be struck when weaving a niche hobby or sport into a story, and unfortunately, Pickleballers misses the mark. A little context can enrich the setting, but this book is so saturated with pickleball jargon that it alienates readers who don’t share the author’s enthusiasm for the sport.

A cute romance with Pickleball at its center. Meg is devastated about her recent divorce so her friend encourages her to pick up pickleball. Meg meets Ethan, and they are immediately attracted to each other. However, Ethan is the project manager assigned to close the pickleball courts where Meg plays, due to another project.
Meg is determined to save the courts, and she must play in a tournament - and win. She is concerned with her ability, and her friends help to give her confidence. Of course, there are still sparks flying with Ethan, but she believes he may be deceiving her.
Cute romance which uses the popularity of Pickleball to develop the story.

This book is just plain silly. I was surprised by how much fun I had with this one!

I don't play pickleball so I was a bit wary going in since my knowledge of the game is very limited. But I think this book did a good job of explaining things in a way that helped a newbie like me understand what was going on. Who knew there was so much drama and politics surrounding this sport? The drama and cast of characters in Meg's pickleball league really fleshed out the story and made this a fun read. The twist at the end also had me gasping with shock but giggling at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.

This book made me laugh a lot (so many pickle puns!) but I also appreciated the overarching character growth and arc for Meg. There was a lot of commentary on starting fresh when life doesn't go your way. I think this was a fun debut for Ilana and I'm excited to see what she comes up with next.

I did not know how lame pickleball was and unfortunately, I couldn't get past the idea that someone would be attracted to someone who played pickleball. This is 1000% a me issue.

Meg is looking for a new passion in her life. Creating custom cat collars for Etsy just isn’t cutting it anymore and, to be honest, she just can’t afford it anymore following her divorce. Her best friend Annie knows just what she needs - pickleball! Annie’s instincts prove to be right as Meg delves deeper and deeper into the pickleball world. It also gives her a bit more confidence after a rather embarrassing encounter with a handsome stranger on the ferry from Bainbridge Island. Only this isn’t the last she’s seen of Ethan Fine, who happens to be a pickleballer himself and the man who threatens to tear down her team’s beloved pickleball courts.

There was A LOT of pickleball here. Which is great, as I have only ever played in gym class and needed a bit of a refresher. However, it took away from the romance a bit. I definitely got that Meg and Ethan were attracted to eachother, but in a way I feel the author sacrificed some of the romance for the pickleballing. I did really like Meg’s growth as a person over the course of the book. She’s completely blindsided by her ex-husband’s betrayal and rather listless in the beginning of the novel. By the end, she’s found a new passion and community with her love of Pickleball. I loved all of the side characters, and since we got such a thorough look into this pickleball community I hope we will get to see another book set in this world. 3.5 Stars

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a review copy.