DNF. Pickleballers wasn't for me. I had a hard time with the third-person narration. I thought there were a lot of unnecessary tidbits added into the story. It made the reading experience feel bogged down. I didn't feel connected to Meg. I found her and Ethan's first scene together cringey. I didn't feel the chemistry between them. There was a lot going on at the beginning of the book. Within the first 10%, there's divorce, pickleball, pigs, and making out with a stranger. It was a lot. Despite having a unique premise, I just couldn't get into this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

With all the hype pickle ball is getting lately I had to read this one. I liked the rival aspect that pickle ball brings in and the humor of it also since typically it is not an overly competitive sport. I enjoyed all the characters and found myself giggling and kicking my feet multiple times.

The premise is unique and refreshing, offering readers a glimpse into the sport while developing the connection between the main characters. The chemistry between the leads is charming, with playful banter and moments of genuine warmth. However, the story struggles to maintain its pace, with certain plot points feeling a bit predictable and some character interactions lacking depth.

While the book delivers on humor and a light, breezy vibe, the romance sometimes feels rushed, leaving little room for emotional build-up. That said, the author’s enthusiasm for pickleball shines through, making the setting one of the highlights of the story. Overall, Pickleballers is a pleasant, quick read for fans of sports-themed romances, but it falls short of a more engaging, deeper romantic experience. It’s a solid pick if you’re looking for a fun, easy escape, but don’t expect it to linger long after the final page.

Well, this book was super cute but way toooo much detail on the pickleball game. I skipped over many parts. I felt that the pickleball took over and the love story just floated in te background. I would have enjoyed more involving the love stories of the characters, but then I am a romantic at heart. Thank you Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was so much fun. I truly enjoyed everything about it from the cover, the story, to the competition. Thank you for the early opportunity to look at this one!

So I love pickleball, so a romance about two pickleballers, sign me up! Pickleballers follows Meg, a recent divorcee working on finding her next serve, and when her best friend brings her to her pickleball league, her life is filled with new challenges and community—until Ethan Fine, her fleeting ferry hookup shows up and threatens everything. So this isn’t really a romance—I meant that’s the B plot, but it’s Meg’s story and her journey with pickleball. There’s a lot of pickleball in this, which is cute, but I think it took away from a lot of character development. The connection leaned heavy on the insta love and there’s just a lot of things going on that I never truly felt connected to the characters. Meg is very lost, and my heart went out to her, but I felt placed too in the middle of what she was going through. The ending of this closed door romance is also way too pretty for me; I love a HEA, but I like it to feel realistic and this feel off the rails. Still, I did really love the friendships in this thought and the pickleball community. That was easy to root for and just really fun. It’s a sweet and fun read, especially for pickleball fans!

I'm raising my rating up to three because the whole pickleball thing is right there in the title. Only I was mislead into believing that this would be a romance with pickleball, instead of a sports novel about pickleball with some romance sketched in. The sports part bored me stiff; not the fault of the author, but I loathe sports, and find fiction about them tedious. I was reading for the romance, which seemed secondary to the sports aspect.

Cute read, definitely targeted to the Pickleball lovers. Adding to sports to any romance always become an auto read for me!

Sporty romcom. The author is plainly addicted to pickleball! My game is tennis, but I have dabbled in pickleball and can see the attraction. I enjoyed learning more about the history of the sport and the community it produces for players.
The real treat was the ridiculous situation's Meg got into in this novel. There were some funny moments and witty dialogue and lots of Seattle skyline and natural beauty. I enjoyed the insight into an artist’s mind during the creation of their art. There are some heavier topics but they aren’t delved into deeply.
A very easy afternoon read that will have you googling pickleball courts before you know it!
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

Pickleballers
This author did a fantastic job using humor to connect the ‘struggles’ of "Picklerballers" and finding courts to play. A cute story plays out among the characters. I’m sure others will find it adorable.

I think I would have enjoyed this story more if I knew anything about pickleball, but alas, I know nothing and it really was central to the storyline. The plot felt predictable at times, but it is a cozy, slow burn, low spice romance and is perfect for pickleball readers!

noooooo we have gone TOO FAR. this book is trying WAY TOO HARD to be trendy and relevant with the whole pickleball fad and it’s so cringe. i got 8% in and that was GENEROUS. truly it felt like a fever dream with a steamy car hookup scene with a stranger from a ferry in the first few pages??? no thank you, not for me

The banter in this book was fabulous. I’ve always wanted to be a pickleball girlie. Loved the Pacific Northwest setting.

Pickleballers by Ilana Long is a fun debut romantic comedy set in the pacific northwest.

This was a fun read! I inhaled this book within 24 hours and laughed out loud several times. I enjoyed how light-hearted it felt, though there are also sweet and romantic moments from time to time.

I definitely learned a lot about pickleball via this book! It is prominently featured throughout, and honestly is kind of its own character.

Unfortunately, the pacing was off and it ran a little long for me--both things I find very common with debut writers in a genre. Some of the banter between our leads felt a little on the cheesy side, too.

I'll definitely read more adult fiction from this author in the future!

This was such a cute, sweet read. This is the first pickleball themed sports romance I've seen, so I had to check it out! This one is definitely heavy on the humor with lots of silliness, which is honestly what everyone needs every once in a while. I read this one as a palette cleanser after finishing up a few heavier reads, and it was a delight. Meg is sweet, especially given she's just coming out of a divorce. Her friend introduces her to pickleball to get her back out there and lift her spirits, and it's just what Meg needs. Ethan seems like a really stand-up guy who has a big heart. I love that instead of being a big, bad developer or something, he threatens the pickleball courts because he wants to protect and restore the area's natural environment. If you're looking for a silly and sweet sports-themed romance, give this one a try!

Pickleball is becoming such a popular activity, that for a non-Pickleballer, I found this novel both informative and entertaining! I loved the background facts on the game, and was enthralled with players and their dynamic. The story took us on a bumpy path and all the feels to the HEA. Sweet, quick and comfy read!

There really is a romance book about anything and everything. While there was alooootttt of pickleball in this book, the romance fell a little short.

This was EVERYTHING. Lots of witty back and forth banter, makes you smile. There is also a lot of light hearted and heart warming moments that you get from the romance portion and also the friendship of the characters.

3 stars. This was a cute read, perfect for a long day at the beach. I enjoyed the characters, but felt like the romance could have been a bit more developed. While the ending wrapped up the story, I was left with wanting more of the character’s story even with the epilogue.

Cute, funny. 3/5 stars! Some of the banter was a little cheesy in my opinion! I wasn’t completely entertained the entire time but I still finished and was glad I did because I love the pickleball theme ☺️

Thanks NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!