I don’t know much about tennis, so I wasn’t familiar with Alice Marble prior to reading this book. She was a strong and determined woman who overcame some difficult challenges in her life from a young age, looked adversity in the eye, and pushed herself out of her comfort zone in order to serve her country, sacrificing her own happiness in order to achieve her goals. This book gives great insight into the hard work, commitment and sacrifice required in order to reach the top, and that applies to any sport, not just tennis. I also enjoyed following Alice’s training to become a spy, even though that storyline was brief. It made me stop and wonder about just how many citizens were approached by the military and asked to assist in the war effort, never being able to talk about their involvement.

I really enjoyed this book for the most part. I was interested in learning about some areas of American involvement in WWII, and while some parts of the story were quite informative, other areas fell short and just brushed over details. I did like the author's writing style, and I enjoy books based on real stories that deliver a history lesson, so this book ticked those boxes. Alice's story is inspiring and left me in awe. She was a truly remarkable woman, and I'm so pleased I found this book and learned about her role not only in changing the way women played tennis, but also her role in helping during the war. I’d recommend this book to anyone, tennis fan or not, who wants a captivating read with some history included. I like a book that makes me stop and think, and this book certainly did that.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a digital ARC for review. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

I’m always drawn to wartime stories set in the late 1930s and 1940s, especially those featuring strong female protagonists. Usually, they take place in England or Berlin, and before I know it, they’ve landed on my reading pile. But Ace, Marvel, Spy immediately caught my attention—set in America, with a fresh perspective on war, espionage, and sport. I couldn’t wait to dive in, and once I did, I couldn’t put it down. If you love historical fiction with a unique twist, this is a must-read.

Alice Marble is a rising tennis star in the 1930s. Her coach, Teach, is helping her. Then the war breaks out in Europe and it changes Alice’s life. This book is based on the life of Alice Marble, a true star in women’s tennis who had great success, and then great disappointment. Then she gets a call from someone in the US government who wants her to spy for them. Very interesting life.

When I started reading this story, I thought it might be pure fiction, similar to Taylor Jenkins Reid's marvellous 'Carrie Soto is Back' which I loved. Billie Jean King's endorsement made me question my assumption but I was happily enthralled by Alice Marble's story thinking how much it reminded me of 'Carrie Soto'.

At some point during the read I googled Alice Marble to discover she was in fact a champion tennis player being No 1 in the world when WW2 broke out having just won Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year. Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles. But it didn't really bother me as one of the things I love about Historical fiction is not knowing what is real and what is fiction. This is one of those stories except for the tennis titles of course, where a quick glance on Wikipedia will provide that factual information.

I'd read Walsh's 'Call of the Wrens' and loved it. This is too is very easy to love. Because of Alice Marble. She grew up in poverty after her father died when she was young. She picked up her first racquet at fifteen having been good at baseball. She was a natural and started winning junior competitions in California without having any formal training or a coach. She was beating all the girls who possessed both of those critical elements.

Alice never forgets her beginnings in life and is committed to her family. I suspect some of her winnings went back to her family even though they always seemed to live in the same house and neighbourhood. Alice is a ballsy character. She speaks her mind, and has no hesitation in fighting for equal rights for women when it comes to playing tennis. Her coach, 'Teach' is a wonderful example of the over-involved sports coach which has come under increasing scrutiny these past years. Alice and Teach share the same house, in the early years the same hotel room (2 beds) and Teach indoctrinates Alice in how to make tennis her absolute and only focus. There really isn't much time for anything else including romance.

I enjoyed discovering a new sports person, a champion, and going behind the scenes to understand what drove her, and the sacrifices she made to get to the top. The last 20 percent of the story features the 'spy assignment' the US Government commandeered her for. I have no idea how much of this is true but it also makes sense in terms of Alice's commitment to those she loved she would agree to engage in something so dangerous.

The story is told across two time periods (the 1930s and then the last years of the war) using different tenses in the POV. As many others have mentioned, at times, this was a little distracting taking you out of the story in some respects, but I was okay with it.

Jenni L.Walsh is fast becoming a 'must read' author for me so I will happily recommend this story and look forward to her next one. Thank you to HarperMuse and NetGalley providing me with access to an early access copy of it, however, this has no bearing on my review. I read it using the NetGalley app which is usually a better experience than the PDF on the Kindle.

“‘𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙.’
…It’s funny, in tennis, love means nothing. But in life, love is everything. And Alice has loved fiercely – people, moments, and a game.”

📣 Attention Hollywood!! Right here is the next book that you will definitely want to adapt into a screenplay. You’re welcome. ☺️

Jenni L. Walsh’s Ace, Marvel, Spy brilliantly showcases the life of Alice Marble, a real-life tennis sensation known for her extraordinary talent and indomitable spirit. This is a fast-paced and action-packed historical novel spanning multiple international settings.

This book, taking place in the 1930’s-1940’s, was phenomenal! I was sucked right into Alice’s world from the very first chapter. As a headstrong woman myself I related so much to Alice. Her grit and determination to persevere on that elite level is a trait we don’t see as much of these days. What a hero! Gahhh she was just such a great character. The book was fast paced and utterly addictive. I highly, highly recommend it! The audiobook, which I listened to in conjunction with the physical book, is superb. I honestly could listen to it again.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Muse Books, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. Thank you also to @libro.fm and @harpercollinsfocus for the complimentary audiobook.

This is the story of Alice Marble, tennis legend and WWII spy, told in two timelines: Alice's early years becoming a top-rated tennis player and her later espionage work in Switzerland during WWII. Unlike many tennis stars, Alice's family was not wealthy, and she struggled to compete at tennis's highest levels until Eleanor Tennant became her coach. This is Alice's story of gaining a coach and the price she paid for tennis success.

Later in life, Alice became an important advocate for women and women of color. This book brings Alice's story to life and ensures that she is remembered in history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an early read in exchange for a fair review. I loved Alice's story and highly recommend it to all tennis and historical fiction fans.

I enjoyed this novel based on the life of Alice Marble, a famous tennis player (and perhaps spy) of the 1930s and 40s. The novel reveals the story of a driven athlete who lived a dramatic life. There is lots of tennis detail, with minute-by-minute descriptions of some of her matches—a little much for me but something I’m sure tennis fans would really enjoy! The timeline teases back and forth between her tennis and wartime careers, which sometimes overlap and I found a bit confusion. But overall, I enjoyed getting to know Alice Marble and learning her fascinating story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review: Ace, Marvel, Spy: A Novel of Alice Marble by Jenni L Walsh

The exciting life of Alice Marble

Not many people may have heard of Alice Marble, which is a shame. Before Venus Williams, before Bille Jean King, there was Alice. A tennis prodigy in the 1930’s Alice’s entire life was tennis. After being taken under the wing of her coach she moved away from her family to completely devote her time to the game. But even with an undeniable talent and drive, Alice’s rise was not easy. Being a poor child in a sport typically dominated by the rich elite, Marble often had to prove herself several times over to be allowed to compete. With every new obstacle or challenge, she rose to the occasion with grit and determination which led to a decorated career including 18 Grand Slam Championships. But Alice’s contributions did not stop at tennis. During the war, Alice was tapped to be part of a Presidential program to highlight the importance of exercise. Later she also wrote articles featuring real “Wonder Women” – those who, like her, accomplished great things in a so-called “man’s world” and this amazing woman even did a stint as a spy on assignment in Switzerland.

Ace, Marvel, Spy is the newest novel by author Jenni L. Walsh. Based mainly on the life of tennis dynamo Alice Marble, Walsh takes the reader through her life from early childhood, through the ups and downs of her decorated tennis career, her romantic encounters and eventual spy activities. Written more in the form of a novel than biography, Walsh has woven in a narrative story that brings Marble’s history, accomplishments and exploits alive to the enjoyment of all readers. Not being a huge fan of tennis, I was a bit nervous going into this book that there would be technical jargon that would make the story difficult to understand. This was not the case as Walsh’s vivid descriptions of the tennis matches were engaging and easy to follow to the point where the words melted away and my imagination took over placing me courtside for the action. It’s not just the tennis piece however, Walsh also vividly captures Marble’s escapades as a spy and her time as a journalist writing the “Wonder Women” articles with lively scenes and intriguing narratives that further educate the reader regarding contributions of women in history.

I was first introduced to Jenni L. Walsh with last year’s release of Unsinkable which chronicles the life of Violet Jessop in a very similar manner. Imagine my surprise when Jessop cameos as a ship steward during one of Marble’s transatlantic passages. Whether this event occurred or was just artistic license taken by Walsh still served as a pleasant surprise that warmed my “all things Titanic” heart. Jessop in her own right was a strong female who did not bend to opposition. Walsh’s inclusion of having these two ladies meet, even in passing was a nice addition to a story that is already chock full of strong, influential females carving their legacy in a male dominated society.

If you like historically based novels featuring real persons, love books with strong female characters, or are a tennis fan looking to learn about one of the legends of the sport Ace, Marvel, Spy will pull you I and have you rooting for Alice Marble through all stages of her life.

Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own. Ace, Marvel, Spy is set for a January 14, 2025 release

Jenni Walsh has once again done a fantastic job telling the story of a remarkable woman in history, and I was fascinated by the many lives Alice Marble lived. The use of timelines is interesting, and Alice's story has so many different parts to it, tragedies and accomplishments both.

I appreciated this well-researched and detailed story of Alice Marble... what a dynamic person with varied background and interests! The narrative felt a bit choppy, going back and forth between Alice's start in tennis and her work before and during WWII, and the author's MG writing style was more dominant than I would have liked for an adult novel. Thank you to HarperMuse and the American Library Association for providing an uncorrected proof/ARC.

If you didn’t know Alice Marble was a real person, you’d think her extraordinary life was a work of fiction. While this book is a novel, Alice is real, her achievements are real and Jenni Walsh’s depiction of her life makes for fascinating reading. Alice really comes to life in this retelling of her extraordinary achievements, her highs and her lows. I was in awe of her at times, felt deeply for her at other times but most of all I cheered this amazing woman and all she achieved. This book has been an eye-opener and a fascinating read.

Although the subject matter held numerous topics I was interested in (tennis, history, women empowerment), I struggled with the way it was delivered. The timelines jumping around everywhere wasn't as cohesive as I would have hoped and I often found myself feeling taken out of the story in a jarring way.
But I admired the way Alice Marble had a tenacity and grit within her that kept her going. She truly was a survivor in so many ways and appreciated the opportunity to read this.

Thank You NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for a complimentary copy of this novel! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This novel is based off the real life of a lesser-known tennis champion from the 1930’s – 1940’s, Alice Marble.
I love how Jenni L. Walsh bases her books on real life people that are not as well known. I loved reading this novel and being introduced to an amazing and courageous woman, Alice Marble! She overcame much in her life, including sickness and personal sacrifices to get to where she did as a tennis champion in 1939. During WW2, she served as a spy for the Allies. Alice Marble was a very accomplished woman, including editing the Wonder Woman comics!
Jenni L. Walsh brought Alice Marble to life in this novel! I enjoyed learning about her life, what she endured, what she sacrificed and what she accomplished!
AVAILABLE January 14, 2025

4.5 stars.

I have been so lucky in the historical fiction novels that I have already this month and this one continues the trend. It is so good!

I had never before heard of Alice Marble, a real-life U.S. and Wimbledon tennis champion in the 1930s. Based on Alice’s own memoir, this novel traces key times in Alice’s life through its several iterations - a budding tennis player, a tennis champion, a wife, and eventually, a spy for the U.S. government during the last part of WWII.

Told in two timelines (1930s and the 1940s with an epilogue in 1964) from Alice’s viewpoint, the novel focuses on the ups and downs of both Alice’s tennis career and her personal life. I was fascinated by her path to becoming an elite tennis player, the many challenges she faced, and how she got knocked down many times, but got back up again through sheer perseverance. Alice was, to me, the definition of resiliency, courage, and strength. I rooted for her throughout.

I am so happy that this author brought to life this incredible woman in this captivating, fascinating, and enjoyable novel. I read this one in under two days - I just couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In the late 1930s, Alice Marble was among the world's leading tennis players and is still regarded as one of America's greatest female athletes. Her name, however, is barely recognized today. I’m pleased to say I am well-acquainted with Alice Marble, which piqued my interest in reading Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh, a work of historical fiction using Marble's autobiography as its primary source.

Alice Marble grew up in San Francisco and discovered her passion for tennis at 13. With her powerful groundstrokes and aggressive serve-and-volley style, Alice was determined to succeed. She found the ideal coach in Eleanor "Teach" Tennant, who guided Alice to win 18 Grand Slam Championships and introduced her to the biggest celebrities of the time. However, World War II disrupted her career. Alice's life before the war is described in the past tense, while her experiences during the war are in the present tense, including her involvement in espionage. Although her spy activities for U.S. Army Intelligence remain unproven beyond her autobiography, Walsh includes in this engaging book the story Alice consistently stood by. Alice Marble led a remarkable life, from her tennis achievements and Hollywood connections to writing for Wonder Woman comics and her wartime endeavors. This book offers an entertaining portrayal of an inspiring woman.

4.25 stars

"𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘴, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘺 - 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦."

𝗔𝗖𝗘, 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗟, 𝗦𝗣𝗬 tells the fascinating true story of Alice Marble, who was not only a tennis legend (she was the first to woman play a serve-and-volley game, becoming the #1 player in the world and winning every singles match she played in 1939 and 1940) but also used her professional tennis career as a cover to spy for the US Army during WWII to avenge death of her husband.

I'm a tennis fan but was unfamiliar with Alice until the author graciously sent me a copy of this book. I loved reading about the challenges she faced on the court, the innovations she brought to the game and her relationship with her coach. But you don't have to know the sport to enjoy this book. Alice's story is beautifully told and quite a ride. It's hard to believe one woman could have lived such an extraordinary - and to many of us, unheard of - life. She was truly a groundbreaking athlete and had as big of impact off the court as she did on. I hope this book brings more attention to her story.

Thanks to Harper Muse and to Jenni for the copies to review.

Her life held both triumph and disaster

A quote from Kipling, I am told, is to be found over the double door entry to Wimbledon: "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat these two imposters just the same." In this novel based on the life of an incredible athlete, tennis great Alice Marble, it would seem that Alice did encounter both and was able to handle them. At a time when women tennis players were from wealthy families and inhabited a certain level of society, Alice Marble was an anomaly. She was raised in San Francisco CA in a blue collar family whose existence was made more precarious when her father died after an automobile accident. One of her older brothers encouraged her to try tennis rather than playing baseball with boys, and her strength and natural athleticism served her well in that game. Her mother and brothers were willing to work hard to support her playing the sport, and when Alice was still a teen she attracted the attention of Eleanor "Teach" Tennant, a tennis coach who saw enormous promise in her and would sacrifice a great deal to help Alice succeed. In her rise to the pinnacle of her sport Alice would silence naysayers, put her very health at risk to meet challenges by those who felt she didn't "belong", be sidelined by illness and injury, but in the end would achieve her loftiest goals. She would also spend time at Hearst Castle, develop a friendship with Carole Lombard, be rejected from joining all four branches of the military, and help the war effort in surprising ways. She would experience love and great loss during her journey, but tennis would be her rock and at times her salvation.
In novels based on the life of a real person it can be challenging to determine what the person actually did and what the author has imagined, and in Ace, Marvel, Spy it is no different. Author Jenni L. Walsh used Alice Marble's memoirs as the basis for her story, and admits that there are likely exaggerations and more that have been transplanted into the novel. That said, it is a highly enjoyable read, with an irrepressible protagonist whose accomplishments as a woman in the pre and post WWII years were nothing short of remarkable. The story does not unfold in sequence, which at times required me to pause and figure out when a particular section was occurring in relation to what I had just read previously. Having recently read the biography of another female tennis great, Althea Gibson (Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea GIbson by Sally H. Jacobs, which I highly recommend), I understood a bit more than I might have otherwise done about the different tennis groups and tournaments that would feature in Alice's career. All in all, the book moves at a good clip, and the character of Alice is well-developed (although supporting characters are not always equally fleshed out). Its an enjoyable read and while it is by no means a biography I enjoyed learning about Alice's many accomplishments as well as glimpsing people with whose lives she intersected. Alice played at Wimbledon with Bobby Riggs and would go on years later to coach Billie Jean King, then Ambassador Joe Kennedy introduced her to the Queen, and so on. Readers who have enjoyed historical fiction from authors like Allison Pataki, Carole Hopson and Tracy Emerson Wood would find this tale of appeal, as would those interested in tennis players years ago. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for allowing me early access to this fascinating story in exchange for my honest review.

This book is exactly why I love historical fiction.
Ace, Marvel, Spy brings to life the story of a name lost to history.
This book has informed me and educated me about the story of an individual who made a difference in the world and who made a significant contribution in so many ways - both on and off the tennis courts.

You don’t need to be a tennis fan to enjoy this wonderful re-telling of the life of Alice Marble - who rose from a family of no financial means to become the world number one in tennis in 1939; who overcame a huge amount of illness, injury, loss and grief; and who aided US Army Intelligence as an undercover spy during the Second World War.

Jenni L. Walsh’s writing had me utterly absorbed in Alice’s life. This book is highly deserving of praise and attention, and has my full recommendation.

Be inspired by the life and accomplishments of Alice Marble; Ace, Marvel, Spy.

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the publisher, HarperCollins Focus. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A really good read about determination and resilience (and not so much spying). I was not familiar with Alice Marbel who was a tennis ace who rose beyond where anyone could have expected her to go. She, thanks to her coach Teach, was a winner both on and off the court, despite a lack of funds, illness, and so on. And then she fell in love but that wasn't to last due to WWII. The idea that she would serve as a "spy" by collecting information while playing tennis in Switzerland seemed outlandish but it worked because no one suspected her. Walsh has done a good job of researching Marbel (using Marbel's memoir) but more importantly of bringing her to life. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction.

Alice was a fascinating character to spend some time with. Caught between different worlds with a modern outlook at the wrong time and how she persevered. She learned a lot the hard way, but fought for everything she had with everything she had. Walsh pens a compelling story of a real character that entertains and keeps the audience rooting for her.