Heavy on the tennis, Backhanded Compliments integrates a sports rivalry with speculative elements in this sapphic romance debut. As a frequent dabbler in sports romance I am never one to shy away from an unusual storyline integrated around a sports setup. Add in a soulmate AU and I was so excited about this fantasy contemporary mash up. The issue with Backhanded Compliments for me was how the author brought readers into the story and the framing of each perspective. Juliette and Luca felt very two dimensional and the initial chapters of this book didn't do enough to lay a strong enough foundation for the rivalry to follow. It was also very heavy on the telling over showing, which combined with the soulmate AU felt a little too contrived for me. I’m excited for more queer sports romances though and this romance will likely work for a different kind of reader.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately I just couldn't connect with it. I loved the enemies to lovers storyline.

Being a sports based book of course I assume it'll be apart of the story but this felt like more of a tennis book and a romance underlying.

*Backhanded Compliments* by Katie Chandler is the perfect mix of sports drama, slow-burn sapphic romance, and just a *touch* of magic. Juliette and Luca are elite tennis rivals who have spent years getting under each other’s skin—until they find out they’re literal soulmates. Talk about a plot twist.

This book has everything: tension, banter, undeniable chemistry, and just enough angst to keep you hooked. If you love competitive energy, enemies-to-lovers vibes, and a little supernatural spice, this one’s a must-read.

3.5

Honestly I want to start off by saying I really enjoyed this book! I mean women and tennis… what’s not to enjoy!

Juliette and Luca’s relationship was well developed and so palpable I could feel it so much while I read. The development of their relationship felt so authentic to their own personal struggles. I also loved that they were tennis rivals as well, I felt like it added more depth beyond just being not fond of each other.

I enjoyed this story for the most part, I think the few things that bothered me was for one it was that it was a Dual POV that was in third person… which I felt like in my personal opinion defeated the purpose of having both of their perspectives. I felt like I got kind of confused a bit because I had to remember whose POV I was reading it in. I also liked the whole fantasy soulmate element but I do feel like it didn’t do much for the story. I feel like it was more to supply an element for love and how who you chose to love being up to you and not based on fate but I just felt like it could’ve offered up more to the plot truthfully. And lastly the conflict that they experienced at the end of the book felt like it was forgiven way too quickly that it didn’t feel realistic, I would’ve liked to have seen them work more to resolve things.

Overall I did enjoy this book, I would absolutely read it again!

Thank you NetGalley and Katie Chandler for letting me receiving an advanced copy of this story! If you love women, sapphic romances, and tennis, check out this book when it’s released on June 10th!

This story was cute. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. But there was something that just wasn’t it for me. All of the characters were almost too quirky and everything felt… sort of one dimensional? Or one sided? I’m not entirely sure how to explain it. Like I said.. it was cute. But I wouldn’t read it again.

rating — 3.75 out of 5 stars.

i absolutely love a little magical realism with my romance. i am a big fan of ashley poston’s works as well as casey mcquiston’s one last stop; there’s something about a sprinkling of something fantastical in an otherwise “normal” book that really hits for me! naturally, i was immediately excited about the idea of a rivals-and-soulmates-to-lovers romance, especially a sapphic one. and overall, i was pleased! this was a very unique setup with good execution. i hope we get to see more soulmate romances soon, i am a big fan.

i will say, i think we got a little bogged down in the tennis of it all sometimes. i know, i know – it’s a tennis romance! that’s kind of the point! but sometimes we’d be seven paragraphs deep into a detailed description of a tennis match and my eyes would glaze over at the description of yet another serve. and this is coming from someone who enjoys action/sports scenes in books, which i know aren’t always everyone’s cup of tea. maybe it’ll hit more for someone who actually plays/understands tennis, but for me i wouldn’t mind if the tennis scenes were pared down here and there, especially if it’s in favor of a little more development on the personal side (luca’s anxiety, for example, which isn’t really resolved in a way i’d hope for in a standalone). overall, though, i enjoyed the book and i’ll read more from this author in the future!

As an avid tennis player, I was thrilled to read this one. I haven't read many lesbian romances, but really enjoyed Red White & Royal Blue, and this had the same fun vibe and banter! Really enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC gifted in exchange for my honest review.

I unfortunately DNFd this one at around 24%. I was not about to push through a book and get myself into a slump. I usually would not rate for if I DNF the book but this is my genuine feedback and I felt like I got to a certain point in the book of understanding what was going on to be able to decide a star rating. I will likely not be sharing this outside of Net Galley.

This cover had my expectations up for a cute tennis sapphic rom-com of sorts but there was almost no dialogue, the characters felt like they were just kind of existing? There a LOT of characters, none of which are really given much life. I grew up playing tennis and LOVE tennis and am desperately searching for more sapphic books so I was really excited for this one. The execution is just lacking. The writing style also was not for me. I also had troubles feeling like I was actually there in the story. Thank you for allowing me to share my honest feedback. I am sad this book was not a 5 star read for me.

Backhanded Compliments is a sapphic romance following tennis stars Juliette and Luca. The story is set in a world where everyone knows the name of their soulmate - the name of your perfect match is essentially tattooed on your inner wrist. Readers that enjoy the grumpy/sunshine or enemies-to-lovers trope will be fans of this steamy sports novel!

❤️What I loved❤️
The steam was very well done! I’m so happy to see more representation of lgbtq+ couples in the genre.
I loved Luca’s character from the jump! Juliette took me awhile to warm up to (mainly because she’s a grump) but eventually she won me over.

👎What I didn’t enjoy 👎
I’m a huge sports fan, but admittedly I did not enjoy the tennis-focused sections of the book. The first few chapters seemed to drag on forever as the details of a competition between the two main characters played out. I likely would have DNF’d if it continued much longer.
The soulmate plot wasn’t *it* for me. I enjoy magical realism, but this needed to be leaned into more and further developed. I

4 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The rivalry between the leads reminded me of Challengers, but with a sapphic twist. The soulmate trope was a unique touch to what would otherwise be just another sports romance. The lore of soulmates felt confusing at times and I would've liked to see it incorporated a little stronger. Juliette was frustrating at times, and I feel the characters could've earned their HEA a little more. It was also very tennis heavy, so some parts were confusing it you're not familiar with the sport. Overall an easy read. Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC!

thank u to netgalley and atria books for arc!


i dnf at 23% in. sorry. i tried to push but unfortunately, couldn’t do it. i didnt like Juliette at all. i thought she was truly a brat. there were moments in the book ( cant quote for now ) that rubbed me the wrong way about her and made her insufferable . also the soulmate thing was.. weird. that was on me and i overlooked that part but gave it a try. i thought it was done pretty… boring? it was simple but just was there and added nothing it felt like beside giving a reason for why the character should be together. but it was useless because theyre rivals. i guess its to add this element of omg they HAVE to be together but idk.

the writing. 23% in and there was BARELY any talking. i had more descriptive scenes then anything. i didnt mind the multiple paragraphs about tennis and learning the game, but god. they didnt talk. also it was kinda boring. there was so much description and scenes that i felt lost and skimmed without noticing.

overall it wasnt for me. i wish it was because sapphic books are a need but this wasnt it. i liked luca tho. but everything else was… yeah.

This book felt stilted, rushed, and left a ton of loose ends. Would not recommend, the tennis was the most interesting part.

I love the cover, but I didn't love the book. It was very tennis-heavy and I get that they are tennis players, but the explanations of the matches were a little deep for someone who knows very little about tennis. I also didn't love the soulmark part of the book. The random fantasy aspect was not my favorite in a sports romance. I would have liked just the rivals-to-lovers plot, but the soulmark piece felt a little out of place.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

A perfect read for fans of Cleat Cute. This enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance will have you cheering for main characters, Juliette & Luca, on & off the tennis courts!

Didn’t love. It dove a little too far into the sport right off the bat, which I get because it’s a sports romance but usually not that heavily and it being third person made me disconnect even more. Throw in a random fantasy aspect and it just wasn’t for me

I loved this. I havent seen challengers but if the movie is anything close to it, I would die for it. Full of chemistry and tension and I loved the tennis inclusion. so so good.

Katie Chandler serves up a sizzling rivals-to-lovers romance in Backhanded Compliments, blending fierce competition, soulmate magic, and undeniable chemistry. Tennis star Juliette Ricci is determined to be the best—until she’s matched against her biggest rival, Luca Kacic, and discovers they’re soulmates.

Their press conference jabs turn into late-night confessions, but with careers on the line, love feels like a dangerous distraction. Chandler crafts sharp banter, steamy tension, and emotional depth, making Juliette and Luca’s journey as gripping as a championship match. A must-read for fans of fiery competition and fated romance

The concept was different, and I was initially very interested in a sapphic enemies-to-lovers/fated mates sports romance. There was a lot of tennis right out of the gate. I’ve read more than 60 sports romances, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen one get so far down into the weeds so quickly and for so long. I incorrectly assumed we were focusing on tennis for sweaty girls and the vibes, not so much for a play-by-play on the page. I honestly wanted to DNF before the end of the second chapter.

The soulmate thing was maybe almost a nod to omegaverse? It really felt out of place within the story and more like it was planted to capture more readers without putting in the world-building effort that most fantasy romances require.

Third person narration was a choice. Sometimes it is done so well that it isn’t even noticeable, and in this case it made everything feel overly simplistic and disconnected. The dialogue is unemotional and robotic, and it all just felt tedious. I have read non-fiction that was more engaging and exciting.

Unfortunately, I can’t rate any higher than two stars. I really, really wanted to like it, because the world needs more mainstream sapphic romance books, but this book was not for me.