All's Fair in Love and Pickleball by Kate Spencer
Published by Forever on June 3, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
Pickleball rivalry? Sure. Falling for your fake boyfriend? Now that’s a surprise.
Bex Martin’s racquet club is her entire world. But the business she inherited from her mother has started to feel more like a sinking ship. That is, until Nikolaus Karras—a former tennis bad-boy with an ego as big as his serve—makes himself at home on her courts.
Niko has something to prove, and a high-stakes pickleball tournament is just what he needs to get back in the game after a career-ending injury. When he is finally able to set his ego aside to ask for Bex’s help, everyone assumes that they are a couple—on and off the court.
But she needs the prize money to save the club, and he needs a win to restore his reputation. So now they have a fake relationship as well as a doubles partner that they can’t seem to resist. Game on!
In an effort to save her beloved racquet club from closure, Bex teams up with tennis bad-boy, Niko, to win the pickleball tournament title.
This is my third book by Spencer, and once again, she crafted a romance that made me laugh, smile, and swoon while also wanting to see the characters overcome their personal obstacles and come out on top. The overall feel of this book was light, but one of the big driving forces for Bex was her need to preserve her mother's legacy. After losing her mother to cancer, Bex was working hard to keep the club afloat as she dealt with her grief. Her toxic trait was not accepting help which led to a lot of stress for her. It was gratifying to see her opening herself up to accepting assistance, as well as opening her heart to Niko.
Niko was waging a comeback. His rise in the world of tennis was a way for him to win his father's affection but then his own love of the sport developed. A knee injury took him out of the circuit, but he had been working hard to get back on the tour. When he came to Sunset Springs to help his aunt, he never expected Bex to plow her way into his world, pushing him to rethink his life plan.
I loved that Bex was a game changer for Niko. Yes, they were supposed to be fake dating, but it never, EVER seemed fake to me. They had chemistry galore and just clicked, on and off the court. There is nothing I love more than a grump with a heart of gold hero who melts for the scrappy, Rainbow Brite heroine.
Adding to the fun of this story was a wacky and wonderful group of seniors who formed a family for Bex. Ed, Loretta, Deb, and Maureen were such a fantastic support system for Bex. They had been part of the racquet club and her life for many years and were steadfast in their love for her and the club.
This was another fun and solid romance from Spencer. Filled with her signature humor, wit, and whip smart banter, it was a delight to root for Bex and Niko as they attempted to save the club and figure out their lives while falling in love.
Eat Post Like by Emily Arden Wells
Published by Avon on June 3, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Goodreads
Eat Post Like is a heartwarming debut novel of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of food.
Cassie Brooks has her life all figured out.
Make partner at the prestigious law firm she works at by age 35Prioritize making plans with friends on the weekends… not workingSpend as much time as possible with her boyfriend, James ColwellWork might be exhausting, but for now she’s satisfied making good money and enjoying New York City with James. He’s an accountant but has surprisingly eclectic taste in food. Cassie is starting to think he could be the one when her life flips upside down with one James has died tragically.
Months into her grief, she uncovers a worn diary belonging to James and stumbles upon a remarkable James was the mastermind behind the hottest, anonymous foodie account in the city. With detailed food reviews, lists of new restaurants, and a tantalizing plan to involve Cassie, James had been preparing for an adventure of a lifetime.
When Cassie unwittingly accepts a dinner reservation on behalf of James’s viral account, she embarks on a whirlwind journey filled with unforgettable meals and unexpected connections. She goes from endless hours on-call as a lawyer to savoring exquisite pasta in Italy and indulging in the finest French cuisine in Paris.
But as Cassie navigates the demands of being an influencer and embracing her newfound passions, she struggles to find balance. Does she have what it takes to maintain her secret identity while pursuing her own dreams? Can she balance her grief of losing James with the thrilling possibilities that lie ahead?
Following her boyfriend's death, Cassie reflects on her life and searches for her own passion.
First and foremost, I found Eat Post Like to be a lovely exploration of grief. James' sudden death erased the future Cassie saw for herself, one spent by his side. It also exposed a whole side of James she never knew existed. Cassie was shocked when she discovered James had been living a double life as a food critic. Feeling a bit betrayed, she also wanted to learn more about this other world he inhabited which pushed her on her own path of self-discovery and search for her passion. With that, I am warning non-foodies, that there is a LOT of food talk.
Cassie's personal journey was accomplished via a physical journey when she accepted an invitation to be part of a tour reviewing starred restaurants in Europe. I loved all the descriptions of where she was and what she ate. These passages were vivid, making my mouth water while transporting me to Rome, Copenhagen, Venice, and Paris. I am a foodie with wanderlust, and therefore, enjoyed this part of the story immensely.
Filled with amazing locals, incredible food descriptions, and interesting characters, Eat Post Like was an entertaining grief, healing, and finding your passion.
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
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