One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Meg Jones.
Published by Avon on September 9, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A sweet and spicy friends-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of the Australian Open, from the author of Clean Point.
In the aftermath of Dylan Bailey’s tenth Grand Slam loss, she decides to put her racket away for good. Until a tempting bet from fellow pro Oliver Anderson convinces her to give it one last shot.
If she sticks it out, and still loses the next tournament, she takes home his US Open Trophy, and is free to walk away from the sport forever. To sweeten the deal, Oliver proposes a twist—he’ll swap his racket for a whistle and coach Dylan in the months leading up to the Australian Open.
After all, with the solid friendship they’ve built, surely working together could score a game point.
They just need to keep their eyes on the ball and ignore their sizzling tension.
As Oliver and Dylan navigate the unpredictable court, they rediscover their love for the sport, but the feelings they share could complicate things. With the world watching their every move, they must ensure their partnership stays on-court.
But as the lines between coach and player blur, especially in a sport where every detail is scrutinized, keeping their feelings in check may be their toughest match yet.
My love of sports romances runs deep, and I really enjoyed getting to watch Dylan and Oliver fall in love as they figured out their future in the world of tennis.
There is something about elite athletes that always draws me in. Their ambition and drive is awe inspiring, and Dylan definitely fit that mold. She was a world class athlete, but unfortunately, her claim to fame was coming in second place. I really appreciated the focus on the mental aspect of being at the top of your sport. Dylan had her own intrusive thoughts and anxiety to overcome, but she also had some toxic people in her life with whom she needed to cut ties.
I loved that Oliver and Dylan's relationship was built on a strong friendship. It was a delight to see it evolve and change via text messages, phone calls, video calls, and interactions. I was excited every time I thought they would take that leap because they shared a special bond. The support and friendship they showed each other was what everyone needs or hopes for, and I was excited to cheer them on.
But it wasn't just the relationship between Dylan and Oliver that excited me, it was seeing Dylan allow some other connections to grow into more. She was a fierce competitor, but she realized that some of her opponents could be great friends. The interactions between Scottie and Dylan inspired me to backtrack and read Scottie's book, and I will admit, I am eager to learn everyone's backstories.
Overall, this was slow-burn sports romance which pulled me in from the very beginning. I was hooked by Dylan's personal journey and was thrilled to see her fall in love and discover so much about herself along the way.
*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
Published by Avon on August 6, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A spicy enemies-to-lovers romance about a disgraced tennis player who partners with her father’s rival for a chance at redemption—perfect for fans of Carrie Soto Is Back and Icebreaker.
Former tennis prodigy Scottie Sinclair is a cheat.
Or at least, that’s what the world thinks. After all, who would believe she was secretly drugged by her own father before winning the women’s singles title at Wimbledon?
The tabloids have called “Game, Set, Match” on Scottie’s career—but an offer at redemption, and more importantly revenge, may give her the chance at a clean serve.
Nico Kotas reigned the tennis world for almost a decade—until an injury took him from the baseline.
Now with a clean bill of health, he’s hungry for one last title. But his public image needs a new game plan—and according to his coach, his former rival’s daughter is the perfect advantage.
But with old enemies on the sidelines, scandal is seconds away.
Because, after all, revenge is best served Centre Court.
After being stripped of her Wimbledon trophy, Stevie left tennis behind as she partied across Europe, but after two years, she was ready to wage her comeback and get her revenge.
I actually read Game Point first and was eager to learn more about Stevie and Nico. I immediately felt nothing but rage for Stevie. I wanted to set her enemies on fire. She was wronged and someone needed to pay. But first, I would cheer for her as she worked hard and built a friendship with Nico. She belonged to tennis and it belonged to her. I wanted her to succeed as an in-your-face to all the people calling her a cheat and openly judging her. I hope they all ate crow when the truth was revealed and more was learned about the conditions under which Stevie was trained.
Nico was also making a comeback. His knee surgery did not go well, and his recovery had been difficult. Being paired with Stevie for mixed doubles was a good thing for them both. But the best part was that they fell in love with each other. It was a slow road to romance, and you would think them an odd match, but there was something special between them. I believe that their shared passion for the sport and lifelong dedication to their craft was something that bonded them, but it was the way Nico respected and stood up for Stevie that convinced me that he was a soul mate.
Overall, I enjoyed the blend of tennis, romance, and drama which combined into a delicious tale.
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