Serve Up an Ace with These Tennis Books Ahead of Wimbledon (Exclusive)

‘Clean Point’ by Meg Jones

This is the perfect book to kick off Wimbledon; it’s as sweet and juicy as the strawberries! Tennis prodigy Scottie is in her Reputation era and returning to the tennis tour after a scandalous two-year suspension by playing with her father’s rival, Nico in Wimbledon’s mixed doubles tournament.

What follows is a magnetic slow burn with sizzling flirting, hat-stealing, sweaty training montages and a deepening romantic connection that allows both Scottie and Nico to heal and love each other. You’ll be rooting for Scottie as she carves a place for herself on tour and with secret softie, Nico.

‘Carrie Soto Is Back’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Looking for a comeback queen story full of heart? Then meet Carrie Soto! While fictional, her struggles are deeply real and relatable. Split between two timelines, we see Carrie in her prime as the best tennis player the world has ever seen, smashing records and rackets. But six years after she clinched her final Grand Slam, a new rival sweeps in to steal her legacy. And with that, Carrie Soto and her spark are back as she returns to solidify herself in history.

I love Carrie for her pride, her confidence and her honesty. This is a realistic commentary on how women are portrayed in sports and in the media, and we explore all the facets of Carrie, from her close relationship with her father and coach, to her unapologetically ambitious drive, to the vulnerability she shares as she falls in love with another player, Bowe.

’40-Love’ by Olivia Dade

Get ready to laugh with one of the funniest meet-cutes I’ve ever read! When Tess loses her bikini top to the Atlantic, she is rescued by the handsome, flirty and entirely-too-young-for-her Lucas. Despite thinking she’ll never see him again, he turns out to be her resort tennis trainer while she’s on vacation. Lucas’ emotional maturity and cinnamon bun personality had me swooning. Tess is the perfect fat and fabulous heroine: driven and confident and not without her vulnerabilities. The summery resort vibes make this the perfect beachy read, especially if you want a book to make you snort-laugh so hard you’ll fall off your cabana!

‘Break Point’ by Yahrah St. John

If you’re anything like me, you need your daily dose of top-tier second chance romances and this one sparkles! You’ll fall in love with former tennis player Teagan and current hotshot Dominic. They broke up years ago after an injury forced Teagan to retire and the press spun her into a villain.

Years later, they’re reunited at a tennis charity event and pushed into playing together, where they resolve to ignore the feelings they still harbor for each other. Together they must work through their past hurts, confront their mistakes and heal their heartbreak. There is such a wonderful balance of sizzling heat and heartfelt vulnerability, all along the backdrop of exciting tennis matches!

‘Love And Other Scores’ by Abra Pressler

Head down under with Noah and Gabriel. It’s the Australian Open, and up-and-coming French tennis player Gabriel seeks refuge in a local bar from the pressure of playing. This is where he meets the directionless but spirited bartender Noah who has no idea who he is. Their spark leads them to explore Melbourne in the scorching sun and fall in love in the vibrant city. The romance is so soft and sweet, capturing my heart and making me turn to mushy goo, like a popsicle left out in the sun too long.  

‘The Heiress Hunt’ by Johanna Schupe

Historical romance fans, I’d love to introduce you to Harrison and Maddie and the glittering Gilded Age! Once they were childhood best friends, until Harrison fled to Paris after Maddie said she’d only ever see him as a brother. Ouch! He returns stateside three years later with a secret plan to win Maddie’s heart under the guise of her matchmaking him with a wealthy heiress.

Maddie has no room to fall for this certified scoundrel; not only is she about to be engaged to a Duke, but she’s practicing for a national tennis championship. The final book in this series is one of the best and most heart-achingly beautiful love stories I’ve ever read, — even if that one has absolutely nothing to do with tennis! This has all the hallmarks of a soapy romance with crackling tension, swoony seduction tactics and complicated characters.