“Pickleballers delivers the ultimate serve…a fun new rom-com that will definitely have you hitting the court ASAP as you follow along with Meg’s new journey in the sport that comes with some unexpected game (and life) changing experience.”
—Cosmopolitan Magazine
“Flirty fun!”
—Good Housekeeping
“A funny, feel-good adventure you won’t want to miss.”
—Kirkus, starred review
“From dashing dukes to passionate pickleballers….there’s something for everyone on our list of the best new romance titles—handpicked by our expert librarians and staff.”
—-New York Public Library’s Best New Romance Books
ILANA LONG
AUTHOR
Meg Bloomberg is in a pickle. When Meg’s ex turns out to be a total player, her bestie suggests a mood-lifting, pickleball excursion to Bainbridge Island. It’s supposed to be an easy lob, a way to heal—not the opening serve to a new courtside romance that’s doomed to spin out.
No matter how Meg tries, she can’t shake her feelings for Ethan Fine. A charismatic environmental consultant and Bainbridge local, Ethan seems like the real dill. But when Meg discovers that Ethan is sabotaging her home court, she decides the match is over.
It’s time for Meg to take control of her own game. And maybe, just maybe…love will bounce back.
PICKLEBALLERS
A romantic comedy by Ilana Long
Berkley/Penguin Random House
COMING OCTOBER 2025
PICKLE PERFECT
A second chance at love crashes one woman’s tropical pickleball vacation and serves up an adorkably swoony romantic comedy.
Lulu Gardner only takes predictable shots. After faulting on tennis stardom at eighteen, Lulu, now a thirtysomething single parent, is in control of her game. But when an unanticipated blunder threatens her teaching job, Lulu’s stable, well-planned—okay, boring—world spins out. And somehow, her godparents convince her to join them for a “de-stressing” destination pickleball vacation in Costa Rica. Maybe an all-inclusive picklecation is just the pick-me-up she needs to loosen her grip.
Or it would have been if she wasn’t backhanded by the sight of her high school fling Tyler Demming on the beachside courts. Fresh off the tennis pro tour, the reigning bad boy of paddle sports is as studly and snarky as ever. Even though his public image took a hit with a ballsy publicity stunt, Tyler seems to be the big shot he’s always been.
But Lulu’s had years to steel herself against his rugged good looks and hypnotic charm. Despite the changes she sees in Tyler since their teenage days, Lulu will have no problem keeping her head in the game and her heart on the sidelines. Or so she tells herself….
CATCH A SEGMENT ON PICKLEBALLERS
SEATTLE, Date coming soon, 7:30
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Livestream: King5.com
Meet Ilana
Ilana Long first heard about pickleball when her sporty friend confessed that she was addicted to a game that was “like ping-pong but standing on the table.” Shortly after, Ilana joined the pickleball craze despite her utter lack of eye-hand coordination. A stand-up comic, sketch comedy writer, and actress, Ilana studied and performed improv comedy at The Second City in Chicago. She is the author of the picture book, Ziggy’s Big Idea, and her essays appear in multiple books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She is a mom of twins. She lives in Bellevue, WA and Puerto Vallarta, MX.