Thirty Love

by Tom Vellner

Things heat up on and off the court for two tennis rivals in this steamy debut gay sports romcom perfect for fans of TJ Alexander and Casey McQuiston.

American tennis star Leo Chambers is determined to win the US Open by 30, the age when many players feel retirement looming. He’s just a year away from that dreaded birthday, but he can’t find his focus—considering he hasn’t told anyone he’s gay, he’s clashing with his strict coach (who also happens to be his dad), and he still can’t figure out how to beat his longtime nemesis on tour, Gabe Montoya, who, well, hits different. Gabe is playing better than ever, and Leo can’t seem to escape him—and maybe he doesn’t want to escape him.

Leo’s other obstacle is Sascha Volkov, a Russian legend who has such a powerful influence on the tennis world, he would destroy Leo’s career if he found out that he’s gay.

No distractions, Leo reminds himself. But when Gabe makes a shocking announcement, Leo is thrown off his game—in more ways than one. Ready? Play.

Thirty Love is a must-read for fans of queer sports romances.

Genres: Romance, Sports, Sports Romance, Queer, Contemporary, M M Romance, LGBT

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 10, 2026

About the author

Tom Vellner is a writer, editor, and mediocre tennis player. A former staff writer at BuzzFeed, he has also contributed to VICE, Thrillist, ACLU Magazine, and more. He lives in the Hudson Valley with his husband and two dogs. THIRTY LOVE is his debut novel.

Reviews

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in with zero expectations, but oh boy… this book is good!

It’s a slow, slow, slow burn, and I loved every minute of it. Because what’s better than a great enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story? The first part doesn’t even focus much on the romance—it’s about Leo and his dad, Leo’s encounters with Gabe, and vivid tennis scenes. I’ve watched so many tennis matches in the past, and it felt like I was courtside for every rally: the thud of the ball, the groans and moans, the excitement.

The same goes for the tension between Leo and Gabe. They didn’t know how to act around each other, even though it was obvious there was something between them. I loved how their conversations started cautiously, led to a truce, and eventually grew into something more.

If you’re looking for lots of smut, I have to disappoint you—there’s hardly any. Or you could count Gabe’s guilty pleasure: reading smut (Leo’s is watching Gokden Girls btw).

I hesitated for a moment to round my 4.5-star rating up to five because of the lack of safe sex talk, but that last chapter gave me goosebumps like I was in the stadium myself. So, in the end, I decided to round up my rating after all.

Thank you, Alcove Press and NetGalley, for this fantastic tennis romance!

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[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
I loved this book.
If you also had a Challengers phase when the movie came out this was made for you. I was surprised by how the game was so intrinsic to the plot, you can say I've been reading way too many sports romances where the game is just the setting, but not here! And I absolutely loved that. I learned a lot about tennis and I was surprised to see how much I cared about the matches and results. 
I love the cast of characters, both Gabe and Leo have amazing friends and I couldn't get enough of their dynamics. 
The romance is a slow burn and how I missed this omg! It's so good when it's done well, and let me tell you the author KNOWS how to do it. The tension and getting to know each other better as friends, the glances and little touches, the beginning of the relationship, it was. So. Good. 
I basically loved everything in Thirty Love, if you can't tell already. 

Thank you so much to Alcove Press and Netgalley for the ARC! 

[Vini · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah just like in challengers

If there's one thing about me, it's that I love Challengers. It's one of my favorite movies of all time, the soundtrack SLAPS, everyone in it is SO HOT, and it's SO FUN. So, of course, the moment I heard a tennis romance was coming out, I added it to my TBR!!

I'm not a sports person, but tennis is the only sport I'm remotely, slightly interested in, so I always thought it was a crime that there weren't a lot of tennis romances. Tennis is kind of a perfect sport for people to explore in romance books. You have to be at a distance from somebody. You can't touch them, trying to make them think the ball is gonna go one place, and then go another place. There’s a lot of intimacy in that, and a lot of repression. The point is not having any contact. And also the grunts and the sounds people make!! You can't curse!! It's perfect for romance COME ON PEOPLE !!

Thirty Love definitely delivered on all I wanted from a tennis romance. I was surprised by how much the game is intrinsic to the plot. I'm a bit used to the actual sport in a sports romance to be in the background, but in here, the tennis plays a part both in the romance development and in the character development. And the matches were fun!!! I was so invested in them, it felt like I was courtside for every match.

The romance between Leo and Gabe is a slowww-burn. Which I love! You get to know both of them, to understand the reasons why they're so antagonistic towards each other at the beginning, and it makes the transition from enemies to friends to lovers feel earned. The tension, the initial awkwardness as they get to know each other better as friends, the glances and little touches, it was all soooo good.

I loved everything about this. Everything worked out perfectly for me. The humor, the writing, the third-person perspective, the romance, and the characters. Excited for it to come out next March!!!

[Raquel]

FINALLY !!! After watching Alcaraz and Sinner play against each other multiple times this year, I need a book with rival tennis players falling in love.

[Matthew Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the happiest tears in my eyes and so much love in my heart as I type this— a grand slam of a novel

[fatma]

30% in and there is no romance in sight in this romance novel, so i am DNFing

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was truly a DELIGHT from start to finish! I loooooved the romance, as well as the larger themes of queer pride and self-acceptance — but also adored that Thirty Love really put the sport front and center too (and made it deeply entertaining!).

While it wasn't in the official comps, I kept thinking about Rachel Reid's novel Heated Rivalry while I was reading, particularly with Leo's internal monologue. He and Shane Hollander are very different characters, but they both possess a specific type of self-deprecation and self-consciousness that I find deeply charming.

Anyway, let me know when Tom Vellner's next book comes out. I'm in.

[Bethany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much @alcovepress for the advanced copy to review!

Sometimes shooting your shot on NetGalley works and I gotta say, I was *SO* excited to get an early copy of Thirty Love to read and review.

This really *felt* like a sports romance, with just as much emphasis on the sport itself as our two main characters. I felt the high stakes and the pressure. I also really loved the complexity of Leo’s relationship with his dad who has coached him for years.

I loved Gabe and Leo’s rivalry so much. It’s sometimes just as simple as a miscommunication that sets off years of bitterness. I gotta say, watching them become friends was SO much fun. Their light flirting was so cute and then it kept going and got just steamy enough for me. The SHOWERS???!😮‍💨😮‍💨

Their first kiss was so freaking gorgeous and epic???? And then the aftermath?! Yes. Yes. Yes. I don’t want to spoil anything but that ending absolutely made me cry real tears last night, because it was so gorgeous and I was so in love with our characters. Leo and Gabe forever 😭😭😭🥰🥰🥰.

Also, I LOVED Ollie and Tess so much. Found family forever and ever and ever in any and all queer books. It always makes me so happy to see it. And down with Sascha!!!!

Cannot recommend this one highly enough. Had an epic time. I’m also dying to know who will narrate the audio cause 😮‍💨😮‍💨.

[Pallavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4/5 STARS

Post-US Open season was the perfect time to read this book! I have been on a sports romance kick lately and this was a solid one. Think RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE meets Challengers meets CARRIE SOTO IS BACK. There is a lot to like in THIRTY LOVE - Leo and Gabe's romance, navigating their queer identities in the spotlight, the influence of social media, fast-paced tennis... Leo's relationship with his dad/coach with multiple sclerosis especially stood out to me.

[Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC of this book!

Following the enemies-to-lovers between Leo Chambers and Gabriel Montoya, this story deals with self-acceptance, having courage, and achieving your dreams.

I went into this very optimistically. Maybe I was riding the energy and fun of ‘Heated Rivalry’ and the movie ‘Challengers’, but this stood out as a real contender for me. Sadly, I don’t know if this lived up to the hype I was hoping for.

This book seems to be promoted as an adult romance, when I would argue that this is more of a YA novel. It’s not that the topics aren’t adult - because they are - but the way the characters talk and engage is very juvenile and not at all what would be expected from 25+ year olds. I believe if the characters had been aged down to being in their early 20s, perhaps, or even in the 18+ teens, this would work; however that is not the case.

Additionally, I don’t know if I cared for most of the characters; I can say with certainty I did not care for the two main characters. I could not buy that someone like Leo who has faced against Gabe and lost 9 times would even be remotely interested in seeing them romantically. Further, there does not seem to be any redeemable qualities to Gabe except that he wants to be a role model to Peruvian viewers and one other moment that happens later in the book.

This book had some questionable choices in the plot and did not feel realistic nor fantastical enough to believe. Without spoiling ending plot points, I felt that Leo was a bit too forgiving around a particular situation and I don’t believe that that person should have been pardoned so easily.

Ranting aside, this book was fine. I don’t necessarily think I could recommend it, but there may be readers that enjoy it more than I. Suffice to say, I don’t know if I would call myself a fan.

[Miglė | Perskaičiau ir aprašiau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not gonna lie, I chose this book almost purely based on the cover, which I sometimes do, but usually the book turns out not as good. This time, however, I was pleasantly surprised as Thirty Love not only has a superb cover, but the story was as good if not better.

Not being a fan of tennis, I was a little sceptical if this story will be a hit or miss for me. It was a major hit, even though I can't say I will start watching the sport. But Tom's writting made me feel like I was a live spectator every time a match was described. Very real, I was emotinally invested from page 1.

It really is a talent & great skill to write sports romance that leans heavy on the sports and not make the readers bored. I was on the edge of my seat most of the time. The tension during matches, Leo's anxiety before them felt real. I was consumed by the story and read the book in one day.

The slow burn of the romantic relationship between Leo and Gabe was one of the most naturally-paced I read this year. I hate it when feelings get rushed, but Thirty Love had a perfect amount of slow burn, emotional evolution. Basically enemies to friends to lovers and it felt natural, healthy and by the time the first kiss happened, I was giggling & kicking my feet as I adore L & G together.

A real gem of a sports romance. Thanks so much to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Nev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queer sports romance! Thirty Love follows Leo Chambers on his quest to win the tennis US Open. On top of all the typical pressures, he’s also dealing with the fact that he hasn’t come out to anyone yet… and he might be having feelings for his rival Gabe Montoya.

This is a SPORTS romance, not a sports ROMANCE. Leo’s tennis career, his relationship with his dad, and his overall personal journey is the A plot of the story while the romance is more of the B plot. The first half of the book simply feels like a contemporary sports story instead of a romance. In the second half of the book the romance does finally enter the plot, but it never fully feels like the main focus of the book. Sometimes it does really bother me when books marketed as romances don’t entirely feel like the romance is the main plot. But in this case I didn’t mind too much because I did find the explorations of Leo’s life as a closeted professional athlete to be compelling.

I enjoyed getting to see Leo and Gabe start connecting with one another and open up about misconceptions they had in the past. They had excellent chemistry and really sweet ways of showing up for each other. While there are on page sex scenes, they’re not the most descriptive or steamy. They’re more like a blurry watercolor rather than an in-focus photograph, which isn’t my preference. But overall I really appreciated the relationship between Leo and Gabe.

Definitely check this out if you’re interested in a queer sports romance that has a heavy emphasis on the sport itself and the wider reactions of the sports world.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Kristen Wallo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed reading this advanced trader copy of Thirty Love, I give it a four star rating. I said it was a good read but, sometimes I feel like things happen too fast that I was missing them. I liked the characters a lot and I feel like the struggles were real. It did make me very emotional at times and I enjoyed the character development. I never read a book about tennis before, and I thought this was a good one to start with. 

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I absolutely loved this book. This being Tom’s first novel is shocking at how well it’s written. It gives a good and easy to follow storyline. I was living for the rivals (yet secret crush) to lovers. I swear anytime there was scenes where they weren’t in it, I was speed reading to get back to them. I loved the flirting and the cute banter between them. I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time.

I absolutely loved the ‘Challengers’ feel to it and the family & side characters made the book even better. Even with a very clear ‘villain’ in the book (who can choke for all I care…), he made the book better and more interesting. The father/son relationship was so heartwarming. I just loved everything about this book, it was so cute & it was a shorter read which I loved (I finished it in one day).

Thank you NetGalley & Tom Vellner for an arc copy of this book. I cannot wait to read more by him.

Some of my favourite quotes:

“Leo’s mouth began to water. For the food. Not Gabe. Just to be clear.”

“He had never felt his breath catch in his throat like this before.”

“Soothing my first-round loss with some smut.”

[Shannai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the review copy of Thirty Love. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This was such an interesting and unique read, and overall, I had a really pleasant time with it. There aren’t many tennis romances out there, and I loved how much thought and care went into capturing that world. It’s clear the author knows the sport very well, and that attention to detail really brought the setting to life.

I will say it did take me a little while to get fully into the story, partly because there is quite a lot of focus on the aspect of the sport, and the third-person perspective made it a bit harder for me to connect with the characters at first. Once I settled into the rhythm of it, though, I began to appreciate how immersive it all was.

This is very much a slow burn of a book, with a strong focus on the sport itself. The romance feels more subtle and secondary. Gabe and Leo’s interactions were genuinely fun and had a nice warmth to them that balanced out the more technical tennis moments.

Overall, I enjoyed this and found it an engaging and thoughtful read. It may not have completely swept me away, but I can absolutely see it appealing to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with rich detail, a steady pace, and a heartfelt connection to the world of sport.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet read. I hope queer booktok finds it because I know they will eat this up. I loved all of the characters so much, and their dynamic was very wholesome. The romance did sometimes felt like it took a backseat to the bigger plot points, like self-discovery, comfort in your own skin, queer joy, etc., which made it feel less like a romance and more like a story about finding yourself with romance woven in.

The romance itself was really cute but the shift from hate to love happened fast due to the pacing of the story. There were time jumps of a few months which did throw me off a bit. I guess it can technically be described as a slow burn since they don’t actually get together until halfway through or maybe even later, but once the switch flipped, it felt like they were only together briefly before they were saying I love you. This was also not spicy at all, very much fade to black and/or closed door.

This is very much a SPORTS romance, with the emphasis on the SPORTS. If you’re looking for a sports romance where the sport itself is a huge part of the story and not just athletes falling in love, this is definitely one to pick up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Senne ┃ Bridge Burner Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually read a lot of sports romances, but this cover and blurb convinced me to give this one a chance. I also love tennis and it’s refreshing to see it as the main sport in one of these novels.

And it was a good thing that tennis interests me, because it plays a huge role. Leo Chambers’s pursuit of winning the US Open is the driving force in this story. Besides the tennis there is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, but also a strong focus on friendship and family. It all comes together in a heartwarming mix of queer joy and a satisfying quest for self-discovery and -acceptance.

The start was a little bit rough for me. I struggled to connect with the characters and the enemies setup felt a bit forced. But the story progressed really nicely and shifted from a standard romcom to an emotional exploration of different themes.

I bawled my eyes out during the final part of this book and this quickly made me forget the small gripes I had. We definitely need more joyful and impactful gay love stories like this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC. Please hit me up with front-row seats when this inevitably gets adapted into a movie!

[Lovisa Sandström · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo is determined to take home the US Open before turning 30 and he’s cutting it close. He’s having a tough time focusing with a lot on his mind, his sexuality, fighting with his coach whose also his father and you can’t forget his arch nemesis Gabe Montoya. He just has to find a way to stay in the game.

This one reminds me a lot of RW&RB, with the MCs being in the public eye, forced proximity and rivalry. It even has its own History huh moment. LOVE it!

The novel is well paced and you don’t have to know anything about tennis to keep up with the sports aspect of the story. The spicy scenes are incredibly hot. And I’m personally here for the sneaking around. I can’t believe this is Tom Vellners debut novel, I’ll definitely keep an eye out for his future releases.

Read this if you like
🎾Sports romance
🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ+ rep
🩵Enemies to lovers
💫Forced proximity

[YZ (wordwanderlust) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of tennis, in fact, I know nothing about tennis. But that didn’t stop me from reading this and shedding tears because I love queer joy and love ❤️ 💕💖💙

[Greg Kozatek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do yourself a favor and grab a box of tissues before starting Thirty Love. I opened Tom Vellner’s debut expecting a charming rom-com and was delighted by the wonderful and surprising emotional turns the story took. The blend of distinct humor and tenderness is so precise that I found myself welling up nearly every chapter.

I came in knowing almost nothing about tennis and it didn’t matter for a second. Vellner writes about the sport in a way that welcomes beginners and thrill anyone fluent in the game. The light schooling he offers is enough to make each match feel gripping, and the rest clicks because the action is rendered in vivid, whizzing detail. The tempo of each match drives the story’s momentum and deepens the emotional tension between Leo and Gabe, the book’s central relationship, in a way that feels earned.

Vellner’s command of pacing is electric. I tried to ration myself to a chapter a day to savor it, but by the end I gave in. The round-the-world dynamo and steady emotional build pull you forward with real force.

His character work hits that same high bar. The circle around Leo feels alive, textured, and nuanced. Through Leo’s POV, you experience the fears and hopes that come with navigating identity, managing family expectations, and learning what letting someone in actually requires. Vellner’s humor and voice thread through it all, giving the book a clear edge.

The biggest surprise was the way Vellner writes love between friends. It’s beautiful and optimistic, and by the final pages, I felt an ache when I realized I couldn't meet up with Leo's besties, Tess and Ollie, for dinner and a horror movie. The novel celebrates the kind of friendship that carries you through the most challenging moments and amplifies the joys of being with people who love you and want to know you better.

And yes, the book is hot. Things get steamy, literally and figuratively. There's enough restraint that when there is sex, it feels fun and exciting. Challengers can eat Thirty Love's ass.

This book is heartfelt, funny, intimate, and a total serve. I can’t wait to see what Vellner writes next.

[Riley Mulroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirty Love is an ode to all love stories. Not just romantic love, but also platonic and familial. More importantly, it is an ode to learning how to love yourself.

I knew 2 chapters in that I was going to love this book. What I didn’t know, was that this was going to quickly join my top favorites.

Leo Chambers is an incredible narrator. The voice Tom brings to him is so complex and full of absolute gay panic. His denial over his attraction to Gabe had me laughing out loud, as well as just feeling those insane heart strings as you are watching page after page Leo bury his feelings. It is a fascinating balance between self acceptance of sexuality mixed with the paralyzing fear of coming out on a national stage. And he is FUNNY! I don’t think it’s purposeful funny, but that laugh out loud sensation you get from his absolute denial: the yup, yup, yups, the promises, and hey, it was probably just the humidity.

Vellner’s writing style for this is incredible. I laughed, I cried, I screamed at my pages, I kicked my feet. The story was written in the same vein as a 90s romcom, with all of the best gay millennial references: Golden Girls comfort show, I’m looking at you. All of the characters were incredible complex, but all contributed to the overall story and we got to know every single one of them, even that dipshit Sascha. There were so many little details that show how thought out this story was. For example, I had forgotten that Gabe and Leo were wearing masks for that party scene until a chapter later they were taken off. It was a small detail that I enjoyed because it means that Vellner took the time and energy to share this story.

Now, let’s talk about this romance. Gabe and Leo’s story is truly beautiful. I feel like it was able to follow the same trope we all love: 2 folks destined to be with each other but meet while with other people. Except instead of dating someone else, both are in the closet and Leo is fighting his fear and familial expectations. Once they are both free of these, their friendship blossoms. There was a point in the story where Leo starts telling Gabe things he wouldn’t say even to Tess and Ollie. My heart strings were tugged in those moments because Leo was able to feel comfortable and safe in a way he never allowed himself to feel or thought he could feel. And the messages on the camera!!

Now, I already mentioned this story isn’t just about romantic love. Leo’s journey to self love and acceptance is a long road, but along the way you see his support system show up for him in ways he never thought possible. His relationship with his dad was so complex and a classic male experience of being unable to share your emotions and generational trauma of poorly explaining your emotions. Their push and pull relationship really made you question where their love was focused: on each other or the sport. You know their bond is special, but I don’t think it hit me how special it was until “that’s for you, by the way” and I startled bawling. The same thing goes for Patrick, who was an unexpected favorite. You can’t tell me that he didn’t know there would be more to Gabe and Leo’s relationship than just friendship. Let’s be real, he set them up.

I could talk about this book for hours and hours on end. I cannot recommend this enough. Please read this so we can talk about it.

[Braden Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

As soon as I saw the gorgeous cover for Tom Vellner’s THIRTY LOVE, I had to get my hands on an ARC. Judging by the hotties on the cover, I expected a spicy romp on and off the court, but was surprised to discover how much substance and heart Vellner inserted into this story. Leo is a top ranked professional tennis player about to turn thirty, determined to make it to the US Open. Off the court, he finds himself taking care of his father and coach that’s living with MS. Meanwhile, he’s secretly swooning over Gabe, his very sexy rival. The two men have grown up together, and Leo has found himself transfixed by Gabe’s charisma and bubble butt for decades. Did I mention that he’s obsessed with reading smut? In typical Leo fashion, he’s forced himself to compartmentalize his feelings for his very sexy and very Peruvian opponent. This is a true slow burn m/m sports romance that finds nuance in the intimacy outside of the bedroom, so if you’ve come for the HEATED RIVALRY kind of love, you might be disappointed. If you came for the heart and emotion of an m/m/ romance, then you'll be in luck. There’s a heartfelt speech from Leo’s dad towards the end that had me tearing up like a baby.

I read 225 pages in a day and found myself giggling over Leo and Gabe’s blossoming love. I didn’t expect to get such an in-depth lesson on the game of tennis, and while I admittedly found it boring in the beginning, I was locked in by the final match. Vellner has clearly done his research on the sport, and I’ve got to respect that. Do I wish we got a lot more of Gabe and Leo together in the first half of the book? Absolutely. Do I cherish the emotional build up and fleshed out lives of Leo and his family outside of the game and their relationship? Absolutely. Vellner dives into the psychology behind tennis and how being a closeted gay in athletics and living secret lives to appease fans can be exhausting. This narrative has certainly been played out before, but there’s a sort of acceptance of being queer in here that felt refreshing to see. Bonus points for the dozens of Golden Girls references and a soft juicy locker room scene or two - a winning combo for the gays and girlies.

Turning thirty in tennis is rudely considered almost geriatric, and being in my thirties, it was nice to follow a romance that wasn’t between two twenty year olds. See? Even in your thirties you can still have the it factor honey! I personally related to a lot of the inner anxieties Leo and Gabe went through, and I could truly see their love for one another and their sport. Even though I was forced to sign up for tennis lessons as a kid, I feel like I have a deeper respect for it now and the absolute dedication and mental strength it takes to succeed. This is a perfect example of why you don’t judge a book by the cover because even though I really wanted more spice, I was pleasantly pleased with what I got instead. Special thanks to Alcove Press for the physical arc, and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Cue CHALLENGERS soundtrack.

[Jennifer Knightley]

Sports romances are one of my favourite genres, and I always love books/films based around Tennis–so I was really excited for this slowburn queer tennis romance! I loved Leo and Gabe so much, and the drama, pacing, and action were all top-notch.

The narration is solely from Leo’s third-person limited pov, which means he’s the standout character of the book. The romance is very slow burn (things don’t get going until 57% of the way through), but the attraction is there from the start, and Leo and Gabe’s journey from childhood rivals to lovers was really great.

The romance felt almost secondary, though, to the real story of Leo’s developing relationship with his father, and the pressure of his father’s legacy and expectations. It’s less of a tennis romance, and more of a tennis book that includes romance. Which is great! But not what I expected from the cover and blurb (and the current trend of dual pov that fleshes out both characters). It also contains elements of dealing with issues of chronic illness which was really interesting when set in the sports world, and handled with a lot of care.

My only concern with this book is how the character of Sascha Volkov was presented. He felt like a cheap cartoon stereotype of a bad guy–which didn’t fit with the care and nuance the rest of the characters are given. Also, the story never touched on how Russian players were banned from the sport in 2022 and have to play as neutrals in the current climate, which felt a little odd in a 2024 setting. Especially when he’s presented as someone widely loved, who can do no wrong in the eyes of the sport, despite being openly homophobic and misogynistic. I know this is a fictional universe–but it’s firmly grounded around the real-world Andy Roddick 2003 US Open win, and real world celebs (Taylor Swift and Jonhathan Bailey, for example) make appearances as spectators. So the discrepancy between what is the same and what’s different from the real world is a little confusing.

Also, Sascha says some pretty awful homophobic, misogynistic, and racist things on-page. Be warned. I know the characters have to deal with that kind of hate in their lives, and it reinforces why coming out would be dangerous for them–but there are ways of doing that without making your readers (who are probably queer themselves) have to read that on the page. There was also an odd part where the characters mock a sex scene from a romance book, which felt wildly out of place considering the genre and target audience of the book!

Despite those little niggles, I really loved this book over all–and I’m being overly harsh because the rest of it is so well written and I was rooting for Leo and Gabe so much throughout the story.

If you love tennis and you love sports romances then you’ll love this book and will enjoy falling in love with Gabe and Leo too.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Krista H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tennis was a big part of my childhood. I had my first wooden racket when I was probably four years old and enjoyed being ‘ball girl’ for my parents’ matches. I followed the tour, wore the player’s branded outfits, and immersed myself in the love of the game. So, when a sports romance focused on tennis came along, I was excited to read!

Thirty Love centers on Leo, an elite tennis player striving to win the U.S. Open before his 30th birthday. This book is a SPORTS romance – tennis is the main venue for most of the book scenes, and matches are described in good detail. Leo’s relationships are all tennis-related except for one random hookup early in the book, and even that happens during a tour event. Leo’s main rival is Gabe, a childhood frenemy/rival/crush whose tennis game Leo can’t seem to beat. In a classic slow-burn, rivals-to-lovers arc, Leo and Gabe snark at one another, find some common ground during a health scare, catch feelings for one another, and become central to each other’s lives. Their sex scenes are only slightly steamy, with mainly fade to black or closed-door descriptions. Both men are comfortable with their sexuality, even if they aren’t fully comfortable sharing this part of themselves. There is no third-act break up, but Leo does face some drama near the end of the story - the walk-out scene for the US Open made me tear up.

Thirty Love also focuses on Leo’s relationship with his father/coach, Johnny. Leo and Johnny’s story is central to the book, showcasing their growth as father and son, coach and athlete, and as individuals on a path of self-discovery. Johnny both supports and hinders Leo’s game, which adds an interesting element to the story. I think having Johnny as Leo’s coach makes Leo read younger than his 30 years. Leo won’t contradict his father’s coaching style even when he sees benefits from working more with Brian. He also lies or sneaks out of the house he shares with his parents to meet Gabe. I feel like a 30-year-old man who has been an elite athlete for over a decade would have more autonomy in his relationship with his father and be able to make decisions about his style of play and how he spends his free time.

This was a cute read, and it is a timely story to support young, queer athletes looking for representation in elite sports. There is good disability representation, the cover is gorgeous, the story is sweet and steamy, and the tennis is exciting. I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a sports romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC!

[A. Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt, queer novel that goes so much deeper than your average sports romance.

21/11/2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

AHHHH my heart my soul. I did cry at the ending.

This book kind of shocked me. When I saw the cover, I admit I did judge... I thought I was going into a poor quality book with no plot whatsoever. I worried I was signing myself up for an icebreaker sort of experience.

The experience of reading Thirty Love was so much more REAL than that. I wouldn't even consider book a romance book alone, but rather a later-in-life-coming-of-age-self-discovery kinda story WITH a love story in it.

Considering this is a tennis novel, I want to start by talking about that. I know NOTHING about tennis. It is not a sport I have ever gone out of my way to watch or play. BUT, for the first time in my life I feel I can see the appeal of the sport. The scenes describing a match were so engaging, it felt like I was in the audience, rooting for Leo, watching the ball bounce back and forth.

I enjoyed Leo as a main character, reading him switch between his celebrity-persona, and hearing his inner thoughts. What I really like about how Leo is written is that it does not feel like reading two different people. Yes, Leo has his inner thoughts and fears, but he is also the famous man who the world worships, and the two seemingly opposite personalities were intergrated so smoothly that it created a three-dimensional protagonist that I want to root for with the flaws.

I normally struggle with rivals to lovers or enemies to lovers when not written in a fantasy environment, but the rivalry was SO. GOOD. The banter was very fun, and the progression of Gabe and Leo's slow-build friendship to something more was beautiful.

I have to also talk about Leo's relationship with his dad. Complex, but good, a nice break from the tired daddy-issues-golden-boy trope. Their relationship was NOT perfect. Far from it. Leo and Johnny had regular clashes and tensions, it was a fairly large part of the story, and yet through it all you could tell that they both cared for each other so much.

I also loved the other side characters, Leo's friends were lovely to read about, and had me chuckling a lot.

Finally, the ending. UGH the ending. I don't actually cry at books very often, and during that last moment, I FELT myself tearing up. When I say I want a queer happy ending, this book delivers exactly that.

TLDR: Beautiful, complex, entertaining, this book delivers.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Well, we all know I'm a sucker for a good rivals-to-lovers sports romance, and this was a solid debut from Tom Vellner. Both Leo and Gabe were interesting, lovable characters, and their arc from rivals to friends to lovers felt realistic and natural. From the jump, it was obvious that Leo's dislike of Gabe was a result of his frustration about being attracted to him (and therefore being forced to confront his sexuality, which he would have preferred to keep entirely separate from his tennis career) and teenage misunderstandings, which made it satisfying to see things be worked out between them. The supporting characters, especially Tess and Ollie, brought a very tender, wholesome energy that I enjoyed; I always appreciate when romance novels remind readers that romantic love is not the only viable and meaningful form of connection.

As someone who knows absolutely nothing about tennis, it goes without saying that I was a little bit lost during portions of this book. There is a lot of tennis. Honestly, it almost felt like as much of a love letter to the sport as it was a romance between Leo and Gabe. But, despite my confusion, I was rooting for Leo and his success, and the payoff at the end was worth it.

This was the first single POV romance I've read in quite a while, and I have to admit that dual POV has definitely become my preference. I did, in some ways, feel like I was missing things by not being able to spend time in Gabe's head. Because Leo and Gabe spent so much time apart, I wanted to know what Gabe was thinking, how he was feeling, if his excitement and attraction and nervousness matched Leo's, etc. I enjoyed them as a couple and certainly wanted them to end up together, but I don't think I was able to feel quite as emotionally invested in them as a couple as I was hoping to.

If you're a sports romance fan and/or a tennis fan, Thirty Love is definitely worth checking out. The writing is funny and engaging, and Leo makes for a great MC. I'll be keeping an eye out for Tom Vellner's future books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️ mild

Leo Chambers is turning 30, and despite being the tennis star everyone is labeling “Baby Rod” because they have high hopes he’ll succeed Andy Roddick as the next American to win the U.S. Open, he has yet to accomplish this feat. Training gets a bit more complicated when his frenemy, Gabe Montoya, starts to play better than him, further challenging the chance at the title. But as Gabe comes out as the first openly gay tennis star and becomes more humanized, Leo starts to catch feelings for him. With a title on the line, and his own secret to keep, will Leo accomplish his goal?

This is the debut novel by Tom Vellner, and let’s just say it’s an *ace! Although I know less than nothing about tennis, the sports aspect is straightforward enough to follow, and I cannot stop raving about how brilliant of a title “Thirty Love” is as a double-entendre to Leo’s life. The #EnemiesToLovers #SportsRomance tropes continue to *serve, and honestly I think true tennis fans would enjoy the book as a love letter to tennis as much as it is a *qualifier to one the best #MMRomance novels in 2026. Throw in even more of a complicated dynamic of having a tennis star father living with a #chronicillness as your coach, and this book is full of all the feels. The chemistry is there between Gabe and Leo, though I would’ve loved to read more of Gabe’s POV. All in all though, it’s *game, set, match: Tom Vellner. I can’t wait to read the next *Grand Slam of a book.

*apologies for the lame attempt at incorporating newly-acquired tennis terminology

Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Alcove Press for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read this book if you:
👵🏻 love watching the iconic girls Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose
🎥 liked the movie “Challengers” but thought it wasn’t gay enough
🎾 still think about Emma Stone as Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes

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[Nia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirty love
4.5 ⭐ ✨
I freaking adore this book! I finished this in one sitting, and I have to say...
Being in Leo's head was quite an experience.
He's sarcastic, sassy fun with an amazing sense of humor as he battles with his anxieties, fears and becomes a better version of himself with the support and encouragement from Gabe (his lover 😉) and his friends and family!

This was so freaking amazing, the communication between Gave and Leo, and how amazing and fun the interactions between his friends Yess and Ollie were?! Ugh, I was living for those moments!

I honestly love the feelings that this book made me feel, despite knowing absolutely nothing about tennis I enjoyed how close up and real those matches felt...it gave me all those game anxieties and gasping 😂 It made Leo's drive to win the game more realistic.

I just giggled the way Leo was borderline going crazy over Gabe and reiterating how much he hates Gabe over and over again. Made me be like- Mr. Chamber don't you know about that river in Egypt ?? 😂

I really love love this book, and enjoyed how they both choose to communicate and talk through their issues ( 🤫 we ain't talking about that 👻 ing 😆)

The gradual understanding both Leo and Gabe felt well paced and earned for.

I love his Dad, Mom their dynamics and their friends, ughh I just can't!! I love them all. I was lowkey shipping Ollie & liv 😉

And Gabe?!! I love him so much. He's so freaking understanding and supportive of Leo and I applaud for him being true to himself in a highly vicious world of sports and just totally absolutely adore him.

💌Overall...
A super fun book with great communication and a proper well paced story line with amazing characters !!! And an amazing debut novel.
Totally Recommend!!🤩

💖 Thanks Edelweiss and Tom Vellner for providing me an ARC, I'm soo glad that I got to read this! All opinions are my own 🫶

[lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars!

i was sent an arc by the publisher via netgalley. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

this was a very solid debut! i was super excited to read an mm romance based in the world of tennis and this one hit a lot of points for me. not only did it have a good slow burn romance to start, but it also explored the high pressures of the tennis world, the weight of responsibility living in the shadow of one's parent, the difficulties of caring for a parent with MS, homophobia in sport, and the power that comes with being your true, full self that makes carrying these burdens a little less difficult.

the romance itself took a bit to actually start as we spend more time focusing on the pressures of the sport itself and leo's father. i really enjoyed the discussion of these topics, especially MS. i thought that the author did a great job with that. this helped me feel more connected to leo as a character through that first half of the book. we actually don't really know much about gabe for a while besides leo's pov of him, but i thought that benefited the slow burn romance if anything. i do think that the slow burn could have went on for even longer, as when gabe and leo start to become more friendly the turnaround felt almost too fast in comparison. their romantic connection once they got together left much to be desired so the second half of the story suffered a little. i was not as interested in them as a couple as i was about the idea of them in the first half.

i thought the book was written well overall, but i also think i could have went without some of the overly quirky/sarcastic inner monologues and specific celebrity/pop culture references. there were just a tad too many of those for my personal taste.

this was impressive for a debut novel and i am looking forward to more from this author!

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Alcove Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I absolutely adored this story!! Leo Chambers has spent his life working towards one goal winning the U.S. Open. The others are important and he has definitely tried but he’s determined that he will win the U.S. Open. Especially for his dad who’s own tennis run was cut short by a diagnosis of MS. Now his dad coaches him, but Leo is constantly worried about his health. To make matters worse he has to play Gabe Montoya in his first game at the U.S. Open. Gabe is his nemesis and unfortunately Leo has never beaten him. He can’t get a handle on Gabe’s game, but there’s also the fact that Gabe sends him swooning. See Leo’s gay, but nobody knows it and they can’t know it. There hasn’t been an openly out male tennis star and Leo’s not about to be the first. He loses to Gabe and so he gets ready for the next season, but his fathers health and an announcement from Gabe through him off his game. However one thing does come from it him and Gabe have started to get along, calling a truce on the animosity. Only the more time Leo spends with Gabe the more he can’t deny his growing feelings Gabe. But if he took a risk with Gabe could he lose it all? And if it’s a choice between his sexuality and tennis which would he choose? If you love tennis you will absolutely love this story! I don’t know anything about the sport and I was still holding my breath in every one of Leo’s matches! Intense, charming, funny, and sexy! Tom Vellner has a hit on his hands with this debut queer enemies to lovers slow burn romance that is a must read for sports fans and queers alike!