Beyond the Court

Breaking Barriers

by Stef C.R.

Nothing will stand between this tennis player and her grand slam. Not even love...

Maggie Taylor didn't get to be one of the best tennis players in the world by throwing out all her rules. She sticks to her routines and works hard to keep her heart from getting broken.

After all, "love" means nothing to a tennis player and Maggie knows first hand how complicated and messy relationships can be. Even her parents ended up getting a divorce. Instead of looking for love, she keeps her eye on the prize and her heart firmly locked away...even though it beats wildly for a certain best friend.

Rowan Amory has worked hard to make a name for himself and now he’s one of the best players of his generation. But lately, all he cares about is spending time with his loved ones and wondering if his best friend, Maggie, loves him back.

He was young and stupid when he agreed to a no-strings-attached agreement, not realizing a decade would pass and he still wouldn't have the courage to ask for more. But now, he's more than ready for the next step. All he has to do is convince Maggie to abandon the list of rules between them and trust that he'll be there to break her fall.

Will throwing out the rules result in a double fault? Or will taking the relationship to the next level be as easy as "game, set, match"?

Beyond the Court is a friends to lovers tennis romance and the second book in the Breaking Barriers series. This book can be read as a standalone.

Genres: Romance

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 19, 2026

About the author

Project leader by day, romance author by night, Stef C.R. lives in West Michigan with her husband and not one, not two, but three cats.

When she's not working or writing stories, she spends her time reading fantasy and romance, endlessly cheering on the Red Wings, Charles LeClerc, and listening to Noah Kahan.

Reviews

[Bridgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this tennis sports romance! I don't know squat about tennis but thankfully there was a tennis guide in the front of the book to help.

Rowan was the best friend golden retriever MMC and Maggie is our determined independent FMC. I enjoyed reading about their friendship to lovers journey from current day and flashbacks showing their history. Rowan was so swoon-worthy the entire book! I'm looking forward to reading about other characters in this world.

Thank you to the author for the eARC!

Rating 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 3/5 🔥🔥🔥

[Shannon Isaacs · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the past 10 years Maggie and Rowan have had an arrangement: no kissing, no cuddling, no telling anyone, no PDA and definitely no falling. Their chemistry in the bedroom is just as explosive as their singles records in the tennis world.

The problem with friends with benefits, is eventually someone wants more. Rowan has been in love with Maggie (Mags) for years but fears admitting to wanting more will push her away forever. Maggie has seen one too many relationships end in flames and wants to spare herself the eventual heartache; but maybe she’s ready for more with Rowan.. and why is the thought of him playing tennis with anyone else make her jealous?

In a series of flashbacks we get to watch this pair fall for each other, neither brave enough to ask for more… which brings us to now.. post Maggie’s sisters wedding.. with massive games ahead of us, a run at doubles tennis and a secret that Rowan been holding onto for the past year. If Rowan wants more, is it time for Maggie to let him go for good?

I was hooked from page one! While there were times I would scream at Maggie for not admitting her feelings, I could understand her fears of commitment. This was a spicy, fast paced book that I found hard to put down!

[Kelly Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eeek, I was so excited to receive this ARC! I played tennis in high school and have always loved the sport, so it’s kind of wild that this is the first tennis related book I’ve read.

And it did not disappoint. This story follows Maggie and Rowan, both tennis players in a no-strings-attached relationship. Told through past and present timelines, we get to see how their arrangement unfolds and evolves. I absolutely ate this up in just a few hours (it’s a super short) fast read and the perfect palate cleanser. 🎾📚

Rating: 4⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
-sports romance
-tennis players
-friends with benefits

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Stef C.R. for this advanced copy! You can pick up Beyond the Court on February 19, 2025.

Stef is back at it with another DELICIOUS sports romance, this time of the tennis variety! From the first page, I felt immersed in the story, following along with Maggie and Rowan as they navigated their individual tennis careers and budding friends to lovers romance.

Maggie is the type of no-nonsense, will-keep-my-emotions-on-lockdown protagonist who we love to see break out of her shell throughout the course of the story. The only one she even remotely lets in is her best friend Rowan, a fellow tennis player who agreed to keep things platonic while also pursuing a physical relationship with Maggie.

Their sexual chemistry was off the charts from the get-go, but I love how we also see Rowan and Maggie's friendship grow throughout the years. Despite promising to just be friends, the two can't help but develop deeper feelings for one another (despite Maggie's refusal to date ANYONE after her parents' messy and public divorce).

There were admittedly several times when I wanted to shake Maggie by the shoulders and scream, "JUST DATE HIM ALREADY GIRL." But overcoming her fear of public scrutiny was something Maggie had to come to terms with on her own time.

All in all, if you want a steamy friends to lovers tennis romance, this is your book!

[De Rijdende Boekenwurm]

My review will follow soon.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my TBR for months since I found out it existed, and it was worth the wait.

Maggie and Rowan are professional tennis players that have been best friends since college, but they also have a secret spicy agreement with a few rules. But what are rules for if not meant to be broken?

The story develops over 10 years of an angsty situationship where love grows stronger over time, with a few time jumps here and there. We learn that Maggie was really affected by her parents very public and polemic divorce when she was a teen, which has made her skittish and close off with everyone except Rowan. And our golden retriever hero has been so down bad for our heroine that he accepts any and all scraps she gives him. But Rowan is getting tired of having to hide and not being able to yell from the roofs how much he loves Maggie. They are a perfect match, but Maggie has to choose between facing her fear of scandal or losing the man she loves, while Rowan has to take the next step to truly and for all be open with Mags about his feelings for her.

Overall, this was a very angsty but spicy story that includes some miscommunication from our main characters. At times I wanted to hit them in the head with a book so they can get over themselves and just TALK, but I was hooked from start to finish and had a big smile on my face while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Stef C.R for this advanced copy!

[Escape_withStephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
I’ve been waiting for Maggie’s story since her introduction in Blair’s book, and this couple absolutely delivered on depth and tension. The chemistry between them was undeniable—so intense that even their competitors could see it from a mile away.
Maggie, my sweet girl, frustrated me and made me love her all at once. Because of her complicated past, she swears off romance entirely, even while fully aware of her feelings for Rowan. Ironically, they do everything except put a label on what they are. Watching that push and pull was both infuriating and compelling.
I’ll admit, the flashbacks tested my patience at first. But as the story unfolded, it became clear that their tension had been building for years. To truly understand their dynamic, you needed those glimpses into the past—especially the Italy trip, which felt like the turning point for everything. In many ways, Jacob’s constant slipups force them to confront the questions they’ve both been avoiding.
Rowan is the definition of selfless. No one but someone deeply devoted would have stayed as long as he did, continuing to put his heart on the line. He deserved that grand gesture—he was the one risking the most and hurting the deepest.
I also loved the friendship dynamics with their competitors. And Jacob and Elena? I need their book immediately. The energy is undeniable, and I would absolutely read a full novel about them.

[Shannon Sharpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for fans of Carrie Soto Is Back and Challengers, Beyond the Court by Stef C.R. was a fun, emotionally layered sports romance that really worked for me.

Maggie is a fantastic protagonist that is fiery, funny and always keeping everyone around her on their toes. I loved being in her head, both on and off the court. Rowan is sweet and very puppy-like, which makes the years of mutual yearning almost painful in the best way. There were so many moments where I wanted to scream, "just tell her how you feel!!!". The slow burn truly pays off, with undeniable chemistry and spice between them.

I also really appreciated the family dynamics in this book. Maggie’s relationships with her sister and father added emotional depth, especially with the complex emotions surrounding parents, marriage and failure. These elements helped ground the romance and made it feel more real.

My only small gripe is that I would have loved even more tennis but I’ll admit I’m tennis greedy. That said, the sports elements included were well done and didn't overshadow the story.

I’d definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy slow-burn sports romance, funny characters and satisfying emotional payoff.

* Special thanks to #NetGalley for access to an advance reader copy *

#NetGalley #BeyondtheCourt

[Aimee Crant-oksa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love tennis and when I saw a new tennis romance I jumped to read it!Stef C.R. Is a new to me author and has an easy writing style making the reader want to keep going as they get engulfed in her words.
Maggie and Rowan have been friends for years, hiding their true feelings or failing to really admit them. They lived by an agreement: no kissing, no cuddling, no telling anyone, no PDA and absolutely no falling in love. Their chemistry behind closed doors is just as explosive as their tennis careers on the professional circuit.
But friends with benefits arrangements rarely stay simple. Rowan has been in love with Maggie for years, and he has always wanted more. He is terrified that wanting more will cost him Maggie. Maggie has been burned by watching relationships crash and fall apart. She has sworn off commitment to protect her heart, though lately, the idea of Rowan playing doubles with someone else sparks an unfamiliar jealousy she can’t ignore.
The story goes back and forth from present day and the past.
Rowan wants more, but is Maggie ready to risk her heart or is it time to let him go for good?
I loved the tennis part of the story. I was frustrated with Maggie at times and felt for Rowan’s want for more. This was a quick paced, tennis sports romance, friends to lovers fun read.

[Phoebe Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Stef C.R. book, and I will definitely be going back for more. Beyond the Court tells the story of Maggie Taylor and Rowan Amory in the form of a dual timeline, year's long situationship, professional tennis players, spicy, friends to lover's romance book.

I love when a book includes a dual timeline, it's always interesting to see what the MC's have experienced in their past's and how those experiences have shaped them. Because of the insights Stef has given us of Maggie and Rowan's past, I was able to better understand and connect to the MC's and it made reading this book even more enjoyable. The quiet yearning portrayed by both Maggie and Rowan, mainly Rowan, is absolutely perfect. This is another book where the banter between the MC's and other characters and the emotional moments were on point. When it comes to a spicy book, sometimes the spice can overtake the plot. That was not the case with this book, it has the perfect balance of spice that compliments the plot.

Overall, I really enjoyed this well written, sports romance book and definitely recommend giving it a read. Thank you to Stef C.R., Victory Editing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie and Rowan agreed to a casual friends with benefits arrangement back in college. It works for them as they navigate life as professional tennis players. But decade later, they both realize that they want something more; only neither of them knows how to make the first move.

Read if you like:
-Friends to Lovers
-Dual Athletes
-Hangups Holding a Heart Back

How to describe Beyond the Court? A Golden Retriever and his golden retriever want nothing more than to keep their skittish kitten forever but aren't sure how to do that without spooking her.

I adore Rowan. He is by far my favorite character in Beyond the Court. Nearly everything I highlighted was something he said or from his internal monologue. He is such a great friend, both on and off the court. I love not only his relationship with Maggie, but also with Jacob, one of the other players. In sum: Rowan is precious and must be protected at all costs.

Though I was rooting for Rowan and Maggie the whole time, I was also shouting at them at multiple times throughout the book because I needed them to see what was right in front of them. Was I overly invested? Yes. Do I regret it? No. Would I do it again? Absolutely. I just need to wait for the next book from Stef!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but didn’t love it. In terms of tennis, I know the basics but it was nice to have the explanation of the tennis words at the beginning! They were used throughout but there wasn’t a ton of tennis or tennis technicalities so it would be fine to read as a non-expert for sure. This was my first tennis sports romance. I also hadn’t read book one and didn’t feel like I was missing out. However, I liked the side characters so I might read the first and third books!
There was a lot of spice but I didn’t feel connected to the characters because they didn’t really seem to have a lot in common besides both playing tennis and being attracted to each other. I liked both characters and definitely understood Maggie to a point!
Throughout the book, it was sweet how Rowan was so clear Maggie was The One even when she wasn’t giving him the same level of validation. However, to me it was frustrating that Maggie was so resistant to the relationship. Some friends to lovers are just close friends who are attracted to each other but in this case, they were in love and in a relationship in every way but title.
If you’re a fan of tennis sports romance or friends to lovers, definitely give this book and series a read!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ✨ Thank you to NetGalley & Stef C. R. for this ARC!

This was a cute, spicy, fun, fast-paced, friends to lovers sports romance.

I’ve not read a tennis romance before, and this book had me wondering how there aren’t more out there. Tennis is one of the few sports I actually understand, but there was a helpful glossary at the beginning if you’re not sure on the terminology!

This book focuses on Maggie and Rowan, professional tennis players & best friends who have been secretly hooking up for 10 years. They are both painfully in love with each other, and Golden Retriever Rowan is ready to start his life with Mags for real. Black cat Maggie is hesitant, due to some unprocessed parental relationship breakdown trauma.

I did find myself getting frustrated with Maggie’s reluctance to commit to Rowan.. I wanted to bang their heads together and make them have an honest conversation that isn’t driven by fear!

This was a short read, which made some of the story beats feel quite rushed and unexplored. I could have done with maybe another 50 pages or so as I think there was an opportunity to build more effective tension.

Overall, this was a fun read and I recommend picking it up if you’re a fan of spicy sports romance and/or friends to lovers & black cat/golden retriever tropes!

[Soph · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 Stars ⭐️

This was my first book by Stef C.R., so I went into it without any expectations.

I was really happy with the tennis initiative at the beginning—it was such a nice touch and made the book feel very reader-friendly right from the start. Overall, this was a quick, light, and easy read.

From the beginning, it’s obvious that both characters harbor deep feelings for each other, but Maggie struggles with serious commitment issues. They’ve essentially been in love for years and are in a relationship in every way except for the title. Still, the chemistry didn’t fully come through for me. You can clearly tell that they love each other—especially Rowan, who is incredibly patient and always bends himself to fit Maggie’s needs—but emotionally, it felt a bit shallow at times.

That said, this was still a fun read with likable characters. I also appreciated the flashbacks, which helped explain the origin of their agreement and added more insight into Maggie’s daddy issues.

Overall, this is a cute tennis romance and a solid pick for fans of the best friends to lovers trope.

#BeyondtheCourt #NetGalley

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this best friend to lover's romance. This book made me think of the tv show, One Day that is based on book. I have not read the book, but I watched the tv series and I laughed and cried. That is what this book made me do, except the crying. I did not cry but I did feel bad for Rowan and even got mad at Maggie. So, you can say that I was totally invested in these two and their relationship.

I thought Rowan was the sweetest. I honestly don't know of many men that would hang around in a relationship with someone for over a decade and still be considered as "friends with benefits". Rowan was very supportive and I genuinely felt for him. Maggie made me upset that she did not want more with Rowan. Yet, when she and her sister were talking about their parent's failed relationship and just how much it affected Maggie to see them and what they went through, I understood Maggie's feelings about relationships.

This book is really good. I started and finished it all in one day. It is a winning read!

[Mylissa B · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know me, you know I love a best friend to lovers trope & Stef C.R. hit it out of the court with this one! It was giving "The People We Meet on Vacation" vibes with the past/present timeline and the 10 years of friendship/situation ship between Maggie & Rowen blossom & grow.

I loved the tennis focus of this novel, it felt like a great balance with the romance plot. I also enjoyed the dual POV because it allowed me as the reader to hear the inner thoughts of both main characters.

Now unpopular opinion. . . But I struggled with Maggie's inner monologue 💔 Her self worth and confidence was a journey in this novel and I know that, but I still just wanted to give her a hug and shake her until she realized her worth.

Overall this is a feel good, moderately spicy sports romance that will have you falling in love with the main characters! Can't wait to read the rest of this new series!

[Blair Lutner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in just over 24 hours, it was so good! "Beyond the Court" by Stef C.R. was a cute story about two best friends, Maggie and Rowan, who have a friends with benefits agreement. Their agreement shifts and changes over the 10 years it is in place, until Rowan decides it is not enough for him. This is a fairly short book, but you learn their history via chapters set in their past, and the current story is also fleshed out. I didn't feel like the book was rushed or things were left out. The book also has some spice to it, considering the premise of the book, but I didn't think it dominated the storyline. You truly can understand the depth of their relationship and hope they can work out their differences! This is book 2 of the Breaking Barriers series but it can definitely be read as a standalone. This was the first book I read by this author but I will be looking for more!

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Court gave me strong The People We Meet on Vacation and Love, Rosie vibes in the best way. That quiet, aching, slow-burn love between two people who have always been in each other’s lives? It worked so well here. The nostalgia, the missed timing, the emotions simmering just beneath the surface—it all pulled me in immediately!!

I absolutely loved the sports aspect of this story. This series continues to shine when it comes to strong female athletes, and Maggie was so easy to root for. She’s driven, talented, and determined, even when others tell her she can’t have it all or fit their image for her. Having Rowan in her corner from the very beginning was chef's kiss.

Maggie and Rowan’s ten-year best-friends-with-benefits relationship was both fun and emotionally frustrating because you are rooting for them the entire time. They’ve wanted more for so long but were too afraid to risk losing each other, and watching that tension slowly unravel was incredible!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually when I read a sports book it's about baseball or football because those are the ones I enjoying watching most but now I may start watching tennis.
Take a tennis pro named Maggie who has her heart closed off to a relationship and add in her best friend/tennis pro Rowan who has loved her since he met her and what should have been a friends with benefits situation becomes a little more complicated.
Loved seeing how this relationship endured and held strong through all the years of traveling and being separated for the game to finally becoming more. It's great seeing a relationship build over time even if one of them does not realize how things have been growing and changing. Sometimes it takes a change for feelings to finally come to the surface.
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it and will look forward to reading more.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves sports romance.
I was honored to read an arc and this is my honest opinion.

[Lucy Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 rounded to 4⭐️

I’ve never read a tennis romance before and I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Mads and Rowan are such a lovable couple and I found myself rooting for them the entire time. I especially loved the storyline with her dad and how their relationship was rebuilt, and how that naturally impacted her relationship with Rowan too. It added some really nice emotional depth to the story.

The spice level was also chef’s kiss — perfectly balanced and didn’t overshadow the plot.

The only thing that held this back slightly for me was the constant comparison to her parents. I understand why it shaped her character and motivations, but it did feel quite repetitive at times. I also would have loved to see more tension and challenge in the competition side of the story, as some of the matches felt a little too easy.

Overall, a really enjoyable sports romance and I’d definitely read more from this author.

[Alexis Mathis · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review!!

I’d like to thank Stef C.R for the opportunity to ARC read this!


tropes:
-professional tennis player
-golden retriever mmc and his actual golden retriever
-strong and independent fmc
-secret agreement between mc’s (and a list of rules 🤭)
-pining


warnings:
-explicit scenes
-swearing
-mentions of injuries
-daddy issues
-and mentions of pregnancy (side character)


favorite quote: I close my eyes and let his words sink in. He won’t give up on me. But why does it feel like I might lose him anyway?

I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait to read the others in the series. I love the fact there’s an athletic fmc which is hardly ever shown in books (that i’ve seen)

And the rules?!

I feel like there’s a perfect balance between storyline and explicit scenes which is perfect.

[Emily || Bookstagram🎀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨You know when there’s a secret arrangement list, it’s begging to be broken. I loved how much yearning was in this book. Not just for a little while either. More like 10 years ? How insane is that to just torture yourself for that long instead of being brave and demanding more of this situation. That’s how much he loves her. She’s so afraid of her role models growing up since her parents love life didn’t end well that she’s afraid of commitment. There was so much patience and true love there. I was absolutely rooting for both of them personally: him waiting her out & her being brave to take the next step.
✨ive also never read a tennis romance before and i can honestly say I can’t wait for more like this

🎾Friends to lovers
🎾Tennis players
🎾He falls first
🎾Secret arrangement
🎾Years of pining
🎾Strong fmc
🎾Golden retriever mmc
🎾Flashbacks

[Elyse green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I slogged through this story and mostly because their push and pull became exhausting. A decade is such a long time that whatever agreement they had is basically void. I ignored it at this point. Maggie felt like a close parallel to myself in regards to everything except the agreement and being a pro. I wanted to shake her, but I was glad she got a conclusion with her trauma that I never will get to experience. She made me feel by that time that she did deserve Rowan and I was cheering her on. Rowan is great! A guy that had me ready to fight Maggie in his honor in the first 100 pages because girl?! Ultimately, the amount of pages was the best for this style of story because dragging it out would make anyone not get to experience the whole story. Its a perfect friends to lovers book to dive into after a reading slump or even if you are diving back into reading again!

[lauren dedinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

What To Expect:
- best friends to lovers
- he falls first
- tennis romance
- golden retriever mmc
- stong and independent fmc
- flashbacks
- secret arrangement

i love that there is a tennis guide in the beginning of the book especially since i know absolutely nothing about tennis 😅
it was very helpful

rowan and maggie had my heart and i really enjoyed reading their story and seeing them go from friends to lovers. i don't always like flashbacks but in this book i really loved them. it brought so much insight and didnt feel out of place like in some other books i have read, so i was very grateful for that.

the writing style was so captivating and kept me hooked and i can't wait to read more books by stef!

thank you so much stef c.r. for giving me the opportunity to read and review this arc! i am so excited for it to be out in the world soon 🫶🏼

[Shelby Powles · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO I LOVED THIS BOOK.

I know nothing about tennis but I really love a good sports romance and I was NOT disappointed.

The FMC Maggie and the MMC Rowan are very competitive tennis players and have a tough training schedule not leaving them much time for extracurricular activities or other friends. When Maggie has that itch she needs scratched who better than her best friend to do the job? As long as they have rules so it doesn't get messy, but it's already messy because Rowan is in love with her.

This book has spice, chemistry, character growth, and on the court rivalries which turn to friendships. The longing being done on both parts was a chefs kiss. AFTER 10 LONG YEARS THEY FINALLY work things out and admit their very deep feelings. It was perfect and I plan to read many more books by this author!

[Agatha Rodrigues]

Honestly, I love obsessed male leads, and this one was no different. I really enjoyed how their relationship was built on a foundation of friendship and trust, which kept me intrigued with every page. Maggie is a fantastic character who goes beyond the usual stereotypes; she isn’t just the typical pining lead waiting for the guy to notice. Rowan, on the other hand, is the 'he falls first' type, and honestly, if I were Maggie, I would have fallen for him even faster! It’s such a charming book—how could anyone not fall for Rowan? This was my first book by this author and it was a wonderful surprise. I hope to read more!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun! Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC for this book! This friends with benefits to lovers sports romance book was a light, fast read! The chemistry between the main characters were off the charts even if they didn’t always know it at times. The main characters Maggie and Rowan were very likable characters. There were times I wanted to scream at them so they would see their connection in the best way possible…I almost felt like I was one of their friends and family members seeing them from the outside. I enjoyed the side characters and the side storylines and could absolutely see some spin offs happening. Overall this was a great, fun read!

[EVANGELIA MARAGKOPOULOU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Taylor & Rowan Amory are two of the best tennis players of the world and best friends for the past 10 years . Maggie does not do relationships but she is okay with just sex so they both agree to be friends with benefits and even she makes a list of thinks that they must never do . Rowan was okay then but now he really want to start a family with her because for him it was love from the start . Maggie doesn't believe in love because of her parents messy divorce but will she lose Rowan the only man who ever loved gone from her life ?
I received this book from the author and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own .

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Court is told from dual perspectives and in dual timelines. We get to go back and see how Maggie and Rowan ended up being Maggie and Rowan as they are today. An agreement that allows them to be friends with benefits but no feelings allowed. The chemistry between the two was obvious from the start and the whole no feelings allowed thing was laughable. Watching them both try to navigate their friendship while downplaying their feelings for each other was a trip. This book was quick and fun and definitely worth checking out!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Antonietta Booksncoffeebyant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute romance novella. Light spice. Based on the tennis sports world. I was a little disappointed with the points of view because there was a lot of times shifting going back-and-forth from different times like going back from a few years to going back from a few months and then going back to present time so I found it was hard to follow along, especially if you’re not reading it all in one sitting sometimes you forget at what point of view you left off and where you’re beginning. So that kind of threw me off. The storyline was cute and light. But I felt like the time lines could have been more streamlined.