A craft artist recovering from an abruptly severed marriage
takes consolation via the sport of Pickleball in the competitively spirited
romcom, Pickleballers, an amusing first novel by Ilana Long.
Meg Bloomberg--a 30something Seattle, Wash. native--is
struggling after her dentist husband of two years walked out on her. Unmoored,
Meg is emotionally cast adrift. But when her bestie from college encourages Meg
to take up pickleball as a “mental distraction from her loneliness,” Meg soon
finds meaning and purpose for her life again.
Meg crosses paths with a diversity of players—each with personal
problems of his/her own. But as she sets out to competitively master the game,
Meg learns her local pickleball courts are facing closure—environmentalists are
intent to restore the area to a nature preserve. This sends Meg to practice
with her partner on nearby Bainbridge Island. Via the 35-minute ferry crossing
from Seattle, Meg is drawn to a charming stranger with “dreamy eyes” whom, she
learns, also plays pickleball. As the two strike up a romance, Meg discovers
that her new beau is the very conservationist intent on closing her local
Seattle courts. This sets up a host of complications for Meg--both on and off
the court.
Pickleball history and lore--as well as nuances about the
game--flesh out this amusing, flirty romcom. Long serves up witty volleys of banter
and clever plot twists that play out with winning aplomb.
Berkley, $19.00 paperback, 9780593642238, 368
pages
Publication Date: November 12, 2024
To order this book on INDIEBOUND/Bookshop.Org, link HERE
NOTE:
This review is a reprint and is being posted with the permission of Shelf Awareness. To
read this review as originally published on Shelf Awareness (November
15, 2024), link HERE
