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After Wimbledon
After 12 years on the pro. tennis tour and four years with her sort-of boyfriend, Lucy Bennett has had enough. She wants real life… and real love.
Her life, her decision. Right? Well, no one else seems to think so. With opinions on all sides, Lucy’s head is spinning. And she’s stumbling right into the arms of long-term crush and fellow player Sam. Shame her boyfriend – his arch-rival – would sooner smash a racquet over their heads than agree to a simple change of partners.
As the Wimbledon Championships play out, Lucy fights for her life on and off the courts. The question is: what will she be left with after Wimbledon?
Her life, her decision. Right? Well, no one else seems to think so. With opinions on all sides, Lucy’s head is spinning. And she’s stumbling right into the arms of long-term crush and fellow player Sam. Shame her boyfriend – his arch-rival – would sooner smash a racquet over their heads than agree to a simple change of partners.
As the Wimbledon Championships play out, Lucy fights for her life on and off the courts. The question is: what will she be left with after Wimbledon?
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2013
11 people are currently reading
2706 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Gilby Roberts
9 books328 followersJennifer Gilby Roberts has a degree in physics and a postgraduate certificate in computing, so writing fiction was inevitable really. She was born and grew up in Surrey/Greater London, but now lives in Richmond, North Yorkshire with her husband, small daughter, two middle-aged cats and a lot of dust bunnies. She also has a grown-up step-daughter and a large extended family (by marriage).
Her job right now is taking care of her younger daughter (who was born three months premature, but is doing just fine now), but previously she worked many thrilling jobs in administration, including one in an insurance claims office (wholly unrelated to the one in 'The Dr Pepper Prophecies'...).
She's written two novels, both in the chick-lit genre, four novellas and a variety of short stories.
Her job right now is taking care of her younger daughter (who was born three months premature, but is doing just fine now), but previously she worked many thrilling jobs in administration, including one in an insurance claims office (wholly unrelated to the one in 'The Dr Pepper Prophecies'...).
She's written two novels, both in the chick-lit genre, four novellas and a variety of short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
January 31, 2019
After Wimbledon by Jennifer Gilby Roberts is a contemporary romance that I can safely add to my hey that wasn’t too bad for a freebie pile. This one is not only for the tennis/sports fans out there but for those that have gotten stuck in a rut in their romantic lives.
Lucy Bennett was born into a tennis playing family and grew up breathing the sport. Now in her late twenties Lucy has spent the last twelve years on the pro circuit but feels it’s about time to give it all up. Lucy is ready for a family and touring around and training just aren’t fun anymore.
However, as much as Lucy is ready to retire and settle down her boyfriend of four years is also a top tennis player and in no mood to talk retirement. Lucy knows she settled into the relationship out of convenience and promises to break it off after Wimbledon but before that happens she begins to get to know Sam who is also retiring.
This was actually a pretty cute romance with a bit of laughs here and there. I’m not normally one for “cheating” stories but as much as this one walks a line of knowing one relationship is over while starting a new friendship and I actually enjoyed it. The one thing for me though was I thought it could get a bit too into the details of the tennis matches which kind of dragged a bit in those part. Otherwise a fun story that I would rate at 3.5 stars.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Lucy Bennett was born into a tennis playing family and grew up breathing the sport. Now in her late twenties Lucy has spent the last twelve years on the pro circuit but feels it’s about time to give it all up. Lucy is ready for a family and touring around and training just aren’t fun anymore.
However, as much as Lucy is ready to retire and settle down her boyfriend of four years is also a top tennis player and in no mood to talk retirement. Lucy knows she settled into the relationship out of convenience and promises to break it off after Wimbledon but before that happens she begins to get to know Sam who is also retiring.
This was actually a pretty cute romance with a bit of laughs here and there. I’m not normally one for “cheating” stories but as much as this one walks a line of knowing one relationship is over while starting a new friendship and I actually enjoyed it. The one thing for me though was I thought it could get a bit too into the details of the tennis matches which kind of dragged a bit in those part. Otherwise a fun story that I would rate at 3.5 stars.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 3, 2016
Lucy is a tennis pro who has been on the circuit for 12 years. The Wimbledon championships will start in a few days and she’s had an epiphany – after this tournament she’s ready to retire. She’s tired of the travel, she knows that her game isn’t going to get any better as she gets older and she wants to settle down and move on with her life. Her current boyfriend Joe is also a tennis professional. She’s got a new friend, Sam, the #1 tennis player on the circuit (and Joe’s rival) whose life seems to be headed more in the direction that she’s looking for. Over these two weeks of the tournament she’s got a lot of decisions to make that are going to impact her future and the future of those around her – plus, she’s going to have to play the best tennis of her life if she wants to win and hold the trophy up for Britain. Is she up for the challenge?
I loved this story! It’s told from Lucy’s point of view and from the very start her voice drew me in, made me laugh, and entertained me thoroughly. Her relationship with her boyfriend Joe is clearly one of sexual convenience rather than actual deep emotions. He comes off as an arrogant jerk for the most part – he’s very unsupportive of her decision to retire and equally doesn’t give her any encouragement in her upcoming matches where she’ll be facing tough opponents. She knows it’s time to end things – but breaking up with someone in the middle of the Wimbledon Championships isn’t something she’s willing to put even him through.
By contrast, becoming friends with Sam gives her a much needed morale boost. He’s friendly, smart, competitive, and the fact that he’s the #1 player, and has just recently become a British citizen and therefore can play for Britain is icing on the cake. He gives her the support that is sadly lacking from Joe, and there are some sparks between them that are hard to ignore. But cheating on Joe isn’t something that either Lucy or Sam take lightly and nothing’s going to happen between them until Lucy makes up her mind about Joe. I really enjoyed Lucy’s friendship with Sam, and how she figures out that he’s much more open to her when she’s treating him like a regular guy as opposed to a number one tennis player. Sam has his secrets too, and he keeps himself closed off – when he starts to reveal more personal details of his life to Lucy is when she realizes that she’s going to have to decide what it is she wants for the future.
And amidst the emotional turmoil Lucy is experiencing, she also has a job to do – to play the best tennis of her life in this Wimbledon Championship. I really enjoyed the tennis aspects of this story. You get a great view of what it’s like to be a tennis player, both on and off the court. The author has done a fantastic job of describing the matches, with the commentary being spot on.
Now, being a tennis fan and following the game closely, I found the match descriptions and the progression of the tournament really exciting and it made the story hard to put down. It’s difficult for me to say how a non- tennis fan would find this book, if they would be confused by the commentary or would be able to follow along. There’s no tennis primer at the beginning of the story- there’s an expectation that you either know the game or will be able to pick it up as it goes along,
As the story progresses, so does the tournament and I was invested in the outcome of all of it – If Lucy would win the women’s championship, If Sam or Joe would win the men’s championship, and equally if Lucy would end up with Sam , stay with Joe or give up on men for the foreseeable future. It was a delightful read and I highly recommend it.
Note: this review also appears as a blog post on Harlequin Junkie http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-aft...
Note: this title was lent to me for review via the amazon kindle lending program.
I loved this story! It’s told from Lucy’s point of view and from the very start her voice drew me in, made me laugh, and entertained me thoroughly. Her relationship with her boyfriend Joe is clearly one of sexual convenience rather than actual deep emotions. He comes off as an arrogant jerk for the most part – he’s very unsupportive of her decision to retire and equally doesn’t give her any encouragement in her upcoming matches where she’ll be facing tough opponents. She knows it’s time to end things – but breaking up with someone in the middle of the Wimbledon Championships isn’t something she’s willing to put even him through.
By contrast, becoming friends with Sam gives her a much needed morale boost. He’s friendly, smart, competitive, and the fact that he’s the #1 player, and has just recently become a British citizen and therefore can play for Britain is icing on the cake. He gives her the support that is sadly lacking from Joe, and there are some sparks between them that are hard to ignore. But cheating on Joe isn’t something that either Lucy or Sam take lightly and nothing’s going to happen between them until Lucy makes up her mind about Joe. I really enjoyed Lucy’s friendship with Sam, and how she figures out that he’s much more open to her when she’s treating him like a regular guy as opposed to a number one tennis player. Sam has his secrets too, and he keeps himself closed off – when he starts to reveal more personal details of his life to Lucy is when she realizes that she’s going to have to decide what it is she wants for the future.
And amidst the emotional turmoil Lucy is experiencing, she also has a job to do – to play the best tennis of her life in this Wimbledon Championship. I really enjoyed the tennis aspects of this story. You get a great view of what it’s like to be a tennis player, both on and off the court. The author has done a fantastic job of describing the matches, with the commentary being spot on.
Now, being a tennis fan and following the game closely, I found the match descriptions and the progression of the tournament really exciting and it made the story hard to put down. It’s difficult for me to say how a non- tennis fan would find this book, if they would be confused by the commentary or would be able to follow along. There’s no tennis primer at the beginning of the story- there’s an expectation that you either know the game or will be able to pick it up as it goes along,
As the story progresses, so does the tournament and I was invested in the outcome of all of it – If Lucy would win the women’s championship, If Sam or Joe would win the men’s championship, and equally if Lucy would end up with Sam , stay with Joe or give up on men for the foreseeable future. It was a delightful read and I highly recommend it.
Note: this review also appears as a blog post on Harlequin Junkie http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-aft...
Note: this title was lent to me for review via the amazon kindle lending program.
July 2, 2014
Jennifer was one of the first people to follow and interact with me on Twitter when I started my blog and is an incredibly lovely and generous person. She is also a big supporter of bloggers on Twitter. I really wanted to read her books but had a TBR mountain, I still do but I won her books through a giveaway and I love Wimbledon so managed to read this book in between games or 'after Wimbledon' had finished for the day. I went into it hoping it would be as good as I wanted it to be and luckily, it was!
I was really looking forward to the book given its subject matter and also because of some of the great reviews I read beforehand. After finishing this book I can safely say it was fantastic and I loved it. As with my other favourite genre, crime fiction, chick lit is very overcrowded, it takes a talented author to stand out. Jennifer's writing style is definitely her own, she has a very distinctive style of writing and it is very funny. We all love a bit of humour in chick lit and Jennifer does it brilliantly. Subtle at times and obvious in others it was great. Alongside the humour though we look for a good story and this book definitely has that. I thought some sentences were quite short though and perhaps commas could have been used instead.
You don't need to be a tennis fan to enjoy the book, it's just the setting of the book after all. However it does play a big role in the book. Each chapter bar one or two is set on each day at Wimbledon, as a fan of short chapters I struggled to put the book down as I can't put a book down mid-chapter and some of the ones here were quite long. I loved our main character Lucy. Written in the first person which I love in chick lit, she came across as a very likeable character. Not perfect by any means but I did feel for her throughout the book, especially the scenes with her horrible mother and even worse boyfriend, tennis obsessed fellow player Joe. I loved Lucy's personality, she could be quite sarcastic and cynical at times and I loved that. Joe is particularly nasty throughout the book, he's the sort of person that phones Lucy up asking if he can come round for sex and then not bothering when she refuses. And her mother is living her life through Lucy after she gave up her career to have a baby. Hardly Lucy's fault her mum got pregnant and had a baby. I absolutely despise parents like this.
As with most chick lit it's always fairly obvious where the story is going to go, in this case Lucy is having doubts over Joe and is developing feelings for his rival Sam. However it's the journey to the end that is most enjoyable and Lucy faces quite a few obstacles along the way. Full of hilarity but touching moments too this was a hugely enjoyable read for me and perfect to read alongside one of the highlights of the year, Wimbledon itself. As someone who gets quite involved watching the game (I write this review with no voice after Murray/Dimitrov) I found myself supporting the players in this book and wanting them to win and screaming at the book when things didn't go my way! Jennifer definitely throws a few surprises in here and some things go the way I wasn't expecting. With a very satisfying ending I can't reccommend this book more. Just brilliant. It's also a relatively short read too, only 260 or so pages so I flew through it.
I was really looking forward to the book given its subject matter and also because of some of the great reviews I read beforehand. After finishing this book I can safely say it was fantastic and I loved it. As with my other favourite genre, crime fiction, chick lit is very overcrowded, it takes a talented author to stand out. Jennifer's writing style is definitely her own, she has a very distinctive style of writing and it is very funny. We all love a bit of humour in chick lit and Jennifer does it brilliantly. Subtle at times and obvious in others it was great. Alongside the humour though we look for a good story and this book definitely has that. I thought some sentences were quite short though and perhaps commas could have been used instead.
You don't need to be a tennis fan to enjoy the book, it's just the setting of the book after all. However it does play a big role in the book. Each chapter bar one or two is set on each day at Wimbledon, as a fan of short chapters I struggled to put the book down as I can't put a book down mid-chapter and some of the ones here were quite long. I loved our main character Lucy. Written in the first person which I love in chick lit, she came across as a very likeable character. Not perfect by any means but I did feel for her throughout the book, especially the scenes with her horrible mother and even worse boyfriend, tennis obsessed fellow player Joe. I loved Lucy's personality, she could be quite sarcastic and cynical at times and I loved that. Joe is particularly nasty throughout the book, he's the sort of person that phones Lucy up asking if he can come round for sex and then not bothering when she refuses. And her mother is living her life through Lucy after she gave up her career to have a baby. Hardly Lucy's fault her mum got pregnant and had a baby. I absolutely despise parents like this.
As with most chick lit it's always fairly obvious where the story is going to go, in this case Lucy is having doubts over Joe and is developing feelings for his rival Sam. However it's the journey to the end that is most enjoyable and Lucy faces quite a few obstacles along the way. Full of hilarity but touching moments too this was a hugely enjoyable read for me and perfect to read alongside one of the highlights of the year, Wimbledon itself. As someone who gets quite involved watching the game (I write this review with no voice after Murray/Dimitrov) I found myself supporting the players in this book and wanting them to win and screaming at the book when things didn't go my way! Jennifer definitely throws a few surprises in here and some things go the way I wasn't expecting. With a very satisfying ending I can't reccommend this book more. Just brilliant. It's also a relatively short read too, only 260 or so pages so I flew through it.
July 31, 2014
Review originally posted: http://www.chicksthatread.com/the-blo...
I was so excited to read this book and it’s my first review for chicksthatread, so I hope you like it.
This is the story of Lucy Bennet, 28. She is a tennis pro and the book starts just before the beginning of Wimbledon, one of the Grand Slam tournaments. I’m a big tennis fan, so I was really happy about the theme and the surroundings.
Lucy has played professionally for 12 years now and is thinking about retiring and starting as a coach at her club. Or should I rather say her family’s club. Her parents, especially her mother doesn’t seem so happy about that.
Lucy is in a relationship with Joe Harker, also a tennis pro. Their relationship is not what you call a normal one though ;) Not telling you more here, find out for yourselves…
Then there is Sam Pennington, Joe’s arch-rival. Lucy’s had a crush on him for years, but she was too shy about it. Sam plays for Lucy’s club as well and guess what? He wants to retire as well and he announces that just before the tournaments starts.
Sam and Lucy start talking more and more and they get along really well. They were drawn to each other and I loved how Jennifer describes all these scenes, where their relationship developed. The most important thing: They want the same things in life, which I think is so sweet.
Now let’s talk about the tournament a little bit. The atmosphere was great and I as a reader felt so close to all of it. The matches, the press conferences and everything what happened around it. Jennifer found a perfect vivid and real way to put this into the story. Not only the tournament, but also Lucy’s feelings and emotions were included beautifully and very carefully. I could relate to Lucy all the way. Throughout the story she had to figure out what she wanted and she went through a range of emotions. She had to deal with the problems of her parents, figure out her feelings and think about her future. I was glad she had her best friend Adrienne there. And then Sam was there for Lucy all the time as well, so sweet and caring. And also very patient since he waited for her to finish things with Joe…. I was actually really impatient, I couldn’t understand why she waited that long, because Joe is just… Well, let’s just say, I didn’t like him at all.
Some articles in the press bring some more drama and misunderstandings into this fabulous and entertaining story. We find out more about both their pasts and families. It was so interesting to find out more and I just wanted them to clear everything and find a way to be together, cause Lucy and Sam are just the cutest couple ever!
Be prepared for a light hearted, funny, entertaining, gripping, vivid, sparkly and awesome story! I couldn’t put the book down and I think it’s the perfect mixture love, drama, tennis and entertainment. A must read, which is perfect for summer!!!
I was so excited to read this book and it’s my first review for chicksthatread, so I hope you like it.
This is the story of Lucy Bennet, 28. She is a tennis pro and the book starts just before the beginning of Wimbledon, one of the Grand Slam tournaments. I’m a big tennis fan, so I was really happy about the theme and the surroundings.
Lucy has played professionally for 12 years now and is thinking about retiring and starting as a coach at her club. Or should I rather say her family’s club. Her parents, especially her mother doesn’t seem so happy about that.
Lucy is in a relationship with Joe Harker, also a tennis pro. Their relationship is not what you call a normal one though ;) Not telling you more here, find out for yourselves…
Then there is Sam Pennington, Joe’s arch-rival. Lucy’s had a crush on him for years, but she was too shy about it. Sam plays for Lucy’s club as well and guess what? He wants to retire as well and he announces that just before the tournaments starts.
Sam and Lucy start talking more and more and they get along really well. They were drawn to each other and I loved how Jennifer describes all these scenes, where their relationship developed. The most important thing: They want the same things in life, which I think is so sweet.
Now let’s talk about the tournament a little bit. The atmosphere was great and I as a reader felt so close to all of it. The matches, the press conferences and everything what happened around it. Jennifer found a perfect vivid and real way to put this into the story. Not only the tournament, but also Lucy’s feelings and emotions were included beautifully and very carefully. I could relate to Lucy all the way. Throughout the story she had to figure out what she wanted and she went through a range of emotions. She had to deal with the problems of her parents, figure out her feelings and think about her future. I was glad she had her best friend Adrienne there. And then Sam was there for Lucy all the time as well, so sweet and caring. And also very patient since he waited for her to finish things with Joe…. I was actually really impatient, I couldn’t understand why she waited that long, because Joe is just… Well, let’s just say, I didn’t like him at all.
Some articles in the press bring some more drama and misunderstandings into this fabulous and entertaining story. We find out more about both their pasts and families. It was so interesting to find out more and I just wanted them to clear everything and find a way to be together, cause Lucy and Sam are just the cutest couple ever!
Be prepared for a light hearted, funny, entertaining, gripping, vivid, sparkly and awesome story! I couldn’t put the book down and I think it’s the perfect mixture love, drama, tennis and entertainment. A must read, which is perfect for summer!!!
February 6, 2017
Tennis is definitely one of those sports that I only watch when it’s really popular and everyone is talking about it. I like watching movies and reading books about it though. I’m not really sure why, it just works out that way.
After Wimbledon was a cute chick lit story about cutting out the absolute crap in your life and replacing it with what you really want and maybe even need. It was a sweet romance and predictable in that regard, but its predictability made it no less enjoyable.
The main character, Lucy, was a bit of a whiner. I was really waiting for the moment when she woke and took charge of her life. It took awhile, but then again that true for a lot of people in the real world. She was an entertaining character to read about and I thought pretty well-developed. She did irk me every once in a while though.
I thought the chemistry between Lucy and Sam was fantastic. I imagine they’d be an adorable couple, if they were real. I really didn’t understand her attraction/relationship with Joe. The author alluded to it starting out beneficially for both parties and things changing, but because we never saw (read) that part of Lucy’s story it just made it really easy to dislike him.
The plot was good. I liked how tennis focused everything was. It was interesting to think about the game from the players perspective and all of the media attention they have to deal with. It’s not something I normally ponder, but After Wimbledon had me doing just that.
Overall, I thought After Wimbledon was a fun read. There’s some sexual content, so readers should be 16+. For all of you chick lit lovers and those who are looking for a light, quick summer read, I would recommend After Wimbledon.
For more reviews, check out
After Wimbledon was a cute chick lit story about cutting out the absolute crap in your life and replacing it with what you really want and maybe even need. It was a sweet romance and predictable in that regard, but its predictability made it no less enjoyable.
The main character, Lucy, was a bit of a whiner. I was really waiting for the moment when she woke and took charge of her life. It took awhile, but then again that true for a lot of people in the real world. She was an entertaining character to read about and I thought pretty well-developed. She did irk me every once in a while though.
I thought the chemistry between Lucy and Sam was fantastic. I imagine they’d be an adorable couple, if they were real. I really didn’t understand her attraction/relationship with Joe. The author alluded to it starting out beneficially for both parties and things changing, but because we never saw (read) that part of Lucy’s story it just made it really easy to dislike him.
The plot was good. I liked how tennis focused everything was. It was interesting to think about the game from the players perspective and all of the media attention they have to deal with. It’s not something I normally ponder, but After Wimbledon had me doing just that.
Overall, I thought After Wimbledon was a fun read. There’s some sexual content, so readers should be 16+. For all of you chick lit lovers and those who are looking for a light, quick summer read, I would recommend After Wimbledon.
For more reviews, check out
May 2, 2015
I received a free copy through Goodreads Giveaway
I don't really read much chick-lit because I feel it sort of gets repetitive after a while. but this book caught my attention because of its premise, which was completely new to me. I know nothing about Tennis but have been trying to get into it ('cause it seems like a really cool sport. also, Roger Federer.)
Lucy is a 28 year old Pro tennis player, but doesn't quite sound like it most of the time. She comes off as a bit superficial and immature. I wish there had been more depth to her character. I liked Sam, he's this perfect prince charming of a man (heck, he has a treehouse in his backyard! perfect) but somehow, it was easier to imagine Lucy with Joe rather than with Sam.
Overall, this book was quite fast-paced. The supporting characters (Adrienne, Libby) came off as amicable. I found the tennis parts interesting. There was also a lot of fluff. I think this book would be perfect for a quick, light, weekend read.
I don't really read much chick-lit because I feel it sort of gets repetitive after a while. but this book caught my attention because of its premise, which was completely new to me. I know nothing about Tennis but have been trying to get into it ('cause it seems like a really cool sport. also, Roger Federer.)
Lucy is a 28 year old Pro tennis player, but doesn't quite sound like it most of the time. She comes off as a bit superficial and immature. I wish there had been more depth to her character. I liked Sam, he's this perfect prince charming of a man (heck, he has a treehouse in his backyard! perfect) but somehow, it was easier to imagine Lucy with Joe rather than with Sam.
Overall, this book was quite fast-paced. The supporting characters (Adrienne, Libby) came off as amicable. I found the tennis parts interesting. There was also a lot of fluff. I think this book would be perfect for a quick, light, weekend read.
February 20, 2014
This book was a great read. Exactly what I look for in my reading - a fun escape that kept me turning the pages. Jennifer Gilby Roberts is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Her writing is witty and her characters are realistic. I enjoyed Lucy and the well-developed cast of characters that surrounded her.
On a side note: I have basically no knowledge of the game of tennis, but despite that I was still easily drawn into the tournaments and even felt excitement (and some anxiety) as they played. It actually made me want to learn more about the game.
Looking forward to more books from this author!
On a side note: I have basically no knowledge of the game of tennis, but despite that I was still easily drawn into the tournaments and even felt excitement (and some anxiety) as they played. It actually made me want to learn more about the game.
Looking forward to more books from this author!
December 18, 2015
Quick and fun read
I don't know anything about tennis, but the relationship plays were genuine, enjoyed this late night read in one sitting
I don't know anything about tennis, but the relationship plays were genuine, enjoyed this late night read in one sitting
July 12, 2017
I found this a very enjoyable story that was particularly apt to read at this time of year, when Wimbledon is on!
It was about Lucy, a pro player on the tennis circuit, and her current boyfriend Joe, and her new love interest Sam, both of whom are either No.1 or 2 in the world on any given year. I really disliked Joe, I have no idea why she was with him, but Sam was so lovely.
Both Lucy and Sam had independently decided to retire from tennis after this Wimbledon and the story was mainly about the last matches they were playing and the fall-out/gossip concerning their decision. Lucy's Mum was an interesting character, she didn't seem to care about anything other than herself, how well Lucy did in tennis so it reflected on her, and just tennis in general as she ran their local tennis club. I really felt sorry for Lucy and her Dad having to put up with her. But things worked out for the best in the end for all concerned.
Very easy reading, entertaining, British chick-lit Wimbledon story.
It was about Lucy, a pro player on the tennis circuit, and her current boyfriend Joe, and her new love interest Sam, both of whom are either No.1 or 2 in the world on any given year. I really disliked Joe, I have no idea why she was with him, but Sam was so lovely.
Both Lucy and Sam had independently decided to retire from tennis after this Wimbledon and the story was mainly about the last matches they were playing and the fall-out/gossip concerning their decision. Lucy's Mum was an interesting character, she didn't seem to care about anything other than herself, how well Lucy did in tennis so it reflected on her, and just tennis in general as she ran their local tennis club. I really felt sorry for Lucy and her Dad having to put up with her. But things worked out for the best in the end for all concerned.
Very easy reading, entertaining, British chick-lit Wimbledon story.
February 8, 2019
I adored this book. It’s sweet and make you hope that guys like Sam really do exist. I loved Wimbledon being the center of this story and although John McEnroe and Björn Borg were well before my time I imagined Joe and Sam to be based off these two legendary players. Joe’s on court actions to be based off of McEnroe’s outrageous on court persona, while Sam to me was likely based off Björn Berg’s calm on court demeanor which earned him the nickname iceman. Then again, Sam could be based off Roger Federer but Federer doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, while Björn Borg notoriously left his illustrious tennis career way too early because all the pressures were getting to him. Overall I loved this and would like to read more from the author!
November 29, 2023
I randomly stumbled upon this one and my expectations were honestly quite low, but I actually really enjoyed it! My favourite parts were the matches itself - I assume they might be a bit hard to follow if you've never watched a tennis game in your life, but on the other hand, why would you be reading a book like this if that were the case? - because you were really there in the midst of it, swallowed by the tension and excitement of the court.
I didn't like everything, it was a bit moralising at times, and Joe is a bit too villainy for their four year sexual relationship to make sense, but I loved Lucy and her path to self-realisation, I loved Sam and the way they came together felt real, including the obstacles in their way.
I didn't like everything, it was a bit moralising at times, and Joe is a bit too villainy for their four year sexual relationship to make sense, but I loved Lucy and her path to self-realisation, I loved Sam and the way they came together felt real, including the obstacles in their way.
July 25, 2025
It was an interesting read. I think it's my first one with tennis as a focus. Tbh I haven't watched games and I needed some time to get used to the lingo but I learned it in time.
It was an easy and quick read, not too deep but entertaining.
The romance was cute even though it felt a bit fast for love, but who can judge when it's The One we're talking about.
The family dynamics of the fmc was a bit odd and complicated, I guess there will be another book about it..?
One more hang up is the ex. I would have liked if he wasn't such a Dick and was more graceful, or at least get what he deserved, but unfortunately it didn't happen.
Otherwise the book ends with a hea.
It was an easy and quick read, not too deep but entertaining.
The romance was cute even though it felt a bit fast for love, but who can judge when it's The One we're talking about.
The family dynamics of the fmc was a bit odd and complicated, I guess there will be another book about it..?
One more hang up is the ex. I would have liked if he wasn't such a Dick and was more graceful, or at least get what he deserved, but unfortunately it didn't happen.
Otherwise the book ends with a hea.
April 18, 2018
I don't know much about tennis, but I found this book to be enjoyable. A love story with fame, sport, and the problems that come along with it. It provided a nice little escape into a world that I'm not familiar with but enjoyed.
August 22, 2024
I had trouble enjoying it. It was too tennis based and I didn’t like how they were always talking about the f word. The heroine was very spoilt and her mom was a piece of work. I really wanted the ending to be different than it was.
January 26, 2019
Just a light hearted chick lit. I am a tennis fan so definitely enjoyed the tennis aspect of it.
November 2, 2021
Great read
Read this book very quickly. Absolutely entertaining and soooo very enjoyable. Can't wait to read more from this author. A
Read this book very quickly. Absolutely entertaining and soooo very enjoyable. Can't wait to read more from this author. A
December 9, 2021
A cute quick read. I really enjoyed the Wimbledon setting and the characters.
August 24, 2014
After Wimbledon is a light, refreshing romance mixed with a dash of quirky and fun instances. Lucy Bennett’s career and love life could be falling down around her or she could be starting a new life with the man of her dreams. She has the whole duration of the Tennis World Championships to find out how she really feels towards her tennis career and her current boyfriend. But how will it all end?
The story follows British tennis player, Lucy Bennett, as she considers this year to be her last professional year at Wimbledon. She feels that she has reached as far as she can at the age of 28. She begins thinking of her future and longs to settle down and have a family of her own. The only problem Lucy faces is that her current boyfriend, American tennis ace Joe Harker, doesn’t share her desires but preferring to stay in the game. Oh, and her parents (especially her mother) feels that she will be throwing her career away far too early and her mum possibly longs to relive her own tennis dreams through her daughter!
I’m sure many of us have felt the need to go down our own path, even when against our parents’ wishes. At this point you tend to question whether what you are doing is right or wrong and at times there is a lingering pang of guilt. But you must do what feels right for you and this is exactly where Lucy is at.
As After Wimbledon focuses mostly on Lucy, the reader can understand her actions and empathise with her emotions, thus making Lucy a realistic and likeable character. Lucy is like any of us with her indecisiveness and at times she does ‘put her foot in it’ and has the potential to cause a scene. However, she also has guts and after much deliberation at times she does begin to stand up to those around her. Needless to say that I do love Lucy’s character!
To mash Lucy’s thoughts around even more are the unexpected encounters she has with Joe’s tennis rival, New Zealander Sam Pennington. Sam is the No. 1 and hopes to win it for England this time round. Lucy has always had a crush on him and admired him from afar and so when she meets him by chance at her parents’ tennis club they begin talking and Lucy lets slip some of her thoughts. Sam is patient, caring and honourable as well as being a great listener. After accidentally meeting up with Sam a number of times it becomes clear that these two certainly have chemistry, but then Lucy also has Joe!
Joe had initially dismissed Lucy’s idea of settling down, not really believing it. As time goes on he realises she meant it and his attitude towards her becomes increasingly arrogant and threatening, especially when he sees her support for Sam – with Sam playing for Britain and all, as well as a closeness between Lucy and Sam is reported in the media. Is Joe’s reaction an insight into his true nature or is he jealous and hopes to keep Lucy for himself?!
There is a great build up of momentum and suspense during both Lucy’s love life and action on the courts. Not being a huge tennis follower I was surprised how Roberts had written the on court scenes in a manner that was so easy to follow and gave the reader the chance to feel the excitement and tension. There were also intimate moments that were quite descriptive, making it feel more real, although towards the end I found myself wanting more deeper scenes like there previously had been.
With action on the courts, two boyfriends to choose from, pressure from the media, helping her parents sort out their lives and finally deciding whether or not to stay in professional tennis Lucy really has her mind buzzing! But which way will she finally go? With many more years still left she could make the most of her career before retiring from tennis! And is it worth losing the man she’s had for years to settle with someone new when it may not work out? She would surely be alone then. And so After Wimbledon explores Lucy’s options and maybe you can decide whether or not she chooses the right one!!
A copy of After Wimbledon was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.
The story follows British tennis player, Lucy Bennett, as she considers this year to be her last professional year at Wimbledon. She feels that she has reached as far as she can at the age of 28. She begins thinking of her future and longs to settle down and have a family of her own. The only problem Lucy faces is that her current boyfriend, American tennis ace Joe Harker, doesn’t share her desires but preferring to stay in the game. Oh, and her parents (especially her mother) feels that she will be throwing her career away far too early and her mum possibly longs to relive her own tennis dreams through her daughter!
I’m sure many of us have felt the need to go down our own path, even when against our parents’ wishes. At this point you tend to question whether what you are doing is right or wrong and at times there is a lingering pang of guilt. But you must do what feels right for you and this is exactly where Lucy is at.
As After Wimbledon focuses mostly on Lucy, the reader can understand her actions and empathise with her emotions, thus making Lucy a realistic and likeable character. Lucy is like any of us with her indecisiveness and at times she does ‘put her foot in it’ and has the potential to cause a scene. However, she also has guts and after much deliberation at times she does begin to stand up to those around her. Needless to say that I do love Lucy’s character!
To mash Lucy’s thoughts around even more are the unexpected encounters she has with Joe’s tennis rival, New Zealander Sam Pennington. Sam is the No. 1 and hopes to win it for England this time round. Lucy has always had a crush on him and admired him from afar and so when she meets him by chance at her parents’ tennis club they begin talking and Lucy lets slip some of her thoughts. Sam is patient, caring and honourable as well as being a great listener. After accidentally meeting up with Sam a number of times it becomes clear that these two certainly have chemistry, but then Lucy also has Joe!
Joe had initially dismissed Lucy’s idea of settling down, not really believing it. As time goes on he realises she meant it and his attitude towards her becomes increasingly arrogant and threatening, especially when he sees her support for Sam – with Sam playing for Britain and all, as well as a closeness between Lucy and Sam is reported in the media. Is Joe’s reaction an insight into his true nature or is he jealous and hopes to keep Lucy for himself?!
There is a great build up of momentum and suspense during both Lucy’s love life and action on the courts. Not being a huge tennis follower I was surprised how Roberts had written the on court scenes in a manner that was so easy to follow and gave the reader the chance to feel the excitement and tension. There were also intimate moments that were quite descriptive, making it feel more real, although towards the end I found myself wanting more deeper scenes like there previously had been.
With action on the courts, two boyfriends to choose from, pressure from the media, helping her parents sort out their lives and finally deciding whether or not to stay in professional tennis Lucy really has her mind buzzing! But which way will she finally go? With many more years still left she could make the most of her career before retiring from tennis! And is it worth losing the man she’s had for years to settle with someone new when it may not work out? She would surely be alone then. And so After Wimbledon explores Lucy’s options and maybe you can decide whether or not she chooses the right one!!
A copy of After Wimbledon was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.
November 6, 2014
This book was submitted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Pros
Cover fits the mainstream look of chic literature: I really like the vibrant colors--whites, blues, and purples. The imagery definitely fits the overall feel of chic literature and relates to the tennis theme within the book.
Pacing was on point: The book was well paced. There weren't any parts that seemed overly sluggish or particularly rushed.
Connectivity with certain characters:Shockingly, my favorite characters in After Wimbledon didn't include the main character. Although she's not mentioned much, I loved the determination of Jane the younger tennis player that looked up to Lucy. I also appreciated Adrienne's candor, especially when she explains what it's like to adjust from being an active player to being a wife and staying at home. However, Sam stood out in likability. The author did a great job in providing depth to him, and even when moments where he almost slipped out of favor, he still maintained his standing and only fully acted when the time was right in reference to Lucy.
Here are some of the chances for improvement:
The presentation of the tennis segments: The way the tennis matches were called seemed a bit dry. I think it would have helped if they were conveyed in dialogue, rather than Lucy telling it from her perspective. Being shown the action as opposed to being told it really brings in the reader, and this was definitely a lost opportunity. It seemed detached and I didn't feel like I was made a part of the competitiveness and overall excitement that makes up Wimbledon.
Huge disdain for the main character: I really did not like Lucy the main character. I know the author aimed to garner sympathy for her situation but I just didn't. She seemed extremely superficial—more invested in the looks and sexual skills of an individual than really caring about the depth of an individual. For me, there wasn't enough growth in her character throughout the work for her to be deserving of such a genuine guy like Sam.
Two guys and a girl angle played out way too long: After Wimbledon could have easily been cut in half. Almost fifty percent of the book were chapters emphasizing Lucy's inability to make a decision between Joe and Sam. It would be different if there was really a relationship with Joe; then I would have understood the difficulty of the decision. Yet the conveyance of the whole angle played out like Lucy was putting up a farce due to feeling some type of shame as to how the whole connection with she and Joe first began. There was a continuum of "yes, I'm going to make the right decision", followed by hesitation, then "no, I'm not going to do it." The first two happenstances I decided to let go, but the ping pong went back and forth throughout the story to the point of exhaustion.
Had more drama than comedy: I'm used to my chic lit having a bit of comedy but the drama in this was extremely potent. I'm not saying there weren't comedic moments here and there but not enough to where they leave an overall lasting impression. For those readers who like a lot of laughter, they may get somewhat let down.
Due to the mixture of significant opportunities among the pros, I feel After Wimbledon garners 3 out of 5 Stars.
Pros
Cover fits the mainstream look of chic literature: I really like the vibrant colors--whites, blues, and purples. The imagery definitely fits the overall feel of chic literature and relates to the tennis theme within the book.
Pacing was on point: The book was well paced. There weren't any parts that seemed overly sluggish or particularly rushed.
Connectivity with certain characters:Shockingly, my favorite characters in After Wimbledon didn't include the main character. Although she's not mentioned much, I loved the determination of Jane the younger tennis player that looked up to Lucy. I also appreciated Adrienne's candor, especially when she explains what it's like to adjust from being an active player to being a wife and staying at home. However, Sam stood out in likability. The author did a great job in providing depth to him, and even when moments where he almost slipped out of favor, he still maintained his standing and only fully acted when the time was right in reference to Lucy.
Here are some of the chances for improvement:
The presentation of the tennis segments: The way the tennis matches were called seemed a bit dry. I think it would have helped if they were conveyed in dialogue, rather than Lucy telling it from her perspective. Being shown the action as opposed to being told it really brings in the reader, and this was definitely a lost opportunity. It seemed detached and I didn't feel like I was made a part of the competitiveness and overall excitement that makes up Wimbledon.
Huge disdain for the main character: I really did not like Lucy the main character. I know the author aimed to garner sympathy for her situation but I just didn't. She seemed extremely superficial—more invested in the looks and sexual skills of an individual than really caring about the depth of an individual. For me, there wasn't enough growth in her character throughout the work for her to be deserving of such a genuine guy like Sam.
Two guys and a girl angle played out way too long: After Wimbledon could have easily been cut in half. Almost fifty percent of the book were chapters emphasizing Lucy's inability to make a decision between Joe and Sam. It would be different if there was really a relationship with Joe; then I would have understood the difficulty of the decision. Yet the conveyance of the whole angle played out like Lucy was putting up a farce due to feeling some type of shame as to how the whole connection with she and Joe first began. There was a continuum of "yes, I'm going to make the right decision", followed by hesitation, then "no, I'm not going to do it." The first two happenstances I decided to let go, but the ping pong went back and forth throughout the story to the point of exhaustion.
Had more drama than comedy: I'm used to my chic lit having a bit of comedy but the drama in this was extremely potent. I'm not saying there weren't comedic moments here and there but not enough to where they leave an overall lasting impression. For those readers who like a lot of laughter, they may get somewhat let down.
Due to the mixture of significant opportunities among the pros, I feel After Wimbledon garners 3 out of 5 Stars.
November 6, 2014
This book was submitted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Pros
Cover fits the mainstream look of chic literature: I really like the vibrant colors--whites, blues, and purples. The imagery definitely fits the overall feel of chic literature and relates to the tennis theme within the book.
Pacing was on point: The book was well paced. There weren't any parts that seemed overly sluggish or particularly rushed.
Connectivity with certain characters: Shockingly, my favorite characters in After Wimbledon didn't include the main character. Although she's not mentioned much, I loved the determination of Jane the younger tennis player that looked up to Lucy. I also appreciated Adrienne's candor, especially when she explains what it's like to adjust from being an active player to being a wife and staying at home. However, Sam stood out in likability. The author did a great job in providing depth to him, and even when moments where he almost slipped out of favor, he still maintained his standing and only fully acted when the time was right in reference to Lucy.
Here are some of the chances for improvement:
The presentation of the tennis segments: The way the tennis matches were called seemed a bit dry. I think it would have helped if they were conveyed in dialogue, rather than Lucy telling it from her perspective. Being shown the action as opposed to being told it really brings in the reader, and this was definitely a lost opportunity. It seemed detached and I didn't feel like I was made a part of the competitiveness and overall excitement that makes up Wimbledon.
Huge disdain for the main character: I really did not like Lucy the main character. I know the author aimed to garner sympathy for her situation but I just didn't. She seemed extremely superficial—more invested in the looks and sexual skills of an individual than really caring about the depth of an individual. For me, there wasn't enough growth in her character throughout the work for her to be deserving of such a genuine guy like Sam.
Two guys and a girl angle played out way too long: After Wimbledon could have easily been cut in half. Almost fifty percent of the book were chapters emphasizing Lucy's inability to make a decision between Joe and Sam. It would be different if there was really a relationship with Joe; then I would have understood the difficulty of the decision. Yet the conveyance of the whole angle played out like Lucy was putting up a farce due to feeling some type of shame as to how the whole connection with she and Joe first began. There was a continuum of "yes, I'm going to make the right decision", followed by hesitation, then "no, I'm not going to do it." The first two happenstances I decided to let go, but the ping pong went back and forth throughout the story to the point of exhaustion.
Had more drama than comedy: I'm used to my chic lit having a bit of comedy but the drama in this was extremely potent. I'm not saying there weren't comedic moments here and there but not enough to where they leave an overall lasting impression. For those readers who like a lot of laughter, they may get somewhat let down.
Due to the mixture of significant opportunities among the pros, I feel After Wimbledon garners 3 out of 5 Stars.
Pros
Cover fits the mainstream look of chic literature: I really like the vibrant colors--whites, blues, and purples. The imagery definitely fits the overall feel of chic literature and relates to the tennis theme within the book.
Pacing was on point: The book was well paced. There weren't any parts that seemed overly sluggish or particularly rushed.
Connectivity with certain characters: Shockingly, my favorite characters in After Wimbledon didn't include the main character. Although she's not mentioned much, I loved the determination of Jane the younger tennis player that looked up to Lucy. I also appreciated Adrienne's candor, especially when she explains what it's like to adjust from being an active player to being a wife and staying at home. However, Sam stood out in likability. The author did a great job in providing depth to him, and even when moments where he almost slipped out of favor, he still maintained his standing and only fully acted when the time was right in reference to Lucy.
Here are some of the chances for improvement:
The presentation of the tennis segments: The way the tennis matches were called seemed a bit dry. I think it would have helped if they were conveyed in dialogue, rather than Lucy telling it from her perspective. Being shown the action as opposed to being told it really brings in the reader, and this was definitely a lost opportunity. It seemed detached and I didn't feel like I was made a part of the competitiveness and overall excitement that makes up Wimbledon.
Huge disdain for the main character: I really did not like Lucy the main character. I know the author aimed to garner sympathy for her situation but I just didn't. She seemed extremely superficial—more invested in the looks and sexual skills of an individual than really caring about the depth of an individual. For me, there wasn't enough growth in her character throughout the work for her to be deserving of such a genuine guy like Sam.
Two guys and a girl angle played out way too long: After Wimbledon could have easily been cut in half. Almost fifty percent of the book were chapters emphasizing Lucy's inability to make a decision between Joe and Sam. It would be different if there was really a relationship with Joe; then I would have understood the difficulty of the decision. Yet the conveyance of the whole angle played out like Lucy was putting up a farce due to feeling some type of shame as to how the whole connection with she and Joe first began. There was a continuum of "yes, I'm going to make the right decision", followed by hesitation, then "no, I'm not going to do it." The first two happenstances I decided to let go, but the ping pong went back and forth throughout the story to the point of exhaustion.
Had more drama than comedy: I'm used to my chic lit having a bit of comedy but the drama in this was extremely potent. I'm not saying there weren't comedic moments here and there but not enough to where they leave an overall lasting impression. For those readers who like a lot of laughter, they may get somewhat let down.
Due to the mixture of significant opportunities among the pros, I feel After Wimbledon garners 3 out of 5 Stars.
March 9, 2017
My review
Oh Lucy, Lucy how I love thee! Being an Anglophile, I love romance, especially if it comes with a British accent! Loved it!
Oh Lucy, Lucy how I love thee! Being an Anglophile, I love romance, especially if it comes with a British accent! Loved it!
March 12, 2014
More reviews at http://losttobooks.blogspot.com
After Wimbledon was an enjoyable read, one that I found myself enjoying more than I expected. I'm not really a fan of tennis, I find it one of the most boring sports to watch and have never gotten into it--even if my family members forces me to watch Wimbledon every year--but it was the romance element that interested me.
I found the setting to be interesting, with the characters being surrounded in Wimbledon and having a sort of behind-the-scenes quality to their lives. It made this book different from the standard romance I read. As well as this I liked the relationships with the characters. This book had characters you love and characters you love to hate. Lucy and Sam's relationship built nicely, with their friendship moving towards something more at a believable speed. I also liked the flirting--especially over Oscar the kitten. To sum up their relationship I would use the words: cute and sweet. This isn't a book full of hot, passionate sex and I don't think it needed it. The author struck a nice balance of character development that kept things interesting in the relationship with their story.
I can't say the same for Joe. He was possessive, rude and controlling and he was the perfect "villain." You love to hate him, he makes you feel sorry and sympathise with Lucy and because Sam in the total opposite, it makes you fall in love with him even more.
There were also a few twists and hidden secrets about a few of the characters' pasts which I didn't see coming. They kept me reading as I wanted to know what was going on and were a nice surprise as they added another layer to the book.
I did have a few issues I had with After Wimbledon though. The first was that I didn't really enjoy the tennis matches. I'm not sure if it's because I don't like tennis, but to me they weren't exciting enough. I felt the writing was a bit bland and there wasn't enough action at these sections. I also felt that they were a bit repetitive with the same thing happening over and over again.
As well as this, I didn't really understand the scoring. I know the character was a tennis pro, but I felt the author could have maybe explained how the scoring worked slightly better. I found myself reading numbers a lot (e.g 6-1 6-7 7-5 6-4) and in the end I had to ask my brother to explain what they meant--a concept that took a while to grasp as I have never understood tennis.
The only other issue I had was that the chapters were a bit long. I hate stopping mid-way through a chapter so it wasn't a book I could just dip in and out of as I had to stick with chapters that were normally 10%, but that's just personal preference for reading. There were sections of the book that were well crafted (character interaction moments) but I will admit that I found the pacing varied a lot in this book and I did sometimes feel that a few scenes weren't necessarily needed or needed to be re-done to improve the pacing, which I feel may help the chapter length.
Overall though, After Wimbledon was a sweet, enjoyable read. It had it's good moments, a nice romance and was easy to get into. The characterisations were great and the setting is unique--I liked the Britishness.
After Wimbledon was an enjoyable read, one that I found myself enjoying more than I expected. I'm not really a fan of tennis, I find it one of the most boring sports to watch and have never gotten into it--even if my family members forces me to watch Wimbledon every year--but it was the romance element that interested me.
I found the setting to be interesting, with the characters being surrounded in Wimbledon and having a sort of behind-the-scenes quality to their lives. It made this book different from the standard romance I read. As well as this I liked the relationships with the characters. This book had characters you love and characters you love to hate. Lucy and Sam's relationship built nicely, with their friendship moving towards something more at a believable speed. I also liked the flirting--especially over Oscar the kitten. To sum up their relationship I would use the words: cute and sweet. This isn't a book full of hot, passionate sex and I don't think it needed it. The author struck a nice balance of character development that kept things interesting in the relationship with their story.
I can't say the same for Joe. He was possessive, rude and controlling and he was the perfect "villain." You love to hate him, he makes you feel sorry and sympathise with Lucy and because Sam in the total opposite, it makes you fall in love with him even more.
There were also a few twists and hidden secrets about a few of the characters' pasts which I didn't see coming. They kept me reading as I wanted to know what was going on and were a nice surprise as they added another layer to the book.
I did have a few issues I had with After Wimbledon though. The first was that I didn't really enjoy the tennis matches. I'm not sure if it's because I don't like tennis, but to me they weren't exciting enough. I felt the writing was a bit bland and there wasn't enough action at these sections. I also felt that they were a bit repetitive with the same thing happening over and over again.
As well as this, I didn't really understand the scoring. I know the character was a tennis pro, but I felt the author could have maybe explained how the scoring worked slightly better. I found myself reading numbers a lot (e.g 6-1 6-7 7-5 6-4) and in the end I had to ask my brother to explain what they meant--a concept that took a while to grasp as I have never understood tennis.
The only other issue I had was that the chapters were a bit long. I hate stopping mid-way through a chapter so it wasn't a book I could just dip in and out of as I had to stick with chapters that were normally 10%, but that's just personal preference for reading. There were sections of the book that were well crafted (character interaction moments) but I will admit that I found the pacing varied a lot in this book and I did sometimes feel that a few scenes weren't necessarily needed or needed to be re-done to improve the pacing, which I feel may help the chapter length.
Overall though, After Wimbledon was a sweet, enjoyable read. It had it's good moments, a nice romance and was easy to get into. The characterisations were great and the setting is unique--I liked the Britishness.
May 3, 2014
Spoiler free!
I’m obsessed with chick lit. No matter what I do, no matter how many serious novels I’m reading (right now, I’m working my way through the 900 pages of Vanity Fair), a chick lit book always feels like coming home.
So when I found After Wimbledon by Jennifer Gilby Roberts, I was just dying to read it. And thank God I did.
Lucy Bennett, how is very much like Becky Bloomwood, is a tennis-pro who is prepping for Wimbledon, but really considering retirment. However, her one-night-stand-turned-boyfriend Joe does not want her to retire and most definitely does not want any of her post-retirement plans (house, marriage, babies,…). And then there is Sam, one of the best tennis players in the world, the rival of Lucy’s boyfriend and the only person who thinks Lucy is not an idiot for wanting to retire.
So who does Lucy trust? And is retirement really a good option when she’s only 28? These are the main themes in the book, though there are a few small curveballs in the plot.
Lucy is funny and endearing and as a reader, you really want her to be happy. Joe is the perfect asshole boyfriend you want her to leave and Sam is a modern day Prince Charming.
It’s a chick lit, so the plot can be expected, but that’s what makes this book so good. There are no really unexpected turns (except maybe one towards the end), no big character developments, everything happens exactly as the reader wants it to happen.
However, unlike the many chick lits that have given me a headache, this book is actually written well. Jennifer clearly knows how to make the reader connect with Lucy and how to portray Lucy’s humor on page (and not just with saying “oh Lucy, you are so funny”). But don’t take my word for it, read a little passage from the beginning of the book – so completely spoiler free:
“This isn’t the type of thing we normally talk about. Joe and I have what I think of as an emotionally open relationship. In a traditional open relationship (oxymoron?), you are emotionally intimate only with each other and sleep with anyone you want. In our case, we are sexually exclusive but have your deep and meaningful conversations with other people.
That is, assuming Joe has any at all.”
That last sentence? That’s the kind of sentence that makes me laugh out loud in bed.
I was a bit worried that After Wimbledon would be too much about tennis for me, because I hate tennis and can’t stand watching it or hearing about it. But, even though tennis is a huge part of the plot, no knowledge of tennis is required nor are there any long reports about tennis matches. It’s about Lucy and her career and men – not the technicality of tennis.
After Wimbledon is not groundbreaking chicklit, such as a Bridget Jones’ Diary was, but it’s a fun read and I think it’s perfect for the summer that’s coming. Grab a drink, sit outside (preferably on a beach) and this book is your perfect companion.
I’m obsessed with chick lit. No matter what I do, no matter how many serious novels I’m reading (right now, I’m working my way through the 900 pages of Vanity Fair), a chick lit book always feels like coming home.
So when I found After Wimbledon by Jennifer Gilby Roberts, I was just dying to read it. And thank God I did.
Lucy Bennett, how is very much like Becky Bloomwood, is a tennis-pro who is prepping for Wimbledon, but really considering retirment. However, her one-night-stand-turned-boyfriend Joe does not want her to retire and most definitely does not want any of her post-retirement plans (house, marriage, babies,…). And then there is Sam, one of the best tennis players in the world, the rival of Lucy’s boyfriend and the only person who thinks Lucy is not an idiot for wanting to retire.
So who does Lucy trust? And is retirement really a good option when she’s only 28? These are the main themes in the book, though there are a few small curveballs in the plot.
Lucy is funny and endearing and as a reader, you really want her to be happy. Joe is the perfect asshole boyfriend you want her to leave and Sam is a modern day Prince Charming.
It’s a chick lit, so the plot can be expected, but that’s what makes this book so good. There are no really unexpected turns (except maybe one towards the end), no big character developments, everything happens exactly as the reader wants it to happen.
However, unlike the many chick lits that have given me a headache, this book is actually written well. Jennifer clearly knows how to make the reader connect with Lucy and how to portray Lucy’s humor on page (and not just with saying “oh Lucy, you are so funny”). But don’t take my word for it, read a little passage from the beginning of the book – so completely spoiler free:
“This isn’t the type of thing we normally talk about. Joe and I have what I think of as an emotionally open relationship. In a traditional open relationship (oxymoron?), you are emotionally intimate only with each other and sleep with anyone you want. In our case, we are sexually exclusive but have your deep and meaningful conversations with other people.
That is, assuming Joe has any at all.”
That last sentence? That’s the kind of sentence that makes me laugh out loud in bed.
I was a bit worried that After Wimbledon would be too much about tennis for me, because I hate tennis and can’t stand watching it or hearing about it. But, even though tennis is a huge part of the plot, no knowledge of tennis is required nor are there any long reports about tennis matches. It’s about Lucy and her career and men – not the technicality of tennis.
After Wimbledon is not groundbreaking chicklit, such as a Bridget Jones’ Diary was, but it’s a fun read and I think it’s perfect for the summer that’s coming. Grab a drink, sit outside (preferably on a beach) and this book is your perfect companion.
October 8, 2014
Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes
After Wimbledon was a tightly written novel with lots of character set up and plot movement. I loved the way it was succinctly written and noticed a difference in the writing from Roberts’ previous novel, The Dr Pepper Prophecies, which I also read this year.
After Wimbledon drew me into the world of competitive professional tennis (something my sports-void brain had never given much thought) in a way that didn’t overpower the relationships being established and grown throughout the plot. It was fun to read the intensity of the matches, how the players lived their lives around such grueling sets and how they continued to make their lives work around their profession. For some reason I assumed professionals in such fields went to bed at 7pm and never went anywhere during their season- silly me.
I found Lucy realistic, she didn’t seem overly pretentious or unreachable and I liked that her regular routine involved practicing at her parents’ tennis club and not some fancy country club. The author also gave us two men to love/hate without too much ambiguity so it’s wasn’t a shock ending but I did really enjoy the path to the one she was meant to be with. I liked that there was tension and confusion without the feeling of wanting to poke myself in the eye with frustration- just the right amount of round about turns in the love department. I was also pleased with the interactions with the secondary personalities-just enough development to make it feel plausible without them taking away from the main story or feeling like they were there without purpose. I really liked the reporter/friend who pushed for the scandalous story but also turned out to be a good friend to Lucy and I adored her old tennis partner. They both gave light and heart to Lucy. But I’m still a bit frustrated with Lucy’s mother and wish there had been a bit of closure in their relationship.
After Wimbledon was a quick and fun read with some interesting glimpses into the professional tennis world and I just loved the characters!
Thank you to the author for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
After Wimbledon was a tightly written novel with lots of character set up and plot movement. I loved the way it was succinctly written and noticed a difference in the writing from Roberts’ previous novel, The Dr Pepper Prophecies, which I also read this year.
After Wimbledon drew me into the world of competitive professional tennis (something my sports-void brain had never given much thought) in a way that didn’t overpower the relationships being established and grown throughout the plot. It was fun to read the intensity of the matches, how the players lived their lives around such grueling sets and how they continued to make their lives work around their profession. For some reason I assumed professionals in such fields went to bed at 7pm and never went anywhere during their season- silly me.
I found Lucy realistic, she didn’t seem overly pretentious or unreachable and I liked that her regular routine involved practicing at her parents’ tennis club and not some fancy country club. The author also gave us two men to love/hate without too much ambiguity so it’s wasn’t a shock ending but I did really enjoy the path to the one she was meant to be with. I liked that there was tension and confusion without the feeling of wanting to poke myself in the eye with frustration- just the right amount of round about turns in the love department. I was also pleased with the interactions with the secondary personalities-just enough development to make it feel plausible without them taking away from the main story or feeling like they were there without purpose. I really liked the reporter/friend who pushed for the scandalous story but also turned out to be a good friend to Lucy and I adored her old tennis partner. They both gave light and heart to Lucy. But I’m still a bit frustrated with Lucy’s mother and wish there had been a bit of closure in their relationship.
After Wimbledon was a quick and fun read with some interesting glimpses into the professional tennis world and I just loved the characters!
Thank you to the author for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
December 27, 2014
* Full Review can be found here: http://therevboard.com/2014/11/06/con... *
Lucy Bennett’s life decisions are the focus of Jennifer Gilby Roberts’ 107-pager “After Wimbledon.”
She is a tennis pro contemplating retirement, among other things, while telling and explaining her choices to her friends, family (Mom and Dad are trying to sway her to stay in competition), boyfriend Joe, and a specific colleague in Sam Pennington who shares similar (IF NOT identical) views as she. Feelings are running high and hard as Lucy lays down the groundwork for her and her future.
DESPITE this read being out of my parameters (for I am NOT a fan of tennis), I gave it a shot and found that it was not too bad.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE, but not too bad storyline wise.
“After Wimbledon” read smoothly, and that is a huge plus for me. NOTHING ruins a story than a choppy sea of a read. At the same time, it got boring in some parts, specifically when she gets indecisive in a few areas as well as the play-by-play in the tennis match.
First person view places a reader into the shoes of the person relaying the story, and I personally am a fan of these types of stories. In regards to “After Wimbledon”, the story paints first-person Lucy as someone who is quasi-narcissistic; stuck on herself and how she views herself. Her schoolgirl mannerisms gave me a chuckle (IF that is Ms. Roberts’ aim), and her describing the tennis action could have used a bit of gravy on that chunk of meatloaf.
Sam Pennington is an awesome character who has a decent percentage of depth that’ll keep many readers glued to the pages.
As always, reads from across the pond tickle my fancy with their spelling vs. Americanized spelling, dry wit, and zingers.
As I said earlier, “After Wimbledon” could have been a lot more, but not too bad. This is a dramedy (more drama than comedy) for those who like to read about (nearly) everyday conflicts based on tough choices that need to be made in Life. Lucy made her decisions, just like the rest of us have had to make tough decision to either make or break our future and our lives.
Lucy Bennett’s life decisions are the focus of Jennifer Gilby Roberts’ 107-pager “After Wimbledon.”
She is a tennis pro contemplating retirement, among other things, while telling and explaining her choices to her friends, family (Mom and Dad are trying to sway her to stay in competition), boyfriend Joe, and a specific colleague in Sam Pennington who shares similar (IF NOT identical) views as she. Feelings are running high and hard as Lucy lays down the groundwork for her and her future.
DESPITE this read being out of my parameters (for I am NOT a fan of tennis), I gave it a shot and found that it was not too bad.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE, but not too bad storyline wise.
“After Wimbledon” read smoothly, and that is a huge plus for me. NOTHING ruins a story than a choppy sea of a read. At the same time, it got boring in some parts, specifically when she gets indecisive in a few areas as well as the play-by-play in the tennis match.
First person view places a reader into the shoes of the person relaying the story, and I personally am a fan of these types of stories. In regards to “After Wimbledon”, the story paints first-person Lucy as someone who is quasi-narcissistic; stuck on herself and how she views herself. Her schoolgirl mannerisms gave me a chuckle (IF that is Ms. Roberts’ aim), and her describing the tennis action could have used a bit of gravy on that chunk of meatloaf.
Sam Pennington is an awesome character who has a decent percentage of depth that’ll keep many readers glued to the pages.
As always, reads from across the pond tickle my fancy with their spelling vs. Americanized spelling, dry wit, and zingers.
As I said earlier, “After Wimbledon” could have been a lot more, but not too bad. This is a dramedy (more drama than comedy) for those who like to read about (nearly) everyday conflicts based on tough choices that need to be made in Life. Lucy made her decisions, just like the rest of us have had to make tough decision to either make or break our future and our lives.
April 21, 2016
A free digital copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Coming from The Dr. Pepper Prophecies, I had a lot of hopes for After Wimbledon. Jennifer’s previous book was everything I could ask for in a romantic comedy novel. It was cute, light, funny and riveting. While certainly compelling, After Wimbledon lacked a few qualities that would have made it a perfect love story.
From the get-go, I disliked the main character, Lucy Bennett. I felt that she wasn’t a very realistic character what with all her flawlessness; athletic, beautiful, toned and all the other synonyms, that she came across as rather flat. Aside from tennis and her dysfunctional relationship with her parents, there was nothing else to her character. It was difficult to empathize with her and I couldn’t comprehend why Sam fell in love with her. Their whole relationship felt dry and forced, which was probably due to how both of them were really one-dimensional. It was sweet how they had all this tension and chemistry at the start of the novel but the lack of character depth made me uninterested in their relationship.
Unlike The Dr. Pepper Prophecies, the plot of After Wimbledon didn’t stay with me. It was all fluff; no climax, no astounding conflict and no character development whatsoever. I struggled with staying awake as I read the book since it was tedious. I wasn’t drawn into the drama and the tension which was frankly, quite disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to fall in love with this book but every aspect of it just seemed forced and unrealistic.
All in all, After Wimbledon was a huge disappointment although fans of cute and light romances would definitely enjoy it. I still have high hopes for Jennifer Gilby Roberts as she has shown us in The Dr. Pepper Prophecies that she can definitely write a wonderful romance novel.
Coming from The Dr. Pepper Prophecies, I had a lot of hopes for After Wimbledon. Jennifer’s previous book was everything I could ask for in a romantic comedy novel. It was cute, light, funny and riveting. While certainly compelling, After Wimbledon lacked a few qualities that would have made it a perfect love story.
From the get-go, I disliked the main character, Lucy Bennett. I felt that she wasn’t a very realistic character what with all her flawlessness; athletic, beautiful, toned and all the other synonyms, that she came across as rather flat. Aside from tennis and her dysfunctional relationship with her parents, there was nothing else to her character. It was difficult to empathize with her and I couldn’t comprehend why Sam fell in love with her. Their whole relationship felt dry and forced, which was probably due to how both of them were really one-dimensional. It was sweet how they had all this tension and chemistry at the start of the novel but the lack of character depth made me uninterested in their relationship.
Unlike The Dr. Pepper Prophecies, the plot of After Wimbledon didn’t stay with me. It was all fluff; no climax, no astounding conflict and no character development whatsoever. I struggled with staying awake as I read the book since it was tedious. I wasn’t drawn into the drama and the tension which was frankly, quite disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to fall in love with this book but every aspect of it just seemed forced and unrealistic.
All in all, After Wimbledon was a huge disappointment although fans of cute and light romances would definitely enjoy it. I still have high hopes for Jennifer Gilby Roberts as she has shown us in The Dr. Pepper Prophecies that she can definitely write a wonderful romance novel.
December 13, 2013
I was given this to read and write a review for. Guess what? This is really a good book. If you love tennis and romance then your gonna love this.
The story is about Lucy Bennett tennis pro that is playing tennis in Wimbledon. She has been "dating" Joe Harker for 4 years now in an exclusive relationship, though she thought. But she has had a more or less secret admiration for Sam Pennington since she was much younger. She always thought Sam was out of her league in the romance department.
Her mum and dad run a club for upcoming tennis pros. Sam comes to teach at the Club and Lucy becomes a little more acquainted with Sam and suddenly she is realising her exclusive relationship to Joe is not so esclusive. Lucy and Sam become quite good friends and Joe doesnt like it. Sam is Joes biggest rival. Since Sam has won several championships at Wimbledon.
Lucy has a past, Joe has a reputation and Sam has a past. Each one is interesting.
Lucy is torn between retiring from tennis and wanting to start a family of her own and settle down in one place. Joe is so competitive that he doesnt even give it a thought. She turns to Sam who is retiring after Wimbledon and asks for his advice.
Her parents married early in life since her mum was a tennis pro and got pregant with her and since then her mum has tried to live her life thru Lucy. Lucys father doesnt agree with his wife on Lucy staying in tennis and not retiring. He thinks she should follow her heart. This leads to a very big turning point in their marriage and into Lucys life.
I found this book very interesting as I didnt know that much about tennis.I love the charactures in the book and how each of them has a story in their own.
The story is about Lucy Bennett tennis pro that is playing tennis in Wimbledon. She has been "dating" Joe Harker for 4 years now in an exclusive relationship, though she thought. But she has had a more or less secret admiration for Sam Pennington since she was much younger. She always thought Sam was out of her league in the romance department.
Her mum and dad run a club for upcoming tennis pros. Sam comes to teach at the Club and Lucy becomes a little more acquainted with Sam and suddenly she is realising her exclusive relationship to Joe is not so esclusive. Lucy and Sam become quite good friends and Joe doesnt like it. Sam is Joes biggest rival. Since Sam has won several championships at Wimbledon.
Lucy has a past, Joe has a reputation and Sam has a past. Each one is interesting.
Lucy is torn between retiring from tennis and wanting to start a family of her own and settle down in one place. Joe is so competitive that he doesnt even give it a thought. She turns to Sam who is retiring after Wimbledon and asks for his advice.
Her parents married early in life since her mum was a tennis pro and got pregant with her and since then her mum has tried to live her life thru Lucy. Lucys father doesnt agree with his wife on Lucy staying in tennis and not retiring. He thinks she should follow her heart. This leads to a very big turning point in their marriage and into Lucys life.
I found this book very interesting as I didnt know that much about tennis.I love the charactures in the book and how each of them has a story in their own.
January 3, 2014
Coach/player Joe Harker (25) loves, breaths, sleeps, eats tennis. He plans on playing at Wimbledon. Lucy Bennett (28) also plays tennis like her B/F Joe. The couple has what they call an emotionally open relationship (just each other, fuck buddies). Sam Pennington (New Zealand) is also a professional tennis player. Lucy owns a home next to her parents (Dad; Gordon?), which she sees quite often. Margaret her mom was also a pro tennis player she just never made Wimbledon.
Lucy goes over to Maddy (3rd cousin, still married, getting divorced) & they discuss/predict the Wimbledon final match Joe V Sam. Coach Adrienne, husband Henri are other pro tennis player’s & friends of Lucy.
Lucy really has the hot’s for Sam. She’s constantly thinking about him. Adrienne & she go to his press conference. He lets the crowd know he plans on retiring after the tournament.
Wimbledon begins/ends.
In detail of all the matches; Sam, Lucy, Joe & others, tennis clubs, dinners/engagements, media, photo shoots, & Sex, romance, family.
Who will come out on top in the male tennis bracket? Who will come out on top in the female tennis bracket? Will Joe & Lucy get married? Sam & Lucy get married?
What a wonderful free book to read, tennis, twists/turns, great characters, kinda shocking at parts (didn’t see that coming), romance, sex, great content, easy to follow, I will have to give this story line 5 stars.
Thank you for the free book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Lucy goes over to Maddy (3rd cousin, still married, getting divorced) & they discuss/predict the Wimbledon final match Joe V Sam. Coach Adrienne, husband Henri are other pro tennis player’s & friends of Lucy.
Lucy really has the hot’s for Sam. She’s constantly thinking about him. Adrienne & she go to his press conference. He lets the crowd know he plans on retiring after the tournament.
Wimbledon begins/ends.
In detail of all the matches; Sam, Lucy, Joe & others, tennis clubs, dinners/engagements, media, photo shoots, & Sex, romance, family.
Who will come out on top in the male tennis bracket? Who will come out on top in the female tennis bracket? Will Joe & Lucy get married? Sam & Lucy get married?
What a wonderful free book to read, tennis, twists/turns, great characters, kinda shocking at parts (didn’t see that coming), romance, sex, great content, easy to follow, I will have to give this story line 5 stars.
Thank you for the free book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
November 3, 2014
Ms. Roberts has created an absolutely charming romance that faces ups and downs as champions strive to survive the highs and lows of the Wimbledon Tennis Championship.
You don't have to enjoy tennis to love the characters, but if you're someone like me - life comes to a screeching halt for every Grand Slam - this book will be doubly enjoyable. We meet Lucy Bennet, age 28. She's played tennis her whole life, and her family has managed Englands illustrious tennis facility for decades. Her star has reached its summit, and she's thinking of retiring.
Boyfriend, American Joe Harker, ranked second, is going to stay on the circuit until he dies. You get the feeling he's an unpleasant Andy Roddick. Ms. Roberts does a great job at pulling in some of John McEnroe's witticisms here.
Ranked first, Sam Pennington is at the height of his ability and is Joe Harker's nemesis. If you are a tennis fan, I thought of Patrick Rafter. Kind, hard working, completely committed to his passion. Sam is beginning to think about life after tennis.
The trio have been travelling the globe playing at the same tennis tournaments for years. Just as Wimbledon begins Sam and Lucy finally truly noticed each other.
Read this laugh out loud novel. This book has the perfect amount of believability and fantasy. I found myself unable to put it down.
You don't have to enjoy tennis to love the characters, but if you're someone like me - life comes to a screeching halt for every Grand Slam - this book will be doubly enjoyable. We meet Lucy Bennet, age 28. She's played tennis her whole life, and her family has managed Englands illustrious tennis facility for decades. Her star has reached its summit, and she's thinking of retiring.
Boyfriend, American Joe Harker, ranked second, is going to stay on the circuit until he dies. You get the feeling he's an unpleasant Andy Roddick. Ms. Roberts does a great job at pulling in some of John McEnroe's witticisms here.
Ranked first, Sam Pennington is at the height of his ability and is Joe Harker's nemesis. If you are a tennis fan, I thought of Patrick Rafter. Kind, hard working, completely committed to his passion. Sam is beginning to think about life after tennis.
The trio have been travelling the globe playing at the same tennis tournaments for years. Just as Wimbledon begins Sam and Lucy finally truly noticed each other.
Read this laugh out loud novel. This book has the perfect amount of believability and fantasy. I found myself unable to put it down.
August 11, 2014
Are you still feeling bereft because Wimbledon is over? Then this gorgeous little romance is the perfect way to keep your tennis fever burning.
Lucy Bennett has never won Wimbledon, and although the hopes of Britain rest on her, she doesn’t believe she ever will. Come to think of it, is her heart really in it anymore? And is it still with her boyfriend of four years, the Men’s number two seed, Joe Harker? Was it ever? In fact, where on earth is her heart? Surely not with Joe’s handsome rival Sam Pennington…
Lucy has a tough time battling with thoughts of retirement and the lack of support from her tennis pro mother as well as having to figure out the implications of some confusing emotions. But she has wonderful friends who’ll help her through as well as an ability to smash her frustration out on the tennis court. But as she finds herself getting closer to Sam, Joe’s aggressive side starts to make a nuisance of itself, so why can’t she just leave him?
After Wimbledon is a sumptuous summer read that will delight everyone, even those who aren’t into their tennis. Aside from some formatting issues on my Kindle edition, I was won over game, set and match. Quick, fun and fuzzy as a yellow tennis ball, it’s a bundle of joy that will have you sighing over your strawberries and cream.
Review by: Nikki Mason on behalf of BestChickLit.com
Lucy Bennett has never won Wimbledon, and although the hopes of Britain rest on her, she doesn’t believe she ever will. Come to think of it, is her heart really in it anymore? And is it still with her boyfriend of four years, the Men’s number two seed, Joe Harker? Was it ever? In fact, where on earth is her heart? Surely not with Joe’s handsome rival Sam Pennington…
Lucy has a tough time battling with thoughts of retirement and the lack of support from her tennis pro mother as well as having to figure out the implications of some confusing emotions. But she has wonderful friends who’ll help her through as well as an ability to smash her frustration out on the tennis court. But as she finds herself getting closer to Sam, Joe’s aggressive side starts to make a nuisance of itself, so why can’t she just leave him?
After Wimbledon is a sumptuous summer read that will delight everyone, even those who aren’t into their tennis. Aside from some formatting issues on my Kindle edition, I was won over game, set and match. Quick, fun and fuzzy as a yellow tennis ball, it’s a bundle of joy that will have you sighing over your strawberries and cream.
Review by: Nikki Mason on behalf of BestChickLit.com
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