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On the Court #2
Drop Shot
Whimsy
Traveling the world as one of the world’s top tennis player’s assistant should be the time of my life. Except Elias Johnson likes to make my life difficult just for the sake of it. Not to mention the annoying, no good, crush I’ve developed on him. I can’t help it. Even when he drives me insane there’s an underlying sweetness to him. But it’s not like I’m going to act on it.
It all blows up in my face though when he makes one mistake too many in the press. The result? His manager demands he clean up his reputation and for us to fake date. Now, we’re spending even more time together, and Elias is suddenly looking at me like he’s not pretending anymore.
Elias
I like to push things too far. Play hard and Party harder is my life’s motto.
It all blows up in my face, though, when my manager can’t deal with the bad press any longer and saddles me with a babysitter in the form of a fake girlfriend. I’m used to spending a lot of time with Whimsy, but now that we’re spending even more time together, I can’t help but want more.
I quickly realize there’s a lot more to my stuck up, pretty dress wearing assistant than what first meets the eye. She’s sweet and sexy and I can’t get enough. This thing between us is supposed to be temporary, but I’m not sure I want it to ever end. I just know I have to convince her to take a chance on me.
Traveling the world as one of the world’s top tennis player’s assistant should be the time of my life. Except Elias Johnson likes to make my life difficult just for the sake of it. Not to mention the annoying, no good, crush I’ve developed on him. I can’t help it. Even when he drives me insane there’s an underlying sweetness to him. But it’s not like I’m going to act on it.
It all blows up in my face though when he makes one mistake too many in the press. The result? His manager demands he clean up his reputation and for us to fake date. Now, we’re spending even more time together, and Elias is suddenly looking at me like he’s not pretending anymore.
Elias
I like to push things too far. Play hard and Party harder is my life’s motto.
It all blows up in my face, though, when my manager can’t deal with the bad press any longer and saddles me with a babysitter in the form of a fake girlfriend. I’m used to spending a lot of time with Whimsy, but now that we’re spending even more time together, I can’t help but want more.
I quickly realize there’s a lot more to my stuck up, pretty dress wearing assistant than what first meets the eye. She’s sweet and sexy and I can’t get enough. This thing between us is supposed to be temporary, but I’m not sure I want it to ever end. I just know I have to convince her to take a chance on me.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2025
23 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
September 26, 2025
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 4.3 stars
✦ “she’s not even the just the dream - she’s the reality, she’s the one. i know it in my soul, as sure as i know tennis is my passion.”
*no spoilers*
⤿ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: [sept 1]
⤿ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: [sept 1]
✧˖°🎾 ⋆｡˚꩜ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 / 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲
⤷ sports romance
⤷ fake dating
⤷ pr stunt
⤷ years of crushing
⤷ former boss x assistant
⤷ chronic illness rep
⤷ acts of service
⋆.˚✮🎧✮˚.⋆ 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
if i can’t have you - shawn mendes
ᝰ.ᐟ 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
literally binged this in a few hours and i have no idea why i didn’t read it sooner. from the very first page the main characters interacted a ton and i adored the dual pov and them slowly realizing how real their feelings were. i think this might be my fav tennis romance ever and how adorable it was.
whimsy was such a sweetheart but also very strong, she’s been elias’ right women for many years and without her things would’ve been hectic. she hid her chronic illness from him and everyone for years, it was really sweet the way he brought it up and actually wanted to make life easier for her instead of looking down at her for it. i think this was the first time i’ve read about lupus and i think chronic illness rep should be more common in books.
elias is the biggest sweetheart ever, he literally learned how to do eyeliner for her since her hands got shaky sometimes. like watched videos for days to perfect it and genuinely wanted her to feel the best about herself. not giving her a budget when they went shopping and literally letting her get whatever her heart desires. 🤭 y’all if only these guys were realllll
whimsy had some insecurities about not being the kind of women he desired, especially since he used to be a playboy of sorts and have different women all over him at parties etc. but this man only had eyes for her from the moment they started the arrangement. when they had to fake so many things and even in front of their families.
fake dating is such a cute trope and i think this is one of the best books with it i’ve read in ages. so lighthearted, but also emotional at times.
guys he bought her favorite dino as a plushie 🥹
⋆.˚✮🦢✮˚.⋆ 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
my first read of september was amazing!!!! was lowkey a summer book but still had so much fun!! if you love fake dating, sports romances, and men in love i defo recommend this to you!! book 1 was fun but this was so tender and beautiful
꒰ ⚠︎ ꒱ 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:
⤿ explicit language / scenes
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ౨ৎ
thank you valentine pr for a digital arc!!! so excited to read this after adoring book 1!!!! i always eat up fake dating and she's been crushing on him for years?!! YES PLS
✧ thank you to valentine pr for a digital arc ✧
—
mwah,
joni 🤍
✦ “she’s not even the just the dream - she’s the reality, she’s the one. i know it in my soul, as sure as i know tennis is my passion.”
*no spoilers*
⤿ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: [sept 1]
⤿ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: [sept 1]
✧˖°🎾 ⋆｡˚꩜ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 / 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲
⤷ sports romance
⤷ fake dating
⤷ pr stunt
⤷ years of crushing
⤷ former boss x assistant
⤷ chronic illness rep
⤷ acts of service
⋆.˚✮🎧✮˚.⋆ 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
if i can’t have you - shawn mendes
ᝰ.ᐟ 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
literally binged this in a few hours and i have no idea why i didn’t read it sooner. from the very first page the main characters interacted a ton and i adored the dual pov and them slowly realizing how real their feelings were. i think this might be my fav tennis romance ever and how adorable it was.
whimsy was such a sweetheart but also very strong, she’s been elias’ right women for many years and without her things would’ve been hectic. she hid her chronic illness from him and everyone for years, it was really sweet the way he brought it up and actually wanted to make life easier for her instead of looking down at her for it. i think this was the first time i’ve read about lupus and i think chronic illness rep should be more common in books.
elias is the biggest sweetheart ever, he literally learned how to do eyeliner for her since her hands got shaky sometimes. like watched videos for days to perfect it and genuinely wanted her to feel the best about herself. not giving her a budget when they went shopping and literally letting her get whatever her heart desires. 🤭 y’all if only these guys were realllll
whimsy had some insecurities about not being the kind of women he desired, especially since he used to be a playboy of sorts and have different women all over him at parties etc. but this man only had eyes for her from the moment they started the arrangement. when they had to fake so many things and even in front of their families.
fake dating is such a cute trope and i think this is one of the best books with it i’ve read in ages. so lighthearted, but also emotional at times.
guys he bought her favorite dino as a plushie 🥹
⋆.˚✮🦢✮˚.⋆ 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
my first read of september was amazing!!!! was lowkey a summer book but still had so much fun!! if you love fake dating, sports romances, and men in love i defo recommend this to you!! book 1 was fun but this was so tender and beautiful
꒰ ⚠︎ ꒱ 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:
⤿ explicit language / scenes
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ౨ৎ
thank you valentine pr for a digital arc!!! so excited to read this after adoring book 1!!!! i always eat up fake dating and she's been crushing on him for years?!! YES PLS
✧ thank you to valentine pr for a digital arc ✧
—
mwah,
joni 🤍
August 13, 2025
4.25⭐️ | 3🌶
I ADORED this one! Everything about it. Elias Johnson has now set the standard for me. This was such a feel-good story. Elias' relationship with Juniper was so beyond special. Both Juniper and Whimsy's stories resonated with me. Can't wait for the next one. Thank you to valentine pr for this arc.
I ADORED this one! Everything about it. Elias Johnson has now set the standard for me. This was such a feel-good story. Elias' relationship with Juniper was so beyond special. Both Juniper and Whimsy's stories resonated with me. Can't wait for the next one. Thank you to valentine pr for this arc.
August 23, 2025
Rating 3,5 ⭐
I’m such a sucker for fake dating and this book gave me exactly what I wanted.
Whimsy and Elias start as boss/employee, but when his reputation needs saving, suddenly they’re “dating.”
Tropes:
•Forced proximity
•One bed
•Dual POVs, 1st person
•Sports romance
She falls first but he falls harder.Their connection feels sweet and cozy. The way they care for each other is honestly adorable and will make you swoon. 🥰 It’s not just chemistry, it’s also about trust and friendship building into something real.
If you’re into sports romance with fake dating done right, this is a lovely, heart–warming pick!
----------
Thanks VPR for the ARC in exchange my honest opinion!
I’m such a sucker for fake dating and this book gave me exactly what I wanted.
Whimsy and Elias start as boss/employee, but when his reputation needs saving, suddenly they’re “dating.”
Tropes:
•Forced proximity
•One bed
•Dual POVs, 1st person
•Sports romance
She falls first but he falls harder.Their connection feels sweet and cozy. The way they care for each other is honestly adorable and will make you swoon. 🥰 It’s not just chemistry, it’s also about trust and friendship building into something real.
If you’re into sports romance with fake dating done right, this is a lovely, heart–warming pick!
----------
Thanks VPR for the ARC in exchange my honest opinion!
August 22, 2025
Drop Shot by Ella Wren
4,25/5⭐
2/5🌶️
After I finished the first book, I couldn't wait to dive into this one! Elias and Whimsy are just the cutest couple! I loved seeing their relationship develop naturally throughout the story. Whimsy has been Elias's assistant for years. Elias is a famous tennis player with a bit of a wild side, and at one point, he needs to clean up his image. His manager comes up with the idea for a fake relationship between him and Whimsy.
Whimsy is such a sweet and hardworking girl. Although she has a crush on Elias, she always maintains professionalism. I really appreciated her sassy side and her strong personality. Elias, on the other hand, might seem a bit temperamental and loves to party, but underneath, he’s incredibly sweet and thoughtful. He always thought Whimsy was gorgeous, but he never crossed any lines because she was his employee—until everything changed!
I loved how their relationship evolves from a boss-employee dynamic into friendship and then blossoms into romance. The tension and chemistry between them are palpable, and their conversations are fun and delightful. Watching them grow more comfortable with each other, learn about one another, and ultimately fall in love was a joy. Elias is protective of Whimsy and helps her gain more confidence, while she shows him that there's more to life than just tennis. The thoughtful things he does for her are just swoon-worthy! Overall, this book is filled with sweet, fun moments and just the right amount of spice. I'm so ready to read the next book!
4,25/5⭐
2/5🌶️
After I finished the first book, I couldn't wait to dive into this one! Elias and Whimsy are just the cutest couple! I loved seeing their relationship develop naturally throughout the story. Whimsy has been Elias's assistant for years. Elias is a famous tennis player with a bit of a wild side, and at one point, he needs to clean up his image. His manager comes up with the idea for a fake relationship between him and Whimsy.
Whimsy is such a sweet and hardworking girl. Although she has a crush on Elias, she always maintains professionalism. I really appreciated her sassy side and her strong personality. Elias, on the other hand, might seem a bit temperamental and loves to party, but underneath, he’s incredibly sweet and thoughtful. He always thought Whimsy was gorgeous, but he never crossed any lines because she was his employee—until everything changed!
I loved how their relationship evolves from a boss-employee dynamic into friendship and then blossoms into romance. The tension and chemistry between them are palpable, and their conversations are fun and delightful. Watching them grow more comfortable with each other, learn about one another, and ultimately fall in love was a joy. Elias is protective of Whimsy and helps her gain more confidence, while she shows him that there's more to life than just tennis. The thoughtful things he does for her are just swoon-worthy! Overall, this book is filled with sweet, fun moments and just the right amount of spice. I'm so ready to read the next book!
did-not-finish
August 11, 2025DNFd at 28%. I think this could have used some more editing and it somewhat felt like tropes strung together without much else to hang onto. The reader is dropped into the first chapter where Whimsy, the FMC, and Elias, the MMC sign a contract without consulting legal counsel to fake date for a year to fix Elias' career crisis. Whimsy was his assistant before this arrangement, and you would think Elias had never even so much as asked her how her day was going with how little he knows about her. Whimsy is painfully underdeveloped despite her lupus taking up quite a bit of the story—at least it was becoming more relevant by the time I DNFd. She comes across as quirky and overly apologetic, but she is overall quite flat, and her attempts at banter with Elias were awkward.
Elias was inconsistent on many fronts. He is written to be 6'5 and 180 pounds which, even if he wasn't an athlete, would be underweight. But with the athletic build it didn't make sense. Also there is no mention of his injury that was supposed to be career-ending in Double Fault. He didn't actually seem to be into Whimsy at all. Elias is written to be Black but he comes across as Black-in-skintone-only and, as a Black woman, I wish he'd been more authentic on this front.
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year so I'm disappointed, but still open to reading Ella Wren in the future. I just think this one needed a bit more time and tweaking.
Elias was inconsistent on many fronts. He is written to be 6'5 and 180 pounds which, even if he wasn't an athlete, would be underweight. But with the athletic build it didn't make sense. Also there is no mention of his injury that was supposed to be career-ending in Double Fault. He didn't actually seem to be into Whimsy at all. Elias is written to be Black but he comes across as Black-in-skintone-only and, as a Black woman, I wish he'd been more authentic on this front.
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year so I'm disappointed, but still open to reading Ella Wren in the future. I just think this one needed a bit more time and tweaking.
October 26, 2025
This follows Whimsy, a personal assistant to a famous tennis player named Elias. Due to his playboy demeanor and notorious press reputation, he needs to change his image. When his manager pulls him into a meeting, Whimsy suddenly finds herself in a fake relationship with him. But can they convince everyone it’s real?
This was such a fun, feel-good read with some touching emotional moments. I loved Whimsy she comes across as soft, brilliant, and very mature. She’s also shy and convinced she is not good or pretty enough for Elias. I appreciated how professional she was about her crush, keeping it completely under the radar.
Elias was so incredibly sweet. The things he did for Whimsy, finally starting to notice what had been right in front of him for so long, made my heart melt. He made spending time with her fun, and even in the spicy moments, he brought Whimsy out of her shell.
I adored the slow-burn build, and the fact that Whimsy is dealing with Lupus added an extra layer of vulnerability to her character. This is another great story by Ella Wren but I will say, I’v been patiently waiting for Ebba and Fisher’s story since book one. I need it now!
Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Kindle ARC
Pages: 354
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Book Two In The On The Court Series.
Tropes or Themes: Sports (Tennis), Work Place, Fake Dating, One Bed, Slow Burn, Chemistry, Lupus Rep, Medical Content, Injured, Violence, My Girl, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Oral and Impact Play.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
This was such a fun, feel-good read with some touching emotional moments. I loved Whimsy she comes across as soft, brilliant, and very mature. She’s also shy and convinced she is not good or pretty enough for Elias. I appreciated how professional she was about her crush, keeping it completely under the radar.
Elias was so incredibly sweet. The things he did for Whimsy, finally starting to notice what had been right in front of him for so long, made my heart melt. He made spending time with her fun, and even in the spicy moments, he brought Whimsy out of her shell.
I adored the slow-burn build, and the fact that Whimsy is dealing with Lupus added an extra layer of vulnerability to her character. This is another great story by Ella Wren but I will say, I’v been patiently waiting for Ebba and Fisher’s story since book one. I need it now!
Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Kindle ARC
Pages: 354
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Book Two In The On The Court Series.
Tropes or Themes: Sports (Tennis), Work Place, Fake Dating, One Bed, Slow Burn, Chemistry, Lupus Rep, Medical Content, Injured, Violence, My Girl, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Oral and Impact Play.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
August 18, 2025
#Review: *Drop Shot* - Ella Wren - ARC [18+]
4.5/5✨
3/5🌶️
This book stole my attention with its cover, being really cute! I really wanted to be part of the ARC team and I was lucky enough to be accepted by Valentine Pr and author. Thank youu so much!
Elias was a talented tennis player but one who had too much fun outside of the court field. His imagine had some damage and that's why his agent, Jackson, decided that it may help if he would now be a settled down man. Here came Whimsy in the picture, who was Elias personal assistant. She was the one Jackson suggested to be Elias's fake girlfriend because they were very often together and the lie was easy to build from there on. But what happens when Whimsy already had a secret crush on Elias? Would they be able to keep things professional until the end?
How cute was this relationship between Whimsy and Elias! This idea wasn't at all in her benefit because she was afraid that she would get hurt after everything will be over, but they were so amazing together. Elias was a goofy guy, who would have never imagined that the person who stood besides him all that time was, in fact, the girl who will completely steal his heart. I liked how he simply became addicted to everything that meant Whimsy: from being close to her all the time, to enjoying her cat and her really small apartment. There have happened the cutest moments of their story and I loved how they slowly discovered another side of their personalities.
I was so right about this book, which hid behind that cute cover a really sweet, fun, and quite spicy story. I liked that I had the chance to fall in love with the characters and their stories. Also, I loved that they completed each other so well, taking care of each other and being supportive in tough situations.
✨Tropes
#FakeDating
#WorkplaceRomance
#AssistantAthlete
#ForcedProximity
#HeFallsHarder
#BadBoy
#SportsRomance
#Tennis
4.5/5✨
3/5🌶️
This book stole my attention with its cover, being really cute! I really wanted to be part of the ARC team and I was lucky enough to be accepted by Valentine Pr and author. Thank youu so much!
Elias was a talented tennis player but one who had too much fun outside of the court field. His imagine had some damage and that's why his agent, Jackson, decided that it may help if he would now be a settled down man. Here came Whimsy in the picture, who was Elias personal assistant. She was the one Jackson suggested to be Elias's fake girlfriend because they were very often together and the lie was easy to build from there on. But what happens when Whimsy already had a secret crush on Elias? Would they be able to keep things professional until the end?
How cute was this relationship between Whimsy and Elias! This idea wasn't at all in her benefit because she was afraid that she would get hurt after everything will be over, but they were so amazing together. Elias was a goofy guy, who would have never imagined that the person who stood besides him all that time was, in fact, the girl who will completely steal his heart. I liked how he simply became addicted to everything that meant Whimsy: from being close to her all the time, to enjoying her cat and her really small apartment. There have happened the cutest moments of their story and I loved how they slowly discovered another side of their personalities.
I was so right about this book, which hid behind that cute cover a really sweet, fun, and quite spicy story. I liked that I had the chance to fall in love with the characters and their stories. Also, I loved that they completed each other so well, taking care of each other and being supportive in tough situations.
✨Tropes
#FakeDating
#WorkplaceRomance
#AssistantAthlete
#ForcedProximity
#HeFallsHarder
#BadBoy
#SportsRomance
#Tennis
August 15, 2025
e-ARC Review!! ❤️⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is my first tennis sports book, and I probably liked it more than I expected.
Thank you, Valentine PR. This is an honest review.
Elias and Whimsy's story was very sweet (I haven't read book 1, but I will after this). I like how the author handled the theme of building and breaking down emotional walls. I think that's what I connected with most in the story. They both had their own way of doing things, and how they built their relationship was very healthy. We all deserve a chance at love, and they were no exception.
Will I continue reading this author? Of course! The next book looks exquisite.
This is my first tennis sports book, and I probably liked it more than I expected.
Thank you, Valentine PR. This is an honest review.
Elias and Whimsy's story was very sweet (I haven't read book 1, but I will after this). I like how the author handled the theme of building and breaking down emotional walls. I think that's what I connected with most in the story. They both had their own way of doing things, and how they built their relationship was very healthy. We all deserve a chance at love, and they were no exception.
Will I continue reading this author? Of course! The next book looks exquisite.
August 10, 2025
”I love you so much, Whimsy. I think I loved you before I knew that’s what it was.”
I’ve been so excited for Elias & Whimsy since the glimpses we got in Double Fault, and they were everything I could have wanted and more! The perfect fake dating to lovers story!
I loved seeing Eli let his guard down with Whimsy, and I loved the way Whimsy trusted him and let Eli in. It was truly so special getting to see them go from fake dating to falling for each other, and finally give their love a chance. I feel like Eli was exactly what Whimsy needed to be more confident in herself, and Whimsy was exactly what Eli needed to learn there was more to life than just tennis. Their love was so sweet and wholesome, and also so spicy. Their happily ever after was perfect.
And the way the stage was set for book three, let’s just say I will be here not so patiently waiting for Ebba & Fisher!! I love this friend group so much, and loved all the cameos we got from Noah, Sabrina, and Maddie.
Tropes:
💜Sports Romance
🎾Tennis player x His assistant
💜Fake dating
🎾Spicy
💜Chronic illness Rep
🎾He 💦 in his pants (an elite microtrope)
Some of my favorite quotes:
“What’s going on, is I know this is fake, but for some fucking reason you have me all tied up in knots.”
“God, Whimsy, I bet you’d taste so sweet. You’d be the best thing I’ve ever tasted, I just know it. Is that what you want? Huh? To ruin me for anyone else? You’re all I think about right now. I think about you more than tennis.”
I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you. It wasn’t some fluke when I said I wanted you for real. I meant it then and I mean it now. Don’t make me beg again. Get it through that pretty blond head of yours that it’s you I want. No one else.”
“We fit together seamlessly like this girl was fucking made for me. Maybe she was for all I know. The universe’s gift to me and only me.”
I’ve been so excited for Elias & Whimsy since the glimpses we got in Double Fault, and they were everything I could have wanted and more! The perfect fake dating to lovers story!
I loved seeing Eli let his guard down with Whimsy, and I loved the way Whimsy trusted him and let Eli in. It was truly so special getting to see them go from fake dating to falling for each other, and finally give their love a chance. I feel like Eli was exactly what Whimsy needed to be more confident in herself, and Whimsy was exactly what Eli needed to learn there was more to life than just tennis. Their love was so sweet and wholesome, and also so spicy. Their happily ever after was perfect.
And the way the stage was set for book three, let’s just say I will be here not so patiently waiting for Ebba & Fisher!! I love this friend group so much, and loved all the cameos we got from Noah, Sabrina, and Maddie.
Tropes:
💜Sports Romance
🎾Tennis player x His assistant
💜Fake dating
🎾Spicy
💜Chronic illness Rep
🎾He 💦 in his pants (an elite microtrope)
Some of my favorite quotes:
“What’s going on, is I know this is fake, but for some fucking reason you have me all tied up in knots.”
“God, Whimsy, I bet you’d taste so sweet. You’d be the best thing I’ve ever tasted, I just know it. Is that what you want? Huh? To ruin me for anyone else? You’re all I think about right now. I think about you more than tennis.”
I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you. It wasn’t some fluke when I said I wanted you for real. I meant it then and I mean it now. Don’t make me beg again. Get it through that pretty blond head of yours that it’s you I want. No one else.”
“We fit together seamlessly like this girl was fucking made for me. Maybe she was for all I know. The universe’s gift to me and only me.”
August 13, 2025
Drop Shot ARC Review
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of Drop Shot by Ella Wren from ValentinePr, thank you so much!! 💜
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
“falling in love is scary. trust me. i’ve done it twice. but it’s worth it. even when it hurts.”
this was my first time reading anything by ella and i am now obsessed with her work! i fell in love with her writing and these characters! i will definitely be going back and reading ella’s debut (the first book in this series)! i loved this book from beginning to end! i am a sports romance girlie through and through and i absolutely devoured this book! this book reminded me why i love sports romances so much, i just couldn’t put it down!! this book was so addictive and fun and i genuinely loved whimsy and elias so much.
whimsy and elias were such easy characters to fall in love with. the tension and chemistry between them was strong from the very beginning. and every moment between them was flirty and sweet, i couldn’t get enough of them! everything about them and their relationship felt so genuine, even though it started out being fake. just the way they cared for each other and the love they have for each other was perfection.
thank you once again to valentinepr and ella wren for giving me the chance to read drop shot early! 💜
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of Drop Shot by Ella Wren from ValentinePr, thank you so much!! 💜
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
“falling in love is scary. trust me. i’ve done it twice. but it’s worth it. even when it hurts.”
this was my first time reading anything by ella and i am now obsessed with her work! i fell in love with her writing and these characters! i will definitely be going back and reading ella’s debut (the first book in this series)! i loved this book from beginning to end! i am a sports romance girlie through and through and i absolutely devoured this book! this book reminded me why i love sports romances so much, i just couldn’t put it down!! this book was so addictive and fun and i genuinely loved whimsy and elias so much.
whimsy and elias were such easy characters to fall in love with. the tension and chemistry between them was strong from the very beginning. and every moment between them was flirty and sweet, i couldn’t get enough of them! everything about them and their relationship felt so genuine, even though it started out being fake. just the way they cared for each other and the love they have for each other was perfection.
thank you once again to valentinepr and ella wren for giving me the chance to read drop shot early! 💜
August 14, 2025
Drop Shot is a feel good romance where two long time colleagues, tennis star Elias and his assistant Whimsy enter a PR-fueled relationship to improve Elias image. What follows are two clearly smitten individuals trying to keep these professional, but their hearts longing for something real.
This is a romance perfect for those who are looking for low angst, high swoons, and a romance that will make you feel good all the way through. The leads have charm and relatability. I especially appreciated how the narrative explored Whimsy’s lupus, showing how it affects her day-to-day life, such as the days where her hands aren’t able to create winged eyeliner. And, in turn, I so appreciated how Elias came to understand and support Whimsy the way she needed.
That said, I found my attention consistently drifting off page. I absolutely can see those embrace the feel good nature of this romance, but I longed for tension. Something to keep me looking forward to seeing that happily ever after. I kept looking for the tension as well as the chemistry, but it never quite clicked for me personally. Both plot and romance stayed too static for my preference. Nonetheless, this book will absolutely be the right match for many romance readers. So if you are intrigued by the synopsis, give this one a go! I hope you love it!
Thank you kindly to Valentine PR for this advanced complimentary copy. I leave this honest review voluntarily.
This is a romance perfect for those who are looking for low angst, high swoons, and a romance that will make you feel good all the way through. The leads have charm and relatability. I especially appreciated how the narrative explored Whimsy’s lupus, showing how it affects her day-to-day life, such as the days where her hands aren’t able to create winged eyeliner. And, in turn, I so appreciated how Elias came to understand and support Whimsy the way she needed.
That said, I found my attention consistently drifting off page. I absolutely can see those embrace the feel good nature of this romance, but I longed for tension. Something to keep me looking forward to seeing that happily ever after. I kept looking for the tension as well as the chemistry, but it never quite clicked for me personally. Both plot and romance stayed too static for my preference. Nonetheless, this book will absolutely be the right match for many romance readers. So if you are intrigued by the synopsis, give this one a go! I hope you love it!
Thank you kindly to Valentine PR for this advanced complimentary copy. I leave this honest review voluntarily.
August 19, 2025
I really wanted to love Drop Shot, but it didn’t quite land the same way book one did for me. I enjoyed Elias and Whimsy as characters—Whimsy, in particular, was a standout. She’s sweet, grounded, and the way she manages Elias’s chaotic life while navigating her Lupus diagnosis was portrayed with care and depth.
Elias, the wild child of the tennis world, finds himself stuck with a “babysitter” when his manager finally loses patience with his antics. Enter Whimsy—tasked with keeping him in line, but unknowingly becoming the person who opens his eyes to what love could really look like.
Their dynamic had potential, and I liked the core idea of their slow realization and connection. However, I found myself wishing for more buildup in their relationship before they were thrown into the contract situation. The pacing felt a bit rushed and chaotic early on, and I struggled to fully invest in their shift from strangers to something more.
Still, there were tender moments and strong character beats, especially in how Whimsy is written. While this one didn’t quite capture me like the first, there’s enough heart here to keep me curious about what’s next in the series.
Elias, the wild child of the tennis world, finds himself stuck with a “babysitter” when his manager finally loses patience with his antics. Enter Whimsy—tasked with keeping him in line, but unknowingly becoming the person who opens his eyes to what love could really look like.
Their dynamic had potential, and I liked the core idea of their slow realization and connection. However, I found myself wishing for more buildup in their relationship before they were thrown into the contract situation. The pacing felt a bit rushed and chaotic early on, and I struggled to fully invest in their shift from strangers to something more.
Still, there were tender moments and strong character beats, especially in how Whimsy is written. While this one didn’t quite capture me like the first, there’s enough heart here to keep me curious about what’s next in the series.
August 20, 2025
This was sweet 🥹🥹🥹
I haven’t read a book about tennis yet and this was a fun variation to a sports romance!
Elias and Whimsy (obsessed with her name!) worked together and they are put in a fake dating situationship that goes from her always having a crush on him to him falling in love with her 💕
I really liked their little community and how this book also included a fair amount about each of their families!
I haven’t read a book about tennis yet and this was a fun variation to a sports romance!
Elias and Whimsy (obsessed with her name!) worked together and they are put in a fake dating situationship that goes from her always having a crush on him to him falling in love with her 💕
I really liked their little community and how this book also included a fair amount about each of their families!
September 14, 2025
I absolutely loved this book!! Huge thanks to VPR for the chance to read the ARC—i’m so glad my first one was such an incredible experience from start to finish. I deeply appreciated the representation of people living with chronic illness and admired the MMC’s dedication to respecting women. The story handled sensitive topics with such care and respect and I can’t wait to read more from Ella Wren in the future!
December 21, 2025
Massive thanks to the author and Valentine PR for this ARC!
This is exactly the kind of fake dating sports romance that makes you want to clear your afternoon and read it without interruptions.
Whimsy has the dream job, traveling the world as the assistant to one of the top tennis players, but there's just one problem: Elias Johnson. He's talented, infuriatingly gorgeous, and seems to live for making her life just a little bit harder. Oh, and she might have a tiny, inconvenient crush on him. But hey, she's a professional, she won't do anything about it until Elias lands himself in trouble with the press, and his manager decides the perfect fix is for Whimsy to be his fake girlfriend.
From there, it's game, set, match. The more time they spend together, the more everything starts to feel dangerously real. And it was such a fun, swoony ride through the world of pro tennis (I think I haven't read any tennis romance before. I definitely have to check out Noah and Sabrina's book now.) Add in the spice of fake dating and the kind of banter that makes you grin like a fool.
Elias' journey from cocky troublemaker to someone who actually fights for her was so satisfying. You could see the sweetness underneath, and when he finally starts chasing her instead of the spotlight? Swoon. Whimsy's sass and independence made her such a great match for Elias' chaotic charm. And I loved the lupus representation so much, because it felt so true and raw, and we don't get nearly enough of that kind of love story in romance.
If you love sports romance, fake dating, grumpy x sunshine, and "I'm going to prove I'm worth it" hero energy, this one's a Roland Garros winner.
This is exactly the kind of fake dating sports romance that makes you want to clear your afternoon and read it without interruptions.
Whimsy has the dream job, traveling the world as the assistant to one of the top tennis players, but there's just one problem: Elias Johnson. He's talented, infuriatingly gorgeous, and seems to live for making her life just a little bit harder. Oh, and she might have a tiny, inconvenient crush on him. But hey, she's a professional, she won't do anything about it until Elias lands himself in trouble with the press, and his manager decides the perfect fix is for Whimsy to be his fake girlfriend.
From there, it's game, set, match. The more time they spend together, the more everything starts to feel dangerously real. And it was such a fun, swoony ride through the world of pro tennis (I think I haven't read any tennis romance before. I definitely have to check out Noah and Sabrina's book now.) Add in the spice of fake dating and the kind of banter that makes you grin like a fool.
Elias' journey from cocky troublemaker to someone who actually fights for her was so satisfying. You could see the sweetness underneath, and when he finally starts chasing her instead of the spotlight? Swoon. Whimsy's sass and independence made her such a great match for Elias' chaotic charm. And I loved the lupus representation so much, because it felt so true and raw, and we don't get nearly enough of that kind of love story in romance.
If you love sports romance, fake dating, grumpy x sunshine, and "I'm going to prove I'm worth it" hero energy, this one's a Roland Garros winner.
August 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️ 🌶️.5
Firstly, thank you to Valentine PR & Ella Wren for providing me with a gifted eARC of Drop Shot.
I wanna say first, i wasn’t sure how i’d feel about this one because i am not typically big on sports romance , but i felt like it was really well incorporated without the sports aspect taking over the entire book & making the romance take a backseat. so that was a big positive for me! i’ll start with all the goods:
i really thought this was a super cute read & romance ! it had me giggling and blushing the entire time!! i also really loved the chronic illness rep. as someone whose husband has lupus, it was really nice to see Whimsy’s internal monologue addressing not only the physical burden, but also the emotional/mental toll living with chronic illness can have on someone. some of my favorites from the book - “but the thing i’ve learned about navigating a chronic illness is, it’s so much more than what it does to your body. there’s an extreme mental toll too. most days i’m okay, but sometimes i get so angry i feel like i could shatter every plate in my cabinets, because how dare my body betray me like this? how dare it fail to function like it should?” // “There are no words for the harsh reality it is to realize that your own body is a prison you can never escape”.
in terms of the romance itself, i felt like it took a pretty naturally progression, it was a little “insta-lovey” for me, but it didn’t take away from the romance or story as a whole for me!
i really liked the family relationships in the book, particularly that Whimsy & Elias are linked thru his twin sister Ebba. I always appreciate when an author makes an effort to showcase the relationship that the love interests have with each other’s families.
now, my not so faves:
i do wish there was more lead up to the fake dating arrangement , just because it was hard to imagine how their relationship was changing (other than them just stating it was) because i didn’t have a basis for their original dynamic as boss/employee. so having a little background there would’ve helped me, but not a big deal breaker at all. secondly, i do feel Elias very much reads like a man written by a woman, and to be honest, is a little TOO perfect right from the start. given his “reputation” that’s referenced many times, i think it’d have been nice for him to have some kind of character development from this hot headed, womanizing athlete to the caring & thoughtful man we see him be with whimsy. I also felt a little confused about whether or not he was into Whimsy since he met her or not? it seemed almost like the entire time it was never really an “arrangement” for him. so for me, those lines were a bit blurred. i think he is generally a great guy & maybe the author was just trying to showcase that & make a point that people aren’t always what you expect or what they seem. lastly, the ending felt a little dragged out & a bit like i wasn’t sure where we were heading with the story or plot. the ending is more focused on Elias’ tennis journey, which i didn’t mind, but it sort of felt a bit like filler for me & it ended a little awkwardly. however, i still really enjoyed the read!
overall, this was a super cute & fun sports romance & im crossing my fingers that there’s an Ebba & Fisher story in the making! thanks again to Valentine PR & Ella Wren for the eARC!
🌶️ 🌶️.5
Firstly, thank you to Valentine PR & Ella Wren for providing me with a gifted eARC of Drop Shot.
I wanna say first, i wasn’t sure how i’d feel about this one because i am not typically big on sports romance , but i felt like it was really well incorporated without the sports aspect taking over the entire book & making the romance take a backseat. so that was a big positive for me! i’ll start with all the goods:
i really thought this was a super cute read & romance ! it had me giggling and blushing the entire time!! i also really loved the chronic illness rep. as someone whose husband has lupus, it was really nice to see Whimsy’s internal monologue addressing not only the physical burden, but also the emotional/mental toll living with chronic illness can have on someone. some of my favorites from the book - “but the thing i’ve learned about navigating a chronic illness is, it’s so much more than what it does to your body. there’s an extreme mental toll too. most days i’m okay, but sometimes i get so angry i feel like i could shatter every plate in my cabinets, because how dare my body betray me like this? how dare it fail to function like it should?” // “There are no words for the harsh reality it is to realize that your own body is a prison you can never escape”.
in terms of the romance itself, i felt like it took a pretty naturally progression, it was a little “insta-lovey” for me, but it didn’t take away from the romance or story as a whole for me!
i really liked the family relationships in the book, particularly that Whimsy & Elias are linked thru his twin sister Ebba. I always appreciate when an author makes an effort to showcase the relationship that the love interests have with each other’s families.
now, my not so faves:
i do wish there was more lead up to the fake dating arrangement , just because it was hard to imagine how their relationship was changing (other than them just stating it was) because i didn’t have a basis for their original dynamic as boss/employee. so having a little background there would’ve helped me, but not a big deal breaker at all. secondly, i do feel Elias very much reads like a man written by a woman, and to be honest, is a little TOO perfect right from the start. given his “reputation” that’s referenced many times, i think it’d have been nice for him to have some kind of character development from this hot headed, womanizing athlete to the caring & thoughtful man we see him be with whimsy. I also felt a little confused about whether or not he was into Whimsy since he met her or not? it seemed almost like the entire time it was never really an “arrangement” for him. so for me, those lines were a bit blurred. i think he is generally a great guy & maybe the author was just trying to showcase that & make a point that people aren’t always what you expect or what they seem. lastly, the ending felt a little dragged out & a bit like i wasn’t sure where we were heading with the story or plot. the ending is more focused on Elias’ tennis journey, which i didn’t mind, but it sort of felt a bit like filler for me & it ended a little awkwardly. however, i still really enjoyed the read!
overall, this was a super cute & fun sports romance & im crossing my fingers that there’s an Ebba & Fisher story in the making! thanks again to Valentine PR & Ella Wren for the eARC!
August 22, 2025
tropes:
🎾 fake dating
✨ tennis athlete x assistant
💜 chronic illness rep
✈️ forced proximity
🐈 slow burn
"𝐢 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥. 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤, 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦—𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥, 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢�� 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐬, 𝐧𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫."
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡⋆˙𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝘆
my organized, pink-obsessed, ipad girlie. i adore her so much. i love that we got to see some of the daily struggles she had with lupus, her flare ups, and the effects of her medication. she is the sweetest and so strong, not only living with chronic pain but also hiding it because she didn’t want to be treated differently. plus her fashion and shopping habits were chef’s kiss 😚
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡⋆˙𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘀
this man is the standard. BEFORE they started fake dating—he got her a custom wrapped light pink g-wagon for her birthday. he looked up meals that are good for lupus when she was having a flare up. they go shopping and she ends up spending $200,000 and he loves it. and when she mentioned her hand was shaking too much to apply eyeliner, he watched YouTube tutorials and practiced on himself so if she ever has trouble again he could do it for her 🥺 tbh i could write a 10 page essay about this man
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡⋆˙𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝘆 & 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘀
i love a fake dating romance, but a fake dating romance between the “bad boy” of tennis and his assistant? with one bed?? it was like crack
these two were so fucking cute. i loved how they supported each other, in big and little ways. i also loved how whimsy’s autoimmune disease was portrayed
my favorite part has to be when elias finds out about whimsy’s lupus and the everyday struggles she faced. he started doing research on ways he could support her, like looking up meals that are good for lupus. but he was also doing little things just to make her happy, buying her a brachiosaurus stuffy (her favorite dinosaur), rewatching her favorite movies (jurassic park), or brushing her hair. the way he loved her was everything 🥹
and the slow burn was burninggg
plus, their families rooting for them to get together was so adorable
───────── ୨ৎ ─────────
thank you so much to ella wren and valentine pr for the ARC!!! i loved drop shot and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read it <3
⚠check tw!
🎾 fake dating
✨ tennis athlete x assistant
💜 chronic illness rep
✈️ forced proximity
🐈 slow burn
"𝐢 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥. 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤, 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦—𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥, 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢�� 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐬, 𝐧𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫."
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡⋆˙𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝘆
my organized, pink-obsessed, ipad girlie. i adore her so much. i love that we got to see some of the daily struggles she had with lupus, her flare ups, and the effects of her medication. she is the sweetest and so strong, not only living with chronic pain but also hiding it because she didn’t want to be treated differently. plus her fashion and shopping habits were chef’s kiss 😚
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡⋆˙𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘀
this man is the standard. BEFORE they started fake dating—he got her a custom wrapped light pink g-wagon for her birthday. he looked up meals that are good for lupus when she was having a flare up. they go shopping and she ends up spending $200,000 and he loves it. and when she mentioned her hand was shaking too much to apply eyeliner, he watched YouTube tutorials and practiced on himself so if she ever has trouble again he could do it for her 🥺 tbh i could write a 10 page essay about this man
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡⋆˙𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝘆 & 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘀
i love a fake dating romance, but a fake dating romance between the “bad boy” of tennis and his assistant? with one bed?? it was like crack
these two were so fucking cute. i loved how they supported each other, in big and little ways. i also loved how whimsy’s autoimmune disease was portrayed
my favorite part has to be when elias finds out about whimsy’s lupus and the everyday struggles she faced. he started doing research on ways he could support her, like looking up meals that are good for lupus. but he was also doing little things just to make her happy, buying her a brachiosaurus stuffy (her favorite dinosaur), rewatching her favorite movies (jurassic park), or brushing her hair. the way he loved her was everything 🥹
and the slow burn was burninggg
plus, their families rooting for them to get together was so adorable
───────── ୨ৎ ─────────
thank you so much to ella wren and valentine pr for the ARC!!! i loved drop shot and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read it <3
⚠check tw!
August 18, 2025
4.5
This is the sweet adorable romance book that I didn’t know I needed!!
Bam. This book starts it’s off right away. Fake dating, assistant and boss, tennis player situationship in the first chapter. Loved it! I’m a sucker for a fake dating trope, especially when it’s two people who have a foundation already.
I can’t go any further without talking about how bleeping adorable Elias and Craig were! I loved how he used the cat as an excuse to come over, or to stay. It was adorable when Whimsy was like “Craig doesn’t like people” and then she crawled in his lap and purred.
This was equal parts sweet and spicy. I loved how they knew so much about each other already. How they knew each others coffee orders and fave desserts. I loved how attentive Elias was, especially when he found out about Whimsy’s lupus diagnosis. How he kept checking on her to make sure she was ok. I loved how he always made sure she was comfortable with whatever they did.
Whimsy was so cute and vulnerable. Having a crush on her boss Elias for years she wanted to guard her heart and make sure that her real feelings weren’t clouding their fake relationship. I loved how simple and “everyday” she was. How just a night watching Jurassic Park was plenty for her. I love how they both shared such simple moments and they meant so much.
I love a tortured man and Elias was def tortured with his feelings for Whimsy. Not knowing how she felt but knowing that he wanted her. And sometimes letting that slip through 😏😏. I loved the hand holding and the touches even when no one was around …*swoon 🥰🥰
I was eagerly waiting for Ebba and Fishers story (still am BTW) but this one just snuck right up on me and stole my heart!!
Fake dating
Boss/Assistant
Chronic Illness Rep
Tennis player MMC
August 11, 2025
Elias thought Whimsy was beautiful when she interviewed to be his assistant but she was also the most qualified person so he resigned himself to a platonic relationship.
When his reputation starts to decline, his publicist decides that he needs to have a steady girlfriend and who better to fill the role than Whimsy?
Whimsy has been harboring a secret crush on her boss so when this idea is floated, she’s not sure it’s the best course of action. But she would do anything to help Elias so she agrees.
Between the fake dates and public outings, Elias starts spending every spare moment with Whimsy in her tiny apartment with her cat Craig. Pretty soon, he can’t imagine a life without Whimsy and can’t fathom how he missed what was right in front of him for years.. but he’s never had a serious relationship and Whimsy is afraid of giving her heart to someone who isn’t in it for the long haul..
-fake dating
-boss x assistant
-pro tennis player MMC
-one bed
-chronic illness rep - lupus
-forced proximity
-reformed playboy
-she falls first, he falls harder
-slow burn
Elias was the PERFECT book boyfriend 😍 he remembered so many tiny details about Whimsy and he was there for her when no one else was. Because of her lupus, her hands can get shaky and she can’t do her eyeliner but she loves makeup so it made her sad. she mentioned it ONE TIME and Elias started watching youtube videos in secret and practicing on himself so he would be able to do it for her when she couldn’t do it herself 😭😭
I really enjoyed book one as well but this one was definitely better IMO!!
When his reputation starts to decline, his publicist decides that he needs to have a steady girlfriend and who better to fill the role than Whimsy?
Whimsy has been harboring a secret crush on her boss so when this idea is floated, she’s not sure it’s the best course of action. But she would do anything to help Elias so she agrees.
Between the fake dates and public outings, Elias starts spending every spare moment with Whimsy in her tiny apartment with her cat Craig. Pretty soon, he can’t imagine a life without Whimsy and can’t fathom how he missed what was right in front of him for years.. but he’s never had a serious relationship and Whimsy is afraid of giving her heart to someone who isn’t in it for the long haul..
-fake dating
-boss x assistant
-pro tennis player MMC
-one bed
-chronic illness rep - lupus
-forced proximity
-reformed playboy
-she falls first, he falls harder
-slow burn
Elias was the PERFECT book boyfriend 😍 he remembered so many tiny details about Whimsy and he was there for her when no one else was. Because of her lupus, her hands can get shaky and she can’t do her eyeliner but she loves makeup so it made her sad. she mentioned it ONE TIME and Elias started watching youtube videos in secret and practicing on himself so he would be able to do it for her when she couldn’t do it herself 😭😭
I really enjoyed book one as well but this one was definitely better IMO!!
August 10, 2025
After reading Ella's debut, Double Fault, I was so excited to dive into Drop Shot, with our MMC, Elias, and FMC, Whimsy.
What I really enjoyed from this book was the chronic illness rep and and the little details and efforts Elias put into taking care of Whimsy - from learning how to do her makeup to finding foods that wouldn't send her into a Lupus flare, the man's love language is clearly caretaking.
The book overall, however, fell really short for me. I personally think this needed some heavy beta reading/edits because there were so many things that made reading distracting. The first that comes to mind is the fact that in book 1, Elias suffers a major injury on the courts that he has some serious surgery for. We open in book 2, and all of a sudden he's playing so easily again with no mention of this injury. Then, we're told he's a 6'5" lean, yet muscular tennis player who only weighs 180 lbs.... I'm sorry, but no.
On top of the plot holes and other things that weren't caught, the chemistry and character development was really lacking. I did not feel the spark between these two. And Whimsy was so self deprecating for most of the book that it got to be frustrating. And when she finally asked Elias, "why me?" the man replied with, "I don't know." And I'm sorry, but that's just severely lacking in romance.
These are my own personal thoughts and opinions.
Thank you to Ella and VPR for my eARC.
What I really enjoyed from this book was the chronic illness rep and and the little details and efforts Elias put into taking care of Whimsy - from learning how to do her makeup to finding foods that wouldn't send her into a Lupus flare, the man's love language is clearly caretaking.
The book overall, however, fell really short for me. I personally think this needed some heavy beta reading/edits because there were so many things that made reading distracting. The first that comes to mind is the fact that in book 1, Elias suffers a major injury on the courts that he has some serious surgery for. We open in book 2, and all of a sudden he's playing so easily again with no mention of this injury. Then, we're told he's a 6'5" lean, yet muscular tennis player who only weighs 180 lbs.... I'm sorry, but no.
On top of the plot holes and other things that weren't caught, the chemistry and character development was really lacking. I did not feel the spark between these two. And Whimsy was so self deprecating for most of the book that it got to be frustrating. And when she finally asked Elias, "why me?" the man replied with, "I don't know." And I'm sorry, but that's just severely lacking in romance.
These are my own personal thoughts and opinions.
Thank you to Ella and VPR for my eARC.
August 9, 2025
First off i would like to thank valentine pr & Ella for the opportunity to read & review this gifted E-Arc.
Whimsy & Elias
I adore this freaking book. Y'all i didn't know what i was in the mood for but this book hit the spot in all the best ways, With the banter between everyone & the push and pull of tension between Whimsy & Elias. I loved Whimsy & Elias so freaking much. I loved that Whimsy wasn't afraid to jump in and help Elias when it matter the most and the fact that she was fighting her own body on top of it was so dang admirable. I just adore her and she deserves it all. Elias is so the definition of a lover boy underneath everything & the way he takes care of Whimsy in all the little ways, and never hesitated to make her see she was special to him in all the important ways. I absolutely enjoyed watching Elias slowly fall in love with Whimsy while Whimsy tried her hardest to keep it all as fake as possible even with her crush on him. (& failed at it in the best way 😂) this is more of a slow burn but pays off in the best way!
5/5 Recommend this book, Ella really put everything she had into this book and i loved book one but this one just might be my favorite. (Ask me after i get Ebba & Fishers book i need them to get one 😂) the friendship between everyone is the absolute best.
Whimsy & Elias
I adore this freaking book. Y'all i didn't know what i was in the mood for but this book hit the spot in all the best ways, With the banter between everyone & the push and pull of tension between Whimsy & Elias. I loved Whimsy & Elias so freaking much. I loved that Whimsy wasn't afraid to jump in and help Elias when it matter the most and the fact that she was fighting her own body on top of it was so dang admirable. I just adore her and she deserves it all. Elias is so the definition of a lover boy underneath everything & the way he takes care of Whimsy in all the little ways, and never hesitated to make her see she was special to him in all the important ways. I absolutely enjoyed watching Elias slowly fall in love with Whimsy while Whimsy tried her hardest to keep it all as fake as possible even with her crush on him. (& failed at it in the best way 😂) this is more of a slow burn but pays off in the best way!
5/5 Recommend this book, Ella really put everything she had into this book and i loved book one but this one just might be my favorite. (Ask me after i get Ebba & Fishers book i need them to get one 😂) the friendship between everyone is the absolute best.
August 17, 2025
2.5
unfortunately, this book fell pretty flat for me. I don’t know if another round of editors/beta readers would’ve helped but it felt very disjointed and awkward to read and like there wasn’t a good flow.
We are told that she’s had a crush on him and they have chemistry but I felt literally none of it. Elias and Whimsy’s cat had more chemistry…I honestly couldn’t even believe Whimsy and Ebba’s (Elias’ sister) friendship. It felt like reading about two people that were just hanging out because they were in close proximity.
One thing I did like was how caring and sweet Elias was. He paid so close attention and actually listened to what Whimsy would say, especially when it came to anything related to her health and chronic disease.
Also, I wish something that was explored more was Whimsy’s passion/career. She starts as Elias’ PA and then is being paid to be his fake girlfriend and she literally doesn’t have an actual job (which, like, you go girl, get that bread). But it’s mentioned that she really likes drawing/digital art and it’s barely mentioned that a friend has commissioned her to illustrate a children’s book and then it’s literally never brought up again.
I wish I liked this book more, especially as I didn’t feel like the first book had these issues but this one wasn’t for me.
thank you to the author and valentine pr for the arc
unfortunately, this book fell pretty flat for me. I don’t know if another round of editors/beta readers would’ve helped but it felt very disjointed and awkward to read and like there wasn’t a good flow.
We are told that she’s had a crush on him and they have chemistry but I felt literally none of it. Elias and Whimsy’s cat had more chemistry…I honestly couldn’t even believe Whimsy and Ebba’s (Elias’ sister) friendship. It felt like reading about two people that were just hanging out because they were in close proximity.
One thing I did like was how caring and sweet Elias was. He paid so close attention and actually listened to what Whimsy would say, especially when it came to anything related to her health and chronic disease.
Also, I wish something that was explored more was Whimsy’s passion/career. She starts as Elias’ PA and then is being paid to be his fake girlfriend and she literally doesn’t have an actual job (which, like, you go girl, get that bread). But it’s mentioned that she really likes drawing/digital art and it’s barely mentioned that a friend has commissioned her to illustrate a children’s book and then it’s literally never brought up again.
I wish I liked this book more, especially as I didn’t feel like the first book had these issues but this one wasn’t for me.
thank you to the author and valentine pr for the arc
August 13, 2025
This has been an ARC read.
This book has been an absolutely precious surprise. This love story is a gentle slow burn (reallllly slow but so rewarding!) and ticks just the right boxes. It follows Elias - a professional tennis player - and his assistant Whimsy, who get roped into a fake dating scheme in an attempt to improve the hot headed tennis player's reputation.
What I loved most about this book
💜 Disability and chronic illness rep
➡️ I felt so seen with some of the things Whimsy said about her illness and being diagnosed late as a woman
💜 Elias being a champion for women - protecting them and making them feel safe
➡️ With all the misogyny going around in our society, it was so beautiful to see a man be a green flag
💜 His dedication to Whimsy even before they're officially together
➡️ He takes care of her and even learns how to apply eye liner so he can support her when she struggles with applying it due to her illness
💜 The yearning from both sides was so good.
➡️ Sometimes I just wanted to grab then both by the heads and make them kiss already
💜 It made me tear up at times
📖 Drop Shot by Ella Wren
Rating 4.25 ⭐
This book has been an absolutely precious surprise. This love story is a gentle slow burn (reallllly slow but so rewarding!) and ticks just the right boxes. It follows Elias - a professional tennis player - and his assistant Whimsy, who get roped into a fake dating scheme in an attempt to improve the hot headed tennis player's reputation.
What I loved most about this book
💜 Disability and chronic illness rep
➡️ I felt so seen with some of the things Whimsy said about her illness and being diagnosed late as a woman
💜 Elias being a champion for women - protecting them and making them feel safe
➡️ With all the misogyny going around in our society, it was so beautiful to see a man be a green flag
💜 His dedication to Whimsy even before they're officially together
➡️ He takes care of her and even learns how to apply eye liner so he can support her when she struggles with applying it due to her illness
💜 The yearning from both sides was so good.
➡️ Sometimes I just wanted to grab then both by the heads and make them kiss already
💜 It made me tear up at times
📖 Drop Shot by Ella Wren
Rating 4.25 ⭐
August 25, 2025
MMC Elias is a tennis star with an image problem and FMC Whimsy is his assistant. Drop Shot is the second book in the On the Court series by Ella Wren. This was the first book I’ve read by Ella Wren. I did not read book one in the series (yet), but its now on my TBR! I will say that this book jumped right into the story with the set up for the fake relationship literally on page one! At first I thought I was missing something but I was sucked all the way in to the story soon enough! The books five star status was cemented when Elias learned how to do winged eyeliner so he could help Whimsy when her hands were too shaky to do it herself (Whimsy has lupus). THIS MAN! I had a long term hospitalization a few years ago and my husband was afraid to rip a hairbrush through my terribly greasy and matted hair so for this character to learn eyeliner is chef’s kiss. I loved how Whimsy’s illness was handled and the fact that there was no third-act breakup. Whimsy was a bit too in her head sometimes and assumed what Elias wanted or was thinking a little too often, but mainly these two communicated and were good for each other. The build up to the “F IT” moment was torture. Also extra stars for Craig the cat! Can’t wait for book three!
August 10, 2025
3,5⭐️
Drop Shot is book two in Ella Wren’s On the Court series, and this time we’re following Whimsy (an assistant) and Elias (a grumpy pro tennis player) in a romance full of fake dating, forced proximity, and slow-burn tension. Bonus points for the sunshine x grump dynamic and the thoughtful chronic illness representation—Elias taking care of Whimsy was one of my favorite parts.
I really enjoyed the tennis backdrop. I don’t read many sports romances outside of the usual hockey/football wave, so this was a refreshing change. The pacing is quick, making it an easy read, but I found myself struggling to fully connect with the characters or feel the spark between them. The chemistry was there in concept but didn’t always leap off the page for me, and some of the character development felt a bit surface-level.
Still, if you’re in the mood for a light, trope-filled romance with a unique sport setting and some genuinely sweet caretaking moments, this might be a good pick—especially for fans of book one.
Drop Shot is book two in Ella Wren’s On the Court series, and this time we’re following Whimsy (an assistant) and Elias (a grumpy pro tennis player) in a romance full of fake dating, forced proximity, and slow-burn tension. Bonus points for the sunshine x grump dynamic and the thoughtful chronic illness representation—Elias taking care of Whimsy was one of my favorite parts.
I really enjoyed the tennis backdrop. I don’t read many sports romances outside of the usual hockey/football wave, so this was a refreshing change. The pacing is quick, making it an easy read, but I found myself struggling to fully connect with the characters or feel the spark between them. The chemistry was there in concept but didn’t always leap off the page for me, and some of the character development felt a bit surface-level.
Still, if you’re in the mood for a light, trope-filled romance with a unique sport setting and some genuinely sweet caretaking moments, this might be a good pick—especially for fans of book one.
August 13, 2025
4.5 stars
Drop Shot serves up a perfect match of chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and heartfelt moments that will make you swoon. Whimsy, the fiercely organized assistant to bad-boy tennis star Elias Johnson, thought she could keep her crush under wraps while managing his chaotic lifestyle. But when Elias’s manager wants to tame the bad boy of tennis, he forces them into a fake dating arrangement, and the line between professional and personal quickly blurs.
Ella Wren delivers a mix of sports romance charm and lots of fun banter and sweet moments. Whimsy’s sharp tongue and no-nonsense attitude make her a great FMC, while Elias’s journey from reckless playboy to a man in love is both fun and swoony. The fake dating setup allows for plenty of forced proximity moments, unexpected vulnerability, and many swoony moments seeing these two admit their true feelings.
With witty banter, lots of sweet romantic moments and a love story that feels as exciting as a championship match point, Drop Shot is a total ace for romance fans. And I’m here for the mix of tennis and romance!
Drop Shot serves up a perfect match of chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and heartfelt moments that will make you swoon. Whimsy, the fiercely organized assistant to bad-boy tennis star Elias Johnson, thought she could keep her crush under wraps while managing his chaotic lifestyle. But when Elias’s manager wants to tame the bad boy of tennis, he forces them into a fake dating arrangement, and the line between professional and personal quickly blurs.
Ella Wren delivers a mix of sports romance charm and lots of fun banter and sweet moments. Whimsy’s sharp tongue and no-nonsense attitude make her a great FMC, while Elias’s journey from reckless playboy to a man in love is both fun and swoony. The fake dating setup allows for plenty of forced proximity moments, unexpected vulnerability, and many swoony moments seeing these two admit their true feelings.
With witty banter, lots of sweet romantic moments and a love story that feels as exciting as a championship match point, Drop Shot is a total ace for romance fans. And I’m here for the mix of tennis and romance!
August 19, 2025
how would you feel if your boss of four years suddenly needed to date you because his reputation is falling apart and you’re his only shot at saving it? oh, and you’ve secretly had a crush on him this whole time? yeah… that’s exactly the situation whimsy finds herself in—and she is panicking. between the giant raise she’s just been offered and the fact that she doesn’t want her boss’s career to implode, she’s caught in a messy, high-stakes fake dating setup that had me hooked right away.
now, i’m always a sucker for a good slow burn romance, and this one definitely delivered on the tension, the banter, and all the delicious yearning BUT i will say the slow burn felt really slow
like, in chapter one they’re already planning the arrangement, and then it takes until the very end of the book for them to finally realize they’re in love, i found myself wishing we could’ve seen more of them actually together as a couple instead of just the build-up
that said, i still had such a fun time reading, the plot was engaging, the fake-dating trope always gets me, and the tennis aspect was a total win, i don’t think i’ve ever read a tennis sports romance before, and i loved being pulled into the games and the competitive atmosphere.
overall, it was entertaining, charming, and full of tension (even if I wanted a little more payoff at the end) big thanks to VPR and Ella Wren for the opportunity to read this ARC!
now, i’m always a sucker for a good slow burn romance, and this one definitely delivered on the tension, the banter, and all the delicious yearning BUT i will say the slow burn felt really slow
like, in chapter one they’re already planning the arrangement, and then it takes until the very end of the book for them to finally realize they’re in love, i found myself wishing we could’ve seen more of them actually together as a couple instead of just the build-up
that said, i still had such a fun time reading, the plot was engaging, the fake-dating trope always gets me, and the tennis aspect was a total win, i don’t think i’ve ever read a tennis sports romance before, and i loved being pulled into the games and the competitive atmosphere.
overall, it was entertaining, charming, and full of tension (even if I wanted a little more payoff at the end) big thanks to VPR and Ella Wren for the opportunity to read this ARC!
August 13, 2025
ARC REVIEW 4 ⭐️
Drop Shot was such a fun sports romance! This was my first Ella Wren book and I really loved the characters she’s created. The friend group, witty banter and tennis atmosphere was so fun! I especially loved the way Whimsy and Elias demonstrated their love for each other with their actions. That makeup scene, be still my heart! 🥹Their banter, arguments over Craig and the way they love their families were rom com perfection. The way Elias supported Whimsy in her struggles with lupus were the sweetest. I thought Ella Wren did a great job describing the grief that is associated with chronic illness. There were so many heartwarming moments where they continued to show up for each other. Drop Shot was a fun fake dating story and I’m excited to see where these characters go next! A huge thank you to @ and @ for the ARC!
#dropshot #ellawren #valentinepr #foundfamily #sportsromance #chronicillnessrep #fakedating
Drop Shot was such a fun sports romance! This was my first Ella Wren book and I really loved the characters she’s created. The friend group, witty banter and tennis atmosphere was so fun! I especially loved the way Whimsy and Elias demonstrated their love for each other with their actions. That makeup scene, be still my heart! 🥹Their banter, arguments over Craig and the way they love their families were rom com perfection. The way Elias supported Whimsy in her struggles with lupus were the sweetest. I thought Ella Wren did a great job describing the grief that is associated with chronic illness. There were so many heartwarming moments where they continued to show up for each other. Drop Shot was a fun fake dating story and I’m excited to see where these characters go next! A huge thank you to @ and @ for the ARC!
#dropshot #ellawren #valentinepr #foundfamily #sportsromance #chronicillnessrep #fakedating
August 21, 2025
3.25 ⭐️
cute, sweet, and fun!
i’m a big lover of fake dating and forced proximity, which is what drew me in when i saw that this book was coming out. i really enjoyed the care that the author took with whimsy’s character and her diagnosis, and i appreciated how it wasn’t talked about briefly and then just pushed to the side.
unfortunately, this one didn’t hit as much as the first book in the series did, but it absolutely had its moments that made me smile and swoon. elias and whimsy’s banter was so refreshing, especially when they could both take and dish it out to each other. as characters, i really enjoyed them, but i found myself not itching to get back to reading it if i needed to take a break. the cover, though? absolutely obsessed. it’s adorable.
thank you to valentine pr and the author for the e-arc! 🩷
♥︎ one bed
♥︎ fake dating
♥︎ sports romance
♥︎ forced proximity
♥︎ pro tennis player x assistant
cute, sweet, and fun!
i’m a big lover of fake dating and forced proximity, which is what drew me in when i saw that this book was coming out. i really enjoyed the care that the author took with whimsy’s character and her diagnosis, and i appreciated how it wasn’t talked about briefly and then just pushed to the side.
unfortunately, this one didn’t hit as much as the first book in the series did, but it absolutely had its moments that made me smile and swoon. elias and whimsy’s banter was so refreshing, especially when they could both take and dish it out to each other. as characters, i really enjoyed them, but i found myself not itching to get back to reading it if i needed to take a break. the cover, though? absolutely obsessed. it’s adorable.
thank you to valentine pr and the author for the e-arc! 🩷
♥︎ one bed
♥︎ fake dating
♥︎ sports romance
♥︎ forced proximity
♥︎ pro tennis player x assistant
August 26, 2025
I loved book 1 of this series, so I couldn't wait to read the next, and I wasn't dissapointed!
In this book we follow Whimsy and Elias in dual POV. We already briefly met Elias in the first book as Noah's rival on the tennis court.
Whimsy has been Noah's assistent for years and she travels around the world with him, however she has Lupos so sometimes she is having bad days. Elias is known as the bad boy of the tennis tour and likes to party hard.
His manager decides that Elias needs to become more serious and he proposes an idea that Elias and Whimsy should start 'fake' dating to better his image. Whimsy has to quit her job as his assistant and now travels with Elias around the world as his girlfriend. They even decide to not tell their families about the 'fake' part of the dating.
Obviously they start spending lots of time together, and Whimsy learns that Elias is not the bad boy he portrays to be. He is actually really sweet, and especially after learning she has lupos he takes care of her a lot. Even when there are no people around.
Obviously we all know how this is going to end, but that's why we love a good fake dating trope! Also it was fun to meet the characters of book 1 again, can't wait to read what's happening next on the tennis tour! And I especially love these tennis romances because I used to play tennis myself :D
In this book we follow Whimsy and Elias in dual POV. We already briefly met Elias in the first book as Noah's rival on the tennis court.
Whimsy has been Noah's assistent for years and she travels around the world with him, however she has Lupos so sometimes she is having bad days. Elias is known as the bad boy of the tennis tour and likes to party hard.
His manager decides that Elias needs to become more serious and he proposes an idea that Elias and Whimsy should start 'fake' dating to better his image. Whimsy has to quit her job as his assistant and now travels with Elias around the world as his girlfriend. They even decide to not tell their families about the 'fake' part of the dating.
Obviously they start spending lots of time together, and Whimsy learns that Elias is not the bad boy he portrays to be. He is actually really sweet, and especially after learning she has lupos he takes care of her a lot. Even when there are no people around.
Obviously we all know how this is going to end, but that's why we love a good fake dating trope! Also it was fun to meet the characters of book 1 again, can't wait to read what's happening next on the tennis tour! And I especially love these tennis romances because I used to play tennis myself :D
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