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The Off Court #1
Drop Shot
Delilah Anderson is no stranger to sacrifice where her siblings are concerned. Who needs to go to college when you have three hungry mouths to feed and pro tennis money in your sights? Except it’s not that simple. No matter how hard she works, the bills are piling up ad infinitum. When her doubles partner decides to start focusing on singles, she knows the margins are going to be razor thin.
So when Matteo Corsi, three-time Grand Slam winner and a friend of a friend, offers to play mixed doubles with her, it should be a no-brainer. She doesn’t believe he’s as hateful as the media claims, and with her new endorsement deal, teaming up with him could give her the financial breathing room she needs. But after years of carrying her family on her back, accepting help isn’t Delilah’s strong suit.
When circumstances force her hand, Delilah reluctantly agrees. As the days blur together with drills, practice matches, and lighthearted teasing, she realizes there’s more to Matteo than she ever could have imagined—not to mention what getting him to reluctantly smile or seeing him shirtless does to her.
Matteo is a distraction she can’t afford, but one she’ll have to navigate to keep her (im)perfectly constructed life from falling apart.
So when Matteo Corsi, three-time Grand Slam winner and a friend of a friend, offers to play mixed doubles with her, it should be a no-brainer. She doesn’t believe he’s as hateful as the media claims, and with her new endorsement deal, teaming up with him could give her the financial breathing room she needs. But after years of carrying her family on her back, accepting help isn’t Delilah’s strong suit.
When circumstances force her hand, Delilah reluctantly agrees. As the days blur together with drills, practice matches, and lighthearted teasing, she realizes there’s more to Matteo than she ever could have imagined—not to mention what getting him to reluctantly smile or seeing him shirtless does to her.
Matteo is a distraction she can’t afford, but one she’ll have to navigate to keep her (im)perfectly constructed life from falling apart.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2025
50 people are currently reading
1427 people want to read
About the author
Vai Denton
5 books113 followersVai Denton is an American author, romance enthusiast—especially if sports are involved—and book lover. She has spent much of her life struggling to find her identity between her two cultures, using books as a sanctuary. Her hope is that her stories provide readers with the escape she once sought. In each of her books, you can expect swoony, healthy relationships that will have you kicking your feet.
If she's not reading or writing about love, you'll find her watching football, tennis, or any number of her favorite romcoms with her two cats and fiancé.
If you’d like to contact Vai, find her on instagram @vaidentonauthor or via email at vaidentonauthor@gmail.com
If she's not reading or writing about love, you'll find her watching football, tennis, or any number of her favorite romcoms with her two cats and fiancé.
If you’d like to contact Vai, find her on instagram @vaidentonauthor or via email at vaidentonauthor@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
October 9, 2025
જ⁀➴ 4 stars
Update (10/9/2025): Happy publishing day to Drop Shot!
˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾
If you're looking for a sports romance with complex characters, this is the book to read! I've had the honor and opportunity to ARC read this, and this was a breath of fresh air. Tennis isn't a sport I follow, watch, or know much about (despite many, many people trying to get me to play it over the years), but this was so much fun to read and one of those books that left me thinking about wanting to keep reading it while I was at work.
Delilah Anderson is no stranger to being the eldest daughter and providing for her family of herself and three younger siblings. Having absent parents will do that to you. When she enters the competitive world of tennis to make money to provide for her family, she's suddenly in a precarious situation when her best friend and doubles partner, Nic, makes the move to focus on singles, leaving Delilah without a partner and a large source of her income. When her childhood best friend, Austin, suffers an injury and leaves his own partner, Matteo, without a partner, Matteo makes the move to reach out to Delilah and offer to be her mixed doubles partner for the upcoming Australia Open. Matteo is known for his rage on the court, and his outbursts have put him on thin ice with his sponsors and his fans. With Delilah being the tennis world's golden girl, they team up to take on the upcoming Australian Open to give Delilah a partner and help Matteo's image.
The first thing I want to say is that this is my first-ever tennis romance, and while I've read my fair share of sports romances, this is the first one I've read that was about two tennis players. The author's note in the back of the book mentions that the author herself is a tennis player, and I think it's always amazing when authors can bring their own personal experiences and expertise into their writing. I think it brings another deeper level of nuance and detail that authors researching the same topic, looking from the outside in, may not always have, and I always appreciate it when I can see the level of care and detail throughout the story.
Delilah and Matteo are both complex characters, and I think that added so much depth to their relationship and story. I wouldn't call either of them morally gray, but their backstories add so much depth as to why they do what they do. Whether it's Delilah constantly worrying about money and only seeming to care about it, to Matteo's silent rage on and off the court, the two of them managed to find each other and bring out the best in each other. Delilah was truly a ray of sunshine and managed to make Matteo smile on the worst of days, whereas Matteo helped Delilah in realizing that asking for help from other people doesn't make her a burden on anyone.
(Also: Matteo? Man's a giant green flag. He falls harder? He drives her everywhere because her siblings have her car, so they can get to and from school/work? He calls her tesoro? He would probably let her run him over with a car if she asked. Their love is so gentle and sweet and wholesome, it almost made me shed a few tears, and if you've known me for long enough, you know I don't usually cry when I read books.)
I usually don't relate a lot to characters in books, but I related a lot to Delilah
Also, if you love, love, LOVE the found family trope, this is the book for you! I love how Austin's family acts like Delilah's actual family when her parents couldn't be there for her, and I love the friend group and friendship Delilah has with her other friends in the story: Austin, Nic, Sahar, and Harper. The banter in their group chat? Hilarious. The way they just welcome Matteo into their group, no questions asked? I love it.
There were two minor things I took off 1 star for, half a star each. It may not personally affect other people's enjoyment of the story, but I thought they were worth mentioning:
Overall, I loved this book, and I can't wait to read what Vai Denton has in store next for the Off Court series with Nic's story! I have an inkling I know who her love interest is, but I guess we'll have to wait and see in a few months when the story comes out.
˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: I have the honor of being an ARC reader for Drop Shot! This was the first ARC I applied for directly from an author and not through a PR service like The Nerd Fam or NetGalley, so this ARC's particularly special to me in that regard.🥹 (Seriously, having a Bookstagram account really opens up doors for finding indie authors to read and review their ARCs for. I'm so glad I started my Bookstagram over the summer now!)
This is also what I believe is my first-ever tennis sports romance, so I can't wait to dive into the competitive world of tennis and see what it's all about!🎾🩵🤍
Thank you so much to Vai Denton for the gifted eARC! Drop Shot will be officially published on October 9th, 2025!
Update (10/9/2025): Happy publishing day to Drop Shot!
"A drop shot, knocking someone off balance and sending them skidding in a direction they weren't ready for. Matteo, who came into my life and changed everything, catching me entirely off guard."
˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾
If you're looking for a sports romance with complex characters, this is the book to read! I've had the honor and opportunity to ARC read this, and this was a breath of fresh air. Tennis isn't a sport I follow, watch, or know much about (despite many, many people trying to get me to play it over the years), but this was so much fun to read and one of those books that left me thinking about wanting to keep reading it while I was at work.
Delilah Anderson is no stranger to being the eldest daughter and providing for her family of herself and three younger siblings. Having absent parents will do that to you. When she enters the competitive world of tennis to make money to provide for her family, she's suddenly in a precarious situation when her best friend and doubles partner, Nic, makes the move to focus on singles, leaving Delilah without a partner and a large source of her income. When her childhood best friend, Austin, suffers an injury and leaves his own partner, Matteo, without a partner, Matteo makes the move to reach out to Delilah and offer to be her mixed doubles partner for the upcoming Australia Open. Matteo is known for his rage on the court, and his outbursts have put him on thin ice with his sponsors and his fans. With Delilah being the tennis world's golden girl, they team up to take on the upcoming Australian Open to give Delilah a partner and help Matteo's image.
The first thing I want to say is that this is my first-ever tennis romance, and while I've read my fair share of sports romances, this is the first one I've read that was about two tennis players. The author's note in the back of the book mentions that the author herself is a tennis player, and I think it's always amazing when authors can bring their own personal experiences and expertise into their writing. I think it brings another deeper level of nuance and detail that authors researching the same topic, looking from the outside in, may not always have, and I always appreciate it when I can see the level of care and detail throughout the story.
Delilah and Matteo are both complex characters, and I think that added so much depth to their relationship and story. I wouldn't call either of them morally gray, but their backstories add so much depth as to why they do what they do. Whether it's Delilah constantly worrying about money and only seeming to care about it, to Matteo's silent rage on and off the court, the two of them managed to find each other and bring out the best in each other. Delilah was truly a ray of sunshine and managed to make Matteo smile on the worst of days, whereas Matteo helped Delilah in realizing that asking for help from other people doesn't make her a burden on anyone.
(Also: Matteo? Man's a giant green flag. He falls harder? He drives her everywhere because her siblings have her car, so they can get to and from school/work? He calls her tesoro? He would probably let her run him over with a car if she asked. Their love is so gentle and sweet and wholesome, it almost made me shed a few tears, and if you've known me for long enough, you know I don't usually cry when I read books.)
I usually don't relate a lot to characters in books, but I related a lot to Delilah
Also, if you love, love, LOVE the found family trope, this is the book for you! I love how Austin's family acts like Delilah's actual family when her parents couldn't be there for her, and I love the friend group and friendship Delilah has with her other friends in the story: Austin, Nic, Sahar, and Harper. The banter in their group chat? Hilarious. The way they just welcome Matteo into their group, no questions asked? I love it.
There were two minor things I took off 1 star for, half a star each. It may not personally affect other people's enjoyment of the story, but I thought they were worth mentioning:
˚ ༘🎾 1. Matteo's backstory: I wish we got to learn more about him and his life in Italy and growing up in the US! This story is strictly from Delilah's POV, but I would've loved a POV from Matteo so we can see what's going through his head when he sees Delilah, why he chose to partner with her, etc.
˚ ༘🎾The tennis itself: I really wish we got more scenes of actual tennis matches vs. most of the tennis being training scenes. I get that the majority of the story takes place prior to the Australian Open, so a lot of the scenes ARE training scenes, but I think seeing their chemistry translate to the actual competitions and seeing them in action would've been really cool to read about, especially as someone who doesn't follow tennis or know much about it.
Overall, I loved this book, and I can't wait to read what Vai Denton has in store next for the Off Court series with Nic's story! I have an inkling I know who her love interest is, but I guess we'll have to wait and see in a few months when the story comes out.
˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: I have the honor of being an ARC reader for Drop Shot! This was the first ARC I applied for directly from an author and not through a PR service like The Nerd Fam or NetGalley, so this ARC's particularly special to me in that regard.🥹 (Seriously, having a Bookstagram account really opens up doors for finding indie authors to read and review their ARCs for. I'm so glad I started my Bookstagram over the summer now!)
This is also what I believe is my first-ever tennis sports romance, so I can't wait to dive into the competitive world of tennis and see what it's all about!🎾🩵🤍
Thank you so much to Vai Denton for the gifted eARC! Drop Shot will be officially published on October 9th, 2025!
December 19, 2025
This was sooooo cute!!! I am a slut for single POV where the pining of the MMC is still palpable.
Super safe, no OW/OM, no virgins, etc.
Super safe, no OW/OM, no virgins, etc.
January 14, 2026
My first tennis romance did not disappoint! Delilah and Matteo were so cute together. A great read that will have you swooning and crying.
Tropes:
- He Falls First
- Found Family
- Mixed Doubles Partners
- Grumpy X Sunshine
Thank you so much Vai for the ARC!
Tropes:
- He Falls First
- Found Family
- Mixed Doubles Partners
- Grumpy X Sunshine
Thank you so much Vai for the ARC!
October 16, 2025
As someone who loves sports romance, this book caught my attention because of a sport I’ve never really been interested in: tennis. I know absolutely nothing about tennis, and when I saw the ARC application, I just jumped in. I have to say, it turned out to be one of the sweetest and most tender stories I’ve ever read. It might not be perfect - there were a few parts that didn’t quite convince me, but overall, it was a lovely and satisfying read.
There were so many sweet moments, not only between the main characters but also involving the side characters. Delilah and Matteo’s story develops really slowly, and at first it seems like only one of them is interested in the other. However, as they get to know each other and grow more comfortable around one another, their chemistry naturally blossoms into something tender.
I loved Delilah’s character: she’s strong and determined, and her positivity despite the weight she carries on her shoulders is inspiring. My only regret is that she doesn’t fully believe in herself as a tennis player, though I imagine she needed someone to remind her that her place is earned because she’s truly talented. Matteo, on the other hand, is such a softie, and it’s obvious from a mile away that he’s head over heels for Delilah. I adored how he takes care of her and calls her tesoro every chance he gets. Their relationship is beautifully written, even if I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing for it to be truly perfect.
One of the best-executed tropes in this book is definitely the found family, which I absolutely adored. Austin’s family treating Delilah as one of their own was such a heartwarming touch, and her friend group brought so much life to the story. I loved how they accepted and welcomed Matteo as if he had always been one of their friends. I’m really curious to see which one of them will get their own story - if that ever happens.
There were a few things that made me take off a star from my 5-star rating:
- Matteo’s backstory: I wish we had gotten more about his life in Italy and his POV and a chapter or two from Matteo would’ve made the story even better.
- While reading other reviews, I saw that one reader mentioned it would’ve been nice to have some actual match scenes between Matteo and Delilah instead of mostly training moments. Personally, that wasn’t an issue for me, but now I can see how that could’ve added more impact to the story—especially if we’d gotten those scenes from Matteo’s POV.
- The epilogue: why was it so short?? I didn’t expect that kind of conclusion, and while I liked it, it just felt way too brief!
If you love sports romances with layered and heartfelt characters, this one is definitely worth checking out! Tennis isn’t a sport I follow or know much about, but this story made it surprisingly fun to dive into that world. Overall, it was such a sweet and heartwarming read that left me smiling by the end. I’m really excited to see what Vai Denton will write next 👀 Can’t wait to be back on the court with them soon! 💛
Thanks to Vai Denton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book will stay in my heart for its sweetness. 💛
There were so many sweet moments, not only between the main characters but also involving the side characters. Delilah and Matteo’s story develops really slowly, and at first it seems like only one of them is interested in the other. However, as they get to know each other and grow more comfortable around one another, their chemistry naturally blossoms into something tender.
I loved Delilah’s character: she’s strong and determined, and her positivity despite the weight she carries on her shoulders is inspiring. My only regret is that she doesn’t fully believe in herself as a tennis player, though I imagine she needed someone to remind her that her place is earned because she’s truly talented. Matteo, on the other hand, is such a softie, and it’s obvious from a mile away that he’s head over heels for Delilah. I adored how he takes care of her and calls her tesoro every chance he gets. Their relationship is beautifully written, even if I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing for it to be truly perfect.
One of the best-executed tropes in this book is definitely the found family, which I absolutely adored. Austin’s family treating Delilah as one of their own was such a heartwarming touch, and her friend group brought so much life to the story. I loved how they accepted and welcomed Matteo as if he had always been one of their friends. I’m really curious to see which one of them will get their own story - if that ever happens.
There were a few things that made me take off a star from my 5-star rating:
- Matteo’s backstory: I wish we had gotten more about his life in Italy and his POV and a chapter or two from Matteo would’ve made the story even better.
- While reading other reviews, I saw that one reader mentioned it would’ve been nice to have some actual match scenes between Matteo and Delilah instead of mostly training moments. Personally, that wasn’t an issue for me, but now I can see how that could’ve added more impact to the story—especially if we’d gotten those scenes from Matteo’s POV.
- The epilogue: why was it so short?? I didn’t expect that kind of conclusion, and while I liked it, it just felt way too brief!
If you love sports romances with layered and heartfelt characters, this one is definitely worth checking out! Tennis isn’t a sport I follow or know much about, but this story made it surprisingly fun to dive into that world. Overall, it was such a sweet and heartwarming read that left me smiling by the end. I’m really excited to see what Vai Denton will write next 👀 Can’t wait to be back on the court with them soon! 💛
Thanks to Vai Denton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book will stay in my heart for its sweetness. 💛
October 9, 2025
4.5⭐️
Delilah Anderson is the golden girl of professional tennis and the oldest of four siblings who depend on her to keep the family afloat. Matteo Corsi, three-time Grand Slam winner, is tennis’s grumpy bad boy, infamous for his outbursts on court and bad attitude. When his mixed doubles partner gets injured and Delilah’s partner leaves her to focus on singles, the two decide to team up. For Delilah, it’s a chance to climb the ranks and therefore make more money to better support her family, and for Matteo, it’s a shot at rehabilitating his image with Delilah’s sunshine personality balancing his stormy edges.
This book is fantastic! Delilah and Matteo are both complex, deeply human characters with backstories that add real emotion, depth and nuance to the story. They bring out the best in each other, and that really shines through. Delilah is strong and resilient, but struggles to accept help, while Matteo is a misunderstood man hiding a soft heart. And as an eldest daughter myself, Delilah’s complicated relationship with that role, and her role within her family, hit really close to home and absolutely moved me. Author Vai Denton perfectly captures the complicated intricacies being an eldest daughter!
This is a grumpy-sunshine done in the best way. Matteo is the greenest of green flags and he falls first and harder. But this love is gentle, steady, and sweet. You’re halfway through the book before realizing they haven’t even kissed, but understand they already care so much for each other. This is a love that grows quietly until you realize it’s wrapped around you completely. It’s not a whirlwind romance, but one that roots you in place — warm, constant, and full of belonging.
If that doesn’t convince you, the found family aspect is wonderful as well, with all the secondary characters involved. I’m hoping to see more of this in the next book in the series centered around Delilah’s best friend Nic! The glimpse into the world of competitive tennis was fascinating without being overly technical — detailed enough, but still very accessible. The writing is sharp, the chemistry is sizzling, and the pacing is just right. I cried, I swooned, I laughed! I couldn’t put it down once I started!
The author’s dedication — “This one is for the eldest daughters who spend their lives taking care of everyone else – I hope you find your Matteo” — honestly says it all!
The only thing that would have made this more enjoyable was to get Matteo’s POV throughout the story.
Read this if you’re an eldest daughter or you’re looking for a sports romance with a love that’s quiet and gentle, one that grows like springtime foliage without you realizing, until it surrounds you with its beauty.
Thank you to Vai Denton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Drop Shot is out today October 9th, 2025!
Delilah Anderson is the golden girl of professional tennis and the oldest of four siblings who depend on her to keep the family afloat. Matteo Corsi, three-time Grand Slam winner, is tennis’s grumpy bad boy, infamous for his outbursts on court and bad attitude. When his mixed doubles partner gets injured and Delilah’s partner leaves her to focus on singles, the two decide to team up. For Delilah, it’s a chance to climb the ranks and therefore make more money to better support her family, and for Matteo, it’s a shot at rehabilitating his image with Delilah’s sunshine personality balancing his stormy edges.
This book is fantastic! Delilah and Matteo are both complex, deeply human characters with backstories that add real emotion, depth and nuance to the story. They bring out the best in each other, and that really shines through. Delilah is strong and resilient, but struggles to accept help, while Matteo is a misunderstood man hiding a soft heart. And as an eldest daughter myself, Delilah’s complicated relationship with that role, and her role within her family, hit really close to home and absolutely moved me. Author Vai Denton perfectly captures the complicated intricacies being an eldest daughter!
This is a grumpy-sunshine done in the best way. Matteo is the greenest of green flags and he falls first and harder. But this love is gentle, steady, and sweet. You’re halfway through the book before realizing they haven’t even kissed, but understand they already care so much for each other. This is a love that grows quietly until you realize it’s wrapped around you completely. It’s not a whirlwind romance, but one that roots you in place — warm, constant, and full of belonging.
If that doesn’t convince you, the found family aspect is wonderful as well, with all the secondary characters involved. I’m hoping to see more of this in the next book in the series centered around Delilah’s best friend Nic! The glimpse into the world of competitive tennis was fascinating without being overly technical — detailed enough, but still very accessible. The writing is sharp, the chemistry is sizzling, and the pacing is just right. I cried, I swooned, I laughed! I couldn’t put it down once I started!
The author’s dedication — “This one is for the eldest daughters who spend their lives taking care of everyone else – I hope you find your Matteo” — honestly says it all!
The only thing that would have made this more enjoyable was to get Matteo’s POV throughout the story.
Read this if you’re an eldest daughter or you’re looking for a sports romance with a love that’s quiet and gentle, one that grows like springtime foliage without you realizing, until it surrounds you with its beauty.
Thank you to Vai Denton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Drop Shot is out today October 9th, 2025!
October 24, 2025
#Review: *Drop Shot* - Vai Denton - ARC [18+]
4.7/5✨
2.5/5🌶️
Saw this book on the author's page and I wanted to read more stories with tennis as main sport. Thanks to Vai, I was accepted for this early copy, for which I'm so grateful!
Dahlia was a tennis player who tried her best to support her family, after some things made their situation a bit shaky. She relayed on each tennis event which could help her win some money and that also meant playing in teams competitions. But when her usual partner, Austin, got hurt, she didn't knew what to do. When the suggestion of someone else was thrown, for Dahlia to play together with Matteo, another fellow tennis player, she was unsure about that idea. There was something unspoken between them two, always being present a certain tension. Can Dahlia resolve her issues? Can she accept Matteo's help?
I liked that this book was way more profound than just being a sports romance. It dealt with many emotional things, making it so hard for me to see how much struggles all of them had to suffer, in order to overcome the problems they had to face in their lives. One fresh breath of clean air was the cute bound which started to blossom between Dahlia and Matteo. It was pure and I loved how they simply understood each other so well. He became one of Dahlia's anchors, someone who would do anything to see her smile more and less stressed about not doing enough for her family.
A story which got me a little emotional, hating how hard Dahlia had to fight for her happiness. I was glad that she finally found someone who she could rely on, being in an emotional rollercoaster for such a long time.
✨Tropes
#ProTennisPlayers
#FoundFamily
#HeFallsFirst
#GrumpySunshine
#MixedDoublePartners
#SinglePov
4.7/5✨
2.5/5🌶️
Saw this book on the author's page and I wanted to read more stories with tennis as main sport. Thanks to Vai, I was accepted for this early copy, for which I'm so grateful!
Dahlia was a tennis player who tried her best to support her family, after some things made their situation a bit shaky. She relayed on each tennis event which could help her win some money and that also meant playing in teams competitions. But when her usual partner, Austin, got hurt, she didn't knew what to do. When the suggestion of someone else was thrown, for Dahlia to play together with Matteo, another fellow tennis player, she was unsure about that idea. There was something unspoken between them two, always being present a certain tension. Can Dahlia resolve her issues? Can she accept Matteo's help?
I liked that this book was way more profound than just being a sports romance. It dealt with many emotional things, making it so hard for me to see how much struggles all of them had to suffer, in order to overcome the problems they had to face in their lives. One fresh breath of clean air was the cute bound which started to blossom between Dahlia and Matteo. It was pure and I loved how they simply understood each other so well. He became one of Dahlia's anchors, someone who would do anything to see her smile more and less stressed about not doing enough for her family.
A story which got me a little emotional, hating how hard Dahlia had to fight for her happiness. I was glad that she finally found someone who she could rely on, being in an emotional rollercoaster for such a long time.
✨Tropes
#ProTennisPlayers
#FoundFamily
#HeFallsFirst
#GrumpySunshine
#MixedDoublePartners
#SinglePov
October 25, 2025
a love letter to us eldest daughters who used to have a killer backhand
✰ 5 stars, a rom traum that explores complicated family dynamics, featuring a heartwarming found family trope and a heaping dose of yearning
source: kindle unlimited
✰ 5 stars, a rom traum that explores complicated family dynamics, featuring a heartwarming found family trope and a heaping dose of yearning
source: kindle unlimited
October 31, 2025
3 stars ⭐️ thought it to be an alright book! Felt like i didnt really see the romantic connection there? He was just in huge admiration of her happy go lucky attitude and determination and grit while supporting her family financially. Also theyre supposed to be like 25 and 28 but the cover makes them look like theyre in hs
November 1, 2025
writing style was kinda weird and didnt feel natural at some points but I loved Matteo and his italian nicknamess <3
October 24, 2025
Ah!!!!! First things first, I am definitely a fan of Vai Denton from now on. This book was everything!!! Her writing was exquisite, I was being fed each pages. I am so glad I could read that book before its release because, yes, I’m a fan. It was so refreshing to read a tennis romance, because I do like watching tennis from time to time and this romance book just got us right into it and I loved and lived every seconds of it.
Delilah and Matteo have one of the sweetest relationship I’ve ever read about. Everything about them worked so perfectly. They definitely are soulmates for me!!! (And the epilogue kind of confirmed it).
I’m on again to talk about the MMC first because what a GREEN flag Matteo Corsi is! The moment he asked for consent when she definitely was into it? The way he believed in her? How he helped her deal with her family? How he is obssessed with her? Oh my God, I fell in love with him as much as Delilah did. The ability of Vai Denton to write the perfect boyfriend here made my heart melt. I loved everything about him. He was so human, I can’t even explain. I just love him so much.
Now, Delilah, I wanted to hug her so bad. I wanted to be her friend and tell her everything will be fine, everything will be okay and it’ll all work out. That girl deserves every bits of happiness she can get after all she went through with her family. I was happy with her, sad with her, laughing with her, crying with her and loving with her. She had the chance to find a new family with her friends and with Matteo. She deserved her happy ending.
With this book, I went through many emotions. I cried and laughed. I kicked my feet and sniffled. I am truly happy to have read that book, to have found a new favourite romance author and a new book boyfriend. Now, I’m just excited to read Denton’s past triolgy and also see what she will do next with this series. I want all the friends there to fall in love. Because I loved this world with tennis, friends and love.
Now, you should pre-order it or buy it on October 9th because this book was everything! And, I need to buy my own copy of it!
Delilah and Matteo have one of the sweetest relationship I’ve ever read about. Everything about them worked so perfectly. They definitely are soulmates for me!!! (And the epilogue kind of confirmed it).
I’m on again to talk about the MMC first because what a GREEN flag Matteo Corsi is! The moment he asked for consent when she definitely was into it? The way he believed in her? How he helped her deal with her family? How he is obssessed with her? Oh my God, I fell in love with him as much as Delilah did. The ability of Vai Denton to write the perfect boyfriend here made my heart melt. I loved everything about him. He was so human, I can’t even explain. I just love him so much.
Now, Delilah, I wanted to hug her so bad. I wanted to be her friend and tell her everything will be fine, everything will be okay and it’ll all work out. That girl deserves every bits of happiness she can get after all she went through with her family. I was happy with her, sad with her, laughing with her, crying with her and loving with her. She had the chance to find a new family with her friends and with Matteo. She deserved her happy ending.
With this book, I went through many emotions. I cried and laughed. I kicked my feet and sniffled. I am truly happy to have read that book, to have found a new favourite romance author and a new book boyfriend. Now, I’m just excited to read Denton’s past triolgy and also see what she will do next with this series. I want all the friends there to fall in love. Because I loved this world with tennis, friends and love.
Now, you should pre-order it or buy it on October 9th because this book was everything! And, I need to buy my own copy of it!
February 10, 2026
3.5 rounded up
Surprising! A very cute read. I enjoyed the tennis and characters. I would definitely read more from this author. It felt very promising.
This was a bit of a heavier emotional read than I usually prefer in a romance with the fmc's family struggles being a big obstacle in the book. However, I felt like it was really well done. There was also a lot of characters, some to the point where it made me feel like we should already know some despite this being the first in the series.
Matteo was so gone for Delilah it was so precious😍
The romance was so sweet and the smut was just right. Very well done. I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a cute sports romance.
Drop shot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Safety&Info:
Singular 1st person Pov
Spice:🔥🔥
Romance meter:🧡💚🧡/5
Magic meter:✨️✨️✨️/5
◇Ow drama: ❌️
◇Om drama: ❌️
◇No cheating/sharing/love triangle
◇ 3rd act breakup: no but they do have a fight
◇Seperation: no
◇Neither are Vs fmc had 3 prior lovers (no details) mmc no V didn't give manhoe impression
◇Ages: fmc 25, mmc 28
◇Protection: condoms
◇HEA 2 yrs later, they win a grand slam and mmc is about to propose😍
Surprising! A very cute read. I enjoyed the tennis and characters. I would definitely read more from this author. It felt very promising.
This was a bit of a heavier emotional read than I usually prefer in a romance with the fmc's family struggles being a big obstacle in the book. However, I felt like it was really well done. There was also a lot of characters, some to the point where it made me feel like we should already know some despite this being the first in the series.
Matteo was so gone for Delilah it was so precious😍
The romance was so sweet and the smut was just right. Very well done. I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a cute sports romance.
Drop shot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Safety&Info:
Singular 1st person Pov
Spice:🔥🔥
Romance meter:🧡💚🧡/5
Magic meter:✨️✨️✨️/5
◇Ow drama: ❌️
◇Om drama: ❌️
◇No cheating/sharing/love triangle
◇ 3rd act breakup: no but they do have a fight
◇Seperation: no
◇Neither are Vs fmc had 3 prior lovers (no details) mmc no V didn't give manhoe impression
◇Ages: fmc 25, mmc 28
◇Protection: condoms
◇HEA 2 yrs later, they win a grand slam and mmc is about to propose😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2025
✨ ARC Review ✨
Drop Shot by Vai Denton
4 ⭐️ 1.5 🌶️
Okay this is the first tennis sports romance I remember reading, and I loved it! I loved how it was so different from other sports romances and chose an out of the box sport. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series, and see the rest of the tennis players find love too!
Drop Shot was such a beautiful read, and our two MCs, Delilah and Matteo, were such complex and well written characters. Their individual backstories broke my heart, but as these two closed off people opened up to each other and learned to trust and found a belonging somewhere - simply put it grew quietly and steadily.
I definitely recommend you check it out if you’re in the mood for something fun but heartfelt!
Drop Shot by Vai Denton
4 ⭐️ 1.5 🌶️
Okay this is the first tennis sports romance I remember reading, and I loved it! I loved how it was so different from other sports romances and chose an out of the box sport. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series, and see the rest of the tennis players find love too!
Drop Shot was such a beautiful read, and our two MCs, Delilah and Matteo, were such complex and well written characters. Their individual backstories broke my heart, but as these two closed off people opened up to each other and learned to trust and found a belonging somewhere - simply put it grew quietly and steadily.
I definitely recommend you check it out if you’re in the mood for something fun but heartfelt!
December 19, 2025
So this book is perfect. I loved it so much, I literally could not stop smiling while reading it. There were so many things to love. I have to say Matteo is the perfect most amazing book boyfriend, he loves her from the beginning there’s so much yearning and he sacrifices everything he can to help her. Delilah was a really sweet character, she needed and deserved a perfect man like matteo. Also Eli was such an underrated king. I will say my favourite part was the yearning and constant showing up for each other, it was so good. The only thing that could’ve been developed more is the slow burn at the beginning, and easing us into the depth of their feeling for each other as it felt slightly rushed. That being said, I’d read a million books like this!!
October 23, 2025
*Thank you @vaidentonauthor for this ARC! Receiving this book did not influence my review- my thoughts are honest and my own, as always*
“I knew you were incredible, but I didn’t even come close to recognizing how much so.”
This was my second book by Vai Denton and only my second tennis romance, and I’m officially a fan. I absolutely loved these characters—Delilah and Matteo were perfect together. Their chemistry and banter felt so natural, and the dynamic within their friend group added even more charm to the story. My only wish is that it had been written in dual POV, as I would’ve loved to see inside Matteo’s head. Still, this was such an enjoyable and well-paced read, and I’m already looking forward to continuing the series.
“I knew you were incredible, but I didn’t even come close to recognizing how much so.”
This was my second book by Vai Denton and only my second tennis romance, and I’m officially a fan. I absolutely loved these characters—Delilah and Matteo were perfect together. Their chemistry and banter felt so natural, and the dynamic within their friend group added even more charm to the story. My only wish is that it had been written in dual POV, as I would’ve loved to see inside Matteo’s head. Still, this was such an enjoyable and well-paced read, and I’m already looking forward to continuing the series.
November 29, 2025
Unfortunately this book was not for I was bored half of the time and I didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters it was a bit .. forced🫣 just wanted to finish this book because ‘Ive been postponing it for a month!
Just one thing I liked about this book the mmc Matteo and his Italian nicknames🥰
Just one thing I liked about this book the mmc Matteo and his Italian nicknames🥰
November 19, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
At first, I wasn’t sure about this one because I don’t know much about tennis, but dang did this grow on me quickly! Once I hit 20%, there was no going back. I had such a great time reading this! I loved the characters and their cutesy friend group! I liked that there was some plot to it and that it kept me hooked! I really enjoyed this! Would recommend!
At first, I wasn’t sure about this one because I don’t know much about tennis, but dang did this grow on me quickly! Once I hit 20%, there was no going back. I had such a great time reading this! I loved the characters and their cutesy friend group! I liked that there was some plot to it and that it kept me hooked! I really enjoyed this! Would recommend!
September 24, 2025
I had the honor of reading an ARC of Drop Shot and really enjoyed it!
This was such a fun grumpy–sunshine romance with great chemistry between the leads. I adored both main characters, their friends, and the way their backstories were fleshed out — it gave them a depth that made their connection feel authentic and relatable.
That said, there were a few things I personally wished for. Since this is a tennis romance, I would’ve loved to see more actual competition play out on the page, instead of focusing mainly on training. I also think a short separation due to competitions could’ve added an extra layer of realism and growth to their relationship.
But overall, it was sweet, fun, and heartfelt. A solid 4-star read that I can definitely recommend to sports romance fans!
This was such a fun grumpy–sunshine romance with great chemistry between the leads. I adored both main characters, their friends, and the way their backstories were fleshed out — it gave them a depth that made their connection feel authentic and relatable.
That said, there were a few things I personally wished for. Since this is a tennis romance, I would’ve loved to see more actual competition play out on the page, instead of focusing mainly on training. I also think a short separation due to competitions could’ve added an extra layer of realism and growth to their relationship.
But overall, it was sweet, fun, and heartfelt. A solid 4-star read that I can definitely recommend to sports romance fans!
October 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this!! I loved the mix of tennis along with the heavier themes of addiction. Matteo was so sweet and they’re so cute together.
October 24, 2025
loved every single second of this book
January 13, 2026
This was so cute! Especially Matteo 🥹 but the unnecessary third act breakup made me scream at my Kindle, therefore only 4 ⭐
October 23, 2025
pretty cute!! also exactly what I needed after exclusively reading 600-page fantasies for the last couple weeks 😃😃
January 15, 2026
4.0/5.0 ⭐️
December 12, 2025
2.64 / 5 - Matteo is a sweetheart and I truly felt that he admired Delilah so much but besides that it just felt like lust not love and not a genuine connection, book was a quick read but was lacking more plot and connection and serial
November 17, 2025
gotta love an mmc who is down bad from page one
October 9, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Thank you Vai for the ARC!
Delilah has been taking care of her siblings for almost her whole life because of their absent parents. She's hard-working, stubborn, and struggles to let other people help her.
Matteo is known as the grumpy "bad boy" of tennis with anger issues.
They start to play tennis together, and what follows is a beautiful story of love, friendship, and learning you don't have to go through life alone.
This reminded me of From Lukov with Love! I would have loved to get a little more from Matteo's POV before he and Delilah "officially" met.
Tropes:
grumpy x sunshine
he falls first
found family
pro tennis players
struggles with alcohol
Delilah has been taking care of her siblings for almost her whole life because of their absent parents. She's hard-working, stubborn, and struggles to let other people help her.
Matteo is known as the grumpy "bad boy" of tennis with anger issues.
They start to play tennis together, and what follows is a beautiful story of love, friendship, and learning you don't have to go through life alone.
This reminded me of From Lukov with Love! I would have loved to get a little more from Matteo's POV before he and Delilah "officially" met.
Tropes:
grumpy x sunshine
he falls first
found family
pro tennis players
struggles with alcohol
July 30, 2025
Drop Shot is a beautiful and swoon-worthy sport romance that will have readers blushing, crying, raging, laughing, and cheering all the way through.
🎾 resilient FMC x misunderstood MMC
🎾 he falls first, she’s hesitant to fall
🎾 tennis doubles romance with plot, feelings, and spice
🎾 found family with complicated biological families
🎾 growth and self reflection of both MCs
This is the first of a series of interconnected standalones, and I loved the Maya cameo from Vai’s first series 😍
🎾 resilient FMC x misunderstood MMC
🎾 he falls first, she’s hesitant to fall
🎾 tennis doubles romance with plot, feelings, and spice
🎾 found family with complicated biological families
🎾 growth and self reflection of both MCs
This is the first of a series of interconnected standalones, and I loved the Maya cameo from Vai’s first series 😍
September 30, 2025
I would like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A cute tennis romance. I loved the hard working heroine and the found family.
A cute tennis romance. I loved the hard working heroine and the found family.
October 3, 2025
If you're the eldest daughter of the family... pre warning, you're going to sob reading this book! A sweet and heart warming and fun romance novel that will get you in your feels. Be ready with some tissues!
overall rating: ♾️🌟
spice rating: 🌶️.5
cry rating: 🪣
giggle rating: 🧙🏼♀️
Delilah, oh my sweet sunshine girl with the biggest heart and so much to carry. The oldest daughter who is no stranger to sacrifice to support her siblings is losing her doubles partner, when her funds on the line, she has an opportunity presented to her. She can become a doubles partner with the 'bad boy' of tennis, Matteo, who needs his reputation to take a turn around. So she agrees, even if he is quiet.
Matteo is quiet, mysterious but also such a sweet guy once you get to know him. He struggles to make friends and can be a little socially awkward but once you get to know him, he is so gentle and soft and sweet. He is protective over the ones he cares about, especially Delilah.
Matteo and Delilahs friendship blossomed so quickly and beautifully. The way Del tried to get a smile out of him any chance she got, including him on hang outs and flirty banter had me kicking my feet and giggling like a little school girl. Matteo asking her questions and slowly opening up, Delilah peeling away his harder layers one by one to reveal the soft, kind hearted man she has soon come to know. Del slowly learning to open up to Matteo about her struggles but trying to keep a brave face.
Delilah is the most amazing friend. She supportive, kind, encouraging whilst also holding you accountable when it's needed. A shoulder to cry on or to ask for advice. She's incredibly strong minded and I admire that a lot about her.
What had me in tears was the way Matteo wanted to be there for Delilah even though she didn't want to accept help. She had to go home? He would drive her. She wanted to pay, he paid. She wanted to succeed in competitions, he would make sure it would work. She wanted him to come to hang outs, he would come. He did anything for her and it had me swooning and crying.
Delilah's home situation hit me hard. As an oldest sibling who is also a financial aid to my family, I really understood the constant need to have money to support my family. Feeling like you can't call or be around because either you're too busy or they are. Wanting to get away from her drunken father but feeling guilty for leaving her siblings to make sure they were taken care of. I know that feeling all too well. Being the 'happy ray of sunshine' and someone who won't accept help because to feels like you're in debt to them is so relatable. Feeling like if you gave up the job you worked hard for would mean nothing if you suddenly didn't love it? Yup yup yup. Reading this book felt like I was reading a part of myself in there. I truly adore Delilah and want to give her the biggest hug and tell her how amazing and strong she is.
Matteo, oh I want to hug him too. That sweet sweet man, who lost his mother at a young age and was sent to live with his nan because his dad was so consumed in grief but then moved on and started a new family, Matteo felt left behind. Them when his nan passed away he felt truly alone and angry at the world. So, taking out on the tennis court and becoming the 'bad boy' didn't seem to bother him, until he met Delilah. With her bright smile, kind eyes and warm personality, he wants to get to know her. So when he had the chance to be her doubles partner, he wanted it with every fibre of his being.
Their chemistry was so electric. Not only the attraction but the soul connection you could feel between the pages. I could feel their love through the pages. The way they leaned on each other and looked for each other during games, in a crowded room or when they were together. They are the definition of opposites attire but really, their souls called to each other.
Del's support system throughout the book made me so happy! Austin and his parents always supporting her and helping her with her siblings because they saw how hard a young 8 year girls was working to provide for her family and wanted to lessen the burden. She turkey deserves all the support in the world. She gives so much and never asks for anything in return, but boy does she really earn every thing she gets in life.
These two have carved a piece of my soul and put themselves there. Via is a literary genius and wrote this with such a gentle touch. She has made the most perfect characters yet again and I will love them every single day. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series!
Thank you to my beautiful friend Vai selecting me as a ARC reader but also having the privilege of getting to be a BETA reader too! I am always grateful everyday I got to meet you and be apart of this journey! I cry every time and I love seeing you grow everyday!
overall rating: ♾️🌟
spice rating: 🌶️.5
cry rating: 🪣
giggle rating: 🧙🏼♀️
Delilah, oh my sweet sunshine girl with the biggest heart and so much to carry. The oldest daughter who is no stranger to sacrifice to support her siblings is losing her doubles partner, when her funds on the line, she has an opportunity presented to her. She can become a doubles partner with the 'bad boy' of tennis, Matteo, who needs his reputation to take a turn around. So she agrees, even if he is quiet.
Matteo is quiet, mysterious but also such a sweet guy once you get to know him. He struggles to make friends and can be a little socially awkward but once you get to know him, he is so gentle and soft and sweet. He is protective over the ones he cares about, especially Delilah.
Matteo and Delilahs friendship blossomed so quickly and beautifully. The way Del tried to get a smile out of him any chance she got, including him on hang outs and flirty banter had me kicking my feet and giggling like a little school girl. Matteo asking her questions and slowly opening up, Delilah peeling away his harder layers one by one to reveal the soft, kind hearted man she has soon come to know. Del slowly learning to open up to Matteo about her struggles but trying to keep a brave face.
Delilah is the most amazing friend. She supportive, kind, encouraging whilst also holding you accountable when it's needed. A shoulder to cry on or to ask for advice. She's incredibly strong minded and I admire that a lot about her.
What had me in tears was the way Matteo wanted to be there for Delilah even though she didn't want to accept help. She had to go home? He would drive her. She wanted to pay, he paid. She wanted to succeed in competitions, he would make sure it would work. She wanted him to come to hang outs, he would come. He did anything for her and it had me swooning and crying.
Delilah's home situation hit me hard. As an oldest sibling who is also a financial aid to my family, I really understood the constant need to have money to support my family. Feeling like you can't call or be around because either you're too busy or they are. Wanting to get away from her drunken father but feeling guilty for leaving her siblings to make sure they were taken care of. I know that feeling all too well. Being the 'happy ray of sunshine' and someone who won't accept help because to feels like you're in debt to them is so relatable. Feeling like if you gave up the job you worked hard for would mean nothing if you suddenly didn't love it? Yup yup yup. Reading this book felt like I was reading a part of myself in there. I truly adore Delilah and want to give her the biggest hug and tell her how amazing and strong she is.
Matteo, oh I want to hug him too. That sweet sweet man, who lost his mother at a young age and was sent to live with his nan because his dad was so consumed in grief but then moved on and started a new family, Matteo felt left behind. Them when his nan passed away he felt truly alone and angry at the world. So, taking out on the tennis court and becoming the 'bad boy' didn't seem to bother him, until he met Delilah. With her bright smile, kind eyes and warm personality, he wants to get to know her. So when he had the chance to be her doubles partner, he wanted it with every fibre of his being.
Their chemistry was so electric. Not only the attraction but the soul connection you could feel between the pages. I could feel their love through the pages. The way they leaned on each other and looked for each other during games, in a crowded room or when they were together. They are the definition of opposites attire but really, their souls called to each other.
Del's support system throughout the book made me so happy! Austin and his parents always supporting her and helping her with her siblings because they saw how hard a young 8 year girls was working to provide for her family and wanted to lessen the burden. She turkey deserves all the support in the world. She gives so much and never asks for anything in return, but boy does she really earn every thing she gets in life.
These two have carved a piece of my soul and put themselves there. Via is a literary genius and wrote this with such a gentle touch. She has made the most perfect characters yet again and I will love them every single day. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series!
Thank you to my beautiful friend Vai selecting me as a ARC reader but also having the privilege of getting to be a BETA reader too! I am always grateful everyday I got to meet you and be apart of this journey! I cry every time and I love seeing you grow everyday!
January 28, 2026
➳ 4 ⭐️
J'ai lu pas mal de romances sur le hockey et la F1, et je me suis dit que ça pouvait être sympa de changer de sport en partant vers le tennis. Bon, par contre, il faut savoir que j'y connais absolument rien et que j'ai été perdue au début du roman où on nous balance pleins de termes techniques (en anglais en plus-) sans nous expliquer. J'ai été aussi déroutée par le nombre important de personnages introduits dans les 2-3 premiers chapitres, ce qui fait que j'ai eu du mal à rentrer dedans. Mais une fois que j'ai réussi à accrocher, je l'ai vraiment lu d'une traite !
Drop Shot est une romance sportive très mignonne et très saine, et vraiment ça fait du bien !
J'avais peur au début car dans le résumé Matteo est décrit un peu comme un bad boy mais ça n'est pas du tout le cas. Certes, il est "grumpy" mais pas dans le sens chiant et irrespectueux. Il ne parle pas beaucoup et a du mal à gérer ses émotions mais au fond, c'est une personne très douce qui s'isole par peur de l'abandon. J'ai trouvé la thématique autour de ça bien abordée, bien que j'aurais aimé avoir son pdv pour mieux le cerner, et j'ai vraiment apprécié qu'on du fait qu'il suive une thérapie pour essayer d'aller mieux sans apporter de regard négatif comme c'est malheureusement encore trop le cas dans notre société. C'était adorable de le voir s'ouvrir peu à peu aux autres et être toujours présent pour Delilah. Ce mec, c'est juste un giga green flag, et on aime ! Cela faisait un moment que je n'avais pas autant apprécié un love interest dans une romance, c'est pour dire.
J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé Delilah, même si, elle m'a agacée une ou deux fois à sans cesse refuser l'aide qu'on lui apporte. Je comprends sa façon de penser, encore plus en prenant en compte sa situation familiale difficile, mais j'avoue que c'est un truc qui, personnellement, me saoule (je suis trauma pas les héroïnes de romantasy qui manquent de crever parce qu'elle refuse de l'aide parce qu'elles sont trop "badass"). Du coup, j'ai vraiment hurlé lors du 3rd act break up totalement inutile et lié à cet aspect de sa personne. Très honnêtement, sans cela, j'aurais mis facile un 4,5 au livre mais ça m'a trop énervée.
Bref, pour en revenir à Delilah, c'était un personnage très agréable à suivre, très solaire malgré les choses difficiles qu'elle traverse. J'ai été touchée par sa volonté de bien faire, le soutien qu'elle apporte à ses amis, et les dilemmes qui se posent à elle concernant sa façon d'aider ses frères et soeurs. A travers, d'autres thématiques dures sont abordées et toujours avec bienveillance. Je trouve d'ailleurs très bien que le roman fasse passer le message qu'il faut parfois couper les ponts avec sa famille pour préserver sa propre santé mentale. J'ai trop de fois lu des livres qui sacralisent la famille et c'est cool de montrer quelque chose de différent, que parfois une vraie "famille" n'est pas forcément liée par le sang.
Du coup, menton spéciale à Eli, le plus ou moins père adoptif de Delilah, vraiment ce monsieur est un sucre, coeur sur lui. De manière générale, la plupart des (très nombreux) personnages secondaires sont mignons et les dynamiques fonctionnent bien. On sent fort que l'autrice a voulu introduire tous ceux qu'on reverra dans les tomes compagnons, et j'ose espérer qu'Austin aura son livre, il est si drôle.
Pour en revenir à la romance entre Del et Matteo, ce qui m'a beaucoup plu c'est que, pour une fois, on est pas sur de l'insta love/lust. Certes, Delilah le trouve beau mais c'est après qu'ils aient appris à se connaître et passé du temps ensemble qu'elle commence à développer des sentiments et se sentir de plus en plus attirée par lui. Ils ont une très bonne alchimie et se soutiennent mutuellement, comme j'ai dit, on est sur quelque chose de vraiment très sain et mignon !
Je le redis, sans la dispute superflue de la fin, j'aurais pu dire que c'est un coup de coeur, mais j'ai trop ragé pour que ça soit le cas. Ca reste une excellente lecture et j'ai hâte de découvrir les tomes compagnons quand ils sortiront. Le prochain étant sur Nicola qui, je l'avoue, n'est pas la fille du groupe à laquelle j'ai le plus accrochée, mais je suis curieuse d'en apprendre plus sur elle.
J'ai lu pas mal de romances sur le hockey et la F1, et je me suis dit que ça pouvait être sympa de changer de sport en partant vers le tennis. Bon, par contre, il faut savoir que j'y connais absolument rien et que j'ai été perdue au début du roman où on nous balance pleins de termes techniques (en anglais en plus-) sans nous expliquer. J'ai été aussi déroutée par le nombre important de personnages introduits dans les 2-3 premiers chapitres, ce qui fait que j'ai eu du mal à rentrer dedans. Mais une fois que j'ai réussi à accrocher, je l'ai vraiment lu d'une traite !
Drop Shot est une romance sportive très mignonne et très saine, et vraiment ça fait du bien !
J'avais peur au début car dans le résumé Matteo est décrit un peu comme un bad boy mais ça n'est pas du tout le cas. Certes, il est "grumpy" mais pas dans le sens chiant et irrespectueux. Il ne parle pas beaucoup et a du mal à gérer ses émotions mais au fond, c'est une personne très douce qui s'isole par peur de l'abandon. J'ai trouvé la thématique autour de ça bien abordée, bien que j'aurais aimé avoir son pdv pour mieux le cerner, et j'ai vraiment apprécié qu'on du fait qu'il suive une thérapie pour essayer d'aller mieux sans apporter de regard négatif comme c'est malheureusement encore trop le cas dans notre société. C'était adorable de le voir s'ouvrir peu à peu aux autres et être toujours présent pour Delilah. Ce mec, c'est juste un giga green flag, et on aime ! Cela faisait un moment que je n'avais pas autant apprécié un love interest dans une romance, c'est pour dire.
J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé Delilah, même si, elle m'a agacée une ou deux fois à sans cesse refuser l'aide qu'on lui apporte. Je comprends sa façon de penser, encore plus en prenant en compte sa situation familiale difficile, mais j'avoue que c'est un truc qui, personnellement, me saoule (je suis trauma pas les héroïnes de romantasy qui manquent de crever parce qu'elle refuse de l'aide parce qu'elles sont trop "badass"). Du coup, j'ai vraiment hurlé lors du 3rd act break up totalement inutile et lié à cet aspect de sa personne. Très honnêtement, sans cela, j'aurais mis facile un 4,5 au livre mais ça m'a trop énervée.
Bref, pour en revenir à Delilah, c'était un personnage très agréable à suivre, très solaire malgré les choses difficiles qu'elle traverse. J'ai été touchée par sa volonté de bien faire, le soutien qu'elle apporte à ses amis, et les dilemmes qui se posent à elle concernant sa façon d'aider ses frères et soeurs. A travers, d'autres thématiques dures sont abordées et toujours avec bienveillance. Je trouve d'ailleurs très bien que le roman fasse passer le message qu'il faut parfois couper les ponts avec sa famille pour préserver sa propre santé mentale. J'ai trop de fois lu des livres qui sacralisent la famille et c'est cool de montrer quelque chose de différent, que parfois une vraie "famille" n'est pas forcément liée par le sang.
Du coup, menton spéciale à Eli, le plus ou moins père adoptif de Delilah, vraiment ce monsieur est un sucre, coeur sur lui. De manière générale, la plupart des (très nombreux) personnages secondaires sont mignons et les dynamiques fonctionnent bien. On sent fort que l'autrice a voulu introduire tous ceux qu'on reverra dans les tomes compagnons, et j'ose espérer qu'Austin aura son livre, il est si drôle.
Pour en revenir à la romance entre Del et Matteo, ce qui m'a beaucoup plu c'est que, pour une fois, on est pas sur de l'insta love/lust. Certes, Delilah le trouve beau mais c'est après qu'ils aient appris à se connaître et passé du temps ensemble qu'elle commence à développer des sentiments et se sentir de plus en plus attirée par lui. Ils ont une très bonne alchimie et se soutiennent mutuellement, comme j'ai dit, on est sur quelque chose de vraiment très sain et mignon !
Je le redis, sans la dispute superflue de la fin, j'aurais pu dire que c'est un coup de coeur, mais j'ai trop ragé pour que ça soit le cas. Ca reste une excellente lecture et j'ai hâte de découvrir les tomes compagnons quand ils sortiront. Le prochain étant sur Nicola qui, je l'avoue, n'est pas la fille du groupe à laquelle j'ai le plus accrochée, mais je suis curieuse d'en apprendre plus sur elle.
September 21, 2025
4.5 star review:
While I have been a firm believer that any book under 300 pages cannot have well-written plots, character arcs, chemistry between characters, etc. for many years, this book has become the exception to that rule. The way Vai was able to write the characters of Delilah and Matteo was so well done, that I didn't even notice how short the book actually was.
Delilah's journey throughout the book was beautifully done! We saw her struggle with the sense of identity, even though she may not have consciously been aware of it. Her personality shined through from beginning to end and her struggles were so relatable to the reader that you felt yourself rooting for her page after page, and likely being frustrated with her siblings for how they were treating her (obviously those thoughts changed the more you read).
Matteo had his own struggles and he knew that he needed someone like Delilah to keep him stable and essentially as a sense of a reset to stay in check mentally and emotionally. Both characters were drawn to each other because they each provided something that the other desperately needed, even if they weren't always willing to admit it.
While I really enjoyed this book, and as pleasantly surprised by it, there were a few things that I wish could've been improved on and/or included:
1. As a reader, it was a little hard to determine if she was playing tennis because she loved it or because she saw it as her only way to make money to support her family. We never really got to hear or see from her POV how she got into tennis (aside from because of Austin and his parents) and why she wanted to stick it out for so long (aside from feeling indebted to Austin's parents). I would have enjoyed getting more of a sense about her joy and passion, then just her sense of feeling in debt to someone; especially because she never mentions hating or disliking playing.
2. I would have loved to get Matteo's POV more throughout the book. This would've lengthened the book a bit and provided a different aspect to the story. We heard so much about the type of person Matteo was, but we never got to really see it. We heard of his struggles with emotions, but we didn't get to experience it. Instead we were only told things from a third party and had to make assumptions and opinions about what his experiences were actually like. I'm not talking about an every chapter is a new POV thing, but it would've been nice to get his POV after fairly significant moments in the book.
3. I would've liked to get more scenes with Delilah and her family, especially when she went home for Christmas. We got a paragraph or two on how it went, but I would've really enjoyed experiencing it instead. Especially with what happened shortly after before Australia, I would've enjoyed seeing that dynamic more.
4. Lastly, I would've enjoyed more of a dialogue and dynamic between Delilah and her friend group. We got snippets through the group texts, but we never got to sit and experience the dialogue. There were several experiences and scenes that I think getting that dialogue would've really helped the story and also helped the reader gain more perspective of Delilah's relationships.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I would recommend it to any reader who has an interest in sports, found family, mental health, or older sibling caretaker roles.
While I have been a firm believer that any book under 300 pages cannot have well-written plots, character arcs, chemistry between characters, etc. for many years, this book has become the exception to that rule. The way Vai was able to write the characters of Delilah and Matteo was so well done, that I didn't even notice how short the book actually was.
Delilah's journey throughout the book was beautifully done! We saw her struggle with the sense of identity, even though she may not have consciously been aware of it. Her personality shined through from beginning to end and her struggles were so relatable to the reader that you felt yourself rooting for her page after page, and likely being frustrated with her siblings for how they were treating her (obviously those thoughts changed the more you read).
Matteo had his own struggles and he knew that he needed someone like Delilah to keep him stable and essentially as a sense of a reset to stay in check mentally and emotionally. Both characters were drawn to each other because they each provided something that the other desperately needed, even if they weren't always willing to admit it.
While I really enjoyed this book, and as pleasantly surprised by it, there were a few things that I wish could've been improved on and/or included:
1. As a reader, it was a little hard to determine if she was playing tennis because she loved it or because she saw it as her only way to make money to support her family. We never really got to hear or see from her POV how she got into tennis (aside from because of Austin and his parents) and why she wanted to stick it out for so long (aside from feeling indebted to Austin's parents). I would have enjoyed getting more of a sense about her joy and passion, then just her sense of feeling in debt to someone; especially because she never mentions hating or disliking playing.
2. I would have loved to get Matteo's POV more throughout the book. This would've lengthened the book a bit and provided a different aspect to the story. We heard so much about the type of person Matteo was, but we never got to really see it. We heard of his struggles with emotions, but we didn't get to experience it. Instead we were only told things from a third party and had to make assumptions and opinions about what his experiences were actually like. I'm not talking about an every chapter is a new POV thing, but it would've been nice to get his POV after fairly significant moments in the book.
3. I would've liked to get more scenes with Delilah and her family, especially when she went home for Christmas. We got a paragraph or two on how it went, but I would've really enjoyed experiencing it instead. Especially with what happened shortly after before Australia, I would've enjoyed seeing that dynamic more.
4. Lastly, I would've enjoyed more of a dialogue and dynamic between Delilah and her friend group. We got snippets through the group texts, but we never got to sit and experience the dialogue. There were several experiences and scenes that I think getting that dialogue would've really helped the story and also helped the reader gain more perspective of Delilah's relationships.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I would recommend it to any reader who has an interest in sports, found family, mental health, or older sibling caretaker roles.
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