What do you think?
Smash Point Social Club #1
The Big Dink
They say the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his paddle…
Alecia Monroe is bubbly, competitive, and has a flair for big ideas. Garrett, her charming, sporty office crush, loves three things. Spreadsheets, Pilot Precise V5 pens, and pickleball. So when the cute blond in the office next to his suggests a weekly company pickleball night, Alecia does what any rational woman would do.
She lies about knowing how to play.
A few private lessons should be enough to bluff her way through. How hard can it be? But when Calder (grumpy, sarcastic, and infuriatingly hot) steps in as her instructor, she doesn't think this bid is worth it. Until she discovers he's friends with Garrett...and if she wants to land her workplace hearthrob, she might need some insider information.
But somewhere between the trash talk, late-night rallies, and moments Calder actually lets his guard down, Alecia stops thinking about Garrett and starts noticing the one man she swore she couldn’t stand.
Right as Garrett starts paying attention…
If The Gilmore Girls, Ted Lasso, and The Office had a baby, you’d get “The Big Dink.”
One-click and start reading if you
Strong Found FamilyGrumpy/sunshineInstructor sports romanceClean romanceToe curling banter
Alecia Monroe is bubbly, competitive, and has a flair for big ideas. Garrett, her charming, sporty office crush, loves three things. Spreadsheets, Pilot Precise V5 pens, and pickleball. So when the cute blond in the office next to his suggests a weekly company pickleball night, Alecia does what any rational woman would do.
She lies about knowing how to play.
A few private lessons should be enough to bluff her way through. How hard can it be? But when Calder (grumpy, sarcastic, and infuriatingly hot) steps in as her instructor, she doesn't think this bid is worth it. Until she discovers he's friends with Garrett...and if she wants to land her workplace hearthrob, she might need some insider information.
But somewhere between the trash talk, late-night rallies, and moments Calder actually lets his guard down, Alecia stops thinking about Garrett and starts noticing the one man she swore she couldn’t stand.
Right as Garrett starts paying attention…
If The Gilmore Girls, Ted Lasso, and The Office had a baby, you’d get “The Big Dink.”
One-click and start reading if you
Strong Found FamilyGrumpy/sunshineInstructor sports romanceClean romanceToe curling banter
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
August 12, 2026
4.25⭐
Genre ~ sports romance (pickleball)
Series ~ Smash Point Social Club #1
Setting ~ not sure
Publication date ~ book ~ October 28, 2025, audio ~ November 5, 2025
Est Page Count ~ 188 (21 chapters)
Audio length ~ 3 hours 55 minutes
Narrator ~ the author
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, no steamage
My first pickleball book. I know nothing about this sport, but because of this book I was able to answer a Jeopardy question the other night 😂
Alecia (24) signs up to play pickleball in order to get closer to her boss who she's crushing on, but she seems to be more intrigued by her grumpy coach, Calder, after an encounter or two.
Calder was great! I love me a good grump and he fits the bill. Love the uniqueness of his name, too, even though that’s not really his name. This is tagged as enemies to lovers, but I didn't really get that vibe at all.
Alecia is a fun loving character, full of sunshine, and giving living life to the fullest vibes, especially in the puddle scene. Absolutely loved her friendship with Sam. They are bff goals for sure. So supportive and always there for each other.
Overall, this was really cute. Didn't love that she's crushing on someone other than the MMC, but I suppose she wouldn't have met him if she hadn't been. I'll definitely read more of the series ~ Sam's book is up next.
Narration notes:
She sounded perfectly fine. I like when author's narrate their own books since they have the inside scoop of emotions the character is feeling
Genre ~ sports romance (pickleball)
Series ~ Smash Point Social Club #1
Setting ~ not sure
Publication date ~ book ~ October 28, 2025, audio ~ November 5, 2025
Est Page Count ~ 188 (21 chapters)
Audio length ~ 3 hours 55 minutes
Narrator ~ the author
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, no steamage
My first pickleball book. I know nothing about this sport, but because of this book I was able to answer a Jeopardy question the other night 😂
Alecia (24) signs up to play pickleball in order to get closer to her boss who she's crushing on, but she seems to be more intrigued by her grumpy coach, Calder, after an encounter or two.
Calder was great! I love me a good grump and he fits the bill. Love the uniqueness of his name, too, even though that’s not really his name. This is tagged as enemies to lovers, but I didn't really get that vibe at all.
Alecia is a fun loving character, full of sunshine, and giving living life to the fullest vibes, especially in the puddle scene. Absolutely loved her friendship with Sam. They are bff goals for sure. So supportive and always there for each other.
Overall, this was really cute. Didn't love that she's crushing on someone other than the MMC, but I suppose she wouldn't have met him if she hadn't been. I'll definitely read more of the series ~ Sam's book is up next.
Narration notes:
She sounded perfectly fine. I like when author's narrate their own books since they have the inside scoop of emotions the character is feeling
October 28, 2025
Okay so— this one was cute. Like, slow burn, clean sports romance cute. The pacing’s on the slower side (definitely more chill than intense), but it works for the kind of story it is. It’s written in first person, only Alecia’s POV, and I won’t lie— I kept wishing we’d get a peek into Calder’s head. The man’s got layers, and I wanted in.
Still, it’s got that grumpy-sunshine vibe done right. Alecia’s messy, relatable, and kinda chaotic in the best way. The humor’s soft, the chemistry’s subtle, and the story leaves you with that cozy “yeah, that was nice” feeling.
A clean, feel-good read that doesn’t rush itself. I liked it. Didn’t love-love it, but it definitely earned its stars.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Still, it’s got that grumpy-sunshine vibe done right. Alecia’s messy, relatable, and kinda chaotic in the best way. The humor’s soft, the chemistry’s subtle, and the story leaves you with that cozy “yeah, that was nice” feeling.
A clean, feel-good read that doesn’t rush itself. I liked it. Didn’t love-love it, but it definitely earned its stars.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2025
The big dink is a closed door romance about Alecia, a girl in her 20s, who has had the biggest crush on her boss Garrett. Alecia joins a work pickleball event to be closer to Garrett without knowing how to play the sport. A week before the event, she signs up for pickleball lessons at a nearby sports club. During her lesson, she meets Calder who is in the club working in his coach certification, and later finds out that he is one of Garrett’s friends.
The story had me laughing the whole time, the sweet moments between Alecia and Calder were so cute and loved all the characters in the story. Can’t wait to read the second book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story had me laughing the whole time, the sweet moments between Alecia and Calder were so cute and loved all the characters in the story. Can’t wait to read the second book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 20, 2026
Loved it! Kortney Keisel vibesss
February 22, 2026
Grumpy/sunshine, PG sports-romance novella set in Denver
This is a single-POV romance novella written in first-person past tense. The FMC, Alecia, is a perky 24-year-old who works at a small Denver firm called Paper and Pixel, which offers marketing, design, and printing services. It was founded a few years ago by a 20-something named Garrett, whom the story refers to as merely Alecia's coworker, but who is technically her boss.
Alecia has a huge crush on Garrett. Early in the book she acts like a ditzy teenager and seems to spend most of her time at work spying on Garrett rather than doing her job. When she finds out he is a terrific pickleball player and has formed a pickleball club for his staff to encourage unity and morale, she decides to join it in order to catch his attention. Prior to a company pickleball night, she schedules pickleball lessons so she will be able to actually play the sport. Her instructor is a handsome, muscular, stoic man named Calder. Fortunately, Alecia has a background as a talented tennis player during high school, so she quickly becomes competent at pickleball.
Alecia's BFF, Sam, also works at P&P, and she drags Sam into her pickleball scheme. Sam is an important subcharacter in this novel as the Confidante, and she is the FMC of the second novella in this duology. Unlike Alecia, Sam was never very athletic before, so she is surprised at how much she's coming to love pickleball and how well she's able to master basic skills.
What I most liked about this story is how athletic Alecia and Calder are. I very much enjoy sports romances, and that portion of this novella is well done.
I was concerned at first this was going to be a romantic triangle story, but it becomes quite obvious early on in this novella that Calder is going to be the man for Alecia instead of Garrett, who ultimately serves merely as the means to bring Calder into her life.
We are never told Calder's age, but I'm guessing that he's at most 29. Possibly this could be classified as a New Adult romance, but it is, thankfully, minus all the sleazy sex, boozing and bacchanalian parties that are commonplace in NA college romances.
The name of the series, Smash Point Social, is based on the name of the pickleball club in Denver where Alecia frequently plays pickleball throughout this book. It seems to be modeled on the real life Racket Social Club in the Denver area.
I suppose you could call this story romantic comedy. Mainly because it's very lightweight with no melodrama, but it's not actually funny. Also, the author has labeled this as a grumpy/sunshine romance because Alecia is described as bubbly, and Calder is described as dour. But he really isn't grumpy, which is defined as having a bad temper, being easily irritated, or dissatisfied in a sullen way. He simply is a person who rarely smiles. He also is not sarcastic, which the blurb for this story claims.
Frankly, Alecia rather irritated me in the beginning, because she seemed so immature. I had trouble at first believing in the viability of the opposites-attract trope between her and Calder. As a garrulous, extreme extrovert, Alecia initially seemed like a yappy Yorkie beside introverted Calder's mellow Golden Retriever. However, as I progressed through the story, Alecia grew on me, because she is a very warm-hearted person, compassionate toward every living creature. It was hard to deeply get to know Calder, since we don't get his POV. But by observing his increasingly overt, Cinnamon Roll behavior toward Alecia, he also grew on me over the course of the novel.
Speaking of CR, I don't typically enjoy it when there's a big disparity between how much the CR is investing in the relationship and how much the FMC is. Maybe because this is a short novella the relationship dynamic in that direction did not get extreme enough to trigger my intolerance of CR.
In spite of this being supposedly a "clean" novel, purists may object to the following: Alecia frequently (childishly) giggles at unintended sexual innuendos that accidentally crop up in conversation. And the first time Calder innocently touches her, we are informed that she feels heat in her "lady parts." (I appreciate her not using a crude term for her genitals, but this is another example of portraying her as juvenile.) Most significantly, there is sex at the end of this novel, though it is closed door.
Because this is a novella with limited page space, we only get an HFN ending. However, the second novella in this duology shows Alecia and Calder well on their way to moving into the HEA of marriage.
I got the audiobook for free through my Audible membership. It is narrated by the author, who actually does a good job.
I rate this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
This is a single-POV romance novella written in first-person past tense. The FMC, Alecia, is a perky 24-year-old who works at a small Denver firm called Paper and Pixel, which offers marketing, design, and printing services. It was founded a few years ago by a 20-something named Garrett, whom the story refers to as merely Alecia's coworker, but who is technically her boss.
Alecia has a huge crush on Garrett. Early in the book she acts like a ditzy teenager and seems to spend most of her time at work spying on Garrett rather than doing her job. When she finds out he is a terrific pickleball player and has formed a pickleball club for his staff to encourage unity and morale, she decides to join it in order to catch his attention. Prior to a company pickleball night, she schedules pickleball lessons so she will be able to actually play the sport. Her instructor is a handsome, muscular, stoic man named Calder. Fortunately, Alecia has a background as a talented tennis player during high school, so she quickly becomes competent at pickleball.
Alecia's BFF, Sam, also works at P&P, and she drags Sam into her pickleball scheme. Sam is an important subcharacter in this novel as the Confidante, and she is the FMC of the second novella in this duology. Unlike Alecia, Sam was never very athletic before, so she is surprised at how much she's coming to love pickleball and how well she's able to master basic skills.
What I most liked about this story is how athletic Alecia and Calder are. I very much enjoy sports romances, and that portion of this novella is well done.
I was concerned at first this was going to be a romantic triangle story, but it becomes quite obvious early on in this novella that Calder is going to be the man for Alecia instead of Garrett, who ultimately serves merely as the means to bring Calder into her life.
We are never told Calder's age, but I'm guessing that he's at most 29. Possibly this could be classified as a New Adult romance, but it is, thankfully, minus all the sleazy sex, boozing and bacchanalian parties that are commonplace in NA college romances.
The name of the series, Smash Point Social, is based on the name of the pickleball club in Denver where Alecia frequently plays pickleball throughout this book. It seems to be modeled on the real life Racket Social Club in the Denver area.
I suppose you could call this story romantic comedy. Mainly because it's very lightweight with no melodrama, but it's not actually funny. Also, the author has labeled this as a grumpy/sunshine romance because Alecia is described as bubbly, and Calder is described as dour. But he really isn't grumpy, which is defined as having a bad temper, being easily irritated, or dissatisfied in a sullen way. He simply is a person who rarely smiles. He also is not sarcastic, which the blurb for this story claims.
Frankly, Alecia rather irritated me in the beginning, because she seemed so immature. I had trouble at first believing in the viability of the opposites-attract trope between her and Calder. As a garrulous, extreme extrovert, Alecia initially seemed like a yappy Yorkie beside introverted Calder's mellow Golden Retriever. However, as I progressed through the story, Alecia grew on me, because she is a very warm-hearted person, compassionate toward every living creature. It was hard to deeply get to know Calder, since we don't get his POV. But by observing his increasingly overt, Cinnamon Roll behavior toward Alecia, he also grew on me over the course of the novel.
Speaking of CR, I don't typically enjoy it when there's a big disparity between how much the CR is investing in the relationship and how much the FMC is. Maybe because this is a short novella the relationship dynamic in that direction did not get extreme enough to trigger my intolerance of CR.
In spite of this being supposedly a "clean" novel, purists may object to the following: Alecia frequently (childishly) giggles at unintended sexual innuendos that accidentally crop up in conversation. And the first time Calder innocently touches her, we are informed that she feels heat in her "lady parts." (I appreciate her not using a crude term for her genitals, but this is another example of portraying her as juvenile.) Most significantly, there is sex at the end of this novel, though it is closed door.
Because this is a novella with limited page space, we only get an HFN ending. However, the second novella in this duology shows Alecia and Calder well on their way to moving into the HEA of marriage.
I got the audiobook for free through my Audible membership. It is narrated by the author, who actually does a good job.
I rate this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2026
3.75 stars
This was a fun and quick read.
Trying to set herself up for an office romance, she claims skill in pickleball, when she's actually never played. Humor and the realization that things don't always happen the way you think they will.
This was a fun and quick read.
Trying to set herself up for an office romance, she claims skill in pickleball, when she's actually never played. Humor and the realization that things don't always happen the way you think they will.
May 8, 2026
Honestly if it wasn't so short I would have DNF it. FMC is kind of crazy and even though it is closed door the whole book is filled of innuendos.
August 6, 2026
So so cute!! Alecia wants to get the attention of a man that also works at her office, Garrett, so what better way to do that than to sign up to play pickleball with the office when she doesn't know how! Maybe the grumpy pickleball instructor, Calder, who she finds out is friends with Garrett is just what she needed..... or not.
I am not usually a fan of the grumpy x sunshine trope, but this one was written so well that I loved it! Alecia's personality was so fun and bubbly, which made the office scene more fun to read about. The way she had Calder wrapped around her finger jumping in a water puddle with her and him surprising her with gifts was so swoon worthy after we are introduced to him being grumpy and not very talkative.
Overall, this was a super fun read and I really enjoyed it! I have not read a pickleball romance before but I will now be looking for more because I'm so here for it! If you are looking for a read that isn't super long but is a good read, I highly recommend this one!
I am not usually a fan of the grumpy x sunshine trope, but this one was written so well that I loved it! Alecia's personality was so fun and bubbly, which made the office scene more fun to read about. The way she had Calder wrapped around her finger jumping in a water puddle with her and him surprising her with gifts was so swoon worthy after we are introduced to him being grumpy and not very talkative.
Overall, this was a super fun read and I really enjoyed it! I have not read a pickleball romance before but I will now be looking for more because I'm so here for it! If you are looking for a read that isn't super long but is a good read, I highly recommend this one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2026
a charming and quick read
This book was adorable!! I found myself relating so much to Alecia. Calder was such a secret softie. Loved every second of this one!
This book was adorable!! I found myself relating so much to Alecia. Calder was such a secret softie. Loved every second of this one!
July 30, 2026
┈ TROPES ┈
✦ Grumpy / Sunshine
✦ Sport Romance - Pickle Ball
✦ Coach/Instructor
✦ He Falls First
✦ Clean Romance
✦ MF Romance
✦ Novella / Short Story
✦ Toe Curling Banter
┈ MAIN CHARACTERS ┈
Heroine/FMC: Mabel Alecia Monroe
〰️Physical Attributes: Athletic, long auburn hair, pale skin
〰️Occupation: Business Admin
〰️Age: N/A
〰️Nickname(s): N/A
Hero/MMC: Fredrick aka Caulder
〰️Physical Attributes: Aquamarine blue eyes, tall, muscular
〰️Occupation: Pro Tennis Player / Trainer
〰️Age: N/A
〰️Nickname(s): N/A
┈ OVERVIEW ┈
Pacing: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Intimacy Level: Closed Door/Fade to Black
Spice: 2/5
Overall: 3.74/5
Cover Art: 4.5/5
Book Format: Audiobook
Narrator(s): N/A
POV: Dual 👥
Would I Recommend? 👍
Read Again? 👎
📍Setting/Location: Denver
H/h virgin? No
First kiss💋: 85%
First time they have sex: N/A
First time they say "I Love You": N/A
Noteworthy Chapters🔥: 16, 20
✔️Smut List: N/A
OW/OM Drama? No
H/h cheat? No
Time apart? No
Did I cry, laugh, or swoon? Swoon
Ending: HFN
Standalone/Series? Yes to both
Epilogue? Yes
✦ Grumpy / Sunshine
✦ Sport Romance - Pickle Ball
✦ Coach/Instructor
✦ He Falls First
✦ Clean Romance
✦ MF Romance
✦ Novella / Short Story
✦ Toe Curling Banter
┈ MAIN CHARACTERS ┈
Heroine/FMC: Mabel Alecia Monroe
〰️Physical Attributes: Athletic, long auburn hair, pale skin
〰️Occupation: Business Admin
〰️Age: N/A
〰️Nickname(s): N/A
Hero/MMC: Fredrick aka Caulder
〰️Physical Attributes: Aquamarine blue eyes, tall, muscular
〰️Occupation: Pro Tennis Player / Trainer
〰️Age: N/A
〰️Nickname(s): N/A
┈ OVERVIEW ┈
Pacing: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Intimacy Level: Closed Door/Fade to Black
Spice: 2/5
Overall: 3.74/5
Cover Art: 4.5/5
Book Format: Audiobook
Narrator(s): N/A
POV: Dual 👥
Would I Recommend? 👍
Read Again? 👎
📍Setting/Location: Denver
H/h virgin? No
First kiss💋: 85%
First time they have sex: N/A
First time they say "I Love You": N/A
Noteworthy Chapters🔥: 16, 20
✔️Smut List: N/A
OW/OM Drama? No
H/h cheat? No
Time apart? No
Did I cry, laugh, or swoon? Swoon
Ending: HFN
Standalone/Series? Yes to both
Epilogue? Yes
May 1, 2026
Plot- The pickleball club setting was adorable and unique and I totally loved it. Maybe it helps that I’m also obsessed with the sport and think it’s a super fun romantic vehicle.
Characters- The FMC was awesome, happy, and peppy in the best way. Definitely started out a bit juvenile with her obsession with watching her hot boss’s body language during phone calls. Creepy much? But she grew on me.
I liked her interactions for the most part, except one scene when she confronted a colleague when he didn’t do anything outwardly wrong. She just felt like he was only interested in the idea of her, or in a specific version of her, so she couldn’t be herself around him. So yeah, after 1 date she knows they aren’t a good fit, but woah, confronting him about it felt incredibly cringy!! Esp since he was really respectful and even gave her a gift of appreciation after their date.
#awkward
The love interest felt mysterious, then attractive, and then perfectly swoony. Since this was a novella, it didn’t go much deeper than skin deep on this character. But that’s the nature of the beast, so it’s ok.
Loved the positive female side-characters and how the gorgeous girl (Megan?) was super sweet and fun (vs being painted as the resident mean girl).
Romance- Loved the progression of their romance. The little bit of jealousy was chef’s kiss.
This ended in a HFN where they jump into bed on their second kiss, so a far cry from a committed long term relationship… but they seem like a really cute fit, and I felt happy and satisfied. They were adorable together.
Writing- Good writing.
Content-
Language- no swears. Some lightly crude jokes throughout.
Spice- one lightly explicit bedroom scene that pulled the curtain. Premarital sex is normalized with an attitude that it’s the natural next step if you find you’re at least initially compatible and attracted to each other.
Triggers/Violence- none
Substance abuse- social drinking, including to excess. She and her BFF get drunk together and she suffers the natural consequence of a hangover.
Spiritual/religious- no
Cover- love it!!!
POV- single POV, 1st person
Cliffhanger- no.
Format- I bought the discounted Audible (but I realized after that it’s free on Hoopla)
Narration- the female performer did awesome with all the voices!
Characters- The FMC was awesome, happy, and peppy in the best way. Definitely started out a bit juvenile with her obsession with watching her hot boss’s body language during phone calls. Creepy much? But she grew on me.
I liked her interactions for the most part, except one scene when she confronted a colleague when he didn’t do anything outwardly wrong. She just felt like he was only interested in the idea of her, or in a specific version of her, so she couldn’t be herself around him. So yeah, after 1 date she knows they aren’t a good fit, but woah, confronting him about it felt incredibly cringy!! Esp since he was really respectful and even gave her a gift of appreciation after their date.
#awkward
The love interest felt mysterious, then attractive, and then perfectly swoony. Since this was a novella, it didn’t go much deeper than skin deep on this character. But that’s the nature of the beast, so it’s ok.
Loved the positive female side-characters and how the gorgeous girl (Megan?) was super sweet and fun (vs being painted as the resident mean girl).
Romance- Loved the progression of their romance. The little bit of jealousy was chef’s kiss.
This ended in a HFN where they jump into bed on their second kiss, so a far cry from a committed long term relationship… but they seem like a really cute fit, and I felt happy and satisfied. They were adorable together.
Writing- Good writing.
Content-
Language- no swears. Some lightly crude jokes throughout.
Spice- one lightly explicit bedroom scene that pulled the curtain. Premarital sex is normalized with an attitude that it’s the natural next step if you find you’re at least initially compatible and attracted to each other.
Triggers/Violence- none
Substance abuse- social drinking, including to excess. She and her BFF get drunk together and she suffers the natural consequence of a hangover.
Spiritual/religious- no
Cover- love it!!!
POV- single POV, 1st person
Cliffhanger- no.
Format- I bought the discounted Audible (but I realized after that it’s free on Hoopla)
Narration- the female performer did awesome with all the voices!
November 13, 2025
I couldn't stop smiling while reading this story. My face hurts because of all the giddy, sweet, and funny moments.
Alecia is such a ray of sunshine. I know why Sam is her best friend and how they complement each other. And I know, too, how it feels to lose the magic we have held for so long for a man that turned out not to be the one for us.
So Calder fits just right with her: he's the kind of man who commits, who makes you feel safe, heard, who doesn't patronize you, who presents himself as true as he can, and doesn't flinch when conflict arrives. He's confident and knows how to play the long game to get the girl of his dreams. And most importantly, he makes you feel like you are the greatest human being.
They are perfect! I'm honestly impressed, too, by the lightness of the reading, the happiness this book radiates, and all the pickleball knowledge I got from this—bonus points!
Favorite phrase that summarize the entire energy of this story: "All this time I thought it was skincare and pilates that were the key to attracting men, but turns out, it's a pickleball membership".
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Alecia is such a ray of sunshine. I know why Sam is her best friend and how they complement each other. And I know, too, how it feels to lose the magic we have held for so long for a man that turned out not to be the one for us.
So Calder fits just right with her: he's the kind of man who commits, who makes you feel safe, heard, who doesn't patronize you, who presents himself as true as he can, and doesn't flinch when conflict arrives. He's confident and knows how to play the long game to get the girl of his dreams. And most importantly, he makes you feel like you are the greatest human being.
They are perfect! I'm honestly impressed, too, by the lightness of the reading, the happiness this book radiates, and all the pickleball knowledge I got from this—bonus points!
Favorite phrase that summarize the entire energy of this story: "All this time I thought it was skincare and pilates that were the key to attracting men, but turns out, it's a pickleball membership".
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 10, 2025
Let’s dink around. Calder is your guy he will drill you so hard you won’t walk straight tomorrow. Yeah oh my hilarious, had me in stitches most of the time reading it. If you have a couple hours, it’s a quick read. It’s head in the gutter comedy. I think what made it even more funny was the fact my husband and I just started playing pickle ball a couple years ago. We are constantly laughing over the terminology and this book brings it! I enjoyed Alecia Monroe the main character who is actually crushing on someone in the office who signed up to play pickle ball so of course she signups up as well. Yeah she doesn’t know anything about pickle ball. Her and her friend decide to take a couple lessons. All I can say is you will want to read what happens, I did give a bit of a teaser in the first two sentences. I’m looking forward to reading the next one. It is clean no cursing, only a bit of spicy innuendo but still clean.
I got this ARC through BookSirens as part of the review team for the book. This is my honest opinion, which who else’s would it be. I’m not a robot!
I got this ARC through BookSirens as part of the review team for the book. This is my honest opinion, which who else’s would it be. I’m not a robot!
August 8, 2026
I had no idea what pickleball was and I still imagine squash? Is it like squash? Anyways.
I didn't think about the game too long because once Calder entered the field, all thoughts were focused on him.
This was.. I wanted to say cute but I can hardly call Calder and all his grumpiness cute?
Expect:
Serious grumpy x sunshine
Protective MMC
He falls first (or so it seems)
It's a short book so don't expect very in-depth relationship developments, but I reeally enjoyed myself.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I didn't think about the game too long because once Calder entered the field, all thoughts were focused on him.
This was.. I wanted to say cute but I can hardly call Calder and all his grumpiness cute?
Expect:
Serious grumpy x sunshine
Protective MMC
He falls first (or so it seems)
It's a short book so don't expect very in-depth relationship developments, but I reeally enjoyed myself.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 1, 2026
I stumbled upon this when Hoopla told me I could read it with a bonus borrow for the month of July. Instantly, I was intrigued by the premise which made that borrow button all the more easy to push.
Alecia has the biggest crush on her coworker and decides to pick up Pickleball in order to win him over. She enrolls her and her best friend in lessons and ends up with a grumpy instructor, whose name is Calder. Calder is hot and kinda in to her just the way she is (literal swoon). The rest is hilarious and filled with pickle ball puns. I had so much fun listening and definitely smiled to myself the entire time. My favorite scene was the rain puddle—it was ADORABLE.
This is a closed door romance and will give you cavities from how cute it is. Now is it earth shattering? No but did I have a damn good time? Heck yes!
So should this spill into your TBR?
Honestly? Why NOT?! It’s so fun and such a quick listen. It’s only 4 hours and I am for SURE reading/listening to the next book.
Alecia has the biggest crush on her coworker and decides to pick up Pickleball in order to win him over. She enrolls her and her best friend in lessons and ends up with a grumpy instructor, whose name is Calder. Calder is hot and kinda in to her just the way she is (literal swoon). The rest is hilarious and filled with pickle ball puns. I had so much fun listening and definitely smiled to myself the entire time. My favorite scene was the rain puddle—it was ADORABLE.
This is a closed door romance and will give you cavities from how cute it is. Now is it earth shattering? No but did I have a damn good time? Heck yes!
So should this spill into your TBR?
Honestly? Why NOT?! It’s so fun and such a quick listen. It’s only 4 hours and I am for SURE reading/listening to the next book.
March 31, 2026
Short and sweet
April 13, 2026
this was so refreshing 😌 funny and cute, short and sweet. A great little read!
June 1, 2026
It’s a short read. It’s a grumpy sunshine pickleball romance. I always like when the FMC is always after the wrong guy in the beginning.
August 5, 2026
3.5 - Quick & clean closed door sports romance!
August 16, 2026
Hoopla bonus borrow -- really cute romcom! Especially fun if you like pickleball!!! I will for sure continue with this fun clean series!
August 30, 2026
Did not know this was a novella, my bad
August 17, 2026
This was a 3.5 for me. Ensemble cast so you can feel it will be a series. All the characters have quirks. Pickleball was main focus and if you are a fan of the sport, you’ll enjoy story more. Nice to have a book you don’t have to hide the cover because nothing too provocative happens on the pages. Palette cleanser story.
August 2, 2026
3.5 slow burn
Closed door
Pickleball novella
Closed door
Pickleball novella
November 8, 2025
Despite the fact I wanted this to be a full-length novel (with the depth and character development to accompany it), it was a fun read! I have never even seen or heard of pickleball romcoms so that was fresh. Hence, I enjoyed the storyline too much to feel satisfied with 170ish pages!!
November 5, 2025
Actually I am doubting between 4,5 and 5 stars but...
This is light reading, book that you can finish within few hours. Funny, little bit predictable but still you just cannot stop reading it.
For the ones who never heard of pickleball and doesn't know terms and/or rules it could be harder to follow (at least it was for me) but it is an opportunity to learn about new sport. 😉
I am looking forward to next book in series.
This is light reading, book that you can finish within few hours. Funny, little bit predictable but still you just cannot stop reading it.
For the ones who never heard of pickleball and doesn't know terms and/or rules it could be harder to follow (at least it was for me) but it is an opportunity to learn about new sport. 😉
I am looking forward to next book in series.
April 26, 2026
Grumpy x sunshine is my absolute favorite trope and this book delivered exactly what I wanted 😭💛
Calder being all grumpy and guarded while clearly caring more than he lets on just worked.
My only wish was that I wished we had the Male’s POV.
Calder being all grumpy and guarded while clearly caring more than he lets on just worked.
My only wish was that I wished we had the Male’s POV.
October 29, 2025
This book was waaaayyyy to short to be THAT GOOD. I am yet again falling in love with the characters and am on the lookout for when the next book drops!!! Everyone should pick up this book immediately!!
October 24, 2025
The Big Dink, the Big Laughs, and the Big Feels
What a fun and refreshing story! The Big Dink had me hooked from the first chapter. Cynthia Gunderson's writing is sharp and witty and her characters feel like people you actually know - they're messy, funny and real. It's one of those books that has humor, heart and just the right touch of chaos. I didn't want this book to end! Totally recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What a fun and refreshing story! The Big Dink had me hooked from the first chapter. Cynthia Gunderson's writing is sharp and witty and her characters feel like people you actually know - they're messy, funny and real. It's one of those books that has humor, heart and just the right touch of chaos. I didn't want this book to end! Totally recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 3, 2026
A short and sweet pickleball romance that features a wonderful grumpy x sunshine relationship.
Alecia Monroe has a huge crush on her coworker, Garrett. In the hopes of attracting his attention, she signs up for the office's pickleball league. The only thing is, she doesn't know how to play pickleball. This leads her to booking private lessons for her and her best friend, Sam. That's where she meets Calder, a grumpy and antisocial instructor-in-training who is tasked with teaching her the sport. The more she learns about pickleball, the less she seems to care about Garrett as she finds herself thinking more and more about Calder.
I will completely admit that I checked this one out as one of Hoopla's bonus borrows. I've worked with the author in the past and enjoyed her hockey romance, so I figured it would be fun to try out a pickleball romance of hers too.
Alecia is such an optimistic and energetic character. She definitely has a few screws loose, but honestly, who doesn't? Her plan to catch Garrett's attention is a bit manical and not at all honest, so I felt a tad distanced from her from the start. Despite that, I still thought seeing her walls come down around Calder was very sweet.
Calder is a trypical grumy and brooding love interest. He is a master pickleball player and he is looking to becoming an instructer. It's easy to tell from a reader's standpoint that Calder was very much into Alecia, even as she spent all her time trying to draw Garrett's attention.
There a bunch of really sweet and an abundance of goofy moments that go down between Alecia and Calder. The way they banter with each other on (and off) the court is really wholesome. The scene in the rain was one of my favorites as it nicely showed off Alecia's child-like wonder and a softer side of Calder.
I think Gunderson may be one of my go to sports romance authors. She captures the love of the sport so well and pairs it beautifully with adorable fade-to-black romances.
My biggest complaint with this one is that some of the inneuendo got a little draggy. When it comes to the sport of pickleball, it's not hard to make crass jokes, but I found they got on my nerves a tad. I found the last sentence to be especially cringey. I think if this one would have been much longer, this would have started to really grate on me.
Overall, "The Big Dink" is a cute pickleball romance about a woman trying to impress her coworker and the pickleball teacher who is silently crushing on her. The grumpy x sunshine vibes that Calder and Alecia have going on are stellar. The small moments between them were my favorite parts of this book. I definitely look forward to checking out more of Gunderson's sports romances in the future!
Audiobook Note: Cynthia Gunderson (the author) also narrates her own novels. I have so much respect for authors that narrate their own audiobooks, and Gunderson always does such a stellar job. Her performance is always professional and polished, so I’m definitely willing to listen to many more of her audiobooks in the future!
Alecia Monroe has a huge crush on her coworker, Garrett. In the hopes of attracting his attention, she signs up for the office's pickleball league. The only thing is, she doesn't know how to play pickleball. This leads her to booking private lessons for her and her best friend, Sam. That's where she meets Calder, a grumpy and antisocial instructor-in-training who is tasked with teaching her the sport. The more she learns about pickleball, the less she seems to care about Garrett as she finds herself thinking more and more about Calder.
I will completely admit that I checked this one out as one of Hoopla's bonus borrows. I've worked with the author in the past and enjoyed her hockey romance, so I figured it would be fun to try out a pickleball romance of hers too.
Alecia is such an optimistic and energetic character. She definitely has a few screws loose, but honestly, who doesn't? Her plan to catch Garrett's attention is a bit manical and not at all honest, so I felt a tad distanced from her from the start. Despite that, I still thought seeing her walls come down around Calder was very sweet.
Calder is a trypical grumy and brooding love interest. He is a master pickleball player and he is looking to becoming an instructer. It's easy to tell from a reader's standpoint that Calder was very much into Alecia, even as she spent all her time trying to draw Garrett's attention.
There a bunch of really sweet and an abundance of goofy moments that go down between Alecia and Calder. The way they banter with each other on (and off) the court is really wholesome. The scene in the rain was one of my favorites as it nicely showed off Alecia's child-like wonder and a softer side of Calder.
I think Gunderson may be one of my go to sports romance authors. She captures the love of the sport so well and pairs it beautifully with adorable fade-to-black romances.
My biggest complaint with this one is that some of the inneuendo got a little draggy. When it comes to the sport of pickleball, it's not hard to make crass jokes, but I found they got on my nerves a tad. I found the last sentence to be especially cringey. I think if this one would have been much longer, this would have started to really grate on me.
Overall, "The Big Dink" is a cute pickleball romance about a woman trying to impress her coworker and the pickleball teacher who is silently crushing on her. The grumpy x sunshine vibes that Calder and Alecia have going on are stellar. The small moments between them were my favorite parts of this book. I definitely look forward to checking out more of Gunderson's sports romances in the future!
Audiobook Note: Cynthia Gunderson (the author) also narrates her own novels. I have so much respect for authors that narrate their own audiobooks, and Gunderson always does such a stellar job. Her performance is always professional and polished, so I’m definitely willing to listen to many more of her audiobooks in the future!
December 22, 2025
The Big Dink is a fun, flirty pickleball sports romance that brings the steam while keeping the door closed. It’s a quick, easy read—perfect for devouring in one sitting. I loved that pickleball was front and center; I even learned a few things along the way. It was a refreshing change from the usual sports romances.
I related so much to Alecia and her feelings of being too much—too loud, too talkative, too expressive. I appreciated that she didn’t ignore the red flags and was able to recognize the kind of relationship she truly wanted and deserved. The way she handled things at the end showed real courage and maturity. Her inner dialogue had me laughing out loud more than once.
I really liked Calder, though I wish we’d gotten to know him a bit more. I would have loved more insight into what he was thinking and feeling. I enjoyed the slow burn, but once things shifted, I found myself wishing we had more time to see the relationship develop before the story wrapped up. Calder and Alecia had great chemistry— I especially enjoyed their texts — and a few moments had me nearly blushing.
I was quickly invested in Alecia, Calder, and the entire cast of side characters, leaving me wishing for a little more time with everyone. I already can’t wait to read Sam and Justin’s story.
If you’re looking for a fade to black/ closed-door sports romance with playful banter, strong chemistry, and a low time commitment, this series starter is an easy addition to your TBR.
✨Includes:✨
Grumpy/ Sunshine
Pickleball Romance
He Gives Her Lessons
She Asks Him For Dating Advice
Found Family
Single POV
Novella Length
Fade To Black
Suggestive Humor
Thank you Cynthia Gunderson and BookSirens for the gifted ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I related so much to Alecia and her feelings of being too much—too loud, too talkative, too expressive. I appreciated that she didn’t ignore the red flags and was able to recognize the kind of relationship she truly wanted and deserved. The way she handled things at the end showed real courage and maturity. Her inner dialogue had me laughing out loud more than once.
I really liked Calder, though I wish we’d gotten to know him a bit more. I would have loved more insight into what he was thinking and feeling. I enjoyed the slow burn, but once things shifted, I found myself wishing we had more time to see the relationship develop before the story wrapped up. Calder and Alecia had great chemistry— I especially enjoyed their texts — and a few moments had me nearly blushing.
I was quickly invested in Alecia, Calder, and the entire cast of side characters, leaving me wishing for a little more time with everyone. I already can’t wait to read Sam and Justin’s story.
If you’re looking for a fade to black/ closed-door sports romance with playful banter, strong chemistry, and a low time commitment, this series starter is an easy addition to your TBR.
✨Includes:✨
Grumpy/ Sunshine
Pickleball Romance
He Gives Her Lessons
She Asks Him For Dating Advice
Found Family
Single POV
Novella Length
Fade To Black
Suggestive Humor
Thank you Cynthia Gunderson and BookSirens for the gifted ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews