Cross Court

The Off Court #2

by Vai Denton

The daughter of a former world number one, Nicola Vassilakis had two junior majors and a ticket to tennis stardom before she even turned eighteen. But since going pro, Nic has endured only injuries and losses. Seven years later, the spotlight’s moved on to younger talent, her love of the game has dried up, and she has nothing to show for it but an aching need for the adoration and belonging she once had.

When her performance coach takes an unexpected leave, Nic’s left with two choices: go without and chance falling further behind, or trust Aleksandr Morozov, her rival’s brother, to take over. He’s confident, charming, and knows how much he gets under her skin. What’s more, Nic can’t afford to depend on someone who might still be playing for the other side.

After yet another painful loss, Nic warily agrees to a trial run. Between drills, lifts, and Aleks’ push to prioritize rest, it becomes evident he understands the battles she’s been waging more than anyone, and with his steady patience (and, okay, the flash of his abs), her walls threaten to tumble.

Aleks helps shoulder the weight of crushing expectations, but Nic will have to find her own balance or risk letting the love of the public she’s desperate for slip through her fingers for good.

Genres: Sports Romance, Romance, Sports

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 26, 2026

About the author

Vai 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 playing tennis, watching football, Pride and Prejudice (2005), 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

Reviews

[har]

┆ ⤿ 🎾 ⌗ started: march 22

pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹

i haven’t read any tennis romance so ofc i had to give it a try!! i have high hopes for this one because of the reviews 🤭

thank you vai denton for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review

[charisse ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ 5 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

this book was really so fast paced?? i havent finished a book that quickly in a one minute and i literally DEVOURED this book in a few hours!!

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• nicola vassilakis
for nic tennis is her entire life, i loved how she's very determined and hardworking. even though she was losing every game at the very beginning, she never once thought of giving up. i loved watching her slowly warming up to alek's training methods!

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• aleksandr morozov
he's such a great oldest brother to natasha, anya and dima. he was already in love with nic since meeting her for the first time and i loved how he kept reassuring nic like he knew she needed it. he was so patient with nic when he was training her as his performance coach; even though nic was at times a bit stubborn

also, their banter was literally top tier! i like how nic was so feisty and sassy, she had to challenge alek every step of the way lolll

besides that, the found family was so found and i loved the little friend groups in the book. i literally cant wait to go back and read book 1 cuz i loved them in this book!

⤷ thank you to the author, vai denton, for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
23/03/2026 — okay so i lied... life got chaotic so ive decided to skip book 1 and jump directly into this one since it's an interconnected standalone. (probably will read book 1 if this is really good)

13/03/2026 — okay so honestly i havent read a tennis romance in a hot minute so i'm really excited to start this one!! watch me pick up drop shot (book 1) and binge read these two books in one go!!

[Natalie Waddington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Vai Denton for the ARC!!

I have to say—I loved this even more than Drop Shot! And honestly, the reverse grumpy sunshine dynamic? It’s one of my favourite tropes.

What I really appreciated is how Nic’s emotional baggage was handled. It never felt irrational or overdone—her resistance to Aleks made complete sense. There’s this constant balancing act between her feelings and her logic, and I loved how thoughtfully that was written. Nic is self-aware, which makes her journey even more impactful, but she still struggles—and seeing her work through that as a mature adult felt incredibly validating. Between her and Alex, when they argue, both make completely valid points in their respective views, and though they argue back and forth, then take a breather, they each recognise their mistakes in their opinions. I love when we can understand that we can both be right and wrong in our views. THAT is how proper conversations are handled.

And then we have Aleksandr… what a Russian golden retriever. I love that he’s intentional and gentle with Nic, even when she’s sharp with him. He understands her, he sees her on a different level. I kind of love that beautiful unraveling of her learning to trust someone, to believe they will choose her first. But equally I love that we have this intense emotional back and forth for Nic too. She’s so in her own head and it’s consistently maintained throughout the book, which I feel is such an accurate representation of what negative internal thoughts will do to you. It’s endless and it doesn’t stop.

Nic and Aleks’ romance builds so beautifully throughout the book. It’s a true slow burn, full of tension, growth, and emotional exploration. What I really appreciated was how they learned to navigate their relationship while still staying true to themselves.

As for plot, tennis is such a core focus and I actually love that. It’s not just a side angle, no, we fully see her playing matches, and it’s all explained in detail. I’ve never played tennis and I won’t pretend to understand a lot of it, but I could visually see it so well. See her tapping her strings, her launching the ball across the court. It’s painted in such a fast-pace visual that I swear it’s like I’m watching it on TV.

And I cannot not mention this line from Alek’s because honestly…so..beautiful!?!?!

“Short of trauma-induced amnesia, there is nothing in this world that could make me forget you. Even then, I’m not convinced it would work. I wouldn’t know my own name, but I’d know the different shades of gray of your eyes. I’d know that when the right corner of your mouth dips down, you’re about to give me hell. I might not remember anything about my own life, but I’d know you, solnyshko.”

[MaddieReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

I must say I loved this more than the first one which was Drop Shot ! The reverse grumpy sunshine is always gonna do it for me.

I loved Nic and thought that she was a complicated character in book one . Following her story and finding out the reason as to why she’s that way was interesting . All she ever wanted was to be someone’s first choice and somebody her parents could be proud of . Nic my angel I just wanted to hold you and tell you that you are enough and you deserve everything your heart desires and then enters Mister Aleksandr aka my Russian golden retriever ! My man was downbad since the moment he saw her and was constantly trying to get her attention with his slutty t-shirts . The way he brought her sweets that reminded her of a better time for her when she was in Greece . All he ever wanted was for her and his younger sisters to achieve ! Their wins were his wins . The way he called her solnyshko aka little sun ! Stop I loved him !

This particular part : Short of trauma-induced amnesia, there is nothing in this world that could make me forget you. Even then, I’m not convinced it would work.” His mouth quirks. “I wouldn’t know my own name, but I’d know the different shades of gray of your eyes. I’d know that when the right corner of your mouth dips down, you’re about to give me hell. I might not remember anything about my own life, but I’d know you, solnyshko.”
Your honor I love him !

Thank you Vai for an arc copy and thank you BookFunnel

[gabi]

can’t remember the last time i binged a book so fast
— RTC

[Kiarra-Lee Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, I dont think there could ever be a romance novel Vai writes that I don’t fall in love with! This story is raw, emotional and beautiful. These two characters really wormed their way into my heart and stayed there. Vai writes with such beautiful words and you can really feel her put her soul into each character. They are always so unique and independent but yet you can relate to them a lot.

Overall rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice rating: 🌶️.5
Tears rating: 🪣🪣😭

Nicola, a hard working, dedicated, black cat tennis player just trying her hardest is on the brink of being completely burnt out. Feeling like no matter how hard she trains, practises and works, her wins are slipping out of her hands. Nicola feels out of place within her friend group, because she’s closed off and blunt and keeps people at a distance. Especially people like Aleksandr, her biggest rivals older brother seems to always keep an eye on her. Although he may be attractive and always wearing his slutty cropped shirts, she can’t afford a distraction.

Nicola soon becomes annoyed with Aleks insistent need to try and help her out or guide her, which makes her feel like she doesn’t know what’s best for herself. So when her performance coach is going on leave, she doesn’t know where to go next, until her coach insists that she starts working with Aleksandr to reignite her love for tennis and to stop pushing herself so hard. Nic’s constant need to push and push and push herself stems from her mother’s refusal to be an uplifting and present parent. She feels like a failure for not winning a high title in almost 6 years and wondering if she should just throw in the towel. The voices in her head telling her she needs to train more, keep pushing and stop failing. That is until Aleks begins to notice how hard she pushing herself and finally steps in.

With his boyish charm and calming proximity, Nicola is hesitant to let him in. She has walls built so high and is determined to bet Anya, her rival and Aleks sister. Aleks is all things bright and sunshiny, reminding her a lot of Delilah (my sweet golden girl), she slowly works out an agreement with Aleksandr to train her. There are some serious bumps along the way and Nic is insistent on constantly training instead of resting, but Aleks doesn’t give up. He keeps trying to soften Nic’s edges and that‘s the kind of tough love she needed.

Alek opens up about how he retired from tennis once the pressure became too much for him, the pressure from his parents and the recovery after an injury. Aleks understood the way Nicola had become obsessed with winning and feeling this overcoming need to be the best and just wanted to show her she was enough already. That she was a champion and still had so much more left in her if she applies his rest and recovery schedule properly.

When he found her in the ice bath I was a sobbing mess. Nic letting the voices in her head win and Aleks just holding her so she felt safe and comfortable. Oh be still my beating heart. He was so soft and caring. Taking her fiery attitude and flirting back with her to through her off but also show he isn’t afraid of her rough exterior. He LIKES it when she’s mean to him hehehehe. Even when Nic threatens bodily harm with objects, Aleks can’t help but grin everytime.

Nicola feeling like she’s never anyone’s first choice is so heartbreakingly relatable. She wants to talk to her friends but also doesn’t want to be a burden, she can’t talk to her parents because they are extremely absent and unsupportive in her life and she feels likes sh’e too ‘rough around the edges’ for her soft and kind friends, feeling likes an outcast, when in reality, Aleks had seen her this whole time. Delilah loved her fiercely and so did the other girls. They adore Nic and lift her up so much but Nic struggles to feel wanted. But her mind kept telling her otherwise and I feel that to my core. I’ve been where Nic was once and having those people by your side makes the difference.

Aleks nickname for her was so perfect! He showed her that rest and recovery are important for her growth and training, learning new things about herself without tennis and fruiting with her, he was exactly what she needed in her life. They had the perfect mix of banter and bullying as flirting (mainly on Nic’s end lol) and the slowly building relationship between them was so sweet. I adored watching Nicola open herself up to Alek. he noticed her habits, the way she liked things done, her favourite blankets and how to make her feel valued after a loss. He paid attention and you could feel that through every page in this book.

Nicola fell back into her hard shell and high walls when she felt like she was being pushed aside when Aleks left her to handle her sisters, feeling likes he would always choose them over her if there was ever a choice to make, not releasing Alek had already chosen her time and time again against her family and sister’s wishes. She hadn’t realised that she was falling for Alek and that was why she felt so hurt and lost. Knowing her had broken through her barriers and made her fall back in love with tennis as well as herself. Learning and discovering things she never would have without his pushing her to rest. Alek loved her so much and you could feel that oozing out of the pages.

These tell really do have my whole heart. Nic’s story is raw and emotional and rough around the edges but you feel so soft and tender and loved at the end of it. Aleks is truely a lover boy like no other. He is gentle but firm when he needs to be. He’s patient and charming and handsome and a big flirt. He was what Nic had always needed and the way they love each other is so special and sweet. I really do love these two so so so much!

Thank you to Vai, my sweet friend for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I will never not be amazed by your brilliant mind and creativity when it comes to new romances and characters. You have outdone yourself yet again, making relatable and inspiring characters. Love you longtime girl!

[Allisyn DeGraff · Rating 4 out of 5]

*⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

✨ARC REVIEW✨

YAYYYYYY!!! ANOTHER GREAT ONE FROM VAI DENTON HERSELF!!! I basically just read Drop Shot and I while I was raving about that book, I was begging for another novel from the numerous other side characters that we were introduced to, and now I’m so glad it’s Nic and Aleksander I’m raving about!

First off let talk characters. So the main characters are Nicola and Aleksander and they were heavily giving grumpy sunshine reverse. As separate characters they were both so engaging. I have so many highlights relating to Nic because a lot of the time, she felt left out and different from her friends, event though they claimed her as a close friend and as someone they love a lot. It’s so easy to get in your head with all the things that go on in life and I felt like than was perfectly projected with Nic’s character, especially with her thought process that she should always be doing something to keep getting better. But on top of her over thinker tendencies, I love her ambition and strive to do better because it was such a motivation for myself. Also something that I loved that the author did with Nik was show her character development in the form of Aleks’ nickname. Before, when Nic was unsure of Aleks and his motives, she would called him Aleksander, however whenever she started to grow closer to him, her verbiage changed to Aleks which is a really cool way to show the character development happening as well as the connection on a deeper level between the characters.

When talking about Aleksander, man there is so much to say. First off his golden retriever personality was contagious, I don’t know if it was just me, but some of the stuff he said just made me laugh. In relation to Nic, he deserves an award. Not only did he choose her over his own sister (for valid reasons might I add), but he also showed her the kindness that she didn’t even know she needed through a variety of actions. He listened to her I ways no one else did and he was so patient with her which was so refreshing and nice to see. I loved the way the author made his character stress the importance of rest and recovery because it really is a significant part of an athlete’s routine and I feel like we don’t see that represented as much as we should, especially in books like these, where one of the two main characters are always working, practicing, or lifting without rest.

The overall plot was also really good. I feel like sometimes with romances like this, the author takes drastic measures to get the fmc and mmc together, however in this book, I feel like that forced proximity was pretty natural and wasn’t strained too much. It was great pacing and I literally never got bored. I think I also said this in my review for Drop Shot, but even though it is single POV from Nic’s perspective, which seemed skeptical at first as a lover of dual perspective, the author knows how to successfully write single perspective where both main characters are depicted equally and all their actions are clear.

Overall this was such an amazing book!! This series has so much potential and I will definitely be reading the next installments of this book series!!!

[kate (austenattachment) · Rating 5 out of 5]

had to take a moment before writing this review so i could actually try and collect my thoughts on how much i adored this book, but i don’t think i’m going to be able to express myself eloquently, so thank you in advance for bearing with me!!

nic was advertised as an unlikeable fmc, which meant i knew right off the bat that i was going to love her, adore her, be obsessed with her, etc. i was unprepared for just how much nic would touch my heart. THIS GIRL IS MY SOUL CHARACTER, OKAY? if anyone—and i mean ANYONE—comes for this girl, they’re gonna have to go through me. i am the definition of that “get behind me” meme for nic vassilakis. i LOVE HER. LOVE HER. I FEEL FOR HER. I AM HER. SHE IS ME. every single thing she thought and said had me grabbing my chest and choking back tears. she is bristly, she feels like she doesn’t belong, she’s always doubting her place in the world and if she’s doing enough, and she feels so so strongly that she is impossible to love. and watching her go through the journey of realizing that all of that does NOT make her inherently unlovable, and that in fact, people have loved her all along, was so ridiculously, healingly gorgeous. i have never seen and felt so seen, and i want to find a magician to make her real so that i can be her best friend in real life oh my god

and to have aleks, this sweet, kind, beautiful golden retriever of a man come along and 1. PROVE to nic, over and over again, never getting frustrated or angry, that she is inherently lovable and 2. that she is everything she could ever want to be and he just wants to help her achieve her dreams and be in her life cracked something open in me that i might genuinely never recover from. vai, i’m sending you my therapy bills, i love you. and the fact that aleks was needing nic just as much as she was needing him, letting him know that he didn’t need to carry the guilt and the sadness and the heaviness of his whole family’s life on his shoulders, that he was good and strong and caring has me in tears again as i write this all down. he is so unflinchingly GOOD, and you know what, aleks can get behind me too, he and nic are my babies, i’m never going to be able to move on from them

everyone needs this book so they can fall in love with nic and aleks just as much as i have. so read it, cry, and then come scream about it with me kthxbye

in kate’s keys,
— pro tennis player x rival’s brother (who’s also her strength coach, so many layers, yum)
— maybe my favorite found family ever can they adopt me???
— BANTER 👏🏻 AS 👏🏻 FOREPLAY OH MY GOD IT’S SO GOOD
— black cat fmc x golden retriever mmc
12958493/10✨

thank you to vai denton for the opportunity to receive an eARC so i could share my honest thoughts 🖤 you rock

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross Court brings out all the feels! There are two things that drew me into this book and kept me hooked! The first was the representation, throughout the story we hear about Nic’s aversion and struggle with certain situations, such as with textures and nuances. The second was Nic’s journey and internal battle with the sport she loves so much.

Nic is our FMC of the story, and it is told from her point of view. One thing I really admire about Nic is her perseverance. Throughout the story, we see her struggle with mental blocks when it comes to tennis as well as self-doubt, and other external struggles. Even with everything, Nic faces she continues to push through, which also gets her in some tough situations. As a former athlete, I completely understand her struggle on wanting to be the best she can be while still enjoying the sport and not pushing her body past its limit. I also want to circle back to Nic’s struggles with textures and social interactions. Even though it is not officially diagnosed in the book, I speculate that Nic may be on the spectrum. This is one thing that I loved about this story. Representation comes in all shapes and sizes; and for this book, to me, it represented all those who are neurodivergent without a diagnosis. This is very important as there are so many people out there that struggle in similar ways to Nic, but don’t know why. I have never seen representation shown in this manner before and I really enjoyed it.

Then we have our MMC Aleks. This man is the definition of a golden retriever and incredibly observant. I am quite obsessed with how in tune Aleks was with Nic throughout the story. There were times he knew she was in distress or needed a distraction and was able to provide it for her without her even asking. He saw her, he saw her struggles, he saw her strength, and he loved every single ounce of her. To be loved is to be seen, and Aleks sees Nic in ways no one ever has before. Another aspect of his character I really enjoyed was him opening up about his experience with the pressures to be the best and suffocating parents. This out in an extra layer of depth to his character.

Nic and Aleks’ romance grows throughout this book, it is a slow burn with tension and exploration. Each one of them learned to navigate the relationship they have formed while still staying true to themselves. Well, at the same time, they each better themselves and the way they handle situations so that they can communicate healthy and openly.

As for the plot of this book, it centered around Nic’s journey in tennis and those internal struggles we talked about. Well Nic is a very skilled player, she struggles with self-doubt and pushing herself too hard. Throughout the story, we see great character development from her; she goes from burning herself out way too much, to knowing when to take a break and enjoying life outside of tennis. From beginning to end, we see her grow in her confidence, her well-being, her relationship, and her relationships. It was a beautiful journey to read, and I loved every second.

If you were looking for a sports center, opposites attract book, then you need to pick up Cross Court. This book is super cute, brings the feels and humor, and leaves you wanting more. I recommend!

[Melissa卌⸆⸉ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the first book of the Off-Court series, there was no doubt it’d be my favourite of the series. Well, let me tell you how much I was very wrong. I read this book so fast so it tells me how much I loved it. When I knew it was Nic’s book I was so excited because I loved her so much in the first one.

I also love how Vai Denton don’t make romance books around a sport (here tennis) like a lot of romances are, she makes the sport in first plan. It makes it so real, it feels so real. I felt like watching a movie or a tv show when I read this. But also, there’s so many feelings in this that are above romantic love and sports.

Nic was already one of my favourite characters in the first book and I was way too excited to see her fall in love, be in her head. And I was so right. She made me feel so many emotions. She deserved better from her parents than what she got. I never felt so much alike to a character in some other ways too. I felt her disappointments, her failures, what made her happy, cry, frustrated. Everything. She’s definitely gonna stay one of my favourite FMC of all time.

*light spoilers in this paragraph* Aleksandr, or Aleks was such a cutie. The way he noticed everything. Like how she fidget, how she can be uncomfortable, mad, angry, sad... Everything. He could read her so well because he was so in love with her since he met her? I wish I had someone like that. The way he constantly opently flirted with her? The way he was so deeply in love with her? He literally told her how he saw himself married with kids before they even dated? Live, love, laugh Aleksandr Morozov.

I loved seeing Delilah again and all the other characters. Even though I wished we’d had more of Matteo. I loved seeing Harper and Sahar, even all the others. They’re all an amazing group of friends. I wish I was good enough at tennis and fictional to be friends with them.

Just in case you didn’t understood it, I loved this novel so much and if you love a good sport romance book then go for it because it’s more than worth it, this series deserves everything more than anything. I’m so excited for the two next books of this series (saw it’s Harper next)!

Mark your calendars for March 26th or pre-order it now.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, wow… I loved this book SO much. Like, somehow even more than the first one?

Vai Denton just gets it. The way she writes emotions always hits, and this one felt so raw and real. Nic and Aleks completely took over my heart and I’m not even mad about it.

Nic was such a highlight for me, and not just because the story is from her POV. She’s tough and a little closed off, but underneath that she’s struggling so much; with burnout, pressure, and feeling like she’s never enough. That inner battle felt so real. Watching her slowly learn to take care of herself (instead of just pushing harder and harder) was honestly really emotional.

And Aleks… yeah, I’m obsessed. He’s such a golden retriever but also super intuitive and steady in a way Nic really needed. The way he notices everything about her? It was perfect and exactly what she needed, even if she did not know it. He sees her when no one else really does. He’s soft but still knows when to push her, and I loved that balance so much.

Their dynamic was EVERYTHING. Grumpy/sunshine, but make it a little reversed. The banter, the tension, the way they slowly open up to each other... it just worked. The romance is definitely a slow burn, but it feels natural and earned, which made it even better.

Also, I really appreciated how much focus was put on rest and recovery. You don’t always see that in sports romances, and it added so much depth to Nic’s journey. The tennis felt real and important, not just a backdrop. I learned so much about the sport too, and you can tell Vai does her research and knows the sport well.

This book gave me all the feelings. It’s emotional, a little angsty, but also really soft and healing by the end. Nic’s journey especially is going to stick with me for a long time. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series!

Thank you to Vai Denton for the eARC of this book.

[Nashrah (Taylor’s Version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was written by someone who loves reading, which meant I absolutely loved it myself. I really enjoyed how our characters were funny, wholesome, heartbreaking, empowering, cocky, and real. Sometimes characters in a romance book can be reduced to a trope, an yes whilst those were absolutely at play here I was invested in these characters because they didn't feel like caricatures.

Nic clearly is someone with a lot of baggage, and I liked how it wasn't portrayed as irrational. Her resistance to Aleks is treated really well. It is a balancing act between Nic's feelings and her logic, personally I loved how the author handled that. Nic is self aware, but there are still things she struggles with, and it is extremely validating to see her process that as mature adult through the course of the book.

Aleks, ugh, I love him, I want him, I really enjoyed him. He was there to facilitate Nic's story and that is exactly what he does and it is a lot of fun to read. He is the right amount of cocky and endearing. He knows when to push Nic and when to step back, he knows to never give up. It is so hot to me how he is able to read Nic, I really ate it up.

The sport is central to the narrative and it is never boring, she didn't lose me on court, which is a more common occurrence in sport romances that you'd think

I really enjoyed the banter between them. They were really good together, I had a great time.

This was technically written spectacularly, and I was also in the right mood to read it. I loved it. I will re-read over and over again for years to come. And since this was the first Vai Denton book I read, I am now going to go attack her back log. Happy reading, hope you love it as much as I did xx

ARC review

[Logan Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I've always found uncharted territory daunting. But for the first time in my life, I allow myself to sink into it."

While I am still a firm believer that books with less than 300 pages don't allow for readers to truly relate and get to know the characters, I found that I was still able to find ways to connect with both Nic and Aleks. Especially in their relationships with friends, family, and a sport. Aleks, while we didn't get his POV until the very end, I was still able to relate to his feelings in regards to tennis. He grew up loving the sport and enjoying it, but grew to resent it due to the overbearingness of his parents and their wish for him to be the best. They viewed him as a meal ticket of sorts and not as their child excelling at something they enjoy doing. Nic has a similar background where her mother only speaks to her when she is doing something well, like winning. She begins to have this sense of self that can be really damaging to any type of athlete at any age: I mean nothing unless I am winning.

I really enjoyed getting to read more about Nic and her relationship not only to friends and tennis, but her budding relationship with Aleks. I loved getting to see her find a safe space where she could truly be herself without filters and knew that he would love her anyway.

I gave this 4 stars only because I would've liked to get more of their forming relationship and a dual POV. It felt like it went from her loathing him to them being increasingly intimate within a few chapters, and it felt a tad abrupt at times when realizing how far I was in the book and how intense things were feeling. Still great writing and beautiful characters!

[emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author, Vai Denton for giving me the opportunity to read and review this arc!

If you’re looking for reverse grumpy x sunshine, rivals brother, coach x player, and some found family—look no further!!! I absolutely fell in love with the characters in this story. Once I got about 30% into it I could not put it down. Cross Court is extremely fast paced and flirty.

Aleksandr is definitely a golden retriever mmc. His flirty banter with Nic will have your jaw dropped at some points and make you smile. The way he takes care of Nic by getting her some of her favorite treats from home, giving her a nickname, and always putting her needs first was to die for. The tennis sports romance is definitely a huge part of the story so if you’re into that, PLEASE PICK THIS UP I BEG YOU.

Vai did an amazing job at representing Nic’s mental health as well. The way she conveyed it made it so realistic and relatable. This helps readers feel very connected to the story and characters. The characters felt so real in Cross Court and made me feel like I was really in the story with them. This also made me feel very gravitated towards the found family aspects of the story, and I know you will too.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get out of a slump. It is super fast paced and Aleksandr is so perfectly dreamy and flirty. If you’re looking for a “she’s the athlete” strong fmc, Nic is perfect for you too. Her determination and power is so inspiring. The tennis in this book plays a large role in the story too, so it was fun for me to learn about the sport.

[Vee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book from Vai and I AM A FAN! I LOVED the writing, the plot, the story, the depth, the characters—EVERYTHING was fucking fantastic! I teared up many times while reading this story. The angst was so well done.

I thought I was biased toward books with POVs from both MCs, BUT I was definitely wrong. Cross Cross is a single POV and is no doubt one of my FAVS! It also made me realize that single POV has its own charm. I LOVED seeing the whole story from Nic's POV and I didn’t even felt the need for Aleks’ POV because Nic's was more than enough to show how utterly whipped Aleks was. He felt like sunshine. I LOVED him.

From their first interaction, I knew it was going to be so interesting and I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. Nic giving black cat energy and resisting and pushing Aleks away… BUT DID THAT MAN BACK DOWN!? NO. He was just as stubborn as her and I LOVED IT. He kept showing up. I LOVED their banter. I LOVED their flirting. I LOVED their vulnerable moments with each other. (ofc I am a sucker for those) I LOOOOOVED the way Aleks read Nic so thoroughly. I loved how he could see the real her behind her mask. It’s always heart-warming to witness moments like that. I also LOVED how Aleks handled situations. The way he kept on reassuring Nic that she is his first priority. He’s EVERYTHING Nic needed. My heart hurt for Nic, and seeing her finally get the love she deserves felt amazing. AAAAAH.

I’m so glad I signed up for the ARC. I think I really needed a story like this today. LOVE IT <33

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in one sitting - what more is there to say?

When I read Drop Shot in January, I fell in love with Vai’s writing style so much that I couldn’t wait for Cross Court. Getting an ARC of this book is honestly one of the nicest things that has happened to me so far this year. Especially because it didn’t disappoint me at all - if anything, in my opinion it even surpassed Drop Shot.

Nic and Aleks completely stole my heart. I’ll admit I’m a bit biased because I already have a weakness for Russian MMCs, and especially for romantic nicknames in Russian. But even with that bias, I truly think Aleks was a perfect protagonist - not only is he a green flag, he’s basically an entire green forest.

I also really liked Nic. I loved the way Vai portrayed her inner state and the pressure she feels - she managed to make her feel very real. Their banter was exactly my type of humor, and I enjoyed every single moment of it.

Just like in the previous book, the tennis was described perfectly - you can really tell that Vai has a genuine passion for the sport and isn’t just writing about it because it’s trendy. The spicy scenes worked perfectly for me as well. I think they were seamlessly integrated into the story and didn’t feel like they were there just because spice is popular, but actually contributed to the plot.

Overall, I don’t have a single complaint. I can’t wait to read Kick Serve.

I highly recommend this book and the entire series.

Thank you Vai for an arc copy and a chance to read it before the release date.

[Arianne (morenathereader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review - Cross Court by Vai Denton 🎾

Star rating: 4 🌟
Spice rating: 3 🌶️

Cross Court is the 2nd book in the Off Court series by Vai Denton, and this was just such a great read through and through.

Vai Denton is amazing at writing complicated characters and characters in tough situations. I personally relate so much to Nic; I was almost scared. Nic is just so lonely, desperate to feel loved by her family. Her being on the spectrum, being socially awkward, hyperanalyzing everything, and then torturing herself for it was conveyed so well by the author.

Nic’s so used to feeling unseen and being no one’s priority that she can’t recognize it even when someone’s actually there trying to care for her. Enter Aleks Morosov, who’s just down bad Nic, and she won’t let him.

I desperately want an Aleks POV because he’s also dealing with things with his own family that I think would’ve made the story so much more interesting than it already is. Aleks and Nic’s interactions have me squealing to the moon; I have to restrain myself from fangirling in the author’s inbox.

What is it about authors’ love for writing muscled Russian men with necklaces they never take off and are also expert yearners? I eat them up every time! 😜

Anyway, I love Nic’s growth throughout the story, and how the author examines what athletes go through to be the best at their game.

This is definitely a recommended read, especially if you’re a fan of sports romance like Deep End by Ali Hazelwood. 💗

Thank you so much to Vai Denton for providing this ARC for me to review. 🥰

[Gabby S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars!! I had an absolute blast reading this! I enjoyed Drop Shot but Cross Court might be my favorite one in the series. In this book we are following Nicola, who 1000% prefers being called Nic and has been struggling to love tennis, and Aleksandr, who is a performance coach and is literally obsessed with Nic. After Nic’s performance coach had to take an unexpected leave, none other than Aleks offers his services to Nic. The only problem is that Nic does not trust Aleks one bit, especially since he’s the brother to her number one rival, Anya. After starting a trial run, the connection between Nic and Aleks grows as they begin to understand each other a bit more.

I was eating this story up! I have to say I really connected to Nic a lot, her internal struggle of not ever feeling like she’s fitting in and struggling to maintain close relationships hit home. I really appreciate how well both Nic’s struggle and Aleks struggle were handled throughout the book. I loved their banter and how down bad Aleks was for Nic. I really enjoyed the tennis aspect too, I do not play tennis at all and don’t know the rules or anything BUT I felt really immersed when the matches were going. I also think that the side characters were beautifully developed, loved seeing Delilah again and I did not like Anya (which is how you know she was developed wonderfully) This was a wonderful, quick read and I loved the ending so very much, I think these two characters will hold a special place in my heart for sure.

[Jennifer Riis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read if you love:
Sports romance - tennis
Forced proximity
Rivals brother
Quiet/Reserved FMC
Sunshine MMC
He falls first

Aleks ability to show up for Nic every single time really has him winning all of us over. Doesn’t matter that his sister is Nic’s biggest rival, he chooses Nic in every situation while being able to show up for his other siblings who need guidance in their tennis careers.

Nic shelters herself and heart from everyone, despite wanting to be seen and accepted. “I claim I want to be prioritized, but when someone finally does that, I don’t allow them to.”
We do see her open up a bit with the group of tennis gals, and lean in to learning new things about herself, rather than only having an identity of Nic the Tennis Player (who may have peaked early on in her career…). I think in terms of her ability to get out of her own head during her matches, she has some really solid character growth as an athlete. We also see it reflected in her friendships and her relationship with Aleks.

However, it’s hard to love Nic as she closes herself off, and is self aware enough to know when she does it. I don’t love how mean she is to Aleks, even if it’s his kink. Aleks does know when and how to push her to support her performance and training, and they do work well together.

Find yourself an Aleks who is always in your box cheering you on!

4 ⭐️
1 🌶️

Thank you Vai for this eARC! Can’t wait for Harper’s book!

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and easy read for me! I was introduced to Nicola and Aleksandr and many other characters in this series of tennis players. The storyline and excitement came with waves. If you’re looking for a true black cat x golden retriever trope, this book is definitely worth the read. I loved the idea of Aleks being her biggest rival’s brother, that sense of forbidden love always gets me excited!! There were moments where I kept reading until I was tired but never wanted to put my phone down, and there were other days where I struggled to get into the story itself.

I would have loved to see things go a bit slow with their timing and attraction for each other. Build up a better foundation as couch and player, but some moments felt rushed. I didn’t feel the climb of emotions, but I loved the little moments or Aleks really paying attention to Nic’s body language and her words. That attentiveness is sexy in a guy, and I love to see it. Their chemistry was there, I just wanted to see a little bit more.

While Nic is not my favorite type of character, I understand why she is the way she is and I think that’s important. That pressure is eating away at her, the anger, the guilt, everything was pushing her down and she reacts a certain way to protect the little thing she has of herself and I applaud the author for showing the struggles and really fleshing her out!

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

eng:

Nic is a tennis player who feels increasingly uncomfortable on the court, and people expect a lot from her (especially since she's the daughter of a famous tennis player). Her coach has to stop coaching her due to a family issue, and that's where Aleks, the brother of her biggest rival (and coach), comes in. Aleks offers to coach her since he's been watching her compete for a while and believes he can help her reach her full potential. Nic accepts his help, though only for a couple of months, but Aleks will show her that he's been interested in her for some time. In the end, Nic accepts that she doesn't need her parents' approval since they've never cared about her, and her only family are her friends, her team, and Aleks.

——————————

esp:

Nic es una tenista que cada vez se siente menos agusto jugando y la gente le pide mucho (sobretodo al se hija de una tenista famosa) Su entrenadora tiene que dejar de entrenarla por un problema familiar y ahí entra Aleks, hermano de su maxima rival (y coach) Aleks se ofrece como su coach ya que la lleva viendo tiempo competir y cree que puede ayudarla a sacar todo su potencial. Nic acepta su ayuda aunque solo un par de meses, pero Aleks le demostrará que lleva tiempo interesado en ella. Al final Nic acepta que no necesita la validación de sus padres ya que nunca se han preocupado por ella y su unica familia son sus amigos, su equipo y Aleks.

[Haley Bockius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Vai Denton for the opportunity to read an eARC of Cross Court, the second book in the Off Court series.

This was such a fun read, and the pacing made it really easy to fly through. I found myself hooked from the start.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the banter between Nic and Aleks. Their back-and-forth kept the tension building, and when the spice finally came, it felt worth the wait. I also really loved how relatable Nic was. Her tough exterior was well justified by the internal struggles she faced. Denton did a great job writing those moments in a way that felt very real, and I found myself constantly rooting for Nic as she worked through everything.

I enjoyed getting little bits of Delilah in this book as well. Since I loved her in the first book, it was nice to see more of her friendship with Nic. Found family is one of my favorite tropes in sports romances, and it was done really well in this book.

I usually prefer dual point of view in romance, but Denton has a way of writing that keeps me completely invested even with a single POV. That said, I did really love the epilogue from Aleks’s perspective, just like in the first book.

Overall, this was another great read that I definitely recommend. Vai Denton is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors, and I’m really excited to see what she writes next!

[Kaiti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous tennis romance from Vai! I love her writing style, despite normally not liking one POV in romances. Her books perfectly balance the romance with the sport, and her characters make the logical choice of focusing more on their sport than romance when the situation calls for it which I appreciate.
Nic is such a complex character, and the depth of her character development was vital to the story. The way she treated herself and acted around others made sense when given her background and internal thoughts. I found myself hurting for her, cheering for her, and smiling with her in equal measure.
Aleks was the sunshine to Nic’s grumpiness, but he was so much more than just that. His sunshine was clearly at times a mask or coping mechanism, and he was carrying much more than initially met the eye. Something else he was carrying? A torch for Nic! This was a boy obsessed for sure, he found Nic to be spectacular and wanted so badly to support her and help her succeed.
I really appreciated the relationship development, which felt natural and not rushed. There was clear chemistry and mutual respect coupled with overall great communication despite high stress situations. I think this book is perfect for anyone who is a fan or sports romance or loves reverse grumpy sunshine!

[Madison Miller-Dorjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Cross Court by Val Denton! Nic was already such a complex, layered character in book one, but getting to follow her story here (and finally understand why she is the way she is) made me love her even more. At her core, she just wants to be someone’s first choice and someone her parents can be proud of, and I think we can all relate to that a bit. There were so many moments where I just wanted to reach through the pages, hug her, and remind her that she is enough and deserves the world.

And then there’s Aleksandr. From the moment he sees Nic, he is completely gone for her, and I loved every second of it. Between the slutty t-shirts, the quiet persistence, and the way he brings her snacks that remind her of happier times in Greece, he’s just… everything. He doesn’t just care about Nic. He cares deeply about his family, especially his younger siblings. Even when you can feel Nic’s frustration and anger toward him, it’s impossible to hate Aleks. He’s genuinely one of the sweetest, most earnest love interests I’ve read in a while.

Nic’s story made me emotional more than once. Like I said, she truly deserves the world. And the family dynamics, especially between Aleks and his sister, added another layer of tension and conflict that made the story feel even more real.

This book gave me angst, tenderness, banter, and so much heart.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!!

This book was so so so cute. I love the rival’s brother trope.

I’ve gotten very fond of tennis romances recently and this one was just as good. It was fast paced, easy to follow and easy to fall in love with all the characters. Aleks character was written so well, and his family background was perfect for the story. The way he treats Nic is perfect and I just love them. Nic’s character reminds me a lot of myself- gives off very neurodivergent vibes and I love the way this aspect of her is written.

I love the team of friends she has behind her and how supportive they all are. I can’t wait to read the first in this series and the next one coming out next year!!

thank you so much for an arc copy Vai!

favourite quotes:

"I'm simply trying to figure out if the reason you're calling me if because you're flustered by his 'slutty little t-shirt'"
"such sharp words from someone who couldn't take her eyes off me when I walked through the gate"
"he watched me like he can see in me what most can't. What I try so hard to hide from the world."
"Short of trauma-induced amnesia, there is nothing in this world that could make me forget you."
"I wouldn't know my own name, but I'd know the different shades of gray of your eyes"

[Portia Citlali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about the mother wound!! 💔

I really liked Nic as the FMC. She can be frustrating at times, but as her layers unravel, you start to understand her. Why she’s so guarded, why she pushes herself to the brink, why she punishes herself the way she does. At her core, she just wants to be seen, accepted, chosen and that emotional thread runs through everything she does.

Aleks comes in as both a trainer and a fellow player who’s lived through similar pressures. He connects with Nic in a way no one else can, and what I appreciated most is that he isn’t intimidated by her sharp edges. He meets her there, with patience, understanding, and empathy.

Together, they navigate the brutal demands of pro tennis 🎾 while carrying the weight of their pasts. It’s not just about winning matches, it’s about survival, healing, and confronting the emotional scars left by family and expectation.

I loved their dynamic, and even though Nic was exasperating at certain points, the more you knew about how she grew up the more you began to understand her. Aaaand getting the last chapter through Aleks POV was just chef's kiss. 👩‍🍳💋

Tennis Romance
Found Family
Rival's Brother
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
Dislike to Love

Single POV

I wanted to thank Vai Denton for this ARC!

[bookswithmish · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my god! dare i say a new favourite sport romance!? who knew i needed some tennis in my life 🤭💘🎾

this is such a raw, unfiltered life in the cut throat reality of the tennis world! we follow nic who is struggling with overworking herself to the point of burnout in the hope that she will win a grand slam. i see so much of myself in nic - grumpy, stubborn, constantly seeking validation, self-doubt & struggling in social settings. and she is such a strong, worthy character and watching her perseverance shine through, overcoming mental blocks and overall growth, made my heart feel so full!

and now we have aleks, her rival’s older brother who becomes her performance coach 🤭 talk about MESSY! and let’s just say he’s obsessed & incredibly observant with a certain someone… he sees her so wholly, and knows what she’s going to do before she even knows.

it was such a beautiful slow burn, full of tension, emotional depth, growth & compassion. & when they’re together it’s magic, it’s fireworks, it’s everything. they are truly the definition of perfection for each other!

i kid you not, i was smiling SO hard towards the end! it just gets you in the feels & builds up to a crescendo where you feel elated, overjoyed & with a heart that is about to burst!

if you need something to binge & a little bit different from the norm sport romances! this is PERFECT for you!

thank you for allowing me to arc read for you Vai 🫶🏼

[Adriana Luzia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nic and Aleks' story was captivating and motivational. Despite being a tennis romance, it was really easy to understand everything that was going on without needing specialized knowledge about the sport.

It is well paced chronological, making it easy to follow along.
All the action and moments between them, as well as in Nic's personal life, feel well organized.
The writing is concise, easy to read, giving the reader clear visuals about the games, training, the dynamics between the friendgroup and families, and the different locations we're taken to.

The dialogues and the relationship build-up were so amusing, the banter felt fun and relatable. Aleks' sense of humor, his sharp flirting and Nic's closed-off but almost bratty comebacks made me smile like a fool.

''𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦?'' 𝘐 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵.
𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘬𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳'𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴. ''𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺. 𝘎𝘭𝘢𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯.''

I really liked it, and I'm definitely adding more tennis romances to my shelves after this.

𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first novel from Vai and I’m definitely going to be reading more from her.

This was such a sweet and very relatable story - I feel we all have things we are afraid of doing or afraid of failing. Nic and Aleks start out as “enemies “ but soon become each other’s everything. Throughout this novel we see so many lessons and see these characters grow. It’s so beautiful and I’m so happy I got to witness the growth, the love the development of relationships. Also I learned a bit more about tennis than what I’ve initially known about this sport. It was cool to read about the whole process what these athletes have to do to get prepared for their games.

Overall, I learned that you never get up but you also deserve to give yourself grace and rest. That choosing who or what you love is sometimes the best decision even if it may hurt others and their feelings.

If you love
- sports romance
- rivalry
- found family
- love
And soooo much more - you will absolutely love and enjoy this wonderful book! 10/10 recommend!

Thank you so much for this arc! I’m so grateful to have been able to read this early! :)

[sydney lemmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

big thank you to Vai Denton for the advanced reader copy!


an amazing 4.5 stars for this one!

this was my first book by vai denton and it will certainly not be my last. as someone who played tennis for 10 years, i’m a sucker for a tennis romance and have struggled to find one with a good romance/tennis balance. the books either don’t have enough tennis ~stuff~ (i feel like most people don’t want to read about it BUT I DOOOO!!) or don’t have enough romance but cross court was the PERFECT story!

i felt so connected to this story because it felt so realistic when it came to expectations and pushing yourself to be better on the court, but also losing that passion that made you play in the first place.

“for the love of the game.” BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE!!!

i absolutely ate up this book and enjoyed every second of it. i do wish it was dual POV because i was itching to have another Russian baby to obsess over his backstory about but getting his POV epilogue was chefs kiss.

i will definitely be going back and reading the first book by vai and be counting down the days until book 3 comes out!