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The Off Court #2
Cross Court
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.
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.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2026
35 people are currently reading
1031 people want to read
About the author
Vai Denton
6 books133 followersVai Denton is an American author, romance enthusiast—especially if sports are involved—and book lover. She has spent much of her life struggling to find her identity between her two cultures, using books as a sanctuary. Her hope is that her stories provide readers with the escape she once sought. In each of her books, you can expect swoony, healthy relationships that will have you kicking your feet.
If she's not reading or writing about love, you'll find her 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
April 19, 2026
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 5 stars
you all knew this was coming.
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
i have been dying to read this one after i knew this was full of banter, an 'unlikeable' fmc, and he wears a chain 😋 i wanted to go back and read drop shot first, and it was the best choice!!! i can already tell what couples i'm gonna see and i'm so excited!!! am 20% in this one alr and i see myself in nic SO deeply and ik this will become a favourite of mine!!
↪ started april 1
thank you vai for the digital arc
you all knew this was coming.
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
i have been dying to read this one after i knew this was full of banter, an 'unlikeable' fmc, and he wears a chain 😋 i wanted to go back and read drop shot first, and it was the best choice!!! i can already tell what couples i'm gonna see and i'm so excited!!! am 20% in this one alr and i see myself in nic SO deeply and ik this will become a favourite of mine!!
↪ started april 1
thank you vai for the digital arc
Want to Read
April 1, 2026soft dnf for now. i’ll be back with this soon
┆ ⤿ 🎾 ⌗ 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
┆ ⤿ 🎾 ⌗ 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
March 27, 2026
જ⁀➴ 4.5 stars
Thank you to Vai Denton for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Cross Court is out now!
˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾
I had a feeling that Nic and Alek's story would come after Drop Shot, and boy, were my instincts right! I was already so excited to read their story going in, and it delivered. I've never highlighted so many quotes and giggled and kicked my feet in the air at so many moments throughout the story, and I think Nic and Aleks might be my favorite book couple I've read about this year so far!
Nicola Vassilakis is constantly close, but never close enough. Known for getting to the larger tennis tournaments and matches but never being able to close out to win a championship in the last few years she's been on the professional tennis scene, she's struggling to find her stride. As she continuously pushes herself on and off the court, burning out is making her realize that she's losing her love for the sport. Enter Aleksandr Morozov, her rival's older brother, who's now suddenly on her coaching team as her conditioning coach, who's pushing her to do basically the exact opposite of everything she's been doing so far. Will her love of the game come back, and what is she going to do about her feelings for Aleks, considering he's related to her enemy?
Okay, first off, I need a moment to talk about the ATTENTION TO DETAIL on the cover art. From Nic's ear piercings and her freckles to Aleks's chain he wears around his neck and even the way his t-shirt rides up just a teeny bit (which is relevant in the story when it comes to Nic, I swear it's not only just because he's lifting his arm in the art lol), whoever the cover artist is...YOU KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. IT'S FANTASTIC.
The one book that the plot loosely reminded me of was Racing Hearts by Ann Adams; if you've read that book and absolutely loved it as much as I do, PLEASE READ THIS! There are a lot of parallels between Kath and Nic and Adrian and Aleks that I found while reading, and while this review is (obviously) about Nic and Aleks, it's something I had to point out if anyone is looking for a comparison book that also came out somewhat recently.
I absolutely loved Nic's drive to constantly be better. Granted, a lot of this comes from the fact that her mother was a former star tennis player, and she's constantly having to live in her shadow because everyone is constantly comparing her to her mom. Her drive and motivation reminded me of myself and my own motivation to constantly be better at everything I do, and it was something I could relate to. It sometimes makes her come off as cold, but I don't think that's a bad thing; she's just determined and focused with her eyes on the prize. I mean, I don't blame her- she's so determined to win a championship and prove everything that anyone's said about her wrong.
With Aleks, I loved how he was the complete opposite of Nic, but balanced her out perfectly. I know this is typical with the grumpy/black cat X sunshine/golden retriever dynamic we see in romance books sometimes, but Aleks truly was the reason Nic got better at tennis, despite every fiber of her being telling her that it was counterintuitive. He was funny, easy-going, and still pushed Nic physically to be a better tennis player. He put up with Nic's opposition to everything he wanted her to do at first and read the room whenever she just wanted to do her own thing. He was always there when she needed him and most importantly, he never stopped believing in her, even when the world did. I think that's my favorite quality about him- even with his three siblings, all of whom also play tennis, he was always rooting for everyone to succeed.
I think that the story did a fantastic job at discussing burnout and what it means to truly be a champion, and this is what I loved most about the story. The same concept is discussed in lots of other stories, sure, so it's not like it's a foreign concept. However, I think it has so much relevance in today's world with the concept of hustle culture and wanting to be at the top of your game all the time. Nic and Aleks have discussions like this here and there throughout the story, and I think a lot of great discussion points were brought up. What happens once you reach the top? What will you do once you achieve all your goals? When do you stop moving the goalposts for yourself? Most importantly, are you happy with what you're doing now? Are you doing things out of obligation or for the sake of it, or are you doing it because you love the game? Is your happiness solely derived from the idea of being on top and winning, and what happens if you're not where you need to be? I think once Nic started finding new things she loved, she realized that the drive to win isn't the only thing that makes her happy, and Aleks helped her come to that conclusion.
I also have to mention that I loved the little cameos of Delilah and Matteo, Austin, Harper, and the rest of Nic's friend group throughout the story! I love how Delilah's still a ray of sunshine, Matteo's just happy to be there, and Austin's still hilarious. (P.S. WHEN ARE WE GETTING A BOOK ABOUT AUSTIN?)
The only thing I took half a star off for isn't something that entirely ruined my reading experience, but I would've loved to get to see a bit of, was Alek's POV. I knew going into reading this that it would be a single POV from Nic, but I would've LOVED to see a few chapters here and there from Alek's POV just to see what he's thinking this entire time. Like, seriously, how did he ALWAYS know where Nic was going to be without having a tracking device on her or her location in Find My Friends or the Snap Map or whatever he uses on his phone? Is he just psychic like that?
Overall, this was a fantastic read and Vai Denton is becoming one of my new favorite indie authors to read from! Seriously, she's getting up there with Chelsea Curto; I think she's destined for great things one day, mark my words. I can't wait for the other two books in the Off Court series, and I'll be patiently waiting for the third book coming out next year!
˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾
Thank you to Vai Denton for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Cross Court is out now!
"I have endless faith in you. You're utterly spectacular."
˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾
I had a feeling that Nic and Alek's story would come after Drop Shot, and boy, were my instincts right! I was already so excited to read their story going in, and it delivered. I've never highlighted so many quotes and giggled and kicked my feet in the air at so many moments throughout the story, and I think Nic and Aleks might be my favorite book couple I've read about this year so far!
Nicola Vassilakis is constantly close, but never close enough. Known for getting to the larger tennis tournaments and matches but never being able to close out to win a championship in the last few years she's been on the professional tennis scene, she's struggling to find her stride. As she continuously pushes herself on and off the court, burning out is making her realize that she's losing her love for the sport. Enter Aleksandr Morozov, her rival's older brother, who's now suddenly on her coaching team as her conditioning coach, who's pushing her to do basically the exact opposite of everything she's been doing so far. Will her love of the game come back, and what is she going to do about her feelings for Aleks, considering he's related to her enemy?
Okay, first off, I need a moment to talk about the ATTENTION TO DETAIL on the cover art. From Nic's ear piercings and her freckles to Aleks's chain he wears around his neck and even the way his t-shirt rides up just a teeny bit (which is relevant in the story when it comes to Nic, I swear it's not only just because he's lifting his arm in the art lol), whoever the cover artist is...YOU KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. IT'S FANTASTIC.
The one book that the plot loosely reminded me of was Racing Hearts by Ann Adams; if you've read that book and absolutely loved it as much as I do, PLEASE READ THIS! There are a lot of parallels between Kath and Nic and Adrian and Aleks that I found while reading, and while this review is (obviously) about Nic and Aleks, it's something I had to point out if anyone is looking for a comparison book that also came out somewhat recently.
I absolutely loved Nic's drive to constantly be better. Granted, a lot of this comes from the fact that her mother was a former star tennis player, and she's constantly having to live in her shadow because everyone is constantly comparing her to her mom. Her drive and motivation reminded me of myself and my own motivation to constantly be better at everything I do, and it was something I could relate to. It sometimes makes her come off as cold, but I don't think that's a bad thing; she's just determined and focused with her eyes on the prize. I mean, I don't blame her- she's so determined to win a championship and prove everything that anyone's said about her wrong.
With Aleks, I loved how he was the complete opposite of Nic, but balanced her out perfectly. I know this is typical with the grumpy/black cat X sunshine/golden retriever dynamic we see in romance books sometimes, but Aleks truly was the reason Nic got better at tennis, despite every fiber of her being telling her that it was counterintuitive. He was funny, easy-going, and still pushed Nic physically to be a better tennis player. He put up with Nic's opposition to everything he wanted her to do at first and read the room whenever she just wanted to do her own thing. He was always there when she needed him and most importantly, he never stopped believing in her, even when the world did. I think that's my favorite quality about him- even with his three siblings, all of whom also play tennis, he was always rooting for everyone to succeed.
I think that the story did a fantastic job at discussing burnout and what it means to truly be a champion, and this is what I loved most about the story. The same concept is discussed in lots of other stories, sure, so it's not like it's a foreign concept. However, I think it has so much relevance in today's world with the concept of hustle culture and wanting to be at the top of your game all the time. Nic and Aleks have discussions like this here and there throughout the story, and I think a lot of great discussion points were brought up. What happens once you reach the top? What will you do once you achieve all your goals? When do you stop moving the goalposts for yourself? Most importantly, are you happy with what you're doing now? Are you doing things out of obligation or for the sake of it, or are you doing it because you love the game? Is your happiness solely derived from the idea of being on top and winning, and what happens if you're not where you need to be? I think once Nic started finding new things she loved, she realized that the drive to win isn't the only thing that makes her happy, and Aleks helped her come to that conclusion.
I also have to mention that I loved the little cameos of Delilah and Matteo, Austin, Harper, and the rest of Nic's friend group throughout the story! I love how Delilah's still a ray of sunshine, Matteo's just happy to be there, and Austin's still hilarious. (P.S. WHEN ARE WE GETTING A BOOK ABOUT AUSTIN?)
The only thing I took half a star off for isn't something that entirely ruined my reading experience, but I would've loved to get to see a bit of, was Alek's POV. I knew going into reading this that it would be a single POV from Nic, but I would've LOVED to see a few chapters here and there from Alek's POV just to see what he's thinking this entire time. Like, seriously, how did he ALWAYS know where Nic was going to be without having a tracking device on her or her location in Find My Friends or the Snap Map or whatever he uses on his phone? Is he just psychic like that?
Overall, this was a fantastic read and Vai Denton is becoming one of my new favorite indie authors to read from! Seriously, she's getting up there with Chelsea Curto; I think she's destined for great things one day, mark my words. I can't wait for the other two books in the Off Court series, and I'll be patiently waiting for the third book coming out next year!
˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾 ೀ⋆🎾｡˚˚ ༘🎾
March 24, 2026
˗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!!
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!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 ⭐️ (arc)
let me introduce you to a new power couple – Nicola Vassilakis & Aleksandr Morozov. the daughter of a former world number one tennis player, who’s trying her best to keep up with people’s expectations for her & her rival’s (charming as hell) brother, who ends up being her performance coach.
Nic wants NOTHING to do with Aleks but he’s determined to prove her wrong in more than one way. sounds like a disaster waiting to happen? well, that’s for me to know & for you to find out…
all i can say without spoiling is that this book had me SAT. as a sports romance girlie i was hooked from the very first chapter & couldn’t put it down, which lead me to binging it one sitting.
Nic having such a black cat energy was everything. i loved how unapologetic & determined she was. it was easy to fall in love with her character not only because of her positive traits but also because of all the cracks that made her HER.
Aleks on the other hand was a complete opposite of Nic. he gave total golden retriever vibes & i absolutely ate it up. i was giggling & kicking my feet whenever he opened his mouth & couldn’t get enough of him. new book boyfriend added to the list for sure. seeing him lift up Nic every single step of the way & not be deterred by her coldness was truly beautiful. i loved how supportive he was & how healing their relationship turned out to be not only for Nic but for Aleks too.
might be hyper fixating on them for a while because… DAMN.
𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 was my first read by Vai Denton & i can honestly say, it won’t be my last. consider me a new fan from now on. 🫡
i highly recommend reading this book if you love:
🎾 sports romance
🤍 black cat x golden retriever
🎾 rival’s brother
🤍 found family
🎾 hot af mmc who will have you panting
thank you to the author for providing me with an arc!
let me introduce you to a new power couple – Nicola Vassilakis & Aleksandr Morozov. the daughter of a former world number one tennis player, who’s trying her best to keep up with people’s expectations for her & her rival’s (charming as hell) brother, who ends up being her performance coach.
Nic wants NOTHING to do with Aleks but he’s determined to prove her wrong in more than one way. sounds like a disaster waiting to happen? well, that’s for me to know & for you to find out…
all i can say without spoiling is that this book had me SAT. as a sports romance girlie i was hooked from the very first chapter & couldn’t put it down, which lead me to binging it one sitting.
Nic having such a black cat energy was everything. i loved how unapologetic & determined she was. it was easy to fall in love with her character not only because of her positive traits but also because of all the cracks that made her HER.
Aleks on the other hand was a complete opposite of Nic. he gave total golden retriever vibes & i absolutely ate it up. i was giggling & kicking my feet whenever he opened his mouth & couldn’t get enough of him. new book boyfriend added to the list for sure. seeing him lift up Nic every single step of the way & not be deterred by her coldness was truly beautiful. i loved how supportive he was & how healing their relationship turned out to be not only for Nic but for Aleks too.
might be hyper fixating on them for a while because… DAMN.
𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 was my first read by Vai Denton & i can honestly say, it won’t be my last. consider me a new fan from now on. 🫡
i highly recommend reading this book if you love:
🎾 sports romance
🤍 black cat x golden retriever
🎾 rival’s brother
🤍 found family
🎾 hot af mmc who will have you panting
thank you to the author for providing me with an arc!
March 26, 2026
ARC Review
Tropes
🎾 Forced Proximity
🎾 Rival’s Brother
🎾 Less than 300 pages
🎾 Reverse Sunshine
🎾 He Falls First
🎾 Black Cat X Golden Retriever
This book is quick paced and has so much amazing banter. Nic the FMC is super relatable as she’s the daughter of a tennis legend she is always pressuring herself to be the best. Constantly working out and pushing through, despite it not being the best thing for her. Aleks is the golden retriever to her dark and gloomy. He is there to get her out of her head and make her realize there’s more to life than tennis. Hell there’s a big world out there where she doesn’t need to be successful she just needs to be herself.
I didn’t love the one POV just because I’d love to get a deeper understanding of Aleks. Especially, in those moments before he started training her. When did he start falling in love with her? Was it slowly? All at once?
Highly recommend for my perfectionist girlies who need a reminder to live life to the fullest. Live, Laugh, and fall in Love 💕
•••
Tropes
🎾 Forced Proximity
🎾 Rival’s Brother
🎾 Less than 300 pages
🎾 Reverse Sunshine
🎾 He Falls First
🎾 Black Cat X Golden Retriever
This book is quick paced and has so much amazing banter. Nic the FMC is super relatable as she’s the daughter of a tennis legend she is always pressuring herself to be the best. Constantly working out and pushing through, despite it not being the best thing for her. Aleks is the golden retriever to her dark and gloomy. He is there to get her out of her head and make her realize there’s more to life than tennis. Hell there’s a big world out there where she doesn’t need to be successful she just needs to be herself.
I didn’t love the one POV just because I’d love to get a deeper understanding of Aleks. Especially, in those moments before he started training her. When did he start falling in love with her? Was it slowly? All at once?
Highly recommend for my perfectionist girlies who need a reminder to live life to the fullest. Live, Laugh, and fall in Love 💕
•••
March 30, 2026
4.5⭐️ this was so fucking good!!!
i’m a sucker for the reverse grumpy sunshine trope so i absolutely ate this up. i love a fmc that’s kind of mean to hide her more vulnerable side and nic was that and more. i could relate to her so much, struggling to fit in with her friends but not wanting to be alone. and aleks was an absolute delight, giving golden retriever boy obsessed.
it was so fast paced, free of unnecessary drama, and the interactions between nic and aleks felt very natural.
i’m a sucker for the reverse grumpy sunshine trope so i absolutely ate this up. i love a fmc that’s kind of mean to hide her more vulnerable side and nic was that and more. i could relate to her so much, struggling to fit in with her friends but not wanting to be alone. and aleks was an absolute delight, giving golden retriever boy obsessed.
it was so fast paced, free of unnecessary drama, and the interactions between nic and aleks felt very natural.
May 3, 2026
3.5⭐️
I LOVED the world of tennis and I'm ready to take any recommendations.
You can really feel the pressure Nic is under to be the best. Nic is a tennis player who is trying to get back on track after setbacks in tournaments. I found her determination admirable. Many people are there for her, sincerely, but she has trouble letting go. We discover a different side of her once she lowers her guard and gives her trust. I'll always defend black cat characters but the last 30% were only arguments and fights between them and I didn't always understand Nic's reactions.
Aleks has a lot of potential but I still feel like I don't really know him since we don't have his pov :/ I would have liked to know more about his past career, about his feelings, to be inside his thoughts. Everything is superficial or we only talk about his family, I’m a bit sad because he was SO adorable and a good coach and supporter for Nic. Always there to support her and give her the best advice.
I LOVED the world of tennis and I'm ready to take any recommendations.
You can really feel the pressure Nic is under to be the best. Nic is a tennis player who is trying to get back on track after setbacks in tournaments. I found her determination admirable. Many people are there for her, sincerely, but she has trouble letting go. We discover a different side of her once she lowers her guard and gives her trust. I'll always defend black cat characters but the last 30% were only arguments and fights between them and I didn't always understand Nic's reactions.
Aleks has a lot of potential but I still feel like I don't really know him since we don't have his pov :/ I would have liked to know more about his past career, about his feelings, to be inside his thoughts. Everything is superficial or we only talk about his family, I’m a bit sad because he was SO adorable and a good coach and supporter for Nic. Always there to support her and give her the best advice.
March 27, 2026
4.75⭐️
April 4, 2026
4 Stars
What can I say, I'm a sucker for tennis and foreigners.
When I saw this book on Instagram, I figured it would be like all of the other books on Instagram. Not good. But this one surprised me, and I really enjoyed it. Some characters were a little flat, and I think I definitely missed some things by not reading book one (something that is entirely my fault, as the book warns you in the beginning), but other than Nic's lack of character growth, I didn't have any problems with any of the characters. I am pleasantly surprised by this book because usually, Instagram leads me astray.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for tennis and foreigners.
When I saw this book on Instagram, I figured it would be like all of the other books on Instagram. Not good. But this one surprised me, and I really enjoyed it. Some characters were a little flat, and I think I definitely missed some things by not reading book one (something that is entirely my fault, as the book warns you in the beginning), but other than Nic's lack of character growth, I didn't have any problems with any of the characters. I am pleasantly surprised by this book because usually, Instagram leads me astray.
April 12, 2026
Nicola Vassilakis vive con la presión de estar a la altura del legado de su madre, la gran tenista Carmen Aguirre y aunque parece que en su adolescencia lo logró al imponerse como una de las mejores, desde que juega profesionalmente está teniendo muchos problemas para pasar a rondas superiores. Es muy exigente y necesita la adoración del público, pero no consigue nunca sentirse suficiente. Sus últimos torneos no han terminado como ella desea y todo se derrumba definitivamente cuando su entrenadora física tiene que dejar su puesto por cuestiones familiares. Nic se encuentra entre dos decisiones que pueden cambiar su carrera: seguir sola, por su cuenta, o aceptar que Aleksander Morozov, el hermano de su mayor rival, asuma el puesto. Tras su última derrota, decide aceptar su propuesta, al menos durante la temporada de tierra batida. Es el tipo de campo que más controla y en el que más ganas tiene de volver a ganar, así que debe aferrarse y confiar en las decisiones de Aleks, quien intenta priorizar su descanso para mejorar su rendimiento físico. No obstante, hay un problema: ¿Cómo va a estar Nic segura de que no todo es una artimaña de Anya, su mayor rival, para desequilibrarla, infiltrando a su hermano en su equipo? Nic no sabe qué pensar porque Aleksander es demasiado encantador y sabe cómo meterse debajo de su piel, algo que la enfurece constantemente. pero también parece que la entiende mejor que nadie: no solo su cuerpo y lo que necesita para alcanzar su mejor nivel, sino y sobre todo, su mente y todas las dificultades y las luchas que libra consigo misma. ¿Conseguirá Aleks demostrar que solo quiere ayudarla a alcanzar sus objetivos y acompañarla en sus logros? ¿Conseguirá Nic fiarse y seguir sus consejos sin dejarse llevar por sus inseguridades y sus demonios y explotar su cuerpo hasta que sea demasiado tarde?
Aleksander Morozov.... el hombre que TÚ eres. Vai Denton sabe lo que es un hombre obsesionado y no se conforma con escribir cualquier cosa que sea menos que eso. Sinceramente, mariposas en el estómago todo el rato. Aleks es absolutamente perfecto. Que lleve un año y medio obsesionado con Nic... es el estándar. Le da tan igual que ella tenga mal genio, que no siga sus indicaciones o que tenga un sinfín de complicaciones para socializar por sus traumas familiares. él siempre está ahí para cuidarla. Es muy persistente y confía tanto en su talento y en que con descanso y un mejor cuidado de su cuerpo va a conseguir ser la mejor del mundo... no puedo MÁS. Adoro que se oponga a su hermana porque la Anya es una puta cría pesada y Nic es una reina que merece que la demuestren que es la prioridad. Y uff, aún sabiendo que iba a llegar, el discurso de él diciendo que si tiene que elegir, siempre la va a elegir a ella, una y otra vez, porque donde quiere estar es en su zona de las gradas, apoyándola, animándola y acompañándola. Estoy AFECTADA. Todos los detalles que tiene, cómo la compra comida que la recuerda a Grecia, cómo la intenta ayudar a combatir su mente... ¡Y cómo liga con ella! Me pongo nerviosa. Y Nic es un personaje tan humano. La he querido abrazar mil veces a lo largo de las 300 páginas. Me ha dado tanta pena lo exigente y dura que es consigo misma y esa necesidad que tiene por encajar. Menos mal que llega Aleks a su vida, Y bofff, el apodo!!! Entre el suyo y el de Matteo... lloro. Bueno, y el epílogo, ¡perfectísimo! Pedida de matrimonio ideal. Librito de tenis icónico y maravilloso.
Aleksander Morozov.... el hombre que TÚ eres. Vai Denton sabe lo que es un hombre obsesionado y no se conforma con escribir cualquier cosa que sea menos que eso. Sinceramente, mariposas en el estómago todo el rato. Aleks es absolutamente perfecto. Que lleve un año y medio obsesionado con Nic... es el estándar. Le da tan igual que ella tenga mal genio, que no siga sus indicaciones o que tenga un sinfín de complicaciones para socializar por sus traumas familiares. él siempre está ahí para cuidarla. Es muy persistente y confía tanto en su talento y en que con descanso y un mejor cuidado de su cuerpo va a conseguir ser la mejor del mundo... no puedo MÁS. Adoro que se oponga a su hermana porque la Anya es una puta cría pesada y Nic es una reina que merece que la demuestren que es la prioridad. Y uff, aún sabiendo que iba a llegar, el discurso de él diciendo que si tiene que elegir, siempre la va a elegir a ella, una y otra vez, porque donde quiere estar es en su zona de las gradas, apoyándola, animándola y acompañándola. Estoy AFECTADA. Todos los detalles que tiene, cómo la compra comida que la recuerda a Grecia, cómo la intenta ayudar a combatir su mente... ¡Y cómo liga con ella! Me pongo nerviosa. Y Nic es un personaje tan humano. La he querido abrazar mil veces a lo largo de las 300 páginas. Me ha dado tanta pena lo exigente y dura que es consigo misma y esa necesidad que tiene por encajar. Menos mal que llega Aleks a su vida, Y bofff, el apodo!!! Entre el suyo y el de Matteo... lloro. Bueno, y el epílogo, ¡perfectísimo! Pedida de matrimonio ideal. Librito de tenis icónico y maravilloso.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2026
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
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
March 22, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy
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
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
March 24, 2026
The book was soooo good that I decided to take my time reading it, just to enjoy their story a little longer.
The previous book (Drop Shot) was amazing, but this one? It’s on another level. I’m definitely in love with Aleks, and I’m not sharing my man with anyone 😭
The psychology of the characters was so well written. I felt so sad for Nic several times (I won’t tell you why because you need to read this book to understand what I mean 🤭).
I loved the way their relationship developed slowly; he was so encouraging and sweet the whole time! His little gestures, like bringing her baklava to remind her of her country that she missed so much 🤧
The found family was so cute, and the group chat messages were really fun to read!! 🥹🥹🥹
Even the epilogue was perfect (yes, I cried because I was so emotional 😭).
I can’t wait to read the author’s next books. Thank you again for the ARC!!! (I will definitely reread this book!!!)
The previous book (Drop Shot) was amazing, but this one? It’s on another level. I’m definitely in love with Aleks, and I’m not sharing my man with anyone 😭
The psychology of the characters was so well written. I felt so sad for Nic several times (I won’t tell you why because you need to read this book to understand what I mean 🤭).
I loved the way their relationship developed slowly; he was so encouraging and sweet the whole time! His little gestures, like bringing her baklava to remind her of her country that she missed so much 🤧
The found family was so cute, and the group chat messages were really fun to read!! 🥹🥹🥹
Even the epilogue was perfect (yes, I cried because I was so emotional 😭).
I can’t wait to read the author’s next books. Thank you again for the ARC!!! (I will definitely reread this book!!!)
March 26, 2026
Thank you to the author + her team for the ARC!
This book was great, just like the first one! I really appreciate this author's ability to write FMC-only narratives, particularly from the perspective of a professional athlete, without it affecting the MMC's narrative or the reader's understanding of their character. While the overall relationship between the two main characters was much more emotionally volatile compared to the first book, I think it made sense for this story, particularly considering the FMC's neurodivergency and the immense pressure she was competing under. I've loved the world that has been built around these characters and their friends and can't wait to read the next two books!
This book was great, just like the first one! I really appreciate this author's ability to write FMC-only narratives, particularly from the perspective of a professional athlete, without it affecting the MMC's narrative or the reader's understanding of their character. While the overall relationship between the two main characters was much more emotionally volatile compared to the first book, I think it made sense for this story, particularly considering the FMC's neurodivergency and the immense pressure she was competing under. I've loved the world that has been built around these characters and their friends and can't wait to read the next two books!
April 4, 2026
Book Title: Cross Court
Author: Vai Denton
Tropes: Sports Romance, Rival’s Brother, Coach/Athlete Dynamic, Forced Proximity, Emotional Growth, Slow Burn
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🤩 The Vibe:
Emotional, introspective, and quietly romantic with a strong focus on personal growth.
Cross Court blends the high-pressure world of professional tennis with a soft, slow-burn romance that builds through trust, vulnerability, and understanding. It’s less about dramatic twists and more about internal battles — identity, burnout, and learning to love something (and someone) again.
👩❤️👨 Main Characters:
Aleksandr Morozov
Confident, observant, and completely locked in on Nic. Aleks is the kind of hero who notices everything — sometimes even more than the heroine notices about herself. He’s patient, steady, and quietly obsessed in a way that sneaks up on you.
I loved how deeply he understood Nic — not just her game, but her emotions, her patterns, and her struggles. He doesn’t push too hard, but he also doesn’t let her hide. That balance made his character really stand out.
Nicola Vassilakis (Nic)
Former tennis prodigy struggling to find her place again. Nic is dealing with burnout, pressure, and the loss of the identity she once had in the spotlight.
I’ll be honest — I had a harder time connecting with her emotionally at times. But I did really appreciate her growth. Watching her slowly come out of her shell, lower her walls, and rebuild her relationships (both on and off the court) was rewarding and felt realistic.
💕 What I Loved:
• Aleks being quietly, deeply obsessed with Nic
• The way he understands her — sometimes better than she understands herself
• The slow-burn chemistry that builds through trust and tension
• The coach/athlete dynamic
• The professional tennis setting (so fun and unique 🎾)
• Nic’s character growth over the course of the story
• Watching her rebuild connections and open up to others
• The emotional depth tied to burnout and identity
• The balance between romance and personal journey
This one really shines in the character work — especially in how the relationship develops alongside Nic’s personal growth.
🩵 What Didn’t Work For Me:
• I had a harder time fully connecting with Nic
• Some emotional moments didn’t hit as strongly for me because of that disconnect
That said, I still appreciated her arc and where she ended up by the end of the story.
🤔 Final Thoughts:
Cross Court is a character-driven sports romance that leans into emotional growth just as much as romance. While the connection to Nic didn’t fully land for me, the chemistry between her and Aleks — and his quiet, unwavering attention to her — kept me invested.
This is a story about rebuilding: confidence, identity, relationships, and love. And by the end, it really comes together in a meaningful way.
If you love:
• Sports romance (especially tennis 🎾)
• Slow-burn chemistry
• A hero who pays attention to EVERYTHING
• Emotional growth arcs
• Coach/athlete dynamics
This one is worth checking out.
Author: Vai Denton
Tropes: Sports Romance, Rival’s Brother, Coach/Athlete Dynamic, Forced Proximity, Emotional Growth, Slow Burn
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🤩 The Vibe:
Emotional, introspective, and quietly romantic with a strong focus on personal growth.
Cross Court blends the high-pressure world of professional tennis with a soft, slow-burn romance that builds through trust, vulnerability, and understanding. It’s less about dramatic twists and more about internal battles — identity, burnout, and learning to love something (and someone) again.
👩❤️👨 Main Characters:
Aleksandr Morozov
Confident, observant, and completely locked in on Nic. Aleks is the kind of hero who notices everything — sometimes even more than the heroine notices about herself. He’s patient, steady, and quietly obsessed in a way that sneaks up on you.
I loved how deeply he understood Nic — not just her game, but her emotions, her patterns, and her struggles. He doesn’t push too hard, but he also doesn’t let her hide. That balance made his character really stand out.
Nicola Vassilakis (Nic)
Former tennis prodigy struggling to find her place again. Nic is dealing with burnout, pressure, and the loss of the identity she once had in the spotlight.
I’ll be honest — I had a harder time connecting with her emotionally at times. But I did really appreciate her growth. Watching her slowly come out of her shell, lower her walls, and rebuild her relationships (both on and off the court) was rewarding and felt realistic.
💕 What I Loved:
• Aleks being quietly, deeply obsessed with Nic
• The way he understands her — sometimes better than she understands herself
• The slow-burn chemistry that builds through trust and tension
• The coach/athlete dynamic
• The professional tennis setting (so fun and unique 🎾)
• Nic’s character growth over the course of the story
• Watching her rebuild connections and open up to others
• The emotional depth tied to burnout and identity
• The balance between romance and personal journey
This one really shines in the character work — especially in how the relationship develops alongside Nic’s personal growth.
🩵 What Didn’t Work For Me:
• I had a harder time fully connecting with Nic
• Some emotional moments didn’t hit as strongly for me because of that disconnect
That said, I still appreciated her arc and where she ended up by the end of the story.
🤔 Final Thoughts:
Cross Court is a character-driven sports romance that leans into emotional growth just as much as romance. While the connection to Nic didn’t fully land for me, the chemistry between her and Aleks — and his quiet, unwavering attention to her — kept me invested.
This is a story about rebuilding: confidence, identity, relationships, and love. And by the end, it really comes together in a meaningful way.
If you love:
• Sports romance (especially tennis 🎾)
• Slow-burn chemistry
• A hero who pays attention to EVERYTHING
• Emotional growth arcs
• Coach/athlete dynamics
This one is worth checking out.
March 26, 2026
☆arc review☆
So I feel a bit rusty at writing reviews because it's been a loooong time since I did it. However, I'll start saying that I'm a big fan of Vai Denton's books. I love the mix of fun, deep and quick read they offer, plus well-rounded characters and an engaging writing style. Her books have become a comfort read for me and I deeply enjoy spending time with her characters 😊
Cross Court follows Nic, a tennis player who's struggling with carrying her mother's legacy on her shoulders. After her performance coach has to leave, Aleks, her rival's brother, offers to fill the spot and help her through the season, and after some back and forth Nic accepts, although reluctantly.
I loved reading their banter and how they helped each other through their personal struggles; how attentive and caring Aleks was; as well as the presence of the friend group and the little appereances of characters from other books.
I'm so thankful I was so lucky to get an arc for this book, and I definitely recommend reading it now that it's out! 😊
So I feel a bit rusty at writing reviews because it's been a loooong time since I did it. However, I'll start saying that I'm a big fan of Vai Denton's books. I love the mix of fun, deep and quick read they offer, plus well-rounded characters and an engaging writing style. Her books have become a comfort read for me and I deeply enjoy spending time with her characters 😊
Cross Court follows Nic, a tennis player who's struggling with carrying her mother's legacy on her shoulders. After her performance coach has to leave, Aleks, her rival's brother, offers to fill the spot and help her through the season, and after some back and forth Nic accepts, although reluctantly.
I loved reading their banter and how they helped each other through their personal struggles; how attentive and caring Aleks was; as well as the presence of the friend group and the little appereances of characters from other books.
I'm so thankful I was so lucky to get an arc for this book, and I definitely recommend reading it now that it's out! 😊
March 31, 2026
4.5!!
i saw rivals brother and black cat fmc and was sold! then i saw the dedication and knew i would love this book and the characters! and i do!!
the care and comfort on page between the characters creates the most comforting feeling as a reader. the way nic is seen and understood by aleks, the way he cares for her in a way she often forgets to care for herself, the delicate but strong way he treats her! it’s everything to me. it’s sweet and kind and comforting and ultimately such a soft and precious romance!!
so grateful to have received an arc for this book
i saw rivals brother and black cat fmc and was sold! then i saw the dedication and knew i would love this book and the characters! and i do!!
the care and comfort on page between the characters creates the most comforting feeling as a reader. the way nic is seen and understood by aleks, the way he cares for her in a way she often forgets to care for herself, the delicate but strong way he treats her! it’s everything to me. it’s sweet and kind and comforting and ultimately such a soft and precious romance!!
so grateful to have received an arc for this book
April 16, 2026
OH MY GOODNESS!!! Started this book after school yesterday before coaching and it was so good that I spent the entirety of my plan at school today reading just to be able to finish it. It is something about a sports romance and having so much pressure on the athlete and coach that gets to you. The storyline was so freaking good. I got annoyed with Nic at times but I LOVED Alek. I can’t believe I could like one of them more than Mateo but Alek just had something about him🫠 I WISH the third book in the series was out but it’s not so now I have to find another tennis books to continue this high of reading
April 18, 2026
4.5-5 stars!
this book was soooo fun!! it got me out of a MASSIVE slump and i had a blast reading it over the last few days. i really liked nic’s character—her struggles and her journey were so relatable and i couldn’t help but root for her from the very beginning. and aleks… swoon. he was such a dreamy mmc, and i also really liked his journey with tennis and his character arc. and the dynamic he and nic had was everything!! this series is now two for two, and i’m really looking forward to the next book!
this book was soooo fun!! it got me out of a MASSIVE slump and i had a blast reading it over the last few days. i really liked nic’s character—her struggles and her journey were so relatable and i couldn’t help but root for her from the very beginning. and aleks… swoon. he was such a dreamy mmc, and i also really liked his journey with tennis and his character arc. and the dynamic he and nic had was everything!! this series is now two for two, and i’m really looking forward to the next book!
April 9, 2026
3.50
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2026
almost 5 stars. but i hasn‘t impacted me enough to get that final star i guess
Did Not Finish
April 4, 2026Committed the unforgivable crime of being boring
March 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️,5
Wow this was such a great book!! I already loved the first book of the series and this one was even better🤭
I loved all the characters and the love between them was so sweet and just amazing!! I also missed delilah and matteo so it was nice to see them again🥹
I definitely recommend this book and i can’t wait for the next one💗 Alsoooo have you seen these covers? STUNNING!
Thank you so much Vai Denton for the e-arc💌
Wow this was such a great book!! I already loved the first book of the series and this one was even better🤭
I loved all the characters and the love between them was so sweet and just amazing!! I also missed delilah and matteo so it was nice to see them again🥹
I definitely recommend this book and i can’t wait for the next one💗 Alsoooo have you seen these covers? STUNNING!
Thank you so much Vai Denton for the e-arc💌
May 8, 2026
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.”
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.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Author
*⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.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!!!
✨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!!!
April 25, 2026
after reading delilah & matteo’s story, i knew i just had to read the next one.
“are you flirting with me?”
“constantly. glad you’re catching on.”
these two were so cute!! vai denton writing style is super cute and easy to read, neither of the characters were irritating or immature and it was very refreshing.
NICOLA VASSILAKIS
— she’s so complex, i love her so much. i liked reading about her anger issues because in a lot of books it’s more of a “tell not show” situation when it comes to topics like this, and it was refreshing to have actual scenes where you can tell she’s hotheaded & possibly over dramatic, and listen, i know that doesn’t sound enjoyable to read about but i, personally, really liked it.
— i do, however, wish more of her list was elaborated on, with scenes that weren’t tennis related. because the whole point was to learn something new about her self, but i don’t think there was a single chapter where her and aleks weren’t doing something training related (or at the hotel). like maybe something more could’ve been done with the 2 swimming scenes? like possibly having nic find swimming as a compelling hobby, since she’s clearly very competitive.
— although i will say, nothing between her and anya ever truly got resolved which really bothered me. nic & aleks had this whole conversation about how ignoring the fact she was aleks sister wouldn’t work long term, yet it feels like that’s what happened in the end? same with nic and her mother, i completely understand that nic realized the love she had around her was enough, but the realization felt out of blue, which i didn’t appreciate.
ALEKS MOROZOV
— i felt like aleks could’ve been a better developed character, his personality felt a little bland. like the drawing came out of nowhere & i wish there was a scene where nic first noticed the hobby, like maybe on a plane to a tournament, or first seeing it in his hotel room?
— his family issues also needed to be more developed. like what about anya? i understand she’s immature but that’s also your baby sister? hello?? this also goes for his parents because in the first few chapters he’s all like “they were pretty great, just put a little pressure on me” and then goes on later to say how tired and drained he was because they pushed him to continue playing? i know not everything’s black & white, but it felt misleading about aleks & his sister, natasha, issues with them.
— i did appreciate how patient he was with nic, considering she gave him such a hard time about training
honestly, my only problem with this book was a lot of things felt like they could’ve been expanded on more, and just…weren’t. like nic’s feelings about not being able to read people & understand emotions, that could’ve been something bigger.
3.75 🌟 happy reading 🎾!!
“are you flirting with me?”
“constantly. glad you’re catching on.”
these two were so cute!! vai denton writing style is super cute and easy to read, neither of the characters were irritating or immature and it was very refreshing.
NICOLA VASSILAKIS
— she’s so complex, i love her so much. i liked reading about her anger issues because in a lot of books it’s more of a “tell not show” situation when it comes to topics like this, and it was refreshing to have actual scenes where you can tell she’s hotheaded & possibly over dramatic, and listen, i know that doesn’t sound enjoyable to read about but i, personally, really liked it.
— i do, however, wish more of her list was elaborated on, with scenes that weren’t tennis related. because the whole point was to learn something new about her self, but i don’t think there was a single chapter where her and aleks weren’t doing something training related (or at the hotel). like maybe something more could’ve been done with the 2 swimming scenes? like possibly having nic find swimming as a compelling hobby, since she’s clearly very competitive.
— although i will say, nothing between her and anya ever truly got resolved which really bothered me. nic & aleks had this whole conversation about how ignoring the fact she was aleks sister wouldn’t work long term, yet it feels like that’s what happened in the end? same with nic and her mother, i completely understand that nic realized the love she had around her was enough, but the realization felt out of blue, which i didn’t appreciate.
ALEKS MOROZOV
— i felt like aleks could’ve been a better developed character, his personality felt a little bland. like the drawing came out of nowhere & i wish there was a scene where nic first noticed the hobby, like maybe on a plane to a tournament, or first seeing it in his hotel room?
— his family issues also needed to be more developed. like what about anya? i understand she’s immature but that’s also your baby sister? hello?? this also goes for his parents because in the first few chapters he’s all like “they were pretty great, just put a little pressure on me” and then goes on later to say how tired and drained he was because they pushed him to continue playing? i know not everything’s black & white, but it felt misleading about aleks & his sister, natasha, issues with them.
— i did appreciate how patient he was with nic, considering she gave him such a hard time about training
honestly, my only problem with this book was a lot of things felt like they could’ve been expanded on more, and just…weren’t. like nic’s feelings about not being able to read people & understand emotions, that could’ve been something bigger.
3.75 🌟 happy reading 🎾!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2026
Vai Denton has done it again! She always manages to write such complex characters with realistic lives, storylines, and a beautiful love story, and Cross Court is no exception. After reading Drop Shot, I was super excited to learn more about Nic and see a potential relationship with Aleksandr, and this book definitely lived up to my expectations! I ended up relating a lot to Nic; her feelings of loneliness and not fitting in and awkwardness cut deep. There are a few book characters out there that I truly just get, and Nic is one of them. Also, I appreciated the neurodivergence representation; while it may not be explicitly stated in those exact words, I definitely saw it and felt seen by it.
Aleks was SUCH the charmer! Every time Nic mentioned his slutty little t-shirts in Drop Shot, I just knew I would adore him. But in all seriousness, I related to him as well. He puts so much of himself into caring for others, and no one really gives that back to him. That's another thing I love about Vai Denton's books and about this book in particular; the characters know each other, like truly grow to know each other. Nic was exactly what Aleks needed, and he was exactly what she needed. She didn't have to explain how or why she felt a certain way; the man was obsessed with her and knew what textures she didn't vibe with or how to navigate through how defiant and headstrong she could be. He cared for her and she cared for him, and it was clearly shown. Also, that man is so witty and charming, he had me blushing the entire book! Another thing I personally liked about this book was how their relationship wasn't really defined, and they never pressed to define it; they just were together and they both loved one another. Also, I loved how the conflicts weren't unnecessarily drawn out; there was definitely no shortage of angst, but it wasn't dragged on when it could've easily been resolved. Last thing, I LOVED seeing Matteo and Delilah crumbs sprinkled throughout this book because I still hold a special little place in my heart for them, and I adored the found family aspect of this book. All of the friendships were so genuine and sweet and supportive; we love to see it! Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I am very thankful to Vai Denton for allowing me to arc read another one of her wonderful books!
I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Aleks was SUCH the charmer! Every time Nic mentioned his slutty little t-shirts in Drop Shot, I just knew I would adore him. But in all seriousness, I related to him as well. He puts so much of himself into caring for others, and no one really gives that back to him. That's another thing I love about Vai Denton's books and about this book in particular; the characters know each other, like truly grow to know each other. Nic was exactly what Aleks needed, and he was exactly what she needed. She didn't have to explain how or why she felt a certain way; the man was obsessed with her and knew what textures she didn't vibe with or how to navigate through how defiant and headstrong she could be. He cared for her and she cared for him, and it was clearly shown. Also, that man is so witty and charming, he had me blushing the entire book! Another thing I personally liked about this book was how their relationship wasn't really defined, and they never pressed to define it; they just were together and they both loved one another. Also, I loved how the conflicts weren't unnecessarily drawn out; there was definitely no shortage of angst, but it wasn't dragged on when it could've easily been resolved. Last thing, I LOVED seeing Matteo and Delilah crumbs sprinkled throughout this book because I still hold a special little place in my heart for them, and I adored the found family aspect of this book. All of the friendships were so genuine and sweet and supportive; we love to see it! Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I am very thankful to Vai Denton for allowing me to arc read another one of her wonderful books!
I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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