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Dill-ightful
A positively dill-ightful MM pickleball novella about finding your family, your purpose, and your happy ending.
Welcome to Cold Water, Michigan. 816.
Milo Van Der Meer never expected to be twenty-five and living in a small town with his grandma. Yet, when his parents went to prison for fraud, he was the only one left to take care of her. He spends most of his days surrounded by children and his afternoons at the only gym within a twenty-mile radius. He feels trapped—no social life, no friends, and no dating prospects. That is until he runs into one of his students and her grumpy dad.
Benny Miller cares about three his daughter, his gym, and his best friend. Everyone else can mind their damn business. When Milo literally stumbles into his life, Benny doesn’t know what to do with the handsome pickleball enthusiast. Should he give him a job? Befriend him? Kiss him? His head is swimming with possibilities and his heart is slowly making room for another person.
Will the grumpy gym owner finally let his guard down and meet the sunshine teacher on the pickleball court?
Welcome to Cold Water, Michigan. 816.
Milo Van Der Meer never expected to be twenty-five and living in a small town with his grandma. Yet, when his parents went to prison for fraud, he was the only one left to take care of her. He spends most of his days surrounded by children and his afternoons at the only gym within a twenty-mile radius. He feels trapped—no social life, no friends, and no dating prospects. That is until he runs into one of his students and her grumpy dad.
Benny Miller cares about three his daughter, his gym, and his best friend. Everyone else can mind their damn business. When Milo literally stumbles into his life, Benny doesn’t know what to do with the handsome pickleball enthusiast. Should he give him a job? Befriend him? Kiss him? His head is swimming with possibilities and his heart is slowly making room for another person.
Will the grumpy gym owner finally let his guard down and meet the sunshine teacher on the pickleball court?
- GenresRomanceLGBTM M Romance
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2026
About the author
Stef C.R.
13 books93 followersProject leader by day, romance author by night, Stef C.R. lives in West Michigan with her husband and not one, not two, but three cats.
When she's not working or writing stories, she spends her time reading fantasy and romance, endlessly cheering on the Red Wings, Charles LeClerc, and listening to Noah Kahan.
When she's not working or writing stories, she spends her time reading fantasy and romance, endlessly cheering on the Red Wings, Charles LeClerc, and listening to Noah Kahan.
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April 21, 2026
Dill-ightful by Stef C.R. is a MM, stand alone, bi-awakening novella. It was sweet and completely angst free. There is also a very mischievous raccoon.
Milo Van der Meer is twenty five years old. He grew up in Chicago and loved his life there. But when his parents went to prison for fraud, and his grandmother that lived in the small town of Cold Water, Michigan had a heart attack, Milo packed his bags and went to stay with her, since she was the only family he had left. Now he is teaching kindergarten by day and trying unsuccessfully to fill his hours in the evenings. In this tiny town, the only thing to do is go to the gym and work out. And maybe gaze at the somewhat grumpy gym owner.
Bernard “Benny” Miller is thirty seven years old. He is a single dad to an adorable five year old daughter, Emma. He also owns the town’s small gym, which is barely holding on. Benny considers himself straight. He has seen Milo in his gym but when he shows up at the back door one evening, it is the start to friendship, something both of them need.
Both of these men are struggling, both financially and with trying to find their footing in life. The one thing they both share is the love for their family, Emma for Benny and Milo’s grandmother for him. Milo also loves pickleball. Benny’s gym has unused courts that need a bit of renovation. They decide on a swap, court time for Milo and in return, he’ll help with little Emma during the summer months.
The more time these two spend together, their connection deepens. Milo is gay and out. He knows he’s attracted to Benny. But Benny is a bit confused by his reaction to Milo. He’s never been attracted to a man before. All he knows is that when they are together, it feels natural. He feels like Milo belongs with he and Emma.
This was a sweet, short little story. I read it in one afternoon. It would be a great book to read after something heavier to give yourself a little lift. Emma was so cute and Benny and Milo were perfect for each other.
Milo Van der Meer is twenty five years old. He grew up in Chicago and loved his life there. But when his parents went to prison for fraud, and his grandmother that lived in the small town of Cold Water, Michigan had a heart attack, Milo packed his bags and went to stay with her, since she was the only family he had left. Now he is teaching kindergarten by day and trying unsuccessfully to fill his hours in the evenings. In this tiny town, the only thing to do is go to the gym and work out. And maybe gaze at the somewhat grumpy gym owner.
Bernard “Benny” Miller is thirty seven years old. He is a single dad to an adorable five year old daughter, Emma. He also owns the town’s small gym, which is barely holding on. Benny considers himself straight. He has seen Milo in his gym but when he shows up at the back door one evening, it is the start to friendship, something both of them need.
Both of these men are struggling, both financially and with trying to find their footing in life. The one thing they both share is the love for their family, Emma for Benny and Milo’s grandmother for him. Milo also loves pickleball. Benny’s gym has unused courts that need a bit of renovation. They decide on a swap, court time for Milo and in return, he’ll help with little Emma during the summer months.
The more time these two spend together, their connection deepens. Milo is gay and out. He knows he’s attracted to Benny. But Benny is a bit confused by his reaction to Milo. He’s never been attracted to a man before. All he knows is that when they are together, it feels natural. He feels like Milo belongs with he and Emma.
This was a sweet, short little story. I read it in one afternoon. It would be a great book to read after something heavier to give yourself a little lift. Emma was so cute and Benny and Milo were perfect for each other.
October 6, 2026
Dill-ightful was exactly what I needed—a cute, sweet, wonderfully sappy MM romance that had me grinning from the very beginning. It starts off so wholesome and heartwarming that I was completely giddy, but don’t let that fool you…because before the book is over, things definitely heat up! The spice was a very welcome surprise.
I can never say no to an MM romance, and this one was no different. I especially loved the instant attraction between Benny and Milo. There was something so refreshing about watching their connection develop without unnecessary angst or drawn-out misunderstandings.
Benny was probably one of my favorite things about this story. Although he had never been with a man before, I loved that discovering his attraction to Milo didn’t come with the self-loathing or anger that can sometimes dominate this type of storyline. Instead, Benny was open, kind, and accepting—not only toward himself but toward everyone around him. That was such a refreshing change and made him incredibly easy to root for.
And Milo! Although he was younger, he came across as incredibly mature, loving, and compassionate. The way he uprooted his life for his granny really showed just how big his heart is. I loved getting to see that softer, caring side of him.
Overall, Dill-ightful is a sweet, feel-good romance with plenty of heart, adorable moments, and just enough heat to keep things interesting. If you're looking for a quick, fun, and swoony MM romance, I highly recommend giving the audiobook a listen. It was such an enjoyable experience!
#netgalley #arc
I can never say no to an MM romance, and this one was no different. I especially loved the instant attraction between Benny and Milo. There was something so refreshing about watching their connection develop without unnecessary angst or drawn-out misunderstandings.
Benny was probably one of my favorite things about this story. Although he had never been with a man before, I loved that discovering his attraction to Milo didn’t come with the self-loathing or anger that can sometimes dominate this type of storyline. Instead, Benny was open, kind, and accepting—not only toward himself but toward everyone around him. That was such a refreshing change and made him incredibly easy to root for.
And Milo! Although he was younger, he came across as incredibly mature, loving, and compassionate. The way he uprooted his life for his granny really showed just how big his heart is. I loved getting to see that softer, caring side of him.
Overall, Dill-ightful is a sweet, feel-good romance with plenty of heart, adorable moments, and just enough heat to keep things interesting. If you're looking for a quick, fun, and swoony MM romance, I highly recommend giving the audiobook a listen. It was such an enjoyable experience!
#netgalley #arc
March 22, 2026
As someone who loves stories with little to no internal angst it's no surprise that this one really worked for me. The characters are super likable and even if it did seem like things just worked out a little too perfectly it was still a really fun little snack sized read.
My only complaints are that A.)Benny went from being a lil insecure about his inexperience (never been with a man/only been with 2 women) to being a confident dirty talker and it was a little bit jarring. B.) Since this is a slowburnish Novella they sorta went from 0- to ' all in' and if you're gonna tell me how they're ' all in' and in love then at least give me a little sneak peak of their new life after having moved in together. If I don't get to witness a proposal at least let me see when they've decided go move in together instead of just telling me they did in the epilogue 😭 they could've hung Emma's picture of the 3 of them holding hands up on the fridge 🥺 *sigh* sue me for always wanting more from these damn endings 😒
My only complaints are that A.)Benny went from being a lil insecure about his inexperience (never been with a man/only been with 2 women) to being a confident dirty talker and it was a little bit jarring. B.) Since this is a slowburnish Novella they sorta went from 0- to ' all in' and if you're gonna tell me how they're ' all in' and in love then at least give me a little sneak peak of their new life after having moved in together. If I don't get to witness a proposal at least let me see when they've decided go move in together instead of just telling me they did in the epilogue 😭 they could've hung Emma's picture of the 3 of them holding hands up on the fridge 🥺 *sigh* sue me for always wanting more from these damn endings 😒
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2026
With the story being so short, I assumed that it would be fast paced. But it was the slowest of slow burns. Like last chapter-type slow.
The book was cute and the main characters were both kind and conscientious. Unfortunately, for the purpose of the story, there was no conflict moving the story along. They meet. They become friends. Benny has his bi-awakening. Then they bone. There really wasn’t a ton of character development…more just developing their business. No shade to what the story is, it’s cute. But a bit too much fluff, not enough substance for me.
The book was cute and the main characters were both kind and conscientious. Unfortunately, for the purpose of the story, there was no conflict moving the story along. They meet. They become friends. Benny has his bi-awakening. Then they bone. There really wasn’t a ton of character development…more just developing their business. No shade to what the story is, it’s cute. But a bit too much fluff, not enough substance for me.
October 12, 2026
Dill-ightful was such a cute audiobook! I really enjoyed the small-town setting and the grumpy/sunshine romance between Benny and Milo. Their relationship was sweet, and I loved watching things develop between them.
There’s a lovely mix of romance, humour and found family, with Benny’s daughter adding an extra bit of sweetness. And the raccoon chaos definitely adds some fun! It was an easy, enjoyable listen and a lovely little romance to curl up with.
A solid four stars from me. Sometimes a cute, feel-good audiobook is exactly what you need!
There’s a lovely mix of romance, humour and found family, with Benny’s daughter adding an extra bit of sweetness. And the raccoon chaos definitely adds some fun! It was an easy, enjoyable listen and a lovely little romance to curl up with.
A solid four stars from me. Sometimes a cute, feel-good audiobook is exactly what you need!
October 5, 2026
This audio was so fun!! I had this one on my tbr for a bit and was so excited that it was coming to audio! I really enjoy quick, lighthearted audiobooks, I finished this one in one sitting. I really enjoyed the story, I loved Milo and Benny so much!! It was such a cute, lighthearted novella, perfect to read in between longer books.
I loved the dynamic between Milo and Benny and loved Milo's relationship with Emma. Their meet cute was so adorable!
I really enjoyed the narrator as well! Highly recommend if you're looking for something cute and quick!
Thank you so much for the ALC! <3
I loved the dynamic between Milo and Benny and loved Milo's relationship with Emma. Their meet cute was so adorable!
I really enjoyed the narrator as well! Highly recommend if you're looking for something cute and quick!
Thank you so much for the ALC! <3
March 11, 2026
Omg this was such a fun novella!! I just loved Milo and Benny. A meet cute caused by a raccoon is hilarious. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a novella that is a slow burn but the way Stef does it, is beautiful!! Emma is such a sweet kid and the perfect addition to their little family. I would loveeeeee more!
October 10, 2026
Dill-ightful is a sweet, feel-good MM romance with adorable moments and just enough spice to keep things interesting. I would have loved more pickleball action, but the slow burn romance delivers, and a touch of suspense keeps the story moving. If you’re looking for a quick, lighthearted MM romance, the audiobook is worth a listen! Thanks Netgalley
March 20, 2026
Milo returns back to his small town to care for his aging grandmother since both of his parents went to prison for fraud. He is a teacher and dreading summer, since he will have no job, no friends, and no hobbies. He decides to start going to the local gym, where he discovers pickleball courts that are falling apart. Benny is the owner of the gym, single dad, and trying to keep things afloat. They come to an agreement that Milo will help babysit, and get the pickleball courts up and running. Along the way, they fall in love, and Benny discovers that he is bi.
This was such a cute novella, I loved the small town setting, the different shops featured, and of course the raccoon trying to get into the gym.
This was such a cute novella, I loved the small town setting, the different shops featured, and of course the raccoon trying to get into the gym.
October 9, 2026
I received an advance listening copy from NetGalley for my Honest review.
This was such a fun agnst free novella. I love the warm family feels of the town. Emma was so sweet!
This was such a fun agnst free novella. I love the warm family feels of the town. Emma was so sweet!
March 4, 2026
Ever since reading Heated Rivalry I feel like my eyes have been opened to sports romance so when I saw an MM pickleball novella I knew I had to give it a try. I’m so glad I did because this one was such a cute feel good story.The book takes place in the small town of Cold Water, Michigan and follows Milo Van Der Meer, a 25 year old teacher who unexpectedly finds himself living with and taking care of his grandma after his parents go to prison for fraud. Milo spends most of his time around kids and helping out at the local gym and he’s feeling pretty stuck in life with no real social circle or dating prospects.Everything starts to change when he runs into one of his students and her very grumpy dad, Benny Miller. Benny is a gym owner who mostly keeps to himself and focuses on three things: his daughter, his gym, and his best friend. But when Milo literally stumbles into his life, Benny suddenly isn’t sure what to do with the sunshiney pickleball enthusiast who keeps showing up in his everyday life . What starts as curiosity slowly turns into something deeper as the two begin to open up to each other.This story was just adorable. I loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Benny and Milo and the small town vibe made everything feel cozy and charming. It’s a quick read but still manages to give you lovable characters and a sweet romance that’s easy to root for. who wouldn’t love an MM pickleball romance? Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for something light, fun, and heartwarming. Or just love sports romance in general. Comes out March 10th.
October 6, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review…
Dill-ightful is a cozy romance novella was a lighthearted pick me up, much like a game of pickleball! Milo is a 20 something. who has moved from the hustle and bustle of Chicago to small town Michigan to take care of his grandmother. doing his best to start over in a small town, he finds there are not many options, aside from going to the gym. Which could be worse… Because Benny, the strong and silent gym owner, isn’t exactly hard to look at.
Benny has been stretched so thin between trying to keep his struggling gym afloat and taking care of his five-year-old daughter, that he doesn’t have room to contemplate a social life, much less a romantic one. But when Milo shows up, brimming with suggestions for the unused pickleball court in his building, he finds himself interested in more than just a potential business opportunity…
This novella was a great comfort read, without many surprises, which sometimes you just need in today’s upside down times. I would have loved more pickleball action and honestly more character development of Milo’s quirky grandma, but altogether the novel delivers what it promises and just enough romantic suspense to keep you reading!
Dill-ightful is a cozy romance novella was a lighthearted pick me up, much like a game of pickleball! Milo is a 20 something. who has moved from the hustle and bustle of Chicago to small town Michigan to take care of his grandmother. doing his best to start over in a small town, he finds there are not many options, aside from going to the gym. Which could be worse… Because Benny, the strong and silent gym owner, isn’t exactly hard to look at.
Benny has been stretched so thin between trying to keep his struggling gym afloat and taking care of his five-year-old daughter, that he doesn’t have room to contemplate a social life, much less a romantic one. But when Milo shows up, brimming with suggestions for the unused pickleball court in his building, he finds himself interested in more than just a potential business opportunity…
This novella was a great comfort read, without many surprises, which sometimes you just need in today’s upside down times. I would have loved more pickleball action and honestly more character development of Milo’s quirky grandma, but altogether the novel delivers what it promises and just enough romantic suspense to keep you reading!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Milo's whole life turned upside down. His parents are in prison, his grandmother needs help, and he just left Chicago for a town with less than 900 residents. All he wants is a little bit of normalcy in the form of pickleball, but the courts at the local gym are closed. Benny has enough going on between his daughter and trying to keep his gym open. Renovating the pickleball courts feels like one task too much, but with Milo as a partner, maybe it's possible.
Read if you like:
-Small Town Romance
-Bi-Awakening
-Single Father
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Age Gap
-Pickleball
-Adorable Raccoons named Bandit
Dill-ightful lives up to its title. The whole novella had me smiling, from Bandit's antics, to Milo's sunshine personality, to Benny's quiet earnestness. It's rare that I connect with both MCs-usually one is the clear favorite in my mind-but I simply can't pick between Milo and Benny. They are both precious and relatable. I was rooting for them the whole time and both can protect me from Bandit any day. I love this small town Stef has created and I'm excited to fall in love with more of it's residents.
Read if you like:
-Small Town Romance
-Bi-Awakening
-Single Father
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Age Gap
-Pickleball
-Adorable Raccoons named Bandit
Dill-ightful lives up to its title. The whole novella had me smiling, from Bandit's antics, to Milo's sunshine personality, to Benny's quiet earnestness. It's rare that I connect with both MCs-usually one is the clear favorite in my mind-but I simply can't pick between Milo and Benny. They are both precious and relatable. I was rooting for them the whole time and both can protect me from Bandit any day. I love this small town Stef has created and I'm excited to fall in love with more of it's residents.
October 10, 2026
a pickleball sports romance?? i used to pray for times like this (i’m being so for real)
so i’m sad to say, i am disappointed.
it had all my least favourite tropes:
🏓 age gap
🏓 single parent
🏓 teacher/parent
which i did know about going in, but my pickleball loving heart decided to read anyways and hope that my love for the game would overcome all. unfortunately for me, there was barely any pickleball in this book. i feel baited lol
i know that one man’s yuck is another man’s yum so fans of these tropes will probably actually really enjoy this.
it is a short book, so things obviously had to move quickly, however by the end of it i still didn’t feel milo and benny’s connection as a couple and ultimately, there were just so many plot details that didn’t make any sense.
nevertheless, i did have an enjoyable time listening to this because some things were just so absurd that it made it a fun journey.
so while i didn’t love dill-lightfull, i hope this book starts the wave of pickleball romances and that there are many more to come (but with more pickleball please!!)
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an alc in exchange for an honest review!
so i’m sad to say, i am disappointed.
it had all my least favourite tropes:
🏓 age gap
🏓 single parent
🏓 teacher/parent
which i did know about going in, but my pickleball loving heart decided to read anyways and hope that my love for the game would overcome all. unfortunately for me, there was barely any pickleball in this book. i feel baited lol
i know that one man’s yuck is another man’s yum so fans of these tropes will probably actually really enjoy this.
it is a short book, so things obviously had to move quickly, however by the end of it i still didn’t feel milo and benny’s connection as a couple and ultimately, there were just so many plot details that didn’t make any sense.
nevertheless, i did have an enjoyable time listening to this because some things were just so absurd that it made it a fun journey.
so while i didn’t love dill-lightfull, i hope this book starts the wave of pickleball romances and that there are many more to come (but with more pickleball please!!)
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an alc in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Did I ever think I would read a sports romance book about pickleball? No. But did I love every second of it? Yes I did! This was a quick but very cute read. Milo and Benny are so cute! I fell in love with them immediately. They've got that grumpy x sunshine dynamic going on and it was perfect. I liked how obsessed Milo was with pickleball, which I think is very accurate to real pickleball players. It's not just a sport but a lifestyle. That being said, it wasn't sports heavy. It was still very much centered around their romance.
There are also some great side characters including Benny's daughter, his best friend, and a racoon. Stef has also hinted at a sapphic romance featuring some of the side characters and I'm here for it! Overall this was a really cute novella but I wish there had been more because I couldn't get enough of them. Please check it out!
Content warning: spicy content
thank you to the author for the earc. all thoughts are my own
There are also some great side characters including Benny's daughter, his best friend, and a racoon. Stef has also hinted at a sapphic romance featuring some of the side characters and I'm here for it! Overall this was a really cute novella but I wish there had been more because I couldn't get enough of them. Please check it out!
Content warning: spicy content
thank you to the author for the earc. all thoughts are my own
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ahhh! I loved this book! It was so cute and so sweet. Milo was such a sunshine, golden retriever character with a crush. Benny is a grumpy, single dad trying to stay afloat. They meet due to a raccoon incident, 🤭 then slowly evolve into friends, then lovers. The ending felt a bit rushed, but it is a novella, so I’m not complaining. It was still a lovely read, very cute and cozy with a few angsty or emotional elements. I also adored Emma and the little group of friends/family they made!
⭐️4.75
🌶️2
💧2
😂3
🏏🏋🏻♂️💪🏽👟📑👨🏼🏫👧🏻🧑🧒🧑🧑🧒🥞🍫📺🎬🍿👨🏻❤️👨🏼👨🏼❤️💋👨🏻
📍Illinois
💚mm
💚strangers to friends to lovers
💚gym owner
💚single father x daughters kindergarten teacher
💚babysitter mc
💚small town
💚found family
💚bi-awakening
💚demisexual rep
💚slow burn
💚pickleball enthusiast
💚business partners
💚grumpy x sunshine
💚black cat x golden retriever
💚crazy raccoon
💚slight d/s
💚praise
💚hea
Always check content warnings before reading!
I received this book as an ARC.
⭐️4.75
🌶️2
💧2
😂3
🏏🏋🏻♂️💪🏽👟📑👨🏼🏫👧🏻🧑🧒🧑🧑🧒🥞🍫📺🎬🍿👨🏻❤️👨🏼👨🏼❤️💋👨🏻
📍Illinois
💚mm
💚strangers to friends to lovers
💚gym owner
💚single father x daughters kindergarten teacher
💚babysitter mc
💚small town
💚found family
💚bi-awakening
💚demisexual rep
💚slow burn
💚pickleball enthusiast
💚business partners
💚grumpy x sunshine
💚black cat x golden retriever
💚crazy raccoon
💚slight d/s
💚praise
💚hea
Always check content warnings before reading!
I received this book as an ARC.
August 31, 2026
I was excited to support a local author, but, no, this was certainly not for me.
You’re telling me that this man is her teacher but didn’t hesitate to cross every boundary with and for Emma, just because of the only man in town? No.
DO NOT LET YOU CHILD’S TEACHER BABYSIT YOUR KID.
No wait, even better:
DO NOT GIVE A STRANGER YOUR KEYS AND ADDRESS AND LET THEM BABYSIT YOUR- you know what, I can’t.
Red flags, red flags everywhere.
Also, where the heck did Grandma go? As soon as their relationship was getting somewhere, Grandma was out of the picture. Good luck with your health boo-boo, I have a single father with questionable parenting to worry about. Yes, I know there’s a mention in the Epilogue, but come on?
Don’t even get me started on their intimate scenes!
None of this was believable, I hated their relationship, and I really wanted to like this book. The premise was cute, as was the cover, but this was a swing and a miss (pun intended).
1.5 ⭐️
You’re telling me that this man is her teacher but didn’t hesitate to cross every boundary with and for Emma, just because of the only man in town? No.
DO NOT LET YOU CHILD’S TEACHER BABYSIT YOUR KID.
No wait, even better:
DO NOT GIVE A STRANGER YOUR KEYS AND ADDRESS AND LET THEM BABYSIT YOUR- you know what, I can’t.
Red flags, red flags everywhere.
Also, where the heck did Grandma go? As soon as their relationship was getting somewhere, Grandma was out of the picture. Good luck with your health boo-boo, I have a single father with questionable parenting to worry about. Yes, I know there’s a mention in the Epilogue, but come on?
Don’t even get me started on their intimate scenes!
None of this was believable, I hated their relationship, and I really wanted to like this book. The premise was cute, as was the cover, but this was a swing and a miss (pun intended).
1.5 ⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2026
Oh I wanted more of Milo & Benny. From their awkward meet cute to their deepening relationship throughout the novel, I found these characters to be relatable and realistic. This novel is about found family, community and learning to trust others again. I just wanted to wrap both men in a big hug to let them know everything would be ok. The sports aspect of this novella was pretty light, but I come to expect that with novella's given the pace constraints. This is an open door romance that has mildly spice and is a bit of a slow burn, which was so delicious (🔥🔥/5)
If you are looking for a feel good MM romance with a touch of spicy i recommend adding the new audiobook of "Dill-rightful" by Stef C.R.
If you are looking for a feel good MM romance with a touch of spicy i recommend adding the new audiobook of "Dill-rightful" by Stef C.R.
March 8, 2026
4.5/5 Stars
This was such a fun quick read! I loved the chemistry and relationship growth between the two characters! I know it’s a novella but can I please have a full length book of these two!? I need more! I loved the relationship between Benny and his daughter (I’m a sucker for a single dad romance) and how Milo was able to just easily meld right into the family like he was meant to be there the whole time! A short and sweet (and spicy) novella that was a nice palette cleanser as well! Bust seriously, I need a full length book for these two!!
Thank you to Stef CR for this ARC Opportunity!
This was such a fun quick read! I loved the chemistry and relationship growth between the two characters! I know it’s a novella but can I please have a full length book of these two!? I need more! I loved the relationship between Benny and his daughter (I’m a sucker for a single dad romance) and how Milo was able to just easily meld right into the family like he was meant to be there the whole time! A short and sweet (and spicy) novella that was a nice palette cleanser as well! Bust seriously, I need a full length book for these two!!
Thank you to Stef CR for this ARC Opportunity!
October 11, 2026
I was so excited for this pickleball romance novella. Sadly, I didn’t love it as much as I hoped. I didn’t connect with the characters/didn’t feel their development much throughout. I just wish there was more to it. I had the ALC of this, thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing. J.T. Morris narrated and did a pretty good job with all voices. I did need to speed up the audio, due to the pacing being way too slow/hard to handle when listening to him at 1x. His pronunciation throughout was spot on though. So, overall great job with the audio and just wish the story had more development/impact to it.
March 6, 2026
Dill-ightful is a cute, heartwarming MM novella. Benny is a single dad and gym owning trying to do the best for his daughter and keep his head afloat with the finances of the gym. Milo falls into their lives and brings joy and possibility. He is a teacher and ends up helping Benny with his daughter and it feels like he is their missing piece. Benny has never been with a man before, but he can’t stop thinking about Milo. Milo loves pickleball and together they bring pickleball to the gym and this town and make a life for themselves together. It felt a bit like a slow burn as Benny came to grips with his feelings. They were very much opposites with Benny being a bit grumpy and Milo bringing the sunshine to their lives.
This was a fun, quick read filled with heart, love and a little pickleball.
This was a fun, quick read filled with heart, love and a little pickleball.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
Antecdotal thoughts while reading
Milo - stuck in a small town with few prospects for a relationship, living with grandma
Benny - divorced father, town handyman/gym owner, just trying to make ends meet
Town 🦝 who evades animal control 😄
Even you deserve to be taken care of Benny.
"The coffee, sunshine." The nicknames/pet names have started.
LQBTQIA+ awakening?
Do you open passenger doors for your "friends"? I don't.
Milo, you are speaking my pizza dough language.
Calling her "honey"?????
For a flicker of a second, Chapter 12's title made me stop and think.
Antecdotal thoughts while reading
Milo - stuck in a small town with few prospects for a relationship, living with grandma
Benny - divorced father, town handyman/gym owner, just trying to make ends meet
Town 🦝 who evades animal control 😄
Even you deserve to be taken care of Benny.
"The coffee, sunshine." The nicknames/pet names have started.
LQBTQIA+ awakening?
Do you open passenger doors for your "friends"? I don't.
Milo, you are speaking my pizza dough language.
Calling her "honey"?????
For a flicker of a second, Chapter 12's title made me stop and think.
March 26, 2026
Dill-ightful is one of the books I picked up at Sports Romance Con and that bright cover was calling my name so I had to move it to the top of my list.
Stef wrote the perfect palate cleanser novella 💚 Benny and Milo give us just the right amount of spice, sweetness and laughs.
This novella packs a punch with
- Single dad
- Age Gap
- Pickleball obsessed MC + gym owner MC
- Bi/Demi-awakening
- Small town
- Slow burn
- A well placed “good boy”
- And a chaos causing raccoon 🦝
Check it out for a fast, fun read!
(Available on KU)
Stef wrote the perfect palate cleanser novella 💚 Benny and Milo give us just the right amount of spice, sweetness and laughs.
This novella packs a punch with
- Single dad
- Age Gap
- Pickleball obsessed MC + gym owner MC
- Bi/Demi-awakening
- Small town
- Slow burn
- A well placed “good boy”
- And a chaos causing raccoon 🦝
Check it out for a fast, fun read!
(Available on KU)
October 10, 2026
Dill-ightful was a fun MM romcom novella. This is the review for the audiobook, as this book is already available over on Amazon. The narrator did a fantastic job, I really enjoyed it. It was low angst, sweet and would be a great little audiobook to listen to if you need a pick me up, or to end a reading slump. It's a queer awakening, single dad, story between two people who just want to find more purpose, plus a sassy but adorable little girl and naughty raccoon called Bandit! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to listen to the audiobook early!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a sweet short story about finding people who let you be yourself. It felt like watching a small lake town 90’s summer romcom. Total nostalgia. Comfort like a warm blanket. Both MCs are sort of stuck before they help each other out of ruts. They are both sweet cinnamon rolls who are easy to root for.
Milo is all sunshine to Benny’s grumpy. He has the new ideas and energy that Benny needs to make his business thrive instead of just survive. Their connection and friendship is quick.
The burn is slow but it does pay off with a spicy ending. Benny’s curiosity feels genuine and Milo is the best person to help guide him through a new experience.
Milo is all sunshine to Benny’s grumpy. He has the new ideas and energy that Benny needs to make his business thrive instead of just survive. Their connection and friendship is quick.
The burn is slow but it does pay off with a spicy ending. Benny’s curiosity feels genuine and Milo is the best person to help guide him through a new experience.
April 10, 2026
This was a super cute MM pickleball romance which was a first for me! It’s giving us single dad small town romance with grumpy/sunshine, golden retriever mc and Demi awakening. We’ve got a struggling gym owner/single father who meets a pickleball enthusiast who also happens to be his gym crush. They go into business together as they work to expand on Benny’s gym while simultaneously falling for Milo.
October 8, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio copy. Audio narration was well done!
4.25⭐️
This book is dill-ightful! Sometimes it is nice to breeze through a short and fun romance novella. This one is about a single dad who falls for his daughter’s kindergarten teacher over pickleball. Yes, a sports romance revolving around pickleball!
🏓lgbtq+ m/m bi-awakening
🏓single dad
🏓age gap
🏓small town
🏓pickleball
🏓 open door spice
4.25⭐️
This book is dill-ightful! Sometimes it is nice to breeze through a short and fun romance novella. This one is about a single dad who falls for his daughter’s kindergarten teacher over pickleball. Yes, a sports romance revolving around pickleball!
🏓lgbtq+ m/m bi-awakening
🏓single dad
🏓age gap
🏓small town
🏓pickleball
🏓 open door spice
October 11, 2026
4.5⭐️ 3🌶️. This is basically everything I wanted in a gay pickle ball-esque novella. It was cheesy, sweet, to the point, and ended with some spicy spice! Highly recommend!
The audio wasn’t bad, but I wish the narrator would’ve used different voices for the two characters because it was kind of hard to keep them straight.
Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC; all opinions are my own.
The audio wasn’t bad, but I wish the narrator would’ve used different voices for the two characters because it was kind of hard to keep them straight.
Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC; all opinions are my own.
October 12, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced listeners copy of Dill-ightful by Stef C.R., narratored by J.T. Morris.
This adorable novella was exactly what I needed today! It was short and sweet with a dash of spice at the end! Narratoon was amazing, he did so good with the different voices!
Any book that mentions Pickleball & Bon Jovi has my approval but make it also MM and youve hit the near perfection!
What you will find in this novella:
Small town
Age gap
MM
Pickleball
This adorable novella was exactly what I needed today! It was short and sweet with a dash of spice at the end! Narratoon was amazing, he did so good with the different voices!
Any book that mentions Pickleball & Bon Jovi has my approval but make it also MM and youve hit the near perfection!
What you will find in this novella:
Small town
Age gap
MM
Pickleball
October 12, 2026
Thank you so much Netgalley for the ALC!
This book is aptly named; Dill-ightful is an absolutely delightful small-town romance with low-angst, heartfelt characters and the cosiest of vibes. I found myself smiling at this wholesome short story from beginning to end and it's an absolutely perfect book for a pick-me-up — all sweet with a dash of spice.
I would happily listen to a whole bundle of these cute queer love stories and earnestly hope that other side characters get their story soon.
This book is aptly named; Dill-ightful is an absolutely delightful small-town romance with low-angst, heartfelt characters and the cosiest of vibes. I found myself smiling at this wholesome short story from beginning to end and it's an absolutely perfect book for a pick-me-up — all sweet with a dash of spice.
I would happily listen to a whole bundle of these cute queer love stories and earnestly hope that other side characters get their story soon.
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