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Doubles
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26An all-new, action-packed novel from New York Times bestselling author T.Z. Layton! Cat Griffin cares about three her mom, her friends, and volleyball.
But when tragedy strikes, Cat's life is turned upside down in the middle of her sophomore year. She is uprooted from her quiet Kentucky town and whisked across the country to live with her estranged father in Silver Beach, California.
Cat suspected the transition would be rough. But the reality is much worse.
California might as well be a foreign country, and from day one, Cat is bullied by a group of girls on the varsity volleyball team, the most popular sport at Silver Beach High. Pile on the homework and a hopeless crush, and Cat feels like she's drowning.
Life at "home" isn't much better. Her dad can barely make a sandwich and has no idea how to raise a daughter. With nowhere to turn, and all her friends a thousand miles away, Cat has never felt so lost.
If Cat and her dad can get along for more than five seconds, and if she can prove herself on the court, she might have a chance at a normal life in California. And maybe, just maybe, she and her dad will forge another kind of doubles team along the way.
The first book in a new series for young listeners and for sports fans of all ages, Doubles layers friendship, love, redemption, and high-stakes volleyball into a story that reminds readers they can bloom wherever they are planted.
But when tragedy strikes, Cat's life is turned upside down in the middle of her sophomore year. She is uprooted from her quiet Kentucky town and whisked across the country to live with her estranged father in Silver Beach, California.
Cat suspected the transition would be rough. But the reality is much worse.
California might as well be a foreign country, and from day one, Cat is bullied by a group of girls on the varsity volleyball team, the most popular sport at Silver Beach High. Pile on the homework and a hopeless crush, and Cat feels like she's drowning.
Life at "home" isn't much better. Her dad can barely make a sandwich and has no idea how to raise a daughter. With nowhere to turn, and all her friends a thousand miles away, Cat has never felt so lost.
If Cat and her dad can get along for more than five seconds, and if she can prove herself on the court, she might have a chance at a normal life in California. And maybe, just maybe, she and her dad will forge another kind of doubles team along the way.
The first book in a new series for young listeners and for sports fans of all ages, Doubles layers friendship, love, redemption, and high-stakes volleyball into a story that reminds readers they can bloom wherever they are planted.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
T.Z. Layton
9 books138 followersT.Z. Layton is the award-winning author of the bestselling Academy series, which has been translated into multiple languages and optioned for film. The author is also a soccer dad, youth coach, referee, former collegiate player, and lifelong fan of the beautiful game.
To stay up to date on the Academy series and other stories by T.Z. Layton, it’s best to visit his website (tzlaytonbooks.com) and join his newsletter.
To stay up to date on the Academy series and other stories by T.Z. Layton, it’s best to visit his website (tzlaytonbooks.com) and join his newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 27, 2026
Counting books in my reading challenge that I copyedited or proofread. It's only fair. It's a lot of reading I'm not including otherwise!
Very fun volleyball book.
Very fun volleyball book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Cat is a sophomore who is a volleyball middle hitter who hopes to get a scholarship for college, since her single mother can't afford to send her. Cat has never known her father, and her mother has had more than her fair share of health problems. Cat has good friends and teammates, and even has her eye on a boy at school, but her world comes crashing down when her mother dies of a heart attack. She is able to live with her friend Keisha's family, but her lawyer is concerned that she might be moved to foster care. Her father Knox agrees to take her for a while, which seems like a good solution, but he is located in California. It's a culture shock to move from Kentucky, and even more of a shock to see how I'll suited her father is to take care of a teen ager. His house, which he inherited from his grandmother, is a mess, drives a motorcycle, and works long hours at a restaurant, hoping to get into management. Cat is excited to be able to take a volleyball class for her gym credits, and meets June, who is quirky but nice. Unfortunately, three of the other girls on the school volleyball team, Sky, Iris, and Carmen take an instant dislike to Cat and are horribly mean to her, perhaps because Cat seems to have an instant connection with Miles, who is Sky's boyfriend. The season has just ended, but Cat hopes to improve her skills so she can make the team the following year and get her college plans back on track. Luckily, she finds out that her father played professional volleyball for a number of years, and while it wasn't a great career move, he does have a lot of skills, and the two bond. It's not always smooth sailing, but Cat has some support from Knox's friends and from June's family. She and June have entered the end of year school volleyball tournament, and hope to win to give Sky a hard time. When Cat has some questions about what Knox might have done with her mother's money, she thinks about heading back to Kentucky. Will she and her father be able to come to an understanding?
Strengths: In an author's note, Mr. Layton explains that his daughter plays volleyball, and there were no books for her to read! He is absolutely correct. I very much appreciate so many things about this book. Cat does find a good friend at her new school, and deals with moving across the country with an unusual amount of grace. Her father, while not a great parent, does make an effort, and has some appealing qualities. The back story of why he wasn't involved in her life is believable. There is some teammate drama as well as a light romance. I am very much interested in seeing what the next book holds!
Weaknesses: Cat's mother joins the legions of literary parents who have given their lives for the sake of the plot, and her father can barely take care of himself. Sadly, there are many parents who are actually like this. It was still heartbreaking to read about Cat having to clean up the filthy kitchen while dealing with the impossibly rude Sky.
What I really think: There are so few volleyball books, that this is the first proper young adult novel involving it since Rigaud's 2009 Perfect Shot, although Meeker's new graphic novel, Last One Picked is a great middle grade choice. I apparently have forgotten everything I ever knew about the sport, but there were plenty of good volleyball details for enthusiasts who knows what a libero is! I'm hoping that like Layton's The Academy, this series will include several books.
Cat is a sophomore who is a volleyball middle hitter who hopes to get a scholarship for college, since her single mother can't afford to send her. Cat has never known her father, and her mother has had more than her fair share of health problems. Cat has good friends and teammates, and even has her eye on a boy at school, but her world comes crashing down when her mother dies of a heart attack. She is able to live with her friend Keisha's family, but her lawyer is concerned that she might be moved to foster care. Her father Knox agrees to take her for a while, which seems like a good solution, but he is located in California. It's a culture shock to move from Kentucky, and even more of a shock to see how I'll suited her father is to take care of a teen ager. His house, which he inherited from his grandmother, is a mess, drives a motorcycle, and works long hours at a restaurant, hoping to get into management. Cat is excited to be able to take a volleyball class for her gym credits, and meets June, who is quirky but nice. Unfortunately, three of the other girls on the school volleyball team, Sky, Iris, and Carmen take an instant dislike to Cat and are horribly mean to her, perhaps because Cat seems to have an instant connection with Miles, who is Sky's boyfriend. The season has just ended, but Cat hopes to improve her skills so she can make the team the following year and get her college plans back on track. Luckily, she finds out that her father played professional volleyball for a number of years, and while it wasn't a great career move, he does have a lot of skills, and the two bond. It's not always smooth sailing, but Cat has some support from Knox's friends and from June's family. She and June have entered the end of year school volleyball tournament, and hope to win to give Sky a hard time. When Cat has some questions about what Knox might have done with her mother's money, she thinks about heading back to Kentucky. Will she and her father be able to come to an understanding?
Strengths: In an author's note, Mr. Layton explains that his daughter plays volleyball, and there were no books for her to read! He is absolutely correct. I very much appreciate so many things about this book. Cat does find a good friend at her new school, and deals with moving across the country with an unusual amount of grace. Her father, while not a great parent, does make an effort, and has some appealing qualities. The back story of why he wasn't involved in her life is believable. There is some teammate drama as well as a light romance. I am very much interested in seeing what the next book holds!
Weaknesses: Cat's mother joins the legions of literary parents who have given their lives for the sake of the plot, and her father can barely take care of himself. Sadly, there are many parents who are actually like this. It was still heartbreaking to read about Cat having to clean up the filthy kitchen while dealing with the impossibly rude Sky.
What I really think: There are so few volleyball books, that this is the first proper young adult novel involving it since Rigaud's 2009 Perfect Shot, although Meeker's new graphic novel, Last One Picked is a great middle grade choice. I apparently have forgotten everything I ever knew about the sport, but there were plenty of good volleyball details for enthusiasts who knows what a libero is! I'm hoping that like Layton's The Academy, this series will include several books.
August 23, 2026
From the writer of the well-received The Academy soccer series comes a new one featuring high school volleyball both on the beach and in the gym with a sophomore girl who has just lost her mother and is meeting her father for the first time.
Catherine/Cat is her volleyball team’s best player and has her eyes on playing Division I volleyball in a few years, but without a standout team surrounding her, she fears no one will notice her amid a host of other excellent players. Then her mother dies, a father she never knew shows up and with the courts taking their time approving her adoption into her best friend’s family, Cat must move to California and finish her sophomore year there and try to figure out if there is hope of a relationship with a dad who never reached out, seems to have no long term goals for his own life, and certainly has no clue about being a father. To complicate matters further, Cat is discovering that she is now a little fish in the volleyball sea and has a long way to go to get to D1 level and she has inadvertently put a target on her back with Sky, a beautiful, popular volleyball player who is already known to be one of the best players in the state.
As with The Academy, Layton’s focus is on the sport aspect of his main characters’ lives but realistic life situations are woven in, keeping them from being only one dimensional. But while The Academy features 12 year old Leo, a player thrust into a new and more intense soccer program than he is used to and is geared toward the grade 4-7 crowd, Doubles seems to be directed at readers in grades 5-9. Themes of bullying and making friends at a new school are universal, but couched in dating, high school, the freedom to head to the beach without any supervision, etc., this one will be of much more interest to and more appropriate for the older set. There is a kiss and some fingers running through the hair of Miles, the surfer who seems to be as smitten with her and she is with him, and the conclusion leads readers to believe there will be more to come with that relationship in book 2. Plenty of detailed volleyball action and, like in The Academy, the sport-specific vocabulary abounds but the context is rich and should not be a problem for those who only watch volleyball during the Olympics. Players of the sport, however, will be thrilled that someone who actually knows the game is writing a story that features the hits, aces, peppering, and roofing that accompany their game!
Highly recommended for libraries serving sports/volleyball/school drama fans in grades 6 and up.
*Profanity: none
*Violence: verbal bullying, deliberate attempts to slam volleyballs into human targets, and one physical assault with only one witness making any effort to help
*Sexual content: none, although it is made clear, without any details, that Cat’s unmarried parents hooked up during Spring Break and she was the result
*Representation: Teammates, friends and enemies come from various backgrounds financially, racially, and have varied family configurations as well
*LBGTQ: none
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Sourcebooks.
Catherine/Cat is her volleyball team’s best player and has her eyes on playing Division I volleyball in a few years, but without a standout team surrounding her, she fears no one will notice her amid a host of other excellent players. Then her mother dies, a father she never knew shows up and with the courts taking their time approving her adoption into her best friend’s family, Cat must move to California and finish her sophomore year there and try to figure out if there is hope of a relationship with a dad who never reached out, seems to have no long term goals for his own life, and certainly has no clue about being a father. To complicate matters further, Cat is discovering that she is now a little fish in the volleyball sea and has a long way to go to get to D1 level and she has inadvertently put a target on her back with Sky, a beautiful, popular volleyball player who is already known to be one of the best players in the state.
As with The Academy, Layton’s focus is on the sport aspect of his main characters’ lives but realistic life situations are woven in, keeping them from being only one dimensional. But while The Academy features 12 year old Leo, a player thrust into a new and more intense soccer program than he is used to and is geared toward the grade 4-7 crowd, Doubles seems to be directed at readers in grades 5-9. Themes of bullying and making friends at a new school are universal, but couched in dating, high school, the freedom to head to the beach without any supervision, etc., this one will be of much more interest to and more appropriate for the older set. There is a kiss and some fingers running through the hair of Miles, the surfer who seems to be as smitten with her and she is with him, and the conclusion leads readers to believe there will be more to come with that relationship in book 2. Plenty of detailed volleyball action and, like in The Academy, the sport-specific vocabulary abounds but the context is rich and should not be a problem for those who only watch volleyball during the Olympics. Players of the sport, however, will be thrilled that someone who actually knows the game is writing a story that features the hits, aces, peppering, and roofing that accompany their game!
Highly recommended for libraries serving sports/volleyball/school drama fans in grades 6 and up.
*Profanity: none
*Violence: verbal bullying, deliberate attempts to slam volleyballs into human targets, and one physical assault with only one witness making any effort to help
*Sexual content: none, although it is made clear, without any details, that Cat’s unmarried parents hooked up during Spring Break and she was the result
*Representation: Teammates, friends and enemies come from various backgrounds financially, racially, and have varied family configurations as well
*LBGTQ: none
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Sourcebooks.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
I have heard a lot of great things about T.Z. Layton's Academy series, so I was immediately intrigued when I saw this on NetGalley. It is marked as both middle grade and YA and I would see this as good for the 10-14 set. I fully enjoyed this story and am thrilled to see a book that focuses on volleyball.
The story focuses on Cat, a 15 year old who lives in a small town outside of Louisville, KY with her single mother. She has dreams of getting a college scholarship to play D1 volleyball. As the story begins, Cat's mother dies of a heart attack. She is taken in by one of her best friend's family and they have started the adoption process, but when her unknown father encourages her to spend the spring semester living with him in California, she takes a leap of faith and goes to meet him. The situation is not perfect on a variety of levels. Knox, her father, is living a full bachelor life in a rundown house and he works crazy hours at a restaurant. When she starts school, she discovers that her volleyball skills, which were top notch in her home town, don't quite compare with the skills of girls who have been playing volleyball and beach volleyball for years. There is a group of exceptionally mean girls who bully her incessantly.
There is a lot of volleyball talk and some terminology that I had to look up, but I really enjoyed the story. Cat makes a great friend with another girl who gets bullied by the same group of girls and starts up a friendship with a local surfer/waiter who happens to also go to her school. She struggles with the fact that her father can barely take care of himself, let alone a daughter, but when he finally opens up to her, it turns out they have more in common than they think.
This is a great purchase for schools with a strong volleyball program. I would probably shelve it with my YA for my younger YA kids to have something that I knew was clean, but had touches of things they were dealing with.
I have heard a lot of great things about T.Z. Layton's Academy series, so I was immediately intrigued when I saw this on NetGalley. It is marked as both middle grade and YA and I would see this as good for the 10-14 set. I fully enjoyed this story and am thrilled to see a book that focuses on volleyball.
The story focuses on Cat, a 15 year old who lives in a small town outside of Louisville, KY with her single mother. She has dreams of getting a college scholarship to play D1 volleyball. As the story begins, Cat's mother dies of a heart attack. She is taken in by one of her best friend's family and they have started the adoption process, but when her unknown father encourages her to spend the spring semester living with him in California, she takes a leap of faith and goes to meet him. The situation is not perfect on a variety of levels. Knox, her father, is living a full bachelor life in a rundown house and he works crazy hours at a restaurant. When she starts school, she discovers that her volleyball skills, which were top notch in her home town, don't quite compare with the skills of girls who have been playing volleyball and beach volleyball for years. There is a group of exceptionally mean girls who bully her incessantly.
There is a lot of volleyball talk and some terminology that I had to look up, but I really enjoyed the story. Cat makes a great friend with another girl who gets bullied by the same group of girls and starts up a friendship with a local surfer/waiter who happens to also go to her school. She struggles with the fact that her father can barely take care of himself, let alone a daughter, but when he finally opens up to her, it turns out they have more in common than they think.
This is a great purchase for schools with a strong volleyball program. I would probably shelve it with my YA for my younger YA kids to have something that I knew was clean, but had touches of things they were dealing with.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to #NetGalley, T.Z. Layton, and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Cat Griffin's life changes in an instant after a family tragedy forces her to leave everything she loves behind—her friends, her home in Kentucky, and the life she thought she knew. Suddenly she's living in California with the father she's barely known, trying to survive a new school where she's an outsider from day one.
Things only get harder when she's targeted by girls on the varsity volleyball team, struggles to fit in, and realizes her dad has no clue how to be a parent. With no one to lean on except each other, Cat must decide whether to keep looking back or fight for a fresh start.
I'm a huge fan of T.Z. Layton's "Academy" series—Leo is low-key my favorite character! So when I found out he had written a volleyball novel, I knew I had to read it. Am I a volleyball player? Not even close. I just really enjoy T.Z. Layton's writing.
The beginning of the story is emotional as Cat deals with a devastating loss and is forced to move across the country to live with a father she's never met. It wasn't an easy read at times. I especially didn't like seeing Cat constantly cleaning up after her dad or the intense bullying she endured from Sky and the other girls. Those moments were frustrating, but they also made it easy to root for Cat.
The volleyball tournament at the end was my favorite part of the book. It was exciting, fast-paced, and I ended up reading that entire section in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.
Overall, this was another enjoyable read from T.Z. Layton. Even if you don't know much about volleyball, the story is really about resilience, family, friendship, and finding your place after life takes an unexpected turn. I highly recommend it!
Cat Griffin's life changes in an instant after a family tragedy forces her to leave everything she loves behind—her friends, her home in Kentucky, and the life she thought she knew. Suddenly she's living in California with the father she's barely known, trying to survive a new school where she's an outsider from day one.
Things only get harder when she's targeted by girls on the varsity volleyball team, struggles to fit in, and realizes her dad has no clue how to be a parent. With no one to lean on except each other, Cat must decide whether to keep looking back or fight for a fresh start.
I'm a huge fan of T.Z. Layton's "Academy" series—Leo is low-key my favorite character! So when I found out he had written a volleyball novel, I knew I had to read it. Am I a volleyball player? Not even close. I just really enjoy T.Z. Layton's writing.
The beginning of the story is emotional as Cat deals with a devastating loss and is forced to move across the country to live with a father she's never met. It wasn't an easy read at times. I especially didn't like seeing Cat constantly cleaning up after her dad or the intense bullying she endured from Sky and the other girls. Those moments were frustrating, but they also made it easy to root for Cat.
The volleyball tournament at the end was my favorite part of the book. It was exciting, fast-paced, and I ended up reading that entire section in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.
Overall, this was another enjoyable read from T.Z. Layton. Even if you don't know much about volleyball, the story is really about resilience, family, friendship, and finding your place after life takes an unexpected turn. I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am *thrilled* to have a new (and rare) middle-grade volleyball book that students are going to love!
I do have mixed feedback, however. When I started this book, I wasn't sure I would finish it. The first chapter was awful; the writing felt very amateur. It seemed like two lines of dialogue were the vehicle for launching into multiple paragraphs of description, about the setting, characters, and background information. It was minimal dialogue and excessive telling rather than showing.
Furthermore, the mom's death was just glossed over. At the end of the first chapter, Cat comes home, finds her mom dead, and screams. Then its one month later and she says she's done crying because at some point you have to be done, and the story just moves on. Once in awhile there is a comment about missing her mom, but nothing remotely close to the actual grieving a child would go through. I realize this was not intended to be a book about grief, but then that scene could have been left out and the story could have started with Cat on the plane thinking about what led her to that moment.
This author's strength, however, is writing the action of the game. It has been a long time since I have played volleyball, and I have no idea what half of the technical terms meant, but I was hooked and did not skim over the volleyball scenes. The story picked up, and the writing got significantly better (though there were still tons of instances when I rolled my eyes because something was obviously added in for purposes of moving the story towards a certain event).
Highly recommend for middle and high school where volleyball is a big deal. No racy or suggestive scenes, perfectly fine for all populations.
I do have mixed feedback, however. When I started this book, I wasn't sure I would finish it. The first chapter was awful; the writing felt very amateur. It seemed like two lines of dialogue were the vehicle for launching into multiple paragraphs of description, about the setting, characters, and background information. It was minimal dialogue and excessive telling rather than showing.
Furthermore, the mom's death was just glossed over. At the end of the first chapter, Cat comes home, finds her mom dead, and screams. Then its one month later and she says she's done crying because at some point you have to be done, and the story just moves on. Once in awhile there is a comment about missing her mom, but nothing remotely close to the actual grieving a child would go through. I realize this was not intended to be a book about grief, but then that scene could have been left out and the story could have started with Cat on the plane thinking about what led her to that moment.
This author's strength, however, is writing the action of the game. It has been a long time since I have played volleyball, and I have no idea what half of the technical terms meant, but I was hooked and did not skim over the volleyball scenes. The story picked up, and the writing got significantly better (though there were still tons of instances when I rolled my eyes because something was obviously added in for purposes of moving the story towards a certain event).
Highly recommend for middle and high school where volleyball is a big deal. No racy or suggestive scenes, perfectly fine for all populations.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Layton makes this book read easy-- because the characters are relatable and easy to connect with. Cat is a girl living in Kentucky, playing volleyball and being raised by a single mother until her mother dies suddenly. Without any other family, she's living with her best friend's parents but oddly enough, the father she never knew contacts the lawyer about making a connection. Cat stresses but figures she'll give it a try even if it means moving across the country to the oceans and beaches of California and meeting the man who doesn't know anything about her. And he certainly barely keeps himself running (working in a restaurant) but living in a rundown old family home having never married or had other kids- how could he possibly know anything about raising a sixteen year old daughter?
The premise is tragic and convenient yet it sets up a unique and thoughtful relationship between a father and daughter getting to know each other many years later. Cat folds into the school's volleyball team, ends up with a little romance, and both learns from and teachers her father some things.
The locations (both Kentucky and California) play roles in the story which was thoughtfully incorporated as well as what friendships look like. Plus communication. It was an easy to love book that highlights volleyball and family.
The premise is tragic and convenient yet it sets up a unique and thoughtful relationship between a father and daughter getting to know each other many years later. Cat folds into the school's volleyball team, ends up with a little romance, and both learns from and teachers her father some things.
The locations (both Kentucky and California) play roles in the story which was thoughtfully incorporated as well as what friendships look like. Plus communication. It was an easy to love book that highlights volleyball and family.
August 27, 2026
Super excited for sporty fiction focused on volleyball—it’s a unicorn! Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read Doubles before it hits the shelves.
This is my first book by TZ Layton — I know of the Academy series but haven’t yet read it. My 7th grader’s big love is volleyball so it was extra fun to learn about this iteration of the game (our home state of MN isn’t exactly a hotbed of sand volleyball!).
Cat is a strong MC who navigates her complicated life situations with bravery and realism. I quickly found myself invested in her journey. Some characters (ahem, Sky) were pretty one-dimensional, but I thought Layton used that well to fuel Cat’s growth and drive. I liked that her relationship with Knox evolved for both of them. Cat’s new SoCal friend June was a delight.
Gosh, though, I kept hoping Cat would eat a vegetable at some point 😝
Overall though, a strong entry in what I hope will be a growing list of sports-focused stories featuring volleyball. It’s such a great game! I’m definitely interested in adding it to our K-8 school’s library where I’m a volunteer aide. We have a lot of interest in playing the game at our school and I think Doubles will really appeal to our middle schoolers.
Lastly — gorgeous cover!
This is my first book by TZ Layton — I know of the Academy series but haven’t yet read it. My 7th grader’s big love is volleyball so it was extra fun to learn about this iteration of the game (our home state of MN isn’t exactly a hotbed of sand volleyball!).
Cat is a strong MC who navigates her complicated life situations with bravery and realism. I quickly found myself invested in her journey. Some characters (ahem, Sky) were pretty one-dimensional, but I thought Layton used that well to fuel Cat’s growth and drive. I liked that her relationship with Knox evolved for both of them. Cat’s new SoCal friend June was a delight.
Gosh, though, I kept hoping Cat would eat a vegetable at some point 😝
Overall though, a strong entry in what I hope will be a growing list of sports-focused stories featuring volleyball. It’s such a great game! I’m definitely interested in adding it to our K-8 school’s library where I’m a volunteer aide. We have a lot of interest in playing the game at our school and I think Doubles will really appeal to our middle schoolers.
Lastly — gorgeous cover!
September 7, 2026
Cat, a high school sophomore who loves volleyball, is forced to move to California when tragedy strikes. Now, instead of living with her mom and spending time with her friends, Cat has to live with a father she's never met, in a home not fit for her to live in. Almost instantly, the most popular girls in the school, the volleyball players, start bullying Cat. Will Cat be able to overcome all the obstacles thrown her way, and find a new normal?
I love that the chapter titles are either movie titles or plays on movies! Such a fun surprise when I opened the book. This book contains heavy bullying, light crushing, strong friendships, and redemption. This is a read that will keep readers rooting for the main character from beginning to end.
Some prior knowledge of volleyball and volleyball terminology is helpful when reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids | Sourcebooks Young Readers for the eARC!
I love that the chapter titles are either movie titles or plays on movies! Such a fun surprise when I opened the book. This book contains heavy bullying, light crushing, strong friendships, and redemption. This is a read that will keep readers rooting for the main character from beginning to end.
Some prior knowledge of volleyball and volleyball terminology is helpful when reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids | Sourcebooks Young Readers for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Doubles Silver Beach High is a perfect middle school read. It has tension, a crush, bullying and …volleyball. Lots of volleyball! There were many terms I didn’t know but the entire time I was reading it, I was motivated to read faster because I know just which volleyball playing girls I am going to pass my book off to next!
September 19, 2026
I really enjoyed this book and I am so happy to see a book about volleyball! 🏐 Cat, the main character, is very likable and I really enjoyed all the training and volleyball play in the book. This book is well written and will be enjoyed by many girls who play volleyball!
August 27, 2026
I really loved this book. This book opens up so many good discussions to have with kids. I loved the resilience of Cat and her willingness to adjust and open her life to others. This book was full of learning how to work hard, stand up for yourself, and persevere through life. I loved that the characters didn't get everything they wanted the first time, they had to work for it. This book was so good.
Thank you NetGalley for this amazing book.
Thank you NetGalley for this amazing book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Move over, Leo K. Doyle, it's Cat's turn to take the court! Layton's new series has an electric start as Cat finds her footing both in her new home, new relationships, and on a new playing field. The dynamic game scenes, of course, take center court in this high energy coming-of-age story.
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