Dill-ightful

by Stef C.R.

A Cold Water Novella

Blurb to come.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, LGBT, M M Romance

146 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2026

About the author

Project 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.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Zenya Weatherall · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[❀ Sarah-Jane ❀ · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

This was a super cute little novella. The fact that it was centred around pickle ball - and only one game was actually played was quite funny.

This is an M/M romance, insta-love, with a bit of spiciness thrown in there for good measure.

It was a fun, quick, easy read. Great little pallet cleanser.

[❀ Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 😒

[Ander Ray · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

~Thank you to Stef C.R. for the complimentary ALC of Dill-ightful~

This novella is cute! Low-angst, low-stakes, high spice 🌶️🔥, small-town romance. It's full of heart and found family. If you're looking for a quick, light-hearted read to boost your joy, this is a good option.

It's a little light on the character development. Neither of our sweet MMCs have many flaws. Instead of personal growth, it's more focused on the growth of the relationship. In a novella like this, that's fine, though some more depth could have made this even better.

The last 10% is all spice, which is kind of fun. The first 90% is sweetness and yearning, and then you get the icing at the end. 

The narrator does a nice job with the audiobook. He's got a low-key, soothing voice. Definitely a good way to read this book.

[Ally Bateman · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Clairelettersandmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Marielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Brit ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Lisa Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Jennifer Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Anna · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

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!

[Elysha Smith · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dill-ightful is a MM romance pickleball novella between a single father who owns a gym and a teacher with a love for pickleball.

Both Milo and Benny are overall very sweet characters and their romance is very slow burn but fluffy throughout the book. There’s a queer awakening and age gap as well with the couple.

The small town vibes were definitely there throughout the book, adding to a Hallmark movie feel for it. I also did love Bandit the raccoon.

However I felt like I was told why the characters liked each other, rather then being shown their connection and chemistry. While being fluffy it was lacking character development and chemistry.

The pacing as well was a bit off. The storyline about the gym had been progressing fairly well throughout the story and then at the ending it was very rushed and I don’t think got a full conclusion despite being a main story for the novella. I also did find a few other plot lines either were left uncompleted or rushed at the end. There was a lot trying to be packed into the novella.

The storyline as well with the gym was slowly building throughout the story and then was very rushed feeling at the end. I do wish the characters had been fleshed out a bit more and the pacing had been more consistent throughout the book.

The narrator was overall good for the book and did a good job with the characters and their voices.

A unique sports romance novella that would be fitting for people wanting a fluffy, quick and easy read.

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Marissa Joyce · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

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!

[Cara Kupferman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this sweet little M/M novella with a lovely story of discovery and love between Milo, a kindergarten teacher who recently moved to a small town in MI to take care of his grandma, and Benny, an older single father who owns the local gym. They are brought together by the gym and Benny’s young daughter, Emma, as Benny needs a hand to manage it all over the summer and Milo needs some extra income—and a place to play his favorite sport, pickleball. What begins as an arrangement built for convenience turns into a genuine friendship and soon transforms into attraction.

Milo is openly gay, but Benny has never been with a man, and in fact, he hasn’t been with anyone at all since the one night stand that resulted in his daughter. Watching Benny come to realize his feelings for Milo without any handwringing was such a lovely part of this book. I also really enjoyed the steamy scenes that come in once they’ve admitted their feelings.

Dill-ightful was a sweet, quick read, and really fun to listen to on audio! I especially appreciated how the narrator’s Midwestern accent brought some extra authenticity to the Michigan small town setting.

Go pick up this new book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cat Lady Reads · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Does it count as sports romance if it's about pickleball? This was a fast and achingly sweet romcom about a single dad in his 30s who doesn't know he's queer, and a kindergarten teacher in his 20s.

The audiobook was well done, only 4 hours long with one narrator voicing both main characters. I prefer duet narration, but with same sex romance a single narrator works just as well since the voices stay consistent no matter whose POV it is.

Benny is the owner of a failing gym, trying to raise his daughter without her mother in the picture. When his daughter's kindergarten teacher Milo strikes a deal - childcare in exchange for the use of the pickleball court - Benny finds himself wondering why he can't get the attractive 25 year old out of his head.

I really appreciate the way the author handled Benny's bi awakening and coming out. There doesn't need to be any shame in it, like you often see in stories with similar scenarios.

The smut is minimal, but it's quality over quantity. 3.5/5 spice level. It's also a very short book so they needed room for plot. This is a great quick read, and would be a fantastic palate cleanser after reading something heavy.

Thanks to Netgalley, Stef C.R. and Victory Editing for the ALC I received in exchange for my honest review.

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ryan · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

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!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aptly named, this book is a delightful book featuring a pickleball enthusiast who falls for the leader of his local small-town gym. The two main characters were easy to fall in love with and root for, especially Milo. The banter and longing were cute, and I appreciated the romance and deeper emotional connection within this MM romance. This was just a general feel-good, short read. There are a few explicit spicy scenes towards the end, which weren't for me, but were well written. My qualm was that some aspects of the relationship moved uncomfortably quickly, like the degree to which Milo was trusted with Benny's daughter. Maybe that didn't read as realistic because I am a protective parent. I received an advance audio copy courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. The audio narration was well done, but I personally did not care for the narrator; by the end of the book, I found his speech impediment to be distracting, especially during spicy scene narration. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a short and sweet, queer rom-com.

[shybookstagramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Tiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Christen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audiobook Narration: 5 / 5 Stars 🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dill-ightful by Stef C.R. was such a fun, lighthearted novella! It’s the perfect palate cleanser to read in between longer books.

This cute, sweet, and wonderfully sappy M/M romance had me grinning right from the very beginning. It starts off so wholesome and heartwarming that I was completely giddy—but don’t let that fool you! Before the book is over, things definitely heat up, and the open door spice was a very welcome surprise.

The narration on this ALC was top-tier and brought the characters to life brilliantly.

What to expect:
🥒 M/M Romance
🥒 Bi+ Awakening
🥒 Small Town Vibes
🥒 Age Gap
🥒 Pickleball
🥒 Slow Burn to Open Door Spice

A total joy of an audiobook! Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Listening Copy (ALC).

[Madison Murphy · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Editing, NetGalley, and Stef C.R. for this ALC!

I LOVED this one!! One of my new favorite MM romances. It may have been short, but it was a great time. I first seen Stef’s post on Instagram about this ALC and I’m grateful to receive the ALC!

J.T. Morris did a phenomenal job at narrating both Milo and Benny. The narration enhanced this story for me, I enjoyed listening to this novella! You could feel the emotions in the tone of voice and the narrator did a great job at using a different accent and tone for each character in this book!

If you enjoy yearning, bi-awakening, and a single dad falling for the sunshine teacher!! You definitely need to check out this audio, because it is SOOO worth it!

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Lori · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

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.

[LIFE IN THE MARGINS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dill-lightful by Stef C.R. was such a cute, quick audiobook listen! I was honestly impressed by how well the story wrapped up, especially for a shorter listen. It felt complete without needing a ton of extra time to get there.

We've got an age gap, a single dad, pickleball, a little spice, and one absolutely unhinged raccoon. 😂 Honestly, what more do you need?

If you're looking for something cute, short, and a little spicy to squeeze into your listening schedule, I'd definitely recommend this one. 😈💗

⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4/5

Thank you to Victory Editing and Stef C.R. for providing me with an ALC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew I'd be this into pickleball romances? This was such a warm and fuzzy love story. I loved the development of the relationships, both romantic and platonic. It was refreshing to dive into something that doesn't go up in flames before we can get our HEA. Although, I wouldn't have minded a punch in the face for the ex. Additionally, the narrator did an excellent job portraying both characters. I was engaged from start to finish and am looking forward to discovering more from this Author and cast.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher, and the Author for the chance to listen to this advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

[Aimee Crant-oksa · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.