Dill-ightful

by Stef C.R.

A Cold Water Novella

Blurb to come.

Genres: 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.

[❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus ) · 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 😒

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

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)

[dayshereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[annas.bookcase · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

🫶Thank you to the author for an advance reading copy 🫶

Oh my gosh this was such a cute story! Small town ✅ single dad ✅ AGE GAP ✅

This had the warm energy of a hallmark movie, a cute low stakes romance with nothing but lovable characters (including a chaos causing raccoon!)

If you love mm sport romance novellas, this one should be on your list!

[Laura B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest little RomCom everyone needs. I absolutely adore Stef CR and her characters. We get to follow along Milo and Benny, and how they become quick friends. I do hope there will be more spin-offs of the others friends in this Cute book. 100% recommend if you are looking for a quick pick me up good feel read.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hallmark Movie Worthy!

Make this into a Hallmark Rom Com NOW. It was truly so wonderful and sweet. The two MCs made me swoon and root for them. Also raccoons are absolutely menaces !

[Reading is escaping reality · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s an overworked single dad, while he Mets a guy who is nothing but. A ray of sunshine. He didn’t think he was gay, well until him! This is as cute and short, and a little splash of spice!

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet. (Though I didn’t exactly buy everything that happened in this book.)

I liked the epilogue. I mean, still unnecessary, but no proposals, weddings or babies? Excellent.

[... · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww 🥰 This was a sweet, wholesome, feel-good, no-angst, quick read that made me happy. A fantastic little pallate cleanser I'd recommend to anyone who wants an easy pick-me-up!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super fun and super sweet story. I love the friendship they build before Benny realizes that he has feelings for Milo. I could have definately read more of their story.

[Brooke.reads_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Benny and Milo so much! This was such a quick read and I’m so sad it’s over. I couldn’t get enough of all the characters in this book. The side characters are just as good as the mains! I wouldn’t be opposed to getting a novella about Bandits crazy antics. I’m convinced that Stef couldn’t write a book or novella that I wouldn’t thoroughly enjoy. Stef did mentioned that she isn’t good at writing standalones so I’m ecstatic to see where this possible series goes!! If you need a cute read that has some spicy moments, this is definitely for you!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
Small Town Pickleball Romance
Bi-awakening
Age Gap
Single Dad
Grumpy x Sunshine
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Cutest Raccoon

Thank you so much to Stef C.R. for the ARC in exchange for my honest review🫶🏻

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dill-ightful really lives up to its name. I truly enjoyed this short story and the small-town charm it brought.

The romance between Milo and Benny felt organic, and their connection and attraction developed in a very natural way. Watching them support each other and slowly grow—both individually and together—was one of my favorite parts.

Add in the steamy moments, the strong support system around them, and the sense of growth in their lives, and it made for a very enjoyable read.

[c.m.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how you write a novella! I loved everything about this book including Benny, Milo, Sam, and Emma. Single dad Benny is working hard to keep things afloat at his gym, while taking care of his daughter Emma. Milo, is new to town. He use to live in Chicago but moved back to be with his grandmother. He is working at the school, but looking for a job and for his place in the new, much smaller city. Along the way, they form the cutest friendship. They both end up helping one another out and in those little moments they fall for one another. Sam, Benny's best friend was also a great side character. This whole book was great. It had the pickleball element without being overly sporty and was just a feel good story.

Thanks so much Stef C.R for the ARC