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Love Game #1
In Your Court
A sweet, steamy AF contemporary MM romance! Find truckloads of hot, witty banter, exploration of queer solidarity, lots of tennis details but very little actual tennis, and amusing Australian/American cultural confusion.
Australian Matteo Russo is the first and only openly gay tennis pro. Once a brilliant junior, he was slated for a bright future – until a freak accident derailed his career. Now, he’s fed up, he’s struggling to qualify for tournaments, and he’s not sure he can afford dinner tonight.
After losing to his old rival—the rich, arrogant, American superstar Miles Callahan—Mat throws the man’s privilege in his face and sets him a challenge – one he’s sure Miles would never accept. But he does. Determined to prove he’s earned his success, Miles travels to Wimbledon on a tight budget – no support team, no coach, no fancy hotel. And now the American needs a hitting partner, and someone to explain laundromats, and what started as a dare soon becomes a searing off-court fling.
Mat should be focussing on his career, not falling for a glamorous star, but Miles believes in his game in a way Mat hasn’t for a long time, and is fast becoming everything he’s ever wanted. Only... love and tennis just don’t mix, because one day soon they’ll have to face each other on the court.
And in tennis, someone always has to lose.
Australian Matteo Russo is the first and only openly gay tennis pro. Once a brilliant junior, he was slated for a bright future – until a freak accident derailed his career. Now, he’s fed up, he’s struggling to qualify for tournaments, and he’s not sure he can afford dinner tonight.
After losing to his old rival—the rich, arrogant, American superstar Miles Callahan—Mat throws the man’s privilege in his face and sets him a challenge – one he’s sure Miles would never accept. But he does. Determined to prove he’s earned his success, Miles travels to Wimbledon on a tight budget – no support team, no coach, no fancy hotel. And now the American needs a hitting partner, and someone to explain laundromats, and what started as a dare soon becomes a searing off-court fling.
Mat should be focussing on his career, not falling for a glamorous star, but Miles believes in his game in a way Mat hasn’t for a long time, and is fast becoming everything he’s ever wanted. Only... love and tennis just don’t mix, because one day soon they’ll have to face each other on the court.
And in tennis, someone always has to lose.
472 pages, Paperback
Published May 21, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
E-ARC obtained through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
4.5 stars. Packed with enough steam to make you blush and enough heart to make you give it a rousing standing ovation, In Your Court is a serve of a queer tennis romance that I'm so glad I got the chance to read early.
4.5 stars. Packed with enough steam to make you blush and enough heart to make you give it a rousing standing ovation, In Your Court is a serve of a queer tennis romance that I'm so glad I got the chance to read early.
Did Not Finish
April 24, 2026dnf @ page ~300
Unfortunately, this wasn't for me. If you're into no plot and sex every other chapter, this one's perfect for you. For me, it wasn't. This was 70% spice and 30% random talks. And I don't have anything against spicy romances, but I wasn't in the mood for repetitive sex scenes and no romantic development. I was really really missing some interesting plot.
Unfortunately, this wasn't for me. If you're into no plot and sex every other chapter, this one's perfect for you. For me, it wasn't. This was 70% spice and 30% random talks. And I don't have anything against spicy romances, but I wasn't in the mood for repetitive sex scenes and no romantic development. I was really really missing some interesting plot.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Your Court really surprised me. At first, I was worried it wasn't going to be a win for me (the pacing was a tad slow and the characters weren't doing it for me), but it turned around about 35% in. I couldn't put this one down and these boys have been living rent free in my head ever since finishing their story. Their relationship was rocky, racked with misunderstandings and miscommunications as they learned how to communicate in a healthy manner as well as what each other needed. While I usually despise a miscommunication trope, it really worked here because of their circumstances. Also, Katie? A stellar side character, haha. This cover? Scrumptious! (It’s also been living rent free in my brain, haha.)
Was there far more tennis than I was anticipating? Yes. Do I really understand tennis all that well? No, absolutely not. Did this detract from my enjoyment? Also no. I think Matteo and Miles character progressions really kept the story going for me. Also, Miles’ team sucks (iykyk), his parents suck, and I’m so glad that he found a better support system.
This is a fast/high heat story, so keep that in mind if that’s not your thing. The lust comes before the feelings, but I couldn’t get enough of the budding relationship.
My only critique is that I wish there was *more*. (I say this about all my favorites, though, lol.) These two are so dang sweet and I love them and I was not ready to say goodbye. Don’t mind me running to find more MM Tennis books while I wait for Love Game 2 to release at some point in the future.
If you’re looking for a MM sports romance that isn’t hockey (don’t get me wrong, I love a good hockey romance, but they seem to be the most popular to publish lately), definitely give this debut a chance! I have pre-ordered a paperback edition and I cannot wait to revisit Matteo and Miles’ story again soon!
Was there far more tennis than I was anticipating? Yes. Do I really understand tennis all that well? No, absolutely not. Did this detract from my enjoyment? Also no. I think Matteo and Miles character progressions really kept the story going for me. Also, Miles’ team sucks (iykyk), his parents suck, and I’m so glad that he found a better support system.
This is a fast/high heat story, so keep that in mind if that’s not your thing. The lust comes before the feelings, but I couldn’t get enough of the budding relationship.
My only critique is that I wish there was *more*. (I say this about all my favorites, though, lol.) These two are so dang sweet and I love them and I was not ready to say goodbye. Don’t mind me running to find more MM Tennis books while I wait for Love Game 2 to release at some point in the future.
If you’re looking for a MM sports romance that isn’t hockey (don’t get me wrong, I love a good hockey romance, but they seem to be the most popular to publish lately), definitely give this debut a chance! I have pre-ordered a paperback edition and I cannot wait to revisit Matteo and Miles’ story again soon!
Currently Reading
May 26, 2026I’m on BookTube now! =)
I can’t believe I got this as an ARC, but here we are and I’m so ready to read “In Your Court”!
A tennis rivalry between a superstar and a former rising star who had a freak accident that cost him dearly. This sounds so good! I mean we have:
- Two tennis stars (one of them openly gay)
- Steamy m/m romance
- Rivals to lovers
- A bet that changes everything!
I love myself a good queer sports romance and I’m so here for this!
Buckle up, because this is going to be fun!
Find me on:
My Blog
Instagram
I can’t believe I got this as an ARC, but here we are and I’m so ready to read “In Your Court”!
A tennis rivalry between a superstar and a former rising star who had a freak accident that cost him dearly. This sounds so good! I mean we have:
- Two tennis stars (one of them openly gay)
- Steamy m/m romance
- Rivals to lovers
- A bet that changes everything!
I love myself a good queer sports romance and I’m so here for this!
Buckle up, because this is going to be fun!
Find me on:
My Blog
Read
April 6, 2026Now, the fool is ME because the author in their marketing trope graphic literally said "very little actual tennis" but there is a lacuna here of Actual Tennis in the POVs that boggles the mind. If your LI is briefly n.3 in the world why don't I know who n.1-2 are?? Instead of MC/LI calling each other "aw you're such an [adjective] gay" they'd be talking about tennis. Instead of swapping romance novel recs (yes, really) they'd be talking about tennis. Instead of talking like the exact elder millennial romance reader that the author presumably is, they'd be talking about... ? Say it with me. Have we totally lost the joy of rendering a character unlike us, to an audience unlike them, and asking an audience to find pleasure in the unlikeness? (Yes, unbearably, yes.)
Blah blah yes yes if you're reading for m/m sex you'll be overjoyed.
Blah blah yes yes if you're reading for m/m sex you'll be overjoyed.
April 28, 2026
WTF DID YOU PUT IN THIS BOOK @kithaley.romance?! In Your Court was INCREDIBLE 😱😱 sweet and a little angsty (first book to make me cry in a WHILE) and intense and VERY horny 🥵, I could NOT put it down, especially at the end. It also had exactly the right amount of tennis for someone who knows almost nothing about it and I really appreciated that 😂.
In Your Court is single POV and follows struggling Australian player Matteo, who is trying to prove that he’s not a has-been after recovering from an accident. He’s also the only out gay player and he’s both prone to overthinking and has quite the chip on his shoulder. So when top ranked player Miles Callahan, his rival for years, starts reaching out, he has no idea what to think.
I LOVED Miles. Though he can be hard to read and uses sex like a shield, he’s so thoughtful most of the time and he’s SO GOOD for AND to Mat. The way he helps Mat find his game again, supporting him despite being his rival warmed my heart. I loved their text convos, their banter, and their heart to hearts when they finally realize that they need to communicate. The end made me both sad and happy cry, SUCH a perfect conclusion!
This is the third book I’ve read and been OBSESSED with this year by an Aussie author with Aussie characters, OMG WHAT IS GOING ON DOWN UNDER? I dunno but I’m here for it, I cannot wait for yall to read this book (out May 21!) and I’m ready for anything else Kit writes.
In Your Court is single POV and follows struggling Australian player Matteo, who is trying to prove that he’s not a has-been after recovering from an accident. He’s also the only out gay player and he’s both prone to overthinking and has quite the chip on his shoulder. So when top ranked player Miles Callahan, his rival for years, starts reaching out, he has no idea what to think.
I LOVED Miles. Though he can be hard to read and uses sex like a shield, he’s so thoughtful most of the time and he’s SO GOOD for AND to Mat. The way he helps Mat find his game again, supporting him despite being his rival warmed my heart. I loved their text convos, their banter, and their heart to hearts when they finally realize that they need to communicate. The end made me both sad and happy cry, SUCH a perfect conclusion!
This is the third book I’ve read and been OBSESSED with this year by an Aussie author with Aussie characters, OMG WHAT IS GOING ON DOWN UNDER? I dunno but I’m here for it, I cannot wait for yall to read this book (out May 21!) and I’m ready for anything else Kit writes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️
I am adamant. This year is dedicated to tennis romances and I am absolutely determined to read every single queer tennis romance release I can get my hands on. Two down already, and honestly? I quite liked this one.
In Your Court follows Matteo and Miles, two former junior rivals who spent their teenage years circling each other somewhere between competitiveness, resentment, attraction, and “I absolutely refuse to admit I want to kiss this man.” Years later, they reunite during Roland Garros in Paris, but everything has changed. Matteo was once the openly gay rising tennis star everybody watched with fascination until a devastating accident derailed his entire career. Meanwhile, Miles has climbed all the way to world number three, backed by an expensive team, PR management, trainers, physios, and the kind of support system Matteo could never afford.
What starts as bitterness and wounded pride slowly turns into something much softer when Miles decides to prove a point and temporarily abandons the polished luxury of his professional setup. Suddenly these two are sharing tiny apartments near Wimbledon, cooking terrible meals, dragging laundry through London, rebuilding trust, and finding a kind of peace together neither of them really has anywhere else. I liked that...a lot!
This is not a high-drama sports romance. Tennis is very much the framework rather than the driving force. You always know where they are, what tournament matters, what is at stake professionally, but the real focus is on the quiet intimacy of hotel rooms, shared routines, emotional safety, and two exhausted men slowly lowering their guards around each other.
I also really liked both characters individually. Matteo’s struggle with self-worth after losing both momentum and physical confidence felt very relatable, while Miles slowly unravelling under the pressure of management, family expectations, media image, and the exhausting reality of staying closeted as a top athlete added a lot of emotional weight to his character.
That said, I do think this book had a balance issue for me personally.
This is very smut-heavy, but more specifically, sex becomes their primary language for almost everything. Celebration, frustration, affection, comfort, conflict resolution, vulnerability… it all circles back to physical intimacy. And while I understood what the author was trying to do with that dynamic, at some point I started craving more conversations that were not filtered through attraction or sex. Not even necessarily relationship conversations. I just wanted more moments where they talked deeply about tennis, identity, fear, family, ambition, grief, literally anything outside the bedroom dynamic.
Because of that, parts of the middle section started losing me a little. It only really felt like the emotional conversations deepened properly around the final stretch of the book.
What I did appreciate, though, is that the heavier topics never become emotionally exploitative. The homophobia, the media pressure, the fake PR relationships, the parents… they all exist, but mostly in the background. The book acknowledges them without constantly dragging the characters through misery. So despite the difficult themes, the overall atmosphere stays surprisingly laid-back.
If you want a tennis romance that is character-driven, emotionally gentle, intimacy-focused, and less obsessed with detailed sports realism, this is probably going to work really well for you. And if queer tennis romances keep becoming a thing this year, trust me, I will absolutely continue showing up for them.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Receiving the ARC did not influence my thoughts, opinions, or final rating in any way.
I am adamant. This year is dedicated to tennis romances and I am absolutely determined to read every single queer tennis romance release I can get my hands on. Two down already, and honestly? I quite liked this one.
In Your Court follows Matteo and Miles, two former junior rivals who spent their teenage years circling each other somewhere between competitiveness, resentment, attraction, and “I absolutely refuse to admit I want to kiss this man.” Years later, they reunite during Roland Garros in Paris, but everything has changed. Matteo was once the openly gay rising tennis star everybody watched with fascination until a devastating accident derailed his entire career. Meanwhile, Miles has climbed all the way to world number three, backed by an expensive team, PR management, trainers, physios, and the kind of support system Matteo could never afford.
What starts as bitterness and wounded pride slowly turns into something much softer when Miles decides to prove a point and temporarily abandons the polished luxury of his professional setup. Suddenly these two are sharing tiny apartments near Wimbledon, cooking terrible meals, dragging laundry through London, rebuilding trust, and finding a kind of peace together neither of them really has anywhere else. I liked that...a lot!
This is not a high-drama sports romance. Tennis is very much the framework rather than the driving force. You always know where they are, what tournament matters, what is at stake professionally, but the real focus is on the quiet intimacy of hotel rooms, shared routines, emotional safety, and two exhausted men slowly lowering their guards around each other.
I also really liked both characters individually. Matteo’s struggle with self-worth after losing both momentum and physical confidence felt very relatable, while Miles slowly unravelling under the pressure of management, family expectations, media image, and the exhausting reality of staying closeted as a top athlete added a lot of emotional weight to his character.
That said, I do think this book had a balance issue for me personally.
This is very smut-heavy, but more specifically, sex becomes their primary language for almost everything. Celebration, frustration, affection, comfort, conflict resolution, vulnerability… it all circles back to physical intimacy. And while I understood what the author was trying to do with that dynamic, at some point I started craving more conversations that were not filtered through attraction or sex. Not even necessarily relationship conversations. I just wanted more moments where they talked deeply about tennis, identity, fear, family, ambition, grief, literally anything outside the bedroom dynamic.
Because of that, parts of the middle section started losing me a little. It only really felt like the emotional conversations deepened properly around the final stretch of the book.
What I did appreciate, though, is that the heavier topics never become emotionally exploitative. The homophobia, the media pressure, the fake PR relationships, the parents… they all exist, but mostly in the background. The book acknowledges them without constantly dragging the characters through misery. So despite the difficult themes, the overall atmosphere stays surprisingly laid-back.
If you want a tennis romance that is character-driven, emotionally gentle, intimacy-focused, and less obsessed with detailed sports realism, this is probably going to work really well for you. And if queer tennis romances keep becoming a thing this year, trust me, I will absolutely continue showing up for them.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Receiving the ARC did not influence my thoughts, opinions, or final rating in any way.
April 4, 2026
ALL THE STARS!!!♾️⭐️
This book is outstanding!! I was sucked in from the start and stayed sucked in throughout the book. I truly had not felt this exhilarated reading a book in a minute!! Mat & Miles 🥹 GOD I LOVE THEM!! those 2 lovely idiots (iykyk)🤣 This is a tennis romance, and Tennis does not necessarily take a backseat (which was fine for me!) But, I think if you don’t know tennis/don’t care about tennis you will still be able to enjoy the story because the author does not go into too much detail!
I loved all of the layers to this story. It’s spicy (so wonderfully spicy!) but also sweet and tender and emotional. Both characters are navigating completely different challenges in their own worlds, yet somehow find common ground and learn how to be exactly what the other needs. Watching them show up for each other, put one another first, and ultimately build a life together was so beautiful.
Matteo, my fellow overthinker! So many times i wanted to wrap him in a hug 🥹 It was so hard to be irritated with him because i truly saw so much of myself 😭 the way he held so many thoughts and emotions in for fear of ruining what he had with Miles, and i was yelling at him like no!! we must be better!! USE YOUR WORDS💀 Im really glad Matteo and Miles finally figured out how to communicate and give each other why they need. Miles always knowing when Matteo was overthinking himself nuts! It was the sweetest of stories 🥹
Personally, I think Mat&Miles need a second book and so i’m gonna start that campaign… right now 🙂↕️🤪
This book is outstanding!! I was sucked in from the start and stayed sucked in throughout the book. I truly had not felt this exhilarated reading a book in a minute!! Mat & Miles 🥹 GOD I LOVE THEM!! those 2 lovely idiots (iykyk)🤣 This is a tennis romance, and Tennis does not necessarily take a backseat (which was fine for me!) But, I think if you don’t know tennis/don’t care about tennis you will still be able to enjoy the story because the author does not go into too much detail!
I loved all of the layers to this story. It’s spicy (so wonderfully spicy!) but also sweet and tender and emotional. Both characters are navigating completely different challenges in their own worlds, yet somehow find common ground and learn how to be exactly what the other needs. Watching them show up for each other, put one another first, and ultimately build a life together was so beautiful.
Matteo, my fellow overthinker! So many times i wanted to wrap him in a hug 🥹 It was so hard to be irritated with him because i truly saw so much of myself 😭 the way he held so many thoughts and emotions in for fear of ruining what he had with Miles, and i was yelling at him like no!! we must be better!! USE YOUR WORDS💀 Im really glad Matteo and Miles finally figured out how to communicate and give each other why they need. Miles always knowing when Matteo was overthinking himself nuts! It was the sweetest of stories 🥹
Personally, I think Mat&Miles need a second book and so i’m gonna start that campaign… right now 🙂↕️🤪
May 3, 2026
I love me a queer sports romance so when I saw the cover for this one, I needed to get my hands on it!! Luckily it definitely lived up to my expectations.
The tennis setting is just such a fun one, It allows for some very tense moments but also some hotel room fun. I loved how Matteo and Miles' dynamic was explored through their first few matches, already promising us some great banter and tension for the rest of the book.
The exploration of Matteo's mental health after his accident was also done so well. I loved how Miles just really wanted to help him get back to his best self and also called out his bad habits. I do wish there was also more of a focus on Miles and his own bad habits. The lack of communication there was slightly infuriating, even though it did make sense for their characters.
Just don't go into this expecting something like Heated Rivalry. Yes it's a gay sports romance between rivals but that's also where the comparison ends. It's a great book and stands perfectly on itself.
Had a really good time with this book and can't wait to read more from Kit Haley!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review!
The tennis setting is just such a fun one, It allows for some very tense moments but also some hotel room fun. I loved how Matteo and Miles' dynamic was explored through their first few matches, already promising us some great banter and tension for the rest of the book.
The exploration of Matteo's mental health after his accident was also done so well. I loved how Miles just really wanted to help him get back to his best self and also called out his bad habits. I do wish there was also more of a focus on Miles and his own bad habits. The lack of communication there was slightly infuriating, even though it did make sense for their characters.
Just don't go into this expecting something like Heated Rivalry. Yes it's a gay sports romance between rivals but that's also where the comparison ends. It's a great book and stands perfectly on itself.
Had a really good time with this book and can't wait to read more from Kit Haley!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review!
April 12, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this! This was such a fun read! It’s sort of like heated rivalry and challengers had a child and I love it. I appreciated that it touched on the classism/wealth gap in tennis while still keeping it from being aggressively money-focused. The characters themselves are well rounded and interesting people that you truly want to root for the whole book. The pacing is pretty good, sometimes the time skips felt slightly rushed but I understand their purpose so I’m not too mad about it. Overall, this is an interesting story and a great romance. There’s a lot of heart, a lot of growth, and a lot of heat (all important in any good sports romance).
April 4, 2026
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc!
Rtc
Rtc
May 16, 2026
I love tennis. I love romance. I loved this book. Why is there so little romance set in the tennis world? There's no shortage of hockey and baseball! I feel like Tennis has been an underrated sports romance subgenre, yet I know of 3 M|M tennis romances releasing this year alone and I could not be happier.
There's not a lot of details from the actual matches in the book, it's more about what happens before, after and in between on the ATP tour, and covers a full season with all 4 grand slams. I always visualize the MCs while reading and I couldn’t help but picture IRL tennis stars Taylor Fritz as Matteo Russo and Jack Draper as Miles Callahan (google them if you don't know who they are!) Of course in this story they are gay and fall in love. It's rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity-ish, plus a comeback and coming out story.
Mat & Miles are so cute and really can’t keep their hands off each other. I loved how Miles helps Mat overcome his past trauma and find his game again, and how Mat helps Miles free himself from his homophobic team & super controlling parents. These two compliment each other so well! They are also very horny and use sex as a way to avoid talking about serious things and/or to avoid emotions. I loved their banter and adorable text flirting. What's refreshing is they are together for most of the book and spice happens within the first 15%. The conflicts begin to surface before 50%, yet ultimately it’s not what you expect. There are some cute moments involving laundry, plants, flowers, chocolate mousse cake, a pool, wet shirts and an e-reader filled with gay Romance books!
Not only is this a great standalone novel, it's the first in the "Love Game" tennis romance series by Kit Haley. Sign me up for all of them. I cannot WAIT to read more! If you like gay sports romance, you will love this one.
Also, how gorgeous is this cover art? Really captures the vibes IMO. #MatAndMiles
STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
SPICE 🔥🔥🔥
**Thank you to NetGalley & Readamance Books for the ARC
There's not a lot of details from the actual matches in the book, it's more about what happens before, after and in between on the ATP tour, and covers a full season with all 4 grand slams. I always visualize the MCs while reading and I couldn’t help but picture IRL tennis stars Taylor Fritz as Matteo Russo and Jack Draper as Miles Callahan (google them if you don't know who they are!) Of course in this story they are gay and fall in love. It's rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity-ish, plus a comeback and coming out story.
Mat & Miles are so cute and really can’t keep their hands off each other. I loved how Miles helps Mat overcome his past trauma and find his game again, and how Mat helps Miles free himself from his homophobic team & super controlling parents. These two compliment each other so well! They are also very horny and use sex as a way to avoid talking about serious things and/or to avoid emotions. I loved their banter and adorable text flirting. What's refreshing is they are together for most of the book and spice happens within the first 15%. The conflicts begin to surface before 50%, yet ultimately it’s not what you expect. There are some cute moments involving laundry, plants, flowers, chocolate mousse cake, a pool, wet shirts and an e-reader filled with gay Romance books!
Not only is this a great standalone novel, it's the first in the "Love Game" tennis romance series by Kit Haley. Sign me up for all of them. I cannot WAIT to read more! If you like gay sports romance, you will love this one.
Also, how gorgeous is this cover art? Really captures the vibes IMO. #MatAndMiles
STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
SPICE 🔥🔥🔥
**Thank you to NetGalley & Readamance Books for the ARC
May 3, 2026
My 2026 reading list hadn’t given me any unexpected favorites outside the books I already knew would be 5 stars… until now. Because
In Your Court
is an absolute sports romance masterpiece.
I knew this was going to be a 5-star read by the time I hit 25%, and somehow it only got better from there.
What makes this book shine is that it delivers both an incredible romance and a compelling look into the realities of professional tennis.
🌼Miles is the world number 3: polished, talented, gorgeous, and America’s golden boy.
📖Matteo is the underdog—the former junior prodigy whose career was derailed by a devastating accident.
🎾Their dynamic is electric from the start, especially when Matt forces Miles to confront the privilege that comes with being a top-ranked player and how brutal life on tour can be for those lower down the rankings.
I loved both main characters for completely different reasons. Matt is open, vulnerable, and deeply shaped by self-doubt, while Miles carries himself with confidence but hides so much behind that perfect exterior. Their personalities complement each other beautifully, and their chemistry is obvious from their very first interactions.
The pacing was excellent, and I never lost interest for a second. Following them through the ATP tour—from French Open to Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open—kept the story fresh and exciting. The changing settings and evolving dynamics made it impossible to put down.
I also really appreciated how the author peeled back the layers of each character gradually—first Matt, then Miles—giving readers time to fall in love with them in the same way they fall for each other.
And the themes? So well done. From the financial strain lower-ranked players face just to stay on tour, to recovering from injuries, fear of failure, and complicated family dynamics—everything was handled with depth and care.
I loved the writing. I loved the plot. I loved the character arcs. I loved everything.
Honestly, if I could erase my memory just to experience this book again for the first time, I would.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redamance Books for the ARC!
For more bookish content follow me on instagram at@onetoomanybooks.ac 💫📚
I knew this was going to be a 5-star read by the time I hit 25%, and somehow it only got better from there.
What makes this book shine is that it delivers both an incredible romance and a compelling look into the realities of professional tennis.
🌼Miles is the world number 3: polished, talented, gorgeous, and America’s golden boy.
📖Matteo is the underdog—the former junior prodigy whose career was derailed by a devastating accident.
🎾Their dynamic is electric from the start, especially when Matt forces Miles to confront the privilege that comes with being a top-ranked player and how brutal life on tour can be for those lower down the rankings.
I loved both main characters for completely different reasons. Matt is open, vulnerable, and deeply shaped by self-doubt, while Miles carries himself with confidence but hides so much behind that perfect exterior. Their personalities complement each other beautifully, and their chemistry is obvious from their very first interactions.
The pacing was excellent, and I never lost interest for a second. Following them through the ATP tour—from French Open to Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open—kept the story fresh and exciting. The changing settings and evolving dynamics made it impossible to put down.
I also really appreciated how the author peeled back the layers of each character gradually—first Matt, then Miles—giving readers time to fall in love with them in the same way they fall for each other.
And the themes? So well done. From the financial strain lower-ranked players face just to stay on tour, to recovering from injuries, fear of failure, and complicated family dynamics—everything was handled with depth and care.
I loved the writing. I loved the plot. I loved the character arcs. I loved everything.
Honestly, if I could erase my memory just to experience this book again for the first time, I would.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redamance Books for the ARC!
For more bookish content follow me on instagram at@onetoomanybooks.ac 💫📚
Review of advance copy received from Author
In Your Court: ★ ★ ★ . 5
Kit Haley
“There’s no fair in tennis, there’s just winning. And sometimes the way to win is to push your opponent into a corner.”
Matteo is the first and only openly gay tennis player who is struggling to make a comeback after his accident. But his secret relationship with Miles keeps on challenging him to get better, even if they are rivals outside the bedroom.
Tropes:
– Sports romance
– Fast burn
– Rivals to lovers
Ever since I saw this cover, I fell in love with it, and I knew that I needed to read it immediately. There was so much fun banter, spicy tension, and so much more in the story. I loved reading about how they fell in love and kept challenging one another not only to become better but also feel comfortable in their own skin.
My only minor comment would be that because the characters got together so early in the book. Some parts felt like they were just a touch longer than they needed to be, but it’s honestly refreshing to see a different kind of romance novel where I get to see the characters working through our relationship rather than the entire book being spent on them getting together.
Matteo and Miles are such unique characters who totally belong to one another. Every single soft moment between them made my heart melt because they’re just sooo cute!!
Thank you to Kit Haley for the ARC!
Kit Haley
“There’s no fair in tennis, there’s just winning. And sometimes the way to win is to push your opponent into a corner.”
Matteo is the first and only openly gay tennis player who is struggling to make a comeback after his accident. But his secret relationship with Miles keeps on challenging him to get better, even if they are rivals outside the bedroom.
Tropes:
– Sports romance
– Fast burn
– Rivals to lovers
Ever since I saw this cover, I fell in love with it, and I knew that I needed to read it immediately. There was so much fun banter, spicy tension, and so much more in the story. I loved reading about how they fell in love and kept challenging one another not only to become better but also feel comfortable in their own skin.
My only minor comment would be that because the characters got together so early in the book. Some parts felt like they were just a touch longer than they needed to be, but it’s honestly refreshing to see a different kind of romance novel where I get to see the characters working through our relationship rather than the entire book being spent on them getting together.
Matteo and Miles are such unique characters who totally belong to one another. Every single soft moment between them made my heart melt because they’re just sooo cute!!
Thank you to Kit Haley for the ARC!
May 26, 2026
Oh ok this book was good as hell, what a delightful surprise. Can’t wait for book 2!
Did Not Finish
April 22, 2026𓏲࣪◜ dnf @60% ♡ᵎ
Although it sounded like THE perfect book for me, I have to admit i dnf’d this one.
When i received the confirmation email, i was incredibly excited and started reading immediately. But to my surprise i quickly realized that the writing style wasn't really for me, but i decided to keep reading anyway. The more i read, the more i realized it just wasn't working for me. I’m not a big fan of the writing, i can’t really connect with the characters and the story didn’t catch me the way i hoped it would. It’s sad because i actually don’t like them both together i thought they have a really weird relationship. At some point i skimmed through the book to see if i would change my mind and if it would catch me again, but unfortunately nothing changed, so i stuck to my decision.
- still a huge thank you to Redamance Books for sending me the e arc in exchange for an honest review. -
- started: 05.04.26
- stopped: 22.04.26
May 5, 2026
This was a case of I LOVE THE COVER, I must read!
Do I always judge a book by it's cover? I try not to, but the "face card" on this debut book from Kit Haley is hot. It drew me in and I'm not even a tennis fan.
In Your Court is a single POV, rivals to lovers, MM sports romance story between an Australian and American tennis player that basically grew up together within their sport. But after an accident, one of the players (Matteo) has had a difficult time returning to the level he once was. Not only that, but he is also the only out gay professional tennis player in the circuit, which has unintentionally put unneeded attention on his shoulders. When Matteo loses a match against Miles, he challenges him to a bit of a dare, not thinking that Miles would actually take him up on it. But Miles takes the challenge on for more than one reason, surprising Matteo in ways he never saw coming.
Look, I'm a huge sports romance reader, especially when it's between two players. The rivalry. The tension. The build up to something explosive. It just gets your heart pounding. Even if it's about a sport that I'm not too familiar with, like tennis. It was all about the setting, giving us moments that allowed us to explore our MCs, Miles and Matteo in their worlds, together, off and on the court.
Since this story was told in Matteo's POV, I felt like I was able to connect to him quickly and easier. From his friendship with fellow tennis player and roommate Katie, to his family back home in Australia, to how open he was about sharing aspects of his life, I just adored Mat. But he definitely was holding back when it came to his on court presence. Then there's Miles. While he did not give up pieces of himself easily and hides who he is, he is the perfect fit for Mat. He recognizes parts of Mat that no one else has been able to see and ends up helping Mat find his way to being the tennis player he once was.
'Sometimes, you have to take risks. Say f*ck you to the fear and choose to believe in yourself. I wasn't sure I could after years of failure, but for some reason he seemed to believed in me. Perhaps, for now, that would be enough.'
Despite their long time rivalry, they end up connecting off the court and I loved seeing them explore their obvious chemistry. Their physical connection as well as their horny banter in person and through texts allows us to see them build something more than just physical. It wasn't perfect, but that was half the beauty of their journey.
And finally, I have to mention the tennis. Because while there is a lot of talk of tennis and the different tours, it didn't have a lot of actual tennis matches, if that makes sense. It's just the world this romance is set in. And it's such a good one!
Overall, I enjoyed this romance and felt the characters were well fleshed out and I truly enjoyed their story. I was totally invested in their journeys outside of their romance as much as their actual relationship...BUT, I did feel the book was excessively long.
If you are a fan of:
Spicy MM Sport Romance (tennis)
Rivals to lovers
Close Proximity
Horny behavior
Out/Not Out Athletes
Traumatic Past
...Then don't miss out on Kit Haley's debut book. I'll definitely be back for more since this apparently is the first book in the Love Game series!!
Do I always judge a book by it's cover? I try not to, but the "face card" on this debut book from Kit Haley is hot. It drew me in and I'm not even a tennis fan.
In Your Court is a single POV, rivals to lovers, MM sports romance story between an Australian and American tennis player that basically grew up together within their sport. But after an accident, one of the players (Matteo) has had a difficult time returning to the level he once was. Not only that, but he is also the only out gay professional tennis player in the circuit, which has unintentionally put unneeded attention on his shoulders. When Matteo loses a match against Miles, he challenges him to a bit of a dare, not thinking that Miles would actually take him up on it. But Miles takes the challenge on for more than one reason, surprising Matteo in ways he never saw coming.
Look, I'm a huge sports romance reader, especially when it's between two players. The rivalry. The tension. The build up to something explosive. It just gets your heart pounding. Even if it's about a sport that I'm not too familiar with, like tennis. It was all about the setting, giving us moments that allowed us to explore our MCs, Miles and Matteo in their worlds, together, off and on the court.
Since this story was told in Matteo's POV, I felt like I was able to connect to him quickly and easier. From his friendship with fellow tennis player and roommate Katie, to his family back home in Australia, to how open he was about sharing aspects of his life, I just adored Mat. But he definitely was holding back when it came to his on court presence. Then there's Miles. While he did not give up pieces of himself easily and hides who he is, he is the perfect fit for Mat. He recognizes parts of Mat that no one else has been able to see and ends up helping Mat find his way to being the tennis player he once was.
'Sometimes, you have to take risks. Say f*ck you to the fear and choose to believe in yourself. I wasn't sure I could after years of failure, but for some reason he seemed to believed in me. Perhaps, for now, that would be enough.'
Despite their long time rivalry, they end up connecting off the court and I loved seeing them explore their obvious chemistry. Their physical connection as well as their horny banter in person and through texts allows us to see them build something more than just physical. It wasn't perfect, but that was half the beauty of their journey.
And finally, I have to mention the tennis. Because while there is a lot of talk of tennis and the different tours, it didn't have a lot of actual tennis matches, if that makes sense. It's just the world this romance is set in. And it's such a good one!
Overall, I enjoyed this romance and felt the characters were well fleshed out and I truly enjoyed their story. I was totally invested in their journeys outside of their romance as much as their actual relationship...BUT, I did feel the book was excessively long.
If you are a fan of:
Spicy MM Sport Romance (tennis)
Rivals to lovers
Close Proximity
Horny behavior
Out/Not Out Athletes
Traumatic Past
...Then don't miss out on Kit Haley's debut book. I'll definitely be back for more since this apparently is the first book in the Love Game series!!
May 16, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.
If you were a fan of Heated Rivalry and can’t get enough of the rivals to lovers trope, this might just be the book for you!
🎾rivals to lovers
🎾Aussie x American
🎾banter
🎾hidden relationship
🎾family drama
In Your Court was a joy to read, from start to finish! Told in single first person POV, Australian tennis player Matteo is struggling to find his game again after a terrible accident more than 4 years prior. As the only openly gay tennis pro, he is struggling both financially and personally. I didn’t realize how much of an isolated sport tennis is, but as a lower ranked player, Mat is barely able to financially support himself, let alone fund a coach and a team to travel with him. So when he (re)meets Miles, currently ranked 4th and very financially secure, Mat challenges him to play as if he were struggling.
The pair being the banter and the heat quickly, but their feelings were slow to develop. What started out as rivals turned into friendship with the promise of something more. But Mat is firmly out while Miles is still very much closeted, so growing their relationship feels nearly impossible, especially considering Miles’ absolutely awful family.
I was quick to love and emphasize with Mat’s character and his loneliness and anxieties. His worry about the what ifs were valid, given the past accident that nearly destroyed his career. His family were so supportive and his nonna was a riot (I wish she’d gotten a larger role!) I warmed up a little more slowly to Miles but felt that his character had such growth and a secret sweetness to him that it was impossible not to love him once I got to know him a little better. Although that boy really needs to work on his communication!
I enjoyed the format of the story, told over several months, and the text exchanges that really highlighted both the fun banter between Mat and Miles but also often the strain that long distance relationships can have. While I compared this to Heated Rivalry, what’s most interestingly different is the fact that tennis is an individual sport and the fact that the games (tournaments) are laid out in a way that allows the possibility of Miles and Matteo to face each other as opponents multiple times throughout the season. They also can attend the same tournaments, if they choose, so they can see each other more frequently.
Although I admittedly know nothing about tennis, the sports part of the plot was fairly easy to follow and I enjoyed learning about the sport. While the author might not have made a tennis fan out of me, she certainly has made me a fan of Matteo and Miles!
If you were a fan of Heated Rivalry and can’t get enough of the rivals to lovers trope, this might just be the book for you!
🎾rivals to lovers
🎾Aussie x American
🎾banter
🎾hidden relationship
🎾family drama
In Your Court was a joy to read, from start to finish! Told in single first person POV, Australian tennis player Matteo is struggling to find his game again after a terrible accident more than 4 years prior. As the only openly gay tennis pro, he is struggling both financially and personally. I didn’t realize how much of an isolated sport tennis is, but as a lower ranked player, Mat is barely able to financially support himself, let alone fund a coach and a team to travel with him. So when he (re)meets Miles, currently ranked 4th and very financially secure, Mat challenges him to play as if he were struggling.
The pair being the banter and the heat quickly, but their feelings were slow to develop. What started out as rivals turned into friendship with the promise of something more. But Mat is firmly out while Miles is still very much closeted, so growing their relationship feels nearly impossible, especially considering Miles’ absolutely awful family.
I was quick to love and emphasize with Mat’s character and his loneliness and anxieties. His worry about the what ifs were valid, given the past accident that nearly destroyed his career. His family were so supportive and his nonna was a riot (I wish she’d gotten a larger role!) I warmed up a little more slowly to Miles but felt that his character had such growth and a secret sweetness to him that it was impossible not to love him once I got to know him a little better. Although that boy really needs to work on his communication!
I enjoyed the format of the story, told over several months, and the text exchanges that really highlighted both the fun banter between Mat and Miles but also often the strain that long distance relationships can have. While I compared this to Heated Rivalry, what’s most interestingly different is the fact that tennis is an individual sport and the fact that the games (tournaments) are laid out in a way that allows the possibility of Miles and Matteo to face each other as opponents multiple times throughout the season. They also can attend the same tournaments, if they choose, so they can see each other more frequently.
Although I admittedly know nothing about tennis, the sports part of the plot was fairly easy to follow and I enjoyed learning about the sport. While the author might not have made a tennis fan out of me, she certainly has made me a fan of Matteo and Miles!
April 18, 2026
Ohhhhhh this was such a good one! I will preface this by saying I know nothing about tennis, but that’s didn’t put me off at all - in fact I feel like I have learned a lot!! The book follows out-and-proud Australian pro tennis player Matteo Russo who, after almost having to retire for good after a car accident, is making his slow way back up the rankings. Perpetually standing in his way is American tennis superstar Miles Callahan, Mat’s rival and all-round, all-American jerk.
Or is he? When they end up neighbours whilst playing a competition in London, Mat starts to realise that Miles isn’t as huge a jerk as he thought. And also that Miles, surprisingly, isn’t straight. But he is closeted. Despite the growing attraction between the pair, Mat just can’t see this having a happy ending…
Ohhhh gosh it was so good. So much soul-searching, growing as people, deep emotional connection… ugh, perfection. This is the book that Heated Rivalry fans need to cure their hangover; there’s the same emotional depth, the sneaking around in hotel rooms, the adorable banter… plus we have this lovely black cat x golden retriever pairing, with Mat being an anxious, nervy wreck most of the time and Miles being a textbook sweetheart people pleaser.
Whilst this book is told from Mat’s POV, and therefore we get to share all of his ups and downs as he experiences them, we also get so much insight into Miles’ life and the struggles that he is facing as Mat manages to see under the perpetually sunshiny exterior to the damage beneath.
Plus, y’know we got a wholeeeee lotta spice 🙂↕️ Plus the frankly hilarious Aussie/American cultural misunderstandings; who knew thongs were such a controversial subject 😹
Read In Your Court for:
✨ MM Tennis Romance
✨ Rivals to lovers (but still rivals 🎾)
✨ Australian VS American
✨ For Heated Rivalry fans
✨ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
✨ Anxiety rep, recovery from injury
✨ Sneaking in hotel rooms
✨ Kindles full of gay smut
✨ Wimbledon far sexier than I thought
✨ Found family of tennis folks
✨ Incredible character growth
✨ I love them both your honour 🫡
Thank you to the author for an early copy of this book via NetGalley; it’s out 21st May!
Or is he? When they end up neighbours whilst playing a competition in London, Mat starts to realise that Miles isn’t as huge a jerk as he thought. And also that Miles, surprisingly, isn’t straight. But he is closeted. Despite the growing attraction between the pair, Mat just can’t see this having a happy ending…
Ohhhh gosh it was so good. So much soul-searching, growing as people, deep emotional connection… ugh, perfection. This is the book that Heated Rivalry fans need to cure their hangover; there’s the same emotional depth, the sneaking around in hotel rooms, the adorable banter… plus we have this lovely black cat x golden retriever pairing, with Mat being an anxious, nervy wreck most of the time and Miles being a textbook sweetheart people pleaser.
Whilst this book is told from Mat’s POV, and therefore we get to share all of his ups and downs as he experiences them, we also get so much insight into Miles’ life and the struggles that he is facing as Mat manages to see under the perpetually sunshiny exterior to the damage beneath.
Plus, y’know we got a wholeeeee lotta spice 🙂↕️ Plus the frankly hilarious Aussie/American cultural misunderstandings; who knew thongs were such a controversial subject 😹
Read In Your Court for:
✨ MM Tennis Romance
✨ Rivals to lovers (but still rivals 🎾)
✨ Australian VS American
✨ For Heated Rivalry fans
✨ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
✨ Anxiety rep, recovery from injury
✨ Sneaking in hotel rooms
✨ Kindles full of gay smut
✨ Wimbledon far sexier than I thought
✨ Found family of tennis folks
✨ Incredible character growth
✨ I love them both your honour 🫡
Thank you to the author for an early copy of this book via NetGalley; it’s out 21st May!
April 15, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book, in exchange for an honest review!
In Your Court by Kit Haley was a solid four stars for me, fun, engaging, and easy to get swept up in. I do wish the romance had taken a bit longer to build; for supposed long-time rivals, it all felt a little too easy and forgiving.
That said, the pacing worked well overall (even if it did feel a touch long at times; my 'romances over 400 pages should not exist' agenda remains strong).
What really made this stand out, though, was the choice to keep it to a single POV. Getting to know Miles alongside Mat instead of watching dual-POV misunderstandings unfold made everything feel more intimate and immersive. Such a great narrative choice, and it genuinely elevated the whole story.
In Your Court by Kit Haley was a solid four stars for me, fun, engaging, and easy to get swept up in. I do wish the romance had taken a bit longer to build; for supposed long-time rivals, it all felt a little too easy and forgiving.
That said, the pacing worked well overall (even if it did feel a touch long at times; my 'romances over 400 pages should not exist' agenda remains strong).
What really made this stand out, though, was the choice to keep it to a single POV. Getting to know Miles alongside Mat instead of watching dual-POV misunderstandings unfold made everything feel more intimate and immersive. Such a great narrative choice, and it genuinely elevated the whole story.
Did Not Finish
April 25, 2026I was enjoying this at first but it’s just soooo long with all smut and no plot. I’m over it and don’t really care what happens anymore.
April 26, 2026
Mat + Miles
-mm romance
-tennis romance
-rivals to lovers
-freak4freak
-austrailian/american cultural confusion
this was cute & the love story thru navigating each others careers was precious also.
-mm romance
-tennis romance
-rivals to lovers
-freak4freak
-austrailian/american cultural confusion
this was cute & the love story thru navigating each others careers was precious also.
June 2, 2026
The writing had that addictive quality. It does start a little slow as you start to get to know more about the characters but it pulled me in really quickly, and I found myself genuinely invested in both the romance and the emotional messiness of it all. I usually hate an emotionally messy book but I think this one sort of worked because of the situation with both characters.
One of the things that stood out most to me was how well the tennis element was handled. In a lot of sports romances, the sport can feel interchangeable or mostly there for aesthetic, but here it actually felt woven into the characters’ lives and the story itself.
I think what I really loved most about this book was Matt.
Matt was such a gentle, soft character who didn’t fully realise how much he deserved. So much of his storyline felt less like miscommunication and more like self-preservation. He didn’t want to put himself in a position where he’d essentially have to go back into the closet, and that fear felt incredibly understandable. At the same time, I think so many of us have been in a position where we’d rather take small pieces of somebody than not have them at all. He’s just such a genuinely good character — soft, gentle, and with such a huge heart. And as a confessed chronic overthinker, I understood all his spirally thoughts.
I loved Miles’ flirty behaviour, but I definitely found myself rooting harder for Matt. There were times when Miles felt frustrated to read because he often turned to deflecting or using sex to avoid difficult conversations. That’s definitely not exclusive to queer romance, by the way. To the book’s credit, though, Miles does acknowledge where he’s gone wrong, and he actively tries to do better for Matt. He recognises Matt’s tendency to overthink and genuinely attempts to improve.
And then, of course, we get the inevitable third-act breakup. Miles was a complete dick during this part, and I wanted to scream at him. It genuinely made me sad seeing Matt treated that way. Third-act breakups are common in romance, but this one was particularly difficult to sit through. I honestly considered DNFing at one point, but I also desperately wanted to know how the rest of the story played out. I wanted that redemption ARC and I don't know if the reader really gets it. We kind of gloss over it, and I wanted Miles to be begging for forgiveness.
One thing to know going in: this book is both a slow burn and not a slow burn at the same time. The relationship is very sexually driven, so there’s a lot of intimacy early on, but emotionally, the story unfolds much more gradually. There’s a steady emotional buildup that makes you constantly wonder how this relationship will actually survive in the long term.
I absolutely loved how Miles comes out and publicly announces the relationship — I thought that aspect was done beautifully. That said, this is one of those couples where I’m not entirely sure whether I believe they’ll last forever because Miles still has a lot of things he needs to work through. But we do love a man who is trying to improve himself.
One of the things that stood out most to me was how well the tennis element was handled. In a lot of sports romances, the sport can feel interchangeable or mostly there for aesthetic, but here it actually felt woven into the characters’ lives and the story itself.
I think what I really loved most about this book was Matt.
Matt was such a gentle, soft character who didn’t fully realise how much he deserved. So much of his storyline felt less like miscommunication and more like self-preservation. He didn’t want to put himself in a position where he’d essentially have to go back into the closet, and that fear felt incredibly understandable. At the same time, I think so many of us have been in a position where we’d rather take small pieces of somebody than not have them at all. He’s just such a genuinely good character — soft, gentle, and with such a huge heart. And as a confessed chronic overthinker, I understood all his spirally thoughts.
I loved Miles’ flirty behaviour, but I definitely found myself rooting harder for Matt. There were times when Miles felt frustrated to read because he often turned to deflecting or using sex to avoid difficult conversations. That’s definitely not exclusive to queer romance, by the way. To the book’s credit, though, Miles does acknowledge where he’s gone wrong, and he actively tries to do better for Matt. He recognises Matt’s tendency to overthink and genuinely attempts to improve.
And then, of course, we get the inevitable third-act breakup. Miles was a complete dick during this part, and I wanted to scream at him. It genuinely made me sad seeing Matt treated that way. Third-act breakups are common in romance, but this one was particularly difficult to sit through. I honestly considered DNFing at one point, but I also desperately wanted to know how the rest of the story played out. I wanted that redemption ARC and I don't know if the reader really gets it. We kind of gloss over it, and I wanted Miles to be begging for forgiveness.
One thing to know going in: this book is both a slow burn and not a slow burn at the same time. The relationship is very sexually driven, so there’s a lot of intimacy early on, but emotionally, the story unfolds much more gradually. There’s a steady emotional buildup that makes you constantly wonder how this relationship will actually survive in the long term.
I absolutely loved how Miles comes out and publicly announces the relationship — I thought that aspect was done beautifully. That said, this is one of those couples where I’m not entirely sure whether I believe they’ll last forever because Miles still has a lot of things he needs to work through. But we do love a man who is trying to improve himself.
Did Not Finish
May 23, 2026Thank you Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! I am not leaving a star rating due to not finishing this book.
I loved it at first. It started off strong and I was roped in and interested. I like the two MMCs and the premise. The supporting characters were great. I very quickly realized this was going to be mostly smut. Which is okay! I just typically don’t read it. I forged on because I was having a great time. I got to about 35-40% before I started to get a little bored with the plot and the amount of smut. I think every chapter there is a sex scene of some sort. That’s a little too much for me. The plot slowed wayyyy down. I also did not realize this is a 500 page book. I was expecting 300-350. So once I realized how long it was I decided to skim and see if it would pull me back in. Sadly it did not. I think if this book was 200 pages shorter and paced more quickly I would have liked it much more and finished it. All that to say, this is not a bad book. It just had its quirks that I couldn’t look past in order to finish it.
The good:
•Mat and Miles! I like them both and Katie too.
•The cover is GORGEOUS
•The way these two men supported each other
•The premise of rivals to lovers
•The balance of tennis vs smut
The not so good:
•The chapters felt very long to me (That’s probably just a personal preference)
•The overall book length was too long for a romance in my opinion. There was a lot of unnecessary “fluff”.
•The grammar was a little wonky at times. It obviously could be/will be edited more before release but that was just something I noticed.
•I felt like more communication was needed between Mat and Miles. Especially before any sex. The first scene between the two seemed a little non consensual on Mats side. I also saw in others reviews that instances like this do happen a few times during the book.
Overall, not a bad debut novel! Like I said, a lot of what turned me off from finishing this book was personal preference. I would recommend others to give it a try though! Based off of what I did read, I would give it 3.5 to 3.75 stars. I just did not feel comfortable rating a book I did not finish. Thank you again to Netgalley!
I loved it at first. It started off strong and I was roped in and interested. I like the two MMCs and the premise. The supporting characters were great. I very quickly realized this was going to be mostly smut. Which is okay! I just typically don’t read it. I forged on because I was having a great time. I got to about 35-40% before I started to get a little bored with the plot and the amount of smut. I think every chapter there is a sex scene of some sort. That’s a little too much for me. The plot slowed wayyyy down. I also did not realize this is a 500 page book. I was expecting 300-350. So once I realized how long it was I decided to skim and see if it would pull me back in. Sadly it did not. I think if this book was 200 pages shorter and paced more quickly I would have liked it much more and finished it. All that to say, this is not a bad book. It just had its quirks that I couldn’t look past in order to finish it.
The good:
•Mat and Miles! I like them both and Katie too.
•The cover is GORGEOUS
•The way these two men supported each other
•The premise of rivals to lovers
•The balance of tennis vs smut
The not so good:
•The chapters felt very long to me (That’s probably just a personal preference)
•The overall book length was too long for a romance in my opinion. There was a lot of unnecessary “fluff”.
•The grammar was a little wonky at times. It obviously could be/will be edited more before release but that was just something I noticed.
•I felt like more communication was needed between Mat and Miles. Especially before any sex. The first scene between the two seemed a little non consensual on Mats side. I also saw in others reviews that instances like this do happen a few times during the book.
Overall, not a bad debut novel! Like I said, a lot of what turned me off from finishing this book was personal preference. I would recommend others to give it a try though! Based off of what I did read, I would give it 3.5 to 3.75 stars. I just did not feel comfortable rating a book I did not finish. Thank you again to Netgalley!
May 28, 2026
✨ARC review!✨
── .✦ "𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳." 𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦. "𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦
𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴.”
Release date: July 16th
⋆˙⟡ 🎾 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴
- Rivals to lovers
- MM romance
- Pro tennis
- Spicy
- Forced proximity
From the moment I saw the cover of this book I just knew I would love it. It immediately gave me Heated Rivalry x Challengers vibes and let me tell you- it did not disappoint!!!
I loved following Mat as his relationship with Miles developed. First physically and slowly turning into something much more than that.
This book had me giggling from all their funny banter and swooning whenever they confessed their feelings for each other. The chemistry between them was super hot and addictive🤭
I loved the way they cheered each other on from the very beginning and always believing in each other.
This book is a pretty long one for a romance and at the beginning I thought I’d probably get bored at some point, but I was wrong!! Mat and Miles were just really lovable characters which I had the best time reading about.
One thing that I would have loved was if we got a bit more communication around the third act conflict, I felt like we didn’t really get much explanation and I would have loved to dive a bit deeper into what happened there.
On the other hand, I did really much enjoy that the book didn’t end in one of them proposing to the other. Not that I don’t like seeing characters have their happy ending in the epilogue, but there’s just something about leaving it with just them happily together that I feel makes it more human.
About the tennis part of the book, I who hardly knows anything about tennis was easily confused by some bits, but it didn’t interfere with my reading experience overall.
Highly recommend if you want a fun & smutty time!❤️🔥
brb going to rewatch Heated Rivalry and Challengers
── .✦ "𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳." 𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦. "𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦
𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴.”
Release date: July 16th
⋆˙⟡ 🎾 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴
- Rivals to lovers
- MM romance
- Pro tennis
- Spicy
- Forced proximity
From the moment I saw the cover of this book I just knew I would love it. It immediately gave me Heated Rivalry x Challengers vibes and let me tell you- it did not disappoint!!!
I loved following Mat as his relationship with Miles developed. First physically and slowly turning into something much more than that.
This book had me giggling from all their funny banter and swooning whenever they confessed their feelings for each other. The chemistry between them was super hot and addictive🤭
I loved the way they cheered each other on from the very beginning and always believing in each other.
This book is a pretty long one for a romance and at the beginning I thought I’d probably get bored at some point, but I was wrong!! Mat and Miles were just really lovable characters which I had the best time reading about.
One thing that I would have loved was if we got a bit more communication around the third act conflict, I felt like we didn’t really get much explanation and I would have loved to dive a bit deeper into what happened there.
On the other hand, I did really much enjoy that the book didn’t end in one of them proposing to the other. Not that I don’t like seeing characters have their happy ending in the epilogue, but there’s just something about leaving it with just them happily together that I feel makes it more human.
About the tennis part of the book, I who hardly knows anything about tennis was easily confused by some bits, but it didn’t interfere with my reading experience overall.
Highly recommend if you want a fun & smutty time!❤️🔥
brb going to rewatch Heated Rivalry and Challengers
Read
April 19, 2026Thanks Netgalley for the review copy.
What a delightful debut. Mat and Miles are tennis rivals who come together after Mat dares Miles (a far more successful player) to survive without his support team in the way that Mat (a lower level player without financial resources) is forced to.
I know nothing about tennis, and found the material about survival as a more minor ‘jobbing’ player fascinating. The romance was great—I loved the sizzling hot attraction between Miles and Matt, the yearning, the love, the care, the communication, the way they built each other up. I also loved that Mat’s Australian, and adored the jokes about Australian English v American English. (Honestly, I’m so happy every time I see the word ‘arse’ in a book.) Miles wears a ‘singlet’. Mat is reading an ‘ice hockey’ romance. And how many syllables *does* the word squirrel have?
Lovers of Heated Rivalry will recognise a few beats, I’m not sure if that’s homage or coincidence, doesn’t really detract either way. It’s a marvellous, big (500p), gorgeously romantic read. If you’re yearning for something along the lines of Heated Rivalry or Darcy Green’s After The Siren, you’ll probably love this.
Also: what a lovely cover. Not too cartoon-y and very romantic.
SPOILER
(My only very slight quibble is that we never do find out about Scrunchie.)
What a delightful debut. Mat and Miles are tennis rivals who come together after Mat dares Miles (a far more successful player) to survive without his support team in the way that Mat (a lower level player without financial resources) is forced to.
I know nothing about tennis, and found the material about survival as a more minor ‘jobbing’ player fascinating. The romance was great—I loved the sizzling hot attraction between Miles and Matt, the yearning, the love, the care, the communication, the way they built each other up. I also loved that Mat’s Australian, and adored the jokes about Australian English v American English. (Honestly, I’m so happy every time I see the word ‘arse’ in a book.) Miles wears a ‘singlet’. Mat is reading an ‘ice hockey’ romance. And how many syllables *does* the word squirrel have?
Lovers of Heated Rivalry will recognise a few beats, I’m not sure if that’s homage or coincidence, doesn’t really detract either way. It’s a marvellous, big (500p), gorgeously romantic read. If you’re yearning for something along the lines of Heated Rivalry or Darcy Green’s After The Siren, you’ll probably love this.
Also: what a lovely cover. Not too cartoon-y and very romantic.
SPOILER
(My only very slight quibble is that we never do find out about Scrunchie.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2026
Oh. My. God! I literally could not put this book down from the time I picked it up! I LOVED it!
First, if Kit Haley doesn't continue writing, we're gonna have beef in the streets.
Second, I love the queer representation. I think that's what makes the story so profound. Having a queer author write a queer love story added an authenticity that is impossible to duplicate. The love and the challenged for Matteo and Miles is a story most of us are familiar with. It is a challenging time in the world, and I loved being able to have an escape from it into a world of hope and wonder.
This really took me back to the days of being in my twenties and finding myself and finding love. The challenges, both socially and professionally, of coming out and being out are something that is all too familiar for a lot of us in the queer community.
The wanton touches, the lingering looks, the sexual tension. I cannot say enough good things about this book and I have been recommending to anyone with ears! So so good!
Did I mention that I loved the book?
First, if Kit Haley doesn't continue writing, we're gonna have beef in the streets.
Second, I love the queer representation. I think that's what makes the story so profound. Having a queer author write a queer love story added an authenticity that is impossible to duplicate. The love and the challenged for Matteo and Miles is a story most of us are familiar with. It is a challenging time in the world, and I loved being able to have an escape from it into a world of hope and wonder.
This really took me back to the days of being in my twenties and finding myself and finding love. The challenges, both socially and professionally, of coming out and being out are something that is all too familiar for a lot of us in the queer community.
The wanton touches, the lingering looks, the sexual tension. I cannot say enough good things about this book and I have been recommending to anyone with ears! So so good!
Did I mention that I loved the book?
May 3, 2026
3.75
Thank you to NetGalley and Redamance Publishing for the ARC of In Your Court! I was super excited for this one, and it definitely delivered what I was expecting. I had such a fun time with Mat and Miles, their chemistry was a standout, and they brought plenty of heat to the story.
That said, there were a few things that didn’t fully work for me. At times, it felt like I was being told how the characters were feeling instead of actually seeing those emotions develop on the page. Because of that, some of the emotional moments like Mat realizing he was in love with Miles, and especially Miles coming to terms with his feelings felt a bit sudden and caught me off guard. I also wasn’t a fan of how Miles reacted after losing to Mat; it came across as pretty petty.
Additionally, the book felt a bit longer than it needed to be for the story it was telling.
Overall, I’d recommend this if you’re looking for something with high spice and a lighter plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redamance Publishing for the ARC of In Your Court! I was super excited for this one, and it definitely delivered what I was expecting. I had such a fun time with Mat and Miles, their chemistry was a standout, and they brought plenty of heat to the story.
That said, there were a few things that didn’t fully work for me. At times, it felt like I was being told how the characters were feeling instead of actually seeing those emotions develop on the page. Because of that, some of the emotional moments like Mat realizing he was in love with Miles, and especially Miles coming to terms with his feelings felt a bit sudden and caught me off guard. I also wasn’t a fan of how Miles reacted after losing to Mat; it came across as pretty petty.
Additionally, the book felt a bit longer than it needed to be for the story it was telling.
Overall, I’d recommend this if you’re looking for something with high spice and a lighter plot.
May 20, 2026
rating: 4.25 stars
i enjoyed this book greatly!! i loved the characters so much, they felt incredibly well written which made it easy to get attached to them. i especially loved seeing how their relationship developed throughout the story and how they learned to take care of each other (and actually communicate!!!!).
my favorite part of this book was definitely the banter and dialogue. the characters instantly had chemistry and definitely kept me laughing. some moments literally had me kicking my feet and giggling at my kobo because the flirting and dialogue was written was so well. my only minor criticism is that the pacing dragged a little toward the end, and a few conflicts felt slightly repetitive. however, overall this was still such a fun and enjoyable read. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a cute sports romance with a lot of banter and spice.
thank you to the author and netgalley for an arc <3
i enjoyed this book greatly!! i loved the characters so much, they felt incredibly well written which made it easy to get attached to them. i especially loved seeing how their relationship developed throughout the story and how they learned to take care of each other (and actually communicate!!!!).
my favorite part of this book was definitely the banter and dialogue. the characters instantly had chemistry and definitely kept me laughing. some moments literally had me kicking my feet and giggling at my kobo because the flirting and dialogue was written was so well. my only minor criticism is that the pacing dragged a little toward the end, and a few conflicts felt slightly repetitive. however, overall this was still such a fun and enjoyable read. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a cute sports romance with a lot of banter and spice.
thank you to the author and netgalley for an arc <3
May 1, 2026
Thank you Redamance Books for the advanced copy to review!
I am so so so obsessed with this story y’all. It’s hot and sexy and tender and fun and sweet and sad and beautiful and did I mention sad all at once. I laughed out loud and cried while reading. I have hundreds of highlights. Matteo and Miles stole my heart somewhere in between the tennis court and their emotional moments.
This book does not shy away from difficult topics, like growing up among homophobia, trauma responses, money troubles, feeling alone, using sex as a shield and to get what you want, and more. I particularly loved the trauma discussions as I think both types of trauma discussed were valid and important.
I loved the found family. I loved Matteo’s actual family and the “language” had me cracking up late at night. I loved the protective nature of Matteo and how Miles learned to accept the love he deserved. I loved their laundry mat dates and spicy times and intense heart to hearts. Their story is gorgeous.
Anyway - don’t miss this one. Hot and heavy and fun and sexy.
I am so so so obsessed with this story y’all. It’s hot and sexy and tender and fun and sweet and sad and beautiful and did I mention sad all at once. I laughed out loud and cried while reading. I have hundreds of highlights. Matteo and Miles stole my heart somewhere in between the tennis court and their emotional moments.
This book does not shy away from difficult topics, like growing up among homophobia, trauma responses, money troubles, feeling alone, using sex as a shield and to get what you want, and more. I particularly loved the trauma discussions as I think both types of trauma discussed were valid and important.
I loved the found family. I loved Matteo’s actual family and the “language” had me cracking up late at night. I loved the protective nature of Matteo and how Miles learned to accept the love he deserved. I loved their laundry mat dates and spicy times and intense heart to hearts. Their story is gorgeous.
Anyway - don’t miss this one. Hot and heavy and fun and sexy.
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