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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.
514 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In a world where EVERY queer sports romance is getting a Heated Rivalry comp smacked on its cover, I think that this is one of the few books that actually deserves it. I could easily see this filling a void in the hearts of readers who just want to keep scratching the itch that can only be filled with attractive, horny, athletes who need to fuck their way through a rivalries to lovers arc.
Matteo Russo was a young, up and coming tennis talent, on the cusp of his potential when suddenly, he’s the victim of a car accident, derailing his career. Years later, the physical injuries may have healed but Matteo’s confidence and game are still on shaky ground. Following a loss to the handsome, but arrogant American, Miles Callahan, Matteo throws out a challenge to Miles, calling him out on his privilege and resources, never expecting Miles to actually take him up on it. Except he does? And Matteo is forced to start questioning the presumptions and judgements he had about Miles and suddenly grapple with the common ground they share and the electric chemistry that exists between them.
This book was a shockingly easy read and I devoured it in a day. Haley has been able to construct a high heat sports romance that balances elements of real world homophobia in professional sports and idealised heart that makes for a warm and fuzzy romance.
I don’t think that this is a perfect book by any stretch of the imagination, I found the plot to be at times a little superficial, that the the third act dragged a little bit, and I will be honest, I absolutely do not believe that Miles was sufficiently repentant for how he behaved in the third act break up. I completely appreciate that he had a lot on his plate but his response was borderline wet fish and it actually impacted my perception of him quite a bit in the negative. By that point I had become quite fond of sweet anxious Matteo and he didn’t deserve what he got.
As a point of clarity, while I thought the spice was quite well written, for a book that was so heavy advertised as being high spice, I would note that while it was frequent and explicit, that the sex itself was pretty mild in kinks and content. I didn’t love that the characters engage in unprotected sex throughout the book without any acknowledgment of it at all though; not that it needed to be like a THING or anything, but when their sexual relationship initially starts as a no-strings, hook up of convenience, I feel like it maybe needs to be like a conversation on the table? But I guess that maybe spoils the illusion a little lol.
I will take to my soap box and insist that this cover has to take the cake as one of the most exceptional romance covers for the year. No amount of AI slop will ever come close to the talent and beauty of real artists. Noah Dea is an exceptional talent and everyone should support and follow his instagram.
I have been saving this book for when I wanted an easy and digestible horny sports romance and in that sense it absolutely delivered. While 3.5✨I am rounding up because I enjoyed it as an overall package plot superficialities and lack of grovelling aside lol. I should however say that as an Australian, it is very clear that Haley is also Australian cause they got the tone and attitude spot on👌🏼which I tell you is like nails on a chalk board when it's done poorly.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. I read an advanced copy of this story prior to it being picked up and traditionally published (congrats to Haley for the success!)
edit: full disclosure, I have come back to readjust my rating down to 3 stars because two weeks after finishing this the lasting impression I have is just how appalling I found Miles actions and how unsatisfying his apology was. I literally cant say at the end of this book that Matteo ending up with Miles was the best outcome for him cause I still think he deserved more. This frustration doesn’t seem to be one that is felt broadly across other ARC readers though so ymmv and it might just be a me thing lol.
Consider following my instagram
Matteo Russo was a young, up and coming tennis talent, on the cusp of his potential when suddenly, he’s the victim of a car accident, derailing his career. Years later, the physical injuries may have healed but Matteo’s confidence and game are still on shaky ground. Following a loss to the handsome, but arrogant American, Miles Callahan, Matteo throws out a challenge to Miles, calling him out on his privilege and resources, never expecting Miles to actually take him up on it. Except he does? And Matteo is forced to start questioning the presumptions and judgements he had about Miles and suddenly grapple with the common ground they share and the electric chemistry that exists between them.
This book was a shockingly easy read and I devoured it in a day. Haley has been able to construct a high heat sports romance that balances elements of real world homophobia in professional sports and idealised heart that makes for a warm and fuzzy romance.
I don’t think that this is a perfect book by any stretch of the imagination, I found the plot to be at times a little superficial, that the the third act dragged a little bit, and I will be honest, I absolutely do not believe that Miles was sufficiently repentant for how he behaved in the third act break up. I completely appreciate that he had a lot on his plate but his response was borderline wet fish and it actually impacted my perception of him quite a bit in the negative. By that point I had become quite fond of sweet anxious Matteo and he didn’t deserve what he got.
As a point of clarity, while I thought the spice was quite well written, for a book that was so heavy advertised as being high spice, I would note that while it was frequent and explicit, that the sex itself was pretty mild in kinks and content. I didn’t love that the characters engage in unprotected sex throughout the book without any acknowledgment of it at all though; not that it needed to be like a THING or anything, but when their sexual relationship initially starts as a no-strings, hook up of convenience, I feel like it maybe needs to be like a conversation on the table? But I guess that maybe spoils the illusion a little lol.
I will take to my soap box and insist that this cover has to take the cake as one of the most exceptional romance covers for the year. No amount of AI slop will ever come close to the talent and beauty of real artists. Noah Dea is an exceptional talent and everyone should support and follow his instagram.
I have been saving this book for when I wanted an easy and digestible horny sports romance and in that sense it absolutely delivered. While 3.5✨I am rounding up because I enjoyed it as an overall package plot superficialities and lack of grovelling aside lol. I should however say that as an Australian, it is very clear that Haley is also Australian cause they got the tone and attitude spot on👌🏼which I tell you is like nails on a chalk board when it's done poorly.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. I read an advanced copy of this story prior to it being picked up and traditionally published (congrats to Haley for the success!)
edit: full disclosure, I have come back to readjust my rating down to 3 stars because two weeks after finishing this the lasting impression I have is just how appalling I found Miles actions and how unsatisfying his apology was. I literally cant say at the end of this book that Matteo ending up with Miles was the best outcome for him cause I still think he deserved more. This frustration doesn’t seem to be one that is felt broadly across other ARC readers though so ymmv and it might just be a me thing lol.
Consider following my instagram
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.
July 29, 2026
I’m on BookTube now! =)
**I received an ARC of this book from Redamance Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you for this opportunity!**
Trigger Warnings:
“In Your Court” sounded so interesting I just had to request it as an ARC. As it turns out I developed a taste for queer sports romances lately and I’m happy to say that this story delivered on all fronts! I’ll be honest here, at first, I wasn’t all too sure if I’d really love it as much as I thought I would. I mean I knew this was going to be steamy but boy, the spicy scenes started pretty early on and made up a huge part of the book at the beginning. But then again this felt realistic because if you like someone and start to spend more time with that person you tend to get carried away. Well, Matteo and Miles got carried away quite often at the start of the book but the more the story progressed, the more we got to know them.
This said and out of the way, I really would have loved to get a Miles POV as well, but I understand why the author decided to let us see everything through Matteo’s eyes instead. Matteo was a great character: Very chaotic, insecure, anxious and flawed. When he was young, he was among the top tennis players but then he had a freak accident that didn’t just put his career on hold for a little while but also caused him to lose the ability to believe in himself. At the beginning of the book he’s struggling, renting cheap apartments and living on a low budget because he rarely makes it into the next round and can’t afford to stay at expensive hotels, let alone to hire a full-time coach or a team. Another lost match against Miles Callahan - his archenemy – ends up being the final straw and before Matteo even knows it, he gives Miles an earful about privilege and the double standards in the tennis world.
Well, as it turns out Miles took this to heart because right before the next tournament starts, he’s standing in front of Matteo’s apartment door, asking him how to do laundry. Of course, Matteo is kind of flabbergasted but since he’s a nice guy he agrees to help Miles out and their forced proximity gives them an excuse to actually talk. From this moment on things get pretty steamy and both men begin a secret affair that spans over months. None of them wants to acknowledge their growing feelings though, and as long as they can pretend that it’s nothing serious, they’ll be fine. Or at least that’s what they think. But then Matteo realizes that Miles has a green thumb and reads queer steamy books on his e-reader whenever he’s not at home and Miles sees the potential that’s hidden in Matteo and tries to coax it out while treating him to delicious food. Both of them are good for each other and eventually Matteo’s game starts to improve.
I really loved how those two went from being horny for each other to getting to know each other’s quirks and appreciating their intimacy and closeness. Yes, there were a lot of spicy scenes at the beginning of the book but later on, once they catch feelings, the plot gets more complex and their individual background stories get a chance to shine. Matteo’s accident left bigger scars than anyone noticed and Miles’s life isn’t as perfect as everyone thinks. Both of them have been struggling for a while and the presence of each other in their lives is helping them to acknowledge this and to tackle their problems heads-on. I know some people might think that Miles is too perfect but he also has his flaws and if you go with the flow of the story, you’ll discover them as well. He is more multi-layered than people might think and I really adored him as a character.
And speaking of characters: There were so many amazing side-characters that grew on me and each and every single one of them had their own voice. No matter if it was Katie, Tina, Tomas, Macca, Jada, Marcel or Matteo’s family, they were all great and I was so happy Matteo and Miles had all of them to root for them. They deserved every little piece of happiness they got! Still, not everything was sunshine and rainbows and Miles had quite a conflict to work through. I don’t want to spoil anything but suffice it to say that his family and team weren’t all too happy about Miles being gay and made life extremely difficult for him. At a certain part of the story, I just wanted to hug him and tell him everything would be okay. Thankfully Miles believed in himself and had a self-confidence that was admirable and not easy to destroy.
This said and out of the way, there are just three more things I want to talk about and address. The first one is the fact that Matteo is Australian and that there were so many words that apparently meant something different for Australians. Those parts of the story were at least as hilarious as they were interesting and I really appreciated to get a little bit of Australian culture along with this great story. Another thing I liked were the tournaments and the tennis infos that were dropped every once in a while. I don’t know a lot about tennis but I enjoyed finding out about how matches work and Matteo’s and Mile’s enthusiasm for the sport was always visible and felt real. This might have been a romance, but I still got the feeling that tennis was an important part of their lives and that they lived and breathed for it. And last but not least I’ve to mention that I loved their easy banter and all their message conversations! They were so much fun to read and sometimes added a dire needed light-hearted nuance to some serious parts of the storyline.
Conclusion:
All told I really enjoyed “In Your Court” and I was rooting for both main characters before I even knew it. Miles and Matteo’s relationship might have started intense with many intimate scenes right at the beginning of the book, but them getting to know each other and slowly starting to believe in themselves and their relationship was one of the best things ever! I mean, to watch Miles and Matteo work through their issues after using sex as a crutch in the first half of the story was so rewarding and I’m grateful we got a well-rounded ending as well! The readers were allowed to get a glimpse of their future and for me this made all the difference! 4,5 stars rounded up to 5 because this story was awesome and I can’t wait to read book two.
_______________________________
This was really great and I enjoyed it a lot!
Miles and Matteo were amazing together and I absolutely loved them.
Those two! The easy banter and the way they were obsessed with each other.
Also their love for tennis! <3
Full RTC soon!
I need to think about what to write first! =)
_________________________________
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 received an ARC of this book from Redamance Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you for this opportunity!**
Trigger Warnings:
“In Your Court” sounded so interesting I just had to request it as an ARC. As it turns out I developed a taste for queer sports romances lately and I’m happy to say that this story delivered on all fronts! I’ll be honest here, at first, I wasn’t all too sure if I’d really love it as much as I thought I would. I mean I knew this was going to be steamy but boy, the spicy scenes started pretty early on and made up a huge part of the book at the beginning. But then again this felt realistic because if you like someone and start to spend more time with that person you tend to get carried away. Well, Matteo and Miles got carried away quite often at the start of the book but the more the story progressed, the more we got to know them.
This said and out of the way, I really would have loved to get a Miles POV as well, but I understand why the author decided to let us see everything through Matteo’s eyes instead. Matteo was a great character: Very chaotic, insecure, anxious and flawed. When he was young, he was among the top tennis players but then he had a freak accident that didn’t just put his career on hold for a little while but also caused him to lose the ability to believe in himself. At the beginning of the book he’s struggling, renting cheap apartments and living on a low budget because he rarely makes it into the next round and can’t afford to stay at expensive hotels, let alone to hire a full-time coach or a team. Another lost match against Miles Callahan - his archenemy – ends up being the final straw and before Matteo even knows it, he gives Miles an earful about privilege and the double standards in the tennis world.
Well, as it turns out Miles took this to heart because right before the next tournament starts, he’s standing in front of Matteo’s apartment door, asking him how to do laundry. Of course, Matteo is kind of flabbergasted but since he’s a nice guy he agrees to help Miles out and their forced proximity gives them an excuse to actually talk. From this moment on things get pretty steamy and both men begin a secret affair that spans over months. None of them wants to acknowledge their growing feelings though, and as long as they can pretend that it’s nothing serious, they’ll be fine. Or at least that’s what they think. But then Matteo realizes that Miles has a green thumb and reads queer steamy books on his e-reader whenever he’s not at home and Miles sees the potential that’s hidden in Matteo and tries to coax it out while treating him to delicious food. Both of them are good for each other and eventually Matteo’s game starts to improve.
I really loved how those two went from being horny for each other to getting to know each other’s quirks and appreciating their intimacy and closeness. Yes, there were a lot of spicy scenes at the beginning of the book but later on, once they catch feelings, the plot gets more complex and their individual background stories get a chance to shine. Matteo’s accident left bigger scars than anyone noticed and Miles’s life isn’t as perfect as everyone thinks. Both of them have been struggling for a while and the presence of each other in their lives is helping them to acknowledge this and to tackle their problems heads-on. I know some people might think that Miles is too perfect but he also has his flaws and if you go with the flow of the story, you’ll discover them as well. He is more multi-layered than people might think and I really adored him as a character.
And speaking of characters: There were so many amazing side-characters that grew on me and each and every single one of them had their own voice. No matter if it was Katie, Tina, Tomas, Macca, Jada, Marcel or Matteo’s family, they were all great and I was so happy Matteo and Miles had all of them to root for them. They deserved every little piece of happiness they got! Still, not everything was sunshine and rainbows and Miles had quite a conflict to work through. I don’t want to spoil anything but suffice it to say that his family and team weren’t all too happy about Miles being gay and made life extremely difficult for him. At a certain part of the story, I just wanted to hug him and tell him everything would be okay. Thankfully Miles believed in himself and had a self-confidence that was admirable and not easy to destroy.
This said and out of the way, there are just three more things I want to talk about and address. The first one is the fact that Matteo is Australian and that there were so many words that apparently meant something different for Australians. Those parts of the story were at least as hilarious as they were interesting and I really appreciated to get a little bit of Australian culture along with this great story. Another thing I liked were the tournaments and the tennis infos that were dropped every once in a while. I don’t know a lot about tennis but I enjoyed finding out about how matches work and Matteo’s and Mile’s enthusiasm for the sport was always visible and felt real. This might have been a romance, but I still got the feeling that tennis was an important part of their lives and that they lived and breathed for it. And last but not least I’ve to mention that I loved their easy banter and all their message conversations! They were so much fun to read and sometimes added a dire needed light-hearted nuance to some serious parts of the storyline.
Conclusion:
All told I really enjoyed “In Your Court” and I was rooting for both main characters before I even knew it. Miles and Matteo’s relationship might have started intense with many intimate scenes right at the beginning of the book, but them getting to know each other and slowly starting to believe in themselves and their relationship was one of the best things ever! I mean, to watch Miles and Matteo work through their issues after using sex as a crutch in the first half of the story was so rewarding and I’m grateful we got a well-rounded ending as well! The readers were allowed to get a glimpse of their future and for me this made all the difference! 4,5 stars rounded up to 5 because this story was awesome and I can’t wait to read book two.
_______________________________
This was really great and I enjoyed it a lot!
Miles and Matteo were amazing together and I absolutely loved them.
Those two! The easy banter and the way they were obsessed with each other.
Also their love for tennis! <3
Full RTC soon!
I need to think about what to write first! =)
_________________________________
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
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.
July 25, 2026
Suddenly, tennis got some service in romance, and at least 3 mm tennis romances got published recently with some hype. The first two did not really work for me as romances (or in general) but third time is the charm and this one charmed me.
It really is a romance, meaning the feelings and relationship is the core of the book - how they move from (one sided) enemies to lovers throughout a year ( a tournament year), and need to establish their feelings and change their lives for the better because of the other. I loved these guys and it was great seeing them together.
There is a fade to black choice regarding the actual games, we do not actually get described those, just the result and it actually works for me. Maybe I am not a very visual reader, but there is something underwhelming for me in visual details of sports (or other athletics)...
It really is a romance, meaning the feelings and relationship is the core of the book - how they move from (one sided) enemies to lovers throughout a year ( a tournament year), and need to establish their feelings and change their lives for the better because of the other. I loved these guys and it was great seeing them together.
There is a fade to black choice regarding the actual games, we do not actually get described those, just the result and it actually works for me. Maybe I am not a very visual reader, but there is something underwhelming for me in visual details of sports (or other athletics)...
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!
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.
Read
July 27, 2026Dnf at 50%, no rating.
Pretty soon into this book, I started rewriting it in my head so that it was dual timelines -- one in the present day, one juniors-through-the-accident, thus generating more emotional immediacy and, bluntly, interest in the (paper-thin) characters -- and the writing was better (not so many repeated phrases, heavy-handed themes, and worn emotional beats) and the sex scenes not so boring (there is at least one per chapter, and while I love my pwp on ao3, most of these were just page-fillers. Also: squeeging on the shared couch in a rental apartment and not even wiping up the come is just nasty). Halfway through, I realized I was WAY more invested in my alt-version, and couldn't bear the thought of 250 more pages of the book actually in front of me.
I like the focus on a journeyman player, but if you're looking for non-hockey sports romance that isn't only about the superstars, KD Casey is right there. Just sayin'.
No rating because I only star-rate dnf's if they're offensive or doing something really problematic. This wasn't that: just dull and not as fun as the book in my head.
I got an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Pretty soon into this book, I started rewriting it in my head so that it was dual timelines -- one in the present day, one juniors-through-the-accident, thus generating more emotional immediacy and, bluntly, interest in the (paper-thin) characters -- and the writing was better (not so many repeated phrases, heavy-handed themes, and worn emotional beats) and the sex scenes not so boring (there is at least one per chapter, and while I love my pwp on ao3, most of these were just page-fillers. Also: squeeging on the shared couch in a rental apartment and not even wiping up the come is just nasty). Halfway through, I realized I was WAY more invested in my alt-version, and couldn't bear the thought of 250 more pages of the book actually in front of me.
I like the focus on a journeyman player, but if you're looking for non-hockey sports romance that isn't only about the superstars, KD Casey is right there. Just sayin'.
No rating because I only star-rate dnf's if they're offensive or doing something really problematic. This wasn't that: just dull and not as fun as the book in my head.
I got an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
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.
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 🙂↕️🤪
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.
June 24, 2026
I’m struggling really hard how to rate this book (somewhere between 3 and 4), because while I really loved reading it and was excited to pick it up it just also wasn’t how I was expecting it to be at all.
Matteo tries to find his footing in the world of professional tennis again after having had an accident a few years back, at the peak of his career.
Now his former rival Miles has taken his place as one of the top players.
When Matteo looses against him and accuses him to only be better since he has a lot of money to hire staff and live in fancy hotels, Miles takes that as a challenge.
I looooved the idea of this. A rich, fancy boy living the poor lifestyle and slumming it with the other more unfortunate players.
I loved their banter and this sweet Miles was really.
The side characters were also fantastic and I wish we’d have had more scenes with them.
If you’re looking for an actual gripping tennis part…this isn’t the book though, because there’s not much tennis in this. And this is what I was struggling with the most. Not even the most important matches you’re highly anticipating are described (but I wonder how easy and gripping a sereval hour long match description would be).
The focus of this book is definitely the romance (and the heat), but this is all happening extremely fast without much built up when I was expecting a real rivals to lovers romance.
I just feel like this book is just very long for there to be not much of an actual plot apart from the romance and lots of smut, when the only other plot part you’re anticipating is happening in a few scenes by the very end.
I also hated how Miles acted all surprised at Matteos uncertainty about their relationship status when they had not seen each other in weeks on end and never really have a serious conversation. They’re in their 30s and sometimes just acted very young.
All in all I think this is a super fast and sweet romance book with characters you’ll get attached to in no time and definitely worth a read.
Matteo tries to find his footing in the world of professional tennis again after having had an accident a few years back, at the peak of his career.
Now his former rival Miles has taken his place as one of the top players.
When Matteo looses against him and accuses him to only be better since he has a lot of money to hire staff and live in fancy hotels, Miles takes that as a challenge.
I looooved the idea of this. A rich, fancy boy living the poor lifestyle and slumming it with the other more unfortunate players.
I loved their banter and this sweet Miles was really.
The side characters were also fantastic and I wish we’d have had more scenes with them.
If you’re looking for an actual gripping tennis part…this isn’t the book though, because there’s not much tennis in this. And this is what I was struggling with the most. Not even the most important matches you’re highly anticipating are described (but I wonder how easy and gripping a sereval hour long match description would be).
The focus of this book is definitely the romance (and the heat), but this is all happening extremely fast without much built up when I was expecting a real rivals to lovers romance.
I just feel like this book is just very long for there to be not much of an actual plot apart from the romance and lots of smut, when the only other plot part you’re anticipating is happening in a few scenes by the very end.
I also hated how Miles acted all surprised at Matteos uncertainty about their relationship status when they had not seen each other in weeks on end and never really have a serious conversation. They’re in their 30s and sometimes just acted very young.
All in all I think this is a super fast and sweet romance book with characters you’ll get attached to in no time and definitely worth a read.
June 17, 2026
"Sometimes, you have to take risks. Say fuck 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 believe in me. Perhaps, for now, that would be enough."
This book had me in an absolutely CHOKEHOLD. I could not put this down. I loved everything about this book. I apologize in advance if this review is just me yelling the whole time. But listen, I finished this book only a few days ago, and I already want to reread 😭 I do not know how to explain the high I felt while reading this book, but it has been a minute since I've felt this way, and I am so glad I decided to pick this one up.
AND CAN I JUST SAY, I was not expecting to freaking CRY over these two idiots (endearingly). I just thought "oh this is gonna be a fun hehe haha time", which it was!!! but it was also so much more than that to me. The emotional aspects of this book had my heart hurting. The hard moments between them broke me, and the author did such a fantastic job at thoroughly fleshing out these character's feelings towards each other. While we do get only one pov for this story, the author wrote these character's in a way that didn't leave room for the reader to feel biased towards one character in their relationship, and I feel like that needs to be noted because it so easily could've went in a different direction. (Hope that makes sense, don't want to give the story away much).
While this is a fun, spicy sports romance, like I mentioned previously, there are also harder moments that both Mat and Miles both have to navigate throughout this story. The ending had me in tears (happy ones, don't worry) and screaming and kicking my dang feet. I cannot praise this book enough, and I am so excited for their next novels to come!
Thank you to the publisher for this arc!
_________________
absolutely loved this one 🥹
longer rtc
This book had me in an absolutely CHOKEHOLD. I could not put this down. I loved everything about this book. I apologize in advance if this review is just me yelling the whole time. But listen, I finished this book only a few days ago, and I already want to reread 😭 I do not know how to explain the high I felt while reading this book, but it has been a minute since I've felt this way, and I am so glad I decided to pick this one up.
AND CAN I JUST SAY, I was not expecting to freaking CRY over these two idiots (endearingly). I just thought "oh this is gonna be a fun hehe haha time", which it was!!! but it was also so much more than that to me. The emotional aspects of this book had my heart hurting. The hard moments between them broke me, and the author did such a fantastic job at thoroughly fleshing out these character's feelings towards each other. While we do get only one pov for this story, the author wrote these character's in a way that didn't leave room for the reader to feel biased towards one character in their relationship, and I feel like that needs to be noted because it so easily could've went in a different direction. (Hope that makes sense, don't want to give the story away much).
While this is a fun, spicy sports romance, like I mentioned previously, there are also harder moments that both Mat and Miles both have to navigate throughout this story. The ending had me in tears (happy ones, don't worry) and screaming and kicking my dang feet. I cannot praise this book enough, and I am so excited for their next novels to come!
Thank you to the publisher for this arc!
_________________
absolutely loved this one 🥹
longer rtc
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).
July 15, 2026
I adored everything about this book. Mat and Miles are truly characters that you want to see winning and happy. The politics of tennis, and the way that an openly gay player can effect how they are treated within the sport were a great thing to handle. I really enjoyed the way that it was tackled, and how the gap between players with staff and those that can't afford it is also brought up.
These two are messy in the best way, but perfect for each other. I read this book weeks ago, and I still can't stop thinking about it.
These two are messy in the best way, but perfect for each other. I read this book weeks ago, and I still can't stop thinking about it.
April 4, 2026
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc!
Rtc
Rtc
July 30, 2026
Bordeeeeeeeeeel que c'était BON !
Je posterai mon avis + tard mais wow, je suis au septième ciel livresque là ! ♥
Je posterai mon avis + tard mais wow, je suis au septième ciel livresque là ! ♥
July 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW. WOW! WOW!!!
In Your Court was genuinely everything I could want in a queer sports romance. That buzzy, giggly, feet-kicking high I got when I read Heated Rivalry for the first time? Yeah, I had the exact same feeling reading this.
This story was expertly crafted and felt SO real. Like I literally haven’t been able to think about anything else since I started reading this and I’m sure I’ll continue to think about this book for a very long time…which I can’t wait to do.
And can we have a moment for Mat and Miles? Two of my favorite main characters ever in a romance book. They’re both so likable, but at the same time they’re layered and struggling with issues that make them feel like this story is a biography. Absolutely obsessed with them in every way. They’re both so hot, I can’t wait to see more fanart of them hehe. And I would read them doing ANYTHING. Grocery shopping? Yes. Better yet, BOOK shopping.
Kit Haley is genuinely one of my favorite authors now and I can’t WAIT to see what he brings us in the future. His writing style is so immersive and addictive, I need moreeeeee. Turning on post notifications as we speak…
Please, I beg of you. If you love queer romance read this book when it comes out on July 16th. It’s a beautiful journey and celebration of queerness and I couldn’t have asked for a better book.
WOW. WOW! WOW!!!
In Your Court was genuinely everything I could want in a queer sports romance. That buzzy, giggly, feet-kicking high I got when I read Heated Rivalry for the first time? Yeah, I had the exact same feeling reading this.
This story was expertly crafted and felt SO real. Like I literally haven’t been able to think about anything else since I started reading this and I’m sure I’ll continue to think about this book for a very long time…which I can’t wait to do.
And can we have a moment for Mat and Miles? Two of my favorite main characters ever in a romance book. They’re both so likable, but at the same time they’re layered and struggling with issues that make them feel like this story is a biography. Absolutely obsessed with them in every way. They’re both so hot, I can’t wait to see more fanart of them hehe. And I would read them doing ANYTHING. Grocery shopping? Yes. Better yet, BOOK shopping.
Kit Haley is genuinely one of my favorite authors now and I can’t WAIT to see what he brings us in the future. His writing style is so immersive and addictive, I need moreeeeee. Turning on post notifications as we speak…
Please, I beg of you. If you love queer romance read this book when it comes out on July 16th. It’s a beautiful journey and celebration of queerness and I couldn’t have asked for a better book.
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
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!
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!
Did Not Finish
June 13, 2026dnf at 59%
this was a netgalley arc, but i am just SO bored.
it is tennis and spicy scenes. that’s it. there is nothing else. no other plot whatsoever.
i love sports romances when the sport is one part of the story, but it has to be more happening.
so if you love tennis you might love it?
this was a netgalley arc, but i am just SO bored.
it is tennis and spicy scenes. that’s it. there is nothing else. no other plot whatsoever.
i love sports romances when the sport is one part of the story, but it has to be more happening.
so if you love tennis you might love it?
May 26, 2026
Oh ok this book was good as hell, what a delightful surprise. Can’t wait for book 2!
June 14, 2026
omigod theyre so cute im going to jump
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
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!
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!
July 25, 2026
🇺🇸 ❤️ 5/5 — Favorite. I have absolutely no notes. I fell in love with both the writing and the characters from the very first pages. The story kept surprising me, and I never knew what was coming next for Miles and Mat. I adored not only the two main characters but also the side cast, who made the world feel even richer. Their relationship was the perfect mix of sweet and incredibly hot, and I found myself rooting for them as if they were real people. Miles’ coming out had me tearing up, and I absolutely loved the ending. My only remaining question? Why on earth did Mat have Miles saved as “Scrunchie” in his phone? 😂❤️
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
🇫🇷 ❤️ 5/5 — Coup de cœur. Je n’ai absolument aucune remarque à faire sur ce roman. Je suis tombée amoureuse de la plume comme des personnages dès les premières pages. J’ai été surprise du début à la fin, sans jamais réussir à anticiper ce qui attendait Miles et Mat. J’ai adoré les deux personnages principaux, mais aussi tous les personnages secondaires qui apportent énormément de vie à l’histoire. Leur relation était à la fois d’une douceur incroyable et terriblement hot, et je les ai soutenus comme s’ils existaient vraiment. Le coming out de Miles m’a mis les larmes aux yeux, et j’ai adoré la fin. En revanche, il va vraiment falloir qu’on m’explique pourquoi Mat avait enregistré Miles sous le nom de « Scrunchie » dans son téléphone. 😂❤️
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
🇫🇷 ❤️ 5/5 — Coup de cœur. Je n’ai absolument aucune remarque à faire sur ce roman. Je suis tombée amoureuse de la plume comme des personnages dès les premières pages. J’ai été surprise du début à la fin, sans jamais réussir à anticiper ce qui attendait Miles et Mat. J’ai adoré les deux personnages principaux, mais aussi tous les personnages secondaires qui apportent énormément de vie à l’histoire. Leur relation était à la fois d’une douceur incroyable et terriblement hot, et je les ai soutenus comme s’ils existaient vraiment. Le coming out de Miles m’a mis les larmes aux yeux, et j’ai adoré la fin. En revanche, il va vraiment falloir qu’on m’explique pourquoi Mat avait enregistré Miles sous le nom de « Scrunchie » dans son téléphone. 😂❤️
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