3.5 ⭐️
Game, set, match is a feel good book about growth, family, tennis, love and so much more. I’m enjoyed it. I love how both characters are portrayed— authentic and imperfect. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading about perfect characters that are always too good to be true but reading stories about characters who feel real makes me enjoy books in a completely different way. The side characters are a pain but the main characters somehow make up for it. And, I also like how Tennis is incorporated brilliantly into the story.

I really enjoyed the second half of this book, where the romance comes into play much more prominently. I say prominently, it is still the slowest of all slow-burn romances ever, but it was cute. I enjoyed the two characters getting to know each other on their road trip, and both coming out of their shells more. But I was hoping for more romance.. [potential spoiler]- they don’t even kiss til the very end of the book..

I found the first half of the book to be a little tedious and even more of a slow burn. The male characters at the tennis resort were complete arseholes and I couldn’t wait to get rid of them (I think you’re meant to hate them though!) The other female characters weren’t much better I’m afraid. I found their behaviour to be quite hard to believe in places, especially when they were making misogynistic comments about themselves?

There were a couple of other elements that I found quite unbelievable and therefore detracted from my engagement with the story - [potential spoiler] they basically force these people into a bet to ‘win’ their mistreated dog, which I just found weird. And I’m supposed to believe this woman dropped everything to fly back to Spain to live a life with a guy she hadn’t even kissed yet? Nah come on now 😅

I was a little concerned it might be too tennis focussed, and that as I’m not really into tennis I wouldn’t be able to follow it. However it was very light on the tennis stuff really and it was more just a prop for the setting. I enjoyed the summer holiday vibes and it would be the perfect read to take on your holidays for a quick fun read whilst out at the beach or by the pool!

Not my favourite Heidi Stephens book, but if you don’t mind things being a bit unrealistic and very slow burn, you’ll definitely enjoy this one!

Thank you to Headline Eternal for the gifted copy and NetGalley for the gifted e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! Game Set Match follows recent divorcee Hannah who sets off on an adventure abroad to put herself first for once and enjoy a long-awaited holiday in the Spanish sun playing tennis. Enter Rob, dreamy and charming, but her tennis coach and a known player - will she take a risk on love?

This book started off really strongly, with Hannah leaving behind her dull, man-child of a husband (not to mention a serial-adulterer!) for a week playing tennis in sunny Spain followed by a solo trip around the country. I loved her new-found independence and determination to now live life solely on her terms. Hannah is really funny and I loved her one-liners, it was great to see her begin to grow into her own person away from her intensely religious childhood and dreary marriage. I thought the exploration of the church upbringing and Hannah’s different relationships with her family was really interesting. You could see how it shaped her and why she now wanted to take more chances and be spontaneous with life.

However it began to feel quite stilted and stop-start as the plot developed; it seemed more like a compilation of scenes the author wanted to write about, rather than a naturally flowing timeline of events. There were often chapters where an event very clearly only happened so that the next event could happen, which had a tendency to take me out of the story.

I would have loved to see more of the book take place over the week Hannah was at the hotel playing tennis with Trish, Gaynor, and Jess. I really enjoyed reading about the female friendships and seeing Hannah opening up to them, so much so that I actually think it would have been great to see their group holiday and Hannah’s new-found independence take prevalence over the romance storyline. Especially since Hannah had literally just ended a 14-year marriage, I would have loved to see her take a break from men and ‘find herself’ and explore personal growth, instead of fall for the first guy she sees in Spain.

That being said, I really did like reading about Hannah and Rob navigate their feelings whilst staying true to what they wanted at heart, though it did lack some chemistry and tension for my personal preference. Those who enjoy more slow burn romances and ‘traditional’ views will love this though! Not to mention the introduction of the adorable Scrumpy - books with dogs in are always better in my opinion!

The only other thing I noticed was how strongly stereotyped each of the characters were, almost unnecessarily so. There was no need for Rob to be so consistently labelled as a player, a womaniser; there was even a line from Hannah about how she had only shared her bed with one man and she pondered if Rob could even remember how many women he’d shared a bed with… I felt the player stereotype didn’t really fit the rest of Rob’s character to be honest, which was a shame because other than that I really liked him.

Overall, a fun romcom holiday read that touched on female friendships and familial relationships quite nicely without it being too heavy or sad, fitting the tone of the book well.

I thought that this was a really enjoyable story

The book had a well developed storyline that kept me engaged

The story is a slow burn romance and a will they, won’t they kind of read

It has well developed characters that were honest and likeable

A holiday fling that turns in to something else…

It is 4 stars from me for his one – highly recommended!

A perfect read I enjoyed full of humour great romance you enjoy. Full of humour and laughter. A great romcom you love. The characters were amazing loved the story setting.

‘So what would you prefer? To sit on the edge of life and feel nothing? Or throw yourself onto the dancefloor and see where the night takes you? In the end we only regret the chances we don’t take.’

Heidi Stephens' 'Game, Set, Match' is the story of starting over and the growth we experience letting go of people and situations that don't serve us.

After Hannah ditches her husband of 14 years for impregnating one of his mistresses, she finds life taking her in new directions, all the way to Spain on a women's tennis trip and to see her father who she hadn't seen since she was young.

There she meets coach Rob whom she is immediately attracted to. When Hannah accidentally gets Rob fired, she invites him to join her on her road trip before she heads home.

Hannah was raised in an evangelist church. And while she has long left it, including marrying at 18 to gain Independence, its residual influence lingers. Hannah doesn't swear, is a dutiful daughter to her overbearing mother, and doesn't like to stand out or speak her mind. Which is why I especially cheered when she finally spoke her mind to her family.

I really loved the dynamic between Rob and Hannah. It's refreshing to read a story where both communicate honestly about their feelings for one another. And while they both had a different view of relationships - Rob preferred flings, while Hannah does not do flings, they still respected their friendship to not jeopardise that.

This book was slow for me at first, but then it really hit it strides for me in the last half. Then I could really appreciate the subtleties of this book, along with the lovely, swoony, slow-burn romance between Rob and Hannah.

Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC.

A fun romance between a tennis coach and a tennis player who is starting her life over.
Hannah has just quit her marriage after 14 years, mainly because he cheated on her, but also because he's not for her. She gets asked to join some ladies going to a tennis camp in Spain and off she goes with a makeover and a new wardrobe.
Rob is working for the summer at tennis camp and is a massive playboy, but can Hannah change his ways.
I do love a starting over story, so this had all the makings of a book right up my street and for the most part it really was. I liked Hannahs story, her crazy family and her new friendship group.
For me the romance element was almost secondary, I was fully wanting Hannah to fall on her feet.
A sweet book with hints of steam here and there.

This was a fun rom-com with funny writing all the way through it. This author is fast becoming one of my favourites as I find her writing so entertaining. Our main character is relatable, she is newly single and free to enjoy a tennis holiday - what happens over her summer is the story of our book. Hilarious and heartfelt this is a definite recommendation from me.

This book made me laugh out loud SO much! I loved every page of this book and the characters. I ended up reading it every spare minute I had because I couldn’t wait to see how the story would develop.

I loved the female main character and seeing her develop throughout the book, making friends and finding love.

My first book by Heidi Stephens and I have definitely found a new favourite author, I’m now adding all other books to my TBR!

I was so happy when I spotted new Heidi Stephens' on NetGalley and I hoped for another sunny, brilliantly funny novel from her.

Unfortunately, what I've got was completely lukewarm. Completely. The characters were all either unbelieveble and unlikeable or totally stereotyped, with the tennis trainers being on compltely another level of sexist and misogynistics. Their list was not funny, it was tragic. I usually don't go deep into "ism" - sexism, misogynism etc but this time I find this side of the plot completely out of order. The situations were so adjusted and adapted to the characters, so that they could show them in the better and worse light, because the characters were written like that: either completely perfect or complete bastards, so that the story could roll on, without a bigger idea. They were also lacking in chemistry, felt so forced as characters and the best were Jess, Trish and Gaynor.
The plot is easy but I had a feeling that nothing was mapped out in advance, that everything is just put together, somehow, just to remind of a story.

A lot of things were talked about in this book, some in more unrealistic way than the others. I'm sorry that this time this story didn't work for me, it lacked in this "something" on almost all levels.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel ahead of publication.
This was a cute, tennis themed story. A newly divorced woman finding herself for the first time.
I enjoyed this book, but felt it was lacking something for me.

This was a great read! I particularly enjoyed the perfect Spanish setting and the travels in that country. The addition of a rescue dog made it a lovely uplifting read, with well-written characters, star-crossed lovers and a perfect pace.

This would be a fantastic book to pack in your suitcase for your summer holidays!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance copy of Game, Set, Match in exchange for an honest review.

Great premise and setting, but the writing fell a little flat for me personally. Lacked chemistry and tension, but I think readers who enjoy a slower-paced, traditionally sweet story will find this enjoyable.

Love, love, love this book!! It is one of the best I've read this year!! This is going on my forever shelf.
I just reviewed Game, Set, Match by Heidi Stephens. #GameSetMatch #NetGalley
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This story underwhelmed me. I didn't find too many scenes that had me amused, let alone LOL. I found the book very slow moving and that things happened very sporatic, and not always in a way that made sense or seem realistic. The characters were ok, but being good at tennis isn't a personality trait, and they lacked chemistry. The ending still had some treads left hanging in regards to their life together/forward plans. Overall, I found this story kind of boring. *I recieved an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review.

This was such a fun summer read! I love playing (and am NOT good at) tennis in the spring and summer so when I saw this title and the cover, I knew I needed to read. It definitely held up to the expectations I had! It was a fun quick read that had me giggling. I also really liked the other deeper topics that were mentioned and handled with care. Its always beautiful when a book can be both humorous and serious. I anticipate this being a top book of the summer!

A whitty and engaging book with highly relatable characters. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it.

Stephens' writing is witty and engaging, and her characters are well-developed and relatable. Hannah's journey is a refreshing take on the classic "finding yourself" trope, and her interactions with the other characters add depth and humor to the story. The novel's setting in Spain also adds an extra layer of charm and romance.

Overall, Game, Set, Match is a delightful read that is sure to leave readers feeling entertained and satisfied. I would give it 4 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted romantic comedy.

This is a great story of how you should love yourself as much as anyone else. Hannah has a past like many of us do, she was raised in a deeply religious family and that’s not always easy, so I could understand why she married Graham and stuck through it, as its what is expected of you, but as she gets to know the truth I liked that and I like how she started to stand up for herself, it’s a romance in some ways as we get to meet and fall head over heals over the delicious Tennis coach Rob, but there is also a journey of self-discovery as well. If you go into this expecting a heart pounding romance then you won’t get it, but if you want a really good life affirming story that will remind you that you can do anything if you try then this is perfect for you. This would make a really good story to sit in the sunshine with, or a pick me up after too many cocktails. Honestly getting to know Hannah and her quirks, as she gains her freedom and independence was great, most of us do this when we are a lot younger, but it just goes to show no matter your age you can still find your independence.

First of all - what a supercute cover. I had to request this one! She steps out of her comfort zone and takes a trip to Spain for tennis. On her trip Hannah meets Rob - her opposite. But wow they have chemistry. Loved the romance, self-discovery journey that she embarks on. Throw in humor and likeable characters - you have the perfect romcom. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.