Game, Set, Matched

GAME, SET, MATCHED by Ivy Bailey is a YA Contemporary Sports Romance that follows Billie, a talented tennis player who has just finished secondary school and is gearing up to play in the Wimbledon Junior Championships. She is ready to prove to herself, and to her dad, that she can win this time. The only problem is her doubles partner and twin brother, Tom, gets seriously ill and is unable to compete, leaving her with one option: enlist her insufferable, but talented, next-door-neighbor, Harley. To make their partnership work, she’ll have to confront all the pre-conceived notions she has about him, and he’ll have to take something seriously for once in his life.

As someone who is a major fan of the WIMBLEDON (2004) movie starring Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany, I was so excited for this book. What I especially appreciate is how Bailey weaves the tennis and training into the narrative structure, using what’s happening within the game to advance Billie and Harley’s relationship. She also does a great job at explaining the court maneuvers. I really felt the suspense as if I was there watching the match.

Harley is probably my favorite character in the entire book. I adore his humor, which made me laugh out loud multiple times (not always an easy feat!). His banter with Billie is A+, and it’s great to see how her opening up to him begins to shift both of their lives. Because of all these elements, the pacing of the book is so quick! I read it in one afternoon. That said, I almost wish it was a little longer, so we got just a bit more connective tissue between some of the bigger moments, allowing for more space as the relationship developed.

That said, GAME, SET, MATCHED was a lovely, light read that I really enjoyed. Anyone looking for another sports romance a la OFF CAMPUS will have fun with this one!