From steamy rivals-to-lovers setups to twisty mysteries set against a tennis court backdrop, these novels prove the sport is about so much more than forehands and backhands. There’s drama, desire, deception and a few love matches you won’t see coming. So whether you prefer your racquets with romance or your doubles matches with danger, these tennis-themed books are sure to keep you hooked through every set.

Live Wire by Harlan Coben

Tennis, tabloid drama, and a tangled web of family secrets? Count us in. Myron Bolitar, our favorite sports agent slash private eye, is called in to save a former tennis star’s crumbling marriage and ends up unearthing deep family drama. The plot volleys between celebrity scandal and emotional reckonings, with twists that would impress even the most chaotic doubles match. What starts with a paternity mystery turns into a full-blown heartache hunt.

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The Singles Game by Lauren Weisberger

Think The Devil Wears Prada in tennis whites. Charlie Silver is a golden girl turned glamazon, trying to climb the Grand Slam ranks while dodging scandals and serving up smoldering chemistry with a swoony Spanish heartthrob. Her journey through the high stakes, high gloss world of pro tennis is as cutthroat as it is captivating. Add designer dresses, tabloid chaos, and a ruthless new coach, and you’ve got a novel that’s as addictive as a five set final.

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Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

The Delaneys were tennis royalty until Mom vanished and all bets were off. As their family secrets unravel like a poorly strung racket, four siblings must grapple with their tangled pasts, their absent mother, and whether their father might be a killer. There’s a missing woman, a mysterious houseguest, and enough familial tension to break a racket over. Moriarty serves up suspense and emotional depth in equal measure. You’ll finish this one with your jaw on the floor and a deep mistrust of tennis trophies.

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Love and Other Scores by Abra Pressler

A Grand Slam tennis god falls for a guy who doesn’t even know who he is. Gabriel is chasing titles, while Noah is just chasing a good drink, and somehow they find each other in the scorching heat of Melbourne. Their romance is a slow burn with high stakes, secret rendezvous, and sizzling chemistry. Pressler delivers a love story that’s both tender and tense, exploring fame, identity, and intimacy. Perfect for fans of queer romance and sports stories with heart.

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Love Game by Emma Rae

A tennis star and his personal chef walk into a kitchen… and things start heating up way beyond the stove. Elle just wants to cook her way into a steady career, but her new gig comes with drama, a fiancée shaped obstacle, and one very charming athlete. As late night snacks turn into lingering conversations, forbidden feelings bubble to the surface. If you like your love stories with a dash of scandal and a whole lot of sexual tension, this one’s a delicious choice.

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Backhanded Compliments by Katie Chandler

Juliette Ricci has her eyes on the Australian Open and not on the cocky, annoyingly attractive Luca Kacic. Too bad fate (and soulmarks) has other plans. What begins as a spicy rivalry filled with press conference jabs and passive aggressive smirks turns into something far more complicated. There’s enemies to lovers angst, steamy late night bonding, and the pressure of choosing between love and legacy.

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Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh

Alice is a tennis star by day and a comic editor by trade, but when war knocks on her door, she becomes a literal ace undercover. Disguised as an exhibition player in Switzerland, she’s actually spying for the U.S. government while grieving the loss of her husband. There’s espionage, emotion, and elegant 1940s fashion to spare. Walsh blends historical fiction with feminist flair and high stakes thrills.

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The Winner by Teddy Wayne

Conor O’Toole just wanted a peaceful summer job teaching tennis, but instead he gets tangled in an affair with a wealthy divorcée and a crush on an artsy beach girl. Set in an elite East Coast enclave, this novel dives deep into class, ambition, and poor decisions with a racket in hand. The tone is dark, the stakes are twisted, and the summer heat is both literal and metaphorical.

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Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

In Fire Island’s sun drenched chaos, tennis is just another way to wage war. Jen and Lauren dominate the courts and the gossip circuit until a body turns up and everyone’s secrets start spilling faster than a spilled Aperol spritz. With affairs, betrayals, and passive aggressive lobs, you’ll come for the tennis and stay for the deliciously bad behavior.

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Match Point by Katherine Reilly

Flora just wanted a quiet summer to reset, however, what she got was a brooding tennis bad boy squatting in her flat. Kieran O’Sullivan is training for Wimbledon, and apparently also training to charm his reluctant roommate. Their forced proximity sparks banter, slow burn tension, and some serious will they won’t they vibes. Reilly serves up a cozy rom com with unexpected depth and a strong sense of place.

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