A second chance at love crashes one woman’s tropical pickleball vacation and serves up an adorkably swoony romantic comedy. Lulu Gardner only takes predictable shots. After faulting on tennis stardom at eighteen, Lulu, now a thirtysomething single parent, is in control of her game. But when an unanticipated blunder threatens her teaching job, Lulu’s stable, well-planned—okay, boring—world spins out. And somehow, her godparents convince her to join them for a “de-stressing” destination pickleball vacation in Costa Rica. Maybe an all-inclusive picklecation is just the pick-me-up she needs to loosen her grip. Or it would have been if she wasn’t backhanded by the sight of her high school fling Tyler Demming on the beachside courts. Fresh off the pickleball pro tour, the reigning bad boy of paddle sports is as studly and snarky as ever. Even though his public image took a hit with a ballsy publicity stunt, Tyler seems to be the big shot he’s always been. But Lulu’s had years to steel herself against his rugged good looks and hypnotic charm. Despite the changes she sees in Tyler since their teenage days, Lulu will have no problem keeping her head in the game and her heart on the sidelines. Or so she tells herself…. Praise for Ilana Long “ Pickleballers delivers the ultimate serve…a fun new rom-com that will definitely have you hitting the court ASAP as you follow along with Meg's new journey in the sport that comes with some unexpected game (and life) changing experience.”— Cosmopolitan “Flirty fun”— Good Housekeeping on Pickleballers “Like a perfectly executed third shot drop, Ilana Long's Pickleballers is a delightful banter-filled romcom sure to plink all the heartstrings as the adorable heroine and a swoon worthy hero navigate love and life both on and off the court. Highly recommend!”—Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author "With lush prose, swoony adventures, and an atmospheric setting, Pickle Perfect is the perfect escapist beach read. Ilana Long writes characters that are impossible not to root for with chemistry that crackles on and off the pickleball court. An utter delight of a romcom."—Heather McBreen, author of Wedding Dashers “ Pickle Perfect deftly volleys between fun and heartfelt as Lulu faces unexpected adventure—and a second shot at first love. Fans of sports romances will delight in this flirty, laugh-out-loud vacation romp!”—Jessica James, author of For One Night Only “With Pickleballers , Long has taken a big swing and hit a winner.”—KING 5’s Evening “Long makes her characters easy to root for, and adorable Zoe steals every scene she’s in. The Costa Rican backdrop and fast-paced action on the pickleball court add to the fun. This charms.”—Publishers Weekly on Pickle Perfect “Long’s second pickleball romance is a score, full of heart, excitement, spice, and shenanigans. Lulu and Tyler aren’t afraid to be vulnerable and their chemistry is undeniable, with just the right amount of a sizzling slow burn.”— Kirkus Ilana Long first heard about pickleball when her sporty friend confessed that she was addicted to a game that was “like ping-pong but standing on the table.” Shortly after, Long joined the pickleball craze despite her utter lack of hand-eye coordination. A stand-up and sketch comedy writer and actor, Long studied improv and performed at The Second City in Chicago. She is the author Pickleballers , her debut romcom, the picture book, Ziggy’s Big Idea , and her essays appear in multiple books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. One Lulu stared at her laptop, trying to will away the distractions. Behind her, Aunt Laverne muttered indecisively while she sorted the greener tomatoes into a cardboard box marked Neighbors. Below the table, Lulu's three-year-old daughter, Zoe, was testing out a variety of animal growls while slamming a plastic dinosaur into the underside of the wooden tabletop. Add in her uncle Rooster's clunking footsteps as he rounded up sports glasses and sunscreen for their Costa Rican pickleball vacation, and Lulu had to knock her knuckles against her forehead to keep her head in the game. Yet there was hope on the horizon. If she powered through, she could finish grading this batch of assignments by three o'clock and put Zoe down for her nap. Then she could stand in the shower for at least five blissfully undisturbed minutes. Lulu's attention drifted as she indulged in a daydream involving a closed door and nothing but quiet. Since her daughter's birth, her fantasies had shifted from hot and steamy sex to hot and steamy showers. "You've been at this for hours, sweetheart." Laverne brushed aside Lulu's dark, springy curls and placed a hand on her niece's shoulder. "How 'bout a break?" "I will. In a bit." Aunt Laverne tsked. "I hope at least it's good reading material. How are the young entrepreneurs this year?" "What they lack in academic integrity, they make up for in technology skills. Want to hear?" she asked, not