Pick Me by Victoria Schade
The pickleball craze shows no signs of slowing down — and neither does the smart banter, heartfelt angst and slow-burn romance in Pick Me, the latest charming novel from USA Today bestselling author Victoria Schade. Even if, like me, you’ve never picked up a paddle, this delightful coach-to-lovers romantic comedy will pull you in faster than a cross-court volley.
At the heart of the story is Brooke Murphy, a character who’s instantly relatable. She’s in a bit of a rut, both romantically and professionally. Still licking her wounds from a recent breakup, she’s also battling writer’s block — a particularly inconvenient problem, given that she ghostwrites steamy cowboy romances for a living and is dangerously close to blowing her next deadline. But what Brooke truly longs for isn’t just finishing another book — it’s to finally write something under her own name. Something real. Something hers.
Enter Meredith, her upbeat and determined roommate, who suggests that a little physical activity might help shake Brooke out of her funk. Meredith drags her to the local pickleball club, and while Brooke is quick to declare herself a non-athlete (despite coming from a family of jocks), she finds herself unexpectedly intrigued — not by the sport, per se, but by a certain tall, dark and handsome player named Kai. One look at him, and Brooke finds herself experiencing one of romance’s most controversial tropes: insta-love. Or in Brooke’s case, more like insta-lust … and, more importantly, insta-inspiration. Suddenly, the words are flowing again, and she’s convinced that Kai might be just the muse she’s been waiting for.
To get closer to Kai, Brooke enlists the help of Owen, the club’s grumpy — but undeniably appealing — resident coach. He’s reluctant at first, clearly unimpressed by Brooke’s lack of coordination and her not-so-hidden agenda. But despite his initial resistance, Owen agrees to help her improve her skills on the court. What follows is a series of hilarious, heartfelt and increasingly flirty training sessions, where it quickly becomes clear that the person Brooke thought she wanted may not be the one who’s truly capturing her heart.
As Brooke’s game improves, so does her confidence — both as a player and a person. Schade does a wonderful job of showing Brooke’s internal growth in tandem with her physical transformation. She goes from being timid and self-doubting to someone who can confidently drop a shot into the kitchen (that’s a pickleball thing!) and take ownership of her life and creative voice.
Pick Me is the kind of romance that hits all the right notes: slow-burn chemistry, whip-smart dialogue, a refreshingly original setting and a heroine you can’t help but root for. And for fellow writers and book lovers, a protagonist who’s crafting her own love story — on and off the page — adds an extra layer of delight.
Verdict: Pick Me is a feel-good, fast-paced gem that proves love and self-discovery are best served with a little spin, a lot of sass and plenty of swoon. Whether you’re a seasoned pickleball pro or just here for the happily ever after, this one’s a winner.
About Victoria Schade:
Victoria Schade has been a dog trainer and writer for over 20 years. During that time her dog duties have included working behind the scenes on Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl as the lead animal wrangler, appearing on two seasons of the Animal Planet show Faithful Friends, writing dog training content, and appearing in educational videos for pet websites like Great Pet Care and PetMD, and writing two dog training books, Bonding With Your Dog and Secrets of a Dog Trainer in addition to her novels.
Victoria shares her 1850s always-in-need-of-renovations home with Millie the Smooth Brussels Griffon (who wants you to know that she’s not a skinny pug), Olive the mixed-breed dog, the occasional foster pup, and her incredibly tolerant husband, Tom.
