The Story of Meg and Her Pickleball Fling: The release of “Pickleballers,” Ilana Long’s rom-com novel, hit the shelves on November 12, 2024, sending ripples through the picklesphere. The book dives into the life of Meg, a woman looking for a reset after discovering her ex’s love for the game. What she didn’t expect was to fall in love with the sport herself—along with a surprising twist involving a hunky environmentalist set to tear down the local courts. The story plays out as an enemies-to-lovers tale, full of unexpected romance and humor.
A Passion for Pickleball and Comedy
Ilana Long, who’s been an avid pickleball player since 2020, describes herself as “a little obsessed” with the game. Growing up near Seattle, she’s visited Bainbridge Island, where the sport first took off. Long, who even won a tournament there, felt an undeniable connection to the pickleball community. It was the perfect backdrop for a story that blends comedy and romance.
“The pandemic was such a reset for all of us,”.
“That’s why I think both comedy and romance are so great because they satisfy the need to connect with people, the need to be outside, play sports, and reinvent ourselves at any stage in life” (Ilana Long).
With her improv and stand-up comedy background, Long infused the novel with humor. Her agent encouraged her to write about something she loved, something that would make people laugh.
“I actually stole some of my own stand-up jokes,”. “On the courts, I just laugh my head off because people around me just say the funniest things”(Ilana Long).
From Side Plot to Center Stage
What started as a side plot in Long’s first draft of “Pickleballers” quickly morphed into the central focus of the story, thanks to her editor’s suggestion. The romance and its accompanying comedy became the heart of the book, with the pickleball courts serving as the setting for both competition and connection.
“I like the idea of community and found family at the pickleball courts because that really happens for people – and so does romance,”(Ilana Long).
Writing Under Pressure
While working as a full-time teacher in 2020, Long wrote the novel during her 50-minute planning periods. Her sense of urgency was palpable.
“I’ve been writing for a lot of years, but I’ve never written so fast in my life,”. “I felt this pressure that pickleball was going to boom, and I had to be the first”(Ilana Long).
After finishing the first draft in about six months, Long sent it to her agent, leading to a deal with Penguin Random House. Since then, the novel has garnered rave reviews from outlets such as Cosmopolitan, Kirkus Review, and Good Housekeeping.
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News in Brief: The Story of Meg and Her Pickleball Fling
Ilana Long’s Pickleballers, released on November 12, 2024, combines humor, romance, and the fast-growing sport of pickleball. The novel follows Meg, who, after a heartbreak, discovers a love for the sport and its community. As the romance develops between her and a local environmentalist, tensions rise when he threatens to tear down the beloved community courts. Long, a pickleball enthusiast and comedian writes about a world she knows well, making the novel a humorous and heartfelt reflection on connection, reinvention, and love.
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