Bump, Set, Sparks

Jessica McLaughlin is on a losing streak in this witty if low-stakes sports romance by Moffat (Flirty Dancing). A player in the Southern California Beach Volleyball League, Jess dreams of going pro—if she can ever shake off her self-doubt. Meanwhile, her rival, Vivienne Morris, is beautiful, absurdly talented, and undefeated. With Jess’s confidence at an all-time low, continuously bumping into Vivienne off the court should be torture, but Jess can’t shake the connection they share. As their relationship evolves through a montage of run-ins, club outings, and concerts, Jess finds inspiration in Vivienne’s boldness and somewhat cliché words of wisdom (“I don’t care if I win or lose, Jess. I care how I play”). The characters are endearing, and the plot makes a valiant effort to show Jess rediscovering her self-worth, but the lack of external stakes or a more fleshed-out backstory for her makes it difficult to fully invest in this introspective tale. There’s plenty that’s cute here, but readers will long for more depth. Agent: Jordy Albert, Booker Albert Literary. (June)