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Verdict: A big-publisher sapphic tennis romance with well-written matches and a soulmate-mark twist — but that twist, a very bratty heroine and uneven prose have made it one of the most divisive books on our sports list.
Best for: Readers who love soulmate AUs and tennis, and don’t mind an unlikeable lead early on.
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (marketed as steamy)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 — a 3.30 Goodreads average across 3,412 ratings, 3.35 on StoryGraph from 1,633 reviews, and 4.0 stars across 244 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Rivals to lovers, soulmates / soulmarks, enemies to lovers, magical realism, professional athletes.
Backhanded Compliments is Katie Chandler’s 2025 novel from Atria Books, a sapphic sports romance with a fantastical twist. Juliette Ricci has trained relentlessly with her strict father and coach for her shot at the Australian Open. Her opponent is “Lucky” Luca Kacic, an aloof, unorthodox crowd favourite whose popularity grates on her. After months of press-conference jabs, they finally play — and when they shake hands, Luca sees Juliette’s name appear on her wrist.
It holds a 3.30 average across 3,412 Goodreads ratings, with 41% of them four or five stars, 3.35 on StoryGraph from 1,633 reviews, and 4.0 stars across 244 Amazon ratings.
What Is Backhanded Compliments About?
Juliette wants nothing to do with Luca or a soulmate. But late-night massages and too much limoncello bring them closer, while Luca’s anxiety tells her Juliette is only playing mind games.
Under the world’s scrutiny, they have to decide what matters more: being together or being number one.
What Works in This Book
- Tennis: Readers — including former players — say the match play is well researched and makes you feel like you’re in the stands.
- Luca: Many readers adore her as the sweet half of the pairing.
- Juliette’s family: Readers enjoyed her big group of sisters.
- Audiobook: Listeners praise the two narrators.
Book Synopsis
Two tennis rivals discover they are soulmates at the worst possible moment.
Neither wants it — but the chemistry won’t go away, and the rankings are on the line.
My Review
The premise is a lot of fun on paper, and the tennis is the book’s strongest element. Readers who embrace the soulmate conceit describe a tender romance with a satisfying transformation for Juliette.
Many didn’t get there. The soulmark struck a lot of readers as corny or fan-fiction-like in a contemporary book; Juliette’s behaviour toward Luca for the first 40% or so made it hard to root for them; and several found the third-person voices indistinct and the prose unpolished. Slow starts and DNFs are common, and some felt the chemistry never arrived.
My honest note: Borrow it on Kindle Unlimited and try the first few chapters before committing.
| Element | In Backhanded Compliments |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Juliette Ricci & Luca Kacic, rival pro tennis players |
| Core tropes | Rivals to lovers, soulmarks, magical realism |
| Setting | The pro tennis tour, from the Australian Open |
| Heat level | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ |
| Length | 355 pages (paperback) |
| Point of view | Dual, third person |
| Content notes | Panic attacks, death of a parent, abandonment, toxic relationship, explicit sex |
How Spicy Is Backhanded Compliments?
It’s pitched as steamy, and graphic sexual content is the most-flagged warning on StoryGraph.
StoryGraph users also flag panic attacks, mental illness, death of a parent, abandonment and a toxic relationship.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you enjoy soulmate AUs and tennis. It is on our sapphic sports romance list.
You may want to skip it if: you want grounded contemporary romance or can’t stand a cruel lead.
In short: Great tennis, shaky romance.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 12% five stars, 29% four, 38% three, 15% two and 4% one. On StoryGraph, 69% tagged it lighthearted and 63% emotional. At least one reader came in expecting something like Challengers or Carrie Soto Is Back and was disappointed.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The tennis first. Second, Luca. Third, the soulmate conceit for fans. Fourth, the audiobook.
What readers argue about and complain about: The soulmark twist, above everything. Second, Juliette’s cruelty. Third, the writing. Fourth, a slow start.
The comparison worth making first: Cross-Country Love, a rivals-to-lovers sports romance readers rate far higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the soulmate twist in Backhanded Compliments?
In this otherwise contemporary world, soulmates’ names appear on each other’s wrists. Luca sees Juliette’s name after they shake hands following their first match.
Why is Backhanded Compliments rated so low?
Readers most often cite the soulmark premise feeling like fan fiction in a contemporary setting, Juliette’s cruelty early on, third-person narration with voices that are hard to tell apart, and prose that needed polishing.
How spicy is Backhanded Compliments?
It is marketed as steamy, and StoryGraph users most often flag graphic sexual content.
Is the tennis good?
Yes — even critical readers, including former players, say the matches are well researched and fun to read.
Is Backhanded Compliments on Kindle Unlimited?
Yes, at the time of writing; otherwise the Kindle edition was $13.99. Several readers praise the dual-narrator audiobook.
If You Loved Backhanded Compliments, Read These Next
Try Cross-Country Love or Home Court Advantage. For more, browse our sapphic sports romance list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Backhanded Compliments sets out to marry tennis rivals and fate, and the tennis delivers. What holds it back is everything around it. Try before you buy. Check Backhanded Compliments on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Backhanded Compliments ranks as a divisive sports romance — strong serve, weak follow-through.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ 3.30 average across 3,412 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 41% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.35 on StoryGraph from 1,633 reviews
- ✓ 4.0 stars across 244 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★☆☆ 2.8/5
- ✓ Soulmarks
- ✓ Rivals to lovers
- ✓ Hard to root for
- ✓ Chemistry divides
Characters ★★★☆☆ 2.9/5
- ✓ Sweet Luca
- ✓ Bratty Juliette
- ✓ Big family
- ✓ Satisfying change for some
Writing ★★★☆☆ 2.7/5
- ✓ Engaging tennis
- ✓ Indistinct voices
- ✓ Needs polish
- ✓ Slow start
Emotional Impact ★★★☆☆ 3.1/5
- ✓ Tagged lighthearted by 69%
- ✓ Anxiety
- ✓ Family pressure
- ✓ Tender for fans
Heat Level ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ Steamy
- ✓ Graphic content flagged
- ✓ Tension
- ✓ Adult romance
Ending ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ Fated
- ✓ Rarely discussed
- ✓ Rankings vs love
- ✓ Standalone
Re-read Value ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ On Kindle Unlimited
- ✓ $13.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Dual-narrator audiobook
- ✓ 355 pages
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