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Verdict: One of the most convincing tennis novels in sapphic fiction — a detailed, documentary-feeling look at life at the top of the women’s tour — with a gentle slow-burn romance between the burned-out world No. 1 and a rising rival. Tennis fans will love it; romance-first readers may find the spark too quiet.
Best for: Readers who want real sport in their sports romance.
Heat level: Mild (one reader wanted more spice)
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.8/5 — a 4.06 Goodreads average across 1,112 ratings, 3.83 on StoryGraph from 264 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 206 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Rivals to lovers, opposites attract, slow burn, athlete / athlete, career crossroads.
Slammed is Lola Keeley’s 2019 contemporary lesbian sports romance from Ylva Publishing. World No. 1 Elin Larsson is chasing the record for Grand Slam titles, but between injuries and growing anxiety, her heart isn’t in it any more. Then gorgeous rival Toni Cortes Ruiz bursts onto the scene chasing her first slam, and their paths keep crossing in big matches.
It holds a 4.06 average across 1,112 Goodreads ratings, with 77% of them four or five stars, 3.83 on StoryGraph from 264 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 206 Amazon ratings.
What Is Slammed About?
Elin is introverted, driven and tired, playing on partly to please others. Toni is outgoing and hungry. As attraction grows between them, scandals, the media and the sport’s governing body close in.
Elin has to decide whether they are competitors or on the same side — and what she wants after tennis.
What Works in This Book
- Authentic tennis: Readers, including a former junior-circuit player, say Keeley clearly loves and knows the sport.
- Behind the scenes: Training, physiotherapy, press, doping tests and tour politics all feature.
- Elin: Readers find her pressure, injuries and anxiety compelling.
- Balance for fans: Many call it a proper sports romance where the sport never plays second fiddle.
Book Synopsis
The best player in the world is running out of reasons to keep going — until a rival gives her one.
Winning has always come first. Now the woman she is falling for is on the other side of the net.
My Review
Keeley’s tennis is the real thing, and readers repeatedly compare the experience to watching a sports documentary or movie. Elin’s burnout gives the story weight.
The romance is where readers differ. Some felt no spark between Elin and Toni; one expected rivals-to-lovers tension that never came; others note there is little angst and that the single point of view keeps Toni in the background. Non-tennis fans may find it heavy on the sport, and a couple of readers took a while to get into it.
My honest note: A must for tennis lovers; a slower serve for romance-first readers.
| Element | In Slammed |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Elin Larsson (world No. 1) & Toni Cortes Ruiz (rising player) |
| Core tropes | Rivals to lovers, opposites attract, slow burn |
| Setting | The women’s pro tennis tour |
| Heat level | Mild |
| Length | 290 pages (about 100,000 words) |
| Point of view | First person, Elin only |
| Content notes | Injury and medical detail, anxiety, outing, racism (StoryGraph users) |
How Spicy Is Slammed?
Not very; the romance is a slow burn and at least one reader wanted more heat.
StoryGraph users flag medical content and injury detail, plus racism and outing.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you follow tennis or want the inside view of elite sport. It is on our sapphic sports romance list.
You may want to skip it if: you want a romance-led book with fireworks.
In short: Tennis first, love second, both solid.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 33% five stars, 44% four, 18% three, 3% two and under 1% one. On StoryGraph, 62% tagged it lighthearted and 55% emotional. Audiobook listeners are split on Lori Prince’s narration.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The authentic tennis first. Second, the behind-the-scenes detail. Third, Elin’s arc.
What readers argue about and complain about: A quiet romance, above everything. Second, little rivalry tension. Third, heavy sport for non-fans.
The comparison worth making first: Code of Conduct, a tennis romance from the same publisher with a player and an umpire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slammed more tennis or romance?
Tennis first. Readers stress it is a true sports romance, with training, physio, media, doping tests and big matches all on the page; the romance runs alongside.
Whose point of view is Slammed told from?
Elin’s only, in first person. Readers note that Toni stays a little in the background as a result.
How spicy is Slammed?
Fairly mild. At least one reader wished for more spice, and reviews focus on the tennis and slow-burn romance.
Is there much rivalry tension?
Less than the premise suggests, for some readers. One came for rivals-to-lovers tension and didn’t find it; others describe a low-angst slow burn.
Is Slammed on Kindle Unlimited?
Not when we checked; the Kindle edition was listed at $9.99. There is an audiobook narrated by Lori Prince.
If You Loved Slammed, Read These Next
Try Code of Conduct or Backhanded Compliments. For more, browse our sapphic sports romance list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Slammed sets out to put real tennis at the heart of a sapphic romance, and it does. What holds it back is a romance some find too subdued. Recommended for sports fans. Check Slammed on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Slammed ranks as a good sports romance — authentic, understated.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ 4.06 average across 1,112 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 77% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.83 on StoryGraph from 264 reviews
- ✓ 4.6 stars across 206 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★☆☆ 3.3/5
- ✓ Slow burn
- ✓ Opposites
- ✓ No spark for some
- ✓ Little angst
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Compelling Elin
- ✓ Toni in background
- ✓ Supporting team
- ✓ Anxiety and injury
Writing ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ Authentic tennis
- ✓ Documentary feel
- ✓ Heavy for non-fans
- ✓ Single POV
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ Tagged emotional by 55%
- ✓ Burnout
- ✓ Career stakes
- ✓ Low angst
Heat Level ★★☆☆☆ 2/5
- ✓ Mild
- ✓ More spice wanted
- ✓ Slow burn
- ✓ Romance secondary
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ Not a focus of reviews
- ✓ Standalone
- ✓ Sports-movie feel
- ✓ Low angst
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ $9.99 Kindle price
- ✓ 290 pages
- ✓ Audiobook available
- ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited
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