How Pickleball Became the Next Great Romance Setting l Ilana Long Author Interview

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Pickleball is officially the new hotspot for meet-cutes—and now it’s getting the book-romance treatment it deserves.In this episode, I chat with author Ilana Long about how she brought one of the first traditionally published pickleball romances to life. We talk about her creative background in stand-up and Second City improv, why pickleball is the perfect sport for romance lovers, and what it was like narrating her own audiobook. Plus, Ilana shares the cozy, feel-good books she’s been reading lately—from Irish small-town romcoms to magical realism with a touch of travel escapism.📚 Books MentionedPickle Perfect by Ilana Long — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Second-Chance, Vacation Romance | Audio ✅ Pickleballers by Ilana Long — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Comedy, Small Town | Audio ✅ Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Cozy Village, Grumpy/Sunshine  | Audio ✅ The Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Comedy, Destination Wedding | Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers  | Audio ✅ The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden — Buy on Amazon | Magical Realism, Women’s Fiction | Travel Romance, Foodie Fiction  | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] – Welcome Ilana Long, to the podcast[01:00] – Her creative journey from stand-up comedy to writing[05:30] – Finding joy in creative identity & persistence as a writer[09:00] – What makes pickleball the perfect social (and romantic!) sport[13:00] – How the pandemic grew the pickleball community[14:30] – Why pickleball meet-cutes are the new dating trend[17:00] – Writing Pickle Perfect and setting it in Costa Rica[18:30] – Narrating her own audiobook & audition process[20:30] – Ilana’s reading life and favorite genres[25:00] – Her book club picks & humorous mysteries[27:00] – Book recommendations for cozy fall escapes[31:00] – Where to find Ilana online🏓 Love this episode? Don’t miss my Pickleball Romance Book List, where I share even more laugh-out-loud, feel-good reads set on the court — from flirty doubles partners to small-town tournaments that turn into love stories. → https://whattoreadnextblog.com/pickleball-romance/Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!