The Big Dink

by Cynthia Gunderson

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They say the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his paddle…

Alecia Monroe is bubbly, competitive, and has a flair for big ideas. Garrett, her charming, sporty office crush, loves three things. Spreadsheets, Pilot Precise V5 pens, and pickleball. So when the cute blond in the office next to his suggests a weekly company pickleball night, Alecia does what any rational woman would do.

She lies about knowing how to play.

A few private lessons should be enough to bluff her way through. How hard can it be? But when Calder (grumpy, sarcastic, and infuriatingly hot) steps in as her instructor, she doesn't think this bid is worth it. Until she discovers he's friends with Garrett...and if she wants to land her workplace hearthrob, she might need some insider information.

But somewhere between the trash talk, late-night rallies, and moments Calder actually lets his guard down, Alecia stops thinking about Garrett and starts noticing the one man she swore she couldn’t stand.

Right as Garrett starts paying attention…

If The Gilmore Girls, Ted Lasso, and The Office had a baby, you’d get “The Big Dink.”

One-click and start reading if you love:

Strong Found Family

Grumpy/sunshine

Instructor sports romance

Clean romance

Toe curling banter

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Book Details

Genre

Romantic Comedy

Subgenre

Office / Workplace, Sports

Series

Smash Point Social • Book 1

Audience

Adult

Bell Peppers

🫑🫑

Profanity

2 Mild

Violence

1 None

Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco

2 Mild

Publication Date

October 28, 2025

Language Versions

English

Narration Type

Human

Fiction Form

Novella

Editorial Reviews

"I couldn't stop smiling while reading this story. My face hurts because of all the giddy, sweet, and funny moments. I'm honestly impressed, too, by the lightness of the reading, the happiness this book radiates, and all the pickleball knowledge I got from this—bonus points!" -Goodreads Review

Fun, Flirty, Fade To Black, Pickleball Romance

The Big Dink is a fun, flirty pickleball sports romance that brings the steam while keeping the door closed. It’s a quick, easy read—perfect for devouring in one sitting. I loved that pickleball was front and center; I even learned a few things along the way. It was a refreshing change from the usual sports romances.I related so much to Alecia and her feelings of being too much—too loud, too talkative, too expressive. I appreciated that she didn’t ignore the red flags and was able to recognize the kind of relationship she truly wanted and deserved. The way she handled things at the end showed real courage and maturity. Her inner dialogue had me laughing out loud more than once.I really liked Calder, though I wish we’d gotten to know him a bit more. I would have loved more insight into what he was thinking and feeling. I enjoyed the slow burn, but once things shifted, I found myself wishing we had more time to see the relationship develop before the story wrapped up. Calder and Alecia had great chemistry— I especially enjoyed their texts — and a few moments had me nearly blushing.I was quickly invested in Alecia, Calder, and the entire cast of side characters, leaving me wishing for a little more time with everyone. I already can’t wait to read Sam and Justin’s story.If you’re looking for a fade to black/ closed-door sports romance with playful banter, strong chemistry, and a low time commitment, this series starter is an easy addition to your TBR.✨Includes:✨Grumpy/ SunshinePickleball RomanceHe Gives Her LessonsShe Asks Him For Dating AdviceFound FamilySingle POVNovella LengthFade To BlackSuggestive HumorThank you Cynthia Gunderson and BookSirens for the gifted ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Pickleball!!

*Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the e-arc*Tropes:Grumpy/sunshineFound FamilyClean RomancePICKLEBALLOkay this is my first ever pickleball romance book and I loved everyyyy second of it! Calder is the exact level of grumpy that I love!!The way he takes care of the FMC is chef’s kiss.I was so giddy over reading this book and it’s perfectly short if you’re trying to finish your goodreads goal!I will definitely be picking up more by this author soon!

Chemistry is FIRE, and I didn't want to stop reading

I loved this book so much. There was so much flirty banter and tension between the main couple. Waiting for them to get together was pure agony…in the best way! I had all the feels for sure. This was just so well written from start to finish. The dialogue was on point, and the humor actually made me laugh. I can't wait to read more by this author. There was some language. No explicit scenes described on-page. I received a free copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

A cute sports romance

I love sports romance; there is something about those books that I can’t seem to get enough of. What I liked about The Big Dink is that it was different from the other sports romance books that I have read. There aren’t many sports books that you come across that are about pickleball. I have heard of it, but I didn’t know much about it. I felt that I knew more about it after reading the book, which made me want to read more books about this sport.There was tension between Alecia and Calder from the moment that the two of them met. Still, based on how the two of them acted around each other, there was also a connection between the two of them. I was eager to find out what was going to happen between the two of them next. I can’t help but wonder what happened with them after that last page. I felt like the story wasn’t complete, and I was hoping maybe there would be more in the next book. I wish the book were slightly longer than it is. I couldn’t get enough of Alecia and Calder’s story, and the humor in the book made it even more interesting to read.I loved Alecia’s best friend, Sam, and cannot wait for her story! I would highly recommend this book to any sports romance fans.

Perfect for a little pick me up or in a slump

This Novella was cute and adorable. I love both of the main characters. I already recommended this to my bookclub for a cute fast paced read that makes you smile. I received this book as an arc read and I loved it!