In Forty Love by Jane Costello, Jules has spent years living next door to the local tennis club without ever stepping onto the court. Between her demanding 
job, raising her teenage son on her own, and adjusting to life as a widow, there has never been much room for hobbies—let alone romance. But as she faces the possibility of an empty nest, Jules decides to take a chance and joins the amateur tennis team. What starts as a bold attempt to shake up her routine leads to new friendships, renewed confidence, and the possibility of a long-overdue second shot at love.
FORTY LOVE was exactly the kind of story I love—funny, heartfelt, and full of the excitement that comes with starting over. Between the tennis club setting, the old crush next door, and Jules stepping outside her comfort zone, this was a warm and uplifting romance about rediscovering yourself and realizing that it is never too late for a second chance.
Jules was the kind of heroine I loved spending time with—funny, vulnerable, and stronger than she realized. What made this story work so well for me was the way her romantic journey unfolded alongside her personal growth. The chemistry was playful and heartfelt, but it was the sense of possibility running through every chapter that made this book especially satisfying. By the end, it felt less like Jules had simply found romance and more like she had rediscovered a part of herself she thought she had lost.
Tropes
💞 Second chance romance
🏡 Neighbor romance
🎾 Sports romance
👩 Single mom romance
💘 Old crush rekindled
🌿 Midlife fresh start
Themes
🎾 Personal reinvention
💛 Second chances in life and love
🌱 Building confidence
👩👦 Navigating an empty nest
🤝 Friendship and community
💕 Rediscovering joy
FORTY LOVE was the kind of story that blended playful romance with an uplifting journey of self-discovery. If you love romantic comedies about second chances, personal reinvention, and heroines discovering that life still has plenty of surprises in store, FORTY LOVE by Jane Costello sounds like one to add to your TBR.
Book Info:
Publication: Published: May 19, 2026 | Zibby Publishing
A fun, sexy rom-com about a woman who discovers it’s never too late to pick up a racket and take another shot at love.
Jules has lived next door to the local tennis club for years without picking up a racket. As a full-time buyer for a chain of lifestyle stores and a single, widowed mother of a teenager, she doesn’t have time for a hobby–or for a potential run-in with her old school crush, Sam, whose killer forehand is now in direct view of her bedroom window.
In a surge of boldness and facing the anxiety of an empty nest, Jules decides to stop playing it safe and accepts an invitation to join the amateur tennis team. They are desperate for players, and the fact that she doesn’t really play doesn’t seem to matter.
As rallies are hit and friendships are formed, Jules is astonished to find herself in the grip of a passionate, all-consuming relationship . . . and not only with the tennis. Now Jules is facing a whole new kind of match with her insecurities, her desires, and maybe—just maybe—a second shot at love. And boy, does it have some spin on it.
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