Set Point

The steamy third installment of Jones’s Game, Set, and Match series (after Game Point) goes sapphic with a rivals-to-lovers story that pits two women’s drive to compete against their desire to connect. Former superstar Inés Costa’s chronic wrist issues have taken her out of the spotlight and off sponsors’ lists, while up-and-comer Chloe Murphy’s career is suffering from a reputation for tantrums and code violations. After a charity event in which Chloe shows herself to be redeemable and Inez serves as a calming influence, Inez agrees to be Chloe’s practice partner in the lead-up to the U.S. Open. Both women have an intensity of desire that manifests equally powerfully on the court and in the bedroom. Their playful, competitive banter underlies palpable chemistry, leading to sex scenes that crackle with strong physicality and subtle struggles for dominance. Well-chosen song selections headline each chapter, creating a soundtrack that feels full of hot feminist energy, and an amusingly toxic fan culture gives the couple a common enemy that is not their peers. Aggressive but never mean, and uniquely capable of bringing out the best in each other, these spirited heroines prove easy to root for. (Apr.)