In the critics' words

“A more-than-capable hero leads a superb cast in this curious blend of the otherworldly and 1930s Manhattan… Gabay's taut novel hits the ground running — Neve's plan is cooking from the start, and she's steeped in mystery. Gabay's characters shine, including a crooked police officer, Neve's bootlegging gangster boss, and Willie…”

★ “Janelle Gabay's young adult novel focuses on two rival tennis players, ultimately offering a moving message about friendship and love… Gabay clearly understands the world of teens and elite high school tennis; she skillfully draws readers in with vivid on-the-court action and realistic challenges for her teen characters… The characters, even the passing ones, are memorable, unique, and vividly depicted, including distinctive patterns of speech… Tennis aficionados are sure to enjoy this book. But even those who've never heard of Serena Williams will find Gabay's enthusiasm for the game — and her compelling characters — irresistible.”

“A novel about how competition can make champions — but it can also expose the parts of us we work hardest to hide… Though rooted in the high-stakes world of junior tennis, the novel wrestles with addiction, secrecy, family fracture, ambition, and the fragile intensity of female friendship. Gabay's novel poses an urgent question: when winning becomes everything, what does it cost the people standing across the net from us and beside us?”

“A dishy novel about sports and interpersonal teenage dramas, The Players We Were centers two girls on the competitive youth tennis circuit.”