Southampton Native Tom Vellner Debuts Queer Tennis Romance Novel, Thirty Love

Tom Vellner describes himself as "a writer, editor, and mediocre tennis player," but his debut novel has drawn anything but mediocre reviews. Thirty Love, a queer rivals-to-lovers romantic comedy set on the Grand Slam tour, has landed Publishers Weekly's "outstanding" designation, Apple Books' Best Books of March, Library Journal's Romance Debut of the Month, and a Spotify Editors' Pick for March Audiobooks since its release.

The novel follows Leo Chambers, a closeted American tennis star racing to win the U.S. Open before he turns thirty, and Gabe Montoya, his longtime rival and eventual secret lover. The story is structured around two U.S. Opens exactly one year apart, giving readers a full competitive season to watch Leo navigate his father and coach's health struggles, his own carefully guarded identity, and a relationship with Gabe that deepens after Gabe publicly comes out and absorbs blowback from other players on tour. Library Journal noted that the architecture pays off: "The book starts and ends at two U.S. Opens, one year apart, allowing readers to see Leo's growth and appreciate the slow-burn build of his relationship with Gabe, making for an emotionally satisfying finale."

For tennis fans picking it up, the on-court material holds up on its own terms. Philadelphia Gay News called the tennis scenes "especially well presented, even for non-fans," and framed the overall package as what happens when Challengers and Heated Rivalry collide: "this entertaining book deftly captures the players' anxieties about their relationship and their game." Library Journal's verdict was blunter: "A particularly well-crafted sports romance from a talented new voice. Readers will be clamoring for more from Vellner."

Vellner's tennis credibility comes from genuine fandom rather than playing experience. A Southampton, PA native who attended Archbishop Wood in Warminster, he traced his love of the sport back to lessons from his mother in an interview with Philadelphia Gay News. "I really started following it in high school," he said. "During the pandemic, I was watching more matches than ever, and I became obsessed with the players' different game styles and personalities. I watched all the intricacies of the sport. It is beautiful, graceful and powerful, and I wanted to do it justice in the book."

Before turning to fiction, Vellner worked as a staff writer at BuzzFeed and contributed to VICE, Thrillist, and ACLU Magazine. He now lives in the Hudson Valley with his husband and two dogs.

The paperback edition of Thirty Love is priced at $19.99 (ISBN 9798892424783). Vellner's first signing of the launch tour is today at Cupid's Bookshop, 106 Grape Street in Manayunk, running from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. On Tuesday, March 24, he joins author Jeffrey Dale Lofton for an in-conversation event at The Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S Main Street, Doylestown, PA, beginning at 6:30 p.m. That event is free with no ticket required, though the shop offers a pre-order option for anyone wanting to guarantee a copy on the night.