Two rival volleyball players compete for the championship in this summer romp full of community, crushes, and courting from the author of Flirty Dancing.
Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Bump, Set, Sparks by Jennifer Moffatt, which releases on June 16th 2026.
Jess loves volleyball—she really does. Playing in Southern California Beach Volleyball League with her best friend Tania is a blast, but their recent losing streak has destroyed her confidence. In fact, a lot of what used to bring her joy—stargazing, hanging with friends at Maggie’s bar, and cuddling with her adorable wiener dog, Fleming—just doesn’t seem like enough anymore. It doesn’t help that Vivienne, one of Jess’s rivals in the league, always seems to be around just when she’s feeling her worst. Vivienne is everything Jess isn’t: beautiful, effortlessly charming, and, most infuriatingly, winning.
When Jess is ghosted yet again, it’s the final blow to her ego. Who better to challenge her than the most confident girl she knows? And as Jess gets to know Vivienne off-court, she discovers there’s much more to her than just a pretty face (and wicked serve). But even though there’s an undeniable connection between them, they’re competing for the same spot in the pro leagues. Jess has the opportunity to build self-confidence and a better life, but she’ll have to learn to believe in herself, and the people around her, if she doesn’t want to lose everything she’s gaining. And there’s nothing Jess hates more than losing.
EXCERPT
“You played great,” Tania said. “We can’t win ’em all.”
“I played like crap. And I’d settle for winning half.” Jess sighed and followed Tania to the net. “Good game,” she said to Chrissy. “Nice serves,” she added, even though the loss rankled.
Chrissy grinned and shook her hand. “Thought you had me on that last block.”
“I had nothing but air, I guess.”
Once the score sheet was signed, Chrissy tugged her hair elastic out. “You guys heading over to Maggie’s?” Her red hair spilled over her shoulders as she scrubbed at it.
Jess’s tastebuds watered at the thought of a nice cold beer. “Can’t. I’m working today.” She didn’t normally work on Sundays but she had picked up a shift after the morning game. With summer approaching, the amusement park was getting busier, so extra hours were usually available if she wanted them.
“Okay, cool. Maybe later, then?”
“Maybe.”
The four of them signed a few autographs for the kids hanging around and Chrissy gave a quote to the local sports reporter, then Jess and Tania stopped to chat with Tania’s mamá, tías, and assorted cousins.
“Come for dinner soon!” Tía Diana said when she hugged Jess. Jess’s first hug from Tía Diana had come after she and Tania won their first match together and now Jess melted into the comforting softness of each one. “It’s been too long, mija.”
“I will, I will.” Jess squeezed her back extra tight. “Just let me know when.”
After a few more hugs for some cousins and promises for a visit, Jess and Tania rinsed off at the outdoor shower near the locker room, then headed in for a proper cleanup. The cool quiet of the locker room was welcoming after the late spring heat and rumble of the crowd in the bleachers. The shower spray on her tired muscles and scent of her lavender shower gel soothed her, but Jess couldn’t stop replaying that last failed block in her mind. If she had just jumped a bit higher … reached a little farther …
Jess wrapped herself in her towel when she was done and was heading back to her locker when a voice cut through the chatter.
That voice. Low and judgmental. Smooth and haughty. “Ugh, who got all this sand everywhere?”
The voice that crawled down Jess’s spine like the most unwelcome of insects. There was no mistaking it.
Jess rounded the corner, clutching her towel, hair dripping, and yup, there she was.
Vivienne Morris. Perfect and petite—for a beach volleyball player anyway, one of the smallest women in the league—with shining black hair, golden tanned skin, and features so tidy and delicate they looked painted on with the tiniest of brushes. Vivienne and her partner, Lee, were locked into the top spot in the league, undefeated so far this season.
Jess hated her. Even more than she hated losing, which was a lot. Everything came easy to Vivienne, and she looked down on people who had to work for it, the ones who showed the effort with mess and imperfection.
And Jess was nothing if not a mess.
Their eyes met as Vivienne looked up, curling her plump lips into their usual condescending grimace. “Oh.” Vivienne raised an immaculately groomed eyebrow, then looked pointedly down at the sandy floor again.
Jess tried to keep the scowl off her face. “That wasn’t me,” she said, aware she sounded like a petulant five-year-old. “I rinsed off.”
“Mmm.” Vivienne shared a look with Lee, who struggled to hide a smirk.
The heat rose in Jess’s cheeks, her chest tightening in anger. She bit back the repeated denial that gathered in her throat and instead breezed past Vivienne to get to her locker.
Vivienne stood and slid her fingers into the bottom of her swimsuit to snap the elastics into place. She and Lee were playing in the next match so were in their new one-shouldered bikinis—black with gold accents. Sleek and expensive-looking—all the glamour of the bad guys in a sports movie … aside from Lee’s old, gross, sweat-stained “lucky visor.”
“How did your match go, Jess?” Vivienne asked with wide eyes.
The absolute bitch. She knew exactly how it had gone. “Fine,” Jess snapped.
“Did you win?” Vivienne’s face was blank and innocent.
Tania joined the crowd at their lockers. “We’ll get ’em next time.” Tania was on the smaller side too, but with prominent curves and still taller than Vivienne. Jess delighted in the way Tania patted Vivienne’s head as she passed by.
“I’m sure you will.” Vivienne glared at Tania and smoothed her hair, not that she needed to. Vivienne always had the most impossibly perfect ponytail. It hardly even budged after a long match. Her fingernails were gold this week. Most of the athletes in the league didn’t wear nail polish, but Vivienne always had her nails done—short, but glossy and immaculate.
“Good luck today,” Tania said cheerfully. She dropped her towel and started pulling on her underwear.
Jess followed suit. “Yeah, good luck. Being undefeated must be a lot of pressure, hey?”
Vivienne’s placid expression wavered. “No, I wouldn’t say it’s a lot of pressure.”
“No? I mean, you’ve got to lose one day, right? Might be today!”
Vivienne pressed her lips together. “If I need advice on how to deal with losing, I’ll be sure to ask you.”
Lee snickered, and the other pair getting ready smothered their giggles.
“Oh, just teasing,” Vivienne said in a sugary sweet purr.
So sweet it made Jess sick.
From Bump, Set, Sparks by Jennifer Moffatt. Copyright © 2026 by the author, and reprinted with permission of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.
