I'm not a big sports romance reader, but I just may be after reading this. It was such a quick read, I started and finished it the same day. Literally, once I picked it up I just couldn't put it down.

This book starts on a real downer, Kennedy basically getting ghosting by her awful ex. As the book went on I hated him more and more and loved Alexei more and more. Watching this enemies to lovers/fake dating turn into something believably real was a joy! A lot of times with fake dating tropes you kind of have to suspend reality and just kind of go with it, but not here. She wrote a believable and adorable story with this one! I was rooting for both Alexei and Kennedy (and I was smiling and rooting my girl on with her last Ward interaction).

The MCs are so genuine. We learn about their families, their trauma, the reason why they are the way they are. We watch them second guess their relationship (as any sane person would). We watch them BOTH grow right alongside of and because of each other. Just real ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ character arcs here.

Overall, I absolutely LOVED this story!! Maybe I'm a sports romance girlie after all 🤷

There were a few grammatical errors or misused words in pages 64 (know should be known), 100 (breath should be breathe), and 101 (make should be made). But, I suspect it'll be edited again since this was an ARC!

I'd like to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc! Play Your Part was a fun, light, and easy read. We love a hockey romance, and it’s even better that Kathryn Kincaid is a Hurricanes fan (go Canes)! Would recommend if you like hockey romances!

4.5+/5 ⭐️s. There was a lot to love about this book.

It’s dual-POV hockey, enemies-lovers, fake-dating romance. The tropes alone are enough to draw a reader in because they are really hot right now!

Alexei was the perfect sexy MMC and an easy to love gruff on the outside, teddy bear on the inside love interest.

Kennedy was harder to like, but it did give her character a lot of room for growth and despite sometimes being annoyed by her, she had a likability that made you want to root for her.

The side characters were EVERYTHING. If Gemma and Briggsy don’t get their own stories I’m going to be heartbroken!

The spicy scenes weren’t all that spicy, I’d give them 🌶️🌶️/5. It was extremely slow burn with the first sex scene not happening until 85% and the depiction was just above closed door.

If you’re a fan of sports romance, fake dating, enemies to lovers, then this is the book for you! And I cannot wait to see what Kathryn comes up with next!


Read full review here:

An enemy-to-lovers, fake-dating, only one bed hilarious hockey rom com. It has it all to include witty banter, scheming friends, and a rivalry between her ex and fake boyfriend. A fast year that will have you laughing out loud and cheering along.

Play Your Part has all the parts of a hockey romance that everyone loves.
Being labeled as an enemies to lovers, I was expecting more enemy-ness. This just kind of felt like dislike to lovers. Which is fine! However, I actually did enjoy the fake dating and I always love when the guy falls first and hard.
The characters were likable and I enjoyed this story! Can’t wait to read more from Kincaid!

Play Your Part by Kathryn Kincaid is an enemies to lovers hockey romance that hits all the right notes.

On the day Kennedy is expecting her hockey playing boyfriend Justin to finally go public with their relationship, she arrives at his house to find him moving out of state and casually dumping her. She has to cope with that while dealing with her mother’s tragic death. Meanwhile, Alexei is given a last shot after his hot-headed ways out his career in jeopardy. To help both Kennedy and Alexei, her friend and team marketing person suggests they pretend to be a couple – so that Kennedy can get back at Justin and Alexei can salvage his career.

I didn’t really understand why Kennedy would hate Alexei so much based upon Justin’s word and the same media exploitation that she goes through, but otherwise I really enjoyed this book.

It was enjoyable reading about Kennedy finding her path and coming to terms with her mom’s death and Alexei finding his way back to the “good guy” side.

This book was provided as an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher. All views are my own.

Fake dating > Enemies to lovers > Rivals > Grief > Hockey !

Characters and plot was beautifully written! I loved everything about this book especially because it was relatable and not many can write about grief and captivate it in such a way!!

Admittedly, I am not usually a fan of the fake dating trope but I think this book executed it perfectly! That combined with the gradual enemies to lovers, and I have to say that I’m obsessed with this book and the author’s writing.

I loved Kennedy and Alexei’s progression over the novel, and especially loved Briggsy as a side character! I think he gave the perfect comic relief in moments without being totally goofy.

Overall, I absolutely will be buying a copy of this when it comes on shelves, 5 stars ✨

A huge thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with the ARC to read!

I really enjoyed this book. It was so nice to see Kennedy wake up if you will. I do love how much she grew as a character. Grief can be so hard but I loved this realistic view of how someone can over come it and how it doesn’t happen all at once. I love that Alexei pushed her buttons but also was so sweet to her when she did need it. This was a great hockey read thank you to NetGalley and the publish for the ARC in exchange for a review.

Kathryn’s debut novel hit me in all the places I didn’t know I needed to be hit. Enemies to lovers, rivals, FAKE DATING, hockey, and grief. Not only grief, but appropriately dealing with grief in a way that I related as someone who lost my mom but did not feel overwhelmed by. This is not an easy thing for authors to do and Kathryn nailed it.

Volk and Kens were the power duo of blurred lines, passion, and finding yourself again after huge life changes. Kennedy is dealing with the passing of her mom and her life not looking how she imagined, while Alexei is trying to find a team to take a chance on his bad image due to Kennedys ex bf.

I love a good sports rom com and this didn’t fall short for me. I read this as an ARC from NetGalley and really recommend people support this debut novel when it comes out August

So good!

I loved both of the main characters individually and their relationship together.

Smart banter and engaging story ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

This was so cute. If you’re a hockey romance fan, this one is for you for sure. Fake dating. He falls first.

Rough around the edges Alexi and the owners daughter, Kennedy put on quite the show but does a grouchy ex come and mess it all up or help them see it all more clearly??

Only complaint is that I wish it never had to end.

Go read this one when it comes out. Catch it on KU August 3rd.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kathryn for the opportunity to ARC read in exchange for a review.

This one started off very cute and I thought maybe a bit forgettable but it definitely grabbed me towards the end. It was just a bit of a slow starter but worth the read.

This is a fake-dating hockey romance between hot-headed hockey star Alexei Volkov and the owner’s daughter, the grieving and somewhat stalled Kennedy Cole.

It’s a dual POV enemies-to-lovers romance that balances a little banter with some heavy plot lines

Things I enjoyed:
✔️ slow burn
✔️ fake dating
✔️ only one bed!


📖 I received a gifted e-book copy in exchange for an honest review ✍🏻


Read dates: July 9 - 11, 2023
Goodreads Review: July 11, 2023
Instagram Review: July 12, 2023

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book, provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is absolutely adorable. I loved every single minute of it. Especially the documentary that Alexei and Kennedy watched - I was rolling with laughter. This book just made me feel good while I was reading it. How Alexei thought about Kennedy was so sweet and pure. It was obvious from the start that he was a smitten kitten. Kennedy was a hard nut to crack with her break-up still completely fresh.

Caught in what looked like an embrace with a hockey player on camera after being dumped by her boyfriend, hockey team owner's daughter Kennedy is tossed into the limelight. Now the fake girlfriend of her father's newest player, Kennedy must learn to get along with her enemy (and the enemy of her ex) to help bring publicity to the team and the arena and help clean up Alexei's image. Can they do all of that and realize they are falling in love?

I loved their interactions, their steamy times and their longing for each other, even when they didn't want to admit it to themselves. Their friends and family could see it, tho! I loved the side characters, as well, and I'm hoping maybe we'll get a book about Briggsy!

An enemies to lovers hockey romance? Sign me up! I really enjoyed the main character’s banter through out this book. Kincaid also explores a bit of the dynamic of losing a mother and the effects that has.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kathryn Kincaid for this ARC! Honestly, it takes a lot for me not to enjoy a hockey romance, but I truly enjoyed this book! Enemies to lovers, fake dating, and positive character development. I found myself laughing out loud at several parts. One of my favorite parts:

“I hate him, Kens. And I know he’s my fiancée’s friend, but I want to hurt him for what he did to you.” Gemma blew out a long breath, shaking her arms as if she had kept those feelings in her limbs. “Oh, it feels so good to tell you how much I never liked him for you.” I threw my arms in the air. “What are you talking about? You told me that all the time.”

It was a solid 4 star read, and I NEED a Zach book!

Review has already been posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Instagram will be posted 7/11, a reel will be posted 7/10 and 7/15 or 16.

this one checks all the boxes for me, love a hockey romance, fake dating, meddling friends, one bed. it's perfection!!

loved alexei and kennedy!! well basically i loved all the characters except justin, justin can go straight to hell!! do not pass go!

i would definitely reread this one and look for more books by Kathryn Kincaid, i had no idea this was a debut until i went looking for more. would read zach's book for sure!!

thank you to net galley for the opportunity to love this book

I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers, then you throw in fake dating?! I’m done for. I swooned, I giggled, I smiled. This hockey romance is perfect for anyone looking to heat up the ice. It was the perfect balance of banter, angst, and vulnerability! It had a good level of spice, enough to show their chemistry without overdoing it.

thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Play Your Part is top tier hockey romance!
✅ fake dating
✅ ex’s rival
✅ he falls first

Alexei Volkov was released from his last team in the middle of the season. This could ruin his entire NHL career. His saving grace: he’s acquired by the Wolves, whose captain is none other than his arch nemesis. He just wants to play hockey and rebuild his reputation after he lost everything when he was dropped. One misleading photo of him with the owner’s daughter could jeopardize it all.

Kennedy Cole has never been more excited for a season opening party. Her father owns the Wolves so she goes every year, but this one is different. Her boyfriend is the captain of the team and he’s finally ready to go public with their relationship of over a year… except she shows up at their home and there are moving trucks outside. He’s been traded and was planning on leaving with nothing more than a note on the counter telling her when she needs her things gone.

I loved the pace of this story and Kennedy’s journey of learning to live with her grief and rediscovering herself. Alexei’s past hit really close to home for me and my heart really ached for him when he reveals the events of his past.

Overall, this was a relatively quick and fun read! Highly recommend to lovers of Elle Kennedy, Liz Tomforde, Becka Mack, and Avery Keelan!

Play Your Part was such an amazing book and i really really loved it. I personally love hockey romances, so if you’re like me, i’m sure you’ll love it too. It was more of a slow burn, but i think i prefer it that way compared to the characters meeting and falling inlove within the first 3 chapters. It was also a fake dating your ex boyfriends enemy situation, which i loved because of all the tension. Overall i loved this book and would absolutely recommend it. I have also posted a review on tiktok @izziereads :)