Book Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kingston and Willa hit it off on their first introduction. But when Willa accidentally overheard a private conversation between Kingston and his close friends, she quickly decided there was no future for the two of them. Unwilling to admit defeat, Kingston orchestrates a way to keep Willa in close proximity. Will Willa finally give Kingston a second chance, or will she stand firm on her decision to avoid the ‘playboy’?

As a fan of the Carina Taylor, I first learned about Kingston and Willa in Meyer and Archie’s book, Forget Me Twice. While the two served as minor characters, they individually intrigued me. So when I learned Taylor was giving them their own story I knew I had to read it.

I am happy to report that this book was just as good as its companion. It features the ever popular tropes of enemies-to-lovers, witty banter, and he falls first. In was then enhanced by the decision to alternate POVs via Kingston and Willa.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Lit and Write, and Carina Taylor for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this story!

I found that the story was really well written and it was certainly a book that had me hooked.

Neither wanted a relationship but things change and feelings develop.

It is a slow burn story that was romantic and sexy with a little humour along the way.

It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!

Play Me Once is an adorable romcom that, say it with me, has a CAT CAFE in it. What more could we possibly want?!

Willa and Kingston play well off of each other, their banter and chemistry just click well and give us a great storyline between two very fun characters. I like that while they're "enemies to lovers" they never cross boundaries that would fully immerse them into the enemies side. More like two people who can't quite get along, but eventually get out of their own ways.

Overall, a super fun and cute book that I can't wait to read again!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

What an adorable love story! Willa and Kingston were delightful characters, and their journey was thoroughly enjoyable.

Kingston and Willa initially shared a mutual attraction, but their budding romance hit a snag when she overheard him expressing a reluctance for a long-term commitment. Despite him being her best friend’s brother, Willa distanced herself until circumstances forced her to work at Kingston’s company, where he now holds a position of authority.

Haunted by the regret of hurting Willa, Kingston is upfront about his commitment issues. As they collaborate on a work project, he finds it challenging to let go of the idea of dating her and persistently tries to change her mind. Over time, the prospect of a committed relationship becomes increasingly appealing.

Great romcom! The banter and tensions between the couple made the book an easy and enjoyable read. I didn't read the first book in the series, however, I could jump to this one without any porblem, so that's a big plus! The characters were funny and cute. I'll definitely come back to this author for more!

In Carina Taylor's humorous and captivating novel, "Play Me Once," we are introduced to the enticing clash between Avery West and Kingston Palmer, two individuals whose paths cross in a serendipitous yet tumultuous manner. Avery, a determined and intelligent young woman, finds herself in the peculiar position of working for Kingston, the man she once harbored feelings for, only to have him dash them ruthlessly. As Avery embarks on her new role at Kingston's company, she vows to maintain her composure and professionalism, despite the undeniable attraction that still lingers between them. However, as she delves deeper into her responsibilities, she discovers an unexpected challenge: creating a nonprofit organization that benefits the community. With her unwavering dedication and resourcefulness, Avery sets out to accomplish her mission, all while navigating the complexities of her relationship with Kingston. As they spend more time together, the boundaries between love and hate begin to blur, leaving them both questioning their true feelings. Through witty banter, heartwarming moments, and steamy encounters, Taylor weaves a tale of self-discovery and personal growth, as Avery and Kingston grapple with their past, confront their vulnerabilities, and ultimately find solace in each other's embrace. "Play Me Once" is a delightful romantic comedy that reminds readers that sometimes, the greatest love stories begin with a little bit of animosity.

THE BANTER!!! I was sucked into this rom-com from the very beginning and could. not. put. it. down. When female MC, Willa, overhears Kingston, say that he isn't looking for anything serious with her (even though he just asked her out), she's not giving him the time of day. That doesn't stop the constant interactions in their small town though... especially when Willa gets a job at Kingston's company. What ensues then is lots of laughs, lots of cats, and lots of swoon-worthy romance. Kingston gives very much golden retriever boyfriend with a heavy dose of commitment phobia but in the best way possible! Willa is a strong, confident woman who knows what she wants but still struggles with insecurities with a past history of disordered eating (trigger warning for this topic). When these two come together though it is the perfect combination for a stellar rom-com!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lit and Write for the eARC!

So cute!! I did not read the first book in this series but this could be perfectly understood.. I ended up going back and reading the first book just to help with some character and setting building but this worked out perfectly as a stand alone!

Enjoyed this cute, funny, enemies to lovers, workplace romcom, and all the darling cats of course. Julius Sneezer included. All while I was reading, this gave me Pride and Prejudice vibes. Willa & Kingston had so much romantic tension. I loved their banter and swoony kisses. There’re also some great side characters including Willa’s sister Lucy, Miles, Margaret, and more.

Willa and Kingston both have some baggage which causes them to assume the worst when it comes to relationships. Willa was really interested in Kingston and wanted to date him until she overhears his Darcy moment where he says that she’s basically just a placeholder. From then on, he becomes her enemy and her prejudice against him knows no bounds.

Kingston really wants to go out with Willa. After his disastrous comments, he’s determined to get her to go on a date with him. Everything changes between them when Willa unknowingly accepts a position in Kingston’s company where he’s now her boss. Can these two work together, save some stray cats, and find love?

This was just what I needed. It was an easy to read, funny, sweet story with likable characters, low stress, lots of romance, and a terrific happily ever after ending. Basically, everything I enjoy in a romcom. I loved all the funny antics at the cat cafe and nearly spit my drink at “cat cult” and the cat that likes to sit on Margaret’s head. I enjoyed the family parties, the competitive games, the golf cart incident, and mediation.

Definitely recommend this cute, closed door romcom! Though it’s the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author but also purchased a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

CW: Only passionate kissing, a couple mild biblical swears, mentions of disordered eating, parental neglect, and cheating ex.

A great read, the story of Kingston and Willa. I loved this book and wanted everything to work out for them both. I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you so much to @netgalley for the chance to review Play Me Once by Carina Taylor. This was soooo precious. I loved every second of it.

Willa turns down a potential client and the client is not happy at all. Then, she bumps into Kingston, the man who seemed perfect for her, but only saw her as someone to pass the time with. He’s still asking her out, but she can’t trust her heart. They begin to work on a project together, though, and it might turn into more.

The witty banter, cast of characters, and realness of Willa’s character made this so special.

I adored this book! It’s so cute, and I loved watching Willa and Kingston finally get their own HEA.
I liked Willa from the start. It was really fun and sweet to read about someone so fiery and sure of herself. I liked her mixture of insecurity and confidence because it felt very real. In some ways, she had grown and healed from the pains of her past, but she was also still dealing with it.
Kingston was a little more frustrating for me. I didn’t really get why he was so determined to avoid marriage, but once everything is revealed, it makes a lot more sense. He was fun to read about, and he hid a big heart underneath his confident exterior.
Willa and Kingston were perfect together! I loved their banter and how they were constantly making funny little comments to each other. They supported each other's traumas in their own special way. I thought it was adorable how before even starting to like one another they both admired the other. Neither one was intimidated by the other’s drive and competitiveness instead it made them love each other more.
This is a sweet romcom filled with quirky characters and hilarious banter. It's a closed door with cats and the perfect HEA that I would 100% recommend!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

I love the boss/employee trope with a big ol grump aspect and this was perfect. Carina's writing style is so easy to read and quick.

thank you netgalley for the arc!!!

i feel like this book was okay but nothing more 🫣 i had a really hard time connecting with willa and kingston and not because they are bad people but simply because nothing really stood out to me? as i said it was okay. the chemistry between two said characters was okay too but i didn’t find myself giggling and kicking my feet. overall it’s a decent book which is why it’s getting 3 stars!

also i love cats !!!

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I was excited to read this and read it quickly but found it to be lackluster. Both the writing style and the characters were not for me.

The writing felt clunky in some places, with over-explanations in some areas and a lack of explanation in others. This is the second book in a series, but it's not one where you need to read it in order. The main characters from the first book do pop up and that's where some of the explanations gloss over. Like, why should I care about this people? Tell me more about them, please.

The characters felt juvenile in some places, with the line "Are we in a kissing relationship?" being spoken even though they're in their late 20s/early 30s. Like, huh? I hope you more than kiss at that age, mama.

Then, we're told that Kingston and Willa have this hate relationship, but it's not hate. They just fancy each other and won't do anything about it. Well, they tried once but it failed. And, when they try again, it's happily ever after straight away.

It was just too insta-lovey for me. I get that their past is supposed to add tension but there was no tension with the way they interacted and spoke. I wish I'd liked this more than I did.

First of all, Thank You netgalley for the ARC granted. I have read another book from the author before, and I had enjoyed a lot , but with this I couldn't connect with like I thought I would It wasn't bad, it just didn't catch my attention as much as I wanted to.

t's always so good to return to another world created by Carina Taylor, Forget me Twice was so good that when I read Easy as Pie with one of its secondary characters I immediately wanted to go back to reading about that small town in Oregon and its quirky characters
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Kingston has been attracted to Willa for a long time and when he asked her on a date and she said yes, he couldn't be happier, except that a few minutes later Willa heard him saying that he wasn't seriously thinking about her and that he was just passing the time
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Since that day Willa does everything to avoid it. But when she need to have a more stable job and the opportunity presents itself, the last thing she think about is that she could end up working for the same man sheve been trying to avoid for a long time.
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Play Me Once is a beautiful and cute workplace romance between two almost enemies who thrive when they work together and become stronger when they let their guard down.
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Thanks to Carina Taylor for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

This was such a fun and light read . I love both MC’s! Willa was super confident and sassy and relatable. Kingston was the funniest and cheeky. I loved the banter between the two of them and the golf cart scene had my dying 🤣. Kingston is definitely 10/10 boyfriend material I loved how he was with Willa and how he always made sure she was okay. Bonus points for the cat cafe 🐈☕️

3⭐️

This one was a very cute quick read! I enjoyed the characters for who they were, but I did feel st times the story line didn’t flow. I felt like it should have had a little more struggle/push back from Kingston in falling in love. Cause really from the beginning to end he was the main one pushing for something more, while Willa was against it & worried bc she didn’t wanna just be a “good time”. I felt like there was little conflict which is good, but with how much he brought up his ex & the “mister” I just felt like there should have been slightly more conflict regarding that personally.

What got me most is I loved the banter. It was definitely funny & I laughed at the banter, the quirky cat jokes & the relationships between the family & friends throughout the book.