okay this book was kinda hard for me to form an opinion on. I thought this was a really really cool concept. I liked the 'personal chef x celebrity' and forced proximity concepts and think something like this has really great potential. I thought this book was really cute however there were some things that I just could not look past.

For one, there was just wayyyy too much cheating. Everyone was cheating on everyone and it felt like it was made excusable because of that but really I just didn't like it. I understand the point and the reasoning of why its in the book but it was just way too much. It also felt a little too 'insta-love' for me. We were barely half-way through the book and Elle was saying how much she likes him and thinks about him. I understand having some kind of initial attraction but she fell for him so hard so quickly when for me, I didn't think they had enough interaction yet. I would have loved to see Nicky's POV just to see what he was thinking throughout the book.

Nevertheless, despite this I think the book was cute and a nice quick read. The last few chapters were probably my favourite when he was pining after her. Even though some aspects of the book weren't for me personally, I do think this book has great potential and will be loved!

Thank you NetGalley and Hera for this ARC of 'Love Game'!

Not into the cheating. Overall meh.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I've been thinking about this review for the last 24 hours and I'm still coming up torn. Spoilers ahead.
3.5 stars

If, as a reader, you don't want the mcs to be cheating/cheated on, don't read this book. You'll read it and not like it, and that's no one's fault but your own. I knew going into this that the MMC was engaged and I had convinced myself it was short-lived/fake marriage/etc and that just isn't the case. While it's not what it appears to be, the MMC is very much engaged for 2/3 of the book and the FMC is very much the other woman for this time period.

I think the cheating/affair was very well-written and handled; the double standard is not lost on the FMC and it is central to Elle's growth to self-acceptance and self-respect. Her character growth was strong and important, though I felt like her own growth into the resolution felt overshadowed by Nicky's own resolution. This book could have benefitted from more emotion or dual POV. There were times when it felt two dimensional and surface level.

The meat of the story and plot was compelling and I think the same thing could have been achieved differently. Their socio-economic differences, gender standards, etc are all there as pieces to create a very deep and emotional read. I will read more from this author because I do think that more writing and editing will only benefit someone who is as wonderful a plot-creator as Rae.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera for access to an early copy for review.

I grew up in a tennis family. Nothing professional, but we like to watch the matches and I played in school.

The first half of this book was a bit too much on the spicy side for my liking, but the second half of the book made up for it with an interesting storyline and the genuine care hidden by the physical intimacy.

Love Game by Emma Rae
2.75⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Emma Rae, and Hera for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Elle Caraway is a cool, working for an agency that helps her find jobs. She is in a loveless relationship with her boyfriend, who she knows is cheating on her, but she cannot do anything as she is financially dependent on him. When she gets a new job as a personal cook for the famous Tennis Player Nick Salco, she is grateful for the change as she has to live there instead of living with her boyfriend. However, it is a matter of time before they fall for each other during their midnight meals.

Trigger Warning~ cheating as a major theme.

First of all, the author's writing is very good. Though I disliked most of the characters in the story and was seriously rooting against Elle and Nicky, I admired how well the story was written. It was in first person point of view from Elle's perspective.

I think the novel would have been better with dual points of view because I really hated Nick for what he was doing, and since he was redeemed by the end of the novel, I would have been more amicable to his character if I had his perspective too.

Most of the story, I was cringing at the things Elle and Nick would do.

Elle has just been cheated on, and she proceeds to be in a relationship with an engaged person. I hated how she initiated sexual things and then got mad at Nick afterward because he too enjoyed it even though he has a fiancee. No matter if McKenzie was also cheating or not, it is not morally good to be disloyal and unfaithful to someone. I was hoping Nick would do something to stop this nonsense from happening - by at least breaking off the engagement or letting go of Elle. But he could not resist the pull between him and Elle, and he was too chicken to break it off with Elle.

As I said, I hated most of the characters except Oliver and Lonzo. I liked Syd for a bit, but when she started championing for Elle and Nick without finding the whole thing scandalous, I was disappointed in her too.

I seriously couldn't get over the fact that even Josie started supporting them and how Nick was comfortable cheating on his fiancee right in front of Josie.

If McKenzie had not been cheating on him too, then what would have been the story? Elle and Nick would be the horrible people that Elle painted her ex-boyfriend to be. Just because the other person was doing the same thing, it doesn't make it right.

The only good thing out of this relationship was that Nick got to win a grand slam. I really think that it is a matter of time before he and Elle fall out because they have unresolved insecurities and Nick really doesn't care much about anything else except what he wants.

Other than the fact that the writing was pretty good, I just wanted to see what the ending would be (though I wasn't exactly surprised, but disappointed), so I got to the end of the book.

It would have been a great book if the characters' personalities and morals were not so flimsy.

✨Thank you to Netgalley and Emma Rae for the opportunity to read and review this book ✨

Overall a solid romance, I really liked the comparisons to Jane Eyre drawn throughout the book. In my opinion I think it started off weaker than it finished, but I really loved the second half which is good for a four star read in my books!

I think the characters were both fairly likeable, although I would have loved a dual perspective so I could get a better sense of what was going on through the MMC’s mind, because there was character growth there and I think it would have added to the story to have a bit more exploration of that.

I also really enjoyed the side characters and would have loved to see more of some of those relationships…perhaps a sequel is in order for a certain two people 👀

Would recommend this to anyone who loves forced proximity and spicy sports romances.

2024 reads: 84/124

hmmmm the characters weren't horrible but I feel like there wasn't much going on.
red flag that she love jane eyre sooo much.
one of the main reasons I didn't like this that much was because she broke up with her boyfriend and was really annoyed with him for cheating on her but then she goes on to do things with nicky behind his FIANCEEs back??? that was just super annoying
I think its funny that she made such fancy meals for him at like 3 am
overall, it was a quick read and pretty enjoyable. worth checking it out and/or reading!

I loved this book! I thought that from the first page I felt invested in the characters and it was such an easy read. I think this will be a huge hit this summer!

I loved this book so much! Give me sexy tennis players any day of the week. Also enjoyed the moral greyness of the characters as well as the romance. Spicy, but not to spicy, if you get what I mean! A super fun lighthearted read. Would have liked to know more about the characters- where they grew up and more about their families etc but overall a good fun romance.

i'm sorry to say this, but i didn't enjoy this at all from the beginning. i was not the fan of the writing and the main character, elle, felt too childish. another thing i did not like was how fast she "fell" for him, the fact that she stayed with her boyfriend even though she knew he was cheating on her.

dnf.

So, here we are presented with the story of Elle, who has been dissatisfied in her recent relationship (where she is also being unfaithful) and has recently lost her job. Although Elle did not initially have a passion for cooking, she found herself in the culinary field and developed a deep love for it. In her new profession, she crosses paths with Nick Salco, a professional tennis player, when she is hired as his personal chef. Nicky is constantly surrounded by a group of individuals, including his assistant, coach, training partner, and fiancée. Despite this, he is discontent with his current circumstances, which is affecting his performance on the tennis court. Elle and Nicky spend a significant amount of time together and begin to develop feelings for each other. However, Elle is hesitant to pursue a relationship with Nicky as she does not want to be involved in an affair. The forbidden attraction and secret meetings weigh heavily on Elle, especially since she was recently betrayed by her ex-boyfriend. Nick is unhappy in his engagement but feels stuck in the relationship and unable to break free, despite his desire to be with Elle. They eventually go their separate ways until Nicky can demonstrate that he is deserving of Elle's love.

I was a bit hesitant when I started reading this book because the main character seemed too passive at first, lacking the assertiveness and agency that I typically look for in a protagonist. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I was pleasantly surprised by the gradual transformation and growth that the main character underwent. The initial ex-boyfriend drama, which initially seemed like a cliché plot device, turned out to be a catalyst for the main character's personal development. It was through this conflict that she found her voice and began to assert herself, refusing to be defined by her past relationships. This evolution was beautifully portrayed, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. But it was the connection between the female lead and the male lead that truly captivated me. Their chemistry was palpable, and their interactions were filled with tension and longing. Despite my usual aversion to cheating storylines, their forbidden romance gave me butterflies, as I couldn't help but be swept away by the intensity of their connection. The author skillfully portrayed the complexities of their relationship, making it impossible for me to resist becoming emotionally invested in their journey. However, just as I thought everything was falling into place, the breakup in the third act shattered my hopes and left me feeling a little disap because it was just unnecessary and didn't make sense! However it was a fun quick read that I had a good time with!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Overall, the books seemed childish. The FMC was panting after someone she didn't know and just reeked of desperation. I couldn't connect with the characters and the plot fell flat.

Traditional format (digital). I love a good sports rom com and I being a tennis fan and player I was all over giving this one a read. Tennis bad boy Nicky hires a British private chef Elle during his stay at the Wimbledon tournament. They fall in love over late night meals even though Nicky is engaged to another woman.

What I loved
Tennis theme was spot on and accurate (as a tennis player and fan this was on point)
A little bit of spice by not over the top.
Good chemistry between the two main characters and the supporting cast were decent too

What I didn't like
I don't love a cheating trope and the main story is based on this. It probably could have been rejigged a little to get around this plot and I probably would have given this a whole other star.
This book was about 50 pages longer than it needed to be. It got a big draggy in the middle.
I felt the timelines on this book could have used some work. Some of the story went day by day, then skipped months then skipped tournaments and then back to day by day. It was a bit choppy to me from that perspective.

I would recommend this book to lovers of sport romances and of course lovers of tennis. I did overall enjoy this book and for me despite the fact I don't love the whole cheating on your fiance and falling in love with another woman thing it as a decent sports rom com. I will give this a 4/5 . Thank you Canelo Books and Net Galley for the digital ARC copy of this book!

Cute and fast read! Perfect if you're looking for something entertaining and romantic!
I enjoyed how engaging the writing was and I found the characters easy to root for

This was a fun quick read, well written. I am not a fan of the cheating trope, but I’m reviewing this as though that’s a non factor.

Tropes:
Cheating
Forced Proximity
Witty Banter
Boss/employee
Famous Tennis Player/Chef
Sneaking around
Sports Romance

Elle Caraway is a cook that’s been out of work for months. She’s relying on her boyfriend to pay rent and is turning a blind eye to him sleeping with multiple other women because of this. She finally gets a 3 week live in contract to cook for a tennis player during Wimbledon season. The only hitch is that she needs to be able to make him (Nicky) large meals at 2am. They get to talking and bond over these middle of the night meals and she wins him over with her desserts and charming personality. The attraction is instant but Nicky respects her boundaries because she has a boyfriend. He’s also engaged to his high school sweetheart, but that’s an afterthought. Elle goes to visit her boyfriend on a day off, walks him on him banging another girl. Slams the door and walks out. Soon after, they offer her a position in the Miami as a live in chef for him. She goes to Miami, lives with Nicky, his fiancée, and the other staff she’s befriending. She meets a cute guy called Oliver at the beach and they go on a date. Nicky’s ability to win seems directly correlated with his status with Elle so he’s losing a lot of matches while they fight the attraction.

Will they come to their senses and be decent people or will they continue stringing each other and everyone else along?

Love Game was a spicy, whimsical romance. If you’re a fan of the trope, you’ll probably love this.

I enjoyed that it was about a less common sport


I’d probably read more things by Emma Rae!

Thanks NetGalley for the arc

Love Game by Emma Rae is a captivating romance novel that allow you to step foot into the world of a world famous tennis player
Although at first glance the book sounds like a cheesy rom-com where a chef Elle Caraway falls for her employer the famous tennis player Nicky Salco, upon further reading you quickly discover how much more than that it is. Set in the Modern day tennis world predominantly
between Miami and London “Love Game” gave me an insight into what its like to work for a celebrity. (although fictional ) Battling with her own self love journey and unsatisfied desires within her relationship Elle begins a new job to ignite her love for cooking more specifically sweet treats and maybe even a blossoming romance with the very spoken for Nicky. This book transported me from my bedroom to the world of Wimbledon where you not only fall for the main characters but also friends and family of theirs. This book is one that I can only describe as unputdownable and I finished it in less than 24hrs !!! The Author done a great job of pulling me in and almost making me feel as though I was sitting in the Salco masion in Miami myself. I found also the ultimatum (not to spoil it) very in character and brave for the writer to stick to the characters development rather than go down a more submissive route. Had there of been maybe a bit more of Nicky’s POV in conversations that where muffled from Elles POV id have definitely given this 5 stars
Overall I enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a sports romance .

There are some great tropes in this book! There’s forced proximity, sports romance, forbidden romance (both people are in relationships) and secret meetings. Cheating is also a heavy theme in this book.

I kept looking forward to their midnight meetings and banter. Their chemistry was filled with so much sexual tension omg 🙈
Emma Rae was a little TOO good at her food descriptions because it kept making me SO hungry 🤤I was reading this book at midnight and craving sourdough bread and ravioli.

I thought it was quite fast with how Elle developed a crush on him and was so upset. I felt like they didn’t have enough conversations and she didn’t know him well enough to be crying over him. I would’ve love to see more convos/more time together - I swear they had like a total of 3-4 conversations?
I understood the first time they were together but after that ?? I was like have some self respect girl 😭 your ex did u dirty in the same way and now u playing around too ugh. Josie was the only logical one in the entire book 😭 it felt like Nicky was dragging her on

Fast forward to the groveling AHHH yes Nicky was back in my good graces after that. But Elle’s ultimatum was all kinds of fkd up. That was straight up COLD considering the pressure he was facing previously 😬

In the end I was convinced 🥰 Emma Rae SOLD me on their romance. I was so happy they got their HEA 🥹❤️
I recommend this book, it elicit so many emotions (good and bad) and if a book can do that to me then it’s a well written and thought out book.

3.5 ⭐️
Love Game was a very enjoyable read that kept me intrigued and interested the entire time. Although it was a bit predictable at times, it was still fun to see if Elle and Nicky ended up having a happy ending. The close proximity, off-limits, and secondary characters all added nice touches to the story line and made the book even more enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good sport romance book!

I loved this book. I rated it four stars because I was not a fan of the cheating storyline at all. The relationship between Tag and Sydney was almost as good as that between Elle and Nicky. I loved Elle's sister so much and the found family element toward the end. I wasn't a fan of Ragnar at all - I actually agree with all the characters that say he was bad for Nicky.

The way this was written is perfect for people who want an introduction to new adult romance or sports romances. With this being my first tennis romance I think I'll definitely be looking for more in the future!

What a fab debut novel this is. I would rate this 4.5 stars - I dropped half a star because I am not a lover of cheating and would have preferred it to be dual POV. I really liked the 2 main characters and wanted them to get together from the start. Tennis is one of my favourite sports so was really looking forward to this aspect of the story. I was a little disappointed at the start but was thoroughly satisfied by the end. Wimbledon is my favourite championship so this book hit the spot for me. The tennis match descriptions were great, I could totally picture what was happening. I can't wait to read more by this author - I hope there are more tennis stories to come!