Played hooked me from the opening scene and captivated me until the very end because I was so invested in Salomon and Dina’, both individually and as a pair. I enjoyed reading it.

4/5. 9/3/24.

Vibes: widower hero, hockey romance, "it's just a warm body", love after loss

Heat Index: 7/10

Still grieving the loss of her professional and personal partner, firefighter Adina can't resist opening the journal she finds after a fire at a hockey facility. The journal details the kind of loss she understands deeply--but when she brings it back to the owner, widower and star player Solomon, he's furious that she got a glimpse at his innermost feelings. But as he realizes that Adina understands where he's coming from better than anyone else, enmity gives way to bonding, which gives way to a fierce physical attraction... The question is, can either one risk falling in love again?

Oof. Played is a unique take on the hockey romance subgenre (and not only because Solomon is the only Black hockey hero I've read thus far, and the book doesn't shy away from how white the sport is). While the hockey is a part of it, the firefighting is no less so. It's about two people who genuinely love their jobs, but have also let themselves lose who they are in it because they can't face the reality of their new lives. It's about falling in love out of understanding and pretending that it's just physical. And it's about the inevitable messiness that comes with falling for someone after losing another.

This makes it sound super heavy--and I wouldn't say it totally is? Like, there's definitely some heavy stuff here, but overall the book is fun and sexy and dramatic. It just also takes the time to think deeply about its plot, and I appreciate that quite a bit.

Quick Takes:

--The thing I really enjoy about this book is that Adina and Solomon actually get each other from the jump, arguably before they even meet. However, they--especially Solomon--really fight that, which kind of makes it easier to pass it off as something physical. They don't act on the physical too quickly (though I wouldn't call this a slow burn either) but there's this conscious effort by both of them to sort of focus on that because the other option is... what? Being in love? Perish the thought!

--This is a single parent romance! Solomon is not only a widower, but the father of a young son. I'm very vocal about my iffiness re: kids in romance novels, but this one was done well in my opinion. First off, he actually reads like a child. Second, he's definitely a big part of Solomon's life, but a part of what the novel confronts is that Solomon has been leaning on his in-laws as coparents since his wife died (which is a super real thing, right?). This not only provides us with good plot and character stuff... it also ensures that we don't have too much of the kid on the page. I know, I'm mercenary, but it's smart writing!

Still, Solomon being this really loving but imperfect father so worked for me (and Adina). I loved the way he was presented as totally affectionate and vocally loving towards his son. So many books focus on like, this daddy's girl thing with single father heroes, and... I don't know. We need more depictions of fathers who kiss and cuddle and dote on their little boys, right?

--This novel actually tackles some hard stuff alongside the romance I'll give readers a heads up and say that while it doesn't venture into sexual assault territory, Adina does have to deal with some pretty serious sexual harassment at work. At points, I did think there was a LOT packed in here, but one thing I did appreciate was that there wasn't this pretty "tied with a bow" resolution to everything. There are some very human issues confronted here, and the resolutions felt like... very humanly in progress.

That said, I did kind of feel like the ending was a bit rushed (and I have my quibble with one aspect) and some trimming of those other aspects might have left us with more time for a smoother resolution.

--One of the things I appreciate about this book is how honest it is about falling in love after losing someone. Often, I think romance can be rather cruel to the dead spouse, as it were, and diminishes the relationship... which cheapens the central romance to me. Here, you see exactly how much both Solomon and Adina loved their lost partners. They didn't get to choose to end the relationships. They were cut off. Who knows what would have happened if their partners had lived, but that's the reality we're living with, right? And it doesn't lessen their love for their new partners at all.

The Sex:

Ooooh, it's good. There aren't too many full-length sex scenes in the novel, but those that you do get are very long, preceded by a lot of tension, and INTENSE. Solomon is super growly and aggressive, and Adina kind of gets to let her own naturally dominant side take a bit of a backseat when he's tossing her around. We love to see it.

Approaching tough topics with grace, Played is a hot, emotional book that remains a good time throughout, even when it gets deep. (And the book isn't the only one that gets deep heeeeey--.) Definitely a "hockey romance for people who don't like hockey romances... and also those that do" kind of novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am so happy to have gotten to read this. There was true raw emotion to it, but with that also didn’t cross the line to be too emotional with both Salomon and Dina’s pasts. Really loved the growth of the two from the start to the end. I wish it was longer or had an epilogue! I finished this is one sitting and want more.

Played was a good and steamy romance story and although it was good I wanted to love it more. The beginning of the story started off a bit slow and there were parts in the story that seemed to drag. Adina is a firefighter a job in itself that comes with its own challenges even more so with her being both a female and black. She finds something private and meaningful that belongs to Solomon and is determined to return it to the rightful owner. She never expected their first meeting to go south and Solomon to be such a jerk. However, he intends to apologize and that turns out way differently than they both expected and leads to so much more. Their interactions are full of back-and-forth banter, anticipation, push and pulls, laugh out loud moments, steamy scenes, great family and friends, and so much more. Their story is one where they can relate to each other on a deeper level and deals with in-laws, grief, doubt, letting someone in and moving on. This story had a sweet ending, but I wish there was an epilogue. An epilogue that not only gives us more of Solmon, Adina and Khalil, but it also explained how they handled things when it came to Minnie and what she did to Adina and Solmon. Noni mentioned to Adina, but Adina never discussed with Solmon even though she said she would. I would have liked to know how he would have wanted to handle that situation. Even though this wasn't a 5-star read for me I would recommend this book to romance readers because it is an enjoyable and sweet romance story. I will be reading more books from this author because I do enjoy her stories.

Two characters with vastly different lifestyles, both overwhelmed with grief. After Adina returns the journal of the renowned Pirates Hockey team’s Solomon Young, their story kicks off together.
I loved how fleshed out the FMC and MMC were, you get a peek into their minds from dual POVs, adding depth to both characters. With both being funny, independent, strong, lovable characters - you can’t help but root for them to end up together.
With grief being a strong theme, I think Simone did a beautiful job of portraying this. It allowed the reader to have insight into what it is like to lose a loved one, as well as the effect it has on family, friends, colleagues, and relationships.
I wanted a little more fallout from both the main and side character’s choices. It could have expanded both my love for the main duo and my dislike for a couple of the side characters.
Some of the plot twists, as well as the ending, felt quite predictable, but the overall storytelling and love for the main characters outshone my feelings at the end.
Based on my enjoyment of the book alone, and how it had me hooked, I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. Unfortunately, the loose ends being tied so quickly had me rating the book 3 out of 5.

I read this in one sitting, it had an effortless flow to it, the characters fleshed out with vulnerability and honesty that really gave it an edge over your typical romance. It tackles grief so beautifully, with rawness and compassion. This book could be a hard read for anyone who’s lost someone but it’s beautifully done. It’s real, it shows the layers and emotions that come with losing someone so important to you. I don’t tend to read books that make me cry but this was worth it.

The MMC Solomon, had it going on but he also had layers, he wasn’t just your average hot hockey player, he’s carrying true pain, all while being a single father. The FMC, Dina is a firefighter which is a huge green flag for me. I love a strong female protagonist, she too shoulders the burden of grief and the way the two characters bond over loss establishes a far more deeper connection. I have to mention Khalil, Solomon’s son because he was the cutest thing ever, man did he make me smile with his innocence and joy. I love a single dad trope and this was heartwarming and funny.

Now we have to talk about the spice because Solomon Young that mouth, ooooh I was smirking like a teenager reading it. He was hot! Good old fashioned filth which was well written and delicious a hard thing to do in my opinion! It’s hard to not make a book just spice, it’s hard to slowly turn up that heat till you find yourself rooting for them to just rip each other’s clothes off but Naima Simone did it with finesse!

Adina is a black woman firefighter. The first time she was in the hockey arena, it was to put out a fire. As she was leaving, she spied a journal and took it to give to the person who lost it. Adina was engaged to a firefighter who was killed while on duty. She morns his loss and as she begins reading the journal to find out who it belongs to, she finds that it helps her through her own loss. The journal belongs to Solomon and his therapist suggested he share his feelings. Solomon lost his wife in a car accident and is left with a little boy, Khalil. Solomon’s thoughts are painful to read but he shares thoughts she has not been able to write in her own online journal. When she goes back to the arena and gives the journal to Solomon, he is livid that she invaded his privacy. The two of them find reasons to be together and for the first time in years the hurt is less for Solomon. I thought this book was very good. Solomon is the lead scorer for his team but being Black still has comments made about his race. The topics of being Black in a world of hockey players and firefighters, women having to prove themselves in a man’s world, getting over the loss of a loved one, thinking about dating again, and dealing with grandparents that want to co-parent their grandchild were handled so well with insight and empathy. The banter Adina and Solomon put up with from Adina’s brothers is fun. Five-year-old Khalil is a delight and integral to the issues facing Adina and Solomon. Great book and passionate love story.

The novel delves into themes of resilience, love, and healing as these two characters navigate their respective traumas while also finding themselves drawn to each other. Despite initial tensions and guilt over the invasion of privacy, chemistry begins to develop between them, adding layers of complexity to their journey.

Has:
- Romance
- Hockey
- Firefighter
- Tension

The author skillfully intertwines the challenges faced by firefighters and professional athletes, shedding light on the pressures and emotional tolls of their respective professions.

This book features a strong Black woman firefighter FMC and a Black, hockey playing, single father MMC, and it was everything! This was the exact book I needed to read right now, and I read the whole thing in one sitting! I would love it if the author wrote more romance books in this world with these characters, maybe an enemies to lovers/best friend’s brother romance between Noni and Malcom? I would love that!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but I was pleasantly surprised.
I loved the angst and drama. It kept the story exciting and fast paced. The romance was very spicy too!