I mostly enjoyed this cute friends-to-lovers, closed door romance. It was a fun, light read that scratched my "best friends who eventually realize they're something more" itch.

The highlights for me were definitely the antics of the high school students and the relationship Kate had with her extended family, especially her grandmother. This book also had some great Filipino rep as well as PTSD rep and I always appreciate that in a story.

The romance was the sloooowest of slow burns, and I love a slow burn but it was almost too much for me. They kept getting interrupted right before big moments, and Kate was so in her head about everything and really just needed to get out of her own way. That combined with the miscommunication (just talk to each other, you're best friends!) got pretty frustrating. I also thought the MCs seemed a bit young (they're supposed to be in their 30s but I think 20s would have felt better), and there were times when I thought the writing could have used some tightening up.

Overall though this is a cute and easy read for your summer TBR, especially if you love pining and slow burn!

Thank you to Netgalley so much for letting me read this book before it came out! After reading the first in the Glendale Series I was so excited to read this one! Playing the field was such an enjoyable book to read. It had everything that I was looking for with relatable characters, amazing banter and sweet romance! Grayson Long is an amazing writer and I cannot wait to read anything new that she puts out! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a small town romance. I also appreciate her unique take on the friends to lovers trope where they had the banter that I have come to expect from an enemies to lovers storyline. It added a unique spin to this story and I really enjoyed it.

Thanks for letting me receive this ARC. I seen some advertising about this book on Instagram. I went to into it blindly and havent read much on it
It was definitely a slow burn. I liked best friends troupe it in. Well, friends to lovers types of vibe. He definitely was the one to fall for the girl first. I feel like that's so cute.🥰 Happy reading.

I’m adding Malcolm to my list of perfect book boyfriends. I can’t believe a meet cute would involve chickens! This was such a sweet book. I couldn’t put it down once I started. I love their friendship (as well as the whole gang) and this was a slow burn but it was definitely worth it. I love this book so much! I’m a sucker for friends-to-lovers tropes. If you also like that trope then this one is for you.

This was super cute! I love these tropes and the book was super hilarious. He really was giving boy obsessed. Would definitely recommend for a cute, uplifting read with an MMC who is green flags all the way through.

Playing The Field is book two in The Glendale Series by Grayson Long.
My gosh this was such a swoon-worthy story.
These characters are so relatable and funny. I adored them.
PTF is a sweet contemporary romance.
I have to read book one now.

Thank You NetGalley and Victory Editing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Dual POV
Grumpy x sunshine
Friends to lovers
Forced proximity
Slow-burn
He falls first
Work romance
PTSD representation

Kate and Malcolm are platonic bffs. When Kate decides after a 2 year hiatus to get back into dating. She decides online dating is the way to go. Malcolm isn't happy. You see, Malcolm and Kate met 5 years ago and the whole time, he has been pining for her. Everyone knows it, friends and family, except Kate. At a party, Kate's family tries to sabotage them into kissing under the mistletoe. This causes Kate to realize just how attractive and tempting Malcolm is. Now Kate and Malcolm have to work together as camp coaches.. what will happen?
I loved the FMC, Kate, she was fun and spunky. I was rooting for this couple. They had great chemistry from the start! The book read YA to me. It was a fun, sweet rom com and worth the read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Malcom Geer & Kate Stanley
- opposites attract
- Friends to lovers
- He falls first
- Found family
- Dual POV
- HILARIOUS meetcute
- Sunshine & grump
- Coworkers at a school (teachers & coaches)
- He takes care of her & her family
- Protective & jealous MMC
- Quiet, snarky, Ex-military, football coach, math teacher MMC
- Quirky, ball of energy, caring, vegan, volleyball coach, sports director FMC
- One bed trope 🤭
- PTSD & trauma from time in military
- Anxiety & panic rep

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Happy Release day to Malcom & Kate!!!

Malcom & Kate are the best kind of best friends. They tease each other. They help each other grow and push each other when they know it’s needed. They give each other unconditional love and understanding without always realizing it. Malcom helps her family at the drop of a hat and would do anything to help Kate and show her she is loved. He is thoughtful and caring and does little things to make sure Kate is seen and her needs are taken care of (the luau) 🥹. They also know how to make each other laugh like no other person can do.

This book is a fun sports romance but it’s different than other sport romances. Both MCs coach sports as well as being teachers at the high school together. They bond over helping the teenagers and all the teenagers weird shenanigans.

The book follows the characters as the MCs work through some childhood trauma, trauma & PTSD from time served in the war, and learning how to communicate how they feel. I was most wowed by Malcom’s character development because it felt like he came so far from the beginning of the book with their meetcute. Kate had some stuff to figure out as well as she often confused herself more when she relied on “fate” or “the universe”. They figured it out together with the help from a wise, sassy grandma, meddling friends, and meddling teenagers. 💕

This is a clean, closed door romcom. There is no cursing and some kissing.

**Thank you so much to Grayson for letting me read this ARC via Netgalley. I received a complimentary copy. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**

Songs:
“Let em go” by Matt Hansen
“Man who stays” by Jake Scott
“You don’t see it” by Jake Clark
“Close to you” by Kenzie
“Haven’t you been in love before” by Lewis Caparldi
“This is how you fall in love” by Jeremy Zucker & Chelsea Cutler **
“I was made for loving you” by Tori Kelly
“A little more” by Alessia Cara *

Playing the Field is a fun romance with several fun tropes. Friends to lovers, age gap, grumpy sunshine, one bed, etc. Kate and Malcolm have been friends for years. Malcolm fell for Kate from the beginning but Kate was in a relationship. When that relationship ended, Kate swore off dating. When Kate decides she ready to get back out there, Malcolm doesn’t want to miss his chance. When they are thrown together on a work trip, things and feelings start coming to a head. Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Kate and Malcom’s friendship really showed through in the story. They had fun banter and good chemistry. The side characters were fun especially Kate’s family. The pacing could have been better towards the end. The third act felt too long but didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNefqBSP/

Sporty romcoms are all the rage this year. This book fits right in. I highly recommend it as I definitely enjoyed it.

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - June 8, 2024
Publication Date - June 17, 2024

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @authorglong, @victoryeditingngc and @netgalley!

I was hooked by the end of the first chapter! Playing the Field is a friends to lovers book, which is one of my favourite tropes. I must say that Malcolm has moves! I would not have lasted nearly as long as Kate did with a man like that making moves like those! Playing the Field is a slow burn, with so much tension and angst. An emotional connection is there between the main characters, which I love to experience in romance books. Unfortunately, the ending felt a little abrupt for me. There was a lot of build up but it ended too early to feel satisfying.

If you like friends to lovers, one bed, slow burn books with some PTSD rep, you should try Playing the Field!

Get excited to read Playing the Field, available June 17! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

I always love a good “he falls first” book!

Kate, a free spirit, and Malcolm, a grumpy loner, have been friends for five years. After a tough breakup, Kate is finally ready to date again, while Malcolm has been secretly in LOVE with her.

This book truly had me laughing with all the experiences Malcom and Kate went through. Their relationship was so genuine and I loved the pacing. It was a slow burn, (which is my favorite)!

Malcolm waited patiently for her, he was such a great MMC!

Grayson Long did an excellent job of developing both Malcom and Kate and giving their relationship a natural, believable progression. I was rooting for them from the beginning!

If you enjoy a well-paced, slow-burn romance with great characters, then this is definitely a book you shouldn't miss!

Thank you NetGalley and Grayson Long for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

-he falls first
-slow burn
-teachers

Title: Playing The Field by Grayson Long
The Glendale Series, Book 2

Release date: June, 17th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

"Playing The Field" by Grayson Long unfolds as a captivating and heartfelt story of friendship blossoming into love, set against the backdrop of life's unpredictable journey.

At the heart of this novel is the enchanting dynamic between Kate, a spirited soul with a flair for hot pink tennis shoes, and Malcolm, her adorably grumpy best friend who finds peace among his vegetable plants. Their connection, nurtured over half a decade of shared experiences, is a poignant reflection of the intricate dance of human relationships.

As Kate embarks on a quest to rediscover the joys of romance, prompted by the upcoming nuptials of a friend and the silent yearning that accompanies her solitary ice cream indulgences, a new chapter in their story begins. Malcolm, secretly harbouring a love for Kate too stubborn to be voiced, sees in her decision a chance to deepen their bond.

The narrative is a delightful blend of humour, warmth, and a dash of chaos, as Kate and Malcolm navigate a series of comedic misadventures. From mix-ups in reservations to surprise encounters with past flames and an unforeseen kiss that leaves them both off-balance, these incidents, orchestrated by their circle of friends with the best intentions, underscore the profound affection and natural compatibility between the duo, hinting that perhaps the universe is guiding them towards a more profound connection.

Malcolm, as depicted by Grayson Long, is a shining example of kindness, patience, and steadfast support, personifying the essence of a contemporary romantic hero. His love for Kate, silent yet powerful in its expression through his actions and the tender moments they share, is both moving and uplifting. Kate, with her vibrant spirit and openness to life's adventures, is equally captivating, her journey of personal growth and the pursuit of love enriching the narrative.

"Playing The Field" is a slow burn romance that delights with its gentle humour, clever banter, and the slow revelation of Kate and Malcolm's deepening relationship. It is a celebration of the enduring power of friendship, the enchantment of love, and the serendipitous realisation that the person meant for you might have been closer than you ever imagined.

"Playing The Field" is an essential read that promises to leave you with a smile and a sense of joy.

Thank you to The Author Grayson Long & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

read if you like:
💙 romcoms
🧑‍🏫👩‍🏫 teacher romances
🔥 slow burn romances
👯‍♂️ best-friend-turned-lover stories

summary:
After an intense thriller, sometimes you just need a good beach read, and this did not disappoint! This story is about two best friends, Malcolm and Kate, who both work as teachers in their local high school. Kate ended a long term relationship a few years back, and decides it’s finally time to start “playing the field” and getting back in the dating game. As you would expect, her best friend Malcolm has mixed feelings about this, and asks himself, does he want to be more than friends with Kate, and if so, does she feel the same?

This book follows your popular “will they/won’t they” trope, through a fun lens of high school teachers working together to support the school’s athletic program and sports teams. I really grew to love both characters — Kate for her sensitivity and desire to be happy, and Malcolm for her vulnerability and commitment to their friendship. I also love a good story where the boy is chasing the girl (instead of the other way around!) And even though sports romances are becoming a new thing (so many hockey romances!), a story where the characters are coaches rather than players is always a fun twist. The book probably goes on just a little bit too long, but it’s an easy read with some fun and cute twists that set it apart from other similar books.

Thanks to Grayson Long and Net Galley for the advanced copy! Check this book out when it releases on June 17!

3.5 - overall a solid read. I really enjoyed this! I'm sorry I can't think of another word other than CUTE. It's very cute. The MMC is a cinammon roll that pines for 5(!!!) years. I love a good friends to lovers story and this was very solid. It's a very slow burn. Lots of touches, glances, etc. And it doesn't resolve with just a kiss. There's a lot of communication that has to go on between the MCs and we love to see it. Sometimes it can be terrifying to let yourself actually accept the good things in your life.

At first it was funny how the FMC missed every sign and word possible that the MMC was into her...like girl bffr. Then it was getting a bit repetitive with him spelling out how he felt and she was like ????? I think I could have bought it if they were still in their 20's but these characters were supposed to be older and acted much younger. Also no spice btw! This is a good standalone. I didn't read the previous book but overall still found this to be super sweet.

Kate and Malcolm are best friends who couldn't be more different. After years of being single, Kate decides to jump back into the dating scene. When Malcolm hears about this, he hopes it might finally be his chance with his best friend. The story follows Kate and Malcolm as they embark on a journey to discover a love that had been there all along, even if they didn't realize it at first.

I was instantly hooked from the first few pages because the initial encounter between the main characters was so funny and adorable. The way Kate and Malcolm are written, with such rich details, made me feel like I had known them for years. Kate is incredibly relatable, while Malcolm is the kind of man you'd easily fall for.

I loved the situations they found themselves in and the unwavering support they received from friends and family. Every moment they spent together made my heart flutter—their interactions, conversations, and the way they cared for each other. I was rooting for them to acknowledge their feelings for each other from the very beginning, which kept me engrossed in the book.

The book beautifully touches on themes of relationships, true love, friendship, and family, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read.