Playmaker is an interesting brother's best friend romance. Maddie is back from college for spring break and is fighting her attraction for her brother's best friend (and her former friend), Cameron. Cameron has never felt he was good enough for Maddie and knows that his best friend would kill him if he even fooled around with his sister. They secretly start dating and eventually out themselves while realizing how they truly feel about each other.

⭐️ — 3.5/5
🌶️ — 2.5/5

Playmaker checked so many boxes for me. I signed up based on tropes alone — brother’s best friend, childhood crush, AND forbidden love? Um yes, thank you.

The FMC Maddie was difficult to love at first, though she did grow on me over time. I found myself so frustrated with her choices and actions at times. The MMC Cameron was equally frustrating — every time his inability to have any type of relationship got more and more frustrating. To be honest, it helped built the angsty vibes of the book so I completely get it, I just found it so frustrating.

Overall the book was enjoyable. Some of the triggers/content warnings may be dealbreakers (completely understandable) so please check those out prior to reading.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Wattpad for the advance copy of the book — all thoughts in this review are my own.

Playmaker was the perfect Sunday contemporary binge read! Fast paced, flirty, and smutty, and who doesn’t love the brothers best friend and childhood crush tropes?
Fun to read an authors debut that started on Wattpad.

Thanks for the arc NetGalley and Wattpad!

love me a pining, brother’s best friend, secret crush book so much and this one definitely didn't disappoint.

There is just something about a story where the main characters feel like no one would understand their connection.

I definitely felt it though & I know anyone else who picks this one up will too!

The tension & spice is straight 🔥

It’s a good time. It’s steamy, smutty best friends brother. I had fun! It’s not my favorite in the entire world, but it’s a fun grab and quick read.

The cover of this book completely drew me in, and I’m so glad it did! I’m such a sucker for a brother’s best friend romance, and this one delivered. The main character was fantastic, and I absolutely loved seeing a curvy girl represented in a sports romance, too! Oh, and the spice? It was spicing! So well-written and ridiculously hot. While I’m not sure if this story will land on an HEA, the HFN works, in the end I wish there had been just a little more to the book overall. Still, I really enjoyed reading it!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad for this ARC!

I think I liked the premise of this book a little more than the actual book?

I love a brother’s best friend book and a reformed playboy, but I felt like the smut to plot ratio was off (aka too much smut, not enough substance). It also felt like a lot of the same scene being repeated in different flavors until the end.

That being said, I did enjoy Maddie and Cameron as characters themselves. There were definitely scenes I was giggling and some that I was swooning.

Overall, an okay book that I think some people might enjoy, but wasn’t my favorite, and that’s okay!

"Playmaker" by Deanna Faison is a solid read that blends sports, romance, and some serious chemistry between the main characters. The story follows a star football player and a smart, determined woman who’s not just another love interest. I really liked the pacing—it kept me hooked without feeling rushed, and the relationship development felt genuine. The steamy moments were on point too, but it wasn't all about the romance. There’s depth to the characters, and I appreciated the personal growth they went through. A few moments felt a bit predictable, but it didn’t take away from the fun. If you’re into contemporary romance with a sports twist, definitely give this one a go!

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book. Who does not love a good romance.. Sports romance. Yea i know i love them one of my favorite to read about. Even though im not a avid football watcher of the NFL i still enjoyed reading a romance about a player. The cover first caught my eye then the fact that it was a sports romance i was sold i didn't even have to know what it was about those got me hooked to read it right away. Then i was not disappointed reading it. I loved that i went into this book not knowing what it was about. I recommend and would very much purchase this book and read again and gift another someone just to read this story. IO wish i could rate this book a 6 stars better then that a 7 it deserves all the praise.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I know I'm behind on my reviews, but life happens and I am on the ball now! I read this in July 2024, and I liked it perfectly fine - it was fun and easy but slightly forgettable. There wasn't anything new and exciting but it was fun and I'd recommend it for people who like sports romances and brother's BFF types.

Spicy, cute, and easy to read. The characters were relatable and HOT, and the smut scenes were unreal. Overall a quick and easy brother's best friend story. Not for the sex-shy though!! Thanks to NetGalley, Deanna Faison, and Wattpad Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

This book was too cute and perfect for anyone who loves and adores sports romance books. Highly recommend.

This book is for any smut lover who wants to read something with high tensions between two long time friends with benefits. I feel like the main characters just danced around each other with misinformation for most of the time

This book gave me The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes if it had spice 😂
If you’re a fan of childhood friends to lovers/brothers best friend & dual POVs then definitely give this one a read!

Brother best friend with all the spice.. I did feel like it was lacking in general plot/story line at times because the spice was so heavily concentrated but it was a fun, quick read overall.

Brother best friend book that had all the spice. I wish sometimes there was some plot to the storyline since it was very spice heavy but it was a quick read.

Brothers best friend
Short 3rd act breakup super short like 12 hours maybe
I enjoyed this seemed realistic

A lot of sugar and SPICE. It was a sweet friends to lovers story, but a lot of it fell flat and felt forced. The timeline was off too- who gets a two week spring break in college? AND not only makes up from a SIX YEAR “feud”, but becomes friends to hooking up to “I’ve always been in love with you and can’t see a future without you”?! Mind you the man was hooking up left and right till literally the day they first kissed.

The spice however, was well written and hit the spot.