Cute and great spice but fell flat and boring at times. I know they are supposed to be in college but come on...a bit immature at times. Overall enjoyable!

Thank you NG, Deanna, & WebToon for an e-arc!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cameron is best friends with Maddie's brother. Maddie was always in love with Cameron. When his mother died, Cameron changed and pushed her away. A few years later, they end up in the same place for Spring Break. After sharing a kiss, they decide to explore their chemistry.

I was hooked from the beginning. The chemistry and tension between Cameron and Maddie was perfect. I loved the flashbacks where they were younger.

I recommend this book!

Playmaker is your standard "best friend/sibling" trope. Cameron has always felt like a member of Maddie's family. Cameron is best friends with Maddie's brother, and when Cameron's mother passed away when he was younger, he spent even more time with Maddie's family. She always thought he was cute, but there wasn't much more than a shared kiss years ago before Cameron distanced himself from Maddie. Everyone is now home for Spring Break. and Cameron is supposed to be "in training" in hopes of an NFL career. Maddie is supposed to be studying, hoping to get into Medical School. Of course, the sexual tension between them simmers and boils over.

Sorry, but trying to read this book felt like it was an entire year, not just a week of "spring break." Yes, both Cameron and Maddie know they shouldn't be getting involved with each other, but they are drawn to one another - as we are told again, and again, and again...

This was a Did Not Finish for me - I got tired of these horny college kids, but thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy of this title.

Playmaker is a brothers best friend, childhood crush, sports themed romance novel perfect for those who love other open door new adult themed books. This one has two stories in one and is a little heavier than others with the main character dealing with some previous demons and unresolved issues. I enjoyed the book and read it super fast, wanting to see what happens next and hoping for the happily ever after.

I will always love a sports romance. Make it brothers best friend & he has a filthy mouth? I'm SAT. I ate this up so quickly. Maddie and Cameron are so perfect together and honestly? I don't say this a lot but this would make a perfect movie or tv show!

Love best friends brother and the virgin FMC is even more my speed. Surprising it started as wattpad because the characters/story were pretty solid and I thoroughly enjoyed. Spicy and maybe a bit long -- but definitely recommend for easy breezy read with fun vibes.

✨ Publication date: October 22, 2024✨

Playmaker is a steamy brother’s best friend, enemies to friends to lovers with a side of childhood crush by Deanna Faison. This is my first by this author and not my last, this was a great book!

Maddie Davis has been in love with her brother’s best friend Cameron for as long as she can remember. Cameron changed after his mother passed away from cancer and pushed Maddie away.

When it seems Maddie is finally getting ready to move on, Cameron and Maddie end up in the same place for Spring break. After sharing a steamy kiss at a party they decide to explore their chemistry for the two week break.

Cameron is a player. He’s been a player since his mom passed away and Maddie knows she can’t expect much from Cameron but decides to explore their feelings anyway.

Maddie is desperate to keep Cameron from breaking her heart again but she’s been in love with him so long she’ll take whatever glimpse of the old Cameron she can get.

Cameron loves this sexy side of Maddie and didn’t realize how much he missed her in his life, she’s good for him but what if he can’t love her like she deserves.

When Cameron gets an ultimatum, football or Maddie his feelings are put to the ultimate test. Helen swore he would t break her heart again but what if he has no choice?

I loved this authors writing and the chemistry between the MMC’s. This is a 4+ star read for me and I will definitely be looking for more work by this author.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #deannafaison #playmaker

Even in contemporary adult romance with spice, I prefer more plot and character development and spice. Someone who likes more spice may like this one more! Cute cover. I prefer slow burn as well.

This was a surprisingly spicy friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, brother’s best friend romance. It had plenty of sweet moments to balance the spice and was a very enjoyable read. I flew through it!

The entire book takes place over a week or so and there is a lot packed into that time frame. I think I would’ve liked if things were drawn out a bit more. These characters are only 19 and 21 years old and go to colleges that are across the country from each other. I think addressing that very large, very important roadblock is an important missing piece to the story.

As someone in their mid-30s I also have to suspend belief sometimes with the “I’ll only love you forever and ever” coming from 19 year olds but, you know what? That’s what you get when you read a college romance and it was still very entertaining and, may I add again, SPICY. Would definitely recommend.

If you are a sports romance reader like me, this is the perfect next pick for you. The chemistry, the way this book was premised was perfect and I fully enjoyed the book.

Thank you NetGalley, Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group, and Deanna Faison for the early access copy of Playmaker.

Playmaker is a college football, brother's best friend, spicy romance written in a dual point-of-view. It follows Maddie and Cameron as they both return home during their spring break. After years of avoiding interacting Maddie and Cameron make a truce to be friends again. The truce sparks underline tension that has built since the two were younger. Maddie having been hurt in the past by Cameron after he experiences emotional trauma, is cautious, but when the two start an affair that is hidden from everyone, the two need to figure out if they can work things out.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
DNF 51%
2 stars

This book isn't bad. It's just also not good. I found that it was really easy to read, which is why I managed to get 51% in despite never super enjoying the book.

I could say this is a very enjoyable brain-off read if you enjoy high-spicy college sports romance. It was too brain-off for me, so I just found myself cringing at so many things. From Maddie constantly being called a bore for simply not being a partying extrovert to Cam using sex as therapy and people just rolling with it. Maybe he gets called out for it later, but there's not really been any address to it except Cam keeping himself away from Maddie. Their relationship is also meh, with it relying purely on being *told* they have history where they fell in love. We never really see it. All of this makes it even harder to buy that Maddie would accept "exploring" with him when she supposedly has a good head on her shoulders.

I'm not judging anyone who likes this, so if these things sound like stuff you'd enjoy even if I don't, feel free to check it out for yourself.

Cameron's a hot NFL prospect, and a total player on and off the field. But his moves don't seem to work on Maddie. While she once crushed on him hard, that crush has since faded. She’s got big plans of her own and they don’t include him. Then Spring Break turns their plans, and their feelings, upside down. Maddie and Cameron start a steamy affair, sneaking around behind their families’ backs. But there's one big problem: Maddie’s WAY overprotective brother–who happens to be Cameron’s BFF. Will Cam be able to admit he's got real feelings? Will Maddie ever be able to stand up to her brother and make her own decisions?

This book was adorable, while also having a good amount of spice to it. I really liked Maddie and Cameron. This book was a blast to read and I look forward reading what Deanna Faison writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and W by Wattpad Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a VERY spicy book and I was so here for it, it's pure smutty goodness!! That's not to say the story wasn't good, I was super invested in Maddie and her brother's best friend, Cameron! Of course they have both loved each other forever but due to some trauma in Cameron's past he pushed her away and was a total dick after. But now the timing might just be right! I loved the bonds in this book, from the romantic to platonic and familial, it really showed the power of leaning on those you love. My only gripe would be some of it was very repetitive, like the amount of times Cameron was like I can't do anything with Maddie she's my best friends sister, he'd be so upset, etc. like we got it man! Other than that though I absolutely loved every piece of this book!

i LOVED this one so much - the characters, the TENSION, the flow of the writing was so easy to keep up with, there wasn’t any cliche third quarter endings and it was so entertaining to read!

Thanks for the opportunity to read this. I’m rounding it up for a 4 but it’s more like a 3.5 for me. Didnt love the tropes but the author still did a nice job!

🏈 Dual POV
🏈 Brother’s best friend
🏈 Reformed bad boy
🏈 Virgin
🏈 Third act breakup

The cover of the book makes it seem like a sports romance but it all occurs while he is in spring break. Besides an occasional workout and call from his dad to make sure he is training and eating right so he can make it into the NFL there is not a sports aspect to it. It felt like there was most smut than plot so I do wish there were more conversations that helped build the relationship.

Maddie and Cameron have known each other since childhood and Maddie always had a crush on him. Now they are home from college for spring break and they end up together. Cameron is the best friend of Maddie’s brother so they keep their relationship secret. There is a lot going on in Cameron’s life and he has a lot of inner demons so doesn’t do relationships but it feels different with Maddie. Both of these characters really mature during the book and it was interesting to go along on their journey. The pacing was good and the characters had great chemistry. I really enjoyed this romance story and will look for more from this author.

3.5 stars

Playmaker is a contemporary sports romance, with brother’s best friend trope. This book follows the dual perspective of Maddie and Cameron. Maddie was definitely hard to love at first she came across snobbish and judgemental. I did like how she was dedicated to her studies and working hard but was a little over the top at times. She did grow on me and loosen up a bit. Cameron was typically full of himself, a ladies man heading to the big leagues, which again was a little over the top. The story, pace and writing did smooth out the second half and I had an enjoyable time reading this romance in the second half. There was miscommunication and sneaking around, the ending was a bit predictable, but it was just a light enjoyable read for the most part so if that is what you're looking for check this book out.
I received an advance ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

TROPES
🍕 Brother’s Best Friend
🍕 Sports Romance
🍕 Friends to Lovers
🍕 Dual POV

Anyone that knows me knows I’m not a fan of football and sports romances can be a struggle for me. I love that in this one it wasn’t a rinse and repeat of us watching the MMC’s football games at school and the focus is more on how the sport has impacted the MMC Cameron’s life rather than just watching him play. It was an awesome balance of why the sport has controlled so much of his life without all that exposition coming out through an important game.

I love that this whole story takes place over spring break. It is the perfect excuse to force two people back together and cause tension while also giving them the time to explore it. Cameron and Maddie attend different universities, and it was nice that rather than see things play out across a screen or from afar, they were squashed back together during spring break just like they always are.

There were a lot more chapters from Cameron’s POV than I was expecting, which was great. I feel like, even in dual POV stories, the time is still spent more with the FMC. I’m a fan of getting to be in both heads equally, and I love that when we are in this story, it is usually for more than a single chapter at a time. Often it was two or three chapters before a POV switch, so I felt like I really got to know the characters and their thoughts throughout the book.

And, I love Maddie and Cameron’s dynamic. While it takes them a minute to find their groove again, their love and appreciation for each other is clear.