i'm going to be real with you, i had mixed feelings about this......i was enjoying the story untilllll that ending.

good news is, this has a 2nd book waiting for me to read and I WILL be jumping right in.


🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽i hope i like it and keep going to finish the rest. i saw the tropes of book 3 and i'm excited for that one!


i would say if you want to give this book a chance, definitely do it!

4 stars

I have not read many soccer romances so I was super excited to dive into this one. It has some fun messy tropes that I love, there was good tension and some fun banter. I really loved Miri, she was just unstoppable on the field, she stood strong on her values, friendships and overall a very entertaining and relatable character to follow. The romance was interesting and their dynamic was ok, they did not really seem to work at first but I did like the relationship development. It was just a fun exciting time, there were a couple things I would check trigger warnings on before picking this book up, but I would definitely recommend it.
I received an ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

Playing the Game by Sasha Lace – ★★★½ (3.5/5)

Playing the Game is a warm, easy-to-read story blending women’s football, found family, and slow-burn romance. Miri is a headstrong, relatable lead, and Gabe is a beautifully layered character—watching their bond grow is a real highlight.

The book shines in its portrayal of everyday family struggles and the strength of chosen families. It’s especially fun if you're still buzzing from the Women’s World Cup!

While the pace is a bit slow in places, the writing is smooth and engaging. A strong, heartfelt start to a series worth following.

This was a fun read about Mari, a football/soccer player who has been down on her luck financially and Gabe, a wealthy socialite and new general manager of the team that recruits her. This has a little bit of everything: heavy chemistry, friends with benefits, workplace romance, stripping, cheating: you name it, this hits it. Its an enjoyable read with a good amount of spice.
Gabe wasn't my favorite. He's really pushy a few times in a way that isn't sexy so much as creepy? I want my male leads to be less forceful, especially in the times it seemed Mari wasn't fully into it. I also really just wanted more football action! This is sold as a sports romance based on the cover and byline but really its a romance that just happens to have some scenes on a football pitch.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Miri and Gabe, a sports romance but there wasn't too much to do with the sport, to be honest.

A lovely romance book, with a bit of spice. Not my favourite book but will definitely appeal to fans of the "Windy City" series by Liz Tomforde.

I did love the role reversal of a female athlete for once, though. Would have loved some further relationship development.

One of my ick's is definitely the 3rd act breakup, so not a huge fan of that component but I know others love to see it.

An easy, quick romance read with a bit of spice.

I enjoyed this book, it was easy to follow an the main characters were easy to love. Sports romances are one of my favorites, so I was excited to get to read this just wish it had a little more of the sport. Overall it was a fun read.

3.5 stars for this lighthearted and sweet story!

Miri Forster is the best striker Gabe Rivers has ever seen- he wants her for his team (and for himself) and is willing to do anything to make that happen! The two are drawn together like magnets and despite some challenges, the two finally allow themselves to be drawn together!

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, quick read with cute moments, some sizzling chemistry, and some fun English soccer (football I guess) vibes, this is the book for you!

Thank you so much to Sasha Lace and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this book, it was easy to follow an the main characters were easy to love. Sports romances are one of my favorites, so I was excited to get to read this just wish it had a little more of the sport. Overall it was a fun read.

Need a quick romance read? This book is for you! I adored the main characters, and their development. I wish there was more aspect of the sports side though!

This was my first sports romance book, so I don’t have much to compare it to. Things I loved: forbidden, spicy, romance, and the authors humor. Things I didn’t love: Gabe. If you’re into lusty sports stories, this one might be for you. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my opinion.

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



✨ Feel good romance, age gap (slighting🤣), stripper , woman football.



✨ First few chapters are quite sloweburn,
Miri as the heroine in this story with so much debt looking after her mum and taking the risk to accept a stripping option. On the other side she is one of the best striker for a football team and Gab wants him.
But what happens when he found out that she did strip for sometime? Will Gab forgive Miri? Would they be together?


✨ story was slow burn. Not a fan of slow burn but this one is making an exception.
The ending was all of a sudden, I want more details🤣 but yes it was a lovely story. I gave a smile at the end for a lovely story.

🌶️🌶️🌶️


✨ Thankyou for the opportunity to read this arc for a honest review.


❤️shaye.reads

I love sports romance, specially when they are well build, I really liked the story I think the author made a wonderful job in building this characters. I liked the reverse situation where she is the one who plays sports, I did enjoyed that because is not the cliché, anyway, the author did a good ob and I'm not disappointed

This was my first sports romance and I absolutely loved it. Gabe and Miri are fantastic together and they both play hard to get however they are both looking for the happy ever after. Even through scheming and people being against them splashing everything all of the press they manage to miscommunicate. This make the intensifies their relationship and they end together and I love it all.

This was a light and enjoyable romance with a charming premise and likable characters. The author creates an easy-to-follow storyline with moments of humor and chemistry. However, the plot feels predictable at times, and the emotional depth could have been stronger. While it doesn’t break new ground, it’s a fun read for fans of straightforward, feel-good romances. It wasn't my favorite but I had a great time reading it.

This book was a very enjoyable read. I read it in a few sittings and was hooked after just a short time reading. The story was well paced and the characters were well developed.

Playing the Game is the first novel in the Playing the Field series by Sasha Lace. This was my first book by this author.
Miri is an aspiring professional footballer player. Juggling her sick mother and pressure building after falling into debt she is more desperate than ever for something to change.
Gabe Rivers doesn’t have a fantastic reputation. After the death of his father and being blamed for it, the press is attacking him even more for his womanising ways. Desperate to be taken seriously as the heir to the Calverdale empire, Gabe agrees to take over and revamp the ladies team and his first mission is recruiting Miri, and not only as striker for the women’s team.
This was a fun, short and spicy read. I found Gabe’s pursuit of Miri at the beginning to be slightly too incessant and pushy but their chemistry eventually appeared more mutual. There were some more serious undertones throughout the book which Sasha Lace handled nicely.
I’m not sure if I’ll continue the series but I definitely did not dislike this book.
Thanks for the eARC!

Miri is an incredible soccer player, hindered by an old enemy and the fact that she's a woman in woman's sports. Gabe Rivers is a playboy who has been waiting years to inherit his father's soccer club, but after his tenuous reputation has been made even worse by accusations that he killed his father, he's been put in charge of the struggling women's team his family also owns. His first step to making it great? Getting the greatest striker he can find...without also getting her in bed.
Miri is like a wet paper towel. Maybe even less substantial than that. Gabe is wildly unlikeable and a spoiled man child. Also, the strip club meeting was ridiculous and felt so beyond contrived.

Miri

I’ve always dreamed of playing professional football, so when the new director of Calverdale Ladies wants to sign me, I should be ecstatic. But renowned billionaire playboy Gabe Rivers doesn’t just want me as his new striker…

I need to get to the top because of my talent on the pitch, not in the sack. So I can’t be another prize for Gabe. Even if he is infuriatingly gorgeous.

Gabe

Do I care that the press have decided I’m a heartless womanizer? Not one bit. I’ve never given up anything I want, and that includes Miri Forster.

She’s the most talented player I’ve ever seen, and sexy as hell. I know I can get her out of my system—I just need one night. And I don’t care what it costs me…

When it comes to playing the game, her billionaire boss might be out of Miri’s league, but it’s Gabe that’ll find himself out of his depth…
Loved it. Will recommend to others.

Fun and spicy with a twist of football. Loved it! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.