In their final years of high school, Cree and DeAndre form an unexpected friendship. As they both deal with the pressure of not letting their parents down, they end up becoming each other’s support system. Their bond deepens as they lean on one another to get through the tough moments, but will they know how to navigate the feelings of young love?

When I think of young adult romance novels, I think of something cute and easy, a feel-good read. Playin’ Hard was definitely that, but with some depth. It was more than just romance; it explored real emotions, personal growth, and the challenges of life.

I enjoyed seeing the growth of both characters as they navigate friendships, strained parental relationships, and learn vulnerability. I’d be curious to know how their relationship developed over time as they become adults.

Thank you to Whitney D. Grandison, NetGalley, and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for this digital ARC.

Playin’ Hard
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Pub Date: April 08 2025

I am a sucker for a young adult novel that represents black teenagers in a world that i can relate to. I enjoyed the authors descriptive take on friendships, parent-child relationships, and young love.

This books follows a high school group of friends who become close over about a year and a half time span. These relationships molded who they were and how they showed up for everyone around them. Both the FMC and the MMC had neglect wounds by their parents and bonded/supported each other through it all. I appreciated their growth, the difficult conversations, and their friendship so much.

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for this digital ARC!

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Pub Date: April 8, 2025

Cree can’t stand the most popular group of boys at her high school, the Ballers Club. She thinks they’re too arrogant and full of themselves, and they just dog girls out. Their “leader”, DeAndre, becomes intrigued with Cree because she doesn’t fall all over herself to be near them like everyone else. He makes it his mission to win her over. However, in the process, he may fall for her.

This book was sooooooo stinkin’ CUTE! It’s a book about high schoolers, but it almost doesn’t feel like it at times. The setting is their school most times, but you almost don’t even focus on that at all after some time. DeAndre is, in fact, VERY arrogant. But I found myself rooting for him… a lot. Once you find out some of the things he’s dealing with in his personal life, it’s so easy to sympathize with him. I rooted for Cree from the very beginning. She’s so strong-willed and not afraid to stand up for herself — not even when it comes to the most popular boys in the whole school. Watching the friendship between her and DeAndre blossom was so heartwarming because they both deserved to have each other to lean on.

If you like cute, cozy, lighthearted books, this is a winner!

I’m not usually into YA but I ate this book up!!
Goodness, I loved it! Cree and DeAndre were some of the most touching teens I’ve ever read about. I loved that even if they were still teenagers theirs characters and stories actually had substance and depth. I could feel their emotions and understand their actions. They were pretty emotionally intelligent for kids and even though they weren’t making things easy between each other, they eventually found their way to each other cause it just made sense. I loved how beautifully they fell for each other. Until the very last minute, they had me holding my breath. And I loved every second of it.
What they were going through in their personal lives added a lot to the plot. The romance part was even better, their friendship, their emotional connection, their love was something I enjoyed a lot in this book.
I really am attached to this little group now and I definitely wouldn’t mind having some look up into their grownups lives sometime in the future.


The FMC, Cree, challenges this viewpoint in her words and actions. While this is a YA romance novel, the author doesn't hesitate to explore serious discussion worthy social issues. These range how black girls and women are portrayed in the music industry and what is defined as attractive in terms of skin tone, hair styles, body types and vocalness. The story's blurb references an adult black female author, Talia Hibbert, who has contributed tremendously to the latter topic. Would say that is a fair comparison.

Baller: "a person who is skilled and successful in the sport".

DeAndre and his crew took this term and owned it. Not just in their athletic prowess but in their academic achievements. Unfortunately, their rep also extended to their not so great treatment of their female contemporaries.

The FMC, Cree, challenges this viewpoint in her words and actions. While this is a YA romance novel, the author doesn't hesitate to explore serious discussion worthy social issues. These range how black girls and women are portrayed in the music industry and what is defined as attractive in terms of skin tone, hair styles, body types and vocalness. The story's blurb references an adult black female author, Talia Hibbert, who has contributed tremendously to the latter topic. Would say that is a fair comparison.

#PlayinHard #NetGalley

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Playin' Hard is a good addition to the contemporary young adult genre.
Cree and DeAndre are very believable high school characters. The first thing I thought was enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. The language and life events are very mature, so this is not a great fit for my current readers. High school readers will immediately identify with the voice of these characters and enjoy this contemporary romance.

This book is A LOT. As a former educator and a mother of a high schooler, the content of this book was too much. It was hard to get through. The way the characters discussed each other was horrifying. I would not recommend as it stands. I think the language needs to be toned down or age up the characters.

I’m not usually into YA but I ate this book up!!
Goodness, I loved it!
Cree and DeAndre were some of the most touching teens I’ve ever read about. I loved them individually and I loved them together. I loved that even if they were 17, their characters and stories actually had substance and depth. I could feel their emotions and understand their actions. They were pretty emotionally intelligent for kids and even though things weren’t easy between them, they eventually found their way to each other and it just made sense. I loved how beautifully they fell for each other. Until the very last minute, they had me holding my breath. And I loved every second of it.
What they were going through in their personal lives added depth to the plot. The romance part was even better, their friendship, their emotional connection, their love was something I enjoyed a lot in this book.
I really am attached to this little group now and I definitely wouldn’t mind having some look up into their grownups lives sometime in the future.

Whitney Grandison’s Playin’ Hard is a delightful blend of young love, personal growth, and emotional depth, and a standout in the YA contemporary romance genre--and also, contemporary male friendships (think Jason Reynolds) and fabulous book about Black teenage life that also is NOT here to be "an issue book". It follows Cree Jacobs, a strong-willed dancer with no patience for the arrogant Ballers Club, and DeAndre Parker, a basketball prodigy and son of a retired NBA star. What begins as a clash of personalities evolves into a poignant friendship and a romantic connection that’s both tender and exhilarating.

Grandison masterfully balances humor, teenage angst, and heartfelt moments. Cree and DeAndre are fully realized characters whose emotional journeys feel authentic and relatable. Cree’s resistance to DeAndre’s charm and her disdain for the Ballers Club create a compelling tension, while DeAndre’s persistence and vulnerability add layers to his character. Their slow-burn relationship feels organic, with each moment of connection deepening their bond.

The narrative also delves into important teenage (and human) themes, including parental dynamics, loss (again—without being a "sad" book or an "issue" book, just a real life with real mixtures of feelings and experiences), and self-discovery, making the story a "romance," yes, but also contemporary literature. (Which I say as a lover of both genres, and mixes of them! Clarifying for the booksellers out there who will also be thinking about where to shelve this—I'll put it in YA fiction.) Supporting characters, like DeAndre’s brothers and their complex family backstory, enrich the world of the novel, and readers will find themselves just as invested in these secondary arcs.

Playin’ Hard is a perfect pick for fans of enemies-to-lovers stories, sports romances, and those seeking heartfelt representations of Black love. With shades of Talia Hibbert’s Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute and the nostalgic vibe of late ‘90s teen movies, this book is both timeless and timely. While some readers may find certain subplots less developed, the overall narrative is compelling, emotionally resonant, and immensely satisfying.

Whether devoured in a single day or savored over time, this novel leaves readers yearning for updates on Cree, DeAndre, and the crew. Grandison’s ability to craft characters with raw emotions and make them age-appropriate is impressive, and Playin’ Hard is a testament to her talent.

Though i usually do love a good YA book, I think I need to be in the mood for one and this one just wasn't catching my attention like I thought it would. But it doesn't mean I didn't like it, i will have to try and come to it!

Playin' Hard by Whitney D. Grandison is an engaging and dynamic romance that blends humor, passion, and personal growth. The story centers around two characters who, despite their initial differences and emotional walls, find themselves drawn to each other in a whirlwind of chemistry and unexpected connection. Grandison’s writing is sharp and witty, with realistic characters and an authentic portrayal of modern relationships. Themes of self-discovery, love, and vulnerability are explored throughout the narrative, making it both fun and emotionally resonant. Playin' Hard is a perfect read for fans of contemporary romance that balances lighthearted moments with deeper emotional stakes.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I loved this book. I could not put it down until I finished it in about a day. We meet Cree and Dree when they are juniors in high school. Cree is an only child whose Mom passed away during childbirth and her Dad raises her. Dre’s mom left him and his 2 brothers along with his Dad. His Dad is also a famous pro basketball player whose goal is to have his sons in the NBA.

At first, Cree and Dre don’t care for each other. But over time, they become best friends not realizing they are falling for each other, They both went through some emotional moments that only strengthened their bond.

I don’t want to give anything away with this book because it was just that good. You got to see the characters’ evolve and their love come to life. His brothers stories as well as their Dad’s story could have been separate books by themselves. The supporting characters you became just as invested as you did with the main ones. Very well written book with fantastic character development. I hated for this story to end!

I really enjoyed this book. Cree and DeAndre were such good characters. On one side, you have Cree, who is strong-willed and hates the Ballers because of how they treat the girls at their high school. On the other side, you have DeAndre, who is the king of the Ballers and a famous NBA players son. These two clash in class over what the meaning of love is. Somehow, these two end up being friends after DeAndre places himself in Cree's presence multiple times. While building their friendship, they fall in love but fight it all the way. Reading how these two teenagers were with each other was perfection. I could feel their emotions coming off the pages. The situations each of them faced was hard, but they came through and eventually ended up together. For a moment, I didn't think they would get it right, but they did. I loved this book and wouldn't mind and update on them and the crew in adulthood. Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me to read this before the release date.

I ate this book up. This book's involved characters are well-crafted, inviting and incredibly loveable, immersing me in their story. Thus making it easy to connect with their experiences. The storyline is also compelling and well-paced, offering a satisfying mix of depth and enjoyment.
4.5

Popular boy and his friends notice the cute girl that goes against the grain and see a challenge. I’ve seen way too many Lifetime teen movies and kept waiting for something nefarious to pop off but was pleasantly surprised with the author’s skill at writing teen characters with raw emotions and still making it age appropriate. There was a point or two where I thought I knew where the plot was going, but it turned in another direction and am not sure if it was a red herring or undeveloped plotlines, but I finished the book feeling like I gained more than I lost. This gave me late ‘90s teen movie feels and is definitely something I would’ve dug into when I was younger but still enjoyed now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley letting receive this as ARC. I devoured this book in one day. This is considered a YA but it kinda a few heavy subjects. It follows DeAndre a big basketball star of his team. Basketball is the most important thing to him.He meets this girl name Cree. Cree is a dancer. she has been dancing her whole life. It was her passion. He has his eyes on her since they met at party. Later on she found out he sex with another girl. He has pregnancy scare with another girl. In the end he was still in love with Cree.

4.5⭐️ I ATE THIS UP!! Absolutely loved it! I'm so honored to have gotten to read such an amazing ARC. 🥰🥰