Very cute tale of YA FMC & MMC going thru the ups and downs of being teenagers in high school. Love that it’s centered around two people that usually wouldn’t be together yet they have enough in common to make it worth it.

I feel like I got bored pretty often :( but I wanted to love it. In the end, it was an okay book. I’d recommend it to ya lovers

True rating: 4.5 ⭐️
I was SO invested in Cree's and DeAndre's stories! It was great seeing their indifference to each other and what they thought the other stood for progress into a mutual understanding of the other thus blossoming into a friendship. If you want to read something that feels so high school yet complex in a way that feels life-like, I would highly recommend you check this one out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Webtoon for sending me an arc!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
DNF @ 31%

This book had pretty forced and telly writing, and I honestly couldn't stand any of the Ballers. Yes, that included our MMC, DeAndre. I couldn't understand why Cree was suddenly okay with them either.

There were some interesting things going on, like seeing the pressures of having a successful NBA father with a single-minded focus for his sons, or how Cree started to let in her stepmother. I THINK this book had in mind arcs it was going for, and who knows? Maybe those arcs will end up good.

But I was just so done with not seeing the Ballers trip on their faces and cringing at all their try-hard-above-others remarks. We get it. You don't believe in high school love and are at least honest that you're just wanting to have some fun. That doesn't mean all of your dialogue or internal thoughts have to make you seem like sucky people 🙄

So, hey, if your read the entirety and I ended up missing some awesome growth, then great, but I cannot bring myself to stick around and see it.

a BIG NO! As soon as I got to “Are you a feminazi?”

I like YA but this was...SO HARD TO GET THROUGH.

I think it's a cute concept but wasn't executed well.

Stopppp. This was the cutest book ever!! I really didnt think I would devour it the way I did. The friend group? The cat and mouse game? The complex family dynamics? I was here for all of it. I really loved the boys and how they grew over time. This was just so adorable 😩 My only beef was the last 10% of the book. I wanted more of Cree & Dre just being happy together

Playin Hard is enemies to lovers in one extraordinary book! We follow the journey of the players, in this book we meet DeAndre and female boss Cree. They are polar opposites, therefore causing tension which we can tell where this story will go *cue the giggling*

With the way that DeAndre was introduced to us, he really seemed to be such a demanding character and so persistent to find Cree, and in the way he pursued her, it was definitely a way in which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Even Cree's friends were pushing her to be with Dre and after how hard she worked for her life to build up her comfort, I fif not like how he kept chasing her and pushing her buttons and eventually Cree did agree to be with him, but it just wasn't in a good way for her.

Along with this, I feel like the unexpected pregnancy would have been enough for Cree to run the other way from DeAndre, yet she didn't, however it took so long for DeAndre to really carry his weight and what he needed to do to care for the situation. And along with this, I feel like in this case, it would have been better for Cree to run the other way and save herself from the mess of DeAndre.

I do understand there is an audience that could be interested in the drama, but as a basketball fan, this was not the basketball romance that I was expecting and therefore soemwhat upset me. I do appreciate the way that Grandison wrote Cree and the boss she is. So Cree is definitely one of my favorite characters who is such a boss after what she has gone through.

Thank you to NetGalley, Whitney Grandison and Wattpad books for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sometimes, you may start a book that is incredibly bingeable. It'll have you not caring if you have work tomorrow (although you will highkey regret it in the morning); and if you are lucky, you will have a good time. "Playin' Hard" was that book for me. Unexpectedly, this was pretty good. These kids are grown as hell though. Other than the strip clubs, famous fathers, hooka lounges, etc. this environment reminded me of my own high school even down to the talent show. What really impressed me was the topics covered in this story. The discussions regarding black culture and family dynamics were done well. Also, the banter between everyone felt genuine. Had me laughing at some of the jokes. You know, I think I will go ahead and check out Grandison's backlog.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

I love the cute cover! It was a good young adult book. It shows when we think things are one way it’s really not. I enjoyed the main characters getting to know each other.

"I guess it was true what they said about love being friendship set on fire, because standing there, staring at her, knowing she'd more than likely move heaven and earth for me if I asked her to, I knew without a doubt that I was in love with her."
Cree Jacobs is a passionate dancer who is also proud of the woman she is. With her best friend by her side, she just wants to get through high school day-by-day. The last thing she ever wants to do is get into a mess with the Ballers Club, aka a group of boys who are known for running the school due to being athletes and getting girls like no tomorrow. According to Cree, those boys are overrated and useless.
In comes DeAndre Parker, a strong member of the Ballers Club. He is known for being slightly mysterious, and after having a disagreement in class, he is desperate to get to know Cree. DeAndre has now made it his mission to get Cree to see what the Ballers Club is really about, and he even gets her to do a school assignment together with him. As Cree spends more time with the Ballers, friendships are made, and she can't deny that she becomes the closest to DeAndre. One of the main reasons why DeAndre is drawn to Cree and her character is because she is the only girl who won't fall at his feet, nor does she care about his father's NBA fame. As the two become best friends and start to learn more about each other, feelings start to grow and the sparks are undeniable. But, what happened to Cree's rule about never messing with a baller? Also, DeAndre has promised himself that he will never waste time on a relationship, as his career always comes first. So why can't he get Cree out of his head when the plan was for them to always be just friends? This book is a strong sign that YOU CAN'T HELP WHO YOU FALL FOR. SUCH A GREAT BOOK AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

The friend group!! They were super funny and cute. I liked that you saw their individual growth through out the book. I loved the complexity of the relationship between Cree and her dad, Dre and his dad, as well as, Troy and her parents and we got to see a bit of resolution regarding a couple of those relationships. I loved the conversation about race and black culture, the beauty as well as the downfalls that come with being black. It was nice to read about it from the perspective of teenagers. I loved the Parker brothers relationship and their ability to disagree but find their way back to one another. It was all so endearing.

I did however feel like the book dragged in certain areas. Ari’s pregnancy scare took entirely too long to figure out, like PLEASE!! The back and forth, hot and cold from Dre regarding Cree took too long and took away from their charm and made the ending Luke warm.

All in all. It’s definitely a cute book that i would recommend if you like YA romance.

Thank you NetGalley, Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group, and Wattpad Books for this advance reader copy! You can pick up Playin’ Hard by Whitney D. Grandison on April 8, 2025!

4 ⭐

This book is a perfect addition for the YA sport romance section!

Playin’ Hard follows seventeen-year-old Cree, who cannot stand the Ballers–high school’s popular basketball players. She thinks the boys are too arrogant and full of themselves. But when DeAndre–the Ballers’ “leader”–takes interest in Cree, he forms an unexpected friendship during their final years of high school. As the two 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 get through the tough moments, but will the two navigate their feelings of young love?

The story is heartwarming, and I found myself laughing while reading.

I enjoyed seeing the growth of both characters as they navigate friendships, parental relationships, etc. The banters between the two are hilarious! I loved the basketball romance aspect of the book.

Here’s what you can expect:

- basketball romance
- lots of humor
- friendship
- enemies-to-lovers
- social issues
- Black characters representation

I highly recommend picking up Playin' Hard by Whitney D. Grandison if you are looking for a heartwarming, enemies-to-lovers romance!

A book about a love story that many students face. The popular athlete with the brainiac girl. They aren't sure if they like each other or not, so they tiptoe around the idea before even considering diving in. Of course, right before it gets good, the FMC has to leave. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and it did.

Wow, this was my first book by this author and I would for sure read one. What a ride! I enjoy the romance and the pacing throughout.

YA sports romance has been trending, and this book gives a diversity to the subgenre. As an adult reading a YA romance, I often feel as though the characters are a bit immature, however the cast of characters can be relatable to teens and young adults. I will trigger warn to readers that DeAndre and his friends have a very misogynistic view of women, and some readers may be triggered. However, this helps the reader to identify positive character development.

I must say that the story kept me interested and I am left wondering about Cree and DeAndre's relationship.

Great story and I am forever grateful to have some diversity in the YA romance (sport's romance sub genre).

For being a young adult contemporary romance. There was a lot of talk about pregnancy. That’s the only reason why I can’t get past it being 3 stars.

Playin’ Hard" by Whitney D. Grandison had an interesting premise, but I struggled to fully connect with it. The story follows Cree Jacobs, a high school junior who has no patience for the Ballers Club, a group of elite athletes who think they run the school. But when she clashes with DeAndre Parker, the club’s leader, their heated debates slowly turn into something more—forcing them both to rethink their assumptions.

I liked the idea of an academic rivalry turning into romance, and the alternating perspectives helped me understand both characters. However, the pacing felt uneven at times, and some of the dialogue didn’t feel as natural as I hoped. I also found certain character tropes a little overused, which made parts of the story predictable. That said, the emotional moments between Cree and DeAndre were well done, and I appreciated the themes of personal growth and challenging first impressions.

Overall, while Playin’ Hard didn’t completely pull me in, I think fans of high school romance and enemies-to-lovers dynamics might enjoy it more. If you’re into stories about opposites attracting with a touch of sports drama, this one might be worth a read!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! The plot was engaging and full of twists that kept me hooked until the very end. The characters were well-developed and relatable, and I found myself really connecting with their journeys. The pacing was just right, balancing action with moments of reflection. However, there were a few areas where I felt certain storylines could have been explored a bit more deeply. Despite that, the book offered a memorable experience, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking read!

I am always on the hunt for books I can recommend to young Black kids which are authentic and represent their experience. Whitney does an amazing job of that in this book. I wish it was a little more developed in terms of character but overall, very good enjoyable read for the target audience

This book made me fall in love with YA books all over again. The author did an amazing job at displaying emotions and building a relationship between the FMC and MMC. What I loved most about this book is how authentic it feels, the character developments and things that were happening in the book are things that happen in real life and it just felt so real while reading it