This book feels like the perfect book to pull you out of a reading slump. Initially I was a bit worried because the writing felt procedural and the narrator sounded like they were reading off a page rather than telling a story. However, I very quickly fell in love with the characters and all of that was forgotten. All of the characters were the perfect balance of absurd and realistic. I could relate to them or identify someone in my life that they reminded me of, while they were still silly enough to make the book more fun than real life. The repetition of the majority of the chapters taking place in William and Shawn's apartment made it a comfortable, familiar place which really supported to cozy game night vibe. The romance felt a bit unbelievable. It seemed like a flip was switched on their relationship, rather than giving them a chance to really connect. It seemed like William was a fun rebound fling rather than the next chapter of her life, but either way it was fun! The quick pace, the cozy setting, and the whirlwind romance made it an easy speedy read that I recommend to a lot of nerds when it's released!

Shameez Patel's Playing Flirty is a delightful romantic comedy that comes alive in its audiobook format. The engaging narration enhances the witty banter and chemistry between the protagonists, making their playful interactions even more captivating. Patel masterfully balances humor and heart, crafting a story that's both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Listeners will find themselves smiling throughout, charmed by the authentic characters and their journey to love. This audiobook is a must-listen for fans of lighthearted romance.

Rose Marie Jones is working on her MBA in a job she doesn't really love with an icky inducing boss who gives her the heebeegeebees. Her boyfriend is disappointing. She's grateful for her two best friends and game night. Rose loves board games, video games and cosplay. Her best friend's brother is her gaming nemesis.

This audio book was fantastic. I loved the narrator and enjoyed the gaming romance. This video game nerd was enchanted. Rose's parents were hilarious. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what else the author writes.

Playing Flirty is a fun romcom that delves into the world of board games vs. video games. There is a fun twist on the enemies to lovers trope as well.

Told in single POV, this book embraces the growth of the female character, while also capturing the growth of the male love interest. This was a very fun and engaging story, that kept me compelled throughout the story.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was well done by a single narrator. The narrator brought the female character to life, giving her personality a way to jump off the page. I listened to this audiobook at 1.75x speed (my normal audiobook listening speed is 1.75x).

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced listening copy.

As a lifelong fan of board games, Star Wars, and LOTR, this book was a must read and it did not disappoint. Playing Flirty was a delight to read and having the chapters called ‘rounds’ was such a clever idea.

The idea of pairing a frenemies to lovers with the natural flow of competition in each game played worked so wonderfully as it led to fantastic banter, verbal sparring (always friendly and never mean!), and some delectable tension between Rose and William.

Seeing the progression of Rose’s character as she gained confidence - to finish and submit her game and to stand up to a jerk at work - was moving and I was so proud of her. I love how her friends rallied around her at every point to hype her up and always lend support and a listening ear.

I had so much fun getting lost in the audiobook narration and thought the narration did a phenomenal job bringing these characters and this story to life!

Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio of this highly anticipated book. The narrator did a brilliant job in bringing the various characters to life.

Rose is crazy busy at work and she has to endure comments and glances from her boss as well. Things are also not going well between her and long-time boyfriend Patrick. Luckily, she always has Game Night to look forward to every week. Her best friend, Neema, who happens to be going out with Shaun, her best friend at work, always host Game Night at Shaun’s flat.

Shaun shares his flat with his step-brother William. William is a game designer who is the nerdy version of tall, dark and handsome; and he gets on Rose’s nerves. They always try and outdo each other in the games. When Rose wants to enter a contest with her board game which she has been working on in secret for years, William is the only person who can help her make her game better.

I enjoyed the banter between Rose and William and seeing how their rivalry turned into flirting over time. If you are looking for a cute and flirty book, this is the one to read.

I love that this is a South African author. We must learn to embrace and promote our local authors more.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio, for this cute and swoony romcom!

My nerdy heart was so happy with the setting of this book. A story centered around board games? Yes, please! As a huge LoTR and GoT fan, I felt like this book was made for people like me.

The enemies-to-lovers trope was executed beautifully. From the very first page, the chemistry between Rose and William was undeniable. They’re both such green flags—sweet, lovable, and totally swoon-worthy.

🌶 William… where do I even begin? I loved him. I wish we had his POV, even just for the epilogue—not to spoil the story, but damn, being inside his head would have been a treat! He’s dark, mysterious, sweet, and insanely hot. And while this book isn’t smutty (the spicy scenes aren’t on-page), don’t be fooled—every time William opened his gorgeous, sometimes filthy mouth, the temperature skyrocketed. 🔥

💖 Rose was equally wonderful. She had her life meticulously planned, and watching her personal growth—learning to let go, take risks, and embrace happiness—was truly satisfying. I resonated so much with her journey.

Another huge plus? The side characters! The best friends, parents, even the pervy coworker—they all added so much depth. Some romances focus only on the couple, making the world feel flat, but this book had a rich, well-rounded cast that made the story even better.

Overall, Playing Flirty is a fun, nerdy, and heartwarming romance that I absolutely recommend! 💕🎲✨

This was a good and light read with a charming board game theme and delightful friendships, especially between Rose, Sean, and Neema. Rose’s lists and spreadsheets added a relatable touch, and Sean and Neema’s love was a sweet highlight. However, the romance between Rose and William felt surface-level, lacking depth and proper development. William didn’t quite give “book boyfriend” vibes, though he had his moments, like dealing with Rose’s toxic boss. Some unnecessary plotlines, like workplace harassment, distracted from the story’s focus, but the banter and lighthearted tone made this an enjoyable read.

4.25⭐️
Update:
So I was so thankful to get the ALC to listen to from Hachette audio through NetGalley and I’m so happy I did as the reread made me like the book even more , enough to round up my rating to a 5.

What I think I appreciated about this book was that it wasn’t insta love. It was built over a period of time. I love reading books where the main characters truly support each other. You can see the love well beyond the slice or declarations.

The narrator Nirvi Shah did a wonderful job. It was a bit too slow for my liking as recorded so I sped it up quite a bit and at 2x speed it was still very clear to listen to.
This is a perfect book to get you in the mood for Valentines Day so go grab it!

Overall I enjoyed the book in a fun read that has great ties to “geekdom” fan bases. However it did have some misses for me personally along the way which had me taking longer than typical to read it.

I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from Forever Publishing through Netgalley to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

I like the sort of enemies to lovers trope and how it unfolded as well as the game board special interest and cosplay/ convention mentions. The game board mentions were older simpler games but I think it suited it for a world wide audience where anyone could identify.

I liked that the FMC doesn’t fit a stereotypical mold and is fiesty. My biggest pet peeve was a particular subplot that didn’t really get resolved so it seemed like it was just thrown in for conflict sake but that’s me being picky.

The representation in the book was great to read just a “regular” girl who happened to be a person of color was refreshing and that the book had a depth to it beyond a fluffy romcom.

This can be the perfect read for romance readers looking for something a bit different and clean to start off their new year as it comes out January 15th 2025.


My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I wanted to like this but could not connect with either character, so a meh read to me. Great for fans of board games, grumpy x sunshine, very nerdy couple.

I gave this geek-driven rom com 2 stars for a couple of reasons; mostly that I did not like the main character and I didn't believe her. The MMC, William, was a little one dimensional. Although I found his actions endearing and lovable, I didn't know him like I like to. I was missing the chemistry. The relationship between Rose and William's half brother Shaun was a solid one, Shaun gets engaged to Rose's female best friend early on in the book. I liked that Rose was good friends with both of them equally and also as a pair.

Much of the middle was boring, we don't see her attraction to her boyfriend Patrick, he treats her terribly and they aren't right for each other. Although there is a rivals-to-lovers trope, it comes along slow and drags in parts. I couldn't get used to the prose and it was challenging for me.

So while I didn't love the content, I do want to give the audiobook 3.5 stars- I was gifted an audiobook from Hachette Audio and NetGalley. To separate the content from the narrator, I did feel like the audiobook narrator did a good job of the Rose dialogue. There were longer pauses so I listened at 2.0 speed although I listened 3 times through because I wanted to give me diligence to the audiobook narration separate from the content of the book. While I probably wouldn't pick up another book from this author, I would happily choose another book by this narrator.

Thanks again to Netgalley and Hachette audio. Book was published January 14, 2025.

This book is such a cute nerdy romance. The banter is so good. All of the key characters were super likable. Did I predict some of the elements? Absolutely. But I still enjoyed every moment.

I received an audio copy and the narrators were perfect. I look forward to seeing future work by this author.

Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel, narrated by Nirvi Shah, is a fun and nerdy romantic comedy about love, competition, and taking risks. Rose, a cautious but passionate game enthusiast, finds herself teaming up with her witty rival William to bring her secret board game idea to life. Their playful rivalry evolves into something deeper, but Rose’s hesitance holds her back at times. While the story is charming and filled with geeky banter, Rose’s reserved nature early on might frustrate some listeners who crave the confident spark she shows later. A light, entertaining listen for fans of clever rom-coms.

Great book. Couldn't stop listening. Thank you for giving me the chance to read in advance. I was in love with all the characters.

Cute story about Rose and her best friend’s brother William. Other tropes include rivals to lovers and secret dating. I would suggest checking for trigger warnings- Rose’s boss makes her uncomfortable and there’s some inappropriate behavior there.

Overall I thought it was cute- I like that Rose is making a board game. I love that William is protective of her and he helps her make her game amazing.

Cute. Cheesy. Swoony.
Did get to be a bit cringy at points but over all a simple sweet romance. Very heavy on board games and board game references

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Hachette Audio for this advanced copy! You can pick up Playing Flirty now.

This book was the perfect mix of nerdy, sexy, funny, and heartwarming! I loved William and Rose's banter and hate-to-love relationship. Their bonding over games of all kinds was so sweet and right up my alley, Even though the spicier scenes were behind slightly closed doors, the tension that Shameez Patel built up was delicious, and I appreciated the moments of "will they/won't they" more anyway.

I also didn't expect this book to convey so much about feeling stuck in your life and feeling like you're not accomplishing the goals you set out for yourself. Rose's struggles with her job and lackluster relationship were relatable and understandable, helping us see her character growth vividly.

I can't wait to read more from Shameez Patel!

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. This is a cute nerdy romcom. She is in a dead end relationship and after spending more time with her best friend’s half brother putting the finishing touches on her board game that she created they start “playing” a game of flirting. She ends her dead end relationship, and only after her ex publicly purposes marriage does she really realize that a life that she had with him was not what she wanted anymore. Super cute romcom filled with witty banter and closed door/ fade to black romance scenes.


🔹Nerdy
🔹Banter
🔹He falls first

Audiobook Narration Review: 3.5/5 - Solid performance. Definitely a decent listen, but lacked that extra oomph that would make me give it 5⭐️. This is one you will need to speed up, the narrator speaks rather slow and the pauses felt a bit excessive. I do wish the narrator would have spoke with a little more spirit some places felt like they lacked inflection.

Book Review: 4.5⭐️

Filled with tension, A+ banter, and all the nerdiness your heart could desire, Playing Flirty was the perfect romcom to sooth my game-night loving soul.

What I loved…
- plenty of tension
- A+++ banter
- Lord of the Rings references
- nerdy vibes
- Video game designer MMC
- curvy, smart, and organized FMC
- closed door/fade to black spice
- all star side characters
- plenty of depth
- read in a single sitting!
- (view spoiler)

What I didn’t love…
- the writing style/prose drove me slightly nuts with the use of -ing words rather than direct past tense versions.
- see below spoiler re:workplace harassment subplot

One of the main subplots is a workplace harassment, and while I didn’t love a particular aspect of the subplot, I loved how her male BFF/coworker handled the situation!